Tempting Triplex!
This is no ordinary Triplex!
Come on...
Let me show you what I mean.
I've long admired this property owned by a lovely woman named Alice.
I like to call her the "Sister Parish" of Alameda.
She's our local Grand Dame of Design.
Completely "Old School".
I used to visit her in her shop and spend hours listening to her stories.
I've never met anyone like her.
Through the years she has taught me many important lessons and design tenets.
She lived here for as long as I can remember...
These are photos of the first floor apartment she occupied.
She has Alzheimer's and has closed her interior design business and shop and moved into a care facility.
Her home has been lightly staged and put up for sale.
I saw it, in all it's glory, many many years ago when my husband and I first moved to Alameda.
We responded to an ad to rent the top unit which is the turret.
It was like a scene out of a movie...
meeting this very tall & glamorous, erudite woman who beckoned us inside her visually stunning world.
This is the second floor apartment.
We were instantly transported to another world...
We had never seen anything like it or her before and could not believe our luck!
Unfortunately we could not afford the rent she was asking and ended up living with my Mom for a few months until we could afford our own place.
We never saw this apartment which I can now say is my favorite!
Check out the wall treatment.
It's navy blue flannel!
I remember her telling me about it.
She had the most exquisite taste!
I recall many times when I'd visit her shop and inquire about the price of something...
she would pretend like she didn't hear me.
She knew I probably couldn't afford it anyway.
Just being in her presence surrounded by her fabulous treasures and her endless stories had a profound effect on me.
I am sad that she is coming to the end of her life,
though grateful to have known her.
I will always be eternally grateful for the time spent sitting with her soaking in her amazing talent and gifts.
My own beautiful Grandmother used to quote a phrase in her native tongue...
"that if you don't have an older, wiser person to go to, then rent one".
Well, Alice was that older, wiser person in matters of interior design, that I was blessed to "rent" over the years.
The Turret Apartment
She came to my house twice,
and on both occasions,
educated me and opened my eyes to principles that were essential to eventually getting the home of my dreams!
Isn't this apartment right out of a movie?
We still wax poetic about what it would have been like to live here.
Comments
P.S. Thanks for your note today :)
Susan
pve
I am sure you will miss your friend! and it seems others will to with her wealth of design information.
Thank you for sharing your friend with us, and your dream.
xoxo
Dore
xo
Megan
kerry