Afternoon tea at Ford House: Celebrating Eleanor Ford and her birthday

"Eleanor Tea and Tour" included a visit to the Ford home. (above) Herend tea set in Eleanor's suite.

Afternoon tea at an historic home site, birthday celebrations and an opportunity to visit with friends?  Sounds tailor made for BTS and yet, we almost missed out on this past weekend's "Eleanor's Birthday Tea and Tour", honoring the lady, who married Edsel Ford, and helped to create The Ford House, the impressive Grosse Pointe estate. Thanks to tea friend, Barb T, who made us aware of this event and urged us to sign up early,  we -  Pam (BTS team member/awesome amie) and moi - secured our tickets and inked our calendar back in April. On Sunday, we benefited from Barb's recommendation and enjoyed tea, scones, shopping and touring with the backdrop of scenic lake views.

BTS' Pam and Barb at afternoon tea on the second floor of the Visitor's Center.

The tea was held on the second floor of the Visitor's Center. In the upper lobby, before entering the dining room, Rachel, owner of The Peacock Room in Detroit, set up shop. Guests could select from the grand assortment of finely curated merchandise Rachel is known for. 

Outside the dining room, Rachel, of the Peacock Room, set up shop with her amazing merchandise.

We visited her shop back in February, in search of vintage-inspired dresses and accessories. *Major alert* Rachel shared with us that she has 300 MORE such items in the store since we were last there. Start the car - BTS is heading to the Fisher Building post-haste!

Barb's at tea time. Special thanks to Barb T for alerting us to this event

Once inside the dining room, we were greeted by a room with floor-to-ceiling windows and an array of prettily set tables featuring gold-laced runners and violet napkins. Staff was ready with a selection of tea bags displayed in wooden tea caddies and always at the ready to refill table teapots with hot water.

Tablescapes featured white tablecloths, gold runner and violet napkins.

The menu included scones, savories and sweets. Our favorites included the croissant filled with chicken salad, the goat cheese and tomato jam in phyllo cup and the cheesecake bombs.

After the tea, guests were informally directed to take a self-guided tour of the Edsel and Eleanor home, a short walk (or shuttle) from the Visitor's Center. The docents focused on Eleanor-related stories in keeping with the birthday celebration honoring the lady of the estate.

Afternoon tea fair of savories, scones and sweets

We learned the home was built in 1928 - and like other historic homes we've visited in this era like Meadow Brook Hall and Stan Hywet - trips to, and antiques acquired in, England inspired the mansion's design and decor. 

". . .as one does"

Drawing room designed to go with Rembrandt art. . .

"

Although, sadly, Edsel passed in 1943, Eleanor remained in the home until her death in 1976. In the 1950's, Eleanor remodeled and redecorated the home with a lighter color scheme, finding much inspiration from her favorite artists. The new decor of the drawing room was designed to coordinate with her Rembrandt painting, which brought to mind one of my husband's charming sayings, ". . . as one does". 

My favorite:  Eleanor's bedroom suite with fireplace and Herend china.(see visitors in mirror)

My favorite room, or more accurately, set of rooms, was the primary bedroom suite -  in particular, Eleanor's sitting room.  Again, something tailor-made for BTS:  a room dipped in pastel peach hues with a fireplace, lake views AND, the creme-du-la-creme, a Herend tea set in our favorite color and pattern. (see our article on the history of Herend porcelain in TeaTime Magazine). 

Hat's off to Barb T.'s and her high fashioned friends

Other highlights: the rose garden, the pool and the playhouse, complete with its own china stored in built-in corner hutches. The latter was a gift for Edsel and Eleanor's only daughter, Josephine, from her grandmother. 

Inside china in built in hutches

Josephine's playhouse 

It was great to share this day with amigos, Rachel, Pam and Barb T., along with Barb's high fashioned friends, Jeanne, Joan and Debbie. "Hat's off" to them and Eleanor's birthday tea!