Comments by "DeVonna" (@devonna6171) on "This House" channel.

  1. I find it hard to reconcile my admiration for this grand architectural structure and my sympathies for the native Hawaiians who were colonized against their will and lost their autonomy and their culture to the European-American interlopers. The house is beautiful. The story, however, is a sad one.
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  2. A failed social experiment. So many of our social service plans make assumptions about the recipients. I ask you, how many future tenants were involved in the design of the “projects”? Were tenants invited to make suggestions? There was an obvious failure to plan for the expense of maintaining such a complex AND again an assumption that the complex would be self-sustaining. And as for Welfare Policy…even today, it is more “profitable” to be the head of a single parent household than a traditional two parent family. When the government only helps (providing perks and benefits) to the partnerless families, they directly encourage the formation of such families. I know MANY young women today who enter into relationships with the intent of having children, separating from their partner and then living off child support and government assistance.
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  3. Thank you Ken for opening the doors on this beautiful and historic home. Loved it!!
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  4. I love everything about tjis home…the stairway, the sunken living room, the furniture, the sparse artwork, the windows, chandeliers, the spacious bedrooms, the light colors, built in pool…love, love, love!
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  5. I love Mexico City! I have visited many times. It is a sprawling city comprised of many unique neighborhoods. I was surprised to see the old picture of the Zocalo, with the center area as a park…how lovely that must have been! The Paseo de la Reforma is lined with stately buildings. I would like to know more about the Opera house in particular; it is so beautiful, inside and out. (just a side note, I was meeting friends for lunch at the top of the Latin American tower when the building began swaying in an earthquake…😮 Being from Los Angeles I knew to remain seated until the tremor stopped. Then… all h*ll broke loose! I can laugh now…😂
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  6. I love this house!! While the exterior borders on austere the interior is sheer visual delight. its clean, elegant, (even simplistic) design elements, enhance rather than overwhelm each room. (I would have liked to have seen some of the bedrooms.) Im so glad this home survives and remains useful and enjoyed. Thanks Ken! Wonderful!
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  7. I love the patios
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  8. Whitehall is gorgeous! I would love to drive down Billionaires Row and look at the homes, if they could be seen. Thank you for this episode, Ken. Very interesting.
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  9. Lovely….I like everything about this house. Its not “fussy” with detailing, but is simple and elegant. (I do love a sunken living room) I would like to have been allowed to see the original bedrooms but I know we have our limits. Thanks Ken!
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  10. What a timely program…shining a spotlight on a gracious woman with the heart of a true public servant (and her lovely homes)! Love!!
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  11. My favorite house so far. Beautifully appointed and yet comfortable.
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  12. What a beautiful home! ❤ understated elegance. The history is tragic but it’s good that the home survived.
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  13. Im so pleased that Giraud enjoyed the house all his days.
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  14. I love the exterior design of this home. The gardens and pools were beautiful. I wonder, maybe Ken knows, but are the architectural elements inside these grand homes salvaged before the razing? Thank you for another informative video!
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  15. I love the Georgian style homes
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  16. Wadsworth Hall is stunning!.. and those gardens!! Thanks Ken!
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  17. Thank you Ken for this remarkably well researched video. You do such an excellent job. ❤
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  18. Her “studio” is breathtaking. I would love to visit it; the removable walls (dividers) are a marvel of design. But I could not work there. I am writer, I need a smaller space, a desk, a chair, a recliner, windows and natural light. And a bookshelf. Thank you for sharing, Ken. (What do you think of sharing a look at the Lucky Baldwin estate in Los Angeles County? The Arboretum is a beautiful.)
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  19. My thoughts about this home are, “What a pretty prison,” Shocking history but we need to know. Thank you for sharing.
