2008 Addition
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
1051 square feet was added to The Abel Wood House in 2007/2008
· Design details were drawn by Preservation Architect, Charles A. Phillips, A.I.A. Mr. Phillips is considered one of the leading preservation architects and conservators in the country.
· The old part of the house, which is pristine and rare, is not compromised or altered in any way. The addition is completely separate. Nevertheless, the two sections, old and new, are connected.
· Exterior design sympathy is created by comparable volumes. Seen from the exterior, the volume of the addition has much the same dimensionality as the original house.
· The totally different design concept of the new part does not compete with the old, which could not be replicated, but is sympathetic in terms of a historical and classical approach.
· The objective was to make an area that was comfortable to enable modern living while still retaining the feeling of an old building. This was accomplished in great part by the incorporation of historical architectural artifacts.
· The quality of the modern part is commensurate with the quality of the original house.
· The sumptuous window and door trim throughout the 2008 addition were designed by Architect Charles Phillips and made by Amish carpenters in Nappanee, Indiana.
THE GREAT ROOM
The recessed center door that leads to the south garden is the main door of the addition. The door is of exceptionally fine ironwork, of 2 leaves, 12 feet high. Made in France, circa 1880. The windows that flank the center door extend to the floor and have beveled leaded glass transoms in a tulip design, which date to 1910.
· The fireplace faces the iron door. The elegant mantel is English, circa 1840, carved silver sienna marble, a variety of marble that is no longer being mined.
· Two monumental size (9 ½ feet high x 5 feet wide) pocket doors flank the fireplace. They have 6 recessed panels and are embellished with fine decoration. They date to 1915. The natural wood side of the door has silver pushes, the other, painted side has gilded.
THE CONSERVATORY
· Nothing can surpass the charm and beauty of a classic English conservatory. British Conservatories designed and built of low-maintenance composite frame, insulated laminated glass roof panels, solid brass hardware and insect screens., the area is heated and air-conditioned. The upper lantern windows are cobalt blue and clear leaded glass to match the 3 sides of the conservatory’s transom. French doors on the western exposure lead to a painted mahogany deck and the garden. French doors on the opposite wall lead to the great room. The floor is white marble with cobalt blue glass trim. The conservatory foundation is veneered with beautiful solid old bricks.
THE ARCADE
On the south wall of the arcade are 3 “gothic” windows, 13 feet tall. The center has a door that leads to the garden. The windows are between delicate slender columns, of brickwork in an interesting design.
THE BATHROOM
The bathroom is a so called European “wet” room, being handicapped friendly. That is to say the shower area is open, as is the entire bathroom. The floor is sloped with a central drain. In the middle of the exterior wall is a large picture window, in front of which is the sunken cast iron Kohler soaking bathtub, encased in white cypress.
Flanking the window is a pair of Carrara marble pilasters, with metal Ionic capitals. Exactly across from the window is a mirror, the same size as the window and also flanked by another pair of the same marble pilasters. From the center of the mirror emanate the shower faucets.
The floor is a mosaic of Carrara marble. There are two hand bowls. A huge skylight with a splayed well opens up the bathroom and allows for sky gazing while bathing.