Inisfada, Manhasset NY

Inisfada (Gaelic, meaning Long Island) was built for Nicholas and Genevieve Brady in 1919 by the architect John Torrey Windrim.

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.

 

Wave Hill, The Bronx NY

The Pergola

Wave Hill is a public garden that is owned by the City of New York.  It is comprised of two adjacent estates – Wave Hill House and Glyndor House.

Glyndor House

Glyndor House is used as an art gallery.

Wave Hill House

When I visited, Wave Hill House was undergoing extensive renovations.   Both houses are on a hill, above the Hudson River and overlooking the Palisades.

Sweeping views of the Hudson River and the Palisades

Both houses have had quite a history with many prominent owners and visitors.  See http://www.wavehill.org/about/history/  for a full history of the site.   This garden is well worth the visit – the grounds are just glorious!

The Greenhouse

A Garden View

Click here to see more of my photos of Wave Hill.

Griswold House / Newport Art Museum, RI

Griswold House – Front

This house is Richard Morris Hunt’s first major commission in Newport.

Central Stairway

Hunt was hired in 1861 by the Griswold family to create this home, which was completed in 1863.

Dining Room

The woodwork inside the house is fantastic – just look at it here in the Dining Room and in the Parlor.

Parlor

Parlor Shutters

Today the house is part of the Newport Art Museum and they have been slowly restoring the property.

Click here to see more of my photos of Griswold House.

 

Vernon Court, Newport RI

Vernon Court

Built in 1898 by Carrere and Hastings.  Its design is based on Chateau Haroue near Nancy, France.  Today it is home to the National Museum of American Illustration.

Another view of Vernon Court

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The Hennery, Salve Regina University, Newport RI

The Hennery, Street facade

The Hennery was designed by the architects Peabody and Stearns in 1883 as a farm building for Vinland.

The Hennery, Rear facade

I have seen it refered to as a shingled fantasy.  Salve Regina has restored the structure and is using it.

Click here to see my photos of the Hennery.

Ochre Court, Salve Regina University, Newport RI

Ochre Court, Street Facade

Ogden Goelet, a New York real estate developer, hired Richard Morris Hunt to design Ochre Court between 1888-1892.

Ochre Court, Ocean Facade

Inspired by the French chateau of the Loire Valley, it was the first of Hunt’s summer cottages to seek French inspiration.

Main entry under stairs, Ocean vista visible

Many of the interiors retain their gilded age characteristics.

Main hall, 2nd and 3rd floors

Main Hall (viewed from 2nd floor)

Stained glass window on 2nd floor stair landing

Ochre Court Dining Room

Ochre Court Ballroom

Ochre Court Salon – detail of wood work

Administration building from street

Today it serves as the administration building of Salve Regina University.

Click here to see more of my photos from Ochre Court.

William Watts Sherman House, Newport RI

William Watts Sherman House

An 1874 Shingle Style house designed by architect H.H. Richardson after the Queen Anne designs of Richard Norman Shaw.  It is currently being used as a dormitory at Salve Regina University.

Not bad for dormitory living

The house’s decor is by Stanford White.  Including the Library, whose mill work is still fantastic- it is painted peacock green with gold trim and embodies a wide variety of styles- Moroccan, Chinese,  English, etc.

Magnificent Library Milwork

Milwork Detail

The upstairs window seat is lined with beautiful yellow – flowered motif stained glass, creating a beautiful window seat.

WIndow seat

Detail, Stained Glass in Window Seat

Click here for more of my photos of the William Watts Sherman House.

Ochre Lodge, Salve Regina University, Newport RI

Front, Ochre Lodge

Ochre Lodge was built by Architect Dudley Newton in 1882-83 for Mrs. Julia H. Eldridge.

Ochre Lodge, Rear view

It is now a dormitory at Salve Regina University.  I had the pleasure of staying here for a few days in June 2012.

Main Stairway

Stairway detail

2nd floor hallway window

It still has lovely wood work, stained glass, and other architectural features.  I particularly loved the porch.

Ochre Lodge porch

Click here to see more of my photos of Ochre Lodge.

Vinland, Newport RI

VInland, from the Ocean side

Vinland was completed in 1884 for a member of the Lorillard family by the architect’s Peabody and Stearns.  It was sold to a member of the Vanderbilt family in 1896 and enlarged by the same architects in 1907.

Window detail

I have heard this building referred to as a neo-Viking or Viking revival design.

Viking downspout

It’s exterior decoration and red color certainly make it unique.

Exterior window frame

Today, it and all of its original out buildings belong to Salve Regina University.  The original gate house still proudly displays the name of Vinland.

Vinland Gatehouse

Vinland name plate

The house’s original interior designs shown below were by Robert Codman, although today the interiors are quite rough in appearence.

Interior detail

I hope that Salve’s administration will renovate and restore the interiors in the future.

Click here to see more of my photos of Vinland.

Wakehurst, Newport RI

Wakehurst

Wakehurst was built in 1884 for James J. Van Allen. He employed Architects Charles Kempe and Dudley Newton to build this house, based on a manor house known as “Wakehurst Place” in Kew Gardens, Sussex, England.

Kempe’s Stained Glass

Kempe was a stained glass artist by trade and in addition to the house plans, he designed the stained glass windows inside of Wakehurst.  These windows can still be seen today, as the building serves as the student center for Salve Regina University.

One of the Rooms in the Student Center

Interior details

The University’s library sits at the opposite end of Wakehurst’s garden, a modern structure inspired by Wakehurst’s gables.

Salve Regina’s Library

Click here to see more of my Wakehurst photos.