An exhibit I am curating which will be on display March 14, 2013 to June 16, 2013 at the Islip Art Museum.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 39,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 9 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Part of the Front Facade

It is an excellent example of the Tudor Revival Style.

Front Entrance

The facade of the house is decorated with scenes from Fairy Tales.

The Hare from the “Tortoise and the Hare”

Billy Goats Gruff

The Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

In addition to the fables, the facade is beautifully decorated with nature.  Here, the top of each capitol is decorated with a different flower.

Flowers on Capitol 2

Also, each chimney on the house is decorated differently.

Examples of some of the many different Chimney decorations.

The interior of the house has many of its original furnishings.

1st floor hall way through the scroll work of an iron door.

Stained Glass Window inside the St. Genevieve chapel on the second floor

On the grounds there are several beautiful memorials.

The estate tea house and the gardens surrounding it are a memorial.

Statue in the pond is a memorial a place to reflect

Inisfada front facade

The house is presently serving as the St. Ignatius Jesuit Retreat House, which is unfortunately, slated to close on June 1, 2013.  This Manhasset, NY house is currently up for sale at $49 million.  After visiting this beautiful house, I personally would hate to see it demolished.  I believe that the Jesuits are being short sighted in their desire to divest themselves of this property. There is a need for a place like this in today’s society – this perhaps has never been more true than now – after the wrath of Hurricane Sandy and in the wake of the Newtown (CT)  shootings.

Click Here to see many more of my photos from Inisfada.

Front Entrance

This summer home was built for  Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. Pierpont Morgan.

Rear Facade

It is in the Jacobean Revival style.

Jacobean Revival Detail

This mansion was very nearly lost to the wreaking ball in the 1990′s.  Extensive restoration work is taking place both inside and out.  Some of this work was made possible from a site use fee – the house was used as the Orphanage in the Movie “The Cider House Rules.”

Click here to see more of my photos of Ventfort Hall.

Springwood Front Facade

Springwood was the home of Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt.  The original Italianate-style house has been added to several times, the most recent modifications were made in 1915.

Roof line detail

The house actually belonged to Franklin’s mother, Sara.  Sara paid for the work that Franklin designed with the architects Hoppin & Koen, doubling the original house’s size.  These alterations gave the house a Colonial Revival Style identity.

Statue of Eleanor and FDR

The estate is quite large and features individual houses for both Eleanor and Franklin, The FDR Presidential Library, a Visitor’s Center, several estate outbuildings and the 32nd President’s Final Resting Place.

Gravesite

Click here to see more of my photos of Springwood.

Front Entrance

The house was designed by Calvert Vaux (best known for his work on NYC’s Central Park) in 1872.

Roof Line Detail

It is a Persian styled confection located at the top of a hill, overlooking the Hudson River.

Window Detail

The day I visited, the house was not open to the public and extensive restoration work was being performed on the exterior.  I look forward to returning here one day.

Facade Facing the Hudson River

It seems that there are 2 web sites for this park.  One by a friends group and one by NY State.  If you decide to visit, the hours posted on the State Site seem to be more up-to-date.

Click here to see more of my photos of Olana.

The House and Studio

Of all the houses I have visited, this one had the best visitor center display I have seen.  It explains and places in context, the importance of French’s public works.   If you go, definitely plan on spending some time on this exhibit.  It is well worth your time.

Front Facade of House

The house itself is rather modest.

Front Facade of Studio

French’s studio is a fantastic space.  Visible in the above picture, if you look through the door, you will see French’s final sculpture, Andromeda.  It is as he left it in the work space.

Studio from garden

The studio also has entertaining areas along with the work areas, and it is situated in a garden setting.

A contemporary sculpture on the grounds.

Interspersed on the grounds are works by contemporary sculptors.

Lincoln Sculpture

As well as works by French’s daughter, such as this Lincoln Sculpture.

Click here to see more of my photos of Chesterwood.

The Mount as viewed from the garden.

Edith Wharton designed this house with the help of Ogden Codman, Jr. and
Francis L.V. Hoppin (of Hoppin & Koen) between 1901-1902.  It embodies all she and Codman wrote about in 1897 in the “Decoration of Houses.”

Front Facade

The exterior of the house exudes symmetry and balance.  It is said that the house is based on Belton House, a 17th-century Palladian-style English country house, with classical Italian and French influences.

Roof Detail

To me, the true beauty of this house comes form its relationship to the surrounding landscape and gardens.

The gardens and grass terraces from the patio.

The Gardens were designed by Wharton and her niece, Beatrix Jones Farrand.  They include a walled garden in the Italian style; flower garden reflecting French and English design influences; rock garden; lime walk; grass terraces; and kitchen garden.

Flower garden reflecting French and English design influences

Walled garden in the Italian style

Lime Walk

Click here to see more of my photos of the Mount.

Front Facade, Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, NY

Of all the Vanderbilt Homes I have visited, this might be my favorite.  It was designed in 1895 by McKim, Mead & White for Frederick Vanderbilt.

Oval Entrance Hall

I love the scale of the rooms.  The mansion is like a jewel box with all the public rooms arranged off the large oval entrance hall.

2nd Floor Balcony

A skylight and 2nd floor balcony are above the main entrance hall.

Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom

One of the most amazing rooms in the home is Mrs. Vanderbilt’s bedroom.  It is inspired by the Marie Antoinette chamber at The Palace of Versailles.

Rear facade, Vanderbilt Mansion.

The Mansion is overlooking magnificent grounds and the Hudson River.

Hudson River View from rear portico.

Today the mansion is owned by the National Park Service.

Click here to see more of my photos of the Vanderbilt Mansion at Hyde Park.

Longwood Estate

This property was once the most northern part of the Manor of St. George.  Today it is parkland preserved by the Town of Brookhaven.  The Estate consists of farm buildings, a one room school house, a caretaker’s cottage, etc.  The house itself has been added onto multiple times and is representative of vernacular architecture of its place and time.

Click here to see more of my photos of the Longwood Estate.