Before and After: John Jacob Astor IV's Heavenly Pavilion

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:15:47 -0800

The New York Times has a jaw-dropping article, "A Fixer-Upper to End Them All," and coinciding slideshow about the 1902 Stanford White-designed Beaux-Arts sporting pavilion in Rhinebeck, NY, which was purchased and renovated by Kathleen Hammer, a retired producer for Oxygen Media. The building was originally designed for John Jacob Astor IV, great-grandson and heir of the fur and real estate magnate, and originally served as a weekend retreat and entertaining spot.

Astor's elder son Vincent inherited the property, and his third wife, Brooke Astor, made it more of a residential spot. Brooke donated it to the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and it became a convent and nursing home, and later a residential home again.Shown above is the main hall of the home, which connects two wings. It can be closed off by French doors on all sides, and is the most central part of the pavilion. It measures 35 by 60 feet in magnitude, and for this reason was considered by Stanford White “one of the greatest rooms in America." Aside from its overwhelming size, the hall's heavenly domed skylight with elaborate plasterwork and vast fireplace are astounding, to say the least. Unfortunately, years of neglect left Hammer with a lot of work to do to restore it to its former glory. So, she hired the best person to do the job, Sam White, architect and great-grandson of the original architect. To see this room as it is today, read more.

Gooorrrgeous!!!! Today, the living room features a copy of a lampshade original to the home. Be sure to read the article and check out the slideshow.
Photos courtesy of Bruce Buck for The New York Times and The New-York Historical Society

Before and After: An Editor's Refurbished Finds

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:45:29 -0800

Anne E. Collins, editor of PointClickHome , recently refurbished some antique furniture finds. She says, "I tend to fall in love with run-down objects. I look right past the chipping paint and wobbly frame and see (with rose-colored glasses) a decorating project." Anne picked these pieces up at the Old Country Store outside Rhinebeck, NY, and she and her husband spent a frantic few days stripping, painting, drilling, and repairing. For the whole story, check out her blog. Get started on her journey with this slideshow, and hear what Anne has to say about the process! Source

View Slideshow ›