If the difference between good and great is attention to detail, then The Great Estate really lives up to its name. Matilda Dodge Wilson’s commitment to the highest standards of materials and craftsmanship at Meadow Brook Hall ensured that every detail, from grand features to the smallest elements like the hardware, was meticulously perfected, reflecting her exceptional eye for design and style.
Door hardware accounts for the most notable and unforeseen costs incurred in the construction of the building– an incredible $50,000 – an expense that Alfred Wilson still complained about some 30 years later.
Halfway into the construction of The Hall, the question of interior finishes led the Wilsons, along with Smith, Hinchman & Grylls architect W.E. Kapp, to New York City and to the showroom of hardware distributor Ostrander & Eshleman (O&E). Matilda chose to buy exclusively from O&E to supply around 1,500 pieces of hardware for the doors, cabinets, cupboards, and wardrobes throughout The Hall.
Managing the diverse array of design finishes was quite the undertaking, as reflected in the hundreds of documents stored in Meadow Brook’s archives, including letters, memos, telegrams, and design illustrations. To aid the Wilsons in visualizing the final products, O&E supplied approximately 32 pages of detailed illustrations for the “master” section of the house.
Although the hardware project was substantial, taking nearly two years to complete, the final result stands as a remarkable feature of Meadow Brook’s decor, seamlessly blending artistry with functionality. Matilda’s discerning vision not only elevated the grandeur of the Great Estate but also tells a story of craftsmanship and history right on its very own walls.
To see Matilda’s exceptional eye for design in person, be sure to visit Meadow Brook Hall on a Guided House Tour. Tour details and tickets are available at meadowbrookhall.org/tours.
Be captivated by the people, places and tales that make Meadow Brook Hall so remarkable. Our Estate Stories series unlocks the vaults, dives into the archives and seeks out tales of the Great Estate to pique your interest and enrich your life.
