Today’s installment of Blairsden, the 2014 Mansion in May, will focus on several transitional spaces that lead you up to the second floor rooms. No space was neglected in the stunning mansion–even the hallways and landings were treated to luxurious furnishings and artwork.
The stairwell itself is an architectural marvel, with gorgeous iron-work, tall leaded glass windows, and detailed moldings. The firm of Broadfoot & Broadfoot curated an exhibition for the stairwell, which they called Ascension. Their intention was to welcome the viewer with an invitation to ascend through the space and survey its grandeur.
On the stair landing, a beautiful sculpture was placed, which had an ethereal quality. Here you can see the stone walls and the leaded glass window behind.
The oval ceiling medallion highlights a charming chandelier original to the home. In this shot, you can also appreciate the detailed moldings of the stairwell.
The iron railings are just magnificent. I love they way they curve around and meet each other at the landing. The artwork placement by Broadfoot & Broadfoot was very well done!
At the top of the stair, visitors were treated to a luminous French Hall of Mirrors by Hope Sferra Interiors, Inc. Ms. Sferra was inspired by Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles and its iconic spaces.
Hope Sferra chose to use a Grisalle wall treatment in this space: A centuries-old painting technique using tones and values of gray pigments to depict three-dimensional images.
The furnishings and accessories are light with gold metallic accents. The sconces and mirrors are beautiful, and the textured fabric adds so much warmth to the cool neutral space.
Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery, of Morristown, NJ, curated a collection of artwork and sculpture in the upstairs hallway. This beautiful bronze nude has glass, blown from the inside…it was a true masterpiece!
Several of the hallways contained these original fire-hoses. I love that they chose to keep them as an artifact of the past! They’re so sculptural, don’t you think?
The final transition space I’ll share with you today, was created by Diane Durocher Interiors as An Equestrian Retreat. Ms. Durocher wanted to capture the spirit of the Blair family’s love of riding when creating this guest foyer. The artwork in the upper staircase was installed by Marilyn B Rosenthal of Design Domaine. She did a fantastic job of selecting colorful landscapes and placing them all the way up to the ceiling–quite a feat!
I loved this space for its bold colorful artwork. The neutral walls and furnishings created a terrific backdrop for the saturated colors in the many paintings.
So, what do you think of these transition spaces in Blairsden? I wish every home’s hallways and stairwells got this much attention! Of course, most houses do not have passages quite this large to lavish with artwork and furnishings.
Thanks for joining me today. Stay tuned for some of the best rooms in the house…my absolutely favorite room has not yet been featured! Until then, please tell everyone about Kristine Robinson’s Interiors…I need all the friends I can get!
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