1425 - Sound Insulation and Restored Rooms at Elm Court
February 23-29, 2004 | August 23-29, 2004
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME "HOME AGAIN."
WE'RE AT ELM COURT,
A BEAUTIFUL SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
FROM THE LATE 1800s,
AND IT'S ACTUALLY 70,000 SQUARE
FEET OF LIVING SPACE
HERE IN THE TOWN OF LENOX
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS.
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE
SHOWING YOU SOME OF THE WORK
THAT'S GOING ON
TO RECLAIM THIS HOUSE,
WHICH SAT ABANDONED
FOR HALF A CENTURY.
TODAY, WE'RE INSTALLING
A CEILING
AND LOOKING AT SOME
OF THE FINISHED ROOMS.
STICK AROUND.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
"HOME AGAIN."
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
WE'RE GETTING STARTED TODAY
IN THE SECOND STORY, WEST END
OF THIS ENORMOUS HOUSE,
LOOKING AT SOME OF
THE ROOMS THAT HAVE NOT
YET BEEN TOTALLY RESTORED,
AND THIS ROOM IS GOING
TO BECOME A MEDIA ROOM
FOR ONE OF THE SUITES.
AND WE'VE GOT
JOE ADAMS WITH US
AND RALPH McGRATH.
HELLO.
BOTH HERE FROM OC.
AND IT'S A NEW--
IT'S A NEW APPLICATION
FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER,
RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND
OF ACOUSTICAL CEILING.
THAT'S DEAD RIGHT.
IT'S A QUIETZONE
ACOUSTYLE CEILING.
AND THE IDEA IS,
UH...TO GIVE
THE DIY PERSON
A CHANCE TO
PUT UP A REALLY
GOOD-LOOKING CEILING
AND CONTROL THE NOISE
WITHIN THE ROOM AT
THE SAME TIME.
WELL, LOOKING AT THE AREA
DIRECTLY ABOVE YOU,
IT LOOKS SO APPROPRIATE FOR
A HOUSE OF THIS PERIOD.
IT'S JUST VERY ELEGANT.
NOW, THE GRID THAT'S
HOLDING IT UP LOOKS LIKE
THE STANDARD STEEL GRID
THAT YOU PUT UP
ANY KIND OF ACOUSTICAL
SYSTEM WITH, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S STANDARD 15/16
"D" BAR GRID.
SUSPENDED CEILING.
AHA.
AND THEN, WHAT IS
THE BLACK SURFACE THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT?
THE BLACK MATERIAL IS
A BLACK ACOUSTIC BOARD
THAT'S GOING TO ABSORB
THE SOUND AS IT GOES
THROUGH THE PANEL.
SO, IT'S ABOUT
AN INCH THICK, AND
IT IS FIBERGLASS.
HOW COME THEY MAKE IT
BLACK, RALPH?
WELL, WE MAKE IT
BLACK SO, BASICALLY,
IT DISAPPEARS BEHIND
THE PANEL, AND IT
DOESN'T SHOW UP.
IT'S JUST PERFECT.
LIKE STAGECRAFT.
ANYTHING BACKSTAGE
IS USUALLY BLACK.
USE IT A LOT
IN THEATERS,
AUDITORIUMS.
AND THEN, THERE
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
ANY CUTTING INVOLVED
IN THIS, JOE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE TRANSITION BOX
AT THE INTERSECTIONS
OF THE GRID SYSTEM
ALLOW FOR JUST
STRAIGHT CUTTING.
IT'S A VERY EASY
SYSTEM TO INSTALL--
JUST CLIPS TO
THE EXISTING GRID.
Vila: SO WHEN YOU BUY
THE WHOLE THING,
YOU GET ALL
THE DIFFERENT PIECES
THAT WOULD
THEN BE CLIPPED ON
TO THE EXISTING GRID.
YOU GET THESE PIECES,
AND YOU CLIPPED THEM ON.
WHAT ARE THESE LITTLE
BLACK THINGS THERE, JOE?
THESE ARE HIGH CARBON
STEEL CLIP THAT'S
A SPRING-TYPE CLIP
THAT WILL ADHERE
TO THE METAL GRID
AS WELL AS TO THE WOOD,
AND IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT,
PUSH-ON, METAL CLIP.
