This week between Christmas and New Years is such a special time. In a way, it feels like time is standing still. For some, life may have returned to normal with normal working hours and schedules. But if your household is anything like mine, you’re still reveling in all things Christmas with New Year’s Eve/Day waiting in the wings. My family is still here visiting and the memories we’re making are memories I will cherish always. I hope you’re making wonderful memories this week, too.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour Brumby Hall, a “house museum” included in The Marietta Pilgrimage, a Christmas Historic Home Tour. Brumby Hall has a rich history and it’s a delight to tour since it has been restored and furnished beautifully.
This brief history of Brumby Hall was included in the booklet we were given during the tour.
Hope you enjoy this “pictorial” tour of Brumby Hall. If you ever have an opportunity to tour it in person, you’ll definitely want to do so. Pictures just don’t do it justice.
The Entrance:
Here are a couple of photos showing the condition of the home prior to its restoration in 1926. Rough looking, wasn’t it?
I guess this would be called the Parlor. The antiques throughout this home are so beautiful.
Gorgeous mirror! Do you see the firescreen?
Love the pretty garland across the front of the fireplace.
The other side of the parlor…
A little closer view…
This room was toward the back of the home. It felt cozy and warm. I love the wall color.
Another beautifully decorated fireplace…
Some of the art in the room…
I think this painting depicts Brumby Hall (lower right) surrounded by the buildings of the the Georgia Military Institute in 1864. Sherman burned all the buildings, except Brumby, on his “March to the Sea.” He spared Brumby Hall since Colonel Brumby and Sherman were friends at West Point.
Simple decorations for the mantel at Christmastime.
The bathroom…
More gorgeous furnishings… Love this grand piano, identified as a Chickering square by a savvy reader.
Note how the mirror was decorated for Christmas…giving me some ideas for my mirrors!
A built in niche/cabinetry…
This little doorway led to the area under the main stairway. I guess it’s just storage.
Here’s the way to the upstairs. I’ll share the upstairs in another post soon. There were just too many photos to share them all in one post. I can’t wait to give you a tour of the dining room and a banquet room at the back of the home. There’s even a tablescape to share.
Merry Christmas!
Part II of the Brumby Hall tour continues here: Brumby Hall, Part II
What a beautiful home…love the beautiful antiques…I would love to see it in person…thanks for the beautiful photos…can't wait to see the rest…
So beautiful. I'd love to live there.
Thanks for giving us a tour Susan. It's beautiful!
Beautiful tour! Thanks for sharing! Will have to add this to my "to do" list….I live in SC so this will be a nice weekend visit to Marietta and surroundings!
There is something so special about southern homes. As we live in Georgia we might have to see this one in person. Thanks.
I throughly enjoyed the tour of this beautiful home! Thanks for sharing!
Enjoyed the tour, Susan. I love historical places.
Thanks for all your terrific posts. I look forward to them in 2012! Susan
What a lovely home. Thank you for this tour and all the others. It is so nice to have a glimpse of these stately homes so lovingly restored.
Oh wow, love it! I would love to take a tour one day.
Blessings,
Gayle from Behind the Gate
So many things here I'm excited about!
(1) That lovely item with the harps on it is a Chickering square grand piano and I WANT ONE. (I saw one for $1800 on craigslist just a year or two ago, and that is a fire-sale price for a nineteenth-century instrument – and I'm a bit of a cheapskate. I didn't buy it because we hadn't yet bought a house; the one we were looking at then had a window area that was crying out for that piano. But the house we bought – which I love – has noplace for a piano. I think that violates a commandment. Sigh.)
(2) I ADORE their nativity scene. Never occurred to me to do one so simply, without all the shepherds and cattle, but I'm rethinking now…
(3) I would love it if you'd do a post on the valances/swags they have on their windows. I'm putting light-blocking curtains in the bedrooms because my husband is a vampire and can't sleep with sunlight, but I would love to leave my antique wood moldings exposed in the living room. Are valances like that traditional? Do they work in a less-ornate home? Are they too fussy for modern living? If I had a bolt of fabric I liked, could I make them? I always appreciate your insights :).
Thanks for another wonderful post! Your Christmas celebration (recognizing that Christmas STARTS on 12/25, rather than ending then!) sounds absolutely fabulous. Hope the delightfulness keeps on for many more days!
Susan, Thanks for sharing your tour photos. The home is beautiful, and looking at the photo of the exterior, I was surprised to see how high the ceilings are. I don't know why, since 1850s Southern homes would have had high ceilings. Thanks for sharing it's history.
That house and it's interior are fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Now if someone can tell me how I can confiscate that mirror that sits on that mantle, my day will be made.
A truly beautiful house Susan. I love the decoration of the horns on the fireplace. The home was decorated simply but elegantly.
Am looking forward to the next photos.
I would love to visit the South one day and see all these lovely homes. When we go back to England to visit, those and castles are always on my list.
Hi Susan
What a gorgeous home. This gives me so many ideas! Thanks for showing us all of your wonderful photos. I'm looking forward to more of these and your other clever posts in the coming year. Thank you for all of your efforts everyday to brighten ours! Happy happy New Year.
Susie H in Minnesota
What a beautiful Raised Cottage and the decor is divine. Thanks for sharing. Richard from My Old Historic House.
One of my favorite past times when traveling is finding Historic homes in the local to visit. My sister and I on the way to Florida…we traveled from Virginia through Georgia and visited a goodly number of homes as we could find along the way. This home would surely be on my list if 'God Willing' I am ever in the South again.
Truly love the fact that you take such lovely pictures and give us the facts of history to go along with the beauty of the pictures.
I love antebellum homes and have been blessed to see quite a number of them.
Happy New Year in the Year of Our Lord….2012!
Joyfully, (my new word for 2012)
~Sylvia Faye
Slyvia, it truly is a blessing to tour an historic home. There are so many beautiful ones here in Georgia. Hope you do get to see Brumby Hall sometime. While you're here, check out Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and the Smith Plantation in nearby Roswell, GA.
Misfit, the window treatments seen in this home are a traditional style and a bit formal, but depending on the fabric you use, you could probably work this style into most rooms. There are several tutorials online about creating curtains designed with swags, jabots and cascades. I've never made them personally, but I have friends who have, so I'm sure you could do it. Also, check Country Curtains, online. They may have some in this style that are reasonably priced.
Love all the wall colors!
How blessed you are to live in an area with such history. I love touring old homes but they are few and far between in my area so I thank you for sharing your tours with us. I always think…someday 🙂
Susan, I enjoyed all of the Brumby Hall pics!!!
Absolutely stunning.
Historic homes turn my crank! ha
So glad you shared this place with us in blogland.
May you have a terrific 2012,
d
Love, Love, Love, everything about this house!