National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Second Floor Bathrooms
Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
There are three guest bathrooms on the third floor. One accessible from the Large Red
Room but shared with the Small Red Room. There was originally also access to this bathroom
from the hall, until modifications to Frederick's bathroom closet were made. The second
bathroom is part of the Blue Room and accessible only through that space. The third bathroom
is between the Mauve Room and the Green Room, and is also accessible from the North Foyer.
All of the bathrooms have white tiled floors and walls.
Large Red Bedroom
The Large Red Bedroom is part of a suite including the Small Red Bedroom and a
bathroom on the west side of the second floor. The bathroom is accessible directly through the
Large Red Room. 781 The Large and Small Red Rooms have an interconnecting door and
matching wallpaper and draperies.
McKim, Mead & White designed this room; the only extant drawing is the floor plan of
the second floor. 782 Herter Brothers probably executed the woodwork and door trim. 783 The
marble mantel is eighteenth-century Georgian and has a lovely figural frieze supported on
yellow marble columns. 784 The draperies, upholstery, and bed canopy were all made of a rose
and green floral brocade. The red wall-to-wall carpeting came from W. & J. Sloane. 785
Like all of the second floor guest rooms, this one is furnished with painted French
furniture. Three of the pieces are marked: the bed has the pencil inscription 786 "Lamb? 787 /Vand?
bilt/Glaenzer/No. 1," the desk has a paper label underneath reading "Chambre No. 7," and the
night table is stenciled "No. 8." In addition, there is a bureau with mirror, an armoire, another
small table, a three-tier table, a table with armchair (caned), two caned-back side chairs, an easy
chair, and a caned chaise longue. The bed and side chairs are of the same pattern as those in the
Small Red Bedroom. There are five sconces on the wall. Each of the guest rooms had a
coordinating breakfast set. 788
It is not known which of the Vanderbilt guests might have stayed in the Red Rooms, but
they were designed to be used by a married couple, and the lady most likely used the larger
room. The fireplace shows little evidence of use.
781
The original MMW floor plan showed access through a passageway from the hall that also leads to
Mr. Vanderbilt's Bathroom. This latter entrance was not built.
782
MMW #10 dated 2/18/97, by Hunter.
783
Compare the woodwork and trim here with that on the other side of the door in the hall and on the
third floor.
784
Samuels, July 31, 1940.
785
All installed wall-to-wall carpeting is labeled on the padding and stenciled on the back of the rug from
W & J Sloane.
786
See object file #388.
787
This probably should read "chamber."
788
Snell, "Preliminary Report," 35.
143