NOW, WHY DO YOU NEED
THE EXTRA CLIP?
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STICK
IT UP ONTO THE GRID?
WELL, IT'S A SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS IT TO
EXPAND AND CONTRACT.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
WITH WOOD CEILINGS
IS WHEN THE HEAT,
IN THE WINTERTIME,
WOULD HIT A WOOD CEILING,
IT WOULD CAUSE
THE CEILING TO SHRINK
AND POP THE JOINTS.
SO THESE CLIPS ARE
A SPRING-LOADED,
HIGH CARBON STEEL,
AND THEY WILL ALLOW
THE CEILING TO BREATHE.
ARE YOU READY FOR ONE
OF THE COFFERS?
NOT JUST YET,
BOB.
OK. ALL RIGHT.
SO, SOME OF THEM,
I NOTICE, ARE PERFORATED
AND SOME OF THEM
ARE NOT, RALPH.
YEAH, THAT'S--
THE PERFORATION
IS GOING TO LET
THE NOISE GO THROUGH,
GET ABSORBED
BY THE BLACK BOARDS
IN THE BACKGROUND.
BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO
HAVE THE PERFORATIONS
IN ALL OF THE COFFERS,
JUST IN A FEW.
NO. BASICALLY, YOU CAN
JUST SELECT WHATEVER
LOOK YOU LIKE.
PUT THEM WHEREVER YOU--
WHEREVER IT MAKES SENSE
FROM AN AESTHETIC
POINT OF VIEW.
AND HERE, WE'VE GOT
A ROOM THAT'S MORE
OR LESS RECTANGULAR,
SO YOU'VE LAID THEM OUT
KIND OF IN A RECTANGLE
ALONG THE CENTRAL
PORTION OF THE--
THAT'S RIGHT. WE'VE GOT
A RECTANGLE AROUND THE
OUTSIDE THAT'S SOLID,
FOLLOWED BY A RECTANGLE
THAT'S PERFORATED,
AND THEN WE'VE GOT
A SOLID SECTION IN THE--
YEAH, HERE'S
A SOLID ONE NOW.
THIS IS WALNUT,
ISN'T IT?
I MEAN, IT'S NOT
A PHOTO FINISH OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S REAL WOOD.
IT'S REAL WALNUT.
YEAH, IT'S
REAL WALNUT.
THESE ARE ALL SOLID
WALNUT SECTIONS.
UH-HUH. NOW...
AND AGAIN--YOU SEE
THE CLIPS AGAIN?
YEAH, THE BACKSIDE
OF IT--
SO THE WHOLE THING
CAN MOVE, ADJUST
WITH TEMPERATURE.
SO THAT WHEN THE HEATING
SEASON IS UPON US,
AND THERE'S,
YOU KNOW, CONTRACTION
OF THE WOOD AND STUFF,
YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY CRACKS DEVELOPING.
LASTS FOREVER.
NOW, HOW DOES
THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER
THAT WANTS TO PUT THIS IN
FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED
AND, YOU KNOW, BUY IT?
WELL, IT'S BASED ON
A STANDARD 2' x 2'
GRID SECTION.
SO, WITHIN
ANY SIZE ROOM,
THERE'S
A JUST A BILL
OF MATERIALS LIST.
GREAT.
AND AWAY IT GOES.
Adams: SO THE PANEL
WOULD SIT IN JUST LIKE
A TYPICAL SUSPENSION PANEL.
Vila: BEAUTIFUL!
IN PLACE.
Vila, voice-over:
NEXT, WE'LL JOIN HOMEOWNERS
BOB AND SONYA BERLE
FOR A LOOK AT THE RESTORED
PARLOR HERE AT ELM COURT.
OUR HOSTS HERE AT ELM COURT,
BOB AND SONYA BERLE,
HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THE RESTORATION
OF THE HOUSE FOR...
3, 3 1/2 YEARS, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WE'RE IN
THE MAIN SALON,
THE MAIN PARLOR.
NOW, SONYA,
WHEN YOU STARTED,
YOU HAD A MESS,
BECAUSE THIS WAS
TOTALLY VANDALIZED,
RIGHT?
IT WAS, INDEED.
THE WINDOWS WERE
ALL BROKEN OUT.
