Source List: Last House Series

I will put all the source lists for the Last House on the Left series in this post. Refer back to this for updates. :)

Kitchen:

Last House on the Left kitchen

As I mentioned in the interview post, I will be studying several of the rooms in Last House on the Left, providing details and sources when I can. Of course, I had to begin with the kitchen because it is my very favorite room of that house.

The kitchen seems to be the heart of this house, since the majority of the scenes take place here. Isn't that just like real life? Everyone always seems to congregate where the food is!

The first thing that struck me about the kitchen was the gorgeous wall color. Johnny Breedt said they used a Dulux color, influenced by a Martha Stewart color. My best guess would be colors from Martha's Araucana Collection, my favorite being Araucana Blue. Here is a sampling of Martha's colors:

I mentioned the interview that Breedt used a basic stainless sink instead of a pricey designer sink. I think it is completely appropriate as this is a vacation house, and a family might not be willing to put designer items in it. Isn't it more fun to collection items over time for such a house? I also love all the spice racks in the kitchen - I spotted at least 4! I'd hit Etsy for vintage spice racks.

Luckily, Monica Potter, "Emma," is so lovely I don't mind her popping up so much in the shots. I chose the shot below to show the decorative plates she has in display in the dish rack. It is a shame to buy such pretty plates and hide them away in a cabinet. It is a great idea to leave them out.

Here, Mr. Collingwood works on the rather-dated microwave. I included the shot to show you the pretty lace sheer on the door. And the pocket-hanger-thing on the door. Also a nice shot of the Shaker-style cbainets. I nice change of pace from beadboard sometimes. Bin pulls are always my favorite kitchen hardware. And probably the only shot of the kitchen flooring in the movie - hardwood, of course.

The couple preparing dinner on a small island (table!). This would be positioned in front of the stove.

And the stove! This is the fullest shot I could get of the stove. This scene is after the lights go out, so it is a bit dark. But I wanted to show just how wide the stove was. Johnny called it a thing of beauty, and I agree. I love vintage appliances!

A little brighter shot of the stove. We see some more of the great knick-knacks that truly give this house a lived-in feel. The under-cabinet lighting gives a nice glow.

You would think the wood counters received their patina from years of use, but we know this was courtesy of Johnny & team. Aren't they beautiful? I just read about a company called Perfect Plank that has very reasonable rates for similar counters. I am looking into them for my own kitchen.

Curtains in my house have to be breezy and sheer. I am not a fan of blocking out natural light or pretty views. I really liked these curtains in the kitchen. They look to be light and sheer, with green floral embroidery. I ordered these curtains, which appear to be very similar.

The tin canisters caught my eye the first time I watched the movie. I blogged about a similar (new) set months ago. Typhoon has a Vintage Collection in cream that would give a similar look. Check out Amazon.


A little more detail on the curtain and yet another spice rack.

The only shot to give us a glimpse of this corner in the kitchen. It is probably like the little stool in my kitchen corner that no one ever sits on!

Here we see "Emma" in the hallway that connect the ktichen to the dining room. I like the baby blue chalkboard over the wine rack.

This fuzzy shot is the only shot in the movie of the pendant light over the island. See the blurry silhouette to the right of the white lampshade? The cheapest, yet nice-looking, ones I have found are $30, in stock, at Lowe's.

Don't you love glass-front cabinets? And in this final shot, we get a glimpse into the dining room. See the floral curtains over his shoulder? The dining room only makes a short appearance in the movie, but I will be goign through it, as well as a few other rooms, next.

I hope you enjoyed this kitchen as much as I did. Stay tuned!

Hollywood Regency chairs from KC's Hotel for Presidents

On a treasure hunt to pick up a washbasin for my potting shed, I spotted an ad on Craigslist for a moving sale. One of the items listed was a pair of Hollywood Regency style chairs from the old Muehlebach Hotel for $20 each. After picking up the basin and lunch, Steven and I swung over to Overland Park, Kansas to the sale.

The sale was being held by an older couple. They told us they were selling their home as they were moving on to a change in their life. Steven spotted an automotive trade magazine from 1983, and the woman said that she had retired from GM. The magazine was a special edition for GM's 75 birthday. Being car buffs, we snapped that up for a buck. I also got a set of gorgeous blue melamine dishes for $2.50. Meanwhile, I never took my eyes off the the chairs.

The couple's daughter told us that when the Muehlebach was closed, her mother had outfitted their entire cabin in treasures from the hotel. I was instantly in love. Steven looked a little perplexed as to why I wanted the chairs. They were heavily laquered in paint that perhaps once was white, and the upholstery was dark orange. I told them I had a vision, and that the chairs had HISTORY.

Once home, I started researcing the Muehlebach Hotel and was so excited to have picked up the chairs. (At half-off since it was late in the day, mind you. $20 for both chairs). So, here I will give great detail on the hotel... for those interested in historic hotels, for the KC people who might wander on to this blog later, and for my own records since I think it is a really neat story.

