16. The Master Bedroom

The Master Bedroom, in the tenth century French style, might be called the most elaborate room in the Castle. The walls from floor to ceiling are hand painted on canvas, attributed to William Hunt or his school of artists, in a repetitive design of a folded patterned drapery hung under the dado of oak with carved rondels decorated in antique rose and blue. Above the dado the painting resembles stone blocks, each paneled and centered with a stylized rosette. The frieze is in the style of a flat diorama depicting the life of a tenth century nobleman.

The fireplace and chimneypiece are as close to the authentic tenth century style - hole in the roof above a central hearth - as prudence and fear of a disastrous fire would permit. Decorated fluted sandstone columns support a conical half-round chimneypiece painted with stylized scenes of the hunt, and a scroll bearing the complete Belmont motto: Sans Crainte, qui veult peut. (Without fear, he who will can.)

A polished steel chandelier hangs in the center of the room. Four six-light wall sconces made of polished wrought steel with gold inserts are original with the Castle. Before 1907 they used both gaslights in the upper two candleholders and electric bulbs in four candleholders suspended from the mouth of a polished steel dragon.

In the early morning light leaded stained glass windows, called grisailles, cast gold and silver patterns of light from floor to ceiling

A "secret" door, painted to match the walls, opens to the Master Bathroom.