Most of my posts are about Carmel-by-the-Sea, one square mile area of Carmel. Initially a small artist’s community with cute small “Hansel and Gretel” type cottages, today the quaint little town of Carmel-by-the-Sea houses more vacation homes than year round residences. Our cottage is in this neighborhood.
Carmel Woods is a larger geographic area than Carmel-by-the-Sea with many homes priced lower than its counterpart. It borders Carmel-by-the-Sea and has more full-time residents. This area has many cute Carmel cottages but is father away from the beach.
Mission Fields is Carmel’s entry level neighborhood. Located just off of HWY 1 and Rio Road it is just a hop, skip and jump from the Carmel Mission and the Crossroads Shopping Center. Mission Fields backs up to the Carmel River on one side and up to the local little league field to the other. Just across the street is Mission Trails, a great place to walk your dog or take a hike.
Carmel Point is a wonderful area located between Carmel beach and Carmel River Beach. Generally these are large homes on larger sized lots of land. This area is within walking distance of the beach and the Carmel Mission .
Some of the properties here have breathtaking views of Pebble Beach’s Stillwater Cove, Point Lobos, Carmel Bay and the Fish Ranch.
In this blog I feature a home located in Hatton Fields, an area of Carmel with many full-time residences. Located right off Highway One near Carmel High School, Upper Hatton Fields has large “estate” style homes generally on large lots. Lower Hatton Fields is an area with many young families.
The Spanish colonial home at 25500 Shafter Way sits on a large, beautifully landscaped lot behind iron gates.
The home is a U shape built around a patio.
The living room with its arched windows and rustic ceiling beams opens to the patio.
The kitchen, family room and eating space are open.
I love the way the tile floor, vaulted natural wood ceiling and the decorative tile repeat around the fireplace and the stove hood help unite the space.
One master suite opens to a balcony that overlooks the garden.
The main house has 2 more bedrooms
One of which is an office.
The guest “Casita” looks comfortable.
Step off the patio
And enjoy the extensively landscaped property.
The Heinrich Team of Coldwell Bankers lists this home for $3,250,000.
Stonehouse Terrace is on San Carlos between 7th and 8th streets. I often walk by on my way to Ocean Ave.
It is a pleasant blend of specialty shops and romantic indoor – outdoor dining, integrated around a charming Carmel stone cottage ( once the Reimer family home)and has been family owned since 1935.
The south side of the courtyard is anchored by Wittpenn’s Antiques (click this link for my blog post on Wittpenn’s http://wp.me/p1h6EG-1zA).
Bill and I love to shop here. Chip has treasures and he knows the history of each piece.
Step up the stairs that divide the Terrace to
La Dolce Vita Restaurant, Carmel-b-the-sea, CA 93921
La Dolce Vita has a cozy dining room
and rooftop patio seating,
a romantic and charming atmosphere to enjoy Italian and Mediterranean food.
It is great fun to sit up here in the evening under the heat lamps and watch the action below on the street.
Their specialty is authentic Italian country cooking using recipes that have been passed down from generations of the Melendez family.
The salmon
Caprese salad
And ravioli
Are a favorites of mine
UPDATE: I am informed that La Dolce Vita has moved across the street from the Post Office. !!
The Pasta Palate Fresh Pasta Factory sits at the top of the stairs
The owner is very friendly and the atmosphere warm and cheerful.
This awesome little pasta factory sells frozen ravioli (delicious flavors) to the public as well as to several local restaurants. Try the Butternut Squash ravioli for a real treat.
Nancy’s Hair Design,
Flipside Design, Inc.
Flipside Design provides design and strategy services for all of your product development and package needs, trademark design for brand image and package prototyping and injection mold design and tooling of product components for presentations, focus groups and patents.
Nancy Callahan, CPA, CFP
Accounting/Auditing/Bookkeeping
And the Law Offices of Michael Lykkenare also on this level.
