One Man's Folly

The driveway to the estate of Mr. Fulow Gatewood
is lined with pots of hydrangeas.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

Three great Southerners, each a much-admired acquaintance of The Devoted Classicist, have come together to produce a new book, ONE MAN'S FOLLY: THE EXCEPTIONAL HOUSES OF FURLOW GATEWOOD by Julia Reed (whose home was featured in a previous post here).  Furlow Gatewood, 92, has been an associate in the wildly successful to-the-trade source John Rosselli Antiques for more than 40 years.  Bunny Williams, my friend of over 32 years since our days at Parish-Hadley, wrote the Foreward to the new book.



Phillip, and Italian greyhound, sits in the entrance hall
of one of the guest houses known as Peacock House,
before a 17th-century Italian table below a
19th-century Dutch chandelier.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

It was Rosselli's wife, the reining queen of decorators, Bunny Williams, who convinced Mr. Gatewood to do the book, according to the article in the March-April 2014 issue of Veranda.  "Gatewood never went to architecture school, but he creates these buildings with fabulous style because he has this innate feeling for architecture," Bunny is quoted to say.  "Then he furnishes them in the most delightful, eclectic way.  He has a real flair that often eludes professionals."


Another view of the entrance hall
at Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

The property near Americus, Georgia, consists of eleven acres with five houses and numerous outbuildings.  Peacock House, featured in the current issue of the magazine, originally began as a dirt floor greenhouse before becoming home for 40 peacocks.


Flush boards face the walls of the living room in Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

Now, with a few rooms added, it is a guest house, although no one has ever slept there overnight, according to the article written by Mimi Reed and produced by Carolyn Englefield.


A bed from John Rosselli fills an alcove at Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.



Furnishings from John Rosselli decorate a guest room
at Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

A guest bath at Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.



Architectural salvage played an inspirational factor in the design.  Fretwork from the noted West Cornwall, Connecticut antiques dealer Michael Trapp led to the creation of an elegant open garden room.  Porch posts from the Atlanta flea market, Scott Antique Market, set the theme of the gothic gingerbread exterior.


A porch with salvaged fretwork
becomes an outdoor garden room
with furnishings from John Rosselli and Treillage.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

Architectural salvage was effectively used to give
character to a storage building near Peacock House.
Photo by Max Kim-Bee via Veranda.

 

An earlier article featuring different aspects of the property can be seen on the Veranda website here.

The Devoted Classicist Library
ONE MAN'S FOLLY:
THE EXCEPTIONAL HOUSES
OF FURLOW GATEWOOD
 

The new book, to be released by Rizzoli on April 8, 2014, may be ordered now at a discount at The Devoted Classicist Library here.

New Orleans Lady

Julia Reed
on the porch of her First Street house
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Photo:  online.wsj.com

Julia Reed, one of the South's most celebrated contemporary writers, bought a circa 1847 Greek Revival house in New Orleans' Garden District with her husband John Pearce in 2004, a year before Hurricane Katrina.  The experience is chronicled in her popular book THE HOUSE ON FIRST STREET: MY NEW ORLEANS STORY.

Julia Reed's house is considered one of New Orleans' most beautiful and hospitable homes.  Decorated with assistance from Thomas Jayne, decorator friends Suzanne Rheinstein and Patrick Dunne also gave advice.  In an article written by Julia Reed for Elle Décor magazine, she says Thomas referred to the team as the "Committee on Taste."  The house is also featured in Thomas' acclaimed book AMERICAN DECORATION: A SENSE OF PLACE.


1236 First Street, New Orleans.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

The Entrance Hall of Julia Reed's house
looking back towards the front door.
Thomas Jayne advocated a neutral decorating
scheme to compliment the adjacent parlors.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio



The Front Parlor contains the pair of
faux bamboo settees purchased before the
house was bought in 2004.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

Looking from the Front Parlor to the Back Parlor.
The bold door and window trim is typical of the
Greek Revival period.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

The Back Parlor is also used as a Music Room.
The gilt catfish on the piano was salvaged
from a Mardi Gras float.
Thomas Jayne suggested the Claremont yellow
silk for the curtains and the chintz from Le Manach.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

The Dining Room contains a sofa from the home
of Julia Reed's grandmother in Nashville.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

The Pantry is painted in Ball Green
paint from Farrow & Ball.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor

The Kitchen contains a range for serious cooking.
Julia Reed wrote the food column for the
"New York Times" magazine for several years.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor

A Guest Bathroom is decorated with 19th century
prints of Napoleon and Pope Pius VII.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor.

The Master Bedroom features an
Aubusson rug on top of sisal.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor

The Library was added in the 20th century.
The stained paneling was painted to resemble pine
 by Julia Reed's childhood friend, Anne McGee.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

 

The Sunroom features Bennison Crewelwork fabric.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor.

Homeowner Julia Reed in the Sunroom
of her house on First Street.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor

Now the house is being offered for sale.  Additional photos may be seen on the real estate website.  Reports are that Julia and her husband are looking at the French Quarter as possibly their next home.

Julia Reed's collection of essays about other experiences can be read in her best-selling book QUEEN OF THE TURTLE DERBY AND OTHER SOUTHERN PHENOMENA.  Additional stories as well as practical advice such as how to cook for compliments are found in HAM BISCUITS, HOSTESS GOWNS, AND OTHER SOUTHERN SPECIALTIES: AN ENTERTAINING LIFE (WITH RECIPES).  Julia Reed is famous as a hostess and some of her best advice will be given in her new book to be released at the end of the month, BUT MAMA ALWAYS PUT VODKA IN HER SANGRIA!: ADVENTURES IN EATING, DRINKING, AND MAKING MERRY.

Devoted Readers in the Chicago area will want to attend a style blogger panel discussion on April 20, 2013, as part of the Antiques & Garden Fair benefiting Chicago Botanic Garden.  Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic, Emily Evans Eerdmans of Emily Evans Eerdmans, and Marisa Marcantonio of STYLEBEAT will comprise the panel with the moderator being no other than the always delightful Julia Reed.