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  20. Absolutely stunning…the reno made the house modern and current, while retaining the charm and highlighting the artistry of the original. Splendid
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  21. We’ve seen so many of these estates and their grotesque displays of wealth that I honestly cannot grieve this one’s ultimate abandonment and ruin. In my opinion the land was put to better use after it was repurposed as a community of suburban homes. The mansion was pretty, I suppose, but it was also a typically vulgar show of self-important elitism. (and don’t even get me started on that pervert, Stanford White…) No shade on Ken, here, he did a beautiful job, as usual. I just feel I’ve lost patience with the Gilded Age folks. Their stories fail to elicit any sympathy from me.
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  22. I have long admired this stunning home in the desert. Everything about it is perfect…that piano-shaped pool! 😮❤
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  23. Thank you so much for exploring this interesting topic!
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  24. Neo-Georgian….hm, now this house I like. Not too froo-froo with over-the-top architectural elements. Classic, understated with a modern twist. Love it!
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  25. I loved the house! The influence of Wright is obvious but the architect “softens” much of what turns me off to Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses. This house felt homey, less cold and stark than FLW designs. The galley kitchen, the loggia, the entry way, the vaulted ceilings, the floating shelves and the many windows were just beautiful. I dont care as much for the bedrooms, however. I’ve lived in enough barracks in the Marines to recognize a room that sacrifices personal style and taste on the altar of conformity. (translation: the bedrooms appear to have had very little thought put into the idea of making them “charming”) Thanks Ken! For sharing this unique house.
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  26. Wow…thank you Ken for this timely reminder of the dangers of disregarding fact in favor of suspicion and rumors. Our country’s political climate has been rife with all manner of falsehoods and “hysteria”. I shake my head in wonder and despair over the spread of rampant lies by politicians for their own selfish gains. Our communities have been seeded with suspicion and hostility toward one another in the name of nationalism. I am ashamed to fly the American flag anymore; its symbolism has been used to incite hatred. I fear for this election cycle, not only in case the radicalized groups gain control but also if they are defeated. We’ve already seen a little of what they’re capable of at the capital riot. And it’s all in the name of one group’s claims of religion. 😢 Great video Ken.
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  27. Whew!….what a story! As for the tudor revival style house, the outside was so pretty and quaint. “At last,” I thought, “a pretty house!” Then we stepped inside…egads…more grotesque gothic frippery. Completely ruins the house. I do not understand the attraction of all the over-worked busyness of the gothic esthetic. Sad. Its sad that Mr. Selfridge never recovered from losing his wife and allowed those English hussies to fleece him like they did.
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  28. That entryway was divine! ❤
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  29. The entryway into the house is stunning
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  30. This is my favorite house that Ive seen featured on your channel. Lovely!
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  31. My favorite room was the conservatory
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  32. Those columns are very beautiful. The house is grand without being obnoxious. The music room leapt out at me! I particularly liked the room with the fountain. Very pretty home; Im glad people are still living there and enjoying it.
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  33. What a phenomenal waste of money…the entire estate was a grandiose vulgar display of excessive wealth. Its sad that Edith could not receive the mental health care she needed. Sad story, all the way around.
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  34. Gorgeous…but silly to build a house so large it bankrupts one.
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  35. What a beautiful, homey yet elegant mansion. Thanks Ken!
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  36. Thank you Ken for another informative video. Once again we see colossal palaces whose downfall is (ironically) the cost-prohibitive grandeur they initially celebrate. Reflections of their owners’ egos and lack of temperance, the mansions quickly prove to be unmanageable albatrosses to the families and communities burdened with their maintenance . Instead of moaning the inevitable loss of these lavish structures, let’s recognize the useful lessons of, 1) the folly of wanton waste and 2) the fleeting natures of fame and fortune.
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  37. Homes from this era, while beautiful on the outside, had over- decorated interiors. The walls, the furniture, the decor….fussy and grotesque.
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  38. What a pretty understated elegant home. Beautiful
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  39. I think the building itself was beautiful. (I loved the picture of the overcoated men in their top hats) The interior rooms were not overdone and by our narrative the building was a functioning part of the governmental landscape; its a shame it could not be saved. BUT I understand the resentment people must have felt during the Depression when people were losing their farms and jobs but the government was heating and staffing this grand mansion. (By the way…The British Royal Family has so MANY “homes” castles mansions parks…Im astounded that the British people dont “get rid” (by democratic means) of the Royals altogether. I suppose that is just the American in me. )
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  40. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Mr. Wrights homes all have deep design flaws which prevent them from being practical, safe, living spaces. He should have put his efforts into sculpture, perhaps, than homes. Interesting to look at but completely impractical.