THERE WAS DEBRIS
COVERING THE FLOORS.
ALL OF THE COLUMNS
HERE, THE PILASTERS,
THE CAPITALS--
PEOPLE HAD TRIED
TO REMOVE THEM,
AND SO SOME OF THEM
WERE COMPLETELY GONE
AND OTHER ONES WERE
HALF CRUSHED.
IT WAS REALLY
DEPRESSING.
VERY DAUNTING.
FROM THE POINT
OF RECONSTRUCTION--
I MEAN, THIS IS ALL
PLASTER WORK, RIGHT?
HOW DID YOU
ACCOMPLISH
ALL OF THIS?
IT WAS A COMBINATION
OF TECHNIQUES
TO INCLUDE SILICONE GLUES
AS WELL AS ACTUALLY
JUST CRAFTING DETAILS
OUT OF 3-MINUTE PLASTER.
SO IT TOOK SEVERAL
MONTHS, ACTUALLY,
TO GET AROUND THE ROOM.
AND THEN,
THE DECOR IS ALWAYS
THE BIG PAYOFF.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE
TO PAINT IT PINK?
UH, YES. WELL,
THIS TONE, ACTUALLY--
IT IS ACTUALLY A TINT
FROM THE HISTORICAL
PALETTE, OF
A HISTORICAL HUE,
AND ACTUALLY,
THE INSPIRATION WAS
THIS CHAIR OVER HERE.
THAT WAS A PIECE
OF FURNITURE THAT WAS
ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE,
AND THAT WAS INDEED
WHERE EVERYTHING
DEVELOPED.
SO,
THE FURNISHINGS--
EVEN THOUGH
THE HOUSE WAS
VANDALIZED,
AND THE HOUSE
WAS LOCKED UP FOR
HALF A CENTURY,
THE FURNISHINGS THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT
ARE ORIGINAL
TO THE HOUSE?
MANY ARE.
WHEN THE VANDALISM
STARTED,
MY GRANDPARENTS DID
MOVE SOME PIECES
INTO THEIR PERSONAL HOUSE,
INTO THE BASEMENTS,
AND THEY WERE STORED THERE.
SO, A RUG THIS SIZE
IN A BASEMENT?
YES, THIS ONE WAS
ROLLED UP IN STORAGE
FOR 50 YEARS.
IT'S A SILK AUBUSSON
AND IS JUST REALLY
AN INSPIRATIONAL PIECE.
IT IS. I MEAN, THIS
IS THE BIGGEST ROOM
IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THE DIMENSIONS ARE?
THIS ONE
IS 35' x 40'.
BY 40'.
AND SO THE RUG
APPROXIMATES
THAT SIZE.
EXACTLY.
EASIER TO STAND ON
THAN TO MOVE.
[CHUCKLES]
I IMAGINE MOVING IT
IS A VERY BIG JOB.
TELL US ABOUT SOME
OF THE STUFF IN
THE ROOM, THOUGH.
I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU
CALL--
I MEAN, WHEN YOU
APPROACH A ROOM LIKE
THIS
AND DECIDE TO
SET UP, YOU KNOW,
TABLES AND CHAIRS
IN ONE CORNER
AND THIS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE--
WHAT ARE THESE
PIECES?
THESE ARE FAINTING SOFAS,
OR A CHAISE LOUNGE.
REALLY, IN THE ROOM
OVERALL, WE JUST LOOKED
FOR A NICE FLOW
AND TO HAVE IT
ALSO FUNCTIONAL BUT YET
SPARSELY DECORATED ENOUGH
SO THAT THE ROOM STILL
HAS A NICE, OPEN FEELING,
AND ONE CAN REALLY
ENJOY THE ARCHITECTURAL
DETAILS OF THE HOUSE.
BUT THESE
WERE REUPHOLSTERED,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
THE UPHOLSTERY'S NEW,
BUT WE WERE ABLE
TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL
BOUILLON FRINGE.
OH. SO THE FRINGE
IS ORIGINAL TO
THE PIECES.
YES, IT IS INDEED.
AND THEY CALL THEM
FAINTING COUCHES,
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS
A RECEPTION ROOM,
SO YOU WANT TO KEEP
IT SPARSE ENOUGH
THAT YOU CAN HAVE
50 PEOPLE OR MORE--
EXACTLY.
