History of MElange
Stillwell
Nearly a century ago, Florida businessman Charles A. Hobbs commissioned the local, prominent architect Erle G. Stillwell to build his summer home in Hendersonville. Stillwell’s landmark projects included St. James Episcopal Church, City Hall, M. Pardee Hospital, Jewish Temple, State Bank Building and Hendersonville High School. The colonial revival style structure was completed in 1920 on over 2 acres just west of downtown. Hobbs was hit hard by the Stock Market Crash, eventually selling the estate to the Buchanans, a prominent family from Western Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Mr. Buchanan was a lawyer and a state senator. The first grand wedding at the home was held during his tenure.
First Wedding at the Mélange
In 1962, her father bought the house as a wedding present to Virginia Moore of Seattle. Tom Moore owned a cornucopia of businesses in Henderson County. The couple loved opulent, French décor, importing empire-style wallpapers and marble mantels from Paris, crystal chandeliers from Vienna, and hand-painted porcelain sinks from Italy. The oak floor of the living room was inspired after the Gallery of Mirrors of Versailles Palace in Paris. Gilded mirrors were hung in all formal rooms to enhance lighting and spaciousness. Friends and neighbors remember the Moores for extravagant parties, splendid Christmas decorations and social activities on the paddleball court.
Late 20th/ Early 21st Century
Paddleball Court (now Tile Pavilion)
In 1994, Lale and Mehmet Ozelsel purchased the property. The gardens were transformed to reflect their Mediterranean heritage with fountains and niches. Their vision of Melange, inspired by small European boutique Inns, was to provide an experience rich with elegant interpretations and old world sophistication. Melange opened for business in 1996, adding the Cinnamon Room in 1998, and the Tile Pavilion in 1999 on the paddleball court for weddings and receptions. The commercial kitchens were redone in 2003, The Mediterranean Court was completed in 2006 and the party venues were enlarged in 2010. In 2002, Charles A. Hobbs home and 5th Avenue were recorded in the National Register of Historic Places.
