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Hugh Comstock- Floorplan for Fables Cottage

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On June 5th, 1928, Hugh agrees to build yet another residence for W.O. Swain.

Fables, as it is later named, is estimated to cost $2,600 and build in 2 months time.

Like most of the Comstock Cottages, Fables has a steep roofline and a Carmel stone chimney. It also has an attached garage which was very unusual.

The living room is two stories high and graced with the huge bay window.  I find the floor plans at City Hall and include them here for us. The first floor is the living room with its inviting fireplace and practical wood box. 

 Joanne Mathewson writes that “from the top of the staircase inside, you have a full view of the beam work, and the living room below.

The tiny kitchen has a dutch door that opens to the west, cooler, sink and dining nook.

 The upstairs balcony leads into a bedroom with Dormer windows.”

The entrance is on the south side of the home

and is reached by walking down a flight of stairs

to the stone patio  interlaced with iridescent abalone shells.

I have no idea how many owners Fables has had but I am aware that some work is being done to spruce it up when I photograph it in July of 2010 

I find an old listing on the internet that gives me more information and the small interior photos above.  

The listing suggests that I “ picture myself snuggled up to the original Carmel stone fireplace and dream about my own search for the perfect Carmel getaway”. It informs me that this 2 bedroom, 2 bath light-filled cottage is 927 sq.ft. The plans on file at City Hall show just one bedroom and bath

but this elevation suggests that the 2nd bedroom and bath may now be in what was the garage.

Such a charming little cottage. Of all the Comstock cottages, this is the one I can picture myself living in.


Filed under: Carmel, Carmel Cottage Floor Plans, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: 1928, Carmel, Carmel Stone, Carmel-by-the Sea, cottages, FABLES, fairytale cottages, Floorplan for Hugh Comstock Cottage, Hugh Comstock, interior, Joanne Mathewson, storybook homes

HUGH COMSTOCK’S-OBERS

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After Hugh built Hansel and Gretel for his wife’s business, “the unexpected and immediate success of his whimsical caricature of the popular Tudor style put him into the contracting business almost overnight.”Kent Seavey

 

In 1925 , he built his own home “OBERS”

Obers is beyond charming.  I see it years ago and photograph it from the front, south-facing,side

and from the north side . I am captivated by the eyebrow window. It remains my favorite window in Carmel.

The elevation drawing can not capture it.

In 1940, Hugh expanded his home using a new structural system he developed in the mid 1930’s . He used his Post-Adobe for the first floor and vertical board-and-batten for the second. 

I want more photos but when I go by a new tall fence has been constructed around the property.

I use my zoom from across the street , still charming.

Once again at City Hall, I see some new landscaping is taking place inside that fence.

Back I go through the front gate and am greeted with this lovely view.

The car in the driveway is encouraging, but no one answers the door, so I leave my card

And start around to the east.

The current owners are renovating and my favorite window is there. 

Lack of summer foliage lets me see the door into the bedroom on ground level and the roof deck on the upper floor.

I retrace my steps and venture over to the west side of the house past a wonderful bay window.

“A one-story angled bay projects west from the SW corner with a small open deck above, enclosed with a low railing of pierced flatwork and reached by a set of wooden French doors.” Kent Seavey

The renovated patio with its stone fireplace

Has many charming touches. A birdhouse here

A wall fountain there.

From the floorplans,

I know this side door enters the laundry room

And this door opens from the dining room

The second story addition had a sewing room for Hugh’s wife, Mayotta.

Now it is a bedroom. 

I have not seen the north side but the elevations show the steep roof, irregular stone woook and hand -carved trim.

The new owners are doing a wonderful job of preserving this “jewel”. Obers “is part of the Comstock Hill Historic District, which contains eleven examples of the builder’s residential buildings, all of which still retain a high degree of physical integrity as constructed between 1924 and 1929” -Kent Seavey


Filed under: Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Comstock Cottage Floor Plan, cottage garden, cottages, fairytale cottages, Hugh Comstock, Obers, Obers'floorplan, storybook homes

I AM INVITED TO TOUR HUGH COMSTOCK’S COTTAGE

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Finally those darn cards I leave on the door pay off. The current owners of The Comstock Cottage ( sometimes called Obers) give permission for us to tour the cottage. The Obers family once lived in the house ,thus the name. But the current owners prefer to refer to it as the Comstock House to give credit where credit is due.

I am shown around by Abbey Baker, their project manager. She specializes in Historic Restoration and the Comstock Homes are her special love. She allows me to photograph this home which Hugh built for himself and Mayotta in 1926 and which now includes an addition Hugh did in 1940.

Soft light illuminates the entry with its distinctive front door and wide planked wooden floor.

The house is built around this two-story entry with its original skylights . From here I have a glimpse of almost every room in the house.

Looking to the right , I see the comfortable living room with its fireplace, low redwood ceilings and warm colors. 

Returning to the entry, I hesitate by the stairs

and then am drawn down the hall to the left into the dining room.

A corner fireplace has been well used. 

Storage is built into the room

The walls have the texture of the post adobe method Hugh introduced. 

I love textures,so how could I not be enchanted by the brick floor, rough walls and wooden beams. 

Light pours in from two exposures. 

I glance back at the living room

and then go around the dining room to the kitchen.

The owners have integrated some Italian tiles into the backspash

Added a farm sink

And a sporty lavender Viking gas stove.

Going full circle, I find myself back in the entry and ready to climb those stairs

with the hand carved railing.

Up I go . I can see both upstairs

And down from here.

Bunk beds tuck themselves under the eves ,each with its own light so a child can read himself to sleep.

Ahead is the room that has the window I love so much. Furniture snuggles under the high-pitched eves.

Across the entry I see a room so small that I can not even get the door completely open.

Now a bedroom, Hugh built this room as Mayotta’s sewing room ( remember she is the creator of the “otsy-totsy” dolls. French doors open to a balcony with a garden view. 

Diamond-paned windows sit under the eves.

The master bedroom and bath are large and have an ocean view.

Once more downstairs, I make sure all the lights are off and exit the front door.

What a treat to see the interior, as well as the exterior ,of The Comstock House.


Filed under: Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Abbey Baker, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, cottages, fairytale cottages, hand carved trim, Hugh Comstock, Obers, storybook homes, The Comstock Home, Tour of a Comstock Interior

HUGH COMSTOCK’S “CURTAIN CALL”

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I am still “Comstock hunting” when I discover Curtain Call. The little cottage is being renovated and so I slip in through the gate and start toward the front door. What a captivating roof line , very steep with flared eves and undulating ridge lines.

A vocal  West Highland Terrier stands on a wood deck , his head poked between the pierced decorative splat railing.

Tulips are already blooming in the pots and window box.

I rap on the knocker

and pause to admire the heart-shaped hardware on the french doors

Assorted bells hung on the knob. 

To the  left of the door is a milk box.

Hooray!! This owner is home.

Stephanie Kirz has purchased this home after a long search for the perfect Carmel cottage. 

With the help of John Gill Construction and Abbey Baker, project manager, she is restoring this treasure.

Hugh built this home in 1929 for Ms. Bertha L. Bowen. “The name “Curtain Call” was given the cottage in the mid 1940’s by a later owner, San Francisco bay area Journalist and writer Constance Ferris. The name is derived from her best known book, “Curtain Calls”, a series of short poems…..later adapted for the stage. Born in South Dakota, Ferris was somewhat of a recluse, having died in Carmel in 1979.” ( Kent Seavey).

