A Magical Castle

 I am so glad I attended the Mansion in May this year.  My wonderful boss took us on a field trip and it was such a beautiful day!  

 

The Women's Association of Morristown Medical Center organizes a fundraiser showhouse every two years to raise money for the medical center.  I've been to several of the events over the years and have to say Glynallen was the best yet!

Exerpt from Mansion in May site

The amazing castle was built from 1913-1917 by George Marshall Allen and is rich in history.   In the late 19th century in the New Jersey countryside, Morristown became a desirable summer retreat for wealthy New York industrialists and business leaders who built grand mansions along what was nobly hailed as Millionaire’s  Row on Madison Avenue. Among these entrepreneurs was George Marshall Allen, a publisher, amateur  photographer, pioneer of color printing and yachtsman who, in the fall of 1912, purchased nearly 10 acres of land (adding more acreage later) in Convent Station to build a country estate for his family – wife, Grace Fanshawe Allen and daughter, Loraine Allen.

In his global travels, Mr. Allen struck an interest in the Tudor architecture of England and became intrigued by a sixteenth century Warwickshire castle, Compton Wynyates. To realize his vision of a regal Tudor manor, Mr. Allen commissioned renowned New York architect Charles I. Berg to visit and study Compton Wynyates, and to adapt an architectural design plan for a country estate on his newly acquired Morris County property. Mr. Allen chose the wooded land in Convent Station, as it is reminiscent of the rolling English countryside where Compton Wynyates stands. 

The daughter, Loraine Allen was married at the castle.    I can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up in a castle like this!  One wonders what her life was like.  The castle complete with a dungeon is the ultimate playhouse!

 1917 - The Wedding Party

There were 40+ rooms transformed for the event.

 The living room with it's plaster ceiling back in it's heyday was re-imagined by M. Frederick Design.

I love the moulding feature walls painted in high gloss white.  I'm itching to do a wall like this.  

This sofa surround was interesting and high gloss white too.  I love that the drapes and furnishings were kept simple and classic.  Nothing competes with the wonderful plaster showstopper ceiling.

 They really relied on texture to create interest.

I also loved this room imagined as Pippa Middleton's private office by Linda Benson Interiors.  

 It was so cheerful and young!  The takeaway from this room for me was the happy color scheme.  The blues and corals were delightful.  I also loved the little shaped flat valance on the upper right of the picture.  There's a small shelf unit tucked in that nook.

 The Tudor Rose and other symbols were seen in the castle interior and exterior.  I snatched an iphone picture of this faux painted wall in the stairwell.  Bad girl!

The castle is nestled amongst beautiful old trees..

Here in this house did a three part series on the Mansion in May with gorgeous pictures.

 Susan Cohan Gardens transformed this balcony with color!

 

 My diy takeaway was to knock off the bright umbrella.  I've already got the paints (but not the time) to liven up one of my faded umbrellas.    The living plant walls were everywhere...

These outdoor columns were turned into a pergola with rope.  Another great idea to use in your own castle!

These were just those concrete slabs you see for stairs or mantels turned on the side to create raised beds.

I can't wait to get outside!

How clever!

We thought it was funny they added this fake moss to the brick pillars near the entrance.  

Hop on over to the Mansion in May site if you like a bit of history.  What a fascinating story.  There are lots of beautiful pictures on Here in this house blog too...