House Tour: 1888 Victorian Mansion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ธ.ค. 2021
- Are you fascinated by Victorian architecture? Then we have the best house tour EVER ready for you today! This Victorian Mansion Tour features the Hornibrook Mansion, built in 1888, features every aspect of the Queen Anne Victorian style in it's highest and best form. The aesthetic movement details in this house have been exquisitely and lovingly restored.
Construction begun on this masterpiece in 1881 and ended in 1888. Sadly, the builder only enjoyed living in the home until 1890, when he died of a stroke at the homes front gate. His wife Margaret died in 1893. After her death the home became the Arkansas Womens College, an insurance agency, a rooming house for women, and eventually a nursing home.
The home was purchased in 1993 by Sharon Welch-Blair and Bob Blair, who undertook a massive restoration which included removing walls, bathrooms and an elevator to return the mansion to it's original floorplan. They then meticulously restored the eastlake and aesthetic movement elements of the home to the highest and best standards. Minton tile, Bradbury and Bradbury wallpaper, Lincrusta and more were used to create the period appropriate perfect details. They then christened the home "The Empress of Little Rock" and opened it as a Bed and Breakfast. It was quickly listed on the nations top BNB lists, and awarded the prestigious Diamond of Excellence in the industry.
The Blairs then surrounded the home with sumptuous gardens, and created a backyard mini-chapel to host garden weddings. It is where Laine and Kevin spent their honeymoon in 1996, just after the Empress Opened for business.
In 2019 the Blairs sold the home and business to Antonio Figueroa and Keith Sandridge, who continue the tradition of luxury and excellence worthy of the Hornibrook Mansion.
Book your stay here www.theempress.com/
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So much respect for the owners of this who restored it. Absolutely stunning. This is my dream home. Heck I’d be happy just as a live-in maid in a home like this. I love it.
Feel the same way. Its just beautiful.
As someone who likes to clean (I’m just happier in a clean space) I’d take that job in a heart beat lol
Amen!
So true
I would too but problem is I’ll never able to afford this much place is gonna cost around $10,000,000 with that all furnitures even if they r not fake and they original would cost shit load of money.. ha, I would move in ONLY if zombie apocalypse outbreak and I would love to landgrab and defend the place and build a castle wall around the property! No zombie allowed sign. 🪧
How in the world did all of the original features survive the years of different ownership, and especially the conversion of the property into multi-family units?! It’s like walking back in time! ❤️😊
I knew the Blair’s when they were restoring well Sharon anyway this was her pet project for many years and how all that wood work was saved was because it was build (studied and dry walled) over and the the ceilings were dropped and so most of this was hidden for years and that’s how it was saved.
@@jmccraw777 that’s awesome! Whoever did that had to be thinking about how to save it. Otherwise they would have ripped it out. ❤️😊
I live in a house that was built 1870. It has 19 rooms. We are the the 6th owners in the 151 years this house has been standing. It was a family home for the first two owners. Then it was a boarding house, then the fourth owner turned it into four apartments. The fifth owners had this house for 39 years as their private residence. We've been here a decade and I can say that when we bought the house, it was 95% intact original. We've done lots of work to restore what was falling down. What I'm saying is that not everyone who turns an old house into something else rapes it of its beauty. Our house inside wasn't falling down. Most of the work has been on the exterior. Not because someone changed things, but because of neglect.
@@ruthmiller5588 no ghosts?
@@nette49 Yes, there are ghosts in this big old house. Lots of them. I've seen lots of them especially when we first lived here. The guys don't see them. Only one has been a little trouble. I told it I would banish it if it caused anymore havoc. It settled down right away. I also capture lots of orbs on camera. I've seen one giant orb in real time. I also had one spirit poke my upper arm. I knew the spirit was beside me. I turned to look at it and it poked my arm. That was a first for me. Yes, Jeanette, this house has ghosts inside and out.
An architectural gem! Thank goodness for those owners who had the foresight to purchase and save this exquisite home!
as a person who lives in an old town filled with beautiful homes from the 1800’s (most of which have been flipped to multifamily units) i appreciate sharon and bob SO much. it breaks my heart seeing such beautiful aspects of history ruined by real estate. im hoping one day my partner and i can save one or two of these homes. one of them has recently been completely renovated and they got rid of the stained glass windows and beautiful wood engravings. so so sad.
Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder - I've seen videos of so called homes that cost many MILLIONS of dollars, but they are the kind of places that I would only care to visit and never call home (I call them museum/bunker houses). This Victorian is definitely a place I could call home. I love the wood work and the architecture. It is so warm and inviting - it has so much character. Thanks for the video.
I could not agree with you more. This place is almost magical! The details in the design and craftsmanship are second to none. It’s a big home but it’s obnoxiously big. Every room has a purpose and nothing is wasted.
You are one hundred percent right!
My favorite style of architecture , they don' t build them like this any more, admire the wood work,& all the intricate details, keeping the historical integrity of the home!
My favorite also.❤
This breath taking structure and interior design is the epitome of the Victorian era..The most beautiful I've ever had the privilege of viewing..I want to watch it over and over again ...Thank you Lane for taking us on this wonderful tour..A place I want to visit one day!
What a fantastic restoration. I can't imagine what that cost to re-work the floor plan back to the original and then restore the woodwork, tiles, wallpaper and then deck it out with all the victorian furniture and such. What a challenge!
Not as big of a challenge when you got money.
@@StallionFernando Don't fool yourself-even with money it's HUGE challenge. Doing it right is never easy
@@OurRestorationNation it's easier as you can hire out some of the labor and can pay more for specific items. I'd imagine the research would be the most complicated part, the details in Victorian houses melt my brain lol. People lived in actual art pieces as oppose to the overgrown shoe boxes we build today lol.
I was born and raised in the south, and the rich soil runs in my veins! Our homes also reflect our famous southern manners, and respect for nature, and the beauty that surrounds us can not be surpassed! This home has a beauty that makes it my favorite of all the magnificent homes that you show us! Thank you Laine, and Kevin
You are all hillbillies. Southern charm my foot.
Your homes were also plantations and what exactly did they reflect🤔
@@fionaokeefe1906 bro has to make everything racist
I'm amazed that so many of the original elements in this home were still there after so many "re-inventions" of the building. That none of the windows or fire place tiles had been destroyed is also mind boggling. I can't even imagine the redesign of rooms and an elevator that would have "modernized" this beautiful home to a school/office building/ and what have you over the 100 years before being restored back to it's original grandeur. What a work from the heart.
Oh my goodness, every room holds more beauty that's leaving my jaw on the floor. What an absolutely stunning space
I'm going to have to make a trip to visit so I can drool over it in real life 🥲😍
At this point I'm live reacting lol, THE TOWER ROOM!! So much respect and appreciation for the work that is put into restoring to her original floor plan
@@Cheesybiscuit404 🤣😂 I think we're all reacting the same way!
After all those owners, it’s a miracle that any of the original pieces remain. Absolutely wonderful.
Much appreciation to the people who restored, and saved this beautiful home!
Rhett, Scarlett's at it again! Now what? She's out in the front yard in her beautiful lavender dress shaking her fist in the air - listen you can just make out what she's saying. As God is my witness I'll never let this house be split up for apartments again! ( Everyone in the comments-we love you Scarlett!!!)
In 2021 It's a breathtaking marvel! I don't think it matters what century you live in, my mouth dropped as soon as I saw the outside of this amazing home. Laine you have the perfect voice to do these kinds of videos! You guys need your own TV channel!
What an incredible house! absolutely love Victorian era architecture. such a shame that so many great examples have been lost over the years, so major respect to those who save and preserve places like this.
Only complaint from me is the blow-up Christmas decorations…I’d invest in antique wooden decorations, doesn’t even have to be antique…just not a fan of the blowups
Absolutely stunning home!!! Massive in every way!!!
What else I love about it is that they open it up to others in a bed n breakfast!!!
Same….
Totally agree!! The interior holiday decor was so tastefully done. The blow-ups look tacky for such a magnificent home.
@@leesaholloway5792 YES!!! And imo are really for the kiddos…that’s a bed n breakfast for adults! I absolutely LOVE MULTIPLE trees in a home!! Each one with its own theme 💕💕🥰🥰
Now I REALLY want to see inside the house of the Designing’s Women
I am indeed fascinated by Victorian architecture. This home is Sublime!
