Bringing Back Holleywood
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    • open house 10/27/12

new roofs

5/27/2011

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Once roof tiles and gutters are chosen, we decide on shade of chimney bricks.
Roofs need replacing, which we knew would be one of the major expenses. But who knew there were so many types of roofs to choose from? Only thing we're sure of is we do NOT want to go through this process again. Upon advice of architect and contractor, we decide on tin tiles in terra cotta color with a necklace of copper gutter pipes that will age beautifully to veridian. It's a "lifetime" roof, which means 90 years. I try to imagine the place in 2101. As impossible as it would have been for Gov. Holley to picture his cherished manse in 2011. 

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Rob the contractor helps us decide between brick samples by holding each next to roof tile and gutter.
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everything of historical value is saved

5/23/2011

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Even hooks from old closets. Can't you just see the parasols and boaters hanging from them?

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lathing

5/22/2011

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The house has been taken down to its bones, which means down to the lath in some cases. Lath and plaster walls were commonly used before the drywall method became popular after WWII. Thin pieces of cedar (called lath) were nailed onto 2x4 framing, then wet plaster was applied onto the lath in one to three applications.
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Wall of center bath in upstairs hallway. It looks as if cedar strips are held together with icing.

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all hands on deck

5/21/2011

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It's been weeks since Donald and I have been on site, and are pleased to see how much progress has been made as we tour during a "summit meeting" of contractor, builder, architect and decorator.
In the photo, Donald takes an imaginary shower, trying on for size the stall planned for the center bathroom. Beside him, the architect and decorator review lighting plan.

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kitchen access revamped for families without cooking staff

5/21/2011

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For 150 years, the only downstairs access to the kitchen was via a long, narrow passage from the entry hall. This worked fine when the only ones who had to use it were narrow maids. 
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BEFORE: The architect makes notes for turning a closet by the fireplace into kitchen access.
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AFTER: Now the door leads from living room to kitchen.
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it ain't just paint

5/20/2011

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After removing wallpaper in the dining room, painters prepare ceiling for primer.

Due to myriad lead paint safety rules, we must work with with specialists trained and licensed in lead removal. They wear specially fitted respirators and observe elaborate rules for containment and cleanup. 
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Jason prefers stilts to ladders in the tower bedroom.
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incredible edibles

5/9/2011

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The contractor shows us exotic crops growing in our back yard. Ramp greens and morrel mushrooms--two of the pricier items at farmers markets. "And you can just go outside and pick them for free!" But Donald observes that, actually, they're the most expensive groceries we've ever bought.
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Ramps are a cross between leeks and scallions. Eating them ensures your own seat on a subway.
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Morels are rare mushrooms sought after by French cooks and foodies and probably deer.
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switch plan

5/2/2011

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I've never seen one before. It's a tissue overlay on the architect's drawing that lays out where light switches and fixtures go. At first glance, I mistook the symbols for dollar signs--which seemed to be appropriate labels. 
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seeing the light

5/1/2011

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Remember what I said about us keeping in place all the simple brass fixtures that are already there? (on the left) Forget that. Chris took another reconnaissance trip to PW Vintage Lighting and came back with wondrous finds. Like this sconce and its mate for the dining room, with glass shade that echoes Greek key design in revival door moldings. 

We'll use the original sconces in bedrooms upstairs.

For the breakfast room, we're looking at quirky milk glass lanterns with "bonnets" on chains that servants used to pull up and down to refill when the fixture was gas. "It's similar to what might have been here originally, before they electrified it," Chris said.

Which made me wish aloud that the family had saved the fixtures that came out in 1915. "I wonder whatever happened to those," I said.

Chris's eyes twinkled. "You're probably buying them back."
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    who we are

    We are a couple of Upper West Siders from NYC who never set out to buy an old mansion in Connecticut. But the moment we walked through its massive front door, we were smitten. The info on this site is earnestly cobbled from a variety of sources, including the web. Please let us know if we've gotten something wrong, or if there's a story about Holleywood you'd like to share.