Like most of the other Comstock cottages, Curtain Call sits to the back of its lot.  It is one-and -one -half stories of charm. The floor plan has two parallel front-gabled wings separated by the hyphen which is the entry. This floor plan is in the folder at City Hall.

Stephanie is a slender, vivacious woman who is delighted to show me around when she learns that I too am a Comstock fan. She has obtained historic status for her little cottage and is working hard to keep it authentic. 

She leads me into the kitchen. It is stunning with its white Carrara Marble countertops and  back splash,

glass-pained cabinets

and vaulted ceiling with exposed beams.

I love the way I can see those tulips from the window.

A door opens off the entry to this back patio.

The lot is very steep past the retaining wall so I show you what it looks like from the architects drawings. 

Back inside at the end of the entry is the bath .

We turn right into the bedroom with its cozy study.

Then Stephanie leads me into the living room. This beautiful room flooded with sunlight opens to two outdoor patios.

 The stone fireplace is as Mr. Comstock built it flanked by antique light fixtures  authentic to the time it was built. 

I walk to the west end of the room and turn to a view of the upstairs sleeping loft.

 She cleverly places a mirror “window”at this end , beneath which she displays a signed copy of “Curtain Calls”.

The shape of the door openings “knock me out”. 

Every thing about this cottage seems feminine. From here stairs to the right lead to the loft and a door to the left opens to a patio.

Phone calls interrupt our tour. Stephanie is the owner of  White Dog Press – Welcome . While she takes care of business,

I slip out to walk around the cottage.

I love that little porch upstairs.

A new patio comes off the north side.

I climb the steps and step to the wall.

 

Wow! What a view.

Stephanie has finished her calls and takes me to the guest house being built on the front of the lot. This side faces her cottage and she has repeated the eves, 

door, hardware

and the heart theme. 

Inside is a bedroom, kitchenette, bath and loft.

Darling. 

She may be on the Carmel Spring Home and Gardens Tour. So I hope you too get a chance to see “ Curtain Call” and meet its charming owner.

Stephanie, thanks so much for sharing your home with me.


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Carmel Cottage Floor Plans, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Historic Preservation, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Abbey Baker, architecture, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Constance Ferris, cottages, Curtain Call, fairytale cottages, guesthouse, Hugh Comstock, interior, John Gill construction, ocean view, Stephanie Kirz, storybook homes, White Dog Press

HUGH COMSTOCK’S- MAJOR RALPH COOTE HOUSE

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Born in London, England on Sept. 22, 1874, Major Coote was a career army officer and a veteran of both the Boer War and WWI. Upon retiring from the military, he  inherited the Coote estate at Ballyfin, Ireland. By then the staff had been halved and then some. The land was being redistributed by law, obliterating the remnants of the feudal age. Ballyfin was no longer the pride of a man’s title. In other words, he couldn’t afford it. And so this huge plantation

which was self-sustaining and highly productive in its day, was passed on to a Roman Catholic teaching brotherhood, the Patrician Brothers. They founded Ballyfin College.

I would love to know the story of how Sir Coote then settled in Carmel, CA in 1932 and took up painting as a hobby.  In 1934, he asks Hugh Comstock  to build a two-story Tudor influenced home. 

It is an example of English Arts and Crafts Architecture and costs $9,500.

In 1935, he adds a Studio for $418.00

Although this home is lovely, it is a far cry from the Coote estate at Ballyfin, Ireland that he inherited in 1920 .  

He only lives in this home for 7 years before his death in July, 1941.

I have hunted for this home for some time and finally find it this trip. It sits back from the street. The sparkle of the leaded glass windows catch my eye.

I am up to the front door

where I rap the knocker

and admire the porch light,

“door bell”

and the plantings.

When I find the original elevations, it look much more like a cottage. It is simpler. Now additions and plantings obscure the original design. 

I love the way Mr. Comstock has provided a “sectioned” view to show what lies on the other side of the walls. It is like looking into a doll house. 

When no one answers, I start around to the side gate. I am tempted to join the “window peeping” ducks, but refrain.

  and I push my camera past the bells on the closed gate.

and snap a few shots of the garden.

I backtrack past the garage

to the studio on the north

And ring the bell.

No one answers so I follow a path past two small cottages.

I love the ornamentation.

Wow! Serious gardeners live here. There is a wonderful garden shed

and potting bench tucked away behind a huge oak tree.

What a charming house and patio. 

Later at city hall, I find this is an addition and the original home looked like this.

There is even a cross-section drawing so we can peer through the walls. 

The back patio is a work of art with its brick walls and floor, wrought iron furnishings and potted plants.

Along the south side of the lot is a mixed border.

This is more formal than most Carmel gardens and reminds me of the formal borders I have seen in England.

Later, at City Hall, I find the landscaping plan.

 As I research on the internet, I find that Sir Coote’s estate in Ireland had a magnificent garden with bog, vast lake, deer park and “gardens in the antique style and extensive and elegant”.

The afternoon sun warms the south side of the house.

I pass a fountain

on the way to the gate 

Which bears a small metal marker “ Grays Gate”.

The original plans show a smaller home. The first floor is quite elegant with a curving staircase, beamed living and dining rooms and large kitchen.

I love the second floor plan.  Each spouse has their own dressing room and bath.

How very civilized. Scenes from Downton Abbey play in my head.

Major Cootes’ former home is now a 5 Star Country House Hotel in Ireland. 

Luxury Hotel Ireland | 5 Star Country House Hotel | Ballyfin …

I would love to know more of this story.


Filed under: Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Ballyfin, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, fairytale cottages, gardens, Hugh Comstock, Major R.A.Coote, painter, Sir Reginald Algernon Coote, storybook homes

HUGH COMSTOCK’S PINK AND BROWNE COTTAGE

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It is June 2011 and I am on a mission to find and photograph Hugh Comstock’s Fairytale Cottages.

I find the Comstock “Historic District” quite by accident and see 7 homes in one morning. My cup runneth over.

Up Santa Fe, I see what appears to be another Comstock and stroll up.

Boy, that sure looks like the hand-carved trim on a Comstock. And that nifty Carmel stone chimney. 

I catch a peek of the front porch  and go on around.

This house opens to the side ( again like many Comstocks) and sits up on a terraced lot. 

I love the whimsical touches the owner has added

And the small front garden.

 I call City Hall from Kansas City and they tell me that Mr. Browne bought this lot in 1926.

They still do not have time to find the builder. But “you know who” was building his homes right down the street at this same time.

Then in February 2012, the house goes on the market and Karen, one of my readers , writes  “Just noticed this house is for sale and there are some interior pictures on realtor.com. So cute! They have it listed as a Comstock. Interesting!”

How convenient that I am again in Carmel. I go by to pick up a listing sheet. The house has already sold in a bidding war that brought over the “ask”. The new owners are touring with the realtor and invite me to tag along.

This room was once the living, dining and kitchen

This window is in the study- once the cottage bedroom

And this bath has been remodeled.

A major remodel drawn by Robert Walker occurs in 1986

 We climb the circular stair case

to see two new bedrooms

And bath

With this fabulous view

A new kitchen is below.

Back at City Hall, I pull the papers once more and discover how the original, modest floor plan evolved.

City Historian, Kent Seavey, visits and proclaims it to be a  Comstock. 

