Gilded Age Mansion Restoration & Open Post.
Up until yesterday, I was stuck in the post-holiday zone where time has evaporated and you have no idea what day it is. So for this week’s post, there is no requirement for wit or intelligent thought.
I mean, you can be witty or intelligent… But I myself am excused.
I spent the weekend de-Christmasing and lecturing myself about minimalism. And vacuuming, vacuuming, vacuuming. And coming to terms with the need for a new computer because the intermittent-shutting-off of this one has made doing anything like a game of chicken… I win if I hit save every 30 seconds, I lose if I try to do anything with photos.
The only thing that would be more annoying than this computer, would be the process of getting a new one.
I might have skipped posting altogether but you all are the best part of my week and I miss you when I am not here. Plus, I wanted to thank you for the way I do not even have to browse the Internet anymore– you just send me what I need to read/pin/consider… Everything from disco ball pizza ovens to house-related stuff that gives me fits of envy.
Such as this video of the restoration of Belcourt Castle in Newport.
[quote]…The house was built in the last half of the 19th century for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, the son of the financier August Belmont and an eccentric who apparently really loved his horses (some sources note he liked to dress them up, changing their costumes several times a day).
…had the entire building laser-scanned to produce an accurate set of architectural drawings. That will allow him to make “incredibly accurate molds for reproduction” of the damaged ornamental plasterwork.
…The thing about houses, he continued, “is they can always be fixed. It’s just a matter of money.”– Via the New York Times article on the restoration[/quote]
more pictures – Belcourt of Newport, photo album, thanks to TKraft for the NYT article!!
Paul and I also spent the weekend moving my latest craigslist score up to the second floor.
What is it? Obviously I can’t tell you. Where is the suspense in that?
Paul told me that I do not need to bother explaining that it needs a few “adjustments.” He claims you already know that I only buy adjustment-needing things… or even more preferably – broken things. And that being broken is actually my first criteria when shopping for anything.
Paul says that when I call someone on craigslist, I say – Hi! Are you are selling something broken? I am interested!
A handful of you sent me the above article about an apartment in Paris that has been sealed since 1946 – The owner fled during the war and never returned.
I hadn’t seen this story and I am very excited because clearly, Paris will be calling me to say they could not think of a more suitable person to give it to.
Below is Lillie’s. The bar is not original to the space, but moved from a Victorian mansion in Belfast, Ireland. The rest of the photos are a mix of giant Victorian stuff, thus I approve. Thanks to DIY Sarah for the link.
Now for the open part of this post – I would love if you shared a link to something you have enjoyed reading or looking at… No requirement for house-related content and it doesn’t have to be online – could be a book or movie. *Be aware that more than one link in a comment will likely get you eaten by the spam filter.
January 7, 2014 @ 10:52 pm
This is for you and your husband! Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg
January 7, 2014 @ 11:26 pm
Your photograph of the abandoned Parisian apartment reminded me of this post with 38 gorgeous abandoned places and spaces. Don’t you just want to go explore?! The castle, the opera house, the subway station … sigh.
http://distractify.com/culture/arts/the-most-spectacular-abandoned-places-in-the-world/
January 7, 2014 @ 11:43 pm
What does it say about me that I immediately knew that was the abandoned Paris apartment when I saw the thumbnail beside your post in my reader? Oh, I know. That I spend too much time on the Internet.
Movie…being winter & just after Christmas I have to rec The Holiday. That cottage! And Jude. Law.
January 8, 2014 @ 7:15 pm
And that coat CamDi wears running to the cottage and also that yummy outfit at the end when they all celebrate together. DARN it, I want new schtuff. 🙂
January 8, 2014 @ 6:47 am
This is one of my favorites: http://www.bigoldhouses.blogspot.com
The author posts photo tours of old mansions in NY and surrounding states. Totally addictive!
January 8, 2014 @ 2:19 pm
I second Corinne’s link… the story of Huguette Clark is fascinating. Here’s a link to a bunch of the stories and photos that Today.com has dug up:
http://www.today.com/?id=29383169&p=1&st=1&sm=user&q=huguette%20clark
January 8, 2014 @ 5:54 pm
So this means we share the same computer because the moment I clicked on your page, my computer and google shut down. It’s infiltrating and talking to mine via osmosis. No really ours sounds like a jet engine who was processing a hangover. I owe you an overdue email. Because like you I have no idea what day it is. And I’d love to link something here but all I can think of are good whisky recipes.
