Stairway to the Second Floor
Returning to the hallway, if you turn to the right you enter the Powder Room, if you turn to the left you go down a hall along the stairway on your right. A radiator sat on the left side wall. Heat had been distributed throughout the first floor with the moving and adding of radiators and this one was no longer needed. It was removed widening the pathway to the west rooms it annexes.
The walls were stripped of seven layers of wallpaper and paint. They were plastered and wallpapered to match the front hallway and stairway. The floors were stripped and refinished.
Following this hallway leads you to the base of the stairway. The stairs had been modified through the years and they came down to the first floor level. George had the stairway modified to include a large platform. He later learned that the platform was originally exactly as he had recreated it. There are two steps onto the platform area and then you take the stairway upstairs.
Platform landing on first floor stairway
A niche was created into the wall behind the stairway platform. When the sheetrock was removed in this area a partial niche was discovered that was about four feet high. It was restored and the area extended to the floor by removing the drawers that opened on the other side of the wall into the butler's pantry. A mural was painted by a local artisan in this niche of the Birth of Venus. Although beautifully done, it just didn't go with this house. He felt it looked like the entrance to the Playboy Mansion. George disliked it so much that he had my daughter paint it over. A statue of Venus d�Milo was found in Toscano's catalog and he had it shipped. When it was delivered and unpacked George had fun with the delivery man. He said, "Oh my goodness! The arms are broken off!" The delivery man assured him repeatedly that he didn't do it.
A recessed splotlight was installed that focus light on the statue. The ceiling was frescoed around the spotlight to accent this ceiling area. Sconces were installed on the sides of the niche that light the platform. These fixtures are all on dimmer switches to adjust the amount of light in this area.
Ceiling spotlight on Venus
Close-up image of sconce on the left of niche
and fleur de lis wallpaper.
The stairs on the stairway were refinished and in some areas replaced. The two by fours that comprised the stair railings were all torn out and the spindle railings were installed all the way up to the second level. The fluer de lis wallpaper extends from the hallway the center hallways and staircase. A flush wall handrail was installed on the wall side of the staircase which continues around the stairway landing and continues all the way up to the top of the stairs.
This brings you to the stairway landing. As this was a duplex previously, there was a doorway to the left on the landing. This took you to the stairway that lead down to the private back door entrance. The doorway was removed and the wall flushed.
The high windows are the originals. There was some sort of graduated shelving - not a seating area - that was under the windows in the landing alcove. It was part of the original construction, as when it was removed there was just the rafters and no flooring beneath it. The flooring was installed and this area now houses Penni�s doll house and large ivy plants in tall wicker planters.
Long sheers were hung over the landing windows that reach the window sills to reduce the heat from the afternoon sun and maintain privacy. A three bulb hanging ceiling fixture provides light to this area for traveling up and down the stairs. Switches are located in the hallway upstairs and on the landing itself.
The hallway continues up to the second level. The railing was custom made to make the turns. The wallpaper and handrail continues up to the hallway.
Stairway banister turning up from landing.
Tiarabella's Central Upstairs' Hallway
This central hallway invites you to visit the rooms on the second level.