Edith Warton as a child
We were asked to read a few books before class started. Henry James An International Episode and A House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I enjoyed An International Episode, but truly had a hard time plodding through A House of Mirth. I came to the conclusion this it was because I really became exceptionally bored reading about a truly stupid woman that continued to make really stupid mistakes her entire life, until her life was destined to fail. The third book I chose to read was Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder, a true gem, and absolutely worth a read.
This was all in preparation for the fact that Edith Wharton, along with Ogden Codman were such an influence on 19th century architecture and interiors, and thus a large part of our course. Together they wrote the Decoration of Houses, first published in 1897, it was a forum to denounce the “over” style of the Victorians, over stuffed chairs, over stuffed rooms and over decorated style.
Ogden Codman
The book lead to the acceptance of the professional decorator. While I have no issue with the highly intelligent and successful Edith Wharton, and in fact I completely agree with the importance of balance, symmetry and good use of space, I take issue with the concept of “style makers” and their following. I can not think of a worse way to create a singular way of thinking and a singular style followed by many, eschewing the concept of individuality.
Having said that, I am thoroughly aware that there are many people ready to knock me over the head with a singlestick, but hey this is my website not yours.
So, onto our day.
We began with the Harold Brown house. (Dudley Newton Architect 1894) The interior was originally done by Ogden Codman.
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John Carter Brown was a rare book collector whose philanthropy created Brown University and the library most famous for its unparalleled collection of books on the Americas. Harold Carter Brown commissioned the house. Since Brown collected French furniture he most likely had quite a symbiotic relation with Codman and his lighter classical attitude. The grounds were done by Frederick Law Olmstead.
Our hostess was Beryl Powell, and you would be hard pressed to find a more delightful woman.
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Ogden Codman Interiors throughout the first floor of the house.
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Next stop was the Bellevue House / Berkeley Villa This house was done by Ogden Codman for his cousin Martha in 1910.
The house echoes Codman’s interest in Federal-style architecture The paired columns and the monumental entry porch are so appealing.
The entry way holds a multi storied cylindrical volume spiral staircase, topped with a dome. The colors of the house interior seem to be chosen from the marble inlaid on the entry floor.
The interiors seem to be more English than American with shallow inset arches and appliqué reliefs throughout.
Who doesn’t love a split pediment topped fireplace?
The home is now owned by Ron Fleming, and his love of the house is obvious, but his flair seems to be in developing the garden. As a Landscape Architect I was just gaga. I loved the adherence to the English garden and its many follies, but the humor of monkeys spread throughout speaks volumes for this mans sense of humor.
A beautiful Japanese influenced garden
One of many follies around the grounds
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We stopped by Gray Craig, (also called Gray Crag or GlenCraig). Built for Michael Van Beuren by Harrie T. Lindeberg in 1924. Lindeberg was known as the premier country house architect in the area during his time.
In the late 1800s, Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont owned 77 acres of rural ocean-side land. Belmont, along with Cornelius Vanderbilt and other leaders of Newport society, formed The Gray Craig Park Association, named for the dramatic rock outcroppings which border the property and stocked the land with wild and exotic game and birds. The Van Beuren’s purchased the property in the 1920’s when Lindberg convinced them that the property they had originally chosen in Portsmouth was not dramatic enough. The home remained in the van Beuren family for 60 years.
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We finished our day in the perfect way.
This is Greenvale Farm and Winery. It was designed by John H. Sturgis for John Barstow, and is still in the family. Barstow had the home designed after the farm described in Robert Morris Copeland’s Country Life published in 1859. The book preached that a gentleman’s farm should be no more than 50 acres, that 2/3 should be farm plantings and the rest the estate. This is considered the “American Plan”, and the house has managed to maintain itself since it never got “too” big. The present owners have planted a vineyard and make a DIVINE white wine (Vidal Blanc). I so respect what they are doing, adaptable re-use to help keep the family home in the family.
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This family has served proudly in every war since we have been a country, including, as you can see by the last hat, Afghanistan.
This has been an amazing experience, the course was beyond what one could absorb as a human being, which is why I am so grateful I that I was writing at the end of each evening, I could not possibly remember it all, even from one hour to the next.
I have met the most interesting people, professionals, students and people still trying to find their way (including me).
To the older adults in the crowd, thank you for bringing your experience, and knowledge to round out all that we have learned. To the students that kept me up till 2 in the morning talking about every subject under the sun, I applaud you, and can’t wait to see where you all end up. Good luck on your theses, and everyone keep in touch, it has been an amazing ride.
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