STANDING AROUND
AT A PARTY.
THAT'S CORRECT.
NOW, IS THIS
THE ANCESTOR?
THIS IS. THIS IS MY
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER,
W.D. SLOANE,
WHO BUILT THE HOUSE
WITH HIS WIFE
EMILY VANDERBILT SLOANE.
AND THAT'S EMILY
IN THE PORTRAIT
ACROSS THE SALON?
YES, IT IS.
WE ENJOY THE FACT
THAT THEY LOOK AT
EACH OTHER EVERY DAY,
THROUGH THEIR PORTRAITS,
OBVIOUSLY.
IN THE ROOM.
YEAH.
AND THEN OTHER
FURNISHINGS, LIKE
THE CHAIR BELOW IT
AND THE TABLE
AND CHAIRS HERE--
WHAT STYLE IS THAT,
SONYA?
WELL, THIS IS
A FRENCH SET.
AGAIN, WE HAD
TO REUPHOLSTER IT.
IT IS ORIGINAL
TO THE HOUSE,
AS WELL, THE CHAIR
THAT YOU POINTED OUT.
IN THIS ROOM,
THE IDEA WAS TO HAVE--
THIS ROOM HAS THE LARGEST
CONCENTRATION OF ORIGINAL
FURNISHINGS IN IT.
WE WERE REALLY TRYING
TO MAKE THIS ROOM...
AS INTACT AS WE COULD
WITH ORIGINAL PIECES.
WONDERFUL.
AND YET THINGS LIKE
THE FIREPLACE--
HAD THEY BEEN
DESTROYED AS WELL?
OH, BOY.
THIS FIREPLACE WAS PROBABLY
IN OVER 50 PIECES.
INCLUDING THE BACK
STONEWORK AND THE MARBLE
WORK SURROUNDS.
MANY OF THE PIECES
HAD BEEN BROKEN,
AND THEN SOMEBODY
THREW THEM OUT
THE WINDOW
OR USED THEM
TO BREAK WINDOWS,
AND SO,
THE ONGOING SPORT
IS, WHEN IT RAINS,
WE GO OUT AND WE
LOOK OUTSIDE
THESE 3 WINDOWS
AND OCCASIONALLY,
WE FIND A PIECE.
I NOTICED YOU'VE STILL
GOT ONE MISSING PIECE--
OR RATHER, ONE
LOOSE PIECE HERE.
IT'S SOMEWHAT
OF A MYSTERY PIECE.
DOESN'T BELONG
THERE.
YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT
WHERE IT GOES,
BUT THERE ARE
OTHER AREAS WHERE
THEY'RE STILL MISSING.
AND WE'RE HOPEFUL
THAT, AFTER THE
SPRING'S HEAVY RAIN,
WE FIND THOSE.
WELL, THAT'S KIND OF
THE STORY OF ELM COURT,
IS THAT THERE ARE
SO MANY MISSING PIECES,
THAT YOU'RE HOPEFUL
SLOWLY THEY WILL BE FOUND
OR SLOWLY
THEY'LL BE RETURNED.
BECAUSE, FOR SO MANY
YEARS, THIS WAS A PLACE
THAT WAS KIND OF
A FREE-FOR-ALL FOR KIDS
AND VANDALS OR WHOEVER
TO COME AND DO MISCHIEF.
EXACTLY.
WE'VE BEEN VERY
HEARTENED
BY THE RETURN OF A
FEW ITEMS OVER TIME
FROM STRANGERS
AND FRIENDS,
AND WE WELCOME THEM
ALL BACK WITH
OPEN ARMS.
HOW ABOUT THE BUST ON
TOP OF THE MARBLE
MANTELPIECE?
THIS PIECE, AS WELL,
IS ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE,
AND IT WAS IN
THE DINING ROOM,
IS WHERE IT WAS
ORIGINALLY PLACED,
AND WE DECIDED
TO MOVE IT INTO HERE,
AGAIN, KEEPING IN
THAT THEME OF HAVING
AS MANY ORIGINAL ITEMS
IN THIS ROOM AS POSSIBLE.
DID IT SURVIVE, BOB,
BECAUSE IT WAS IN STORAGE?
