Bob returns to Winterthur, industrialist Henry Francis du Pont's country estate, which is now a museum, in Delaware's Brandywine Valley. The museum's Port Royal Parlor display was originally part of a country home in Philadelphia slated for demolition in the 1920's. A collector of American antiques and architecture, du Pont bought the entire home and moved it to Winterthur. Pauline Eversmann, Winterthur's program director, joins Bob for a tour and recounts the parlor's history. The entryway opens onto the gardens, and in Colonial times, the doors would remain open to provide a view of the garden before guests proceeded to the parlor. As an area of the home intended for formal entertaining, du Pont wanted this room to be functional, so he expanded the parlor from its original size. Among the period antiques on display is an antique high chest that du Pont purchased for $44,000 in 1929, setting a long-standing price record for early American furniture.
Bob takes us on the first of many visits to the Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware's Brandywine Valley. Winterthur was the vision of Henry Francis DuPont, who researched and collected antiques and housed them here. Greg Landry, Director of Conservation for Winterthur, takes Bob to the Dominy Workshop, which once belonged to a family of carpenters and clock makers on Long Island. The workshop-turned-museum houses a multitude of Colonial-era tools, many of which are still in use today. Bob takes a turn on the great wheel lathe, which was used to mill large items like table tops as well as other decorative items. Landry also shows Bob some hand tools, including antique saws, planes, and drills.
In the kitchen, a neutral paint palette allows for striking contrasts. Bob looks at the mix of stainless steel and black Kenmore Elite Energy Star appliances, the Wellborn cabinets, and Curtis' choice of decorative antiques. In the informal dining area, Vila and Curtis focus on a reproduction wicker table set based on a Haywood-Wakefield design. In the sunroom, the furniture is a Bar Harbor-style wicker, which was introduced in the early twentieth century in Bar Harbor, Maine. These pieces were custom made by Curtis Designs of Los Angeles and feature a French fabric design from the SPNEA collection.
of the question, consider incorporating an armoire into your decorating scheme. You can find wonderful antique armoires, not quite antique armoires (often a great bargain if you're dogged in your pursuit), or you can have an armoire custom
Priory, was found for the Weddells by an antiques dealer in London. The 3/4 suit of armor look is 16th century but in the piece antique carving is combined with new family armorials raised paneling in the hallway is all antique. The exquisite window in the diningroom
Since newer rugs may have special cleaning issues, and older, antique ones may be damaged by neglect, there are a few basic steps contributor to A-Plus. For a copy of the Cape Cod based arts, antiques and design-oriented publication you can contact A-Plus