Date: Fri 16-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Vleck-Flanders-cubist

Full Text:

(Van Vleck Farmhouse & Studio/Designer Show House, 5/16/97)

A Second Life For A Visionary's Farmhouse & Studio

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

WOODBURY - Flanders Nature Center was founded in 1963 by the late Natalie Van

Vleck, a painter and gentlewoman farmer. A not-for-profit teaching nature

center and land trust based in Woodbury, Flanders owns or manages over 1,300

acres of open space in four Connecticut towns.

On a parcel of about 200 acres rests the Van Vleck Farmhouse & Studio. The Van

Vleck Farmhouse, at 614 Flanders Road (near the center of Woodbury), was the

home of the late Ms Van Vleck.

Used for years as a center for teaching classes and offering various programs

throughout the year by members of Flanders, the 18th Century farmhouse was

until just recently also the home of Patricia Christgau, the executive

director of Flanders. Mrs Christgau lived in the farmhouse, using the

building's breakfast room as her office, for 12« years.

While the farmhouse, its studio and surrounding property have remained

functional, years of use had begun showing on the farmhouse. While Flanders

needed to keep the integrity of the house's lines intact, it had become

apparent that more than nominal upkeep was needed in order to keep the house

standing.

Eighteen months ago, the concept of a designer show house was embraced by

Flanders Nature Center and the Junior League of Greater Waterbury. The show

house is being used as both a much-needed renovation project for the

Flanders-owned property and a fundraiser to benefit projects of both

organizations.

In creating the Van Vleck Designer Show House - a project that combined

renovating the sturdy building with showcasing its original grandeur - 19

interior designers and five landscape designers from across the state were

given the opportunity to express themselves. Each interior designer was

assigned a room to interpret; each landscape designer had a garden to work in.

"We are trying here to maintain and preserve the history of this house. We

didn't want to lose this house," said Anita Rash, a member of the show house's

designing committee. In echoing the purpose of Flanders Nature Center, a

year-round educational facility and community resource, Ms Rash continued, "We

didn't want the house to fall apart. We want this to be here for future

generations."

Woodbury town records indicate the original salt-box style farmhouse was built

on the Church Hill Road property by Thomas Judson in 1786. The elder Judson

deeded the land to his son Thomas in 1779. The property remained in the Judson

family until 1926, when the Van Vleck family purchased the land in December of

that year.

The Van Vleck property includes the 18th Century farmhouse, with additions.

The farmhouse itself features a large hall/keeping room with a stone fireplace

and hearth oven, and a farmhouse kitchen that retains its 1930s charm while

having been updated with modern conveniences. Interior designers and landscape

designers have interpreted the character and period of the property's

buildings and exteriors.

Last weekend the culmination of a year and a half of planning, designing and

renovating every room in the farmhouse and its studio was unveiled. Through

the end of the month, the "A Designer Show House: The Van Vleck Farmhouse

Studio & Gardens" is open for the public to visit and re-discover. Group tours

are being conducted each Monday (except Memorial Day) and Tuesday; the public

is welcome to visit Wednesday through Sunday.

Entry into the farmhouse for the show house tours is through the building's

front entryway. Alessandra Manning-Dolnier used a pattern found on a sealing

stamp belonging to Natalie Van Vleck to stencil the artist's initials on each

of the stair risers. The light almond walls were colored by a technique called

ragging, and were based on a wallpaper pattern designed by honorary designer

chairman Mary Gilliatt.

Nancy Huebner (American Antiques & Interiors, Woodbury) chose to create an

18th Century music room reflective of the American Queen Anne and Chippendale

periods. Ms Huebner, who specializes in period restoration, chose red and

mustards to color the room. These colors, she explained, were very popular

during this time period, and used often in rural homes.

In creating "Diamonds and Violins" - her name for the re-created music

room/best parlor - Ms Huebner designed a room any family would be proud to

host guests in. It is set up to accommodate four occupants, who would be

entertained by a musical quartet.

An oilcloth floor covering, something used in Colonial American homes long

before Oriental rugs became widespread, incorporates the colors of the room's

paints and fabrics.

Upstairs in the master bedroom, Cynthia Kasper, ASID (Interior Accents, West

Redding and Palm Beach, Fla.), chose to have the full room painted the same

color, playing up the size of the room. A trompe l'oeil painting of a closet

playfully hides the room's real closet.

