Photography by Bruce A deArmond
Kenmore Plantation: Georgian Architecture, built in the 1770s — Home of Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Kenmore, completed in 1775/1776, was built as a Georgian plantation house by Fielding Lewis and his wife, Betty Washington Lewis, in Fredricksburg, VA. Kenmore faces the Rappahannock River for easy access and travel. Kenmore is well known for the remarkable decorative plasterwork on the ceilings of many rooms on the first floor. Unique for their time, the plasterwork at Kenmore is considered the finest of American Colonial architecture..
The symmetrical Georgian design of Kenmore is characterized by two five-bay brick facades, a half-hipped roof, end chimneys, and a modillion. Kenmore's exterior laid in Flemish bond is austere and pristine.
Kenmore: 1201 Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At Kenmore, a roughly decade-long restoration began in 2001 to return the home to its historically accurate appearance, circa 1775.
Archway in the front entry: The house is presented in colors used by wealthy colonists - not only were the ingredients to produce these colors expensive, paint and wall coverings would have all been heavily taxed by England.
Kenmore first floor entry hall and staircase: The house has been restored inside by painstaking paint and wallpaper analysis.
Dining Room: The scene above the fireplace in the dining room is of Aesop's Fable of "The Fox and the Crow." All plaster molding (fireplace mantles included) was either cast or carved in place. T
One of six Chippendale style mahogany dining room chairs with a matching arm chair.
Dining Room Ceiling: They have no idea who did the incredible plasterwork at Kenmore…they simply refer to him in various correspondence as the "Stucco Man."
Elizabeth "Betty" Washington Lewis: Born June 20, 1733. - the younger sister of George Washington and the only sister that survived childhood. Fielding Lewis: born on July 7, 1725, was a colonel in the American Revolution and the brother-in-law and second cousin of George Washington.
Drawing Room: Kenmore has been restored to its historically accurate prime of 1775. The same turquoise blue trim from the entry and dining room continued into the drawing room, with walls with hand-flocked wallpaper
Builder John Ariss: A builder responsible for designing and constructing several Virginia and Maryland buildings in the eighteenth century worked on Kenmore. For George Washington's brother Samuel Washington, Ariss built Harwood in 1770.
Master Bedchamber: This is the room from which Betty Lewis ran the household, schooled the children, entertained friends, and spent many hours on chores and projects.
Master Bedchamber Ceiling: Although the trends arrived in the American colonies a bit later than in Europe, and despite far fewer options for incorporating it into their homes, the colonial gentry tried to bring the same flare to their houses.