1424 - Introducing Elm Court
February 16-22, 2004 | August 16-22, 2004
HI. I'M BOB VILA. WELCOME HOME
AGAIN
TO ANOTHER HOME REMODELING
PROJECT IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'RE AT ELM COURT HERE IN THE
TOWN OF LENOX.
AND IT'S A HOUSE THAT'S
UNDERGOING RESTORATION
AT THE HANDS OF THE
FIFTH-GENERATION OWNERS.
IT'S THE LARGEST SHINGLE-STYLE
HOUSE IN AMERICA.
AND TODAY WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT
THE EXTERIOR DETAILING OF THE
HOUSE,
AS WELL AS THE RESTORED LIBRARY,
EVEN THE HEATING SYSTEM.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
BOB BERLE IS THE FIFTH
GENERATION OF THE FAMILY
THAT BUILT THIS HOUSE BACK IN
18...
'86.
'86. AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
THE HOUSE WAS LOCKED UP BY YOUR
GRANDFATHER IN 1957.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AFTER 50 YEARS OF THE FAMILY
LIVING IN THE HOUSE
AS A SUMMER HOUSE... YUP.
IT EXPANDED.
STARTED AT ABOUT 20,000 SQUARE
FEET...
RIGHT.
AND A SERIES OF 5 OR 6 EDITIONS
OVER THE NEXT 30-YEAR PERIOD
RESULTED IN A HOUSE THAT'S NOW
ABOUT 70,000 SQUARE FEET.
THE BIGGEST SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
IN AMERICA.
AND THE SHINGLE-STYLE,
OBVIOUSLY, IS DEFINED BY A SKIN
OF WOODEN SHINGLES
THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT IT.
AND HERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE
HOW THAT SHINGLE-STYLE EVOLVED
SO THAT IT INCLUDES OTHER TYPES
OF DETAILING
LIKE TUDOR TIMBERWORK.
ALMOST A TUDOR-LIKE TIMBERWORK,
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE ARCHITECTS WERE PEABODY &
STEARNS. UH-HUH.
AND THEY ALSO OVERSAW EVERY
EDITION TO THE HOUSE.
AND SO THE MAIN PORTION OF THE
HOUSE FROM THE ORIGINAL,
YOU CAN SEE THE WAVY-TYPE
SHINGLE WORK THERE.
IN THAT GABLE END UP THERE.
YES, AND AS THE STYLE EVOLVED,
OTHER ELEMENTS WERE INCLUDED IN
THE STYLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ALMOST TOOTHY
LOOK OF THE SHINGLE DESIGN
THERE.
MM-HMM. THE GABLES EVERYWHERE.
AND, OF COURSE,
SOMETHING LIKE A FRENCH TURRET
THERE.
WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN?
AMUSINGLY, THAT WAS A FIRE
WATCH.
I THINK ONCE YOU HAD A HOUSE
THAT WAS ABOUT 70,000 SQUARE
FEET,
YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT IT'S
MADE OUT OF WOOD,
AND IF IT DID CATCH FIRE, IT
WOULDN'T TAKE LONG TO BE GONE.
AND SO 24 HOURS A DAY, THERE WAS
SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN THAT TURRET
WATCHING THE ROOFS FOR FIRE,
AND THERE WAS A COUNTERPART ON
THE GROUND
WHO WALKED AROUND AND ALSO
LOOKED FOR FIRE.
AMAZING STORY. I'M SURE THERE
ARE A LOT OF AMAZING STORIES.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT A FOUNTAIN LIKE
THIS ONE,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVE HERE?
THIS WAS ACTUALLY A COPY OF A
FOUNTAIN
FROM PIAZZA MATTEI IN ROME.
THE ORIGINAL FOUNTAIN'S ONLY
4-FEET TALL.
AND WE ASSUME THE FOUNTAIN OF
THE TURTLES
WAS SEEN ON VACATION.
AND THEY WANTED TO BUILD IT
HERE.
