SERENDIPITY
One of the most spectacular recent additions to the house was The Great Room designed by Diana ’ s son , Richard Melville Olcott . It was inspired by the living room at Birchbrook , which was made out of the ends of two reclaimed 18th-century barns from Danby . Birchbrook had open rafters , and the room ’ s ceiling was two stories high . This addition was built with the same type of aesthetic in mind . It has open rafters and exposed beams . It has a fireplace and wonderful large windows which overlook the upper pond .
Remembering Diana
Richard shared , “ She always made sure that we had everything we would need , and nothing that we didn ’ t . Not just material things , but spiritual things : morals , attitudes , skills and knowledge to navigate through the shoals of life .
She always wanted us to be what she called : ‘ the quality ’ kind of people .”
Diana ’ s daughter , Leslie , added , “ My mother taught me a lot about gardening and horticulture – and all of the discipline and care that is required . She taught me to cut flowers for arrangements the night before I made them , because they needed to cool , harden , and acclimate . She knew so much about gardening and insisted that everyone should learn the Latin ( Botanical ) names for all plants . Her wealth of knowledge was vast and she had a wonderful sense of humor and a twinkle in her eye . She was always quoting someone from literature or the movies or singing an old time song or reciting a nonsensical ditty she had learned from her father . More than anything else , though , she taught me that giving back to society was important . She brought the same
passion , dedication , and patience that she brought to restoring the Glebelands gardens to everything that she did in life .”
DESTINATION RESORT
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