Page 17 - Indulge April/May 2016
P. 17
Imagine touring a grandiose, turn of
the century mansion complete with a
grand staircase, stained glass windows,
original French doors, a gilded Arts
and Crafts fireplace and ornate plaster
ceilings. While the Shingle-style house
may sound like an elaborate set for a
period drama or a ritzy Hamptons abode,
this splendid residence is actually closer
to home than you may think.
Photos by Sarah Evans Located in the historic “The owners Miria Ioannou, SOTA publicity co-chair, april/may 2016 • indulge | 17
“Millionaire’s Row” district of purchased Child was a well-known architect at
Allentown, the Moyer-Metzger Manse the property the time, having been commissioned
has been selected as the 2016 venue because of the to design a home for Woodrow
for the Society of The Arts’ biennial period,” Oswald Wilson just eight years beforehand.
fundraising event, the SOTA Show explains, “so we Complete with interesting architectural
House. Benefitting the Allentown wanted to paint the mural in keeping details indicative of the time it was
Art Museum, the Show House is with their vision.” Looking around at built, the house features a butler’s
a magnificent display of the top outstanding attention to detail and pantry, upstairs servant’s bathroom, a
interior and landscape design talent reverence for the existing architecture mudroom, greenhouse, built-in window
in the Lehigh Valley. In a span of (Oswald chose to paint the mural in seats and a second floor kitchen.
seven weeks, designers completely gray tones as to not upstage the gray
transform the mansion inside and out, bathroom tiles), it becomes apparent In the 1940s, the house was
decorating it lavishly, while restoring how special this project is to the purchased by Ralph Metzger and
architectural elements to their former designers at the helm of the became Metzger Photography studio.
glory. This year proves to be no Show House. Attracted to the natural light that
different as designers flock to the beams throughout the house, the
Moyer-Metzger Manse to undertake According to Jill Weinhold, tall ceilings and the grand staircase
the transformation process. A “must- SOTA fundraising co-chair, this year (which was used as a backdrop in
see” event for any design aficionado designers were chosen after they were portrait shoots), Metzger transformed
or history buff, the 2016 SOTA Show recommended to the committee, or the first floor of the house into his
House will open to the public April after being discovered on the interior photography studio, complete with a
30 through May 22. design website Houzz. After touring dark room in the butler’s kitchen and
the house, each designer selected a dressing rooms in the dining room.
Some of the highlights guests of room to renovate and created a mood
the Show House can look forward board, presenting their vision of how
to include the work of 17 interior they plan to transform the house.
designers, each claiming a room of
the house to transform. On a recent To best appreciate the architecture
preview, Nora Oswald, of Oswald of the house, it’s important to have
Painting in Allentown, was busy some context about its history. Built
painting a breathtaking mural in the in 1903 on the strip of Hamilton
bathroom, the pattern of which was Street once referred to as “Millionaire’s
modeled after the work of English Row,” the mansion was designed by
textile designer William Morris. New York architect E.S. Child for the
wealthy Moyer family. According to
— continued on page 18 —
the century mansion complete with a
grand staircase, stained glass windows,
original French doors, a gilded Arts
and Crafts fireplace and ornate plaster
ceilings. While the Shingle-style house
may sound like an elaborate set for a
period drama or a ritzy Hamptons abode,
this splendid residence is actually closer
to home than you may think.
Photos by Sarah Evans Located in the historic “The owners Miria Ioannou, SOTA publicity co-chair, april/may 2016 • indulge | 17
“Millionaire’s Row” district of purchased Child was a well-known architect at
Allentown, the Moyer-Metzger Manse the property the time, having been commissioned
has been selected as the 2016 venue because of the to design a home for Woodrow
for the Society of The Arts’ biennial period,” Oswald Wilson just eight years beforehand.
fundraising event, the SOTA Show explains, “so we Complete with interesting architectural
House. Benefitting the Allentown wanted to paint the mural in keeping details indicative of the time it was
Art Museum, the Show House is with their vision.” Looking around at built, the house features a butler’s
a magnificent display of the top outstanding attention to detail and pantry, upstairs servant’s bathroom, a
interior and landscape design talent reverence for the existing architecture mudroom, greenhouse, built-in window
in the Lehigh Valley. In a span of (Oswald chose to paint the mural in seats and a second floor kitchen.
seven weeks, designers completely gray tones as to not upstage the gray
transform the mansion inside and out, bathroom tiles), it becomes apparent In the 1940s, the house was
decorating it lavishly, while restoring how special this project is to the purchased by Ralph Metzger and
architectural elements to their former designers at the helm of the became Metzger Photography studio.
glory. This year proves to be no Show House. Attracted to the natural light that
different as designers flock to the beams throughout the house, the
Moyer-Metzger Manse to undertake According to Jill Weinhold, tall ceilings and the grand staircase
the transformation process. A “must- SOTA fundraising co-chair, this year (which was used as a backdrop in
see” event for any design aficionado designers were chosen after they were portrait shoots), Metzger transformed
or history buff, the 2016 SOTA Show recommended to the committee, or the first floor of the house into his
House will open to the public April after being discovered on the interior photography studio, complete with a
30 through May 22. design website Houzz. After touring dark room in the butler’s kitchen and
the house, each designer selected a dressing rooms in the dining room.
Some of the highlights guests of room to renovate and created a mood
the Show House can look forward board, presenting their vision of how
to include the work of 17 interior they plan to transform the house.
designers, each claiming a room of
the house to transform. On a recent To best appreciate the architecture
preview, Nora Oswald, of Oswald of the house, it’s important to have
Painting in Allentown, was busy some context about its history. Built
painting a breathtaking mural in the in 1903 on the strip of Hamilton
bathroom, the pattern of which was Street once referred to as “Millionaire’s
modeled after the work of English Row,” the mansion was designed by
textile designer William Morris. New York architect E.S. Child for the
wealthy Moyer family. According to
— continued on page 18 —
