Adamsleigh Showhouse: Greensboro’s Grandest House

Have I ever showed you where our family spends our summers?

In my dreams!

This 33-room, 15,000-square foot mansion on 13.5 acres looks like something you might find in the English countryside. But it’s actually right here in Greensboro, N.C., a relic of our the state’s rich textile history and the wealth and prosperity of the Jazz Age.

Adamsleigh Estate was built for High Point textile magnate John Hampton “Hamp” Adams, the co-founder of Adams-Millis Corporation. Called “Greensboro’s grandest house,” Adamsleigh has not been occupied for about a decade. But the house recently opened and got quite the facelift thanks to dozens of local and national designers, Traditional Home magazine and the Junior League of Greensboro.

I had the chance to tour the Adamsleigh Showhouse (which is open thorugh May 5) during the High Point Furniture Market with a group of other home decor bloggers.

We were impressed and inspired and we couldn’t stop taking photos.

There’s no doubt the living room, decorated by Miles Redd for Century Furniture is gorgeous. That wallpaper, the mirror and the $100,000 rug (you read that right) were stunners, but many in our group were not pleased that the original mahogany beams were painted blue.

What do you think?

Do you like the paint? Or would you have preferred the original beams?

One of my favorite rooms was the den by Suzanne Kasler.

Designer Eric Kohler chose bold and graphic fabrics for the sun porch.

While the decor was certainly beautiful, Adamsleigh features so many gorgeous architectural details. The one-of-a-kind plaster molded ceiling in the library was breathtaking.

I love the lattice on the walls in the sunroom, too.

I pretty much loved everything about this space, designed by Bradshaw Orrell Interiors and Randy McManus Designs.

The sunroom opened onto a gorgeous outdoor terrace with a great view. Do you recognize any of those ladies hanging out on the terrace?

That’s Kristen of Sophia’s, Shirley of Housepitality Designs and Kim of Savvy Southern Style, snapping their own shots of the showhouse. So, be sure to check out their blogs for other views and highlights of the estate. Barb of The Everyday Home, Suzy of Worthing Court and Rhoda of Southern Hospitality were also there, but they escaped this photo.

The breakfast room by John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage was another favorite of mine. I loved the aqua woodwork and that wallpaper.

I might have to steal this look for one of my furniture makeovers.

As we toured Adamsleigh, I noticed a few themes.

Gorgeous fabrics. Drinks, drinks (usually alcoholic) everywhere. And lots of original artwork, from photography to sculpture to abstracts.

Really makes me want to go shopping for art or to create some of my own.

Did I mention Adamsleigh is on the market for $4 million? The kitchen is mostly original. And while I’d love that Viking, I think I’d have to do something about that tile and those cabinets if I moved in.

The basement may need some mold abatement, too. It smelled a bit damp and musty, but the space was absolutely fabulous.

How many homes do you know of that have a prohibition room?

That’s all for today’s tour. But stop by later to see more of Adamsleigh, including some beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms.