This magnificent brick home was built either in 1915 (according to the County Auditor) or 1922 (according to County Archive's property records). However, we know that it was designed by the well-known New York architect Alfred Bossom, because it is featured in a book, American Architects, 1903-1926. Bossom's commercial buildings comprised much of the Big Apple skyline during the early 20th century.
Built for the Schloss family (which, ironically, never moved in), the house has 33 rooms, nine bathrooms, seven fireplaces and 27 closets. Its wings on the first floor connect through 45-degree angled rooms, with the second floor iterating the design via separate master suites and servant hallways.
The threshold is a tile and terrazzo marble-covered entry hall that is supervised by several small gargoyles who peer down from the chandelier. From there, visitors pass into a beautiful center hall with leaded and stained glass window insets, and an immense carved staircase that is reminiscent of the Hay house stairway at the Western Reserve Historical Society. Immediately to the right of the foyer is a grand living room that was lifted in its entirety from an English castle. The walls are carved English cherry paneling and conceal a number of built-in cabinets--all with hidden latches and secret compartments.
The first floor also includes a large, Italian tile-floored garden room, a huge kitchen with original wood cabinetry, and a magnificent period dining room, with paintings from India. The first floor fixtures, other art works and accessories are largely original or were acquired by the owners during trips to Thailand, Portugal, China, Tibet, India, Nepal, New Guinea, Czech Republic, Russia, Morocco and Spain.
The second floor has five large bedrooms--including two master suites--and an extensive servants' wing. One of the master bedrooms has an unusual bed imported from Thailand. Another room contains an equally unique curled-wood bed frame (origin unknown) and an Empire sofa from the early 19th century.