Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, Milwaukee

Perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee is a striking blend of Italian Renaissance elegance and Midwestern history. Originally built in 1924 for industrialist Lloyd R. Smith, president of A.O. Smith Corporation, the home was designed by architect David Adler after the Smiths returned inspired from a trip to Italy. Modeled on the 16th-century Villa Cicogna Mozzoni in Lombardy, the house-aptly named Sopra Mare (“above the sea”)-features red brick walls painted white, a barrel tile roof, and a layout centered around an open courtyard.

The interior preserves original elements such as a beamed dining room ceiling made of pecky cypress, a walnut-floored living room with multiple fireplaces, and a cozy library. Notably, it showcases ironwork by Cyril Colnik, a renowned Austrian-born blacksmith whose studio was based in Milwaukee.

The museum grounds are equally impressive. Rose Standish Nichols, a prominent landscape designer, shaped the bluff-side setting with terraces, fishponds, and secret gardens. A dramatic “water stairway” adds a theatrical touch to the landscape, which was further revitalized between 1998 and 2002 by volunteers from the Renaissance Garden Club, based on a master plan by Buettner & Associates.

Since 1966, the estate has served as the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, housing collections of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to 19th centuries, with a strong emphasis on wrought ironwork. The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions and a popular Garden Lecture series, offering gardening insights for enthusiasts and homeowners alike.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Villa Terrace remains a cherished cultural venue and an in-demand location for weddings and special events. With its European charm and stunning lake views, it brings a touch of the Italian countryside to the heart of Milwaukee.