Introducing Hollywood-Regency into the Cross House
The Cross House was built in 1894.
It is now 2016.
So, 122-years have elapsed since the house was built. And during these many years a lot has happened in terms of lighting and furnishings and fabrics.
While I am greatly devoted to restoring the architecture of the Cross House to its 1894 appearance, there will be only token 1894 interior decor elements. Rather, the decor will reflect aspect of the last 122-years.
Lighting is an interesting consideration. Is it architecture? Or decor? I can’t decide, but lean towards the latter. But I don’t lean too far, hence my many post about obsessing over trying to find period-correct gas/electric chandeliers and sconces.
In at least three rooms I will be leaning. The Library, Stair Hall, and Long Bedroom. Each will have 1950s to 1970s Hollywood-Regency-style lighting. These will all be unmistakably not original to the house, a distinction of some importance to me.
This winter, when I am forced to stop painting the exterior, I need some interior project. I am hoping, oh so hoping, to get the Library and Parlor wholly finished and decorated. I am also thinking of getting the Long Bedroom done. This will be my bedroom.
The room will be decorated in full-out Hollywood Regency.
And, I suspect, I just caused Bo to faint.
I had installed an almost-period-correct gas/electric chandelier in the Long Bedroom. But is was a bit under-scaled. Oh, the horror. The horror! Plus, because I was planning a Hollywood-Regency decor, I decided to go in that direction, and purchased this 1960s bit of bling. It is 24-inches wide, which is kinda large, but is proved not large enough for the Long Bedroom. The large scale of the Cross House rooms has this effect on things.
I saw this on eBay months ago. It was 34-wide. That seemed just about right. But the price scared me. So, I kept watching it and watching it and watching it. But, each time it relisted, the price never dropped. Sigh. Finally, I got the nerve to make a 50% off offer. I thought: They will never accept this! But they did! Zounds!
The chandelier arrived yesterday, and I was breathless. Today, I just HAD to install it. Was the scale right? However, it proved that I could NOT install it. It weighs a ton, and I could not hold it up while simultaneously trying to attach it to the electrical box. Quite vexing! A sensible person would have simply waited a few days until help could be obtained. A sensible person. BUT I COULDN’T WAIT! My solution was to build a 2×4 frame to hold the chandelier…
…so I could attach it to the electrical box. Then I experienced an Oh Dear moment. How to get the frame out without the chandelier crashing to the floor?
My solution was to unscrew the 2x4s from the wall, then hold the chandelier up, while kicking the frame out, but without it actually falling to the floor. Golly. An immense challenge of dexterity and timing. This image however confirms my Olympic-like skills.
Ta-da! Most of the crystals are on, and the scale seems perfect! (NOTES: The stained-glass transom windows are out and being restored. The sofa is not going to stay in the room.)
The dresser and matching mirror (I live for dressers with matching mirrors) are by R-Way, and are Mid-Century Hollywood-Regency. And BIG.
The mirror is trimmed in deliciously ugly/fabulous gold-veined mirror! Note how I cleverly reflected the chandelier!
And so is the dresser top!!!!!!!!
Every winter Half-Price Drapes really slashes prices. Really slashes. In January I smashed my piggy bank to splurge on these gorgeous black/cognac draperies. They were, I think, 80% off. How could I not?
Yummy. Matt told me about Half-Price Drapes, which he has used in in own big old house restoration. Thanks, Matt! What is particularly nice about the drapes is that they could have been used in 1894. So, while perfect for my Hollywood-Regenct glam look, they are also period-correct to the Cross House. Pretty smooth, right?
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Ross, you are truly making personal progress. That which will make it your house, your style, is on the way and makes me happy for you. Plumbing, electrical plaster walls . . . that’s the houses personally. BUT how you combine your loves with what you love about the house is what takes the structure from a Restored house to a celebration of a historical social place in your heart, your life and your community of revellers. Congratulations on your new path of personalization. Keep it up ! ! !
I need to know. Zounds. What sounds are those exactly? Trumpets and angels singing or what?
Trumpets AND angels!
Ross, I have noticed in your blog and others that people hang light fixtures even though there is still obvious ceiling repair to be done, and sometimes no ceiling at all, just bare joists. I am not criticizing, just wondering — why do you hang stuff on walls or ceilings that aren’t done yet?
Just curious, and maybe I will learn a nugget of valuable info!
Inspiration, baby, inspiration!
And I need every bit I can get!
Fair enough!
As stunning as those drapes are they would have been worth paying full price. They are absolutely delish!
Love your light fixture – it looks awesome!!
I especially like the period light fixture to the left of the dresser and mirror and how well it reflects the HR style. combined with the broken plaster, it’s another decorating triumph for you- Huzzah Huzzah!!!!
I have a name for the look of Hollywood Regency furnishings in partially unrestored rooms. It’s the Green Acres Style! Or, to be more fancy, I like to tell people we are going “Acre Verde” with our decor. It makes me laugh while I wait and wait and wait to get the plaster restored in some of our rooms while we continue to live in them.
My eyes deceive me yet again. The black in those drapes looks blue against the sofa and green in the closeup.
Poor lighting. The drapes look black in real life.
The 34″ chandelier is FABULOUS! God bless eBay!
Ahhhh . . . still vicariously living through your posts.
I can only hope that my Olympic skills will match yours when my knee is fully healed.
But for now . . . ice, ice baby. And LOTS of PT.
Hey Ross, I’ve been reading your blog for the past three days over my vacation. My family has barely seen me! I can’t resist a good project though, and your project is engrossing. Finally on this post I felt COMPELLED to comment. I hope that as I read onwards I will learn that this Hollywood glam bedroom is now complete as I write on the first day of 2020. I adore those curtains and I hope you didn’t later change your mind about them. Your obsession with finding gas/electric lights that you can then convert to all electric, rather than simply buying motif appropriate all electric lights from just a few years later is insane, but you own your insanity and it’s delightful. The light shades with the stars BELONG in your house. Mrs. Cross would have snapped them up. Stop doubting yourself over their exact age or I swear I’m getting on a plane to Kansas. Besides, focusing on a ladie’s age is rude! Also, I really felt your anguish over the house paint. Don’t you dare change it! God, I hope you have painted the back of your house by now… Just so you know I’m not judging. I had my house painted in stages too and then eventually changed my mind. Back to your house though, the light golden green is gorgeous. Good thing I’m not involved with your project. I would have added a pouch of mica pearl powder to every can of paint to make the dragon scales shimmer. I’d also be picking out details with antiqued gold leaf in a way you don’t enjoy. (I’m from California.) I wonder if you have solved your porch lighting issue yet. I guess I need to keep reading to find out!