7 November 2024
Architecture

Salisbury House & Gardens

Jenniferby Jennifer

Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa, was built by cosmetics magnate Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith Van Slyke Weeks, between 1923 and 1928. Weeks’ company was the Armand Company, a leading seller of face powder in the United States.

The original budget for Salisbury House was $150,000, but the final cost was $1.5 million — plus another $1.5 million for furnishings! I’ve heard of cost overruns, but this is a little much. It was modeled after the King’s House in Salisbury, England, and contains many architectural details salvaged from historic homes in England and elsewhere.

It has 42 rooms (of which 17 were bedrooms and 16 were bathrooms !) and is more than 22,000 square feet. I’m honestly not clear how the original budget could have been only $150,000.

Armand display case full of old products.
Guests originally arrived at the home through the pictured door into the Great Hall. The wooden pegs and joints in the ceiling are from the 16th century Great Hart Inn, while the fireplace was salvaged from a 16th century home, both in Salisbury, England.

The couple and their four sons moved into the home in 1926, while it was still under construction.

In 1934 they donated the home to Drake University and rented it back – a creative solution to financial difficulties. They remained in the home until 1954, at which time it was purchased by the Iowa State Education Association for just $180,000 (including the contents), for use as office space!

The ISEA soon discovered however, that the home required significant funds to run and maintain, forcing them to sell items from the collection.

It wasn’t until 1993 that the Salisbury House Foundation was formed. They purchased the home for $4 million (that’s more like it) in 1998, opening as a historic house museum the following year.

It includes much of the family’s original art collection and antique furnishings. SHF has invested more than $12 million restoring the home and upgrading operating systems.

The Breakfast Room, featuring the Weeks family china, commissioned by the family from a firm in England, naturally. There are 27 place settings in the set.
The main staircase, with rug dyed to the deep blue color preferred by the Weeks (this color can also be seen in their China pattern, of course).
The Library, with floors and paneling from a home in Salisbury, England.
The Dining Room, featured a chandelier copied after one hanging in the Knowles Banquet Hall in England. The fireplace was moved from a home in Salisbury, England. The English Oak dining table dates to the 16th century.
Balcony overlooking the Great Hall. The wooden statues overlooking the Great Hall were carved in Germany during the 1500s.
Edith’s Dressing Room in the style of Louis XVI. The chandelier dates from 1850. On the easel is a photo of Edith on her wedding day in 1907.
Edith’s Bedroom is in the style of Louis XV (not XVI like the dressing room – don’t be daft).  Another picture on this post is a close-up of the amazing chandelier.
The paneling in Carl’s Bedroom is constructed from black walnut trees that were removed from the property during the building of Salisbury House. The 1600s bed was purchased from an estate in England. Edith still manages to keep an eye on her husband via her portrait on the wall, painted in 1928 by Lillian Mathilde Genth.
Back in the day, guests arrived under this grand covered entrance way.
The arches upon arches in the hallways gave the feel of a walking through a castle.
The 1850s French chandelier from Edith’s bedroom is comprised of “brass, glazed soft porcelain and an eye-catching ceramic parrot in the center.”  It was something! Also check out the shadow it casts on the ceiling.
The grey conglomerate rock used for the exterior was one product that was able to be acquired cheaply even though it was imported from England — it was used as ship ballast on the trip to the U.S. and so the shipping costs were minimal!
The grand Common Room was used for entertaining. It features 16th century wood paneling and flooring, but check out the amazing Italianate ceiling, modeled on one seen in England. The piano is a custom-made Steinway, carved from 16th century oak from England, and beyond (behind the table) you can catch a glimpse of the self-playing pipe organ!
A window seat in the Common Room. Here you can get a better glimpse of the needlepoint frieze that took 6 workers in England three years to complete. It’s a reproduction of an Elizabethan-era piece.
The original front of the home. Common tourists these days enter from the back, which is pictured in the cover photo. Gardens extend behind the house.

Jennifer

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