Decor Arts Now

By Lynn Byrne.  After viewing all of those castle-type houses in my post on the origins of Gothic Revival style, I bet your first thought was that nothing like that was being built today.  Surprise.  A veritable 25,000 square foot castle has recently been built on the Palisades along the Hudson river.  The homeowners say they looked to the U.K. for inspiration and that Hampton Court (shown in my November 27 post) was one of their references.  You can easily see the parallels in this exterior shot, showing a brick and stone facade.  

Photograph by Scott Frances for Architectural Digest

Just to prove I am not making this up, here is a shot of the same house covered in Tyvek paper as it was being built.

Photography by Billy Cunningham for Architectural Digest

In the great hall there are many Gothic references in the oak millwork.  Look at the arched doorways and on the stair case (quatrefoils and barley twist balustrade.)  Note the small gothic chair and the carpet from Stark with its heraldic imagery.  Interior design was done by Alexa Hampton and architectural design by James Nigro.  The inset photo by Billy Cunningham shows the room in progress.

Photograph by Scott Frances for Architectural Digest

The garden room has a barrel vault ceiling.

Photography by Scott Frances for Architectural Digest

Here is a look at the garden room as it was being built.

Photography by Billy Cunningham for Architectural Digest

Down south, in Birmingham, Alabama, a library addition to a 1920′s Tudor style home was recently built in the Gothic Revival style.  

Photography by Colleen Duffley for the March 2005 Traditional Home

Back in England, an innovative couple created this Gothic chimneypiece by using parts from an old organ.  The bookcases were inspired by John Nash.

Photograph by Will Pryce for the May 27, 2009 Country LIfe Magazine

In the same home, the couple found a Gothic style four post bed for the master bedroom.

Photograph by Will Pryce for May 27, 2009 Country LIfe Magazine

Ready to furnish your own castle?  You could go hit the flea markets and maybe score your own taxidermy.  I remember when Domino magazine published this stuffed squirrel under glass and everyone was grossed out.  Now, I guess some would find it right on trend (not me).

 I would rather go out and buy some of the following products.

Clean up the shell of your room by adding Gothic Revival style hardware from Crown City.

Next, you can set the mood with this Gothic Revival style lantern and sconce by Thomas Pheasant for Baker.  

Add some comfort, with these shield motif pillows from the Wisteria catalog.  You could also go with Wisteria’s velvet lumbar pillow which they say is inspired by a priest’s vestments.  

Finally, Wisteria also has a cross motif shadow box that could be used to showcase one of those natural curiousities you have been collecting.

Niermann Weeks carries a great quatrefoil tole planter in 4 colorways to house your plants.  Remember that Gothic Revival forebear, Horace Walpole liked his botanicals.

Finally, my friends at Trustworth Studios have the perfect Voysey pattern, Victoria Regina, to cover your walls or simply use as a border.

It seems a man’s (or woman’s) home can really be their castle.

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