Hooray! Another sweet little treasure now sure to be saved from demolition.

The new owners are preservationists and are thrilled.


Filed under: Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, fairytale cottages, Floor Plans for Comstock Cottage, Hugh Comstock, interior, Kent Seavey

THE HOMESTEAD- HOTEL ROOMS & COTTAGES

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Catty-corner from our Carmel cottage is my good neighbor,”The Homestead”.

It is originally built in the 1900’s as a private home but has grown over the years into 12 guest rooms in cottage-like buildings

separated by winding stone pathways.

The outdoor patio has a Carmel stone fireplace.

The Main House has seven rooms all remodeled in the Mission Style.

We stay here when we were moving into our house and enjoy the company of Betty Colletto the current owner. Betty lives here with her daughter and tells us stories about our house. 

She is one fabulous gardener and has created a lush succulent garden.

Much of the history of this home is archived. The first records in the file at City Hall show Mr. Ray Sutton converting the home in 1936 and opening for business as Sutton Place.

Next Mr. Jim Buffington takes ownership and does some remodeling

and then in 1956 our old friend Hugh Comstock adds 900 square feet and 3 rooms.

We are present for the next change of ownership when Betty retires and sells The Homestead to none other than Clint Eastwood. Mr. Eastwood does extensive work and makes the hotel the “sister” to the Mission Ranch. Guests are welcome to enjoy breakfast, the fitness center and tennis courts at The Mission Ranch.

I love the soft rose color 

Winding paths,

And colorful plantings.

The Homestead is a good spot for families as the rooms are large and the patio is a great place to gather in the evening.

Most of the rooms are “up- to- date”, but several stay quite rustic, so be sure to study up before you book a room.

If you stand on a balcony

and look south-west, give me a wave.

After I posted this , I got wonderful messages from girls who grew up in this house.

“Mom and Dad lived in Omaha, Dad working for his father’s insurance company.  He didn’t like it so they packed up their things and moved to California.  Before we knew it they had purchased the hotel.  When we were growing up we did all the work as a family.  Mom would clean the kitchens and bathrooms, Dad did the floors and windows and Betty and I stripped the rooms, took in the needed linens and made the beds.  As I recall, we were initially paid 25 cents an hr. which was later raised to 50 cents.  Another job Dad would do would paint the building, after installing television in the rooms he learned how to test faulty TVs and fixed them himself.  He also did most of the hotel repairs. Mom answered the door for the customers, kept the books, did the correspondence, did all the washing of the towels, spreads, blankets, etc. The sheets were sent out to be cleaned and starched.  Later Mom washed all the glasses in the rooms in the dishwasher.

When times were hard we took the old used bath soap, let it dry out and then we’d put it thru a meat grinder to use in the washing machine.

In their little spare time Mom would paint seascapes, landscapes etc. and Dad made model ships.  When he reached his late 60′s he took up needlepoint. When we were done on the room cleaning on weekends, Dad took us fishing. Those were wonderful times.  I have no idea where he found time to do that as he belonged to the Lion’s club, and was a member of the Youth Center Board, worked for the Red Cross etc.

Mom and I would play double solitaire when Dad was at a meeting.  Dad was also a black and white photographer as a hobby.  As Betty and I got older we learned how to run the business and then Mom and Dad were able to take a vacation.  We had a wonderful life there and treasure all of our memories. If I think of anything else I will let you know.

We may have missed being neighbors but we can always stay in touch.”

Mary Thurston

Her sister Betty adds

“Dad was also on the city council in the 50′s he was street commissioner and police commissioner, the shooting range at the police station is named after him. Mom was a wonderful artist, she was president of the Carmel Art Association at some point. My sister went off  to college right after high school, married and moved to New York over 40 years ago. She remembers things I don’t, and I remember things she doesn’t. “

 


Filed under: Carmel, Carmel Lodging Tagged: Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Clint Eastwood, cottage garden, cottages, Hugh Comstock, stone path

Cottages by the Sea – The Handmade Homes of Carmel

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When we first move to Carmel, I know very little about the history of the homes and cottages I walk by every day. But I do know that they enchant me. No two are alike and the variety and character of the homes attract my eye, my camera and my curiosity.

One day while browsing the books at The Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore, I spot a new book in the “local interest” section. It is a book by Linda Leigh Paul called 

“Cottages by the Sea”

The handmade homes of Carmel, America’s First Artist community”. 

I buy my copy and immediately I am knee-deep in a study of Carmel’s architecture. I use this book as a reference and try to find the 34 homes described within. My curiosity is no longer restricted by gates and walls and I adventure with Ms. Paul.

The book is widely available in your local bookstore or on Amazon. Cottages by the Sea, The Handmade Homes of Carmel, America’s First Artist Community

The book starts with the Carmel Mission

and explores the Spanish influence in Carmel homes. 

In 1900 Frank Devendorf and Frank Powers formed the Carmel Development Co.  They targeted school teachers with their first marketing pamphlets. They also enticed artists, poets, and actors and attracted “Bohmemians” who have defined much of Carmel’s character.

After the San Francisco earthquake,

photograph by Arnold Genthe

George Sterling,

 Jack London,

Mary Austin,

 and Arnold Genthe 

among others, settled in Carmel and built their homes. 

In 1919 poet Robinson Jeffers built Tor House with the help of M.J. Murphy and later he built Hawk Tower with his sons.

Ms. Paul has some wonderful interior photos. These are hard to come by . Interior photos are only allowed once a year during the Garden Party.

Carmel’s beautiful natural setting and bohemian atmosphere attracted many unconventional men and women and the homes reflect this .

Edward Kuster , Una Jeffers’ first husband, arrived and built his beautiful castle so close to theirs and of such similar stone that to this day a sign in the front yard directs tourists down the hill to Tor House.

Bark House was designed by the owner, Mary Cone , a talented amateur  designer and built by Lee Gottfried in 1922. Redwood bark from Big Sur forms the exterior. The interior shots by Radek Kurzaj show a refined interior of untreated redwood that glows in the natural light.

Hob Nob is a Tudor-style stucco, thought to have been designed and built by one of Carmel’s early craftsmen, Ernest Bixler.

Ms. Paul features four of Hugh Comstock’s cottages.

Hansel

Our House

Sunwiseturn.

And a tiny Cape Cod called “Edith’s House”

She shows M.J. Murphy’s masterpiece, Hasenyager House.

Gate House is one of my favorites shown in the book. It took me ages to find it and it’s origins are still somewhat mysterious.

I have often walked by Whitecaps and Nightcaps on Scenic Dr.  Built in the 1980’s, Whitecaps was built first and Nightcaps followed as a getaway for the children and grandchildren of the owners of Whitecaps.

image by Google Earth

Read about all the wonderful planning that went into Stone House built in 1990. The interior photos are stunning.

Placed last is the Charles S. Greene House and Studio built by the  Charles Greene of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The interior shows the attention to detail for which he is famous. Almost demolished, the home was saved by Charles’ children and repaired by his son Did.

Ms. Paul features 34 homes in this wonderful book.


