Virginia House - The Rooms

Virginia House

Main Floor

The Great Hall

Withdrawing room with oak paneling and coffered plaster ceilings


Withdrawing room

Amazing fireplace outside the Withdrawing room


Dining room

Kitchen sink #1

Kitchen sink #2

Second Floor





The Library



Alexander Weddell's bedroom and study

My favorite room; however, the pic of the other side was blurry. Sorry.

Images: My own photographs

Virginia House - Building and Grounds

Virginia House

(Richmond News Company, K3954)

Architect: Henry Grant Morse, William Lawrence Bottomley (Loggia)

Landscape Architect: Charles Gillette

It was fascinating to find that the plan of Virginia House was based on the owner's wish that someday their home would be the headquarters of the Virginia Historical Society, who now owns and operates the structure.

Two separate houses supplied the inspiration for these roof sections


Views of the leaded glass windows

Loggia and small balcony

(Capitol News Agency, 68024)

This glass door leads from the house to the gardens shown below

Images: Historical postcards along with other historical postcards of Richmond, VA are available here ; all photographs are my own

A Proper Cup of Tea, My Lady?

This post is just a teaser. I still have over twenty pictures I need to clean up in Photoshop first but I wanted you to see where I spent my office holiday party.

Yup. Can you believe it? The Virginia House, also known as the former home of Ambassador Alexander and Virginia Weddell, is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places as DHR ID #127-0255. Built in the style of European manor homes it is actually a reconstructed composite of many native English structures, spanning in age from the 12th century to 1940s Classical Revival. It is complete with medieval leaded glass windows, dark oak paneling, hidden passages, plaster coffered ceilings, and a Tudor garden. To read more about the house and its architecture, check out the 1989 National Register of Historic Places nomination here. More pictures coming soon.

* The Virginia Historical Society owns and manages the property.

World's Fair Survivors

At work we get an email of links to news article relating to preservation in the State of Virginia and nationwide. I just came across this mention of a structure in New York, the New York State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park that is now eligible for state landmark status. This building was erected for the New York World's Fair in 164-65. 

A book that I've mentioned before on this blog is The Devil in the White City, a murder story (not a mystery) based in Chicago during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Within it's story it also describes the architectural goals put forth by the exhibition building committee and the fact that none of the building were meant to last "the test of time." Therefore, the remaining examples we have from the fairs are truly worth saving, for they are true survivors. Also many of the buildings were designed by architects who later became known as masters of their craft, such as Louis Sullivan and Phillip Johnson.

Years ago, on a business trip I vowed that I would one day get married in the St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Pavilion. Isn't it lovely?!

   

But then while doing research for this post I found that the Pavilion didn't even exist during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, instead it was built as a monument to the fair and financed from the revenue accumulated there. 

Oh well. I also haven't moved to St. Louis yet and I don't have a husband-in-waiting.

St. Louis images: Chandler Curlee and gobucks2's Flickr stream

Slumlords Beware!

Yeah! Something to be glad about. Richmond Slumlord Watch! 

Two years ago I took pictures of empty commercial buildings on West Grace Street near my home and submitted them to Vacant Richmond. That blog provided a place for you to search for and locate all vacant properties in the city. However, they were not able to keep on top of the current state of all the properties and their landlords/owners' involvement, so they closed down the site. 

Now I find that RSW has taken up the cause, spurred on by the already existing Baltimore Slumlord Watch. Though they may not be a comprehensive catalog of properties, they do highlight particular properties and supply the info on the owners and the property's status. I love that they are covering this issue as it is a big one for this city. Many of the city blocks near my apartment seem almost 60-70% empty. Perhaps there are tenants living in the apartments above but the businesses below are empty. We truly don't need more retail operations being built in the downtown area as there are enough empty storefronts to last a long time. In fact, even though some are questionably painted, at least they're trying.

Where I Live

Sorry, I've been absent for awhile. I hope to write more soon. In the mean time, here are some pretty pictures to look at. I can't believe this is actually where I live! Isn't it amazing that sometimes you can look at small sections of your house and just love it...however, looking at the whole room (the Big Picture) can still make you cringe? These pictures make my place look downright adorable! Which I guess it is, sometimes. 

1. Salt & Pepper from Vegas, 2. Birthday tea bowls, 3. The Dentist bobblehead, 4. Wee Wonderful, 5. My parents in love, 6. My colors, 7. Finally!, 8. Jessie and her steed!, 9. new stool

Small Spaces Time

The new Oct/Nov issue of ReadyMade magazine is really promising. It is the Small Spaces issue. I perused it this weekend at the bookstore.

