The Swan House, Pt. 2

It’s time to go upstairs at the Swan House in Atlanta (another good excuse to show off this amazing staircase!) The bedrooms are as ornate as you would expect:



For the kiddies:




A detail shot of the head on the fireplace:



It was the bathroom/dressing room that really impressed me. According to one of the signs at the Swan House the mural work here was done by Athos Menaboni.



According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia:

Italian-born artist Athos Menaboni arrived in Georgia in the late 1920s and remained active until his death at the age of ninety-four. His early career focused primarily on painting murals and creating other decorative features for clients in Atlanta and elsewhere in the state. He then turned to painting birds from life, usually in pairs and in their natural habitats. Today Menaboni is best known for his numerous paintings of more than 150 different species of birds.…[Athos and wife Sara] settled into a small apartment and survived financially through commissions acquired through the prominent Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze. Menaboni designed murals for Swan House, the home of Emily and Edward Inman that is now part of the Atlanta History Center. That work led to additional commissions for private homes, public buildings, and places of worship. Though they lived in a building with thirty-six apartments in midtown Atlanta, the couple developed a reputation for rehabilitating injured and abandoned animals, particularly birds.



Yes, I laid down on the floor to get this shot: 



Another room had an exhibit on designer Ruby Ross Wood.



From the Swan House signage:

Ruby Ross Wood created the Swan House look. It is significant that as taste alters and houses change and adapt through time, the fragile interior is often lost. As a result, Swan House exists as the only Wood-decorated residence available today, exactly as Emily Inman, Philip Shutze, and Ruby Ross Wood opened it in 1928. A strong independent woman of the South, experienced in journalism, sharp, talented, and clever with a sense of adventure - especially in regard to color and pattern - Ruby Ross Wood made herself the preeminent decorator in the U.S. and gave rise to the profession of interior decorating.



Here is a sketch of Ruby by Paul Thevanez , circa 1922:



Another set of stairs takes you upstairs to the servant’s quarters:



Something tells me Ruby didn’t do too much decorating up here.



One more view of the staircase as we wait for part 3 of the story!



See more Swan House photos at my main website.

The Swan House, Pt. 1

When I visited the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead, my main objective was to see the Civil War Cyclorama. I ended up spending a full day there, which was truly not enough time! The AHC also includes gardens, Atlanta’s oldest surviving farmhouse (Smith Farm), a wood cabin, a Victorian Playhouse, and the most impressive: Swan House. 

Completed in 1928, Swan House was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Inman, heirs to a post-Civil War cotton brokerage fortune. The Inmans hired Hentz, Reid, and Shutze to design the house. The architectural firm was known for their Beaux-Arts style and as the founding fathers of the Georgia school of classicism. Their works included the Rich’s department flagship location on Broad Street, the now demolished Paramount Theater, and the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens.



Philip Trammell Shutze served as principal architect for Swan House; he had been a partner of the firm since 1927, (original partner Joseph Neel Reid died in 1926). Shutze drew on classical elements as inspiration for Swan House and its gardens. In 1977, Shutze was recognized as America’s greatest living classical architect.



The first two photos show the back entrance to the home; the above and below show the front of the home.



Parked in front was this yellow and green Hudson Super Six, which was first manufactured by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan in 1916. The first model was kept in production until 1928. You may be familiar with the car from the John Steinbeck novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The Joad family uses a Hudson Super Six sedan converted into a truck; the 1940 movie used a 1926 model.



The entryway: 



Yes, you can add impressive staircases to my list of obsessions.





Mrs. Inman lived at Swan House with son Hugh and family after Mr. Inman’s death in 1931. After her death in 1965, the Atlanta Historical Society purchased the house and most of its original furnishings, ranging from 18th-century antiques to 20th-century objects under the leadership of Mrs. Ivan Allen Jr. 



I was ready to move in. It felt like Downton Abbey had come to life.



The Dining Room table seemed a bit small; it could have used a few more leaves in the table.



The kitchen was one of my favorite rooms, with its vintage appliances.



I also fell in love with this red kitchen chair.



Swan House opened to the public in 1967 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and a City-designated Landmark. The property encompasses 22 acres of gardens and forest, all original components of Shutze’s novel site plan. Swan House also contains the Shutze decorative arts collection. There are still many more photos to come from this impressive house museum!

See more Swan House photos at my main website.