IT WAS ACTUALLY
IN THE STABLE
WHEN WE GOT HERE,
WHICH SEEMS
AN ODD PLACE TO KEEP
A BUST LIKE THAT.
BUT NONETHELESS,
AFTER PULLING
RUBBLE OFF OF IT,
THERE IT WAS.
IT LOOKS TERRIFIC.
LOOKS LIKE THAT'S
WHERE IT BELONGS.
OH, GOOD.
GREAT.
Vila, voice-over:
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR VISIT
AT ELM COURT WITH
A TOUR OF THE DINING ROOM.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'RE BACK AT ELM COURT,
A HUGE, SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
FROM THE LATE 1800s
IN LENOX, MASSACHUSETTS.
THIS HOUSE WAS VANDALIZED
AND SAT ABANDONED
FOR HALF A CENTURY.
THE OWNERS WILL SHOW US
THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE
TO RECLAIM THE HOUSE,
INCLUDING THE RESTORED
PARLOR AND DINING ROOM.
WE'LL BE INSTALLING
AN ACOUSTICAL WOOD
COFFERED CEILING
AND LOOK AT THE RESTORED
KITCHEN AREA.
DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON...
IT'S MORE RENOVATIONS
AT ELM COURT,
WE'LL INSTALL A CEILING
AND TOUR THE KITCHEN.
DON'T MISS IT.
Vila: WOW, NOW THIS
HAS TO BE THE MOST
ORNATE CEILING
ANYWHERE IN
THE HOUSE, RIGHT?
WELL, IT IS, INDEED.
THERE'S ALL OF
THE EGG AND DART
AND THE ACANTHUS
LEAF, THE ROCOCO
SCROLLING.
AND THAT'S JUST IN
THE CORNICE PART OF IT.
YES, AND THAT
ACTUALLY--
IT'S A MOTIF
THAT THE FAMILY
CARRIED THROUGH
DIFFERENT HOMES THAT
THEY CONSTRUCTED.
IN FACT, YOU CAN
FIND THAT MOTIF
IN GRAND CENTRAL
STATION IN NEW YORK
CITY ON THE CEILING.
BECAUSE THE VANDERBILT
FAMILY BUILT GRAND CENTRAL
AS A GIFT FOR
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER
IT WAS THE SAME BUILDERS
THAT WENT FROM
PROPERTY TO PROPERTY.
ACTUALLY, THIS WAS
THE LAST ADDITION
TO THE HOUSE IN 1910.
AHA!
SO THAT'S ONE REASON
WHY IT KIND OF PROJECTS
ON THIS CORNER
OF THE EXTERIOR
AND KIND OF STANDS
ALONE FROM THE REST OF
THE MASS OF THE HOUSE.
BUT GETTING BACK
TO THE CEILING,
HOW DID THIS SURVIVE
50 YEARS OF A HOUSE
BEING SHUT DOWN
AND NOT HEATED
AND VANDALIZED?
FAIRLY WELL.
WE GOT LUCKY
ON THE CEILING.
AGAIN, I THINK
IT WAS HIGH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE FACED WAS THAT LARGE
PORTIONS OF THE CEILING,
WHILE INTACT, HAD SEPARATED
FROM THE SUPPORT
WHICH HELD IT UP IN THE AIR.
FROM THE LATH.
WE GOT LUCKY THAT THEY
DIDN'T ACTUALLY FALL
ON THE GROUND AND SMASH,
BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS
WAS THAT, AS WE JACK IT
INTO PLACE,
WOULD IT STAY UP
OR WOULD IT FALL?
AND SO WE SCAFFOLDED
THE FLOOR AND USED
HOUSE JACKS AND EPOXIES,
WHICH WE INJECTED UNDERNEATH
THE PLASTER CEILING,
AND PUSHED IT INTO PLACE.
PUSHED IT BACK INTO
PLACE AND IT HELD.
IT HELD.
AND WHAT ABOUT
THE PAINT?
HAD THE PAINT ALL
PEELED OFF IN THE COLD?
IT TOOK MONTHS TO GET
THE OLD PAINT OFF
TO KEEP AND RETAIN
THE ORIGINAL DETAILS
WITHOUT EITHER
DESTROYING THE DETAILS
OR MAKING THEM SO MURKY.
