The Ford House, home of Edsel and Eleanor, in the Fall. Photo: courtesy of Ford House.

Edsel Ford was the only child of Henry and Clara Ford. He was born in 1893 and became the President of Ford Motor Company in 1919 when he was just 25 years old.

Lakeside Tranquility…

About 28 miles outside of Detroit is Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan and this is where the lovely Tudor Revival manor house built for Edsel and Eleanor Ford sits.
Construction began in 1926 and was complete in 1929. The inspiration for this charming estate was found in the English countryside, the Cotswolds region in Gloucestershire.

The property is situated on Gaukler Pointe, the western shore of Lake St Clair and surrounding the house are beautiful grounds that include areas excellent for birdwatching (Bird Island Natural Habitat), a rose garden and meadow.

When I visited there was a group of plein-air artists dotting the landscape with their wooden easels and thermoses of tea at their sides. It’s very much an idyllic spot for such activity.

Front of the manor house, photo courtesy of Ford House.

Imported Treasures…

This Tudor Revival is a solid stone edifice. And everything about it speaks to quality and craftmanship.
Unlike some of the other historical homes I’ve visited, the Ford House furnishing are almost all period - much of them coming across the Atlantic from England when the house was built.
Like the other Tudor Revival homes I’ve toured, The Ford House has gorgeous diamond latticed windows, large fireplaces and an imposing roofline with multiple chimneys.

The Visitor Center, photo courtesy of Ford House.

Visitors Welcome…

The Ford House is ready for visitors and they have a new center that is minimalist and modern but clad in stone and with a silhouette that harkens back to the Tudor era, juxtaposing with the period home in a very elegant and streamlined way.
The restaurant on the grounds is a cut above most house-touring experiences.

The Visitor Center also hosts an historical exhibit along with some of the classic cars from the Ford company.

This is in addition to the original garage on site, which also has a collection of cars and information on the original soft coverings, paint colors etc.

Signage throughout the property is worth reading.

Styles and Tastes Change…

Inside the house the English Tudor style continues, although I should add there are a few rooms that are very French in style. I believe the guide said this was dictated by Eleanor and I also believe she said it was done as a re-decoration later on.

One of the ‘French’ rooms in the house. The color palette reminds one of a Ladurée macaron box.

As I mentioned earlier, many of the elements of this house came directly from England.
Signing up for the guide-led tour is well worth it.

Beautiful nooks throughout…Photo courtesy of Ford House.

I love heraldry and these diamond lattice windows with regal insets and arched tops set in stone are Magnificent - with a capital M.

Soaring windows, elegant drapery and fireplaces the size of a walk-in closet.

Modern in a Tudor World…

Because this is an ‘automobile’ mansion, it makes sense that cars would figure prominently in the visitor center and garage museum. But there was one other room that was very stylish - and like the French room, it was not at all English, except for the windows.
It’s called ‘The Modern Room’ and it was re-designed later by noted industrial designer, Walter Dorwin Teague in the 1930s.

My photograph doesn’t quite capture how sleek this room is but it very much has the feel of modern glam with a warm color palette.

Back to England and the Tudor era.

In almost all of these historic manor houses, the main rooms are built for company with multiple seating areas and beautiful views.
Is it cocktail hour yet?

An aerial view of the grounds… Photo courtesy of Ford House.

And then a step into the future, solar panels!
But really this shot is all about the lake, the green shores and the peaceful nature and surrounds.
There were people painting, fishing, watching birds, and boating amongst other things. The Ford family enjoyed the outdoors and the house location reflects this.

Pool along the lake, an almost life-size play house…

I loved our visit to the Ford House, it was educational, interesting and inspirational. If you do come, and you’re coming from out of town, I would also encourage a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts. They have a wonderful collection from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, including an original Gothic Chapel section.

So, off we go! It was a lovely visit! But one more thing…

A Few Interesting Facts…

Edsel Ford was the only child of Henry and Clara Ford.
The Ford House and Grounds is comprised of 87 acres, though originally it was more than 125 acres.
There are 60 rooms in the house and it is 30,000 square ft total.
Along with the main house, there is a Gate Lodge and Garage, Recreation Building (by the swimming pool), which contains a squash court among other things. There’s also a power house designed to look like a cottage and the playhouse which was a gift to the Ford’s daughter, 7 year old Josephine, from her grandmother, Clara. There’s also the Visitor Center which opened in 2021.
The paneling, the main hall staircase both came from England, along with many other pieces of art, furniture and architectural elements.
The Ford House offers tours, hosts concerts, art classes, design shows and workshops throughout the year.

You can find out more on the Ford House website.

The Ford House