Dining Room

The large Sheraton dining table [custom-made by Strassel of Louisville, KY] and the accompanying Chippendale chairs are of mahogany. When fully extended by its three leaves, the table is 12 feet long and will thereby comfortably seat 14 people.

The formal Adam mantle is one of four at Allandale. The Adam brothers [English interior decorators in the 1700s] designed furniture, ceilings, and mantles, which are characterized by straight lines, surface decoration, and medallion details. Atop this mantle is a red Meissen [“my-sehn”] plate with gold leaf.

The English Heppelwhite sideboard is flat burl and French walnut with an incomplete serpentine design on the ends, and dates from 1790. Wine was stored in the cellarette [French for small cellar] on its right side. The sterling tea service and candelabra appointing this sideboard are English silver by Sheffield.

The inlaid-boxwood Dutch china cabinet you see is a very old piece, dating from the 17th century [Elizabeth the First period]. This Dutch style was prominent in the lowlands of Europe and was popularized in England by William of Orange. Interestingly, the shading details on the inlaid flowers were created by applying burning sand to the wood. Inside the cabinet you will find Rosenthal china plates of gold and cobalt blue, and Mr. Brooks’ hobby collection of Claret [“klair-eht”] wine pitchers. The oldest one of these was manufactured in 1902, to celebrate the coronation of King Edward of England.

Two matching Queen Anne tea tables decorate the area before the windows.

The paintings you see in this room are of Lady Lawrence and the Boy in the Velvet Coat. Purchased from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, they date back to the 1700s.

The chandelier was both designed and made in the former Czechoslovakia [comprised of what is now the Czech Republic and Hungary].

The rug is a Persian Meshed, similar to the one in the Main Foyer.