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  41. Charming!
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  42. I really dont understand Mr. Wright’s vision. His buildings seem crude, awkward and uncomfortable to me. The tight, narrow hallways the blatantly unsafe fireplaces, the jutting harshly pointed angles….and all the extravagant upkeep. I see his homes as outwardly interesting because of their oddity but certainly not homey or inviting.
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  43. The Linderhoff grotto reminds me of the Phantom of the Opera. Im left unsure…did the king spend his personal wealth on these follies or was this government money? Thank you for showing us these palaces, Ken!
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  44. Well done!
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  45. What a beautiful home! I would like to see its current interior.
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  46. What a lovely old home. I’m grateful to those who prioritized its preservation. I find it so odd, comparing our young nations monuments with those of the European countries who maintain estates that are truly ancient. I hope we continue to treasure our historic past and hope that our republic endures.
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  47. I use Worstershire sauce to make cheese balls at Christmas! Yum! As for the house Im not a fan of the gothic style; per se
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  48. Im in love with the loggia….dreamville!
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  49. I loved the photos at the end of the reel…was it her French home? With the wrought iron stair railings? Gorgeous!! Other than that, the Manhattan home was absolutely my favorite.
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  50. I really liked the look of the Brooklyn mansion. Thanks Ken!
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  51. I am always uncomfortable admiring the homes and grounds of slaveholders. Though I found MUCH to admire about this beautiful home I can’t help but wonder how the “slave quarters” looked. Was the house built by paid, free workers? The craftsmanship is sublime and I am very grateful it has been cared for and preserved. Those library cupboards…❤
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  52. What a fascinating concept!…giving away billions of dollars! It would be a tremendous challenge. I loved their last “little” home the Weekend. It was charming and comfortable looking but still grand. This was my favorite. Although I strongly admire the Italianate outer design of the Manhattan home.
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  53. I was pleased to be able to visit the Huntington Library as I grew up in Los Angeles. The beautiful home and elegant gardens were a pleasure and a delight.
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  54. Happy Birthday, Dalton!🎉
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  55. Oooh…I really like this house. I especially like the look of the exterior. And the bedroom was gorgeous. I am going to look up the word “loggia” but it looks like a patio/porch area. Those gardens!! I want to wander them… Beautiful place!
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  56. Im not a fan. The house seems unwelcoming and harsh. Im disappointed at the interior design. “Cave-like” is a good descriptor. I would never choose to live in such a house, it depressed me.
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  57. Odd that I’ve never heard of this palace….it was beautiful in the old pictures. I dont like the scandal-monger aspect of the man who had it built. But now that it exists it should be refurbished and maintained. Perhaps opened as a museum? And rented out for events?
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  58. My favorite was the Nabisco house…beautiful. Im grateful so many lovely homes remain.
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  59. I like the look of this building. Second Empire you say? Well done. The rooms are very interesting, but I felt distracted but all the stuff. Each room was filled with knick-knacks, vases, chairs, etc. Too, too full. The architecture is very pleading. The kitsch? Not so much.
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  60. Vulgar excess…wasteful.
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  61. Gaudy
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  62. Springhill was a charming home. What a shame it wasnt spared the wrecking ball.
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  63. This is my favorite house featured thus far. Very pretty
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  64. I love that master bedroom….exquisite.
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  65. Wow! What a house….what a story! Thank you for sharing
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  66. Fascinating story filled with twists….thank you for sharing!