THEY BUILT IT ABOUT-- I DON'T
KNOW--20 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE
ORIGINAL.
THEY ENLARGED IT. AND, OF
COURSE,
DURING THE 50 YEARS THAT THE
HOUSE WAS CLOSED UP,
IT SUFFERED FROM THEFT,
VANDALISM, AND A LOT OF
BORROWING
SO THAT THE BRONZES THAT WERE
ONCE THERE HAVE DISAPPEARED.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND REMEMBER,
BOB,
THIS WAS THE ERA OF HORSE-DRAWN
CARRIAGES.
RIGHT. SO THAT THE COACHES WOULD
ARRIVE HERE
UNDER THE PORTE-COCHERE.
AND THIS WOULD BE THE MAIN
ENTRANCE TO THE COTTAGE.
THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH.
AND AT THE TIME THAT THIS HOUSE
WAS BUILT,
SOME OF MY
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS'
RELATIVES
WERE BUILDING THINGS LIKE THE
BILTMORE
IN NORTH CAROLINA,
THE BREAKERS IN NEWPORT, AMONG
OTHERS.
THE VANDERBILTS HAD A PENCHANT
FOR LARGE SUMMER COTTAGES.
THEY LIKED TO ENTERTAIN A LITTLE
BIT.
YEAH. SO THIS ONE IN MANY WAYS
IS THE MOST MODEST
OF ALL THE HOUSES THAT WERE
BUILT.
I THINK IT REFLECTS MORE OF A
COUNTRY ASPIRATION
THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS.
AND GREAT ATTENTION WAS PUT NOT
ONLY INTO THE HOUSE,
BUT ALSO HOW IT FITS INTO THE
LAND.
AND, CERTAINLY,
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTEAD
EVERYWHERE
TOOK THAT IN MIND WHEN--
OLMSTEAD BEING THE DESIGNER OF
CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK
AND OF MANY OF THE SETTINGS FOR
THE GREAT ESTATES OF THE LATE
19th CENTURY.
Vila: NOW, THIS IS, WELL, THE
BACKSIDE.
WELL, THE HOUSE DOESN'T REALLY
HAVE A BACKSIDE.
IT HAS IMPORTANT FACADES
EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE SEEING ALONG HERE.
WELL, THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE
FACED WHAT WAS A TENNIS COURT,
BUT MORE NOTABLY,
THE HOUSE WAS NAMED AFTER A
TREE,
AN ELM TREE, THAT WAS 300 YEARS
OLD
AT THE TIME THE HOUSE WAS BUILT
AND WAS THE FIRST HOUSE TO BE
WIRED FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION.
INTERESTING.
ANOTHER THING OF NOTE IS
THAT THE ELM COURT TALKS IN 1919
WERE HELD ON THE PORCH HERE.
AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR I.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS LED TO THE
DRAFTING OF THE TREATY OF
VERSAILLES
AND THE CREATION OF THE LEAGUE
OF NATIONS.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE FAR SIDE OF
THE HOUSE,
THE WESTERN TERRACE?
THE WESTERN ELEVATION WAS THE
LAST PORTION OF THE BUILDING
TO BE BUILT,
AND DOES SHOW THE SOMEWHAT
CLASSIC STYLE
OF A SHINGLE-STYLE.
AND IT WAS A MELDING IN A TRUE
AMERICAN STYLE
OF MANY INFLUENCES, AS YOU
MENTIONED BEFORE--
TUDOR AND, OBVIOUSLY, ALL THE
SHINGLE WORK.
SPECTACULAR. CAN WE GO INSIDE?
ABSOLUTELY.
Vila: NEXT, WE'LL MEET SONYA
BERLE
AND TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING
INTERIOR RESTORATION AT ELM
COURT.
BOB, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO MY WIFE SONYA.
HELLO. HELLO. HI, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU? WONDERFUL. NICE TO
MEET YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BOY, WHAT
A FRONT HALL YOU'VE GOT.
