While cleaning through my over-flowing bookcases the other day I came across an old favorite,
Adventures with Old Houses by
Richard Hampton Jenrette. The book is an account of the 14 historic houses he has bought, restored, and called home. One (or 2 rather) in particular have always been my favorites, the George F Baker house by Delano & Aldrich (more on them
HERE and
HERE).
Finished in 1914 for Francis F. Palmer by Delano and Aldrich, the house was later added onto to form a complex. The house was bought in 1917 by George F Baker and Jenrette named the house after him. It still is Jenrette's home base in NYC with the carriage house (where he formerly lived) as offices for his historic foundation, the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust.
Above is the entry to the carriage house from the street. I love this combination of deep forest green with granite detailing and red brick. Mr Jenrette originally bought the house located at 67 East 93rd Street in NYC, restored and sold it, moved into the carriage house behind at 69 East 93rd Street, and later bought BACK the townhouse for less than he had sold it, and moved back in! Get all that? He has retained the carriage house for the offices of his foundation.
The Ionic columns front a terrace on the main level of the townhouse in the courtyard created by the compound of buildings.
Floorplans show the very organized layout to the townhouse.
Sunny yellow and a roaring fire greet guests in the entry hall. Mr. Jenrette has always bought period furnishings for his many homes.
The yellow continues down the central corridor. Notice how Delano and Aldrich broke up the long hallway by creating different spaces with archways -a great architectural trick.
At the end of this long hall is the oval dining room with original marble flooring. Jenrette choose the chocolate brown walls to match the floor and they help bring out the decorative trimwork to best advantage.
Looking back towards the hall, through tall polished mahogany doors, one catches a glimpse of the beautiful curved stair.
Stairs such as these are always the focal point of such elegant houses. Notice the greek key trim bordering the stair runner.
The library uses the rounded bay but is rather larger than the dining room below as it is a rectangular and not an oval room.
The carriage house behind, which was converted into a residence years ago, features this beautiful Adam-style fireplace from 1800 by master woodworker Robert Wellford.
A small sitting room, which was combined with a small bedroom to create a beautiful guest room, features lovely neoclassical painted paneling. I love the marble surround and quiet wood mantel which integrates into the paneling. Classical houses such as this always make my heart sing, how about yours?
Read more about the house and the full compound of buildings at
Daytonian in Manhattan.
All images from the book Adventures with Old Houses by Richard Hampton Jenrette featuring photographs by John M Hall and not my own.
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