January 8, 2014 @ 7:18 pm
Wondering if whatever got hauled upstairs would fit in this?
http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/new-york-citys-skinniest-house-at-75-12-bedford-street-sells-for-36-million/story-fncq3gat-1226698093591
Sorta like…..is it bigger than a breadbox?
January 9, 2014 @ 1:10 am
Here’s my favorite: http://prestoncastle.com/photos.html
Huge. Brick. Supposedly haunted. Would take millions to buy and more millions to restore.
Don’t care. If I ever win the lottery… IT’S MINE.
January 11, 2014 @ 10:19 am
Oh my goodness. I just discovered you from Miss Mustard Seeds blog. I went through several of your posts. And as a friend once said to me, and I can now say this to you whole-heartedly:
YOU SLAY ME!!!!!!!!! I must come back for more.
picking myself off the floor now,
~ Violet
January 11, 2014 @ 4:52 pm
My contribution is a YouTube video in the same vein as that awesome video you posted. This one features the restoration of Stoke Rochford Hall in the UK after a devastating fire in 2005.
January 14, 2014 @ 4:56 pm
Even the little things hidden in an old home can be a fascinating connection to the original owners. I love the images on these post cards, and I love what she’s done already with the remodel.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/14/new-homeowner-removes-baseboard-in-her-house-and-gets-a-100-year-old-surprise/
January 14, 2014 @ 9:40 pm
Well my dear… you have certainly done it now. I’ve oft commented that I love reading your blog – for the reason that you actually provide words to read – and now your request for links has given me way too many more things to read. Thank goodness I will be on vacation next week and can come back and enjoy ALL of the great things shared in these replies! A group “thank you!” to all who replied and shared!
January 15, 2014 @ 11:53 am
“Hi! Are you are selling something broken? I am interested!”
Like you and your huge mirror, some of my best finds are curbside. But craigslist is also full of potential. It’s not really a bargain unless it needs to be fixed!
November 11, 2014 @ 1:29 pm
May I recommend the facebook entry for the estate and mansion The Point, in Staatsburg, New York. It’s a really wonderful story of the rescue of a spectacular mid-Victorian house and estate.
The house was built for Lydig Hoyt to designs of Calvert Vaux. Vaux was an English émigré architect who came tot he United States and became a partner to the very influential Andrew Jackson Downing. After Downing’s tragic early death – a very Victorian death – he became the Senior partner with Fredrick Law Olmstead in the design of New York’s Central Park and it’s dazzling collection of remarkable Victorian park structures. Most remarkable about the park was their the conversion of a relatively small parcel of land into what seemed like a much larger park. They accomplished this by separating foot traffic and carriage traffic (Now auto traffic) to avoid conflicts while twisting the paths and drives to take advantage of cleverly selected vistas.
The Point was designed before Vaux began work on the park, so its landscape is the ideal record of his ideas at that time. The approach to the mansion, which was sited on a bluff overlooking the Hudson, cleverly loops back and forth, borrowing land from the edge of his in-law’s adjacent estate. The result is again a design that made the Hoyt estate seem much larger than it actually is.
The house is a spectacular Tudor-Gothic revival design that served, in my opinion, as the model for many of the examples offered in Vaux’s influential book ‘Villas and Cottages.’
Both the house and grounds were in ruinous condition as a result of the actions and non-actions of the state of New York. I and many others pushed the state into making repairs, only to have neglect do terrible damage again.
After literally decades of neglect and indifference, the state was pushed into beginning a spectacular restoration.
The facebook page launched by the Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance, who are responsible for the restoration, is wonderful. A fine combination of the truly remarkable restoration of the house and concern for other endangered landmarks of the Hudson River Valley.
Again, a visit to the site is inspiring. Please consider supporting their efforts in saving this nationally important house.
Greg Hubbard
August 14, 2015 @ 12:30 am
A bit late to the party, but I’ve been reading from the beginning. Victoria, you must read about Chateau Gudanes . http://www.chateaugudanes.com/ Be sure to go through all the About pages to see the pics. Talk about Giant Fancy Things!