Don't miss this housetour!

I don't often read Apartment Therapy as it tends to be a little cookie-cutter 'contemporary' for my tastes but once in awhile they feature some great house tours. This week featured an apartment in Chicago with so much character and style I had to share it with you all!

I hate when people share an entire article or tour (SPOILER!) so I'll just share these 3 teasers with you.  I love the quirky collection of items and the dark hued walls & trim. While each object may not be to your (or my) tastes, the collective quality and ambiance of the space is top notch in my book.

Definitely check out this stylish house tour HERE! Or if you are interested in stuff related with glazing then check out Double glazing companies in Bath.

Belgian ambassador's residence interiors 1

As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently toured the Belgium ambassador's residence with the ICAA. Designed by Horace Trumbauer's firm (or more specifically by his chief architect Julian Abele) for Anna Dodge Dillman, the house was meant as a wedding gift for her daughter Delphine to her second husband, Raymond T. Baker. Sadly they only lived in the house for four short years.

After Baker's death, Delphine rented the house to a roster of who's who before finally she herself passed away at only 43.  Her mother shortly thereafter sold it to the embassy of Belgium who have been in trust of the house since 1945.

These gorgeous interiors you see were designed by the Paris interiors firm of Alavoine et Cie. The entry hall, seen above, may look like it has stone walls but they are in fact molded plaster. The floors however are marble.

Immediately to the left of the foyer is the stairhall. This room sets the tone for the ground floor with panel moulding in pastel colors of the time and amazing detail work such as the iron railing.

 I love how the paneling is justified under the stair to different heights. The panels are an excellent organizational system as they hide any number of storage doors, vents, and other utilitarian devices.

 A lovely thing to see before going upstairs, no?

The parquet flooring, chandeliers, and carved paneling was imported from France by Alavoine et Cie. The first ambassador, Baron Silvercruys, hired the firm yet again to complete the space to their original design after many items and furnishings had been removed during the sale and multiple rentals.The Belgium ambassador frequently teases the French ambassador for having a more French house than him!

 Again I have to point out the beautiful bronze hardware - architectural jewelry!

This tiny paneled vestibule separates the stairhall from the men's powder room. Yes there are two, one for men and one for women; a common design element in such formal houses at the time period.

This tiny vestibule may be my favorite space of the house, so precisely decorated like a small jewel box.

 On the opposite side of the entry foyer is the women's cloak room, seen below.

I immediately think of the iconic Cecil Beaton photograph of models in Charles James gowns when I see this room as I imagine this was the setting for many similarly elegant scenes.

The slightly open door to the right leads to the powder room while the panel to the left is actually a jib door and hides a coat closet, full of coats and wellies (yes I looked!).

This built-in dressing table survives and is surely the most elegant piece of furniture in the entire house.

All of the bathrooms feature these custom designed marble sinks with glass legs - they epitomize 1931 bathrooms for me.

I'll leave you with a last photograph of the ladies cloak room (notice the multi-colored umbrellas in the corner and my reflection in the mirror). Look for post 2  soon which will feature the Dining Room and Salon, said by many to be the most beautiful room in Washington!

The Belgian ambassador's residence by Horace Trumbauer

Recently I had the pleasure to tour the Belgium ambassador's residence in DC with the Mid-Atlantic ICA. Designed for the Dodge family as a wedding gift for daughter Delphine and her husband Raymond T. Baker  in the early 1930s, the house was purchased in 1945 as the ambassador's residence and has been thoughtfully maintained ever since. This was a precursor to the much more famous Rose Terrace commissioned by Anna Dodge Dillman which was demolished in 1976.

The house sits on exclusive Foxhall Road here in Washington which at the time of its building was mainly lined with large estates such as this. The house is barely visible from the road behind a large gate and bushes.

One would imagine that the Dodges would recognize their house immediately as blessedly nothing appears to have changed.

The gardens are simple and act as a gorgeous setting for this magnificent house designed after the Parisian Hotel Rothelin-Charolais by Lassurance from 1700. I thought of my talented blog friend Andie from Divine Theater immediately upon seeing these urns!

