My Visit to the Swan House

 

 

Good Morning All,

Busy week again and we have added dog sitting to our schedule. My stepson is out of town and asked us to dog sit. We are a little rusty but will get back into the swing of things. This weekend is very busy for me. I will be going to a paralegal retreat on Saturday. I am a director for the Indiana Paralegal Association and we all will be meeting to discuss future ideas for the association. On Sunday, I will be a docent at the Tiffany Skilling Home Tour. I am hoping that I can take photos. I am looking for inspiration for my own home. As my home office takes on a different look, I am looking for different pieces to redecorate. Now that the kids are semi- out of the house, I feel like I have a little more freedom to change things around.

Okay let’s get into today’s post before I get started on my hunt for decor rant!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I still can’t believe that I took this beautiful photo! It was so hot but this was such a great shot of the front of the home. The Swan House was built by architect, Philip T. Shutze. The family moved into their home in December of 1928. In designing this home Shutze drew from examples of both 18th century English and 16th century Italian architecture. 

 

 

When you tour the home you will enter from the back. It has a large garden and long driveway. We were told that the rear of the house serves as the main entrance. The backside represents the classical Palladian architecture. 

 

 

This vehicle was located in the back of the home. 

 

 

This car was also located in the back of the home. My husband wanted me to take a photo with. It of course belonged to the family. It is a 1929 Hudson. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Shutze sketched this garden while seated in the gardens of the Palazzo Corsini in Rome. Talk about inspiration! When Stutze was asked about flowers he stated that the Swan House has a green garden. Flowers in urns and pots he explained. 

 

The home had a grand entry hall which I failed to photograph because I was too busy taking it all in. I did however take a video of it and will be posting it on my YouTube channel soon. This room was to the right when you walked in. Looks like it could have been the breakfast room. 

 

 

Loved the drapes!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

This is the dining room, and it is my absolute favorite room! I think I stayed in this room quite a while. This is where Mrs. Iman would receive her guests for dinner. The English wallpaper, hand-painted in chinoiserie, the French Abusson rug, Waterford chandelier, and contemporary Portuguese rainbow plaid draperies are examples of the beautiful style of Mrs. Inman. Her decorator, Ruby Ross Wood, was known for blending furniture of various periods, using colors and prints. 

 

 

Ruby Ross Wood believed that “decorating is the art of arranging beautiful things comfortably”. Now who could argue that statement! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

I love this photo so much! I am thinking about making it my screen saver. 

 

 

This was one of the most important objects in the room. This is an 18th century swan console table attributed to English architect, Thomas Johnson. The Imans purchased it in Bath, England in 1924. 

 

 

This 18th century mahogany bookcase was made in England. It was intended for the library; Mrs. Inman used it to display her collection of English Derby porcelain. 

 

 

The kitchen and butler’s pantry allowed the servants easy access to the dining room and breakfast room. 

 

 

Mrs. Inman updated the household appliances in the 1950s, but the restaurant size 1936 Magic Chef stove is the original model, and the 1929 GE refrigerator was added. 

A fun fact is that after 32 years of service with the Inman family, Lizzie McDuffie left to work for President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a maid in the White House. She used her close relationship with the President and First Lady to advocate for racial equality in the South. 

 

 

This was the morning room. This room contained a mixture of fine antiques in a blend of periods and styles, as well as quality reproductions and some contemporary pieces. 

 

 

We are now going upstairs….

 

 

This was a huge hallway with original floors! 

 

 

 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Like many couples in the 1920s and 1930s, the Inman’s had adjoining bedrooms. Shutze relates that Mrs. Inman owed and cherished the mantelpiece from her first home and insisted that it be reinstalled there. The room is filled with a blend of reproductions and fine antiques from the 18th century. 

 

 

 

 

 

An Italian immigrant named Athos Menaboni painted the bathroom. This was a really big bathroom! When I walked in it I thought, “goodness, this is huge”! 

 

 

In addition to the faux green marble walls, he painted draperies on the mirrors, swans on the ceilings, and stars all over the cabinets. 

 

 

 

 

After touring the home, we went up to the museum in the home. It housed some of the antiques and information about the home. It also discussed the decorator Ruby. I love that title, “The Road to Good Taste”. I honestly believe that I am on that journey.

 

 

 

Beautiful vintage fabrics are shown in the museum room. These were some of the fabrics that Ruby used in her decor.

 

 

My husband and I truly enjoyed this tour. I love visiting historical homes and really appreciate the value and work that went into creating these dream homes. They truly don’t make them like this anymore. I hope that preservation societies all over the country continue to protect these gems. They take you to another place even if it’s just for a moment. 

Enjoy the weekend! 

 

 

 

 

 

 (information and some text provided by the Atlanta History Center)