The Entrance Hall

It is tempting to think of the entrance hall at Roseland Cottage as a visitor’s first impression of the house, but the cottage makes a strong impression well before anyone enters—the unconventional color, the parterre garden which guests would view from different vantage points as their carriages rounded the drive, and the Gothic Revival design.

The Gothic motifs continue in the entrance hall. The hallway is defined by Gothic decorative detailing, including original Thomas Brooks furnishings. None makes a more powerful statement than the entrance itself, which appears much like the door to a church. And that is no accident. The impulse to revive the Gothic was in part a moral or religious one. Just as medieval cathedrals stood as testimony to the power of the church and the power of people’s faith, these Gothic Revival buildings were thought to have a similar testimonial purpose. Residing in a Gothic Revival home sent a self-proclaimed message that moral, God-fearing people lived inside.

The design of the front door suggests the trinity, with three stained glass arches merging into one. Pointed arches on the door and on the newel post, and the stylized trefoils decorating the sides of the stairs add Gothic elements. The carpet is a reproduction based on a remnant that was found at the top of these stairs.