This past weekend, I joined sixty-four fellow ICAA members (Institute of Classical Architecture and Art- Southeast Chapter) on a tour of the exceptional houses of Furlow Gatewood, who lives in Americus, Georgia. The event was the brainchild of Barry Hutner, proprietor of Parc Monceau Antiques, who spent months planning this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So great was the desire to see Furlow's houses that before an invitation could be sent to ICAA members, the sixty-five coveted tickets were already spoken for. Considering that these are Furlow Gatewood's houses we are talking about, this enthusiasm came as no surprise.
The weekend festivities began on Friday evening, when Barry hosted a dinner for those of us on the host committee. At the dinner, both Barry and John Rosselli spoke of Furlow's remarkable life and his passion for design and collecting. Saturday brought the main event, which began in the Cuthbert House, where Furlow's famous cheese straws and Bloody Marys were served. (If you read the recently published book on Furlow's houses, then you know that the Cuthbert House is one of four houses on his property.) The next two hours were spent strolling between houses, with stops made along the way to photograph one of Furlow's many peacocks.
Although this was my second visit to Furlow's, it was no less special than the first visit. Furlow's collections are so rich and varied that a lot of time is needed to really see everything and to absorb the details in the homes' interiors. I took some photos, which I have included in this blog post, to give you a glimpse into the sublime homes of Furlow Gatewood.
A big thanks to Barry and Judy Talley, Lynn Amoroso, and Barbara Shelton of ICAA- Southeast Chapter for making this special tour happen.
*If you haven't already done so, you really should purchase a copy of Furlow's book, One Man's Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood. It's magical. Copies can be purchased through Barnes & Noble, Amazon
, or your local bookstore.
