7 minute read
TUDORIFIC TRANSFORMATION
A landmark estate in Indian Hill is restored to its original opulence.
Written by Bridget Williams
Photography by Andrew Kung
Positioned prominently on slightly more than a dozen verdant, undulating acres in Indian Hill, “Alberly Manor”, constructed from 1926-1928, is notable, even among the many historic manses that dot the landscape in the area’s rarefied air. Designed by architect Bloodgood Tuttle for Mr. and Mrs. William Albers, founder of Albers Super Markets, in the style of an English Tudor manor, the stately stone residence is enveloped by an equally impressive formally laid landscape, designed by Albert D. Taylor.
A testament to the authenticity of the home’s “across the pond” architecture, a team of artisans were flown over from Europe to assist with the construction. No expense was spared and no detail overlooked; it’s estimated that the home’s one-inch-thick hand laid slate tile roof alone would cost $1million in today’s market. So notable was the finished project that photographs of the property taken by Margaret Bourke-White, the first professional female photojournalist, were published in the July 1929 issue of The Architect.
Over the past century, just four families have been privileged to call the estate home and the current owners, who acquired the property in 2011, have diligently gone about returning it to its former glory while making it conducive to the needs of a modern, active family. To accomplish this daunting task, which included undoing a host of renovations that ran contrary to the original plans, the homeowners enlisted the expertise of Kevin Schmitz and Bob Garretson of Brush Creek Building Group.
Among the fortuitous discoveries stashed in various parts of the estate were the original blueprints, which, along with old photographs provided by descendants of the Albers, helped to guide the renovation process. “With the significant historic details intact and state-of-the-art upgrades, you have something that is unrivaled in the market,” said Renie Dohrmann, Executive Sales Vice President for Sibcy Cline, who has been contracted by the homeowners to list the estate.
As is often the case, the most significant changes are invisible to the casual observer but given a peek into the basement mechanical room one begins to understand the scope of work involved in the installation of new heating, plumbing and electrical systems, including a technologically advanced Lutron lighting system and a geothermal temperature control system with 10 HVAC zones, which helps reign in heating and cooling expenditures for the 20-room home. “There isn’t anything in this house that wasn’t touched,” explained Schmitz, pointing out that even the smallest piece of stained glass was removed and cleaned as part of the work. During the renovation, which was broken into five phases, Schmitz remarked that there would be 30-80 people working onsite on any given day.
Oriented to be longer than it is wide, after pulling up to the porte-cochère with connecting reflecting pool, guests enter the home at its widest point: the Great Hall, a cathedral-like space with a soaring, groined vault ceiling and dual stone staircase with a landing and Juliette balcony at the midpoint. Perched over the space at the terminus of a long hallway that links the six bedrooms is an ornate Birdseye Maple pulpit that was found stored in the garage in a dramatic state of disrepair. Religious overtones are palpable throughout the house and attributable no doubt to Albers’ brother Joseph, who, when he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, in 1929, at the age of 38, became one of the youngest Roman Catholic bishops in the country. Hand-carved wood doors and intricate tile mosaics distinguish a diminutive second-floor chapel.
Marblelife was responsible for removing marble tiles that had been glued on top of the original mosaic slate in the Great Hall. A second-floor French Country-style bathroom addition that bisected the space was removed and returned the intended “wow factor” one feels when initially entering the space. Renovated his and her powder rooms under the stairs retain their original doors and tile and are complemented by contemporary vanities with subtle Asian overtones.
On the left, wide stairs lead down to the music room, an equally grand space with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and the original Skinner organ left in situ. Here, and in several other rooms, whimsical stained and leaded glass windows tell a story by depicting each space’s intended function, in this instance, there are panes dedicated to music, dancing, architecture, and sculpture. Consistent throughout the home, there is delight to be found in original details: in this instance, it is the Jacobean-style plaster detail on the ceiling and Italian marble fireplace surmounted by a hand-painted Venetian scene. Interior Designer Randy Basselman provided assistance with the design selections throughout the home.
To the right, a long hallway leads past the library and billiards room (now used as a bar) and on to an octagon-shaped “Fountain Room” with its original restored Rookwood fountain, from which a formal dining room, intimate sitting room, and expansive cook’s kitchen can be accessed.
In the former billiards room, embossed crocodile floor tiles custom selected from Mansion Hill Custom Floors and a red Murano glass chandelier add additional drama to an already intriguing space. The room was designed around the existing original wall-mounted cue holders – decorative metal adornments on their faces are repeated on the newly built bar.
A coffered decorative ceiling, original bookshelves with integrated bench seating at the base of leaded glass windows and a working fireplace are all embellished by new ‘woven’ Mansion Hill Custom Floors in the library.
In the dining room, upholstery on the walls was removed to reveal original three-quarter raised-panel wainscoting; similarly, removing the carpeting revealed marble floors laid in a diamond pattern. Ceiling beams boast detailed decorative painting and leaded and stained glass windows that follow the shape of a curved bench seat depicting crests of Italian cities.
The husband is an accomplished cook so the kitchen, conceptualized by Matt Byers of Evolo Design, is outfitted with top-of-the-line appliances including Sub Zero. Matt and the owners worked closely to make the kitchen more functional and open for daily use. Nearby, an original front porch with an excess of doors was enclosed to serve as a mudroom and the family’s everyday entrance.
Arguably one of the most dramatic spaces is the corridor leading to the breakfast room and the breakfast room itself. Groin and barrel vault ceilings punctuated by arched leaded glass French doors aside, the real showstopper is the application of floor-to-ceiling Sgraffito, an extremely labor-intensive process that involves applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface, and then etching a design that reveals parts of the underlying layer. Te resulting design treatment depicts motifs from the Irish Book of Kells. Breakfast will most certainly never be banal in such a sublime setting.
On the second floor, a renovated master suite with a dedicated HVAC system is designed for supreme comfort. The area encompasses a study, dressing room, and contemporary-style bathroom with heated floors, his and her vanities and original Rookwood tile in the shower.
The lower level provides casual family respite from the more formal spaces above. A climate-controlled wine cellar with racks crafted of birdseye maple was carved out of a former storage space. Original refrigerator doors nearby were kept and their compartments are now used for storage. An original walk-in safe was cleverly converted into a powder room; shelving outside holds an assemblage of objects from curious to crazy that were found inside the walls during the renovation. A long craft room preserves a trio of original porcelain sinks, while what was the boiler room proved to be the ideal site for a theatre room with a sunken seating area for nine.
Removing layers of overgrown plant material was the first step in restoring the grounds, which include formal and informal gardens, a swimming pool with bathhouse and pergola, a grotto, a shuffleboard court, a tennis court and a series of Vermont slate terraces at the rear of the home. The pool house was raised to be level with the pool deck and enlarged to accommodate a well appointed workout room and seating area with contemporary interiors that are a fun departure from the main residence.
Crumbling stairs and railings were restored to their original specifications. Still beaming with pride after the bulk of renovations were completed in 2012, Schmitz remarked, “I have a genuine ongoing feeling of pride to have been involved in this project that put the home back as it was."
