On the other side of the stairhall is entry into the ballroom and into the wood paneled billiard room (now houses rotating displays, currently treasures from their library). The ballroom is magnificent, as one would expect. Above on the minstrel's gallery is a beautiful (and huge!) portrait of the Andersons seen below.
I couldn't find any pictures, but off through the french doors on the right is the orangerie and breakfast room overlooking the large terraced back yard. White walls with green trellis work, marble columns and floors, ceiling painted as the sky and other garden murals - really charming -what a great place for breakfast! Elsie de Wolfe would approve!
This shot reflects how the light pours into the room through the orangerie, trees and chandeliers. It is a dramaticly lit space!And you can rent it for parties, as seen above. At the top of the mainstaircase is this landing below with intricate marble herringbone floor and beautiful tapestries. You can go into the 2nd floor gallery seen here, or into 2 beautiful french salons -all gold and white 18th century France.The gallery houses many items in display cases as well as a majestic view over Massachuestts Avenue and the beautiful Cosmos Club across the street (my #1 place I need to get into at some point in dc!, anyone have connections?). The dining room has more tapestries and is pretty massive. What a place to have dinner! Attached through a double padded doorway is the beautiful corner butler's pantry with tons of windows - grand placement for such a service space. Of course I was in heaven surrounded by beautiful antique china!
This is the 2nd salon below, behind the french one I mentioned. It's actually a pretty long walk from the dining room to this room for after-dinner conversation; All the better to view the owner's collections I imagine!I found this image of the home in the 1940s - you can see it hasn't changed much. Now to the left is a very large opulent hotel and a mid century apartment building to the right -both dwarfing the mansion and built RIGHT up to the walls!
I'll end here with some night views. As pictures are discouraged on the housetour, I was good and didn't take any. All of these are courtesy of flickr. If you're ever in DC, make sure to visit the home -tours are free and operate Tuesday through Saturday from 1 till 4, I believe. The house is located at 2118 Massachusetts Ave, NW, along embassy row - about 2 blocks from the dupont metro. You can read more about it at their website
15 comments:
Wow. It's stunning! Quite impressive. It looks made for entertaining.
Actually, it was made for entertaining! They only lived there 3 months a year during the Washington 'social season' and also built the house with the purpose of donating it to the society after their passing to use as a headquarters for entertaining :-) Probably why I love the house so much!
Love these DC Tours you provide. And I'm now convinced that c.1905 was a period that was sympathetic to classical architecture in the USA.
This is a splendid example, really amazingly detailed and obviously well maintained. Best of all, none of it is dry and academic~the draped valances in the 2nd drawing room are lush beyond words!
Thats what I love about this house -while it's a 'serious' piece of architecture, it doesn't feel fussy or formal. It feels like a home - a crazy beautiful one but a place I'd love to live in! I think the lack of 'fussiness' helps me. I just wish you could see the 3rd floor bedrooms!!
WOW! How Fabulous! I will have to take that tour on my next visit to DC! However, from your wonderful post, I feel I have already been there!
Thanks Mimilee, but not even close! This place is 1000 x more fabulous in person!
MUST GO SEE FOR MYSELF THEN!
Wonderful architecture and such a stately presence. I can't believe it is so close to the heart of Washington DC. Thank you for the tour and the insider's information - next time I am in Washington I look forward to a visit. Glad to have found your fantastic blog.
Thank you Vicki! Yes, these place is pretty amazing considering its location! I'm even more amazed that a place like this is only 8 blocks from my apartment!
Never knew about this! And it's so close.
PD, you have to go!! Next time you're in dc lets go together, it's one of my favorite places in DC. Happy Birthday!!
Funny that you mention the Dupont Circle as that was the name of the family who was in charge of turning the Varadero peninsula into a tourist area. The Dupont House still stands strong after all these decades and I had the pleasure of seeing my father playing the piano there when I was a child and we were visiting the area.
Greetings from London.
I was fortunate to have received an invite to an event there several years back. Cocktails in the garden, with dinner and dancing on the first floor. The buffet line was in the foyer. It was lovely!
Full disclosure I work at Anderson House. I just found your blog based on hits to our website. I'm so happy to see there are people who appreciate the house. So much of what we interpret is how the Andersons lived. They were a very wealthy but very eclectic and down to earth couple and it comes out in their collection. Since you live close by let me know when you want to pop by again.
Colleen, I'd love to stop by again and meet you! Any way I could manage to see some of the 'behind the scenes' areas as well? I would love to photograph parts of the house and do a more in depth posting! Please email me to get in touch as I can't contact you.
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