The Coral Gables Times

UNUSUAL SUBURBAN HOME A HOUSE OF Many-Splendored Things

■ UNUSUAL SUBURBAN HOME ■ A HOUSE OF Many-Splendored Things Mr. Seelye THIS SWISS CHALET looks as if it might be halfway up Mt. Blanc, but it's in Minnetonka Village, Minnesota—transplanted and thriving, complete with a classic gabled roof, lovely high-beamed living room, and a feeling of warmth and coziness throughout. Inside, there are examples of brass hardware, wood paneling, and terra-cotta tiles from the foremost craftsmen in Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Seelye, who built the house, have collected these treasures from the trash pile, the junk yard, and about-to-be-wrecked mansions. "If people would only keep their eyes open—so many beautiful things have been demolished," say the Seelyes, and they have discovered that Minnesota is a fine hunting ground. It seems that in the latter part of the 19th century, millionaire lumbermen built great houses in the state, with lavish interiors imported from Europe. Now these houses are falling under the wrecker's ball. When this happens, the Seelyes rush in and salvage a fireplace or a door or a chandelier for their chalet. And they're always on the lookout for added touches. Continued on page 34 Above: The high-beamed living room has a fireplace dating back to the 1880s. Lighting the spacious room is an old chandelier of glass and crystal that is nearly five feet across. The Seelyes found it in an antique shop, but they haven't been able to trace the original owner. PHOTOGRAPHS BY WARREN REYNOLDS Above: Mrs. Seelye in the kitchen-dining area. Beige and white ceramic tiles from an old mansion line the fireplace and service center. Left: A bedroom with beamed ceiling, antique chests, and unusual cloth-covered sliding shutters. 28 Suburbia Today, December 1962