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Carmel Cottage Tagged: architecture, Arnold Genthe, Bark House, book review, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Charles S. Greene, cottages, Ernest Bixler, fairytale cottages, Frank Devendorf, Frank Powers, Gate House, George Sterling, Hasenyager House, Hob Nob, Hugh Comstock, Jack London, Kuster-Meyer House, Lee Gottfried, Linda Leigh Paul, M.J. Murphy, Mary Austin, Mary Cone, Radek Kurzaj, Spanish influence, Sunwiseturn, Tor House, Whitecaps

HUGH COMSTOCK BUILDS A COUNTRY MANOR HOUSE ON CARMEL POINT

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I love photographing Carmel’s cottages and accumulate quite a collection . I take photos of a beautiful Manor House on Carmel Point and name it “Stately Manor” for lack of a name on the gate. I would love to know what lies behind the stone walls.

This week I find out. The home is featured in The Pine Cone and is for sale.

Oh my, it is one of Hugh Comstock’s creations. Hugh evolved with the times and built ranches and larger homes as well as his small fairytale cottages. 

Carmel Point is outside the one-square mile that is Carmel-by-the Sea and the building code is less strict enabling builders to build larger homes and gardens.

Hugh builds this 2,535 sq.ft. cottage in 1932 on a large lot just moments away from Carmel River Beach and Estuary.

Alain Pinel lists the home for $5,900,000 and provides wonderful photos of the home and the  gardens that surround it.

So lets step through the gate and tour the garden .

Wide gravel paths lined with boxwood give a nice structure and help direct us around the garden enclosed within tall stone walls. 

There is a well in the front garden.

A large stone table and chairs sit outside for al fresco dining. 

Vertical plantings “decorate” the wall.

The stone of the fireplace blends with the wall. A second table and chairs offer a delightful spot to warm oneself on a cool Carmel evening.

A series of focal points mark our walk. An arbor

and a large urn sit amidst colorful plantings.

The Dutch door opens to a home rich with color and detail. The sign “Chat de Guard” confirms my suspicion that Francophiles live here.

I love the warm colors and patterns of drapery, rugs, pillows and plates, lamp shades and books. 

The furniture clusters around huge fireplace.  The wood floors and ceiling cast a mellow glow.

The dining area sits between the living room and kitchen.

I LOVE color and this is a feast for the eyes.

Country French tiles surround the raised fireplace.

Even on a foggy day, red cabinets and yellow curtains will make the room cheerful. Light from the bay window with its window seat floods the room.

I try to take in all the art, copper, pottery and patterns. The cottage is furnished by someone talented enough to make bold choices. The feeling is definitely Country French.

The wood-paneled study looks out to the garden.

Richly carpeted stairs 

lead to amazing bedrooms and baths.

Wow. A copper bathtub.

The attention to detail continues to amaze me. The blue and white stripe in the painting is repeated in the bed pillow

And in the bath wallpaper. 

And the tile floor is exquisite.

I hate to leave.

Carmel $5,900,000 – Alain Pinel Realtors – Carmel-By-The-Sea …


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Alain Pinel Realtor, architecture, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, copper bathtub, cottage garden, country french, dutch door, fairytale cottages, FOR SALE, Hugh Comstock, manor house

PRESERVING CARMEL’S ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES

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For such a young community,  founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916, Carmel has a rich legacy of historic properties and works hard to preserve them. 

Much of the credit for this goes to the now deceased Enid Sales. 

Enid Sales

Enid was already a legend when we moved to Carmel in 1997 . It was a prosperous time and many who had “struck gold” in the dot-com bubble were eager to build a second home in lovely Carmel, just down Highway One.  Homes were being torn down right and left and expanded and remodeled for the new owners. 

Enid settled in Carmel in 1988, but fought most of her battles to preserve the remnants of Carmel’s architectural beauties and historic past during the last ten years of her life-  from 1998 -2008. 

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This quote from Roberta Miller sums it up ,“Enid was a woman of substance. An extraordinary woman. She cut a colorful swath. The first woman in the state to pass the test for a contractor’s license, a well-known preservationist and advocate, who helped characterize and shape the modern movement for historic preservation. Her career spanned more than 50 years. She was hard working, courageous, controversial, authentic, mysterious, independent, determined, resolute, tenacious, a cut above, a force to be reckoned with and never took her eye off the prize – the need to preserve the historic buildings of the past for future generations to enjoy and appreciate as part of their collective heritage.

The saying, ‘actions speak louder than words’, certainly applied to Enid Sales. In Carmel, Enid was known for her fierce advocacy for the preservation of arts and crafts cottages and her willingness to resort to lawsuits when all else failed. A warrior, ready to do battle and steadfast in her resolve.”

Sales was the first chairwoman of the city’s Historic Resources Board and undertook an analysis of what is historic in the city. 

I have no doubt that because of Enid’s battles, I am able to photograph many of the Comstock Cottages that I share with you.

And it is to the credit of the current owners of those Comstock treasures, that they are restoring the homes.

Abbey Baker Design Build helped the owners of The Comstock Home restore their home.

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Curtain Call would surly have been demolished if its owner, Stephanie Kirz , had not asked that is be considered as a historical resource.

Curtin Calls

When it passed all the requirements, she painstakingly restored it with the help of Abbey Baker Design Build.

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Dear little Hansel

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was carefully restored by his owners with the help of Brian Congleton.

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“Enid never had any problem telling people off if that’s what was needed to get it done. She told the city off; she told mayors off; she told me off,” said architect Brian Congleton , one of her friends. “She’d throw anyone necessary under the bus to get the job done.”

Roger and Kathy Sanger write “ We are the present owners of ‘Fables’. We bought it in 2010. It has had many owners over the years and was,regrettably, not well cared for.

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We decided to renovate it without changing its historical character as a cottage”. One of Fables former  owners was Apple CEO,John Sculley.

And so Fables has restored,original windows, new roof, updated electrical , plumbing, and floors.

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They continue, “ It is great to see so many Comstock owners restoring these treasures to their former glory. We appreciate the attention that people have paid to this part of Carmel history”.

Douglas Johnson writes of his Comstock home on Carmel Point, “Donna and I own this home and spent several years restoring it..”

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I blogged about this home in June 2011 after I discovered it was indeed a Comstock. I find in The Pine Cone that it is again for sale. What a wonderful restoration the Johnson’s did while keeping the exterior look the same with all the charm of the 1930’s home.

For the last blog, I snuck around the house taking pictures. This is certainly a more restful way to show you the house.

Even though I was not sure, this charm spoke of Hugh Comstock.

Now there is a 2 car garage with guest house above.

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Lets walk around the outside.

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I love the patio.

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Entering the house,

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the living room is to the left.

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The board and batten , beamed ceiling is lovely and look at the shape of the door openings.

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Kitchen

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Dining area

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Then down the hall to the east wing

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which has 2 bedrooms

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And a bath.

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The guest quarters also has 2 bedrooms

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Bath

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And kitchenette.

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Walk around the corner to Carmel River State Beach 

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And admire the view of Point Lobos.

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Asking price: $3,295,000

Double lot.

Offered by

Carmel Realty Company | Real Estate Properties | Property Listings


Filed under: Carmel, Carmel Real Estate for Sale, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Historic Preservation, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Abbey Baker Design Build, architecture, Brian Congleton, Carmel, Carmel Realty Co., Carmel-by-the Sea, Comstock Cottages, Curtain Call, Enid Sales, FABLES, fairytale cottages, FOR SALE, historic preservation, home tour, Hugh Comstock, Restoration, Stephanie Kirz, The Comstock on the Point

Garden Cottage

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This charming cottage and its garden catch my eye for the first time in August 2007.  I post this photo on Flickr and it rises to Explore Interesting.