OH, GOSH, WELL, THANK YOU. YES,
IT'S--
NOW, SONYA, I'VE GOT TO ASK A
QUESTION.
I MEAN, YOU'RE SO--BOTH OF YOU
ARE SO YOUNG.
HOW DO YOU GET INTO HOME
RENOVATION AT THIS SCALE
WHEN YOU'RE SOMEBODY PRACTICALLY
IN YOUR 20s?
GOSH. WELL, HONESTLY, ON SOME
LEVELS,
I THINK IT'S HARD-WIRED INTO
BOTH OF US.
IS THAT RIGHT? IT IS.
THE PRESERVATION OF LAND AND OF
HOUSES
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND WE REALLY ENJOY
THE ASPECTS OF THE HANDS-ON
LEARNING
AS WELL AS THE ACADEMIC APPROACH
FOR RESEARCH. AND IT'S SO
FULFILLING.
IT'S REALLY FULFILLING.
Vila: INTERESTING. YOU STARTED
OUT YOUR MARRIAGE
IN NEW ORLEANS, RIGHT?
Bob Berle: WE DID.
WE WERE TRYING TO PURCHASE
SOME OF THE WORST-LOOKING HOUSES
THAT YOU COULD FIND,
IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME PEOPLE.
BUT WE FOUND
SOME GREAT PROPERTIES
THAT WERE AWFULLY DOWN ON THEIR
LUCK,
SOME APARTMENTS CONDEMNED.
AND WE JUST HAD A GREAT TIME
WORKING TOGETHER
IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
THAT EACH HOUSE PRESENTED.
OK. THAT WAS THE START.
AND SO HERE THE TWO OF YOU ARE
WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT REALLY
HAS MEANING.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE
FEATURES OF THIS FRONT HALL,
BECAUSE, REALLY, IT'S
EXTRAORDINARY.
THE FIREPLACE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL
US ABOUT THAT?
WELL, I LOVE THE STYLE.
THE OVERALL STYLE,
IT'S JUST THESE VERY BEAUTIFUL
DELICATE BIRDS.
OVER HERE, WE HAVE A FIG TREE.
AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING
BECAUSE THE MATERIAL USED TO
CONSTRUCT THIS
IS BROWNSTONE,
AND THAT'S USUALLY AN EXTERIOR
BUILDING MATERIAL.
BUT THIS IS A FIREPLACE THAT YOU
COULD HAVE
AN INTERIOR AND AN EXTERIOR.
YES, THAT'S TRUE. THIS IS
ENORMOUS.
AND SITTING HERE, IT'S JUST SO
COMFORTING.
WE ACTUALLY TOAST MARSHMALLOWS
HERE A LOT.
I BET YOU DO.
THE KIDS LOVE IT.
THEY DO. THEY REALLY DO.
AS WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING, THE
HOUSE WAS VANDALIZED
AND ABANDONED FOR 50 YEARS.
THESE LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN
HERE FOREVER--
THE ANDIRONS.
THESE ARE ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE.
SO SOME THINGS WERE PRESERVED OR
SAVED.
THEY WERE. WHEN THE VANDALISM
FIRST STARTED,
MY GRANDPARENTS DID MOVE
SOME THINGS INTO THEIR HOUSE.
AND MY MOTHER HAS WORKED AWFULLY
HARD,
AND OTHER MEMBERS IN THE
FAMILY--
TO BRING THINGS BACK TO THE
HOUSE.
AND THAT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT,
I MEAN, TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL
THINGS.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND, OF
COURSE, THIS,
WHICH IS 8 FEET BY MAYBE 5 OR 6
FEET
BY A GOOD 4 1/2 FEET DEEP
WOULDN'T PROBABLY DRAW VERY WELL
WITHOUT THAT MASSIVE IRON
BACKBOARD.
THAT'S THE KEY TO THE FIREPLACE.
REALLY?