On the north side of the Courtyard is
Eco Carmel Home page
Kristi Reimer opens her “green general store” in the building that was once her grandparents’ home.
She is a powerhouse and a fount of information on all things green.
She educates herself about green issues and spends eight months researching what items to carry in her store.
Paint is a fifth of her business, whose one employee is Richard Phillips, who mixes paints.
For interior and exterior jobs, she carries Mythic Paint, which she says is the world’s first high-performance, zero-toxin, zero-volatile organic compound paint. She also carries products from The Real Milk Paint Company for furniture and Clay Paint.
I find the paint, baby clothes, pet accessories, children’s school and art supplies,
electric kitchen composters, railroad tie benches, recycled glassware
a gizmo that measures the electric output of all lamps and electric appliances,wondrous table and floor lamps mattresses and bed linens, household cleaning products, skin products and much more.
I shop in this store with my eco-conscious daughter when I remodel. I am looking for kitchen counters. Kristi suggests paper countertops and I innocently ask if I can clean those with Windex. Across the store, my daughter grins while a look of horror comes over Kristi’s face. She suggests I use soap and water and it is only then that I realize my “faux pas“. I, like the cast of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, still believe that Windex can do it all.
When we leave the store I feel “sheepish”and my daughter is snickering quietly. I have a long way to go before I am “green”.
Located at Mission and Ocean, Carmel Plaza is Carmel’s own version of a shopping mall. I know. You are thinking, “A MALL, how could this be allowed in CARMEL, the mecca of small, one-of-a- kind boutiques.”
BUT, as in all things Carmel, this “mall” has a unique flavor. Three levels of shops surround this lovely plaza
with its lush plantings
and comfortable seating,
outdoor dining and live music.
The Plaza is pet-friendly.
Social canines can gather at the Fountain of Woof,
the nation’s first official doggie drinking fountain. The fountain, created by “pupular demand” is a dogs-only drinking fountain.
They then hangout in the courtyard of the town’s open-air shopping mall. In fact this seems to have become the place to congregate after the morning romp on the beach.
Owners enjoy a hot cup of “JOE” from Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar
and the dogs have a field day.
Most shops have an open-door policy for pets, and give plenty to keep them satisfied, from free treats to the snazzy striped pupwear and organic biscuits.
I recently toured the plaza with my camera to record the current shops. Most shop keepers were kind enough to allow at least a camera shot from outside the door.
Shops & Restaurants:
Al Bacio Shoes
An elegant shoe boutique offering an array of beautiful stylish shoes & purses from many international award-winning Italian & European Designers
Anthropologie
Dedicated to providing women clothing, jewelry, and home objects that inspire the imagination. Ocean Avenue Level
These people are “uber”creative.
(831) 624-2129
Anubee skip intro – Anubee
Anubee features toys, games, and children’s wear. Designer baby & children’s clothing and related accessories, shoes, baby & children’s furniture, baby & children’s toys, baby & children’s gift accessories.
(831)626-1070 Courtyard Level
Bistro Beaujolais on the Plaza
Carmel Plaza Brassiere is a first-class, full service, sit-down, upscale cafe and bistro featuring high-quality menu offerings and other food for on-site and off-site consumption
Courtyard Level
This group really performed for my camera. A fun spot with live music in the evenings.
Home – Blue Lemon
Blue Lemon is Carmel’s authority on all things jewelry. They carry a wide range of jewels, rings and accessories and everything is made in the USA
Bottega Veneta
Men’s and women’s high-end fashion and accessories.
(83)1) 622-0518
Ocean Avenue Level
Carmel Coffee & Cocoa Bar
Carmel Coffee & Cocoa Bar is a quaint coffee shop in Carmel Plaza, offering a variety of coffees, teas, hot drinks, pastries, Panini sandwiches, and more!
