November Thankfulness and Garr Home Tour

Hello, I can't believe how the month of November flew by...we were busier than normal this month.  I am so excited for the season.  I can't wait to share my decorations with you all!  I'm done...at least with the majority.  Now I will tweak and hubby with any luck will finish up the outside with our warm weather today!  :)

We had a great Thanksgiving, so blessed to be around the table with our family.

We went and toured a home that was built in 1876 by Abram Gaar, in Richmond, IN.   It was so fascinating.  This family spared no expense building their home.  They made their fortune selling steam engines and threshing machines.  It cost 20,000 dollars to build then and today estimated over 5 million.  Many of the furnishings you see are originals to the home that Agnes shopped for at the World's Fair.  She had very rich taste.  Gaar's great granddaughter restored their house in the 70's and they opened in it for tours.  IF you ever get a chance and are traveling it's a must see.  TheGaarHouse 

the view

This is the entrance, and guarding the stairs is Scottish knight.

This was one of my favorite rooms.  It's the parlor and study on other end of the room.  The fireplace is Italian marble and the other fireplaces are painted to look like marble.  This one Agnes bought at the World's Fair.  The desk at the other end has an intricate design that is repeated by the ceiling from the artist.  It took 7 months to complete this room and the painter had to lay on his back on a scaffolding like Micheal Angelo.

 

 This is the study where their family bible still sits.  The bookcases were all custom built.

Can you believe the curve in this staircase?  It's the back one too.  All handmade...no power tools.  I am in awe of this craftsmanship

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Butler's Pantry

My favorite room, the Kitchen :)

the icebox

 

This is the butler's pantry and it goes up to the third level of the home.  They also had a laundry shoot and recycled the ice from the icebox for the wash.  Pretty neat and we thought we were the ones with innovative ideas!

This is the dining room.  The table is hand made and seats 14 with all the leaves.  This day it did not have all the leaves in it.  The sideboard is hand carved and has edelweiss flowers on it which are also on the wall coverings and paint in the room.  This was Agnes favorite flower.  

This shot shows you each level.  The guide explained that people decorated the first level of their home much more lavish than the other levels because that's what most people see when they come visit.  The farm hands lived on the third level and it was much more farm house, very plain.   The fourth level had just one set of stairs and a lookout where Abram could keep track of his farm hands. 

From the hinges to the pocket doors and the detailed paper carvings throughout the home, this is an amazing historical home.  I learned so much and wish I could have spent even longer looking around.  Be back with more to share about my Christmas home tour! 

TheGaarHouse