Boldt Castle, Part II

Here are some more photos from Heart Island. This is the dovecote

Manicured gardens contrasted to the natural shores of the adjacent island

When Mr. Boldt built the house, his objective was to create a full-sized Rhineland castle. It was inspired by his childhood home in Germany with a dash of whimsy. So if it feels like you're at Disney, that's because Disney's castle shared architectural inspiration. Also, it will feel like Disney because there are people everywhere! This is a busy place.

A devoted family man, Mr. Boldt had this modest playhouse constructed for his children which includes a theater and bowling alley. Truly, it was a favorite space with unique mouldings and lovingly fantastical designs.

What is that you ask? The yacht house, of course. Also, it is located on adjacent Wellesley Island which is accessible by car but once served as a place of agriculture and duck hunting to provide for not only Heart Island, by Mr. Boldt's hotels from what I understand.

Boldt Castle, Part I

Did I mention I've been taking a ton of travel architecture snapshots over the past couple years? Well here are some from Boldt Castle. And if you've never heard of it, you might have heard of the dressing that this man made popular. Thousand Islands? Really its just Russian dressing rebranded for your reuben sandwiches, as I understand it, by George C. Boldt for offering in his hotel, the Waldorf Astoria. Also, note the Waldorf Salad which I've never really been a fan of. Just not my cup of tea. But if you have the chance to visit the Thousand Islands, please do! Not only will you be glad to know the origin of the namesake dressing but truly the St. Lawrence River is one of the most naturally breathtaking places I've ever seen. Also, this house. Sorry the photos aren't great - I didn't bring full camera equipment with me on this trip.

Now my daughter is a HUGE fan of this house because it is on Heart Island and has hearts... everywhere.

Yet sadly, it was intended as a love token for his wife, Louise, who passed only weeks before Valentines Day when he intended to present it to her. So at the time, they ceased work on the house and it was never finished.... until relatively recently by the local community. You will see that evidence of unfinished work throughout, including the top floor where they've stabilized it to show the character of how it was found.

More of the beautiful grounds and other buildings to come!

Camp Sagamore, Part III

Mrs. Vanderbilt added quite a bit of fun to the property including this very inviting "Playhouse"

Lots of taxidermy. It is also the only structure on the property designed by a professional architect but happens to be the least structurally sound and has required the most repair.

As Photographed in 1940 for Life Magazine

 Which naturally features an adjacent en plein air bowling alley. Replete with original (and working) return.

Photo from Martha

And of course, decor for all seasons

One last thing, I thought these twin cottages were my favorite. Still used by visiting family (although the property is in the care of Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks) these were built by Mrs. Vanderbilt for her children, this is one of the two.

Camp Sagamore, Part II

Let's take a look at the main compound of Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks. New York State is beautiful in the summer, a local to Upstate told me they call it the "wooing season" and I can see why.  So the main lodge is clearly the centerpiece of the property. The man who built the property was William West Durant as a self-sufficient wilderness camp from 1895 - 1897. The Main Lodge was all that stood here, inspired by the chalet style it was intended to be intimate with only five bedroom suites. Also, note Durant was a pragmatic man - the door was based on one he saw in a catalog. Not unlike many modern home decorators. 

Due to financial reasons he sold it to Alfred G. Vanderbilt in 1901 and visited the property frequently until his untimely death on the Lusitania. His second wife, married in 1911, Margaret Emerson McKim really made the property home and together they did a great deal of entertaining and building, adding so much life to the compound and making it what it is today. This is the Main Lodge's details and interiors. I just love the "rusticated" (a term the trustees of the property use lovingly) details of the main door. A blacksmith worked on site full-time and fabricated everything by hand.

Care for croquet?

I'll be honest, I didn't bring the best equipment for interior, low-light photos. So some are mine but some are "borrowed" from Martha Stewart, as below:

 Back to my snapshots:

Here's the dock, just beautiful and in keeping with the surroundings.

Dining Lodge

Here's the interior from Martha's site:

Now, my photos - because this view and this window...

Camp Sagamore, Part I

I've been traveling a lot in the past couple years. I still take photos of architecture along the way - can't break the habit. I recently had a good friend who is a terribly accomplished designer visit me in New York and just through sharing enthusiasm for architecture and design, she really encouraged me to write again. We also took a quick trip up to the Adirondacks and here I am, with photos from Sagamore, the old Vanderbilt lodge. What you can't see are the biting black flies. So let's start where you would if you were visiting the property:

Stables and Carriage House - If you stayed at the property, to enhance the image of the rustic, your car would be dropped with a driver at the end of the drive where a carriage would bring you the the house. If you were of appropriate caste, you would enjoy pomp and circumstance in the form of sparklers and such along the drive. Meanwhile your modern vehicle would sit here, waiting for your return trip.

Wood shed roof with exquisite patina

"Wigwam House" - Note the sides are made of peeled bark applied.

The view of Racquette Lake

On a more personal note, a few months ago we bought a house. After living all over the world, it feels nice to put down roots. It was built in 1886-1891 and we're redoing a lot. Some of the original plasterwork is in tact but a lot has been sacrificed for pragmatism. I'm enjoying revamping the spaces (kitchen, bathrooms, etc) remotely from New York. I thought when we finally stopped moving I would be all about the renovation blogging/journaling, but I'm just not that into it. I think I like the inspirational places most of all.