Trip to Atlanta, Pt. 2

Buckhead is a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, with lots of high-rise hotels, shops, and restaurants. While the majority of it feels a bit overdeveloped and devoid of charm, there are still a few cool places to check out. At the intersection of Peachtree, Roswell, and Paces Ferry, you will find Charlie Loudermilk Park. Good old Charlie stands guard there thanks to a life-sized bronze sculpture by Don and Tina Haugen. It was originally unveiled in 2011 to commemorate Charlie’s 84th birthday and put in storage until the park area was renovated. Who is Charlie Loudermilk? Edited from his August 4, 2022 obituary:

Atlanta businessman and philanthropist Charles Loudermilk died at age 95 following complications from a stroke, according to his family. Loudermilk is perhaps best known as the founder of furniture and appliance rental store Aaron’s, which he opened in 1955. According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aaron’s was started with $500 and grew into a company that produces $2 billion in revenue each year. As his business grew, so did Loudermilk’s contributions to charity. He donated more than $35 million to various organizations and institutions, including the Atlanta Food Bank, Covenant House, and the University of North Carolina. He would later serve as chairman of the MARTA board of directors.



The 55' high clock/bell tower was designed by Harrison Design Architects and was part of a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2015 when the new Park was opened to the public.



The Buckhead Theatre originally opened June 2, 1930 with “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” the second two-color Technicolor/all-talking feature.



The theatre was designed by local architecture firm Daniell & Beutell in the Spanish Baroque style.



As I was walking to the Atlanta History Center, this Tommy Bronx mural for Pepper Boxing caught my eye.





I can only imagine how difficult it was to paint over the brick surface. It really is an incredible piece.



Near my hotel you can find historic Peachtree Park, a residential neighborhood with approximately 550 homes that dates back to 1915. It is a quiet oasis nestled amongst the malls, hotels, and offices.



Recess was a delicious choice for dinner one night; it serves food that “…makes you feel good and won’t slow you down.” The Buckhead location is one of two in Atlanta.



As you all know, dinner is just an excuse for dessert, and Jeni’s Ice Creams was recommended to me by the Atlanta History Center.



The waffle cone was delicious, with just the right amount of salty to offset the creamy goodness of the mint choccolate chip ice cream!



Lunch between sessions one day was at North Italia, which was selected despite being a chain (I do attempt to avoid chain restaurants when traveling.)



The bolognese was tasty though, and the ambiance of the restaurant once inside is like that of a neighborhood trattoria. I did get some flack for taking the shot of the exterior signage, though. Just as I was about to leave the parking lot (on foot), an imposing mall cop (with backup on a bicycle no less) stopped me and barked out that photography was not allowed. She proceeded to tell me that I would need to leave the premises. I informed her that was exactly what I was already in the process of doing before she stopped me to relay that information. I guess she earned her pay that day for that one. Carry on, Ma’am.



The one major disappointment of Buckhead was that the Buckhead Diner where I had dined on two previous trips was no longer open.



Next up: The Atlanta History Center!

See more Buckhead photos at my main website.

Trip to Atlanta, Pt. 1

Just when you thought I had disappeared, here I am back, recently returned from the UCDA (University & College Designers Association) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia at the InterContinental Buckhead hotel.



I really do hate flying from the west coast to the east; with the three-hour time difference and a plane change, by the time I arrived an entire day is shot. The hotel was beautiful though, so I had that going for me!



Not necessarily my vibe, but I do appreciate the look of it.



The art was amazing, including this painting which “melted” off the canvas and spilled over onto the walls. Nice touch!



Interesting sculpture pieces throughout…





The room was spacious, comfortable, and clean. My home for the next few days!



The only thing on my agenda was to have an early dinner (we’re talking Senior Citizen time) and then crash. On my last visit to Atlanta, I had enjoyed dinner at the Southe City Kitchen restaurant in midtown Atlanta.



Right across the street from the hotel was the Buckhead location. Say no more.



I had a table out on the patio with a view.



The Fried Green Tomatoes melted in my mouth. They were DELICIOUS!



For my entrée, I selected the Springer Mountain Farms Fried Chicken. Good choice #2.



The Chocolate Chess Tart was good choice #3.



I was in bed by 7pm, which made it easier for an early morning swim.



The hotel’s pool was gigantic; perfect for laps.



Since my sessions didn’t begin until later in the day, I ventured off with my camera to Buckhead.



More on that coming up!

See more Atlanta photos at my main website.