NOW, YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE
FOR A LOT OF THE DECORATION
OF THE HOUSE,
AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T
THINK ABOUT PUTTING
THE DARK COLOR
ON THE CEILING
AND THE LIGHT COLOR
ON THE WALLS.
WE'VE GOT WHITE WALLS
AND A BEAUTIFUL, KIND OF
YELLOW FOR THE CEILING.
YES, AND I DID THAT FOR
A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE WAS TO BRING
THE ROOM DOWN
A BIT VISUALLY,
TO MAKE THE ROOM A
LITTLE MORE COMFORTING.
BUT ALSO, BECAUSE OF
THE SUN EXPOSURE THAT
WE GET INTO THE ROOM,
IF WE WERE TO
HAVE A WHITE OR
A BRIGHT CEILING,
YOU WOULD
ACTUALLY LOSE A LOT
OF THE DETAIL,
THE ARCHITECTURAL
DETAILS,
THAT ARE IN
THE CEILING AND MAKE
THE ROOM SO SPECIAL
DURING A LARGE
PORTION OF THE DAY.
FABULOUS.
NOW, YOU'VE GOT
HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
OF THE ROOM, DON'T YOU,
ON THE TABLE HERE?
AND THIS IS THIS TERRIFIC
BOOK THAT REALLY SHOWS
A LOT OF THE INTERIORS
OF THE SUMMER COTTAGES
HERE IN LENOX
BY EDWIN HALE LINCOLN.
SO, CAN WE LOOK
AT WHAT'S HERE.
I MEAN, THERE'S THIS
FANTASTIC CEILING.
THERE'S THE...YOU KNOW,
THE MANTELPIECE
AT THE FAR END.
ARE ANY OF THE ORIGINAL
FURNISHINGS STILL HERE?
WE INDEED HAVE TWO
CHAIRS--THE ORIGINAL
ARMCHAIRS.
AT ONE TIME, THERE
WERE 38 CHAIRS THAT
COMPLETED THE SET,
BUT WE DO HAVE THE
TWO ARMCHAIRS THAT
ARE STILL EXISTING,
WHICH IS REALLY NICE
TO HAVE.
AND...38 OF THEM--
I SUPPOSE...
GREAT GRANDMAMA WOULD
HAVE BIG DINNER PARTIES.
YES, INDEED. YES.
ONE LONG TABLE.
AND THE STORIES
IN THE FAMILY ARE THAT
THERE WAS ONE FOOTMAN
BEHIND EVERY CHAIR,
AND WHEN MY
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
WAS DONE EATING,
ALL OF THE FOOD WAS
REMOVED FROM THE TABLE
AT THE SAME TIME.
Vila: FROM ALL OTHER 37.
IF YOU'D STARTED OR NOT,
THAT WAS IT.
SHE WAS A VERY FAST
EATER, EVIDENTLY.
AND NOW, YOU'VE
REFURNISHED IT WITH, LIKE,
A HALF DOZEN
INDIVIDUAL SEATING
GROUPS, ROUND TABLES,
AND THEN YOU CAN STILL
SET UP A BIG TABLE
IN THE MIDDLE HERE.
Vila:
WHAT'S YOUR THINKING?
EXACTLY. WELL, WITH
THIS BEING A HOME,
IT'S ALSO A
BED & BREAKFAST,
AND SO THE GUESTS
HAVE THEIR
BREAKFAST IN HERE.
IT'S WHERE
THEY DINE.
AND THEN ALSO,
WHEN WE HAVE A LOT
OF BRIDES AND GROOMS
ARE GOING TO GET
MARRIED HERE
AND HAVE
GOTTEN MARRIED HERE,
AND THIS IS ONE
OF THE ROOMS THAT
THEY UTILIZE FOR
THEIR FORMAL DINING.
EXACTLY.
WHERE DO YOU GO SHOPPING
FOR CHAIRS LIKE THIS?
I MEAN, THESE
ARE NEW-BOUGHT--
NEW-MADE, RIGHT?
Sonya: YES,
THEY ARE NEWLY MADE.
I'VE ACQUIRED A LOT
OF PIECES FROM AROUND
DIFFERENT PLACES
IN THE UNITED STATES,
BUT ALSO, I'VE GONE
TO ENGLAND AS WELL,
AND IT'S BEEN
AN INTERNATIONAL SEARCH.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY
TO PUT IT.
