OUR VICTORIAN MASTERPIECE OF A HOME, CREATED BY A GENTLEMAN WITH A DREAM...

OUR BELOVED LAURELWOOD.  A DREAM HOUSE WHICH WAS 23 YEARS IN THE MAKING BY A LOCAL GENTLEMAN.  HE HAS PASSED ON, AND WE ARE THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS MANSION.

I WILL BEGIN WITH THE ORNAMENTAL SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN.  THIS IS A CHERUB AND SWAN FROM AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HUGE ANCIENT OAK TREES IN THE BACKYARD, ALONG WITH A SIDE VIEW OF THE BRICK GARAGE AND GAZEBO IN THE FAR BACK RIGHT.  IT'S NOT REALLY A GAZEBO BUT IT ACTUALLY A CUPOLA FROM THE TOP OF A VINTAGE SCHOOL BUILDING.

THIS IS AN ORNAMENTAL GRECIAN STYLE PLANTER IN THE BACKYARD

ONE MUST HAVE OF NECESSITY AN OUTHOUSE FOR THE GARDENER. THIS ONE HAS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL TOILET WITH A PULL CHAIN UPPER TANK.  NOTICE THE CRESCENT MOON UPON THE DOOR.

THERE ARE CHARMING FRENCH FRESCOES EMBED IN THE BRICK WALLS ALONG THE WALKWAYS OF THE BACKYARD.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HANGERS WHICH HOLDS THE OUTDOOR PORCH SWING. IT APPEARS TO BE A GRIFFIN.

A CLOSER VIEW OF THE GAZEBO. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

HERE IS A FULL  VIEW OF THE CHERUB AND SWAN SCULPTURE BY AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR.

HERE IS A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING WHICH IS FRAMED WHICH GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO BUILT BEAUTIFUL LAURELWOOD.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW TO READ IT.

THE BACKYARD GARDEN HAS A COUPLE OF LIONS IN THE HEDGE AREAS.

MY HUSBAND AND I GO TO ANTIQUE AUCTIONS.  THIS IS ONE PAINTING WE FOUND WHICH THE FRAME AND PAINTING WERE QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS A HAND-PAINTED TILE SCENE WHICH IS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM BATHROOM WHICH HANGS OVER THE JACUZZI BATHTUB.

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HAND-PAINTED TILE SCENE FROM THE PREVIOUS PHOTO ARE TWO SWEET HAND-PAINTED CHERUBS.

THIS SPIRAL STAIRCASE, AND FIRE POLE, CAME FROM A FIREHOUSE IN ENGLAND.  YOU CAN IMAGINE THE EXPENSE IT WAS JUST TO FREIGHT THESE TWO ITEMS ACROSS THE OCEAN TO AMERICA.

I BELIEVE THIS CRYSTAL CHANDELIER ORIGINALLY WAS IN A HOTEL IN RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA DURING THE GOLD RUSH DAYS. THIS HANGS IN THE FORMAL DINING ROOM.  NOTICE THE TIN CEILINGS.  ALL OF THE CEILINGS IN LAURELWOOD HAVE TIN EMBOSSED CEILINGS.

THIS IS A MARVELOUS ENAMELED IRON FOUNDRY CEILING LAMP HANGING, AND AGAIN, NOTICE THE TIN WORK ABOVE THE LAMP SHADE. 

THERE ARE OTHER LESS FANCY CRYSTAL CEILING LAMP SHADES.

THIS IS ONE SIDE OF A PAIR OF DOORS WHICH CAME OUT OF A LOCAL RESTAURANT IN OUR CITY CALLED 'THE VINTAGE PRESS' A FIVE STAR RESTAURANT WHICH SERVES CAVIAR AND VERY FINE FOOD.  THE RESTAURANT WAS REMODELED AT ONE POINT, AND MR. DONAL DOUGLAS WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME SO HE BOUGHT THE PAIR OF DOORS TO ADD TO HIS ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD TASTE IN DECORATING HIS VICTORIAN DREAM HOME.

PILLARS WERE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE WITH BRASS FILIGREE, AND NOTICE THE BRASS FILIGREE UPON THE CEILING SCONE TOO.

HERE ARE THE FORMAL STAIRS LEADING TO THE SECOND FLOOR.  THE CARPETING IS A CUSTOM DESIGN AND IS WOOL, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR LAURELWOOD.  LOTS OF WOOD AND INTRICATE PANELING LINE THE WALLS OF THE HOUSE.

A HAND-FORMED CEILING SITS ABOVE THE WET BAR WHICH LEADS INTO THE KITCHEN.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

THE WET BAR HAS ITS ON SWEET COVE WITH ITS OWN LITTLE SINK WITH MANY SHELVES.  WE FURNISHED THE HOUSE AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WITH VINTAGE FINDS.  ONE FIND WAS THE VINTAGE CASH REGISTER.

THERE ARE MANY STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS OR INSET INTO WALLS WITH BACK-LIGHTING. THIS ONE IS IN THE WALL LEADING UPSTAIRS.

HERE IS ANOTHER PAINTING WE PURCHASED AT AN ANTIQUE AUCTION.

HERE IS A PORTION OF THE CORNICE AND BOXED IN CEILING OF THE FORMAL LIVING ROOM. LAURELWOOD IS A 3,400 SQ. FT. HOME.

HERE IS ONE OF THE SECOND-STORY BEDROOMS.  THE ROOF IS GABLED HENCE THE SLANTED LINES OF THE CEILING.

HERE IS THE KITCHEN WHICH IS QUITE SPACIOUS AND HAS LOTS OF CUPBOARDS (WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE PHOTO).

THE FIREPLACE YOU CAN SEE IS PART OF A BELOW GROUND-LEVEL SITTING AREA.

THIS IS A BARBER CHAIR WHICH IS SITTING THE THE FAMILY ROOM.  YOU CAN NOTICE THERE IS A LOWER SITTING AREA BEHIND THE CAROUSEL HORSE.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW.  NOTICE THE ORNAMENTAL RUG DESIGN.  IT IS QUITE INTRICATE.

HERE IS ONE OF THE VINTAGE GAS STOVES IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THE BLACK ENAMEL DOUBLE KITCHEN SINK WITH BRASS FAUCETS.

HERE IS A VIEW FROM THE SUNKEN SITTING AREA LOOKING TOWARDS THE FORMAL DINING ROOM.  THERE ARE SOME VERY INTRICATE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS ABOVE THE UPPER GLASS WINDOWS. YOU CAN SEE THE BRICKED IN PATIO GARDEN AREA THROUGH ONE OF THE WINDOWS.  CLICK ON FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

THAT ABOUT WRAPS IT UP FOR TODAY'S VIEWING OF LAURELWOOD.  I AM NOT FINDING MY OUTSIDE PHOTOS OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.  AS SOON AS I FIND THOSE, I WILL BE POSTING MORE PHOTOS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE TOUR!

POSTED by Teresa