House

The Caetani Residence is one of the core heritage sites in the Vernon community. As a cultural, artistic and historic site, the Caetani House, along with the family, has woven an intricate local legend.

The Caetani House was built in 1896, commissioned by Samuel Sommerville, a dance instructor who later became City Tax Collector and an alderman. The house was designed in the Late-Victorian Vernacular Revival style, which emphasized solidity and comfort over design. Several additions have increased the size of the house including a new wing which was added in 1903.

In 1913 the property was sold to H.G. Mueller, owner of the former Coldstream Hotel. Eight years later it was sold again, this time to the wealthy Italian immigrant Leone Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta and Prince of Teano. From that point on, the house on Pleasant Valley Road became known as the Caetani House.

Caetani family home in 1921
Photo courtesy of  Greater Vernon Museum and Archives

Leone, Ofelia and Sveva outside their Pleasant Valley Road property (ca 1927)
Photo courtesy of  Greater Vernon Museum and Archives

The Caetani House now stands out as a unique heritage site because of its historic association with the Caetani family and, of course, the magnificent gardens and grounds that it stands in. With the recent addition of renovated outbuildings into artist studios on the grounds, Sveva Caetani's wish of creating a 'cultural centre' has been realized.

Front View of House in 2008

Rear View of House in 2008

Renovation

The house has been restored and renovated over the years in keeping with the Heritage Revitalization Agreement. The renovation teams have faced and overcome problems typical of a heritage property from removing lead based paint from the exterior of the house to asbestos from the basement.

As always with a house of this nature, the maintenance is on-going and expensive. The Caetani Cultural Centre relies heavily on the good will of businesses within the community and a great volunteer force without whom much of the work to date could not have been completed.

The Society are particularly grateful to the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, the Kalamalka Rotary Club and Human Resources Canada for their financial support and labour towards renovation work on the house and studios.

Restoration of the exterior of the house and roof repairs began in May 2005. The house was painted in New London Burgundy Bordeaux and Greenmount Silk Douce Dentelle from a specialist historical color collection.

Front of House before renovation	Front of House after renovation

Side of House before renovation	during	after

Gardens

The one and a half acres of landscaped grounds that surround the house remain one of the property's most striking features. Reflecting the Caetani Italian heritage, the gardens possess many characteristics typical of an Italian-style garden. Magnificence of space, contrasting shade and light, differing textured foliage, scented herbs and flowers, water features, figure statues, urns and terracotta planters all help to create an atmosphere of calm and a sense of mystery. The lawns are maintained by the Greater Vernon Services and have a designated Park Status, while the gardens are looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Rose Garden	Wooded Garden

Caetani House Residents

Today there are four apartments in the house. In accordance with Sveva Caetani's wishes, the Caetani Cultural Centre is keen to assist artists in the community with rentals when possible.

You can find bios of artsists curently residing in the house at our Resident Artsists page.