Don't you love how big box bookstores have comfy chairs for you to sit on while you read as much as you feel comfortably reading before you actually walk out of their store empty-handed? I do. Thanks-a-million, Books-A-Million!

When you buy the magazine, definitely check out the Julie Brabac's gorgeous A-frame house in New Hampshire on page 51 and also featured on the cover. Besides that actual home, this issue also includes shelters and spaces constructed from old grain bins, shipping containers, and wooden crates and palettes.

Check here for more of their on-line content.

Status Report

Nothing much new going on at my personal shelter except some much needed cleaning and decluttering.

• I tackled the kitchen this weekend, including cleaning the inside of the refrigerator. Uggh!
  
  If you can, don't ever put off cleaning under the vegetable crisper. I had forgotten that my refrigerator back wall was curved. This means that anything that dropped onto the bottom shelf could then roll (or ooze!) down under the vegetable crisper bins. NOT pretty. I also wiped down the drawer fronts and cabinet doors. Yay, me!
  
  
• I have almost completed getting rid of the stacks of unneeded and unused magazines and textbooks (that the school will not take back!) that have been under my for months.
  
  
• Two loads of laundry were dealt with, including one of winter sweaters since that time has come for warmth in clothing. I also got the bathroom mat in this wash though I first soaked it and agitated it in the tub twice before throwing it in with clothes. GOOD call is all I will say about that.
  

So, progress has been made. Not as much as I would like, but, something is something, right?

A Year Late

Last weekend I was watching a Mad Men episode (Season 2, Episode #8, "A Night to Remember") on DVD for the first time. I'm watching the second scene; which takes place in Peggy's sister's house, and I notice that Peggy is sitting down in a platform rocking chair. One that is very similar to my own beloved chair!

See? I can hardly believe it.

Mad Men

Mine

I consider mine the more streamlined version because hers has those curvy arms and mine are more modern and angular.

Now, I wish I had seen this episode last year when it first aired. It then wouldn't be so strange if I tried to pick the prop master or set decorator's brain about what they know about these particular chairs. However, a year later, I am still going to try. So, Amy Wells, you should expect an email from me!

By the way, if anyone can get me a clearer* screen capture of this chair, I would be very grateful!

* Yes, I DID set my camera up on a tripod in front of the TV to get this shot. I then had to queue up the DVD four separate times to take pictures of that chair. I'm so sad when it comes to technology...and so obsessive when it comes to my platform rocker.

A Dream

Two weeks ago, I came across a list I had written down a year ago of elements that would constitute a makeover for my apartment (if I had the money for anything I wanted). As it turned out, it wouldn't take much.

• A paint job for the combined living room/dining area & kitchen in a pale shade of lavender, butter yellow, or a green tea shade
• Long drapes from the 12' ceiling on the end wall with the French doors
  
• Large graphic canvases on the walls
• Stuffed armchair in purple or green velvet
  
• A new sumptuous sofa
• Side tables with gourd-shaped lamps
• Small desk for a laptop
• Set of red and yellow stoneware dishes
  
  

NOTE: This is NOT a to-do list. I already have one, these are just some thoughts.

Glamour Shots

I love the combination of this curry yellow color and the blue. I've had these pictures scanned for months but it wasn't until I pasted them in this page that I realized they each had this combo. As you know, I love painted furniture. I just feel it brings so much character to a room.



I love the bench seat of the sofa, no need to fluff and wrangle cushions when you get up.



The touches of red are great. Lately, I was thinking my apartment needs more touches of the yellow and purple thrown around.

Images: Glamour magazine, July 2008

The 1950s As Lived In The 80s

Images from my scrapbooks:

Songwriter/artist Allee Willis' cool, pink North Hollywood home, a Streamline Moderne-styled abode designed in 1937 by William Kesling. It was featured in two different magazines that I had during the 80s. Her new place and her new Museum of Kitsch were just featured in the LA Times and linked to on Shelteriffic so I decided to get my pages out, scan them and try to clean up the images a bit so I could show them here and on Flickr. I hope you enjoy.

Yum!

In this picture and the next, her own motorized painting/sculpture designs.

The wire boomerang bar!


Kidney bean table and Memphis-like chairs she designed.

Isn't that bed amazing?!