I just audibly gasped at the fireplace tile lol. Thank you for sharing this!!
I could live happily in any home with the beautiful fireplace surround with birds and branches. It's a gorgeous property and I'm so glad that it was preserved and restored to it's original beauty. So many of our priceless buildings were lost in the past 50 years. Thank you for the tour of the Hornibrook Mansion.
Victorian era and fashion is one my my most loved styles.
I watched this one twice. My furniture is family furniture and really old. I love this!
My husband proposed to me in the Hornibrook suite in 2014. We have since taken our sons to visit and even revealed the gender of our third son to our boys on the porch. ❤️
I drive by this home frequently. I loved getting to see the interior finally.
the wallpaper itself is amazing. everything overall is top notch enterior taste
We are excited for the day when our completed restoration of our 1891 Romanesque mansion is featured on your channel. You guys do such a great job of making the homes seem majestic. We are quite a few years away from that dream though.
We are ready when you are!
@@OurRestorationNation Ha! We are a LONG way from that day. We are still trying to save the place from falling down.
You’ve got a BIG job ahead of you, but bless you for saving this piece of Kentucky history! Please post pictures of your progress! Best of luck!
@@robertdwyer5486 We actually put everything on our TH-cam channel.
Omg that porch!! In another lifetime.... i have a porch/house like this.
Timeless... just as great design should be.
Phew, I bet that costs a pretty penny to stay at!! Not only luxe, but all that gorgeous history to admire!
This home is exquisite, magnificent,it's grandeur has opulence. It's just absolutely perfect.
How could a person not appreciate this exquisite beauty. ❤
I love old Victorian style houses, there’s so much detail into them
Another field trip! Being able to see these historic homes beautiful restored makes me so happy. I grew up not far from the Winchester house. Always loved touring it. That's probably where my love for these homes comes from. Excellent tour and video. ❤🤍💙
Hello and happy new year!
I had the good fortune to live in a similar mansion as a child. No, not wealthy, it was one of those stages when it has been minimally torn up into apartments. Like you it has always stayed with me. Lucky you on being near the Winchester mansion. I had to do back to back tours to take it all in and then I became obsessed with the dismantling of it all by the neice. Made me sick for all that was lost.
And yes, love these house tour outings with my favorite couple. Beautifully written, shown and videod.
One of the best restorations I've ever seen. Obviously no expense was spared.
I love seeing history preserved 💋💋💋💋
This is the most beautiful Victorian I’ve ever seen and the most amazing bed and breakfast I’ve ever seen. I would love to know more about the history of the family and the restoration process. It was obviously such a labor of love for the people that restored it. I would love to see before and afters if they exist. I can’t believe how much money and effort they put into this house. God bless them seriously. They gave such a gift to their community and to all of us with what they did.
Now that shows wealth and beauty
The owners did an absolutely amazing job restoring and decorating that home to the period of its history. Fabulous
Wonderful! Such a treat, especially with the holiday decor. The hand-painted fireplace tiles with the birds and flowers are exquisite (and we know why you love them, lady who wears swallow earrings to repair floor joists; reminds me of your own custom wallpaper.). It is entirely possible the lady of the house painted them herself, or was involved in the design. The stained-glass man-tower of decadence documents the times indeed. These stories are why we love history. :D
Can you imagine owning this beauty
Much respect for the people who took the time to do the research needed to properly bring this home to glory! Love your channel! What a beautiful place!
I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life!!!😍
Thanks to the people who have the vision and the money to restore these places. So, so beautiful.
Thank you to the couple and folks who saved this gem and had such class in your restoration style. We are after all just stewards of our lands and buildings. So much has been lost to wanton vandalism and neglect. You have preserved a beautiful piece of art. Thank you for sharing with those who love creations like this. My wife and I live in a modest Victorian home where I was born , which is close to 100 percent original.
Fireplace is gorgeous
Absolutely stunning. The thought of living in a home such as this. Pure heaven.
Absolutely beautiful, the name of the home seems fitting for a honeymoon destination... 🤝
Laura here, wow just wow! This is the most beautiful Victorian I've ever seen. Thank you for saving it and restoring it to its original splendor.i could live here and Id never want to leave love it!tfs
It’s amazing how every time y’all post one of these houses I think it’s the best house ever created then y’all turn around and post something even better!
