BobVila.com home page

Elm Court Foyer and Fireplace

Bob Vila greets Sonya Berle who shows off the large foyer and explains how she and her husband started with small restorations in New Orleans before beginning their grand plans for Elm Court, which sat vacant for half a century. 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 large andirons were original to the house. The home was heavily vandalized prior to the Berle’s restoration efforts. One of the reasons for the vandalization was treasure hunters believing there was hidden wealth inside the walls of this grand Vanderbilt-Sloane cottage. More information