A LOOK INSIDE
PINEWOOD ESTATE
The History of Pinewood Estate Originally named El Retiro, Spanish for “retreat,” the 20-room estate was built in the early 1930s in the exclusive Mountain Lake community as the winter home of Charles Austin Buck, vice president of Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania. Edward Bok’s winter retreat also was in this community, which is still a popular winter retreat for many families. This 12,900 square foot estate is one of Florida’s most outstanding examples of Mediterranean-style architecture. Buck believed the garden design should guide the architecture of the home. William Lyman Phillips, a landscape architect with the Olmsted Brothers firm, supervised the design. Charles R. Wait was hired as the structural architect. Phillips and Wait had collaborated on several elegant residential estates in the Mountain Lake community including Mr. Bok’s home.
El Retiro remained in the Buck family until 1947 when it was sold to Esther Slater Kerrigan who renamed the home Encierro, Spanish for “seclusion.” After her death in 1952, it was sold to the William Keen family who named it Keenwood. Nellie Lee Bok, Edward Bok’s daughter-in-law who was president of the board of directors, led the drive to acquire the property in 1970. It was renamed Pinewood Estate for its 165-year-old longleaf pines on the property. In 1985, the estate was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
If you haven’t already purchased ticket to tour Pinewood Estate you may do so at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.
Three Centuries of Elegance and Grandeur Inside Pinewood Estate you will see magnificent French, Italian and Spanish antiques from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Most of the decorative accessories and furnishings are original to the home including the light fixtures and oriental rugs. Other outstanding features include:
• The entrance hall’s dramatic staircase features different tile patterns for each riser • Wall tiles throughout the house were made in Spain, are hand-painted and are based on floral and geometric patterns of Tunisia • Moorish influences are evident in the tall, striking decorative doors and the tiled fireplace
The Interior
Lucy’s Room As the eldest daughter of Mr. Buck, Lucy Buck Fox and her family traveled to Pinewood with the servants a few weeks prior to Mr. Buck’s arrival. This room has one of the grandest views overlooking the lake and Oriental Moon Gate Garden. The tie rods with turnbuckles fastened to them are support structures for the tile roof. The unique color of the elderberry tiles and porcelain fixtures in this bathroom were chosen by Lucy Buck Fox.
Dinnerware The butler’s pantry contains replicas of the original Italian dinnerware used by the Buck family. One very unusual feature of this house is the amount of built-in storage and the practical layout of the work areas. In the late 1920s, the concept of building cabinets for storage in the kitchen and adding counter space was quite novel. The double sink in the pantry is made of monelle, a predecessor of stainless steel. The sinks have short metal tubes designed to prevent water overflow.
Floor Tiles The floor tiles were handcrafted in Cuba. Placed in pastures to dry before being fired, there are impressions of grass, twigs and other natural elements in the tiles. Each room has its own distinctive tile design.
Living Room The living room has mostly wood floors made of hickory. This allowed for a better dancing floor and helped with the acoustics in the room. The 1917 signed Steinway grand piano belonged to Nellie Lee Holt Bok, Mr. Bok’s daughter-in-law. At that time the piano had established itself as “an American family instrument.� Nellie Lee moved her piano to Pinewood Estate after the Gardens acquired the property with the promise that the beautiful mahogany piano be used regularly for chamber music programs.
Hand-crafted Doors The inlaid and paneled interior doors are made of cypress. Their intricate designs were created with molding that was cut and pieced together before being placed on the door, a common practice in the 1920s and 1930s. Each set of doors throughout Pinewood features a different pattern. The large doors on the north end of the entrance hall conceal the powder room and servant’s stairs leading to the butler’s pantry.
Mr. Buck’s Bedroom Mr. Buck’s bedroom and wardrobe area can be closed off from the rest of the upstairs rooms for privacy. This is the only bedroom in the home that has its own balcony. A cement spiral staircase is hidden behind a door in the living room allowing Mr. Buck to quietly exit social gatherings while guests still enjoyed the evening. Each stair was cast at a plant south of Lake Wales and brought to the site. Masons set them in place as they would have with stone stairs.
The Exterior
A Winter Retreat Following Mr. Buck’s wife’s death in 1925, the widower with nine children and 18 grandchildren wanted a place where he could enjoy winters with his family. Mr. Buck was an avid gardener whose father was the head gardener and grounds superintendent for Lehigh University.
Oriental Moon Gate A popular wedding location, the Oriental Moon Gate Garden was conceived as an extension of the dining room and patio. According to Chinese folklore the Oriental Moon Gate is said to protect the house from spirits.
Mediterranean Style The home features many characteristics of an antique villa – a red barrel-tile roof, thick stucco walls, carved doors, fountains, towers, ornate trim and intricately detailed wrought iron.
Formal Gardens Mr. Buck wanted a home that reflected the easy Latin lifestyle he enjoyed as a young man working in Cuba, Chile and Venezuela. The gardens were designed and completed first. The house was positioned later to provide a natural flow from garden to house.
Frog Fountain Mr. Buck desired a modestly designed entrance so that the formal East Terrace courtyard with its lovely Spanish fountain would entice visitors to walk through the gardens. The tiled frog fountain was purchased in Cuba, a replica of one found in the old town of Panama, Canal Zone. Secluded courtyards are often featured in Mediterranean and Cuban homes.
Italian Inspiration The grotto was inspired by Italian gardens and houses a small pond where you can find many frogs living throughout the year. The large clay jars, called tinajones were used for storing and transporting olive oil.
Don’t Miss Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens! Throughout the month of November, hundreds of volunteers and room designers deck the halls of Pinewood Estate for our annual holiday home tour. Previous year’s themes include “Christmas Memories,” “Once Upon a Time: A Storybook Christmas” and “Joy to the World.” The holiday home tour is a perfect place to see decorating ideas and get into the holiday spirit!