Hello!
I've trolled this site for many years now (not in the real sense of an internet 'troll', thank goodness!), and I have registered on the forum just today. I've been somewhat of an 'outsider' in the Romanov community, but I would love to get involved!
Currently, I am studying history, classical civilisation, sociology and English literature and language. In the near future, I'll also be working towards an MA in decorative arts and historic interiors. I'm actually descended from one of the oldest aristocratic families in Britain, and have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by beautiful stately homes my whole life, and it was when I was young that I developed a keen interest in antiques and interiors. It is thanks to my family heritage that this is my area of interest!
The Romanovs have always been a huge fascination of mine, and I've studied them for years. Naturally, my interest gravitated towards the interiors and design of their dwellings, transport and other buildings. I am currently in the early stages of writing a book, dedicated solely on the interiors of Alexander Palace, which may be in a couple of different volumes. This is a fairly new project, but having studied historic interiors for a long time now, as well as accumulating a vast collection of reference material, the wheels are most definitely in motion. The biggest obstacle will, of course, be copyrights. Funding this book is not cheap, especially purchasing material to study, including books and documents, some of them original. Contemporary sources are also expensive to own, but hopefully my hard work will all pay off.
Anyway, you can expect to hear from me a lot more in the future! I very much look forward to getting involved in these discussions, and keep an eye out for the announcement of my book, which will be made closer to the publication date!