If someone were to ask me what my favorite room was at San Simeon, I would have to answer the sitting room in the Doges suite.The suite is so named as the balcony, seen above, is a replica of one at the Doge's palace in Venice - again with that view!
Of the many show-stoppers in this room, the most important is the ceiling, 18th century Italian. The ceiling was acquired from the estate sale of architect Stanford White, folllowing his death, where he had had it installed as his townhouse living room ceiling.
The image above shows the ceiling in its' entirety.
White purchased the ceiling from an Italian Palazzo and had it shipped to one of his many warehouses outside of New York, where his clients would pick and choose bits and pieces from his European travels for installation in their own projects - an early example of an upscale salvage store!
This was similar to the approach Hearst took with his building of San Simeon, in fact much of what he purchased was not even used. The above 2 photos are of White's living and dining rooms.
I think I prefer this room because it's not a heavy Spanish style but rather more baroque Italian: light, colorful and fun.
A close up of the restored Standford White ceiling. Now on with the tour!
Every single item in the room is both useful but also strikingly gorgeous, my mantra!
Two nearly identical bedrooms with private baths flank the sitting room in enfilade style.
The bedroom ceilings are identical but, as we were told, one is an antique and the other is a replica to match. The lamp above on the right above is an antique Venetian gondalier's lantern.
I think these rooms are much more pleasant than other guest rooms at the estate due to the vibrant colors and worn wood finishes: a softer feeling.
The lamps throughout are all exquisite: some people have chair fetishes, mine is lamps. These little alabaster lamps were just adorable with the bell shades -also notice the silver sconces.
Again the rooms are finished with suitcases and clothing from the 30s, a nice touch. I love the antique vestment above the bed.
So tell me, would you prefer the Doge's suite or the
tower bedroom?
Images of Standford White's townhouse and ceiling image from "
Gilded Mansions: Grand architecture & high society" by Wayne Craven.
As with all of my San Simeon posts, written permission was kindly granted to post my interior photos of the estate on this blog only. Please respect that and do not copy. Thanks!
I hope you've been enjoying my series on San Simeon! I have been concentrating on the interiors as they're rarely seen and certainly less known than the exteriors. I plan on a post on the gardens at some point but that has obviously not been my focus. Needless to say, the exterior is as breathtaking, if not more so, than the interiors.
After this trip to Miami I hope to have other house tours as well, including the equally over the top gorgeous Vizcaya. I just had to post the above photo from the gardens at San Simeon as the statue reminded me so much of Princess Leia! Happy Weekend!
The bedrooms are located in what is known as the Gothic suite on the 3rd floor of the building. The ceiling of Hearst's bedroom is one of the many treasures in the castle and dates to the 14th century. It was removed from the 'House of the Jews' at Teruel in Aragon, Spain.
Recently the painting was restored and the colors are vivid and bright, making the scenes they depict clear. 
The artwork in the bedroom is fittingly personal to Hearst and includes a lot of family photographs as well as religious iconography, much of it dating to the Renaissance. One of the most valuable pieces of artwork in the estate is the small “Madonna and Child” by Duccio di Buoninsegna seen below, which was a gift to Hearst from one of his publishers.
Hearst's bath, while marble filled and ornate, is shockingly small. I love the 2 toned marble paneling. Notice the numerous gold taps at the sink, I was told some operate fresh water while others salt water.
The suite runs the length of the Casa Grande and is comprised of 2 master bedroom suites joined by a sitting room atop the 
Despite their long relationship of 30 odd years, Hearst never divorced his first wife but was devoted to Marion until his Death, in fact leaving the bulk of his estate to her (which she refused). Marion claimed upon her death bed that her niece, Patricia, was actually their love child, born in secrecy in Paris in 1923 (read more about Marion's fascinating story 
Marion was an accomplished actress and entrepreneur in her own right. Despite their significant age difference, she claimed they were the perfect pair. Her life pretty much fell to shambles after his death but you can read more about that at the 
The sitting room, below, was where they would spend the most time together, often with Marion sewing her own clothing and mending Hearst's. Domestic bliss in a small apartment high above the grand estate; I think there's something to that! I loved the arched paneled ceiling which lends a further aire of intimacy, like an ancient galleon.
The ceiling in Marion's bedroom was an intricate design of stars done in gold and blue. The lanterns were uplights, which explains the washed out patch, no camera flash was used!
Marion probably had very little to do with the decoration of her bedroom, as the only feminine touch appears to be the pink jade lamps. Hearst's love of the heavy Renaissance Spanish style shines through.
Read more about the art of the estate at 
Getting there isn't easy and includes a lot of steps up winding stairways. While the outside is clad in white stone, the interior is left with the bare poured concrete walls which I think look amazing, especially with antique lanterns to light the way!
Here we are at our destination, fit for a princess (or a harem!). 
Of course, the ceiling is a gorgeous antique and the main feature of the room.
San Simeon was built as a hilltop village, not as a single mansion. While the main house, Casa Grande (which I've been featuring), is surely one of the largest houses in California, 3 other main guest houses dot the hilltop compound.
The main guest house with the most spectacular views (none of them are anything to scoff at) is the Casa Del Sol (or Cottage 'C'), so named because it faced the sunset. 
These cottages were constructed and finished first as the main house took years to near completion. Hearst and his family chose this guesthouse as their first hilltop residence. I love these metal screens at the front doors.
The plan of all of the cottages is a U shape with a courtyard entry so that the views are out towards the mountains and ocean. This ancient 'sculpture' (the polite word for it) lies between the 2 doors into the entryway. Similar statuary dots the estate.
Some of the guest rooms had private entries. I love these fretwork doors!
The main sitting room is definitely grand, if not comfortable and filled with Spanish antiques.
The tile floors were probably great on a hot day. Now the buildings all have air conditioning.
The decorative and reclaimed ceilings continue from the main house in all of the rooms of the guest cottages; they really steal the show!
Julia ingeniusly selected uplight chandliers to draw attention to the ceilings. I love the way the light reflects off the gilding.
I thought the fabric curtaining behind the bed was a nice soft touch in these relatively cold rooms.
The main guest bedroom deviates from the yellow color scheme and is much cosier. The brilliant views and windows make up for the dark color.
I loved these recessed light fixtures, much prettier than a boring,typical can.
As with all of my San Simeon posts, written permission was kindly granted to post my interior photos of the estate on this blog only. Please respect that and do not copy. Thanks! 
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