These shingle-style mansions had a lot of polished, natural woodwork--and it appears that the last owners PAINTED OVER almost every inch of it. What a travesty!
Tastes changed, and they usually did it to lighten up the rooms. I think it's a sacrilege, but you could see the dramatic differences in both Fair Lane (H. Ford estate) and the unfortunately no longer open to the public Hammersmith Farm in Newport where some rooms are left natural wood and some are painted over.
Not his branch of the family exactly. Built by his great-grandfather's sister Emily. This was derelict for about 50 years, and her great-great-grandson restored it to try to turn it into an inn.
