Poplar Grove Plantation

In 1795, James Foy, Jr., son of Captain James Foy, Sr. purchased 628 acres of land from Francis Clayton, who had purchased the land in 1784 from the recently widowed, Mary Harnett, wife of Cornelius Harnett. The acreage is located on Topsail Sound in New Hanover County, including the northern banks of Figure Eight Island.

 

James Foy, Jr., newly married to Henrietta Rhodes, daughter of Colonel Henry Rhodes, built the couple’s home close to the sound to more easily transport goods via boats and water barges to the port of Wilmington, since the arduous trip by road took about twelve hours round trip.

 

Ownership passed to James’ son, Joseph Mumford Foy, in 1838. After a  fire destroyed the homestead, Joseph M. Foy selected this current location because of its proximity to the Old New Bern Road. Construction began circa 1850. The Manor House was designed by Joseph, an amateur architect, in the popular Greek-Revival Style, mixing earlier Federal Style flourishes. The home is 4,284 square feet, with twelve fireplaces, two pairs of corbelled interior chimneys, eight principle rooms, and a full basement.

 

Here's the formal living room:

Formal dining room:

The Winter bedroom which was used in the film The Wedding, starring Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry.

The Foy family:

The children's bedroom:

Poplar Grove was a self-sustaining peanut plantation, including a sawmill, brickyard, grist mill, salt works, turpentine still, a blacksmith’s forge and skilled slave artisans. Today, the Manor House and grounds echo the cultural and economic structure of the planter class and the beginning of the New South in the form of tenant farming and emancipation.

Here's the exterior:

The gazebo:

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of history!

I'm sharing with 'Share Your Cup Thursday #81'

Courage and Pinterest My Dears

Thought this quote was really thoughtful enough to share.

 

One of the bestest ways for me to feel uplifted, or motivated is to catch up with my Pinterest pins, there's so many quotes, recipes and design ideas that looking at my pins puts me in a happy place.

 

If you like tea parties, the beach, picnics etc. follow my pins here my dears.

Oprah's Maui Farm

 

I recently read in the Daily Mail, that Oprah has been growing organic produce on her 780 acres in Maui.

 

She trademarked 'Oprah's Organics' for bath soaps, sunscreen, massage oils, hair products, as well as organic salad dressings, frozen vegetables, soups, beverages and snack dips.
 

 

One of Oprah's biggest accomplishments is her philanthropy. Apparently, between 2004 and 2010 she ranked among the 50 most generous Americans, and according to Forbes, her lifetime giving is estimated at $400million.

 

 

 

When she isn't in Maui she is at her estate in Montecito, California. Although she also has properties in New Jersey, Colorado, Georgia, Chicago and Antigua, as well as a private jet to travel between them all.

What Am I Reading?

It has been awhile since I’ve blogged on one of my favorite subjects; Interior Design.

 

Currently I have been reading A LOT of Interior Design books. I have been fascinated with all the books on the subject and cannot resist scanning pages from the books and sorting them into my “ideas sketchbook”. It is a large sketchbook with images, fabric samples and blurbs of all my favorite stuff I’ve found over the past few years.

 

My first book I’d like to talk about is called ‘The Business of Bliss’ How to profit from doing what you love. Authored by the editors of Victoria Magazine.

It is so compelling and really fuels my ambition; of one day having a unique Interior Design store. There are short story examples of how these ladies went from making things for friends, to eventually setting up their own businesses, and the BEST thing they all Love what they do. Rachel Ashwell even talks of how she set up her business ‘Shabby Chic’ which now sells her products in Target stores, nationwide.

It also goes into the basics like choosing a name for your business, location and choosing staff. It’s so impressive it was even featured on Oprah.

Lastly I’d like to say the Business resources list is impressive and they outline magazines to read, associations to join, and hold a business directory of all featured within the book.

Tip: Buy it from Half.com. I checked and there are two copies for as little as $0.75

Another book I’m enjoying is American Farmhouses Country Style and Design by Leah Rosch. It also has Amazing photography by Keith Scott Morton.

 

Kitchen Culture reinventing kitchen design by Johnny Grey. It's definitely a new perspective of how kitchens of the future could be. The book has wonderful freehand sketches, photography and floorplans. Although the floorplans are not at all what you’d expect. They have flow, function and lastly are a question of taste.

 

Country Living’s Stylish Renovations, Design Ideas for old and new houses. I found this book easy to read; actually it only took me a few hours as it’s captivating yet had many insiders’ advice pages. Again I chose it for its fabulous photography, which if ever you take a peek check out pages 62-63. The living room is so bright and airy, and has wonderful views of woodlands. The fireplace stones were collected from a nearby creek. Who’d have thought? Furnished with well appointed furnishings on hardwood floors, and lastly there are tips for anyone wanting to purchase an older home. On how to carry out inspections, and helpful resources.

 

And last but no least I have French Country at Home, by Kathy Pessero. Adorable French farmhouse photography fills almost all the pages, and she goes into depth on color, pattern and French furniture. The source directory also features Antiques and architectural elements.

Some websites featured in the books I would like to share are:

www.wirthmoreantiques.com
www.victoriamag.com
www.nthp.org
www.greatsalvage.com