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This spring I am doing some research on Carmel’s Historic Register of Homes and run across a photo of this rambling ,board-and batten, Western Ranch House named the F. A Collman House. 

It begins life in 1907 as a one-room beach house designed and built by John Galen Howard, then Dean of the School of Architecture at U.C. Berkeley. The Howard’s vacation in Carmel , first in a rental home, and later in a tent on this property. “When Howard went to France in 1918 with the Red Cross, the family remained in Carmel, turning the cottage into more suitable living quarters by adding a bedroom, dining room, kitchen and bathroom.”- Kent Seavey 

“By 1927 Clara Taft was the owner of the Howard cottage. Between 1926 and 1928 she had altered and made additions to the cottage, employing the services of Carmel’s most prominent women designer/builders, Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous. 

In 1936,  Mr. F.A.Collman, a new owner, hired Hugh Comstock to do extensive alterations to the building, bringing it into its current , rambling Western Ranch House configuration.

The only plans available for the house are those prepared by Hugh Comstock .” Kent Seavey

The garden looks better each time I walk by. I watch the lawn being mowed, shrubs trimmed and plants added.

Today I decide to go in and photograph. 

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The rambling nature of the cottage is already noticeable. 

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Window boxes are planted.

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The rose garden is in bloom.

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As are the rhododendron and azaleas.

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I stroll done the path. The spring foliage has already been tied up until it fades. What a conscientious gardener. 

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Rounding the corner , the cottage comes into view.

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The residents must spend all their time on this wonderful brick patio

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Just look at the view they have to the southeast. 

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The dutch-door is a cheery red.

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To the west of the door is a unique little bench 

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And more geranium planted window boxes.

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To the east is this tiered planter filled with potted succulents and cyclamen .

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The succulents love this wire basket.

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Looking toward the west side of the lot is a rose arch that beckons me.

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Small , fragrant roses are in bloom.

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Through the arch is a path to a service area.

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So I turn back around to get this great view.

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There is another path to the north of the cottage

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Leading to another small patio

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With this sweet vignette.

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You can call it “John Galen Howard” or “Clara Taft “or the “FA Collman Cottage”. I just call it charming. It is a great example of evolving design changes in Carmel’s residential architecture.


Filed under: Carmel, Carmel Gardens, cottage gardens, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: architecture, Carmel, Carmel Historic Registery of Homes, Carmel-by-the Sea, Clara Taft, cottage garden, cottages, Dene Denny, dutch door, F.A.Collman, fairytale cottages, Garden Cottage, gardens, Hazel Watrous, Hugh Comstock, Kent Seavey, patio, storybook homes

HUGH COMSTOCK”S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

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In 1927, Hugh Comstock builds Great Expectations. It is the first cottage he builds outside the City limits. I discover it by accident. 

One would think that in such a small town, any house would be easy to find again. However, when I walk, my head is constantly swiveling from side to side. So many cute cottages. 

I first spot this cottage in 2008 and snap this photo to post on Flickr. Everyone else love it too and it soars up to Explore-Interestingness where it gets more than 10,000 views.

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Of course I am delighted and when I start this blog, I try to find it again.

It is a lovely morning and I have stolen the car from my husband to go exploring WHEN I SEE IT AGAIN! Hooray.

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I have my cards and camera and so I step up to the gate

California poppies volunteer under the gate and

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Roses bloom on the arbor.

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The door bell rings as I enter.

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Up the stone path I head.

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I pass the garage ( totally darling)

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And approach the front door. There is the bird house I remember from years ago.

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I ring the door bell and a sweet-faced woman answers. She opens the top of the dutch door and I explain my blog.  She asks if I am aware that her home was built by Hugh Comstock!!! And it is named Great Expectations.

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This is the last cottage Jo Ann Mathewson mentions in her book “The Fairy Tale Cottages of Carmel”. She only says it is “out of town”.

“Out of town” is 4 or 5 blocks outside the limits of Carmel-by-the Sea. And now is not far out at all. 

When I tell her that we lost her house, she grins and replies, “We have been here all along”.

She and her husband moved from San Francisco and bought the cottage  -then 400 sq ft. They set about remodeling it to its current 3 bedroom , 2 bath, 1795 sq. Ft  And what a wonderful job they did keeping the character of the house. Although I do not know, I would bet Mr. Comstock did the remodel himself.

She is going to the Farmer’s Market , but gives me permission to take photos to share with you.

A small patio and the garage face me when I turn from the door. 

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I love this wren house and garage door.

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A simple table and chairs sit here

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And the fence behind it is full ornaments.

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I start back down the path , admiring the trellis on the side of the garage.

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I turn to the east on this garden path that forms the structure for the garden.

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A sundial anchors the round bed

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Another path leads to the west.

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A bunny quietly observes me.

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It is a charming view back toward the cottage.

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I am particularly fond of the yellow birdhouse in the small wheel barrow

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This area is enclosed by a fence

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I step outside the fence and find another path.

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The fence adds structure,disguises a service path and provides a place for bird and bird house to perch

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And for roses to climb

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Nasturtium bloom along the path.

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The owner has mentioned the many growing zones of Carmel. Her site is near the sea and she must deal with wind and salt air. Here Yarrow and California Poppy mingle

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With Santa Barbara daisy 

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wild geranium

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And lavender

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Time to say good-by to this Comstock Cottage. I am so glad I found it again!

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Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: architecture, California poppy, Carmel, Carmel Stone, cottage garden, door bell, dutch door, fairytale cottages, Great Expectations, Hugh Comstock, Jo Ann Mathewson, Orton Effect, stone path, storybook homes, sundial, whimsical garage

THE FAIRYTALE COTTAGES OF CARMEL- A SLIDESHOW

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After 20 years in Carmel, I am still enchanted by the architecture.
Hugh Comstock, inspired by the Fairytale Illustrations of Arthur Rackham, is credited with starting the Fairytale Cottage style in Carmel.

Why do we love this style so? It takes us back to the days when we were children and believed in “happily ever after”, “once upon a time”, magic, tiny cottages inhabited by elves, gnomes, fairies and  Fairy Godmothers who can wave a magic wand.

Recently one of you suggested that a slide show format would be fun to see for a change. ( Actually, she requested fewer words). So here goes.

Click on a song , if you would like a soundtrack. Then click on the first photo and let the show begin.

Hope you enjoy it.