Years ago my husband and I with our two sons met my mother here for a weekend reunion. I have never forgotten this house. My husband and I were in the tower room and right outside in the hallway was a little table with a Keurig coffee maker…first one I had ever seen! I believe much of the furnishings are even more opulent than they were when we visited.
There really not enough words to describe this stunning home.
What a glorious old home! Everywhere you look it is a feast for the eyes! It is good to see these old homes restored instead of being torn down and abandoned. We have a lot of homes like this down south and many have been restored, but still many of them have disappeared completely. It is so good to see one with wood work that is stunning , elegant, and a testament to the time in which it was created. It is gorgeous! Thanks so much for showing it to us. Blessings!
A SQUARE PIANO!!! I'm in love with any place that has a square piano!
The mansion is gorgeous !!! Thank you for posting this video for our viewing pleasure .
This house is filled with love.
The attention to detail and authenticity in stunning. I would happily be the butler polishing the silver and receiving guests at the front door. (well, for a month or two!) Then again, I would have to move from Queensland Australia to Arkansas. I love the way you pronounce it Arkansaw!
9well
How fortunate that during its multifamily time, the gorgeous fireplace tiles and the elaborate millwork weren't looted or destroyed! I'm impressed that ensuite baths were created without losing the grandeur of the bedrooms. The Queen Anne style was elaborate and detailed, so decorating for Christmas is really sensory overload! (I would have settled for the Christmas tree and fewer fireplace decorations.). The house has been restored to museum quality, yet it looks quite livable and comfortable. I'm guessing that there is a tasteful yet modern kitchen tucked away at the rear.
Gorgeous! My fiancé and I just purchased our very first home. A Victorian house built in 1891 (New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada) with much, but not all, of its original character intact :) Nowhere near this grand of course. I wish the previous owners didn't paint over the original door hardware though as it will be a lot of work to reverse the 'damage.'
Oh I have always wanted to see inside this, it is one of my favorite homes in LR. I'm a sucker for a good Victorian lol. Bless Bob and Sharon for rescuing this home and restoring it and thank you for another beautiful tour.
Hello Tracy, how are you doing?
That woodwork is breathtaking! True craftsmanship like this is hard to find nowadays.
All i see is the Halliwell Manor. So inspiring
This truly has to be the most beautiful home that I’ve seen yet as far as historical value
Thank you Sharon Blair and Bob Blair for rebuilding this immaculate masterpiece! You've granted future generations true beauty, all can even see the inside, and the businesses patronized and sourced from for new furniture is apart of your legacy, and maybe my generation.
We ordered a custom 'Love French Interiors' Rococo in Twin Size, had to e-mail them because the smallest they made was a double. it was about 850, the gremlins at the NY Port Authority 'decided' they needed 1-2 weeks for nearly an extra grand or two.
That reminds me of a house/mansion from Winona MN called the Huff- Lamberton House. The Huff- Lamberton House was a family home, an orphanage, an assisted living facility, and now it is owned by the Kappa Chi fateernity.
It hurts my soul and spirit so badly, when I see pieces of gorgeous architecture like this.......that I am unable to purchase one for myself. They say money cannot buy happiness........but these people aren't buying the right things! A house like this would make me giddy for decades to come!!!
Especially pleased with the Minton Glazed Tile.
Bravo, What a beautiful mansion. A great video too.
Impressive how the owner even went through the painstaking process of researching archives for the original floor plan to restore it, as well
ABSOLUTELY, REPEAT ABSOLUTELY STUNNING 🤯🤯🤯😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️‼️‼️‼️
Stuff this amazing and authentic makes an appreciative person want to cry it’s so beautiful
It is amazing what a bit of competition can do in the building of such a fantastic mansion! I was taken aback by the art glass windows everywhere and even in the carriage house! No expense was spared. This was one of my favorite tours yet! Thank you, Laine and Kevin, for this view into this magnificent home! And thankyou to those who restored it to its former state, and to the current owner for the care and love they have to keep this home a lovely place to visit!
I cannot express how much I appreciate viewing this house. It's a shame I can only give it a single "Like". Thank you.
