Buell's Folly

Designed by Conover and Porter, and built for the risk-taking Buell Family in 1894, our home still serves as an iconic residence on top of University Heights.

[Cary Forest @CaryForest]

A little live action: cocktail hour in the garage @115ElyPlace @ktforest

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Our old butternut tree came down a year ago but is now milled and dried and ready to become beautiful cabinets and enter a new phase of life. Thanks to Dillon Urben for his expertise!

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Badger masons working on the basement wall in what we suspect was the root cellar (repost from may7, now + image).

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Swallowtails, monarchs, bees, hummingbirds and goldfinches abound in our disheveled garden on Ely Place.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Gorgeous green tadelakt in the laundry room, inspired by 2016 Morocco trip and @jerseyicecreamco, accomplished by cary.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

While Cary scarifies his awesome plaster job in the ground floor laundry/summer kitchen I have the less glamorous task of historic tax credit paperwork.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

#runtal radiator in place in kitchen. one stud was easy to find the other trickier!

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

@reedmjones61 Hi Reed, yes it was a big surprise! Congratulations on your beautiful painting.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Our shiny new #runtal radiator sneaks well into the stair landing and we are looking forward to cozier winter next year! Modern Victorian?

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

What a surprise to see our home as the subject of this year’s Dane County Arts program feature poster!! https://t.co/kk2wCi1lCc

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Another first! Fire In fireplace #2 thanks to restored chimney and chilly (enough) august evening.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Summer sun roasts western and southern sides. How to get large canopy tree out here with house so close to road?

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Partway through third story window restoration.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

this slammed into ely place last night arriving from the south rather than from over the lake -- multiple inches of rain https://t.co/DemWdEwM2Y

[Nate Moll @natemoll]

A monster of a storm moves into #MadisonWI. #wiwx

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Disaster when a round storm window from 2nd floor turret room blew down in gale force winds. Celebration that beautiful chimney is finished! https://t.co/84ck5V0Fax

[Katrina Forest @ktforest]

Front chimney done! Cap salvaged from @uminn music bldg brownstone Kudos to masons extraordinaire J Delbarre & Mike

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Another Ely Place botanical surprise, cherries are true yellow no pink blush but ready to enjoy.

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Pot rack arrived May 20; makes all the difference in impractical kitchen with six doors! Need help from @jerseyicecreamco ?!

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Plant id now Comfrey; earlier thought annual relative Borage (classic strawberry garden partner plus flowers for Pimm's Cup!). 5/19

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

Oh dear -- beautiful newly refinished floor no match for repositioning of heavy radiator 3/23; noticed 3/24. #twostepsforward #notagoodday

[Buell's Folly @115ElyPlace]

In March we begin to learn about the flowers here.
March 21 first attempt to clear the lower terrace; plant cover crop of peas and clover.