Art and antiques seem to be on everyone’s mind these days—perhaps rep- resenting lasting value in our turbulent times. Our feature “Living with Art” on page 72, an excerpt from Living Traditions: Interiors by Matthew Patrick Smyth, reveals a stunning collection of modern art juxtaposed with antique furnishings in a Connecticut farmhouse. ■ Antiques are a part of our lives in Connecticut. Every home I visit seems to be enriched by wonderful English, French and American treasures—from top-to-bottom tours de force, where everything from the dining table to the bed warmers are antique, to contemporary homes showcasing a few spectacular pieces. ■ Mine were collected over 40 years of memories. Some were found on lazy Sundays in Ridgefield, Wilton, Pound Ridge and Woodbury, others were pried from reluctant owners, such as a Provincial Louis XV side table from Howard Kaplan (“Howard will never sell anything that’s in his home”), an 1820s German Biedermeier Armoire in a rare size from upstairs at Bernd Goeckler, and a large covered glass chocolate jar from the private collection of Stanley Marcus (“I’ll ask Mr. Marcus, but I am sure it’s not for sale”). Hah! ■ I know that you share my passion, as 84 percent of you bought art and antiques in the past 12 months, according to our latest readership study. That’s a lot of art and antiques going into Connecticut homes and a lot of future memories to come.