Murphy Built Carmel Cottage Carmel Cottage Hugh Comstock's Great Expectations Reginald Markham House- On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes The Ann Winslow Home on Carmel's Register of Historic Homes Nelson-Krough Cottage built by Hugh Comstock- On Camel's Register of Historic Homes Carmel Cottage A Carmel Cottage on the Point built by Hugh Comstock La Vita Dolce Mariposa- On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Hob Nob- On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Jays Nest B by The Sea Curtin Call built by Hugh Comstock- On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Kuster Meyer House Edgemere-On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes The Condry Cottage Major Coote House built by Hugh Comstock Conrad Home-On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Sunwise Turn-On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Swiss Chalet Hasenyager House On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Dog's Breath Chez Jo Irish Rose Carmel Cottage Hearts and Flowers Carmel Cottage Sticks and Stones built by Perry Newberry- On the Carmel Historic Register of Homes Holly Oak Cottage Holly Oak Cottage Hugh Comstock's The Dolls House - On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Hugh Comstock's Honeymoon Cottage- On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Hugh Comstock's The Studio- On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Hugh Comstock's Gretel     On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Irish Rose I Live To Garden The Little Wooden house The little Blue House Maison Rusitque Sticks and Stones built by Perry Newberry- On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Hawk Tower- built by poet Robinson Jeffers-On The National Register of Historic Places Celia's House on Professor Row The Lincoln Inn Hugh Comstock's Hansel- On the Carmel Historic Register of Homes The Hugh Comstock Home - on the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Home is Where the Heart Is Greene and Greene-On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes And Then There Was Maud The Bark House-On the Carmel Register of Historic Homes Ocean's End Bayview Cottage Maid Marion Tickety Boo Carmel Cottage Twisted Oak Wallace HomeOn Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Biddlestone Garden Carmel Cottage Irish Eyes Kingscote Liberty House Maison d' Belle The Browne House- built by Hugh Comstock for his Father-in Law Primrose Cottage Suite Cherub Moongate Home Port Cypress House Cottage on the Point A Cottage of Roses Great Expectations- built by Hugh Comstock Greystone Cottage- On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes F.A. Collman Home On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Lighthouse Fairytale cottage Dormidera- The Abby McDowell House  On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Hob NobOn Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Jays Nest Cottage on the Point Kuster-Meyer House EdgemereOn Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Former office of Carmel Master Builder M.J. Murphy  On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes The Condry Cottage- built by M.J. Murphy The Condry Cottage- built by M.J. Murphy The Conrad Home built by home of noted Carmel builder Frederick Bigland.- On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Home of the Norwich Terrier Hugh Comstock's Curtin Calls  On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes The Twin on Palou- built by Hugh Comstock On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Swiss Chalet On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes 7th Heaven- Cypress Cottage The Birthday House built by Hugh Comstock  On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Irish Rose Lilacs and Laughter Gretel built by Hugh Comstock   On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes The Hugh Comstock Home- formerly Obers   On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Ocean's End Dog's Breath The Tuck Box built by Hugh Comstock   On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Friar Tuck Bluebird Starfish Cottage Windemere Tor House- home of Carmel Poet Robinson Jeffers  On the National Register of Historic Places Tinker Bell     On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Lincoln Inn The Twin on Palou built by Hugh Comstock  On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Snow Whites Summer Home- built by Hugh Comstock- now demolished Sleepy Hollow Rosebud Rose Cottage Cottage on the Point Pied-a-Terre The Hugh Comstock Home   On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Tenwinkle  - a M.J. Murphy built On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Marchen Haus built by Hugh Comstock  On Carmel's Historic Registrer of Homes Hasenyager House built by M.J. Murphy - On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Cottage on Carmel Point Hansel built by Hugh Comstock-On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Gate House Gate House Cottage on Scenic Enchanted for Us Dolores St. Cottage Daisy's Place - The Daisy Bostick House   On Carmel's Historic Register of Homes Chez Jo Casa de Suenos Biddlestone Cottage 5 Casnova St. Maison Rustique Lilliput
Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel Tagged: architecture, Arthur Rackham, Carmel, Carmel's Register of Historic Homes, Carmel-by-the Sea, cottages, fairy godmothers, Fairytale Cottage Slideshow, fairytale cottages, Hugh Comstock, M.J. Murphy, storybook homes

HUGH COMSTOCK’S THE JORDAN HOUSE – ON CARMEL’S HISTORIC REGISTER

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“By 1929 designer/builder Comstock was beginning to move away from his signature ‘fairy tale’ Tudor derived cottages, into a broader regionalist expression….

Sylvia Jordan was a school teacher who taught Spanish at the Sunset School in Carmel. She traveled to Mexico and Bolivia. She also attended the University of Madrid and held an M.A. In Spanish from the university in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.”  Kent Seavey

And so I set out to find this home that Hugh built for Sylvia Jordan. It is still in the original family.

After much driving around, I see MI ENCANTO. 

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I round the corner and park on the north side of this “one-story, wood-framed California Adobe vernacular residence…The exterior wall cladding is a combination of textured cement stucco and vertical board-and-batten”. Kent Seavey

It appears that the current owner Kevin Jordan, has installed a handsome tile roof. The original roof was shingled.

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I walk around toward the east side and admire the beautiful, wooded setting of this house. The sun filters through the thick stand of trees.

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The front features large, fixed multi-paned arched window

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I approach the front door on the flagstone path. Note the colorful name tiles mortared into the stone.

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I knock on the door and wait.

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The owners are quite gracious and tell me to look around and take all the photos I need too.

Comstock’s floor plan is simple. Large living room with fireplace, kitchen with dining nook and two bedrooms sharing a bath.

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This is the door to the studio to the south of the house.

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I resist the urge to obey a rock!

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Admire the cairn.

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And the bits of glass embedded in the rock wall.

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This is taken from a patio slightly below the house.

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I walk around the studio 

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The property is natural and rustic.

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Soon I am back in the car.

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“Comstock would be influenced in the early 1930’ s by the work of Wm. Wilson Wurster and go on to experiment with the California Ranch House style.”

Kent Seavey.


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: 1929, architecture, California Adobe, Carmel, Carmel Historic Registery of Homes, Carmel Stone, Carmel-by-the Sea, Comstock floorplan, Hugh Comstock, Kent Seavey, Mi Encanto, Sylvia Jordan Home, textured cement

HUGH COMSTOCK’S “THE ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG COTTAGE”

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Elizabeth Armstrong has been watching Hugh Comstock build homes and she likes what she sees. In 1928 , she asks him to build her a cottage. It will cost $1,900 and be 18 by 36 feet in size. She builds on a lot near his other homes  and names it “Our House”.

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“The Santa Fe frontage now masks much of the cottage behind mature shrubbery and trees.

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The garden is formal with trimmed hedges and planting beds traversed by Carmel stone walkways.” Kent Seavey 

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“Our House” has the distinction of being the only Comstock home to be replicated for a second client, Elspeth Rose whose “Sunwise Turn” cottage on Palou is commonly called the “TheTwin on Palou.”

“Both are irregular in plan and the exterior wall are textured stucco , over felt. 

There is a large, exterior gable wall chimney of Carmel stone centered in the east elevation .” Kent Seavey

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This is reinterpreted in Sunwise Turn.

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“Our House” sits on a narrow lot and opens to the north side.

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It is typical of many Comstock’s that they do not open on the street side. Elizabeth’s choices of lighting,

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shutters and window boxes are much more feminine in appearance than Elspeth’s.

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Each have a wide bank of windows on the entry side.

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The Armstrong house has only a narrow space in front 

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While “ the twin” sits on a pie shaped double lot and has room for a meandering path and cottage garden.

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I retrace my steps to see the south side of the cottage. I dearly love the pink stucco and green window boxes and shutters with heart cut-outs.

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The grape stake fence displays potted plants in a tangle of vines.

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A huge tree protects the house. 

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French doors with shutters open to the patio.

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“In 1940 , Hugh Comstock adds a guest house at the SW corner of the property and in 1958 a small addition to the rear of the original kitchen connects the main building to the guest house.” Kent Seavey

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I am now back around to the east street-facing window .

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Down the path

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Past a rustic bird house 

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And through the gate.

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This little cottage is part of the Comstock Historic District. This district has the highest concentration of Comstock’s homes during his most imaginative period between 1924 and 1929. 