I once had a chance to buy two pink sofas like hers when I was just out of the dorms. Hot pink nubby barkcloth loveliness! They were at a yard sale; I can't remember the price but I can just imagine how cheap that price would seem now!

Ooh, look! More recent photos from the December 1999 issue of Channels magazine.

(Image: Splash Magazines Worldwide)

The back of her bright pink William Kesling house.

Images: Elyse Lewin from Cosmopolitan magazine 198?; David Glumb from Mademoiselle magazine, April 1983

SHELTER: A Fabled Needle at Rest

I have been wanting to introduce you to the lovely Jen from The Fabled Needle. She is an artist who sells her lovely illustrations (like the one at left!) and knitting patterns through her Etsy shop, The Fabled Needle. 

I kept putting off publishing this piece because I was trying to write some clever little introduction piece about her home but instead I will just go ahead and let you read her own impressive words describing the sweet abode she has created for herself and her (brand new!) husband.

What is the age and style of your house? It is a 1935 Spanish Revival duplex. We are on the top level.

Do you decorate with that information in mind or against it? Hmm, not specifically, no. This style of home is one of my favorites so I suppose it does influence my choices on an unconscious level.

How would you describe the decor style of your home? Low-maintenance eclectic. It's mostly a hodgepodge of things I like that hopefully work together.

How would you describe your personal style? Low-maintenance eclectic. I don't know if I can pinpoint my personal style although my artistic sensibilities are an important part of who I am. Perhaps I'm just lazy!

Do you think your décor style matches your personal style? Yes. There's a mix of fussy things with really simple modern ones.

How well does your home match you and your personality? Would someone you know think your space represents who you are? Do you think it does? I feel at home in this place more than any other place I've lived in. I love old details, even if they are not in good condition. I'm not about upgrading and if the original yellow and green tile in the kitchen is a little worn and pockmarked, so what! It shows that the kitchen was used by someone who loved cooking. I don't know if that answers your question though. I would say, yes, this place really suits me!

Do the colors in your clothes closet show up in your home?I think my clothes are mostly neutral with the occasional bright spots of color - so yes!

How comfortable are you in your living space? Totally, especially after about 2 years. This place has really good energy, as hippy-ish as that sounds. It also has tons of natural light, which makes me really happy.

What specific difficulties did you have when decorating your space? This place is huge! We still don't have rugs in some places I'd like. Also, we're definitely on a budget in terms of decorating the house and when I prioritize, fabric and art supplies and the like usually win out.

What was your biggest influence in choosing your current décor? Practicality, price, longevity. I don't think one should buy expensive things that they'll be sick of in 6 months.

What has been the most expensive change you have made to your space? We bought a sofa when we moved back to L.A. I loved it, more than a woman should love a sofa. It's the prettiest off-white, ultra-suede (so you can clean it!) and so comfortable.

What has been the least expensive, yet most influential change you have made to your space? Putting curtains up. There are so many windows, I felt exposed before we covered them. I got mostly inexpensive curtains and rods from Target so it wasn't too painful.

Have you done any of the décor yourself? All the light fixtures came with the place. I did paint my office a beautiful silvery grey that I love.

What DIY projects have you done? I had to rig a curtain rod for the huge front window. The wall is curved and the window is really wide so we had trouble finding something we just install with no customizing (and I wasn't about to hire someone to do it).

What changes have you made that make you feel the most proud? The same answer as above. I used my MacGyver skills to figure out how to install an exceptionally long curtain rod on a curved wall for cheap. A scalloped wood bookshelf bracket was involved.

What do you plan to do next in your space? I want to crochet a blanket. Something with a neutral base and lots of color. Something happy and handmade.

What kind of homes do you most admire or lust after? Little bungalows, cottages, old ones, pre-1950. Homes that were cherished.

Have you seen any movie or TV homes that you would want to live in? I love the house in Practical Magic* - that was probably the best part of the movie! I adore Frodo's Hobbit hole too, in Lord of the Rings.

*Incredible link to pictures and info about the set decor!

Images: Jennifer's own photos and AmasVeritas' fabulous Practical Magic site.

HomeGoods Tries to Read Me

The HomeGoods Style Scope quiz says this about me:

Lisa, you are a Country Classic

You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

*****************

While I didn't like the "country classic" moniker what it actually says does describe my style, strike the "lovely florals, fresh flowers (allergic) and overstuffed furniture. I highlighted the ideas that really resonate with my style. Go try the quiz and see what it says about you.