Evangeline Bruce

I don't believe that I have ever dedicated a blog post to anyone before, but I guess there is a first time for everything.  So, today's post is dedicated to Christopher Spitzmiller.

I recently bought a stash of old issues of Architectural Digest, and one of the first articles that I read was on the Washington, D.C. Federal-style townhouse of Evangeline Bruce and her late diplomat husband, David.  Christopher is an admirer of Evangeline Bruce, so I immediately thought of him when I saw these photos.

Photos of Evangeline and David Bruce's set at Albany in London have appeared in numerous publications, not to mention all over the internet, thanks in large part to its Colefax and Fowler-designed interiors.  But the Bruces' Washington D.C. townhome hasn't received quite as much coverage on the internet, which is surprising considering how beautiful and stylish it was.  Although much of the decor is credited to Evangeline, there were some holdovers from their past residences in London and Brussels, where David Bruce was posted at different times during his career.  The entry hall's curtains, for example, were made by John Fowler for the Bruces' former residence in Brussels.  You'll also notice that Evangeline hung many of her paintings just as she did at Albany: with a ribbon sash, which was just one hallmark of John Fowler's style of decorating.

And for others reading this who might be admirers of Evangeline Bruce as well, I dedicate this post to you, too.

Image at top: A small hall off of the drawing room; the curtains were made by John Fowler and once hung in the Bruces' residence in Brussels.

The townhouse's drawing room.

Another view of the drawing room. The curtains in this room were made by Fowler for this room.

The pair of English Gothick chairs once belonged to Nancy Lancaster.

A better view of the drawing room's curtains.

The couple's sitting room.

Two views of Evangeline Bruce's feminine bedroom.


All photos from Architectural Digest, September 1978, Horst photographer.