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Filed under: Architecture, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: Carmel stone Fireplace, Comstock Historic District Map, elizabeth armstrong, Elizabeth F. Armstrong, Elspeth Rose, gable wall, grape stake fence, Hugh Comstock, Irregular, Kent Seavey, Our House, pink stucco, rustic birdhouse, shuttered french doors, Sunwise Turn, The Twin on Palou, Whimsical shutters

HUGH COMSTOCK’S NELSON-KROUGH COTTAGE

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I am wandering around the area where Hugh Comstock built several of his Post Adobe ranches when I turn and see this. 

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This has to be a Comstock. I approach the red gate as a neighbor walks by.

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I ask if she knows anything about the cottage. Nope.

She watches me for a while and I slink away.

Some time later, I see a listing in the Pine Cone. The little cottage is for sale.

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Image 3And it is a Comstock.

The listing shows a living room

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Bedroom

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And bath

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The little guest house out back appears to have a living room

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Kitchenette

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And bath

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The next time I am in Carmel, I make another visit. The For-Sale sign is in the front yard so I again approach the gate,

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Walk up the front walk

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Along the side of the house with it half-timbering, steeply pitched hipped roof

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And back to the guest house.

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Yup, there is a signature light fixture

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And tall Chimney

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Hinges

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And narrow window

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Kent Seavey provides more information. 

At this time (1926) well-to-do visitors were building vacation homes in Carmel. And this home could well fit into this category.

The design is Tudor Revival.

The little cottage has the distinction of an addition by Lee Gottfied in 1929

And an interior remodel by George Mark Whitcomb in 1947.

So three of Carmel’s master builders worked on this house.

I am back again and revisit. The cottage is sold and new signs of life are clear.

Handsome chairs in the front yard

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Trees are protected

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The back yard now has a brick patio and arbor

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And the ledge on the studio 

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Has pots waiting to be planted.

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This gentleman leans against the side of the studio clearly surprised by the changes taking place. 

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It will be fun to watch.


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Hugh Comstock Carmel Cottages Tagged: architecture, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Comstock, fairytale cottages, George Mark Whitcomb, Hugh Comstock, Kent Seavey, Lee Gottfied, Nelson-Krough, storybook homes, Tudor Revival

HOW DOES CARMEL MEASURE ON THE “LIVABILITY SCALE”?

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The longer we are in Carmel, the more I compare its “livability” with that of my Kansas City suburb a product of urban sprawl. 

It is a beautiful neighborhood – treed lots, large homes, and a “gated community”.  There are planned neighborhood functions, but often I can go a whole day and only see the movement of mail, Fed-Ex, and UPS trucks from my office window. What a sad commentary. 

I am close to shopping, dining, movie theaters, and a bike path, so my suburb is more “livable” than many. But it is a car culture. 

Although Carmel is our second home and we are not there for long periods of time, I have far more face to face interactions in this village and find daily life more pleasurable. 

Curious as to what makes a town “livable”, I read an article published by The American Institute of Architects called “Livability 101”. Livability 101 – American Institute of Architects. I was fascinated.

This is not an article on “Standard of Living”. Livability is “directly correlated with happiness or with a sense that life is meaningful …..and that there is much to celebrate in the human and physical world around us.”

What makes Carmel-by-the Sea so special? 

The Institute found that a 

Sense of Place

Mixed use development

Pedestrian Scale

and Public Gathering places

all had an important role. Over the next month I will see how Carmel stacks up on these criteria. 

 A Sense of Place

We all have mental pictures of towns. When I say San Francisco and Los Angeles, I suspect we see entirely different mental pictures.

Try Denver, or New York City. Each has its own sense of place.

Carmel is keenly aware of its distinct character defined in part by its rich topography and in part by its architecture.

“Every city is an extension of the natural landscape upon which it is sited.” AIA

The Santa Lucia Mountains, 

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Carmel Valley, Carmel river, the Pacific Ocean, 

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the temperate climate 

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and unique flora 

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and fauna

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Slate colored Fox Sparrow

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have attracted a variety of peoples.. 

There are white sand beaches 

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and the incredible coastline of Big Sur. 

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The hills forested with pine, cypress, redwood and live oak.  

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Carmel was once isolated and quiet. It was a retreat from city life with its hustle and bustle. It sits on a hillside that slopes to the Pacific Ocean. When the first tents,then cabins and homes were built,they clambered down the hill and tucked into the trees. 

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There are few other spots that combine these topographical features and temperate climate It has a distinct sense of place.

Historic preservation has proven to be one of the best tool to preserve a village’s sense of place. 

Carmel is blessed with unique architecture and people who are willing to preserve it.

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Enid Sales

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 Early architects such as Lee Gottfried,

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Hugh Comstock 

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 Greene and Greene,

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Charles-Sumner-Greene

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and Michael J. Murphy left a rich legacy.

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Next week I will take a look at mixed use development.


Filed under: Carmel Tagged: American Institute of Architects, architecture, Barbara Livingston, Carmel, Carmel-by-the Sea, Enid Sales, flora, Hugh Comstock, Lee Gottfred, Michael J. Murphy, natural landscape, Pacific Ocean, Santa Lucia Mountains, sense of place

BOOKS ABOUT CARMEL

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I collect books about Carmel. I find them at garage sales, on e-Bay, Amazon, Google Play, Biblio.com ,and even the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Store, Here is an alphabetical list of my favorites..

Two books from the Images of America Series :

“Carmel A History in Architecture” by Kent Seavey

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A pictorial history of how Carmel’s architectural character was formed. Kent does the reviews on Carmel’s Historical properties.

“Carmel By-The -Sea” by Monica Hudson

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Monica is a long – time resident of Carmel. I had the pleasure of taking her walking tour. We chatted about her extensive research for this book and her sense of responsibility to “get it right”.

“Carmel A Timeless Place” by Steve Shapiro

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Photos and text by a Carmel Photographer

“Carmel~ By ~The~ Sea, The Early Years” (1903-1913)

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by Alissandra Dramov is my latest discovery. It was published in December of 2013.

I have just started reading but already appreciate the scholarship behind this very readable book.  The author is a native Californian , journalist, producer and writer. 

She is currently writing “Carmel-by-the- Sea, The Growth Years” (1913-1943)

“Carmel’s Fairy Tale Cottages” by Mike Barton

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He captures the essence of Carmel in hundreds of photographs and text.

All of the above books can be found easily in Carmel stores.

“Carmel Today And Yesterday” by Daisy Bostick

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Daisy was a high school teacher who first came to Carmel in 1910. She was an early manager of the Pine Inn.

She is best remembered for her writing and publication of “Carmel at Work and Play”, w/ Dorthea Castelhun

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in 1925. Carmelites owe her much, for she was either at the scene of or a part of much of what was going on, and took the time to make notes about it all.

“Cottages by the Sea- The Handmade Homes of Carmel,America’s First Artist Community” by Linda Leigh Paul.

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This book will give you an exclusive look into 34 of Carmel’s private homes. 

“Creating Carmel-The Enduring Vision by Harold and Ann Gilliam

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My number one choice for a comprehensive view of how Carmel came to be and how Carmelites try to keep that spirit alive. 

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I love the inscription on my used copy.

Available on Amazon

“Curious Customs Of Carmel” by El Frieda Liese

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Don’t miss this small paperback with its funny drawings and examination of many curious customs of Carmel.

“Mamita’s House – A True Tale of Tortilla Flat”

as told my Lois Robin

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A fascinating story of life in Mamita’s House still at Monterey and 2nd in Carmel.