WELL, THIS CERTAINLY
LOOKS LIKE
THE CROWN OF WINDSOR
OR WHATEVER UP AT THE TOP
AND THE CREST
AND EVERYTHING.
BUT GETTING BACK
TO THE CONSTRUCTION, BOB,
THE FLOOR'S THE ORIGINAL,
THE WINDOWS--
WAS EVERYTHING
VANDALIZED?
I MEAN, DID YOU HAVE
TO PUT NEW WINDOWS
IN HERE OR WHAT?
THE WINDOWS WERE BOARDED
UP WHEN WE GOT HERE,
WITH LARGE GAPS.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY
STANDING WATER
ON THE FLOOR
AT VARIOUS TIMES
OF THE YEAR.
MM-HMM.
THE...AS WINDOWS WERE
BROKEN, THEY WOULD BE
REBOARDED,
AND MANY OF THE ACTUAL
SASHES WERE DESTROYED.
AND OUR CREW HAS DONE
A WONDERFUL JOB
WITH SALVAGED WOOD AND
ALSO 4' x 4' CEDAR--
HAS RIPPED DOWN SASHES
WHICH ARE ORIGINAL--
LOOK ORIGINAL.
OF COURSE,
THEY'RE BRAND NEW.
BUT YOU'VE PUT IN THERMAL
GLASS IN ALL OF THESE.
WE HAVE. THE EXISTING
FRAMES, WE DID ROUT OUT
TO ACCOMMODATE
THE THICKER GLASS.
THAT'S GREAT.
AND IT'S BEEN
A LIFESAVER WHEN
THE WIND BLOWS.
AND, OF COURSE,
WE'RE LOOKING WEST
AT WHAT IS THE STOCKBRIDGE
BOWL, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE STOCKBRIDGE BOWL
AND QUITE A NICE VIEW
OF MANY OF
THE BERKSHIRE HILLS.
IT'S A MAGNIFICENT ROOM,
AND I DON'T THINK
WE CAN LEAVE IT
WITHOUT AT LEAST COMMENTING
ON THE MARBLE MANTELPIECE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW
ABOUT THIS?
Sonya: WELL, THERE WERE
SOME BEAUTIFUL MOTIFS
ON IT ORIGINALLY,
A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL
VINE SCROLLING.
Vila: OH, IN BRONZE,
YOU MEAN, THAT HAVE BEEN
STRIPPED OFF BY VANDALS.
YES, INDEED.
YEP, I SEE THAT.
THIS POINT.
AND THESE ANDIRONS
WERE ALSO ORIGINAL
TO THE HOUSE,
HAD BEEN IN STORAGE,
AND SO WE HAVE
PLACED THEM HERE.
AND NOW, THIS TAPESTRY
WAS A PIECE, ACTUALLY
FROM THE 1860s
THAT WE ACQUIRED
WHEN WE WERE LIVING
IN NEW ORLEANS,
AND THAT ONE WE--
VERY LUCKILY, IT WAS
ALMOST A MAGICAL FIT
INTO THIS SPOT THAT
ONCE HELD SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
BECAUSE THE ROOM ITSELF,
AS WE CAN SEE IN
THE HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPH,
ONCE CONTAINED 3 VERY
SPECIAL TAPESTRIES.
EXACTLY.
AND THOSE ARE LONG GONE.
THEY ARE.
THEY WERE REMOVED,
SOMEWHERE, LOST
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
OK, SO OUR FINAL VISIT
WILL BE IN THE KITCHENS
THAT YOU'VE RESTORED.
OH, GREAT.
COMING UP NEXT,
A LOOK AT THE KITCHEN,
RESTORED WITH HISTORIC DETAIL
AND MODERN CONVENIENCES.
WOW.
SO THIS IS A BUTLER'S
PANTRY, RIGHT?
YES, IT IS, INDEED.
THIS WAS THE PREPARATION
AND THE LAUNCHING AREA
INTO THE FORMAL
DINING ROOM FOR ALL
OF THE WONDERFUL MEALS.
YOU WERE SAYING
A MINUTE AGO THAT YOU
HAD A TABLE THAT SAT 38,
AND 38 FOOTMEN WOULD BE
WANDERING THROUGH HERE
TRYING TO SERVE.
