The
Capwell mansion
300 Park lane, district of Montecito, Santa Barbara |
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The building |
The ground floor |
C.C. Capwell's study |
The second floor |
The gardens and outbuildings |
The second mansion |
The entrance | The atrium | The living room | The dining room | The cellar |
The entrance |
The "main" room of the mansion is the hall and the atrium which prolongs it. It is the heart of the mansion. The walls are painted in red brick, which accentuates the contrast with the heavy gray and white pillars which support the ceiling, and the amphoras charged with house plants which decorate the vast room. The feet of the pillars are true flower vats in which push among others birds of paradise and fatty plants.
At the door, right on entering, a small imitation marble table welcomes a bouquet of flowers, a telephone and the mail of the day.
Just
beside the entry, on the left part, we see the staircase which leads to the
upper floors. The steps are covered with Mexican azulejos (blue and white ones),
just as the various stages which are used as slopes. On the wall are exposed
various Masters paintings.
Along the staircase is located a piece of furniture within which are stored papers and photo albums. On the top is another telephone.
Continuing along the stairs, we reach two doors. The one on the left, after the stairs, leads to C.C.'s study. The one opposite leads to the kitchen.
The atrium |
Then comes the atrium, which has a rectangular form and is entirely surrounded by columns linked the ones with the others by vaults.
Posed against one of the pillars near the entry, can be found a cane table with a glass plate (on which generally throne a heavy bouquet of fresh flowers) and four armchairs with high files in round-offs. It is very often here that the Capwell family members take their meal alone or in small committee. It is in this "room" that will occur some great scenes of the show. For example, it is here that will take place the wedding ceremony of C.C. and Gina, of Mason and Julia.
In
the center of the atrium, can be found a
heavy stone fountain of octagonal form (Brandon appreciates it). This fountain
was transported by Emmett from Spain.
At the summer of 1988, some new sculptures come to decorate the atrium, in depends of the fountain, relegated in the background.
On the right of the atrium, a bench covered with cushions is built between two pillars, often surrounded by armchairs.
Behind a row of pillars, a path provides access to two double glass door to the dining room and the living room. On their right, a console leaning against the wall is used to host the third telephone on the ground floor.
The whole mansion will know some big damages following the earthquake of 1984 (destruction of some interior pillars).
The living room |
Inside
the living room can be found a large fireplace, a white sofa and some armchairs. It is
there that the big family reunions are held or where Christmas is celebrated. The
walls are in olive green color and the room seems suffocating because of the
numerous masterpieces hung on walls. In the middle of the paintings, forged iron
wall lamps throw light and heat. It is between these walls that Kelly and C.C.
will be in confrontation as she will come to announce to her gathered parents
her engagement with Jeffrey Conrad.
The dining room |
By another glass door since the atrium, we reach the dining room. We see this room for the first time at the very beginning of 1986. Mason organizes a family meal there to savor his victory at the head of Capwell Enterprises, without knowing that his father, C.C., went out of the coma and gets ready to make a deafening entry at the end of the meal. The room is darker than the living room, in spite of here also a big French window giving onto the outside. Numerous woodwork, wall hangings and an enormous chandelier at the ceiling give to the room a solemn and a little bit cold aspect.
We find it again almost three years later, to celebrate Thanksgiving 1988.
The cellar |
At last, a door gives access to the cellar since the "main" room. In addition to the great wines collected by C.C., it is there that will find refuge Kelly and Jeffrey when they will be fugitive sought by the police in 1987. In 1988, Ben Clark will hold as hostage Pamela and C.C., whom he accuses to have killed his brother, Hal.
The building |
The ground floor |
C.C. Capwell's study |
The second floor |
The gardens and outbuildings |
The second mansion |