(831) 622-0660
Courtyard Level
Carmel Plaza Concierge Center
Please call Carmel Plaza’s Concierge Center for any assistance; located on the Ocean Avenue level next to
Chartreuse
The clothes in this store are all handmade with love by the delightful French owner Dorothy.
Cole Haan
Featuring high-quality men’s and women’s footwear, iconic handbags, personal leather goods and hand-tailored coats.
(831) 624-2650
Ocean Avenue Level
Cos Bar
This upscale cosmetics boutique has something for everyone! Known for their exquisite, hard-to-find makeup and skin care lines, you’ll also find an amazing choice of designer fragrances and much more!
(831) 626-6249
Ocean Avenue Level
Flying Fish Grill
Chef/owner Kenny Fukumoto creates a menu featuring fish prepared in a California-Japanese style and served in a charming, cozy ambience. Recommended by Bon Apetit and Frommer’s Guide. Located on the Courtyard Level at the Mission Street entrance.
(831) 625-1962
Courtyard Level
Wonderful food. I recommend reservations.
Georgiou
Specializing in women’s sophisticated suits, contemporary lifestyle clothing and elegant special occasion attire.
(831) 625-5600
Ocean Avenue Level
Homescapes Carmel — Traveling The World, So You Don’t Have To …
Offers a unique choice of one of a kind imported furniture, accessories, gift items, orchids and local art work.
Hidesign
Specialty leather apparel and accessories.
(831) 624-7100
Ocean Avenue Level
ILORI
A high-end, luxury sunglass store, featuring high-end fashion sunglasses. Brands to include Burberry, Chanel, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Oakley, Prada, Versace, and many more.
(831)624-3976
Ocean Avenue Level
Impressions: Fine & Fashion Jewelry
Impressions carries gold, silver, diamonds, and chic, modern, clunky fashion jewelry. This is a certified jeweler and does jewelry repairs.
(831)620-0312
Ocean Avenue Level
J. Crew-by-the-sea
A specialty J. Crew store, featuring high-end women’s clothing. Offering a wider selection of cashmere, leather, and other fine products including formal wear. An iconic American brand known worldwide for its sophisticated, fun clothing and accessories to live, work, play and even get married in.
(831) 624-2803
Ocean Avenue Level
J. Lawrence Khaki’s Mens Clothier of Carmel
Khaki’s of Carmel is a quality men’s clothing store. Offering the best in men’s clothing, sportswear, furnishings, tailored clothing. This shop is one of my husband’s favorites and the sales people are wonderful.
kate spade official site – katespade.com
Ocean Ave. Level
Rather new to the Plaza. I was almost knocked down by two shoppers literally running to get in the door!
Janie & Jack – Carmel, CA
Janie and Jack offers classic children’s clothing rich in fabric, design and detail for layette up to 8
Louis Vuitton
Luxury French fashion and leather goods including luggage, handbags and fine accessories.
(831)622-7400
Ocean Avenue Level
Madrigal
Contemporary classics – Men’s and women’s apparel.
(831) 624-3477
Courtyard Level
Mark Fenwick
Sophisticated styles for the modern woman.
(831) 624-117
Ms. Fabulous
A contemporary women’s boutique offering quality brands, including Veronica M., See Thru Soul, Miss Me, Kersh, and more!
(831)625-0920
Courtyard Level
Optical Shop of ASPEN Boutique | Carmel Plaza
Parts Unknown
Casual contemporary clothing. Lines include Tommy Bahama, Brighton, Reny and Scully.
(831) 626-6323
Ocean Avenue Level
Patisserie Boissiere Restaurants Carmel, CA
Patisserie Boissiere Restaurant
French European Restaurant and Bakery. Lunch daily from 11:30 until 4:30. Dinner Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 5:30.
(831) 624-5008
Courtyard Level
A huge favorite of ours. We love to sit in front of the fire and enjoy their Chicken Pot Pie on a chilly Carmel evening.
