Most of the upper floor of Hall Mansion was dedicated to a wide rectangular expanse located behind a pair of French doors. Above these doors was a worn, hand-tooled sign, The Society Room, salvaged from the demolished remains of an old speakeasy. This room was originally architected as the mansion’s combination library and ballroom, but no one would hold large dances here anymore. With it’s furnishings and other accoutrements, there was now no space (or desire) for a ballroom dance floor.
On the other side of these entry doors, the high-ceilinged room’s primary colors were defined by wood floors, red silk brocade wallpaper with gold accents, Persian-style rugs, lighted brass wall sconces, and wall décor ranging from tapestries to gold-leaf framed art. The furnishings were walnut and other hardwoods, with sofas, love seats and thick stuffed chairs present in abundance.
The décor was impeccable, old and classic but timeless. Despite the color scheme and ample amount of wood it was not dated as you might expect, because it was secure in its mission. The room defined a vibe not tied to any era, designed carefully via skillful, artful detail to neither be cliché nor a parody of itself. It was comforting and welcoming. It was cozy. It was exciting and decadent.
It was a social area, a large speakeasy, indeed. Coffee tables and sideboards were available for drink placement but there were not so many as to clutter the floor or the areas around the seating. The seating itself was arranged in squares and rectangles to create open niche sitting rooms within this large room, some small and intimate, some larger, to accommodate the variety of physical activities in which guests would participate. Floor lamps, table lamps and brass chandeliers were plentiful, as lighting was important. The guests would want to see what was close up, and what was far away. Lighting was thus uniform and plentiful, yet subdued, sexy.
The ambience included live piano and recorded music, of themes intended to entice. The combination of hard and soft surfaces was such that the utterings of a large crowd would elevate the setting through the constant buzz of people throughout the room, but not so loud that you couldn’t speak to someone across from you. Conversation was important. Of course, screams of pleasure (and pain) would sometimes rise above the moderate din of the crowd, but that was part of the expected experience.
Along the perimeter there were two full-service bars, a couple of large fireplaces with decorated mantels, and a buffet area for when food would be served. The buffet tables were waist-high, and would see other uses outside of food service. The wall between the bars was lined with long sofas, along open portions of the floor meant for those who wanted to stretch their legs and mingle. Bookshelves were still a part of the room, and without looking at the spines, I knew that Camille, Justine, and Pauline Réage must have been well represented here.
Specialty furniture included many large portable hassocks and ottomans, which could be used for footrests, spot seating, or more. In several areas there were coffee table height Lazy Susan tables around 4 feet in diameter, made of sturdy walnut, thick enough to support the weight of a person. These were perfect for spinning, and sharing more than just food. As with the hassocks and ottomans, these were spread among both the seating and mingling areas, all designed to be islands among the guests, the participants, the spectators.
Other specialty furniture included hand-carved wood cabinets containing a lending library of toys and tools of play. A section of the room offered ceiling hooks, thick wood lattices, and St. Andrew’s crosses for those desiring these indulgences. There were electrical outlets in the floor throughout the entire room.
This was just my introduction, but our host, Richard Hall, seemed to have thought of everything. I think I’ve left out the coat check area at the entrance, and the bowls of men’s’ and ladies’ ornate masks, for those wishing to hide their identities.
Story Notes:
I like this space. I’ll be back to play with this playground when the mood strikes.
I want to build my own version of this someday. You’re invited.
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