One of the most interesting places we visited in Chicago was an unbelievable example of America's Gilded Age: the
Driehaus Museum.
You can visit the website to read all about this extraordinary example of historical restoration and preservation (done with private money I might add, something that is rarely if ever seen in Canada). I thought I'd share a few of the highlights of our tour (and if you go please take a tour from one of the very knowledgeable guides, so informative and fun).
The Gilded Age embraced the
Aesthetics Movement, an appreciation for the fine arts and crafts available at the time to decorate a home, and basically "more is more" was the decorating motto of the day.
It was overwhelming to take in the many details and layers of fine arts and crafts presented in each room, and equally astounding to learn that over 90% of the interiors are original.
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| The Dining Room |
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Window treatments in the dining room.
Shutters layered with draperies. |
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| Gorgeous lamp with flower vessels. |
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| Mantel detail. |
I loved the tiled walls, I've never seen anything like it in my life.
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| Tile detail. |
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| Statue shown to perfection with a tile backdrop. |
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| Walls decorated right up to the decorated ceilings. |
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| Fireplace tile detail. |
How's this for a staircase from which to make an entrance?
The statuary all over the entire house is gorgeous.
The fireplaces are all coal burning and perfectly preserved. The original owner had lost two homes to fire and then built this mansion as fireproof as possible, basically each room is a box of iron and brick then encased in the entire house which is bricked up and covered in stone. Quite amazing!
This window, below, is actually in the servants quarters at the back of the mansion. I wanted to remember the grille detail on the outside of the window as I'm thinking of installing something similar on our own house... I just have to find the right craftsman. That wouldn't have been a problem during the Gilded Age.
The fabrics on the walls and the draperies were so opulent and cozy, the colours feminine yet dark:
Learning about this time in history was just fascinating and even though a home like this is absolutely over-the-top I still found it inspiring.
We'll be going back for another visit when we head to Chicago again, I'd love to see this house during the winter months.
*I apologize for the quality of the photos, my camera inconveniently broke while we were visiting Chicago and I had to use my iPhone.*
Have you been to the Driehaus Museum?
xoxDani