IT HAS THOSE BEAUTIFUL ROCOCO
SCROLLS ON THE BACK.
AND SO IT'S ALSO VERY, VERY NICE
TO LOOK AT.
SO I'D SAY THIS HALL IS
MAYBE 35 FEET BY ABOUT 25 FEET.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
YES, YES.
WHAT CONDITION WAS THIS ROOM IN?
WELL, ALL THE GLASS HAD BEEN
BROKEN OUT.
THERE WERE BOARDS ON ALL OF THE
WINDOWS.
THE FLOORS WERE JUST FILLED WITH
DEBRIS.
THE WOOD, THE PANELING HAD BEEN
KNOCKED OUT.
JUST SOME SENSELESS VANDALISM.
SENSELESS VANDALISM.
ARE THERE ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE
INTERIORS?
WE DO HAVE SOME GREAT PICTURES--
NOT GREAT PICTURES.
DOCUMENTATION.
GOOD PICTURES OF THE VANDALISM.
THEY CLEARLY GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF
WHAT IT WAS LIKE.
AND THE CEILINGS, I MEAN, THESE
ARE MASSIVE COFFERED CEILINGS.
THEY'RE REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK
AT.
WHAT KIND OF SHAPE WERE THEY IN?
THEY WERE ACTUALLY OUT OF REACH
IN SOME WAYS, WE THINK,
FROM SOME OF THE VANDALISM
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE HIGHER.
THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T SUSTAIN
THE DAMAGE
THAT A LOT OF THE WALLS
AND THE SPINDLES IN THE
STAIRWELL AND THE DOORS DID.
BUT WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY
KNOCKED THE PANELS OUT?
WE THINK THEY WERE TREASURE
HUNTING.
THERE WERE ALL THE STORIES NOT
ONLY LOCALLY,
BUT THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND
THAT THE HOUSE WAS HAUNTED,
THAT SOMEBODY HAD PUT MONEY IN
THE WALLS
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN
WHEN HOUSES ARE LEFT IDLE.
AND SO WE'VE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE
WHO MANY YEARS AGO HAD BROKEN
IN,
BUT NOW SAY, "OH, WELL, I
WAS..."
JUST A KID. YEAH.
"AND I WAS LOOKING FOR THINGS."
INTERESTING. IN HALF A CENTURY,
THERE'S A LOT OF STORIES LIKE
THAT.
IT'S NICE AND WARM IN HERE.
BESIDES THE FIREPLACE, WHAT HAVE
YOU DONE ABOUT THE MECHANICAL
SYSTEMS?
I'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU THE
BASEMENT.
GOOD.
AND MAYBE WHEN YOU COME BACK, I
COULD SHOW YOU THE LIBRARY.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. GREAT.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL
BE DOWN IN THE BASEMENT
CHECKING OUT THE
STATE-OF-THE-ART HEATING PLANT.
Vila: NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"
WE'RE VISITING ELM COURT IN
LENOX, MASSACHUSETTS.
THE LARGEST SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
IN AMERICA.
ELM COURT IS BEING RESTORED BY
THE FIFTH GENERATION
OF THE FAMILY THAT ORIGINALLY
BUILT IT.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE EXTERIOR OF
THE HOUSE
AND SEE HOW IT ILLUSTRATES
THE EVOLUTION OF THE
SHINGLE-STYLE.
WE'LL TALK TO THE HOMEOWNERS
ABOUT THEIR RENOVATION EFFORTS
AND WE'LL SEE THE NEW HEATING
PLANT AND THE RESTORED LIBRARY.
DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON "HOME
AGAIN."
Vila: NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"
IT'S A RENOVATION PROJECT AT ELM
COURT.
WE'LL SEE THE RESTORED LIBRARY
AND THE HEATING SYSTEM.
DON'T MISS IT.
WELL, I'D SAY THERE'S A LITTLE
BIT OF DECAY EVIDENT
IN YOUR BASEMENT, BOB.
