HOUSE FOR W. R. GRACE, ESQ., WESTBURY L. I.

 ***Published December, 1919.***
A HOUSE that has developed from a small Long Island Colonial farmhouse into a large and most interesting country residence is the home of W. R. Grace, Esq., at Westbury, L. I. 

First Floor Plan.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

The original building consisted only of that portion of the plan shown ***above*** marked Room No. 3 and Room No. 4 with the staircase and small room at the right. Some time in the "seventies" or "eighties" an addition was made in the style prevailing at the time.


When Mr. O'Connor was first called in some ten years ago the building consisted of the old Colonial farmhouse and the adjoining building, much larger than the original structure. In order to make the old building conform to the style of the new building the Colonial roof had been replaced by one in the prevailing style. The result was typical of the period, the kind of building we consider impossible today. Mr. O'Connor restored the Colonial portion of the building and altered the rest to harmonize in design; he also constructed an addition of Colonial design. Three or four years ago Mr. O'Connor was once more called upon to design additions to the house, this time on a more extensive scale. 

The Court from the Entrance Archway.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

View across the Court.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Detail showing Entrance Archway.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Entrance Archway from the Court.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Portions of the existing building were altered to suit new uses and new portions were built, forming the sides of a large paved court, which is entered through an archway that runs through the portion of the house at the west.

A Portion of the Riding Academy.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Riding Academy Detail.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Detail of Riding Academy.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Detail in Riding Academy Wing.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

On the north side of the court were built the riding academy and the squash court, comprised in the "sports wing." At the east the court is enclosed by a high wall in which there is a wide gate.

A Portion of the South Front.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Detail showing South Elevations.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Each portion of the house has its own entrance, a very convenient feature where the building is so large. Entering through the porch, a photograph of which is shown ***above***, one enters an attractively furnished morning room or smoking room. 

Room in Old Portion of House(Room No. 4).
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Back of this room is the comfortable library and at the east, down a step or two, one enters the old Colonial portion of the building where the rooms are furnished appropriately. 

Dining Room.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Beyond this, to the east, is the dining room, with its appropriate and pleasing furniture and wall treatment. 

Alcove of Dining Room.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

A feature of this room is the bay at the south which is fitted to serve as a breakfast alcove.

Hall on the First Floor.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

If one enters through the door in the center of the south side of the court one finds oneself in a broad hall with a long hall extending to the right and left. On opposite sides of the hall are the coat room and dressing room. Near the west end of the long hall is a small staircase to which access is had through a door concealed in the panelling of the wall. The closet adjoining the stair also has a concealed door. This staircase provides a short way from the living room to the principal rooms of the family, which are above on the second floor.

West Porch.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

From the end of this hall one goes down two or three steps to the foyer, that opens upon the west porch and gives access to the living room.

Living Room.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Living Room Wing.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Living Room
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Placed at the southwest corner of the house, with long rows of mullioned windows on two sides, this large panelled room is unusually pleasant.


Opening from the north side of the foyer is an entry that gives access to two bedrooms. Each of these bedrooms has a door opening directly into the entrance archway at the north.

Hall adjoining Entrance Archway.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Across the drive is a hall fitted up as a comfortable sitting room. Beyond are the squash court and riding academy.

Plan of a Portion of Second floor.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

The portion of the second floor shown by the plan ***above*** includes the most interesting arrangement of rooms found in the southwest corner of the building, where are located the principal rooms of the family. Along the south side are the children's play room, with adjoining kitchen, and a series of bedrooms. 

Sitting Room, Second Floor.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq., Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

At the north end of the corridor is a sitting room so furnished that it can be used as a dining room or breakfast room. The walls are covered with a French hand-blocked wallpaper in an old Chinese design. 

View from Sitting Room into Room over Entrance Archway, Second Floor.
House for W. R. Grace, Esq.,  Westbury, L. I.
James W. O'Connor, Architect

Beyond the sitting room is a pleasant room over the entrance archway. From this point one can reach the riding academy without going out of doors. The squash court and the riding academy are unusually interesting features of this residence. ***The pantry, kitchen and servants' hall occupy the section at the east of the kitchen.*** 


The exterior design shows a pleasant variety of treatment and a degree of informality in keeping with this kind of plan, while the unity of character has been well preserved throughout. The interiors are similarly varied, ranging all the way from the simple white panelling of the rooms in the original Colonial farmhouse to the rich, dark old oak of the living room.


As an example of the happy handling of a difficult problem in alteration, the entire operation is of special interest at this time, when the remodeling and reconstruction of old houses is receiving more than ordinary attention.  


Click HERE to see at wikimapia with links to oldlongisland.com(extensive additional information), Bing and historicaerials.com(1966).