The Balsley House's uniqueness lies in its architectural diversity and historical richness.

THE STEP LADDER

THE STEP LADDER

history

John H. Balsley as a carpenter, became famous for his invention of the first folding Step Ladder.

Balsley joined a league of Dayton Innovators

CREATING MEMORABLE MOMENTS

CREATING MEMORABLE MOMENTS

experience

Where the rich tapestry of interactions, history, relationships and events all come together in one place.

Something memorable for the special times in your life

A DAYTON ORIGINAL

A DAYTON ORIGINAL

OREGON DISTRICT

 Set in the heart of Dayton's renaissance district. Where the past is honored, the present enjoyed and the future inspired.

Inviting those who don't want to settle for ordinary

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Distinctively Iconic, Uniquely Historic

Built in 1877, the Balsley House recently renovated and reinvigorated bares witness to the inventor's success both as a master carpenter and entrepreneur. It boasts having an elegant dining room, a sumptuous parlor, a library room, a great room, a truly gourmet kitchen, six bedrooms, four and half bathrooms.

In addition to enjoying the house themselves, owners Clive and Geeta Wilson opened the Balsley House for short-term rental for others to enjoy at various intervals during the year to help make Dayton a destination spot for out of town visitors or the local community..

Bookings and availability can be found listed on AirBnB.

Sitting in the Parlor

 

The parlor is elegantly adorned with sophisticated brass ornaments and hardware throughout the room. Hanging from the ceiling is a Casbah crystal chandelier, replicating the sparkling lanterns of 19th-century Morocco, the arresting globe-shaped chandelier is strung with hundreds of multi-faceted crystals, each polished by hand to a brilliant shine.

The plum drapery is richly textured upholstery weight linen that is masterfully crafted from the world's finest Belgian flax; loomed at Libeco, the oldest and most venerable mill in Belgium

Wallpaper is made by British designers Farrow & Ball, who use their own richly pigmented paint using traditional block and trough printing methods to give a uniquely tactile finish and seamless connection between paint and paper.  The parlor room is covered with Brockhampton Star 506 in Pointing No.2003 and bespoke gold. Brockhampton Star dates back to 1870 from the dining room at Brockhampton Hall. With a buoyant, ornate star motif, this is an enchanting design, warm and welcoming.  Brockhampton Star 532 in bespoke red and bespoke gold is in the wet bar area. 

The Reginald club chairs 1970s-inspired are plushly padded and supported by a sleek, polished brass bar frame and slope-arm design offering a comfortable, rounded back. Marble top tables with brass legs are used to complement the marble fireplace original to the home.

To preserve the history of the home, the wall bares witness to the water level of the great historic Dayton flood in 1913.

 
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A culinary cavern

 

No home is made where food is not present, that is why the kitchen has been thoughtfully and masterfully designed for the discerning pallete. From the brass gold hardware to the shimmering gold backsplash where the tone is elegantly set. The kitchen boasts numerous high-end European appliances Miele espresso machine and two steam ovens, Kupperbusch convection oven,  two Wolf microwaves, two Thermador Dishwashers, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator, exquisite French Godin range, Kitchen-aid Trash Compactor and under-the-counter U-Line built-in Refrigerator drawers. The huge granite slab is Viscount White from India, a White, Black, gray colored slab with a polished finish. Hanging from the ceiling are the imposing Benson 16" and 13" pendants offering a modern silhouette and a sleek, hand-polished finish that stunningly illuminates the kitchen.

 
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Entertain with an exquisite culinary ambience that oozes sophisticated cuisine. For those who have a taste for the finer things in life and who enjoy investing in experiences.
— Live well.

A place for pensive thought or engaging conversations

 

Whether you need to talk, write a letter, get through a good book, play a round of scrabble or lay out the first chapter of your book, this is the perfect room. Set in low-lighting, originally designed to illuminate the famous faces of film, is a reproduction of a 1940s Hollywood studio light crafted of solid cast aluminum and steel, a classic of the genre, industrial in mien and function. Lots of soft natural daylight also envelopes the room.

 
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Dine in style or meet in comfort

The rooms boasts victorian overtures nestled in historic and modern elements. American inspired geometric design of the lighting echoes the luxurious lines of Art Deco, a style born in 1920s Paris. Framed in welded raw iron, it's clad with close-set, optical-quality prisms that reflect the light and create endlessly shifting sparkle.  British wallpaper designers, Farrow & Ball were used for their stunning adaptation of an elegant neoclassical wallpaper design, featuring an architectural diamond trellis border with a delicate foliate motif. Ranelagh 1847. 

Inspired by understated Belgian design, the outdoor low-back Belgian Slope armchairs are casual yet sophisticated, featuring simple lines and comfortable seats. The grand 1930's French Farmhouse table sits in the middle of the room, an antique American table from the last century inspired with baluster-style turned legs and low stretcher beams to support the planked top. 

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Special memories together

Whether for work, personal enjoyment, special celebration or just because... come together and indulge in your surroundings.

A Comfortable Space

 

Furnished in Mid-Century modern furniture with 65" inch large screen TV display is just right for movies or presentations. Four ceiling skylights bring plenty of daylight to enjoy the brightness side of the room. An architectural feature of the room is the attic infrastructure offering a spacious feel and elevated design.

 
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Spacious restful rooms

 

The Balsley House offers and assortment of rooms, consisting of three rooms with King size beds and three other rooms with Queen beds. The bedding is made out high-thread count cotton linen and furnished with Kate Spade lighting. Each bedroom has USB connected nightstands and individual dressers for housing your belongings. After a full day of activity or in anticipation of your special day, get a good nights' rest on our plush gel memory foam mattresses.

 
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