Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Doyle House



If there's one thing I enjoy it's a good Designer Showhouse. I'm sure you have all seen them in your area too. Well.... before going on vacation I went to attend  this years, as I was given two tickets by one of the designers. This was the first time in years, I hadn't free-lanced a room, or assisted my friend.....full time job swallows time here! But it was quite spectacular and I had been pass the house many a time, and wondered about it. While not run down, the house had seen better days, and now thanks to all the designers, architects, landscape artist, and contractors, the house now has new life because of the donations of time and supplies, and proceeds benefitted the Doylestown Hospital and the many services they support. Unfortunately, there was no photography allowed inside the house.
 
 
 
 
 
Remind you of anyplace? It reminded me of Tara....I wanted badly to return home, tear down the drapes, and make a huge gown to tour the house saying oh fiddle dee dee!

This year the Buck's County Designer's House was the  historic Clement Doyle House located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. According to the history records, in 1692 Edward Doyle and his wife Rebecca  moved from Ireland to Bucks County Pa. after receiving a land grant from William Penn himself. If you drive around a bit there are at least three other estates that I too have seen land grants from Penn also
 


Edward and Rebecca had two sons Clement and Edward Jr. who also settled in the area. William Doyle, son of Edward Jr., owned a tavern in the center of town known as Doyle's Tavern. The area became known as Doyle's Town and in 1776 the spelling was changed to it's now known name of Doylestown. It was Clement Doyle who purchased 148 acres in the Pine Run Valley. The land was subsequently sold and bought with several subdivisions of the property happening over a period of years. The history of this home actually begins in 1811 when the owner of the property at that time, John Salome, began building this beautiful stone house. In 1814 a large barn was added to the property.

 
 
The home these days, boasts 5,000 square feet of living space with beautiful extensive gardens sitting on 9 acres of stunning real estate. How fun if we all got together for some refreshin mint julips????
 
 
 
 





 I thought the house was very well done. Although the urn water fountain I felt was a little too contemporary for the gardens since they felt more traditional to me. But the house itself looked great! Now excuse me, I must fix a libation after the grounds tour.
 
I was going to work on another post for tomorrow, but I can't think about that right now, after all, tomorrow is another day.

19 comments:

  1. Yup, the large 'vase' fountain does not fit in that garden. Kind of surprised they decided to use it.

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  2. Anonymous6/13/2013

    That place is gore-geous even with the water fountain.

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  3. This is great! Now this is what I do all day for a living, architectural landscaper and I love it! I would love to have seen what your room would have been like, since your place is so nice.

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  4. I misread "I hadn't free-lanced a room" as "I hadn't flounced a room."

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    1. jesus, that probably want she meant to say. It was a glorious home.

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    2. I was thinking it said she fluffed in a room.

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    3. flounced, fluff what ever, she does both so well!

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  5. What a beautiful tour! Thank you for sharing. I could spend all day here and the mint julpis on that front porch would be heaven! Everything is just so pretty.

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  6. and like Katie Scarlett, you would have been in the stable doing the twins!

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  7. A magnificent looking home with nicely landscaped gardens, it's giving me some wonderful ideas! Stately home.

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  8. I was quite happy to be able to see the lovely gardens w/o seeing the interior. Such pretty little areas for sitting and the stones walls of the home are wonderful. Now where is that mint julep?

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  9. I go to these all the time here in DC. You get such great ideas. I'm loving the topiary's in the front.

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  10. Just love these tours! Thanks for taking us along.

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  11. looks gorgeous!

    i was involved in a showhouse once. what was sad was how the joint was stripped
    when it was all over. those were the rules.

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    1. Your right. That is the worst part. Except one show I was in, a wealthy client who bought the house also bought all the contents and kept it as is. I was only hoping they would want to adopt a queen also!

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  12. The fabulous photos are so cool! The history of the area is so interesting and so is the lovely home and gardens. Doylestown has so much history and is quite interesting, I need to spend more time there on one of these visits.

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  13. I love Bucks County, Doylestown, in general. Such an inresting area rich in fascinating history! I remember years ago visiting and I fell in love with it. This house is no exception.

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  14. Anonymous6/14/2013

    I curse my lot for not having the gumption to upsticks in the 1600's - we'd own half of America by now!

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  15. Gaw-juss home. I love all the stonework and the gardens and the pergolas and, well, yes, I would like a Mint Julep please.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!