WELL, THERE WAS.
WITH THE BUILDING VACANT FOR 50
YEARS...
HALF A CENTURY.
THERE WAS 4 FEET OF SNOW IN THE
BASEMENT
THE FIRST WINTER THAT WE CAME.
IT WAS BLOWING IN AND LIKE SNOW
FENCES--
ALL THESE INTERIOR WALLS.
SO THAT EXPLAINS THE HEAVING OF
THE SLABS DOWN HERE.
HOW BIG IS THE BASEMENT?
IT'S ABOUT 34,000 SQUARE FEET.
SAY IT AGAIN.
WOW. 34,000 SQUARE FEET.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING
FEATURES OF THE BASEMENT
IS THAT THERE'S A WALKWAY
UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PORCH
WHEN WE CAME IN.
AND OF COURSE, HISTORICALLY,
THERE WAS A BUTCHER'S SHOP
AND A BAKER'S SHOP AND A LAUNDRY
ROOM--
AND, ACTUALLY, TWO BAKERS,
DRYING RACKS--
IT WAS LIKE A LITTLE CITY.
THIS WAS A HOTEL. THIS WAS A
PRIVATE HOUSE,
BUT HOW MANY ROOMS IN THE HOUSE?
THERE'S 106 ROOMS IN THE HOUSE.
AND A STAFF OF PROBABLY 20 OR
30.
THE TOTAL STAFF IS 128.
FOR THE WHOLE-- THE WHOLE
PROPERTY,
AND I THINK ABOUT 20 OR 30 IN
THE HOUSE.
WOW. AND THEN--
THIS IS KIND OF A CONTRAST
BECAUSE EVERYTHING OVERHEAD
LOOKS LIKE IT'S BRAND-NEW
PIPING,
TROUGHS LIKE YOU SEE IN--
I MEAN, THIS IS
STATE-OF-THE-ART.
WHY DID YOU WIRE THINGS LIKE
THIS?
WELL, IT'S AN INTERESTING--
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH
THE HOUSE
LED TO OUR ULTIMATE ADVANTAGE
IN THAT NONE OF THE SYSTEMS WERE
USABLE
EXCEPT FOR THE SEPTIC DRAINS.
WE HAD GREAT ELECTRICIANS,
WILBUR ELECTRIC,
WHO INSTALLED THESE TROUGHS,
WHICH MEANT WE WEREN'T DRILLING
HOLES IN BEAMS,
WE WEREN'T PUTTING UP CONDUITS.
WE HAVE HIGH VOLTAGE ON THE TOP,
LOW VOLTAGE HERE.
AND YOU'VE GOT ACCESS TO IT AT
ANY POINT...
CONTINUAL ACCESS.
WITHOUT HAVING TO GO INTO AND
BREAKING INTO IT.
SO IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY AND OLD
TECHNOLOGY.
YOU STILL HAVE THE COAL PILE IN
THERE.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE SOME
HOME.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT OUT OF
THE BASEMENT SLOWLY,
BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT YET.
AND NOW YOU USE FUEL OIL.
WE DO. WE USE OIL BURNERS.
BUT HISTORICALLY, THIS WAS WHAT
THE BOILER LOOKED LIKE.
NOW...
THAT'S ORIGINAL, RIGHT?
THAT'S AN ORIGINAL BOILER.
THERE WERE 3.
AND THERE WERE--
THERE WERE 3 THIS SIZE FOR THE
WHOLE PLACE?
THREE THAT SIZE FOR THE WHOLE
PLACE.
AND THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO
WERE
CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING IT WITH
COAL,
WHICH I IMAGINE WAS NOT A VERY
GOOD JOB TO HAVE.
THAT ONE WON'T COME OPEN, HUH?
SO THERE WERE STOKERS.
THIS IS JUST LIKE THE TITANIC.
YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE LIKE THE
TITANIC.
YEAH, BUT THIS WAS MAKING STEAM,
RIGHT?
