- Bob Vila TV Shows >
- Modular Mountain Retreat > Episode 11: Introducing Elm Court
Elm Court Foyer and Fireplace
Bob makes his first visit to Elm Court, a historic home in Lenox, MA, that was abandoned for 50 years before being reclaimed and restored.
Sonya and Bob Berle, whose ancestors originally built the massive home in 1886, bought Elm Court to save it from continuing decay. Bob joins Bob Berle outside to take a tour of the exterior.
Elm Court is the largest Shingle Style home in the country. Berle points out what has been done so far, as well as what is still under construction.
Inside, Bob meets Sonya Berle for a tour of the magnificent foyer, learning how the house looked when the couple originally began the project. Next, the pair head to the basement to learn more about what had to be done to the infrastructure of the home before work could even begin upstairs.
The mansion's structured wiring and mechanical systems have a definite 21st-century feel. Back upstairs, Vila and Berle rejoin Sonya for a look at the library and the adjoining conservatory.
Sonya and Bob Berle, whose ancestors originally built the massive home in 1886, bought Elm Court to save it from continuing decay. Bob joins Bob Berle outside to take a tour of the exterior.
Elm Court is the largest Shingle Style home in the country. Berle points out what has been done so far, as well as what is still under construction.
Inside, Bob meets Sonya Berle for a tour of the magnificent foyer, learning how the house looked when the couple originally began the project. Next, the pair head to the basement to learn more about what had to be done to the infrastructure of the home before work could even begin upstairs.
The mansion's structured wiring and mechanical systems have a definite 21st-century feel. Back upstairs, Vila and Berle rejoin Sonya for a look at the library and the adjoining conservatory.
- Part 1: Shingle Style Architecture at Elm Court
- Part 2: Elm Court Foyer and Fireplace
- Sonya Berle shows off the large foyer and explains how she and her husband started with small restorations in New Orleans before turning to their grand plans for Elm Court.
The fireplace in the foyer has a mantle made of carved Brownstone and is so large visitors can sit on its interior benches and toast marshmallows.
The home was heavily vandalized prior to the Berle's restoration efforts. One of the reasons for the vandalization was that treasure hunters believed there was hidden wealth inside the walls of this grand Vanderbilt-Sloane cottage. - Part 3: Adapting New Technology to Historic Properties
- Part 4: Elm Court's Library and Architectural Detailing
Beautifully sited on wooded acreage with breathtaking views of some of the most beautiful countryside in New England, this Arts and Crafts style bungalow certainly doesn't look factory-built. You'd never know it was a modular home unless Bob took you to the Pennsylvania factory where it was built, almost from start to finish.
The house goes down the assembly line from framing, through wiring and plumbing, all the way to the installation of flooring and priming for paint.
The house is trucked to its pre-fabricated foundations on the lot, and start all the finishing touches that will prove that a modular house doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter affair.
The house goes down the assembly line from framing, through wiring and plumbing, all the way to the installation of flooring and priming for paint.
The house is trucked to its pre-fabricated foundations on the lot, and start all the finishing touches that will prove that a modular house doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter affair.
Also from Modular Mountain Retreat
-
Episode 1 - Modular Home Construction and Site Preparation
Description:
Bob and his crew travel to western Massachusetts to feature the construction and on-site assembly of a modular home in the Berkshires Hills.<br> <br> Simplex Industries is building the home in Scranton, PA. Bob visits the Simplex factory to witness the the prefab process. Pat Fricchione, Jr., owner of Simplex, tells Bob the history of the company, remarking on how the image of modular construction has changed over the years.<br> <br> While touring the building site, Bob gives an overview of the rustic Berkshires area before joining general contractor Michael Shiels to discuss the foundation prep work that is underway. -
Episode 2 - Modular Construction Details and Foundation Work
Description:
The crew from Superior Walls is preparing for the pre-cast foundation walls, which will provide the base for the modular home.<br> <br> To learn about the manufacturing process for the pre-cast panels, Bob travels back to the Simplex plant in Scranton PA, where he sees how each module is framed and prepped for delivery.<br> <br> Back in the Berkshires, once the panels have been lowered into place by crane, Mel Zimmerman from Superior Walls explains the foundation assembly process. -
Episode 3 - Modular Construction, Wiring, and Drywall
Description:
All of the work in progress is going on indoors, safe from the elements that can slow traditional home construction. The work underway includes roof assembly, subfloor installation, wall framing, and drywall application for the house's main living areas.<br> <br> Tasks that are also ongoing include spackling and sanding, installing insulation, applying wall and roof sheathing, plus house wrapping and interior trim work.<br> <br> Leviton structured wire boxes, which will form the backbone of the home's voice and data system, are also being installed, while, at the Simplex stair shop, the staircase for the project houses is being carefully assembled. -
Episode 4 - Interior and Exterior Finishes on a Modular Home
-
Episode 5 - Assembling a Modular Home
-
Episode 6 - Shake Roof and Stone Façade for Modular Home
-
Episode 7 - Panelized Cedar Shingles, a Metal Roof, and The Mount
-
Episode 8 - Direct Vent Heat and Composite Deck Materials
-
Episode 9 - Energy Efficient Heat, Column Deck Supports, and The Mount
-
Episode 10 - Berkshires Architecture, Shakespeare & Co., and Structured Wiring
-
Episode 12 - Sound Insulation and Restored Rooms at Elm Court
-
Episode 13 - Elm Court Decor and Ongoing Restoration
SEE ALSO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOST POPULAR
MOST SHARED
MOST VIEWED VIDEO
Follow Us
