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Elm Court Stair Hall

Bob Vila meets with Bob and Sonya Berle on one of the many staircases at the Elm Court in Lenox, Massachusetts. This stair hall, with views of the gardens through its elongated windows, was painted a historic blue-green color that reflects the earthy tones outside. The custom balustrades, while not original to the house, are historically accurate to the home�s construction. True to the Berle�s backgrounds they brought the chandelier from their home in New Orleans.
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Elm Court Stair Hall

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" the stair hall which is quite elegant what kind of condition was it in when you started. When we got here there were no handrail are spindles many of the panels had been knocked out. And so we really set out about trying to produce and have custom milled. Balustrade that would look as if they had been in him that in the end these are probably very accurate to what originally was here they are quite accurate. But the house had been shut up and then boarded up for nearly fifty years and then and it had been attacked by vandals over the years so much was done. Sonya the chandeliers were were were -- original well."

" They actually were up from our home in New Orleans they hung up before in our parlor and in our formal dining -- we're used to -- suit brought them here and how did you go about choosing -- this blue green that you've put into the ceiling and the walls oh yes well this color is stuff on the historical paint palette and the idea that was it would just be a very harmonious blend between the outdoors -- the indoors because we have this nice airy gothic pitch of the roof. And these elongated beautiful windows and so it would just be a nice. -- plan."

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