    forewords

    December 2021
    September 2021
    December 2020
    October 2018
    June 2018
    August 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    August 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010

    glossary

    All
    2101
    Acorn Lights
    Adrian
    Aimee Davis
    Arnoff Moving
    Art
    Attic
    Avocado
    Balcony
    Basement
    Bathrooms
    Bathtub
    Bathtubs
    Bauer Park
    Beatrice Sexton
    Beaux Arts
    Before And After
    Bell Butler
    Bell Register
    Bernie
    Bill Sigsworth
    Billy
    Bird's Eye View Of Holleywood
    Boathouse
    Bookcase
    Boot Scraper
    Breakfast Room
    Bricks
    Bringing Back The Gatehouse
    Bunny Williams
    Cappy Tatsapaugh
    Carpentry
    Charles E. Rudd
    Charles Keil
    Charlie
    Chimney
    Chris Brennan
    Cistern
    Closets
    Colors
    Cost Of Oil
    Cousins
    Craftsmanship
    Crew
    Crook
    Crops
    Ct
    Cynthia Hochswender
    Dean Meadow
    Decorating
    Decorating 70s Style
    Details
    Dining Room
    Discovery
    Dock
    Doors
    Dreams
    Driveway
    Dumpster
    Earthquake
    Easter
    Electrician
    Emma Rudd
    Extruder
    Fear Of Heating Bills
    Fear Of The Unknown
    Felling A Tree
    Fireplace
    First Thanksgiving
    Floors
    Frank Garretson
    Fresco
    Front Doors
    Furniture
    Gallery Books
    Garage
    Garden
    Gatehouse
    Gateposts
    Gazebo
    Geoff Rosano
    Geronimo
    Ghosts
    Glass Etching
    Glenwood Stove
    Gold
    Governor Holley
    Gracious Living
    Grand Entrance
    Gravestone
    Greek Revival
    Green Restoration
    Groundhogs
    Happiness
    Helen Klein Ross
    Helen Ross
    Hidden Histories
    Hinges
    Historical Accuracy
    Historic District
    Holley-Williams House
    Holleywood
    Hot Air Balloon
    House Closing
    Housewarming Present
    Hurricane
    Ice Carving
    Insulation
    Italianate
    Jackie Mock
    James Charlton
    Jane Lyman Holley
    Jason Hanley
    Jay Rudd
    Jinny Rudd
    John Gruen
    John Krom Rudd
    Jp Newton Market
    Juliet Balcony
    Katherine Chilcoat
    Katherine Ross
    Kitchen
    Kubota
    Kyle And Lindsey McEvoy
    Kyle McEvoy
    Lakeville
    Lakeville Ct
    Lakeville Journal
    Lakeville Lake
    Lance Middlebrook
    Landscaping
    Larry Burcroff
    Lathing
    Laundry Room
    Laurie Warner
    Lead Paint
    Leon Mcclain
    Lifetime Roof
    Lighting
    Lindsey McEvoy
    Living Room
    Locke Brothers
    Louise Hannegan
    Lucky Break
    Malcolm Day Rudd
    Margaret Ross
    Mark Niedhammer
    Masonry
    Matt Holderman
    Memorial Day
    Memory Lane
    Metal
    Middle East Uprisings
    Mike O'connor
    Miller
    Mini-museum
    Modern Realities
    Momentous Occasion
    Mott
    New England Winters
    New York Times
    Octagonal
    Old Houses
    Old School
    Old Stone
    Original Doors
    Outer Space
    Painting
    Peggy Obrien
    Plaster
    Plumbing
    Porch
    Pulley
    Pw Vintage Lighting
    Radiators
    Real Estate
    Restoration Holleywood
    Riley's Furniture
    Rob Anderson
    Robinson Leech
    Ron Carpenter
    Roof
    Roof Raking
    Rudd
    Rudd Family
    Salisbury
    Salisbury Association
    Sarah Coit Day
    Scaffolding
    Scoville Library
    Seeing The Light
    Shutters
    Sign
    Signature
    Simon & Schuster
    Sink
    Skeptics
    Snow
    Snowplower
    Soap
    Spiral Staircase
    Spirit Ballooning
    Staging
    Stairway
    St. Charles Cabinets
    Stilts
    Stove
    Stumps
    Susan Rand
    Team Holleywood
    Theodore O'neill
    This Old House Magazine
    Tiles
    Time Of Covid
    Tower
    Tower Bedroom
    Town Grove
    Town Historian
    Trade Secrets
    Tree Climber
    Trees
    Troy Tatsapaugh
    Turret
    Upstairs Downstairs
    Vernal Pond
    Vernal Pool
    Vernal Pools
    Vintage
    Vintage Dollhouse
    Voldstads
    Wade Warner
    Wall
    Wallpapers
    Walls
    Wall Treatment
    Wall Treatments
    Welcome To Connecticut
    What-was-mine-book
    White Hart Green
    William Taft
    Windows
    Wononscopomuc
    Wood Burning Stove
    Woodchucks
    Writer's Hack
    Writing A Novel
    Writing On The Wall
    Xmas
    Xmas Trees
    Zordan Brothers

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