The VanLandingham Estate, Charlotte, NC

Built by Ralph and Susie Vanlandingham in 1913, the VanLandingham Estate, in what is now the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, became known as a quintessential home for entertaining in Charlotte. A California bungalow-style home, the estate still retains its sleeping porches, elaborate gardens, and stone pillars sourced from Linville, NC, where the family summered.

“When we purchased the home from its then-owners in 1998, it was very 1970s in terms of color, style, and lots of wallpaper,” explains Billy Maddalon, a commercial real estate broker whose family-run business recently operated the home as an inn and event space. In its more than 100-year-old history, VanLandingham has been a part of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, used as the Charlotte Symphony ASID Designer House, and rented out for weddings and special events. In 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It will soon be converted from an inn into a multi-use rental space.

Before opening the space as an inn, Maddalon’s family embarked on a large refurbishment, which entailed repainting, redecorating, and modernizing. “We’d pick up a piece here and a piece there,” he notes, of the estate sales, shops, and vintage markets from which he sourced the eclectic pieces for the interiors, which combine French and American Country, Classic English, and Mid-Century Modern styles. “Every item is sort of mismatched; and many of the pieces were in the house when purchased it, which is always special. The beige couch with high armrests and back that are the same height can be seen in photos of the house from the late 1800. It was brought here by Susie from the Hotel Majestic in Atlanta, which her family owned and operated.”

What are other pieces original to the estate?

The dining room table and chairs are original; Ralph and Susie were voracious entertainers and would have hosted dinner parties for years. We have pictures of that table with some of the most famous people in Charlotte’s history sitting around it. Boy, if that table could talk.

What else stands out?

The chandeliers are fabulous; and the frames for the art are beautiful — many are as or more impressive than the art itself.

Are there any pieces specific to the region?

Any piece of furniture that was made in North Carolina, which for more than a century was known as the furniture capital of the United States. During that period we had no only the finest woods, but the craftsman to hand-make them. A hickory chair, Broyhill piece, Stickley furniture; any of those are rare and have value.