BARONIAL BEAVERTON TODAY

Last night marked a farewell to Baronial Beaverton, a home of dreams and vision.

The first time I walked in I knew something was different.

I didn’t make a fuss over the awe-inspiring place right off the bat, but now?

I doubt I’ll see anything like it again.

The first time I blinked a few times to make sure I was still in Beaverton.

It was the ceiling.

Not that I’m a big ceiling guy, or someone who looks around like a snoop, but I did notice things.

I noticed a coffered ceiling.

 

A coffered ceiling is a pattern of recesses or indentations in the overhead surface of an interior. A “coffer” in architecture refers to a sunken panel in a ceiling and includes the interiors of vaults and domes. While coffers have gained popularity over the recent years, they have been in use for centuries.

The style looks great in home offices, bedrooms, kitchens, modern living rooms, and large formal rooms.

 

It’s a style that looks great in castles, fortresses, palaces, and Beaverton.

 

That Versailles Moment

So far I’ve noticed things in France, in England, and in Oregon.

I noticed the ceilings of Versailles, Rodin’s home/museum/gallery, Blenheim, and now Beaverton.

If you haven’t seen these places, don’t worry. I’ll explain.

After the completion of Versailles near Paris, every monarch knew what their next palace would look like:

They would have at least one wing with a view of expansive lands.

This is the view from Rodin’s window.

 

 

Impossible on a massive scale, but not on a smaller.

From the coffered ceiling formality to hunting lodge beams, the Baronial Beaverton delivered flashbacks worth a reality check.

This section of land goes all the way back to a bridge over a creek with out-building on both sides.

It’s well measured with attention to vision and reality.

To me it looked like a dream come true for someone who has had big dreams come true, with still bigger ones on the horizon.

It felt like a timeless classic inside and out.

 

 

Every angle was attention-holding.

 

 

Will I see such a place again?

If I do, I’ll know who to credit.

 

Fit For A Baron 

My recent reading has included farmers talking about their land and how they feel looking out on it.

It’s also included stories about designers and architects and how they felt looking at their work.

The Baron of Beaverton household is a combination of both builder and planter.

He knew what he wanted and how to make it happen. And he had inside help making it grow.

What I understood most about the Baron and Lady was they knew the importance of space, and spacing, both inside and out.

That they make room for friendship is the best space of all.

People full of ideas, and willing to share them, are who you want time with.

You’ll learn some history, some literature, all without missing a beat because they make it part of everyday life.

If you’re lucky enough to know people who navigate life with unmistakable grace and poise, follow their lead.

 

PS: It’s easy to lose the connection between people and places. We were in Andina a few years ago where I eavesdropped on the table next to me.

 

PSS: Meeting new people over favorite food is hard to beat. We were all winners that night.