An English piano bench with a tapestry cover gives away one of the designer's

biggest loves. Noting the preview catalogue for last spring's Onassis auction,

the designer admits, "I'm a huge Jackie Onassis fan." A whimsical bedside

table also holds three books, two about the late Mrs Onassis.

A student of the Art Students League, Natalie Van Vleck has been identified by

art historian Peter Hastings Falk as one of the earliest modernist women

cubists, if not the first in the United States. In the side yard to the

farmhouse, Natalie Van Vleck designed and had her stunning artist's studio

built in 1927.

In her studio, Natalie created paintings, sculpture, ironwork and frames. For

whatever reason, Natalie abruptly stopped painting in the early 1930s, decades

before her passing. Paul Leonard Design Associates, of Washington Depot,

brought the studio back to life.

Natalie Van Vleck's art collection was not fully realized until well after her

death. In 1992, her collection was auctioned, with auctioneer Gene Shannon

purchasing every one of Natalie's cubist paintings offered. For the Designer

Show House, Mr Shannon has a number of Ms Van Vleck's works on exhibit in the

"Van Vleck Gallery," on the farmhouse's second floor. Having been restored and

framed by Mr Shannon, the works are being offered for sale. Prices range from

$500 to $15,000 per work.

Pat Christgau was able to purchase one of Natalie's works during at the 1992

sale, before the pieces had been appreciated.

"The prices were much more reasonable," she admitted during a preview tour of

the show house last week.

The art works are not the only things being sold during the run of the show

house. Most of the items in each room are also on sale. While pieces may be

purchased during the show, none will be removed until June 2. There is also a

boutique and country garden shop, with gifts and plant items.

While each interior and landscape designer was given a specific area of the

Van Vleck property to spruce up, the idea was to present something of a shared

front to the public for the Show House this month. The designers have done a

masterful job in bringing an already beautiful building back to vibrant,

pulsing life.

"When a house has such good bones, there isn't too much you need to do to tart

it up and make it look wonderful," said William Manning, who put together a

sunny luncheon/eating room in one of the newest sections of the house. Mr

Manning, along with Stephen Taylor, represents Taylor Manning Antiques of

Woodbury.

The different ideas of 24 designers or designing firms - a field known for its

independent thinkers - are offering a unique opportunity for the public to

rediscover the home of a visionary. With this designer show house, Flanders

has not only continued the legacy of the land left for its creation, but has

also resurrected the home and living style of Natalie Van Vleck.

additional notes

House is at intersection of Church Hill and Flanders Road

list of participating interior & landscape designers

Paul Leonard (Paul Leonard Design Associates, Washington Depot), main room of

studio

Karen Powell (Decor and More, Soutbury), bed & bath/upstairs of studio

Mary Beth Keene (Wayne Pratt Antiques, Inc, Woodbury), main hall/keeping room

Karin Lidbeck (Karin Lidbeck Designs, Woodbury), north parlor

Nancy Huebner (American Antiques & Interiors, Woodbury), south parlor,

"Diamonds & Violins"

Jacquelyn Hall (Jacquelyn Hall Interiors, Southbury), ante room & bath

William Manning & Stephen Taylor (Taylor Manning Antiques, Woodbury), dining

room

David Taylor & Jeffrey Reidel (Liberty Farm, Southbury), potting room

Paul Bucciarelli, in assoc w/ James Whitehouse (Woodbury), kitchen & hallway

Mary Chase (Mary R. Chase Interiors, Woodbury), den/breakfast room

Colin Gray (Homes by Colin Gray, Woodbury), botanical downstairs bath

Daryl Eady (Southbury), upstairs bath

Alessandra Manning-Dolnier (Watertown), entryway, stairs, upstairs hall &

gallery

Cynthia Kaspar, ASID (Interior Accents, Redding), upstairs bedroom

Nancy McCormack (Paint Services Inc, Waterbury), designer sales room, gallery

sales

Leslie Gamsjager (Leslie Gamsjager Flowers, Woodbury), courtyard outside

studio

James S. Hosking Nursery, Inc (Watertown), 18th Century garden surround

Stuart & Cynthia Rabinowitz (The Hidden Garden Landscape Design Service,

Bethlehem), kitchen garden

Sophie Kelley & Sallie Smith (Middlebury Garden Club, Middlebury), gate garden

Hale's Woodland Gardens (Woodbury), "Perennial Pickets," perennial garden

Kevin R. Nicol (Charles F. Lewis & Sons Landscaping, Woodbury), "The Studio

Garden"