deering and chalfin met in chicago in 1910. >> well, chalfin is a fascinating, enormously odd man. he was visually extraordinary, sophisticated, and talented, but slightly flawed personality in some ways. but for chalfin who begun as a mural painter, done interior design, was interested in architecture and gardens, he sort of latched on to deering as a client. this was a big opportunity for him. this was his main chance and he grabbed it. >> i think he was absolutely a character. i mean, first of all he was openly gay in the 1910s, which not something that people would necessarily be. and he would dress up like a gaucho you know. he was extremely flamboyant and bold at the same time. >> as if driven by an impenetrable mission, deering and chalfin traveled to europe and started buying paintings, sculpture, tapestries and antiques. >> i don't think they were friends in the personal sense. they were both caught up in the project. this house brings them together and they spend ten years really equally obsessed with it, and i think that is the great attraction of vizcaya. it's not a sta