Houzz Tours: Edith Wharton's The Mount
New Restoration Shows How the Famed Author Put Her Decorating Theories Into Practice
Today I would like to take you on a tour of a remarkable property that has undergone a massive restoration to bring it back to its former glory. It's The Mount, the home that Edith Wharton had built in 1902 in Lenox Massachusetts. While many know Wharton as the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize and may be familiar with her fiction, you may not know she authored several books about decorating and garden design. The Mount is where she put her theories into practice and where she completed some of her most famous works, making it "an autobiographical house."
In 1897, Wharton co-authored her first published work, The Decoration of Houses, with architect Ogden Codman, Jr. Together, along with architect Francis L.V. Hoppin, they designed The Mount, an estate where Wharton authored many works, including The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome. They sited the house atop a rock outcropping to take advantage of the views of the Berkshires. There's so much to show you that we'll take a tour of the gardens later this week. For now, let's go inside!
Tired of cluttered and oppressive Victorian architecture, Wharton was much more interested in the pleasing classical proportions of Italian architecture. This shows in the gallery on the main floor.
The gallery allows access to all main rooms on this floor, which include the library, den, drawing room, dining room and staircase. While the gallery is full of objects Wharton collected on her extensive travels, the space was kept quite clear for circulation and entertaining.
The gallery allows access to all main rooms on this floor, which include the library, den, drawing room, dining room and staircase. While the gallery is full of objects Wharton collected on her extensive travels, the space was kept quite clear for circulation and entertaining.
One of the many details in the gallery is this bas relief of John the Baptist.
The floors of the gallery are marble terrazzo.
Wharton strongly believed that the primary decoration of a library should be books. She was also a big proponent of built-in shelves.
The built-in shelves and paneling are oak. The photograph over the fireplace is of Wharton writing at her desk in this room.
While the photo depicts Wharton writing at her desk, she actually did most of her writing in her bed.
The drawing room is the largest room in the house. Highlights include large tapestries inset into the paneling on either end of the room. The originals were from the early 18th century and have been reproduced from photographs as part of the restoration.
If you look closely at the front right corner, you can see one of the many original doorknobs that survived.
If you look closely at the front right corner, you can see one of the many original doorknobs that survived.
The drawing room was reimagined by Charlotte Moss in 2002, who honored as much of the the original French-inspired design as possible. French doors lead out to a vast veranda.
The drawing room, though very large, includes three intimate conversation areas.
The house was in a terrible state of disrepair when the restoration began, and the ornate ceiling was severely water damaged. Work on the extensive moldings, particularly on the ceiling and the fireplace in the drawing room, was painstakingly recreated and restored.
The light-filled dining room was beautifully recreated by Bunny Williams. As in the adjacent drawing room, these doors lead out to the long veranda.
The one photograph Williams had to go on showed white French armchairs, a round Victorian dining table and a cushion for a favorite dog. (Those actresses who carry little dogs around in their purses did not start the dog trend).
Floral arrangements change with the seasons.
Like most of the rooms in the house, the dining room has a marble fireplace.
For orientation purposes, the butler's pantry is to the left; you can see the main staircase through the door; adjacent to that is the gallery; and to the right of this room is the drawing room. I took this picture with my back to the doors that lead to the veranda (we'll get a good look at the veranda in an upcoming ideabook).
The dining room is full of intricate plaster pieces designed by Wharton's design partner, Ogden Codman.
The plaster sculptures were based on the work of Grinling Gibbons, a 17th-century English woodcarver.
Just beyond the dining room is the butler's pantry.
Beautiful built-ins continue into this utilitarian space.
This is the home's main staircase, located at one end of the gallery. Windows bring in the natural light. Wharton believed in bringing the outdoors in and providing lots of access to the outdoors, physically and visually.
The animal-print carpeting was part of a showhouse installation and not Wharton's selection.
The animal-print carpeting was part of a showhouse installation and not Wharton's selection.
A beautiful wrought-iron railing curves up the staircase, and oil paintings fit perfectly into the panels. At the time, the style of this railing was more likely to be used outdoors, but Wharton did not believe in such boundaries between indoors and out.
The restoration on the third floor is ongoing. This floor included the bedrooms, boudoirs and several bathrooms. Wharton believed that a hall was a principally a passageway and not a living space, thus it is left relatively plain. It leads to most of the rooms on this floor, including a guest room for Wharton's pals like Henry James.
This is Wharton's boudoir. It is an upstairs retreat (not her bedroom) that included eight still-life paintings from Milan, a stunning marble fireplace and more ornate plasterwork. It was here that she might have worked at a desk, caught a nap on a daybed, or entertained her most intimate friends.
Restoration continues on the third floor. One achievement was recreating this wallpaper in a guest bath. It was reproduced by Scalamandré in 2006 based upon remains of the original paper found there.
Historic properties like The Mount are our nation's treasures. The Mount is one of the mere 5 percent of National Historic Landmarks dedicated to women, and restoration and upkeep are expensive. Support The Mount with your own visit, or if you cannot make it in person, make a donation online.
Stay tuned for a tour around the beautiful grounds and gardens of the estate later this week.
Stay tuned for a tour around the beautiful grounds and gardens of the estate later this week.
The Decoration Of Houses (1897) by Edith Wharton
Are you intrigued by The Mount? If so, you'll enjoy Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr.'s advice on the decoration of houses.
Are you intrigued by The Mount? If so, you'll enjoy Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr.'s advice on the decoration of houses.
An Affair with a House by Bunny Williams
Bunny Williams, who restored the dining room, has restored a beautiful New England home and gardens of her own, making her a poetic choice to work on The Mount. This book is full of information about the restoration of her own home.
Bunny Williams, who restored the dining room, has restored a beautiful New England home and gardens of her own, making her a poetic choice to work on The Mount. This book is full of information about the restoration of her own home.
Charlotte Moss Decorates: The Art of Creating Elegant and Inspired Rooms
Charlotte Moss was a perfect choice for restoring the drawing room at The Mount. If you are interested in seeing more of her work, this is a stunning and inspiring book to add to your collection.
More:
Historical Colors
The Modern Butler's Pantry
Off to the South of France
More:
Historical Colors
The Modern Butler's Pantry
Off to the South of France