The detail on the house is stunning, restrained, and in immaculate condition thanks to good care and a recent renovation.

The front was in shadow when I arrived but thankfully the rear is a mirror image as these photographs turned out much better. Contrasting the circular entry drive, the expansive rear terrace looks out over a large lawn on a wooded promontory overlooking the Potomac River far below.

The intricate railing was also recently restored and is a work of art. I wish we saw more ironwork this detailed today but it is a rare thing.

 Small wings at either side house a breakfast room and morning room.

 The lamp posts were only recently added but fit in nicely.

 As you can see the view is stunning although somewhat hidden by the trees.

The bronze hardware itself deserves a blog post (or two).  Oddly enough it was different from room to room (I'll have more pictures of those in future posts).

 This cozy corner off the dining and breakfast room would make a great spot for breakfast in good weather.

The ambassador naturally loves living in the house but is sadly leaving the post next month. He says while grand it is a comfortable and ideal home for a family. Successive ambassadors have carried on the tradition of the utmost care for the mansion and hopefully future residents will as well.

 Leaving the house at night was just as beautiful as arriving in the light.

 Join me later this week as I bring you inside for a tour of the principal rooms!

All photographs by myself.

Palisades house tour: an exclusive look

Tomorrow, Saturday October 19, 2013 is the first ever Palisades Village house tour that has been making the rounds of all the DC publications. The Palisades is a quirky neighborhood overlooking the Potomac River that despite the growing of the city has remained quite separate from the city. The neighborhood retains a charming small town atmosphere despite being less than a mile from the heart of Georgetown.

One of the houses on the tour was completed by BarnesVanze architects and is probably the house I'm most excited to see on the tour (seen here in these images). The house was designed to replicate the feeling of the local 19th century houses found on the river that had been added onto over time. I think given these pictures one would never guess this house wasn't 150 years old, do you?

The dramatic dining room was built to look as if it had been an enclosed porch and features diamond paned windows.

The homeowners entertain frequently and this kitchen is any chef's dream so as to remain part of the party. 21st century living in a charming 'old' house.

The best feature of the house though has got to be the bright and airy attic family room which features dramatic views down to the river. Don't miss the tour and this fantastic house!
All photographs by Anice Hoachlander of Hoachlander Davis Photography.

Hamilton House museum, South Berwick, Maine

Hamilton House was built by Jonathan Hamilton, a shipping merchant, in 1785 but that is not where its fame nor interest really derive. Sitting on a hill overlooking the Salmon Falls River the setting is as picturesque as can be imagined and so caught the attention of 2 ladies in the early 20th century who turned it into what it has become today.

Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter, Elise, purchased the house as it had been marvelously kept intact since the 18th century.  They imparted their own version of the 18th century on the house and inserted their fascinating collection of furniture and decorative arts.

Photographs aren't allowed inside Hamilton House so I found 2 images from the website to share with you and perhaps entice you to visit! The central entry hall spans the depth of the house and features this crazy architectural wallpaper the Tysons had recreated from a sample found.

The highlight on the interior for me are murals on the dining room and parlor walls depicting both Greek & Roman scenes and other local historic houses and ships. All of the woodwork found throughout the house is original to the 18th century; I particularly like the decorative arches in the parlor flanking a fireplace. The Tysons built the shelves hidden behind them during their occupancy where their books still lay!

 Even on a gray, rainy day like we experienced the gardens and setting are stunning.

The gardens were well published in the Tyson's day, as was the house, as examples of Colonial Revival style.

 After Emily's death, Elise and her husband kept summering in the house until her death in 1949.

 Elise had left the house and its contents to Historic New England so that we can all enjoy it and the surrounding forest to this day.

The highlight of the garden is this formal patch between the house and the garden cottage built by the Tysons from other salvaged 18th century houses.

The cottage was as charming as could be and one could easily imagine having it as their own summer get away. That huge window in the main room was especially inspiring.

Be sure to visit Hamilton House and other Historic New England houses while visiting Maine!