Pejmani of Belgium – Carmel Plaza, 225-A Carmel, CA 93921
As a manufacturer of diamonds from Antwerp, Belgium, all our pieces are uniquely designed in Belgium & Italy, creating some of the finest jewelry in the world.
Sur La Table
The best place for cooks to shop for premium-quality culinary tools.
(831) 626-6433
Courtyard Level
My “go to” place for any pan or cooking utensil I might need.
Sylvie Unique Boutique
Specialty, European women’s fashions and accessories.
(831) 620-0980
Courtyard Level
The Cheese Shop
Open Mon-Sat 10-6PM Sun 11-5PM. Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. 831.620.1909
A gourmet lover’s “mecca” cheeses, coffees, wines and gourmet food products from around the world – since 1975 !
(831) 625-2272
Courtyard Level
The Dutches
Unique and different: leathers, suede, beautiful hats, coats, shirts, blouses, pants, purses & jewelry by Maya. Clothing for the stylish woman.
Tiffany & Co.
The world’s premier jeweler and America’s house of design since 1837.
Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama in Carmel Plaza carries the complete collection of upscale men’s and women’s sportswear, swimwear, footwear, accessories, and home decor items.
Wrath Wines
Tasting Room: Carmel Plaza, lower level
Carmel Tasting Room
Open Mon-Sat 10-6PM Sun 11-5PM. Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. 831.620.1909
In Carmel, buy a bottle of Wrath and pop next door to the Cheese Shop for appetizer.
Yves Delorme, Paris | Carmel Plaza
Fine linens for Bed and Bath
Whew! That’s the tour. As you see, Carmel Plaza has lots to offer.
“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.”
― Jo Walton
Carmel enjoys glorious sunsets. The last hour of sunlight each day is a “ golden” or “magic” hour.
As the new moon rises in the sky
We make our way to the beach
Where others gather.
“I love to be here at the beach to watch the sunset – the greatest performance of Nature. Like in a theater, but it’s free.”
Gina De Gorna
Seagulls pay homage to the setting sun.
People make their way to benches overlooking the ocean.
A lone musician with a guitar softly strums a lullaby for the sleepy sun.
Down on the beach picnics finish
Dogs walk their owners
While the sky turns molten
And the sand becomes copper jewels
“It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.”–Bern Williams
If I were in the Frank Lloyd Wright house,
I would be at the windows in a front row seat.
If my cottage balcony sat high above other homes,
I would watch and sip a glass of wine.
It is no wonder that poets wax rhapsodic about this daily event.
“Softly the evening came /with the sunset/.” –
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Or” Give me the splendid silent sun /at sunset/.”
Walt Whitman
“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!”
― C. JoyBell C.
And so good night!
If you have visited Carmel, I suspect you have admired the building built around this courtyard. It is often photographed as an example of fairytale architecture.
With its warm golden stucco, brick, stone, unusual window boxes.
Statue filled niches,
Rolled shingle roof,
Half-timbering and unusual windows
It is a lovely sight.
Especially in the fall when the Virginia Creeper starts to turn colors.
It is hard to believe that this corner was once the site of this Union 76 Service Station
and is sorely missed by the Village when in 1973 ,Craig T. McFarland develops the corner into retail stores and apartments.
From my reading at City Hall, I think it was then called Cottage Row.
As usual, The City of Carmel, pays close attention to every detail of the project.
Work stops when it is noted that these bay and bow windows which project into public property had not received the required approval.
Even the design of the sign brackets require approval.
The building houses many businesses such as
Simic New Renaissance Galleries Fine Art Galleries Carmel California
Kerry Lee Remarkable Jewelry – Carmel, CA
Where the owner has been making jewelry since his high school days. He has owned this shop since 1974, making him the longest operating jewelry designer in the area.
I love to window shop in Augustina Leathers. I get high on the smell of leather wafting out the door and drool over the purses in the window.
This is a one-of-a-kind boutique.
