A photographer shares snaps of a mansion that once belonged to W.K. Kellogg - founder of the Kellogg's cereal company - as it waits to be demolished.
Christa Carpenter purchased the building most recently in July for $4 million, but has said any plan to make it a livable home is unrealistic.
Alabama native David Bulit, 32, visited the mansion that features soundproof rooms, secret passageways, stained glass windows, mosaic tilework, Moorish arches, and curved Spanish-inspired staircases.
A photographer shares snaps of a mansion that once belonged to W.K. Kellogg - founder of the Kellogg's cereal company - as it waits to be demolished
The interior is a mix of outrageous styles, featuring marble, velvet and crystal. It also displays tile mosaics of chariot races, stained-glass windows, hand-painted murals of landmarks like the Taj Mahal and even a stairway that doesn't go anywhere
The bathroom, one of six and a half in the mansion, is primarily made of marble
David never expected that he would get to see it in the flesh after learning about it last year.
Things changed when a friend who had visited the house put him in contact with the owner and those overseeing the salvaging of its fixtures.
Bulit, who has been exploring locations like the mansion for over 12 years, says that his favorite part of the Kellogg estate is the artwork.
'They were painted by Don Ringelspaugh - a local artist who also did the tile work on the house,' he said. 'Although some of it is quite tacky, such as the Egyptian paintings with the plastic gemstones alongside them, some of the artwork is appealing, like the fountain mosaic in the driveway or the peacock in the sitting room.'
The home indeed features many outrageous elements to it, including a stairway to nowhere, a disco designed by Peter Max, a bed rumored to be carved from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate and hand-painted murals of landmarks like the Taj Mahal.
William Keith Kellogg started the Sanitas Food Company around 1897, focusing on the production of their whole-grain cereals.
Nowadays, Kellogg is best known for producing cereals like Apple Jacks, Rice Krispies, Corn Pops and Raisin Bran, as well as treats such as Pop Tarts.
They were also the first cereal-maker to introduce prizes in the box.
The house was purchased by W.K. Kellogg in 1934 as one of his winter homes.
'Despite its name, it was built in 1925 as the personal home of Edward Frischkorn.
Frischkorn was a Detroit businessman and home builder who developed Dunedin Isles in the town of Dunedin, Florida, between 1925 and 1929.
The home also served as a Marine officers' barracks during World War II and it is rumored that legendary actor Sean Connery once stayed there.
The demolition permit to knock it down had been in the works for some time and
