Bellevue House, Kingston (must see)

Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada is a striking example of the non-symmetrical Italian Villa style of architecture. Constructed around 1840 by Charles Hales, a wealthy Kingston merchant, the house stands out for its distinctive and picturesque design. T

The house, though it has three main floors, is intriguingly divided into seven separate levels, creating a unique and complex interior layout. The first floor features a very large drawing room, notable for housing a parlour piano manufactured in London, England, around 1820, and two mysterious oil paintings with unknown subjects. Additionally, this floor includes the formal dining room and a room currently interpreted as a bedroom, reflecting the house's historical domestic arrangements.

Moving toward the cellar, visitors encounter a large, bright, and airy kitchen, designed to be functional and accommodating for the household's culinary needs. The basement also houses a storage area for fruits, vegetables, and preserves, along with a laundry room, demonstrating the practical aspects of the home's design.

The top floor of Bellevue House is equally fascinating, with several rooms that are interpreted to provide insights into the lives of its former inhabitants. These rooms include a guest room, maid's bedroom, nursery, study, dressing room, and master bedroom, each meticulously furnished to reflect the period's style and domestic habits. One of the highlights of the house is the observation floor of the central tower, a hallmark of the Italianate style, which offers a picturesque view of Lake Ontario. This vantage point underscores the house's aesthetic appeal and its connection to the surrounding landscape.

Bellevue House not only serves as an architectural marvel but also as a window into the past, providing a glimpse into the lifestyle and domestic arrangements of a wealthy merchant's household in the mid-19th century.