AUGUSTINA LEATHERS :: Largest representation of Paula Lishman …
Art Galleries are also represented by classic Art Gallery
And http://www.jones-terwilliger-galleries.com/
The sign for Serena Court appears over what seems to be a dead-end landing at the top the stairs.
I am dubious and so backtrack to Intero Real Estate
Welcome to Intero Real Estate Services – Carmel, CA
where I ask if this is Serena Court. A puzzled secretary says she has never heard of it.
I persevere up the stairs holding a gorgeous wrought iron railing.
As I turn to the left a narrow corridor appears.
Small shops and apartments open along it.
Flowers lead me on and
THERE IT IS!
Serena Court – truly a hidden courtyard.
Jones and Terwillager and
The Classic Art Gallery open to this pleasant space with patio furniture, brick floor, plantings and art.
Whirligigs are featured today
And the door is open.
The last time I came, Japanese lanterns decorated this space.
It was cool February day and the doors closed- showing off the bucolic scene behind the glass panes.
Serena Court is on the NW Corner of San Carlos and 6th Street, just one block north of Ocean Ave.
Carmel Point is a small peninsula at the edge of Carmel Bay between the City of Carmel and Carmel River State Beach.
When Carmel-By-the Sea is incorporated, this area is
“Unbroken field of poppy and lupin walled with clean cliffs;
No intrusion but two or three horses pasturing,
Or a few milch cows rubbing their flanks on the outcrop rock-heads—” to quote a poem by Robinson Jeffers.
Jeffers built his own home ,Tor House,on the Point .
Later in his life he is forced to sell a large part of the Point for financial reasons and never really recovers when his “beautiful place(is) defaced with a crop of suburban houses—” Jeffers.
Located outside of Carmel-by-the Sea, it is not governed by the lot and home size-restrictions imposed by the City. So many of the larger homes I share with you are on the Point and blessed with lovely views
As is Bay Cottage.
It looks like the proverbial “rose covered cottage” and has a place in my childhood dreams of what a cottage should look like.
So let’s walk up the nicely landscaped stone path to the front door.
And into the foyer.
A cozy parlor is to the left of the front of the house.
The French doors in this room opens to one of the patios.
The cottage has an open floor plan. The right-wing consists of the living room with rustic plank wood floors and a slate brick wood burning fireplace
Where large window share the view,
The dining room,
And the kitchen with its beautiful rustic cabinetry,
and breakfast bar.
Views everywhere.
The center hall
leads to the left-wing consisting of three bedrooms and three baths that open off this small foyer
With its unique skylight.
I love the built-in storage,
Window seat dividing the sinks and
and dressing room.
It is my opinion that one can not have too many window seats
Like this one overlooking the front garden.
A little girl’s dream bedroom
And bath with flowered sinks and a greenhouse window in the shower-tub.
Let’s step out on the porch overlooking the bay
Carmel is hilly so this cottage has a great view over the homes on the other side of the street.
We are looking toward Pebble Beach and Carmel Beach.
I love this landing with its bench and bird house.
Here is a bird’s eye view.
$4,295,000
http://www.2313bayview.com/
After I write this post, Carmel resident, Jayne Bechtel, writes to tell me
“It used to be Jean Arthur’s home.
Jean talked of yesteryear living at ” Driftwood ” when cows grazed Carmel Meadows,
Jeffers walked fog wafting streets with his beloved bull dogs, the Stewart family estate comprising at least seven lots, resided across the street and Scenic was but a dirt path.
I believe the magazine, Architectural Digest in the 70’s wrote an article about Jean and her Driftwood home in Carmel.
Bay Cottage brings back memories of Jean feeding her five cats choice meats from Neilson’s Market carefully chopped and served in oriental dishes under the bushes.”
I do a little more research and find that Jean is considered standoffish by Hollywood standards because of her shyness. Later in her career she develops extreme stage fright and retires for good to her Carmel home in 1937. She lives in semi-seclusion in her modest home . In 1991, Jean dies of hear failure and her ashes are scattered off Point Lobos.