YES, THEY WOULD.
THEY WOULD.
THEY WOULD HAVE
TWO AREAS OF FLOW
THAT THEY COULD UTILIZE
TO GO INTO THE DINING ROOM
TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS
SMOOTH SAILING AS POSSIBLE.
AND IT'S ALSO THE AREA
THAT WE USE FOR WHEN
WE CATER EVENTS
FOR THE WEDDINGS
AND SPECIAL DINNERS.
WHAT CONDITION
WAS IT IN?
WHEN WE ARRIVED,
THERE WAS A VERY
LARGE,
I THINK IS THE BEST
WORD TO SAY, HOLE
RIGHT HERE
THAT WENT THROUGH
TO THE BASEMENT.
IT WAS A GREAT DEAL
OF STRUCTURAL WORK.
WE JACKED UP THE OLD
REFRIGERATOR, WHICH
YOU CAN SEE HERE.
THIS IS
THE OLD ICE BOX?
IT IS.
OH, YEAH.
IT WAS LITERALLY
AN ICE BOX,
IN THAT YOU FILLED
THIS TOP LEAD-LINED
COMPARTMENT WITH ICE
AND THE COLD AIR WENT
DOWN INTO YOUR ITEMS BELOW.
IT WAS RETRO-FITTED
INTO A MECHANICAL
REFRIGERATOR
IN THE FIFTIES,
BRIEFLY.
BUT THIS WAS SUCH
A BIG, HEAVY ITEM
THAT THE VANDALS
COULDN'T TAKE IT.
THEY COULDN'T.
THEY DID TAKE THE
HARDWARE, HOWEVER.
OH, THAT'S TOO BAD.
MAYBE YOU CAN FIND SOME.
AND THEN THIS IS THE ACTUAL
WORKING AREA OF THE KITCHEN.
Sonya: YES, IT IS,
AND THE KITCHEN HERE--
WELL, THE CONDITION:
IT WAS IN TERRIBLE
CONDITION.
EVERYTHING HAD BEEN,
AGAIN--
BUT IT'S VERY NICE,
HOW YOU'VE KIND OF
MADE IT...
IT KIND OF MATCHES
THE FRONT HALL AND
THE PANELING
THAT YOU SEE
THROUGHOUT THE
HOUSE, DOESN'T IT?
YES, THE IDEA WAS
TO UTILIZE MOTIFS
FROM THE REST OF THE HOUSE
INTO THE KITCHEN
SO IT WOULD APPEAR
THAT IT COULD HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN HERE.
WHAT CONDITION
WAS THIS IN?
I CAN IMAGINE
THE VANDALISM IN
A KITCHEN LIKE THIS.
Bob: IT WAS EXTREME.
THERE REALLY WASN'T
AN APPLIANCE.
THERE WAS FEET OF DEBRIS
ON THE FLOOR,
AS WELL AS SOAP SUDS AND--
BUT THE FLOOR,
WHICH LOOKS TO BE
A TERRAZZO,
HAS TO BE
THE ORIGINAL, RIGHT?
IT IS THE ORIGINAL
FLOOR.
WE LUCKILY DISCOVERED
IT ONE DAY,
WITH SOME WATER FROM
A WATER BOTTLE THAT WAS
ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED
BEFORE THERE WAS
ELECTRICITY IN THE HOUSE,
AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD
A CONCRETE BED OF
A FLOOR AND FOUND THIS.
IT WAS A SCUMMY
KIND OF BASE
THAT COVERED IT?
IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE
UNTIL THE WATER HIT IT,
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
WE WERE SQUIRTING WATER
ALL OVER THE FLOOR
TRYING TO UNCOVER IT.
THEN YOU REALIZED
IT WAS FULL
OF ALL THESE RED
SPOTS AND STUFF.
WELL, YOU'VE DONE
A WONDERFUL JOB.
AND THANKS FOR
THE TOUR SO FAR.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF
TIME, BUT NEXT WEEK,
WE'RE GOING TO BE
VISITING AGAIN HERE,
SHOWING YOU THE UPSTAIRS
BEDROOM SUITES
AND THE INSTALLATION
OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART
LAUNDRY FACILITY.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
"HOME AGAIN."
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