IT WAS.
IT MADE STEAM THAT WENT INTO
RADIATORS WRAPPED IN TIN
AND DUCTED TO THE UPPER FLOORS.
AND JUST THROUGH GRAVITY--
THERE WERE NO FANS, NO BLOWERS--
JUST THROUGH GRAVITY,
THE HEAT FOUND THE ROOMS.
HOW DO YOU HEAT IT NOW?
COME ON IN THE BOILER ROOM-- OUR
NEW BOILER ROOM.
AH, IT'S TOASTY IN HERE.
OH, YEAH!
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THESE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU'VE GOT 3
LITTLE BOILERS LIKE THIS
FOR THE WHOLE 106 ROOMS?
RIGHT. THE IDEA IS THAT WE HAVE
9 TOTAL BOILERS
WHEN THE BUILDING IS COMPLETE.
OK.
AND THE IDEA WAS TO REALLY PUT
NORMAL,
HOUSE-SIZED BOILERS IN THE
HOUSE,
SO PEOPLE CAN WORK ON THEM.
AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES ARE EASY.
THAT'S INTERESTING. INSTEAD OF A
BIG INDUSTRIAL
OR COMMERCIAL KIND OF
INSTALLATION,
YOU'VE GOT NORMAL BOILERS,
AND IF YOU'VE GOT ANY KIND OF A
BREAKDOWN,
ANYBODY CAN COME.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW HOW TO DO SOME
OF THE REPAIRS YOURSELF.
WE DO.
AND THE OTHER IDEA WAS TO PUT
EACH ROOM ON ITS OWN ZONE.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL IN
THE HOUSE,
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY BEEN
MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
BEGINNING,
BUT IT'S REALLY BEEN WORTHWHILE
IN THE LONG RUN.
BOB, WHAT ABOUT FIRE SAFETY?
A LOT OF THESE HUGE OLD PALACES
JUST KIND OF WENT UP IN FLAMES
IN THE LAST 20-30 YEARS.
IT'S A GREAT CONCERN OF OURS.
WE'VE COMPLETELY MADE THIS ROOM
SO IT'S AIRTIGHT.
MM-HMM.
AND IN ADDITION,
WE ONLY TAKE IN A CERTAIN VOLUME
OF AIR FOR EACH BOILER
THROUGH THESE MACHINES RIGHT
HERE.
ANY SIGN OF FIRE, EXCESSIVE
HEAT, SMOKE,
THE BOILERS SHUT DOWN,
SPRINKLERS COME ON,
AND THE ROOM SHUTS DOWN.
SO THERE'S NO MORE AIR FOR
COMBUSTION.
THERE'S NO MORE AIR FOR
COMBUSTION.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
ALL OF IT.
THANKS, BOB.
Vila: COMING UP NEXT,
WE'LL VISIT THE RESTORED LIBRARY
HERE AT ELM COURT.
AND IT'S A GOOD THING YOU'VE GOT
THAT HEATING PLANT, BOB,
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOME LARGE
SPACES TO HEAT.
HI, SONYA.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT SIZE DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS
ROOM REALLY IS?
IT'S ABOUT 28 BY 35.
FUNNY. I WOULD HAVE GUESSED
MORE.
AND OF COURSE, WHEN YOU GOT
HERE,
YOU HAD TO SORT OF START FROM
SCRATCH,
'CAUSE LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER
INTERIORS,
IT HAD BEEN VANDALIZED AND
RUINED.
COMPLETELY.
COMPLETELY, ACTUALLY.
HOW DID YOU GET TO DECIDING,
YOU KNOW, COLOR SCHEME, FOR
EXAMPLE?
YOU'VE GOT KIND OF LIKE A GOLD
CEILING
AND A BEAUTIFUL BLUE ON ALL THE
PANELING.
HOW DO YOU PICK THE COLORS?
THANKS.
FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSE, ACTUALLY,
WE REALLY LIKE TO CHOOSE ALL OF
THE COLORS
AND THE TEXTILES AND FURNISHINGS
FROM HISTORICAL PALETTES
SO THAT THEY ARE ACCURATE TO THE
ERA,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS OUR
OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCE IN IT,
SO IT'S COMFORTABLE, IT'S OUR
HOME.
MM-HMM.
AND THIS ONE WAS BASED--
SONYA PICKED ALL THE COLORS OFF
OF THIS RUG,
WHICH HAS BEEN HERE FOR,
ACTUALLY, NOT THAT LONG--
IT HASN'T BEEN HERE AT ALL--
WHICH WAS ACTUALLY PUT INTO
STORAGE
IN THE FIFTIES--
IT'S HARD TO KEEP THESE--
THE HISTORY OF ALL THIS
STRAIGHT, ISN'T IT?
IT IS.
IN '57, IT WAS PUT INTO STORAGE
BY MY GRANDFATHER,
AND, MONTHLY, TAKEN CARE OF,
AND THEN IT CAME BACK TO THE
HOUSE.
AND WHEN WE ROLLED IT OUT,
WE REALIZED IT'S ABOUT 8 FEET
TOO LONG.
Vila: SO IT DIDN'T ORIGINALLY
BELONG IN THIS ROOM?
Bob Berle: IT WASN'T.
THE SECRET IS OUT.
YEAH, IT'S FOLDED OVER.
BUT IT ACTUALLY WAS IN A HOUSE
ON 5th AVENUE THAT WAS IN THE
FAMILY,
WHICH IS NOW BERGDORF GOODMAN'S.
BUT NONETHELESS, WE'RE HAPPY TO
HAVE IT HERE.
IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL
THIS,
BUT THE HOUSE THAT BELONGED
TO OTHER ANCESTORS OF YOURS
BY THE NAME OF VANDERBILT
IS NOW THE BERGDORF GOODMAN
DEPARTMENT STORE...
THAT'S CORRECT.
ON 5th AVENUE.
AND THIS RUG ORIGINALLY WAS IN
THERE.
YES.
AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG
FOR THIS ROOM, BUT, BOY, IT IS,
OF COURSE,
WHERE YOU GOT THE COLOR SCHEME--
DID YOU SAY IT WAS CHINESE?
YES, IT IS. IT IS, INDEED.
AND IT'S FROM THE W.J. SLOANE
COMPANY.
YEAH, THE W.J. SLOANE COMPANY
WAS--
MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO
BUILT THE HOUSE
WITH HIS WIFE EMILY,
THEY HAD A FURNITURE COMPANY
THAT WAS STARTED BY HIS FATHER,
W.J. SLOANE AND COMPANY.
AND ALL OF THE FURNITURE AT THE
TIME
WAS MADE FOR THE HOUSE AND FOR
SPECIFIC SPOTS.
EXCELLENT. WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING
LIKE THE BEAR RUG?
I MEAN, WHO SHOT THE BEAR?
I WISH IN MANY WAYS THAT IT WAS
LIKE DAYS OF OLD,
WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT INTO THE
BUSH OURSELVES AND TAKE ONE OUT.
WE WERE TOO BUSY HAVING
CHILDREN.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY GOT THIS ONE
FROM CANADA.
AND SONYA ALWAYS SAYS--
YOU NEED TO HAVE A BEAR LIKE
THAT IN A HOUSE LIKE THIS.
YES, IT'S VERY VICTORIAN.
IS IT A GRIZZLY?
IT IS A GRIZZLY.
IT IS A GRIZZLY BEAR. WONDERFUL.
IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU
WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE
IN A GRAND LIBRARY LIKE THIS.
THE BARONIAL FIREPLACES, THE
CANDLE--
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST SOFA I THINK
I'VE EVER LOOKED AT.
WHAT--THAT'S GOT TO BE A 10- OR
12-FOOT WIDE SOFA.
