Adventures With Old Houses

This is the story of one man's adventures in acquiring and bringing back to life some of America's most enticing and historically significant dwellings. With the eye of a connoisseur, the business acumen derived from a legendary career in international finance, and a Jeffersonian grasp of classical architecture, Richard Hampton Jenrette reveals his charming, often risky, ventures in the world of old houses.

Jenrette's affinity for endangered historic sites has led to the restoration of six historic houses that he currently owns, including Edgewater on the Hudson River; Milford Plantation and Roper House, both in South Carolina; Ayr Mount in North Carolina; the Baker House in New York City; and Cane Garden in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as many others that he has had a hand in restoring throughout the United States.

This uniquely personal account of the quest, the acquisition, the restoration, and the furnishing of each property is instructive and entertaining. Along the way, he introduces the artisans, curators, furniture specialists, designers, antiquarians, preservationists, and collectors who have played a part in his Adventures with Old Houses. This book serves as a beautiful reminder of the foresight, the vision, and the dedication of one of the country's most ardent collectors and a challenge to all who care about America's architectural and artistic heritage.