When people think Kansas City, they don't think glamour or glitz. But back in the Jazz Age, KS was the place to be. Heard of Charlie "Birdman" Parker or Count Basie? Well, they were here in KC. What I would give to spend a day in KC back then. Dreamy! Anyway...

In downtown Kansas City stands the historic Muehlebach Hotel. Known as "Kansas City's Hotel for Presidents", every president from Teddy Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan has visited the hotel, and every president from Woodrow Wilson to Richard Nixon has stayed in the Presidential Suite.

Presidential Suite, 1979

Truman and his associates apparently called it, simply, "the penthouse." It served as Truman's headquarters in Kansas City from the time of his vice presidential campaign in 1944 until he left the presidency in 1953. The hotel has also serviced many celebrities including Babe Ruth, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, etc.

Truman party at the Muehlebach Hotel

In mid-December 1917, Ernest Hemingway wrote home from a press room in the Hotel Muehlebach. He expected a raise. "All the fellows say there ought to be one coming to me,'' he said. Sometimes, working late on assignment and too tired to ride the long trolley car home to Agnes Ave., Hemingway would sleep in a bathtub in the Muehlebach's pressroom, using towels for a mattress. He later glorified the hotel's beds, not its bathtubs, in the novel "Across the River and Into the Trees."

Old Guest Register

The Muehlebach was built with funds from the estate of George Muehlebach, who came to Kansas City from Switzerland in 1857 and opened a saddle shop. His farm and vineyard were west of Westport. Later he established a brewery, Muehlebach Beer,first located at 18th and Main. The hotel, erected after his death, was leased to the Trianon Hotel Company.

Postcard from 1916, right after opening

The lobby of the Hotel Muehlebach, with its thick Oriental rugs, writing desks, tall lamps, potted palms, lounge chairs and a roaring wood fire, is pictured on an old promotional post card, one of a set, put out by the hotel shortly after it opened in1916.

George E. Muehlebach, Jr., started working for the brewery after his graduation from Spalding's Business College. In 1905 after the death of his father he became president of the brewery.
As a teenager, George had played first base on the Muehlebach Brewing Company’s Pilseners baseball team, spawning a keen interest in the sport. He owned the Kansas City Blues, twice American Association champions, from 1917 to 1932. Muehlebach built a half-million dollar ballpark at 22nd and Brooklyn in 1923, the only park in its league free of billboards. Under various names, Muehlebach Stadium was Kansas City’s ballpark until the Truman Sports Complex was built.

Street-view, 1930. Aren't the cars a hoot?

The original 12-story building was constructed in 1915, designed by Holabird and Roche. The site used for the hotel was one formerly occupied by the old First Baptist church, a frame building built in 1880, the gift of Col. And Mrs. W. H. Harris. Land and church cost $30,000.Services were held there until 1908, when the congregation sold the church and site for $150,000, took their pipe-organ and moved temporarily to Thirteenth and Broadway. They later built a new stone church at Linwood avenue and Park street at a cost of $100,000.For five years the old Twelfth street church stood empty, used only for ballyhoo, annual shows, an occasional menagerie and whisky advertisements.

Side-View, 1928

The Muehlebachs started tearing down the old landmark in June, 1913, and financing their plans for a big hotel.The hotel was extended west to Wyandotte street in 1952 and four years later the 17-story Muehlebach Towers was added on Wyandotte. The hotel was remodeled in the 1970s and closed in the 1980s. Marriott bought hotel in 1996 as an annex to their downtown hotel. Two years and millions of dollars were spent restoring the hotel in accordance with historic preservation guidelines as the hotel is both a state and federal landmark.

After all that... NO! You don't get to see the chairs yet. That is in my next post. :)

Sources:
Emporis
Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Star, A Writer's Haunts: Where He Worked and Where He Lived.

Putting a hex on you... (all about hex tile!)

Since I gave the skinny on subway tile, I thought I would follow up with hex tile. Nothing really says "period" tile like a hex tile floor. Today, you can get hex tile in so many beautiful styles and colors, it really is hard to choose. I will show some modern versions in a bit, but first... a bit about creating a more authentic look, if that is your cup of tea.

First, if authentic is your thing, you will want to check out the unglazed porcelain tiles. The big difference you will notice between old hex tiles and modern ones is the sheen. New tiles will be bright and shiny. Old ones, more of a chalky dull look to them. Standards for laying tiles have changed, as well as the formulas, of course. Un-glazed tiles, it has been noted, require a bit more upkeep. But unlike a kitchen, a bathroom floor is less prone to red wine stains and such. It may not be as big of a concern. Added bonus: you will be less likely to slip and fall!

We always see 1" tiles in magazine pictures. However, pre-Great Depression, 2" tiles could be had. There are a few companies out there that offer a 2" tile, but there are a more costly option. And some people not familiar with them might think they look a little "off." But really, there are quite lovely.