Quel magnifiques manoir mon rêve 😊 la décoration papier peint boiseries son splendide le mobilier aussi j aime cette demeur ❤❤❤ merci pour la belle restauration dans le goût de l époque Victoria 😊😊❤❤❤......
She called the upper poker room the 4th floor, when indeed it’s the 3rd floor. Even from the outside you can see three floors. I was watching thinking “wait did I miss a tour of the third floor?” Nope. This place is absolutely stunning. If love to visit someday
But guess what you can’t see? The fully finished basement, which counts as a floor. So…. 4 full floors.
It boggles the mind how much time it took to build this beauty ,maintain and then restore it. She is truly a wonderous sight to see :)
Magnificent is the only way to describe it! Love all the furniture and stained glass! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It looks so lovely! It looks so homely and I love Queen Anne style 💜
Oh so gorgeous! The wood and mirrors and stained glass are beyond words. Many kudos to the restorers.
Thank you for this outstanding video. It deserves an award.
Hello Sylvia, how are you doing?
I've watched this video several times and never get bored watching it again! This is a beautiful home. So glad someone restored it to it beauty
Beautiful ❤watching from new zealand🇳🇿a dream home, rich in its history made to last, exquisite art work everywhere🌴🎡🕊️🌴💖
What a magnificent mansion! I can only imagine what it would be like to live in a home like this, I would be in seventh heaven. I commend the current owners for bringing it back to it's original grandeur.💜🏯
When I was a kid I used to watch reruns of a 1960’s TV comedy called Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (based on the movie and book). The family of 6 plus a maid and a sheep dog lived in a Victorian home like this with so many nooks and crannies in it, the house itself was like another character in the show.
Its all one gigantic artwork
Beautiful home. I enjoyed the tour. Thank you for posting. I think the tour could have been better without the Christmas decorations. Without those, the beauty of the home would have been easier to admire. Thanks again!
We agree, but it took us over a year to get permission to see this one, so we had to go when the owner said we could.
This place is SO beautiful! Man I love that room at the very top with the stained glass windows! Wow!
INCREDIBLE. THIS HOUSE IS AMAZING
I've stayed here, and the current owners are such sweet hearts! They let do a birthday photo shoot in the home and served us a delicious breakfast. ❤🥰 I especially enjoyed the secret garden.
This is well loved and cared for!!
Beautiful, a labor of love ❤️ 😍. Thank you for sharing.
I’m SO staying here!! WoW 🤩
Grand and glorious,exactly,sigh...love it!💕💕💕
Oh my God..i neverrr boring watching the lovely "victorian house"..veryyy beautiful house..what a big cost if we build such house ..😊❤️🌹
Wow what a jewel place. There is a beautiful home of historic in Smiths Grove,KY. It has such a beautiful history.
OMG! Jaw dropping, magnificent, a step back in time so beautifully created and restored, I am in awe! I’m a nostalgic person who loves anything Victorian and this home is beyond a gem. The original architect was a genius. If I could step back in time, this is where I would love to live. The current owners are to be commended for preserving all the beauty this home offers. I’d take this home over a castle ANYDAY! Thank you for this video. If I could escape this world and go back in time, this is where I would go! I know I’ll watch this video over and over again!
So beautiful, love every detail! Thank you for the amazing narrative with awesome camera work.
Absolutely beautiful. I love old houses like these. I like to imagine the households throughout time as they experienced all the momentous events....the 1929 stock crash (in a house like that, they were most likely affected), Pearl Harbor, D-Day announcements...
What a spectacular house!! Easy to understand why y’all spent your honeymoon there. Absolutely incredible!
I love the porch and the porch swing!!!!
this is the type of house i want so beautiful
This is really inspirational. I happen to have a 1950's Willett "Wildwood" chest of drawers from Kentucky. It was shipped over to the UK sometime in the 1960's as it has the freight stickers still stuck on the back of it. I bought it from my local Facebook marketplace in Berkshire, England (I live in the UK) & it was painted. So, I've recently stripped it back to it's original condition & it's a beautiful dark cherry wood colour & it's just stunning. Very similar to the colours of the woods in this property. Thank you for sharing this. I now have ideas of how to style my chest of drawers in my bedroom, keeping it's authentic original colour of wood