IL Fornaio Restaurant in Carmel -by -the Sea is a lively and popular dining spot for Pine Inn guests and Carmel locals alike.
When Bill and I first move to Carmel, I search for a great spot to have a cup of coffee and read the paper before Bill wakes up and we have breakfast together.
Our neighbor tells us about this restaurant with a big round table, warm fire, newspapers , fresh coffee and delicious pastries . So I give it a try. What an inviting space.
The room he describes is under a glass gazebo in the Pine Inn. Much of the time,canvas awnings regulate the light.
I love the fresh bouquet of flowers always in the center of the round table . I help myself to coffee,
sit in front of the fire and read and talk to others. It is a great place to pick up local gossip! The bakery offers sweet pastries baked in-house.
Il Fornaio starts as a baking school in Lombardia, Italy. It then opens its first retail bakery in Milan and is eventually imported into the US by William-Sonoma. Il Fornaio opens its location at the Pine Inn in October 1995. Although this is a “chain”,the ambiance is unique to Carmel.
I am here today to photograph and the manager gives his “ok” as long as I bring my photos back to him for his approval.
I leave the bakery and enter the main room of the restaurant.
It is late afternoon and the staff are preparing for the evening.
This is the first time I get a seat at the bar without waiting!! It is a spot that locals love for HAPPY HOUR.
The bar is pretty with its central display of martinis.
It is “the place” to take a first date, meet a first date, go after a round of golf, or meet after work. After we grab a seat, I assign Bill to listen to the conversation on his side while my ears swivel to my side. Later we compare notes while we have dinner.
The bartenders are efficient and fun and love to share a new recipe or learn a new one from a customer.
This long table used to be loaded with complementary pizza slices and antipasta.
This has given way to an inexpensive happy hour menu that is quite delicious.
One evening ,the restaurant is so full that we sit at the bar on the other side of the main room.
Here we watch the cooks working
and keep an eye on the wood fired oven baking the pizzas.
The action is non-stop.
Should you actually come through the front door of the restaurant,
you see a table displaying the dried pastas imported from Italy.
Fresh pastas are made in-house daily.
I am encouraged to save room for dessert by the display of desserts.
This is the only “food shot” the manager allows.
He comforts me by saying ,“ food is difficult to photograph, don’t you think”. I am forced to agree.
As you can see this is a large, cheerful space.
We enjoy a fabulous meal with a large group of friends during Concours Week. A friend and I make a meal of the Caprese Salad.
Several people rave about the Insalata di Bietole- Organic red and gold beets with red wine vinegar, wild arugula, toasted walnuts and asiago cheese; extra-virgin lemon-olive oil dressing. Yum!
For more intimate dining, I prefer this enclosed sun porch with its booths , black and white photos and soft lighting.
We celebrate here one New Year’s Eve. The service and the food are impeccable.
There is also balcony seating overlooking Ocean Ave. and all its action It has a great sunset view.
Try the Rosemary bread. The Rosemary grows over the balcony and gives the bread a wonderful aroma.
Bill’s favorite entre is Pollo Toscano -Free-range rotisserie chicken seasoned with rosemary; served with roasted Yukon gold potatoes and Tuscan salad.
I love any of the Salmon dishes.
If your time is limited, come for happy hour. I will be the petite blond struggling to overhear everyone’s conversations and “trying her husband’s patience”.
Buon Appetito!
Il Fornaio Restaurants and Bakeries
Bill and I are very cautious people. So much so, that it takes 15 years to decide it is prudent to remodel our Carmel cottage.
If you have followed along with the blog, you remember that when we bought our cottage in 1997, many people were tearing down existing homes to build new, larger homes.