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Kathyrn Gaultieri has written a murder mystery. “Murder In The Pines”, and if you have read “Carmel at Work and Play” you can easily imagine on whom her fictional characters are based 

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.http://www.carmel.com/app/redir.php?eventId=1321882&res=a4f46f11018809952dde942659aebdfe

“Of Una Jeffers- a Memoir”by Edith Greenan

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Wonderfully readable. It not only portrays Una but also the Carmel of her time. Edith was a friend of Una.

“Secret History of Carmel” by John Thompson

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John is a writer and artist who conducted interviews with older Carmelites to find out the “secret” knowledge. I bought it on Amazon and enjoyed it.

“Tales from the Taxicab and Other Stories from 

Carmel-by-the-Sea” by Sam Colburn

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Sam is a watercolorist, golfer, taxi driver, taxi dispatcher, and an Honorary Life Member of the Carmel Art Association. The book is a series of vignettes and sketches.

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“The Fairy Tale Houses of Carmel” by Joanne Mathewson

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Drawings and text about Hugh Comstock’s Cottages. Some of it true and some imagined by the author.

Stephanie Ager Kirz is the editor of the 2nd edition of her book. This book can be ordered on-line from the Carmel Heritage Society Shop.

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http://www.carmelheritage.org/shoppinig.html

“The Seacoast of Bohemia” by Franklin Walker

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Tells about the tradition and lore of the early days of Bohemian Carmel. My favorite time in Carmel’s history.

http://www.amazon.com/Seacoast-Bohemia-Franklin-Dickerson-Walker/dp/087905008X/ref=sr_1_1?&sr=1-1&keys=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391448927words=the+seacoast+of+bohemia

And then there are all the books that set in Carmel. I enjoy going to The Pilgrams Way book store in Carmel and buying the Elaine Flinn murder mysteries

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or “The Bohemian Murders” by Dianne Day.

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There is even a children’s book “It’s a King’s Life in Carmel-by-the-Sea” by Emily Randolph and Dan Merchant. 

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This excerpt gives you an idea of the tone of this happy little book with great illustrations.

“Follow your nose! Life is an adventure!” So says Sadie, the Cypress Inn’s doggie concierge to Happy and Lady (two Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cavaliers) when they arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Life-Carmel-Sea-Volume/dp/1480245895

For more novels set in Carmel see the Harrison Memorial Library List.

http://www.hm-lib.org/reference/carmelnovels.php

They also have a list of Carmel area Authors such as James Elroy, Jane Smiley, and Jack London to name a few.

http://www.hm-lib.org/reference/carmelauthors.php

I’m sure there are many I have missed. If you have found a good book about Carmel please add the Title and Author in your comment. 

“Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book.” 

― Jane Smiley, Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel


Filed under: Carmel Tagged: Alissandra Dramov, Carmel, Carmel A History in Architecture, Carmel at Work and Play, Carmel By-The -SeaCarmel A Timeless Place, Carmel Today And Yesterday, Carmel-by-the Sea, Carmel-by-the-Sea The Early Years, Carmel’s Fairy Tale Cottages, Cottages by the Sea, Creating Carmel-The Enduring Vision, Curious Customs Of Carmel, Daisy Bostick, Dan Merchant, Dealing In Murder, Dianne Day, Edith Greenan, El Frieda Liese, Elaine Flinn, Emily Randolph, Franklin Walker, Harold and Ann Gilliam, Harrison Memorial Library, Hugh Comstock, It’s a King’s Life in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Jane Smiley, Joanne Mathewson, John Thompson, Kathyrn Gaultieri, Kent Seavey, Linda Leigh Paul, Lois Robin, Mamita’s House - A True Tale of Tortilla Flat, Mike Barton, Monica Hudson, Of Una Jeffers- a Memoir, Sam Colburn, Secret History of Carmel, Stephanie Ager Kirz, Steve Shapiro, Tales from the Taxicab and Other Stories from Carmel-by-the-Sea, The Bohemian Murders, The Early Years” (1903-1913), The Fairy Tale Houses of Carmel, The Seacoast of Bohemia

THE STORY OF “TALES FROM CARMEL”

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I started writing “Tales From Carmel” in January  2011.  I wanted to know the history and stories of this place I have come to love. 

I wrote of  Carmel’s curious customs,

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its unique courtyards, 

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shops 

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and restaurants. 

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I wrote about its stunning cottage gardens,

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architecture

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and exquisite setting. 

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But what I loved the most was that I had an excuse to engage Carmelites in conversation. They were enormously generous with stories and tours of what they had created and held dear .

238 posts later, I find myself with little to add that is of significance. I am ready to take on a new challenge, one discovered by my experiences while writing this blog and while growing older. 

We are all aware, to some degree, that our lives are a story, parts of which we wish we could put in writing to live on after we die. As we experience the dying process of someone we love, we may hear stories that we have not heard before. We see sides of them we have not seen before. Their stories become a precious gift.

As Gail Lumet Buckley says “Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.”

Hospice helped both my Mother and Father die in the way they wished. I have looked for something I can give back and finally found something. 

Crossroads Hospice in Kansas City 

life journalshttp://www.crossroadshospice.com/default.aspx#

has started using volunteers to help patients create life journals to leave as legacies for family members . The Journals focus on heritage, special memories and  life treasures. They contain family photos, favorite recipes, memories , bits of advice and a place for the family to write their own memories. 

I have just started on this project, but you know how  I like to tell a story.

Thanks for reading and commenting on the blog. It has really been a joy.  

If you are new to the blog please take a look at the post of which I am most proud

Hugh Comstock’s Fairytale Cottages By The Sea

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2011/04/06/hugh-comstocks-fairytale-cottages-by-the-sea/

Carmel’s First Courtyard- The Court of the Golden Bough

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2011/06/12/carmels-first-courtyard-the-court-of-the-golden-bough/

What The Heck Is a Fairytale Cottage, Anyway?

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2011/07/06/what-the-heck-is-a-fairytale-cottage-anyway/

I  Am Invited To Tour Biddlestone Cottage and Garden

http://talesfromcarmel.com/2011/09/09/i-am-invited-to-tour-biddlestone-cottage-and-garden/

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Maintaining The Essence Of Carmel

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2012/06/30/maintaining-the-essence-of-carmel/

Carmel-By-the Sea’s Best-Kept Secret

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2012/07/26/carmel-by-the-seas-best-kept-secret%e2%80%a8/

Carmel’s Golden Hour

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2013/01/04/carmels-golden-hour/

“On Little Cat Feet”

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2013/08/07/on-little-cat-feet/

HOW DOES CARMEL MEASURE ON THE “LIVABILITY 

SCALE”?

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http://talesfromcarmel.com/2014/01/14/how-does-carmel-measure-on-the-livability-scale/

I will not be posting every week as I have been but will post from time to time as I find things I want to share. Until then, be well, be happy.


Filed under: Architecture, Carmel, Carmel Cottage Gardens, Carmel Courtyards, Carmel Customs, Carmel Restaurants, Fairytale Cottages in Carmel, Fog Tagged: architecture, Carmel Beach, Carmel Courtyards, Carmel-by-the Sea, cottage garden, Court of the Golden Bough, Crossroads Hospice, fairytale cottages, farewell, good by for now, Hugh Comstock, life journals, so long, thanks for the memories
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