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  67. I liked the butternut room furniture and colors best. Did he ever get a chance to enjoy the home, with all his traveling and lobbying? He lived a good long life. One of my oldest and best friends had a grandpa who lived to over 100 yrs old. He told my children he traveled to Kansas City in a covered wagon as a teen. 😮
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  68. What a lovely home. I especially loved the library and the Dr.’s office. (Was that a Millet above the Dr’s fireplace?! Gorgeous!) The bedrooms were heavenly… Thank you Ken!
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  69. The house is genuinely and oddly interesting…thank you for sharing! What really struck me though were the comments. To me the house is interesting but never would I want to live in it. Too odd, clunky and DARK; to me it came across as a quirky little nightmare but other viewers loved it! 😮 To each her own. (It is sad the builder never got to live in it) thanks for sharing! Love the videos!
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  70. I LOVE your home
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  71. I thought the room with the pink silk wall coverings was very pretty. The exterior was OK…I’m not a fan of turrets but the limestone is beautiful and I love the many differently shaped windows. I would like to address the museum’s use of an American flag as a pool cover. A flag should NEVER be used in such a way. It is NOT simply a piece of cloth; our flag is meant to be displayed as a living entity; even to “drape” it as bunting goes against Flag Etiquette. To use an American flag as a pool cover is highly disrespectful, whether the disrespect is intentional or not. ( I am an American veteran, USMC, 1981-87)
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  72. Inter-marriage brought on mental illness. Sad
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  73. I love the library in Charles Jr’s home. I’m pleased that it survives to this day. I’d love to see more! Thank you!
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  74. The entryway was the best part of this house. Im curious to see what the interior is like today. Is it apartments?
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  75. What a grotesque example of selfish extravagance.
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  76. Im not a fan of “gothic” style so the house itself borders on garish-hideousness (in my eye) BUT efforts should have been made to save it from the wrecking ball. There is a government entity in Britain that has final say over the remodeling/updating/destruction of their historically significant buildings. Does such a “Department” exist in our country (USA)? Probably not. When I was a child growing up in Los Angeles my family visited historic districts (Olvera Street) and buildings (Pio Pico’s Mansion). The visits fostered a love of history and architecture.
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  77. What a beautiful estate. I really loved the look of the house…this style really speaks to me. I liked the interior as well. Very nice.
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  78. Finally some light-filled rooms!! So many of the featured homes are so dark and gloomy inside. This ones sunporch alone was wonderful!!
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  79. I loved Mansion Madness! I really enjoyed seeing the many beautiful homes and was shocked that I almost always picked the “losing” house! What does that say about my taste? Lol. I am not a fan of Gothic architecture so the Hopkins House was garish and overworked (to my taste). Still, its a shame to lose it like we did.
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  80. Beautiful!
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  81. that marble-pillared gallery was absolutely stunning… (Not gonna lie, I was hoping to see a gargoyle amongst the elaborate rooftop statuary 😂)
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  82. The rooms with the odd seating look like meeting rooms for the Masons. Was the owner of the house a member of the Masonic organization? It looks very similar to a lodge I explored once.
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  83. A beautiful palace. I wonder, did the king who built it ever live there? I wonder how many people it took to staff… Thanks Ken!
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  84. @ thank you for your answer! I still got a notification that my question was answered.
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  85. Now THIS is beautiful….ornate but tasteful. Im sorry but this estate puts to shame most of the gaudy older American mansions we’ve seen on this channel. Thank you for sharing!
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  86. I hope the Cliff House can be salvaged and used. Can you imagine the view?? I didnt know about your car accident….Im sorry you had to go through that. As an artist I feel it is your privilege to re-do any videos with which you are less than satisfied.
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  87. And how did his employees live? What did their homes look like?
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  88. I love the house’s exterior facade and the music room was dreamy. I wish we could have seen more of the bedrooms. Thank you Ken!
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  89. A grotesque example of a family with more wealth than common sense
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  90. This house is pretty on the outside but the clutter inside ruins it for me. It would be so much prettier if it was “cleaned up”.
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  91. I really liked the Long Island home…all except the dining room. 😊
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  92. That “Arabian Salon” looks very exotic and fun
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  93. The second, federal-style mansion is much cozier. I prefer it. ❤
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