HOOK

ONLINE HOOK SPRING 2025

Issue link: http://janet.uberflip.com/i/1534146

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 23 of 67

passing. A#er which, the Houston's home remained vacant and in need of repair. But in 1993 with a stroke of luck and a phone call to Houston's daughter Ruth, Bloomfield purchased the property with his wife Barbara and the two lovingly restored the home to its former glory. Built in 1775 the Bloomfields embraced the home's federal style, inside and out. Impeccable a4en3on to detail was taken and no expense spared, especially when it came to the heart of the home, the kitchen. A signature of federal style fixtures, brass finishes, can be seen throughout the house including the sconces and chandeliers sourced from Virginia Metalcra#ers Inc., the leading manu- facturer of period ligh3ng at the 3me. (All fixtures had the op3on of being fueled by natural candle, gas, oil or electric.) A conun- drum came when the AGA cast-iron hand-made 1920's style stove was ordered from Britain and silver was the standard metal accent for the handle and hob covers. At the 3me brass was not an op3on, only genuine gold plated. Despite the addi3onal cost, gold it was. Bloomfield jests that the only other stove that AGA made with gold went to the home of a Saudi oil tycoon, which is ac- tually true. Hand-painted Del# 3les imported from the Netherlands adorn the backsplash and custom crown molding complete the cooking area. While the stove may take center stage in the kitchen, the 12-arm Waterford crystal chandelier is the showpiece of the dining room. "We traveled to Ireland to select the chandelier", recounts Bloomfield. "But they didn't make 12-arm chandeliers, only 10. Our designer insisted it be 12 so we placed a special order and six months later the chandelier arrived in Goshen." From the fixtures to the furniture to the fabrics, every piece was carefully curated, some over the course of a life3me for Bloomfield who's an avid an- 3que collector. From an 1850s Woonton desk to his unique, treasured chest from the 1500s, which is believed to have fallen off a 24 HOOK

Articles in this issue

view archives of HOOK - ONLINE HOOK SPRING 2025