Enter the Villa Terrace

After passing through the Cyril Colnik-designed iron gate shown in the previous slide, you will enter the open-air courtyard, featuring a statue of Mercury from the first century A.D.

The great hall was once the Smith family living room. It features two large fireplaces, a "pecky" cypress beamed ceiling, and French doors opening to a sunny terrace.

The dining room, once home to many large and boisterous Smith family feasts, still contains the original David Adler-designed table.

The library contains a collection of books on gardening and landscape design.

The "playroom" gallery is so called because it was once a play space for the Smith family children. It is now used for a rotating schedule of visual art exhibits, such as this selection of paintings and drawings by Roger Smith, a descendant of the home's original owners.

On the second floor, our South wing contains a collection of Cyril Colnik ironworks on permanent view. Often called the “Tiffany of wrought-iron masters,” Colnik (1871–1958) achieved national fame as one of the foremost metal craftsmen of his time.

The wood-paneled Dake Gallery is used for rotating exhibits such as this selection of works by Milwaukee artist Richard Taylor.

Connected to the Dake Gallery by two French doors, a sleeping porch acted as a naturally "air-conditioned" space during summer months. It is also occasionally used as an exhibition space. This slide shows an installation by Madison, Wisconsin artist Marianne Fairbanks.

The Zuber Gallery is richly wallpapered in a wood-block printed landscape by the Zuber company in France. It also features trompe l'oeil panelling and faux-marble finishes.

The Master Bedroom Gallery is our largest exhibition space. Here a collection of accordion books is on view. The room is connected to a spacious marble bathroom and a decoratively painted dressing room.

This bathroom, connected to the Master Bedroom, features Italian terra-cotta floors, and Carrara marble that is both real and faux-painted.

The dressing room, said to have been used mainly by Mrs. Smith, is decoratively painted with a bird-and flower motif. It is also occasionally used to exhibit artwork and historic objects.