IT IS.
IT WAS ALSO ORIGINAL TO THE
HOUSE
AND WAS PUT INTO STORAGE--
ANOTHER PIECE THAT WAS IN
STORAGE
IN THE BASEMENT OF MY
GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE.
WHAT ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL
DETAILING OF THE ROOM?
BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS BUILT
AS A LIBRARY.
IT'S BOOKSHELVES ON ALL 3 MAJOR
WALLS--4.
WAS THIS VANDALIZED?
IS IT IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION?
WHAT GIVES?
MUCH OF THE WOODWORK WAS IN
PRETTY GOOD CONDITION.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS MOST INTERESTING TO US
IN THE ROOM
IS THAT ALL OF THE SWAGS
AND ALL OF THE INTRICATE DETAIL
OF THE ROOM
WAS MADE OUT OF WOOD.
THERE'S NO PLASTER IN THE ROOM
AT ALL.
SO EVEN THE CORNICE MOLDING
WITH THE LEAVES CARVED INTO IT
AND STUFF, THAT'S ALL CARVED
WOOD?
ALL CARVED WOOD.
Sonya: YES, ALL THE ACANTHUS
LEAF,
AND IN THE OTHER ROOMS WHERE WE
HAD MORE PLASTER,
WE SEEMED TO HAVE SUSTAINED
MORE VANDALISM AND DAMAGE.
IT WAS EASIER, INDEED, TO
DESTROY.
WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WAS THE
ORIGINAL FINISH ON THE WOOD?
WOULD IT HAVE BEEN NATURAL WOOD?
IT WAS ACTUALLY--
THIS HOUSE WAS ALWAYS PAINTED.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
WOODS
THAT ARE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE
HOUSE.
AND IT WENT IN AND OUT OF VOGUE
DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA
TO HAVE PAINTED AND UNPAINTED
WOOD. AND THIS HOUSE,
DURING THE TIME THAT IT WAS
CONSTRUCTED,
WAS INDEED DURING THE PAINTED
WOOD SEGMENT.
SO IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO HAVE A
COAT OF PAINT ON IT.
ALWAYS.
Bob Berle: WE DECORATED THIS
ROOM ABOUT 7 TIMES.
AND I THINK PART OF THAT
WAS FROM THE SEASONALITY OF THE
HOUSE.
YOU COULD LEAVE IN THE WINTER--
IT WAS ONLY A SUMMER HOUSE--
SO THAT CONSTRUCTION COULD BE
GOING ON NON-STOP.
AND THEN YOU COME BACK AND IT'S
A NEW PLACE.
CHANGED. IT'S REDECORATED.
AND FULL CHANGES, TOO.
COFFERED CEILINGS TO PLASTER
TO--
JUST FULL CHANGES.
WAS THE CONSERVATORY SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE ADDED ON?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BRAND-NEW.
Sonya: IT'S HAD A LOT OF WORK.
BECAUSE OF ITS EXPOSURE TO
ELEMENTS ON SO MANY SIDES,
IT WAS ACTUALLY IN VERY, VERY
BAD CONDITION.
BUT IT IS ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE,
AND IT'S A WONDERFUL SPOT
AND WE OVERLOOK THERE THE
BERKSHIRE HILLS
AND THE LAKE, STOCKBRIDGE BOWL.
AND SO IT REALLY IS QUITE A
THERAPEUTIC AREA.
Bob Berle: AND WHEN WE DO HAVE
BRIDES
WHO GET MARRIED IN THE BUILDING,
MANY ARE DRAWN TO THAT ROOM AND
HAVE CEREMONIES IN THAT ROOM.
Vila: BECAUSE YOU HAVE RESTORED
IT AS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST
BED AND BREAKFAST OPERATIONS IN
THE BERKSHIRES.
WELL, WE'LL SEE MORE OF THE
HOUSE IN WEEKS TO COME,
BUT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME. UNTIL
THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME
AGAIN.
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