Bungalow.tile.com

Not all floors were just plain white... some had the little "flower" insets. (But remember... those wacky Victorians were germaphobes... so everything really was white back then, including the grout.) It wasn't until the 30s that color options became available.

Look at the "bath rug" made of tile. Adorable!

A little more subtle design.

If you are looking for a finish that is a bit more sleek, a nice glazed tile is lovely. And, for those not concerned about historic accuracy, I say, go wild and look at some of these modern options! Any color and finish is available. One of my favorites is the marble tile.

Anna at Doorsixteen has a drop-deap gorgeous floor in her bathroom.

Now, I should mention that hex tiles were not the only game in town back then... in some parts of the country, instead of hex, they used a penny round. A penny round is the same as a hex tile, basically, just round instead of geometric. Just round little dots attached to a backing sheet. And, of course, they came in a 1" size, too.

Cobalt blue for the daring!

If I had the time and money, I would have done this Ann Sacks tile instead of the hardwood floor in my master bath. Isn't it gorgeous and beachy?

Penny rounds on the wall? Not traditional, but I like a little weird. The Vermeulen's bathroom posted on Apartment Therapy.

The Nicholson House

And next in my Spurgeon series, perhaps my very favorite and most tragic of the homes. Honestly, I almost wept at seeing the last pictures of it...

Joseph Wiley Spurgeon built this home for George Edward Nicholson. Nicholson was once considered one of the wealthiest men in Kansas. In 1909, Nicholson was worth around $4 million and reputedly carried $1.5 million in life insurance, the largest individual policy ever taken out on an individual at that time. Nicholson was a developer of cement plant, brick kiln, zinc mine, and gas line industries. Nicholson lived in Baldwin for a number of years after 1900. He played an important role as a philanthropist, establishing missionary schools operated by the Methodist church in Baroda, India, and Manila, Philippine Islands. At Baker University, Nicholson was endowed as chair of Philosophy and Bible and was named a trustee.

When Nicholson moved to Kansas City, Missouri afterthe death of his wife, Spurgeon was responsible for moving the family mausoleum from the home to the Oakwood Cemetery. His home in Kansas City, Missouri is on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, his home in Baldwin City did not survive to receive such an honor. After the Kappa Sigma fraternity house at 8th and Dearborn burned in 1910, and they purchased the Nicholson home. “At the time, the house was the highest priced piece of property in Baldwin and greatly admired Baldwinites and outsiders alike. The Fraternity moved in early 1911.”

The George E. Nicholson home featured a series of dormers along the roofline, some triangular and some gambrel. Metal cresting ran along the roofline. The chimneys were decorated with intricate brickwork. The porch wrapped around the entire home and had turned spindle posts topped with an arched bannister. The columns were round and topped with some type of decorative trimwork. The same trimwork was used on the top exterior windows as in the Francis Xavier Jardon Sunday Home. Dentils and brackets, identical to those used on the Tri-Delta house, seperated each story.

Inside, the hardwood floors featured intricate inlays. The trimwork and pocket door are identical to that used in the Francis Xavier Jardon Sunday Home. The interior lights were quite similar to those used in the Sunday Home as well. Picture rail, a feature not included in the Sunday Home, lines the ceilings.

Again, fire destroyed another Kappa Sigma house on September 13, 1915. “The Kappa Sigma house was valued at $20,000. It was erected several years since by Mr. Geo. E. Nicholson and was very elaborately finished throughout. This town will probably never see another house on which so much money will be lavished. “ Baldwin City Ledger.

A new chapter house would be built in the same location, by Joseph Spurgeon. This brick home would stand until fire yet again destroys the Kappa Sigma House in August 1976.

FX Jardon's country residence, the sister house to my cottage

I thought you all might like to see some old pictures of other houses Joseph Wiley Spurgeon built. My very first posts were about the architect/builder for my home.... I really love his other work too!

This house is the sister house to mine. My home was FX Jardon's "Sunday City Home." This was his magnificent country home. The current owner graciously allowed me inside his beautifully renovated home to take pictures. It really is in immaculate condition.

Can you imagine how beautiful that shingle work must have been? No one does roofs like that anymore either. I love turrets... and the porte cochere (carriage porch) is gorgeous. I found a newspaper article from 1905 that mentions Jardon adding the porch for $1000. Obviously he was quite wealthy.

And here is it today. I love the blue the current owner chose! Notice the gingerbread is gone.

Beautiful shinglework on the rear turret. All the brickwork has been newly tuck-pointed.

The barn, also built by Spurgeon, then.

Here is the barn present day.

Without being too intrusive to the current owner, I don't think he'd mind if I shared a few interior pictures to show the great attention to detail that Spurgeon gave.

All the floors in the house are different inlay patterns. The staircase is simply amazing.

They still have the original door bell... and it works!

All the doorways in this room have a different shape. (Remember, these are plasterwalls , folks!)