2018 Winter in MICHIGAN - W. K. Kellogg Manor House

For years I have been yearning to see this big ol' Tudor-revival style mansion along Gull Lake in southwest Michigan. It is only 15 miles from our home in Kalamazoo. They often have "formal" tea events here on various holidays, but this time of year there is local artisan holiday craft sale. Here's the lowdown on the mansion's history.

This is the Kellogg family that invented Corn Flakes and other Kellogg brand cereals.

Construction was started in 1925 and the home occupied in 1926. The estate cost was $747,000 at the time (the home $400,000 out of that). The 15,000 square foot house still stands intact with furniture added to reflect the original furnishings. It sits on the highest point (110 feet) above Gull Lake and includes 1,600 feet of shoreline. Mr. Kellogg referred to it as his "cottage."

Here is the front entrance. Looks pretty austere compared with what is behind that door.

The living room (and many other rooms) has a lovely view of the lake and was decorated stunningly.

Wood beams, paneling, and staircase are in oak, cherry, and walnut. Today all the fireplaces were aglow.

The dining room may have been my favorite. There was also an elegant breakfast room with period boxes of Corn Flakes and other Kellogg cereal brands displayed. There tea and macaroons were offered as part of the $5 donation fee.

The kitchen seems quite ordinary, but I'm sure the family rarely visited this room.

Next I took the stunning wooden staircase up to the second floor. Italian woodworkers created the intricate carvings.

Upstairs was the mister and the misses suites. His had private bath, closet, bedroom, and separate office.

Her connecting space has a private bath, closet, bedroom, and two sitting rooms.

There were also four guest bedrooms.

And seven bathrooms, all styled in various colors of Rookwood tile.

Last was the billiard room and nook.
Here the fireplace is surrounded in more colorful Rookwood tile.

All-in-all there are 18 rooms (not all were open)--seven entry doors, a library, seven bedrooms (today filled with artisans' wares), seven bathrooms, a wing for household staff (now offices), two large sun porches, a full basement (including an organ with 1,000+ pipes, laundry, and two redwood Jacuzzis), and an attic (ballroom / storage). There are many leaded-glass window and wood panel decorations.

References to the Kellogg Scottish origins include a Lion Rampant stamped into the plaster of the library, the living room ceiling plastered with a rose and thistle design, and thistle in many light fixtures and sconces.

Outside in back are manicured grounds overlooking Gull Lake.

Pretty spectacular and worth a visit, although I'd do it in summer when the grounds are in all their glory.

http://conference.kbs.msu.edu/manor-house/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg_Biological_Station