OUR CARMEL FIXER-UPPER « Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea
OUR CARMEL FIXER-UPPER…..continued « Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea
Early this year, we jump into a remodel with Abbey Baker Design Build.
TO REMODEL OR NOT TO REMODEL……THAT IS THE QUESTION « Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea
Walls come down,
ceilings go up
and we add 35 sq. ft. to the kitchen!!! Pretty bold move.
We combine the kitchen, eating area, and living room into one space and create a whole new feeling. I love it.
We most often enter through the back door which gives us a splendid view of our washer and dryer and a glimpse into the living room.
The wall comes out and I love my new view.
We work on the old kitchen and cute it up.
But the lack of a larger dining space continues to frustrate me. Abbey suggests adding 35 sq. ft. to the north side of the kitchen.
Now the ceiling is raised, the windows lowered ( so I can see my garden)
In go cabinets ,
Counter tops
A stove hood and tile
And presto- a new look.
I keep the corner sink which I love.
The former back door, now makes a pretty front door.
The front entry,
Rarely used,
Is rethought,
And then rethought again. We remove the door to the coat closet and create a home office.
We find a great bookcase for $150.00 at the Cannery Row Antique Mall and the back wall of the living area is complete.
The master bedroom does not change much.
New paint ( the color is still a matter of debate),
And new bedding.
The master bath gets a great new look. The old shower enclosure
Which we worked with
Becomes a pretty new shower.
We again remove some storage to rearrange the room .
Heated floors and a new window make this room much cozier.
The closet in the guest room
becomes the new home
for the washer and dryer.
A light comes on when I open the louvered doors and I can fold laundry on the bed.
The guest room
Has been an office
A bedroom
And now becomes an even prettier bedroom.
The guest bath is so tiny, I have to stand in the tub to take photos.
A new vanity,
Tiled walls,
Lighting , medicine cabinet, and towels really spruce it up.
We add insulation, new wiring, new plumbing, instant hot water and heated bathroom floors.
What a difference.
AND the cottage finally gets a name.
I am delighted when the installer puts the name on the garage door.
It is official. BEACH MUSIC is the name of our cottage.
And we love all 935 sq. ft.
“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.“
I love Carmel Walks- http://carmelwalks.com/ walking tours. When we move to Carmel, I sign up to tour with Gale Wrausmann- the founder of the tour.
We meet in the courtyard of the Pine Inn, introduce ourselves and start out with Gale and her dog, Squirt. As we walk, she makes stops and shares stories.
I am so delighted with my experience that I sign up 3 more times to treat guests to the experience. Each time I take the tour it is different. Gale trys to tailor the tour to each group’s interests. One time we focus on fairy tale cottages. On one walk, everyone has a dog ,so she leads us through dog friendly shops, dining and lodging. Great fun!
This last March, I try to schedule a tour for my daughter and myself and am unable to reach her. Gale died March 18, of cancer. She is only 65. By now all of Carmel knows and loves her and mourns her passing.
This last trip , I learn that Gael Gallager has purchased CARMEL WALKS and resumed this tour.
I sign up and ask if I may blog about my experience and photograph as we go. We again gather in the courtyard of the Pine Inn where a plaque honors Gale Wrausmann.
The “new” Gael agrees and the other tour members agree to allow it as long as “you don’t photograph me eating or from my backside”. I agree and off we go with this petite dynamo who is a goldmine of Carmel lore. She has been a professional tour director for the past 28 years and it shows.
Our first brief stop is in the garden of Harrison Memorial Library where Geal paints a vivid picture of how Ocean Ave. looked in times past.
Our second stop is the beautiful gallery of Richard McDonald. http://www.richardmacdonald.com/. World renowned, Carmel enjoys a first look at each new show. In the past I see Sculpture inspired by The Cirque de Soleil and The Royal Ballet. Today we see his Magical Energies show. As with all the others it is a lovesong to the beauty of the human body in movement.
We move across the street to the bronze sculpture of a devoted elderly couple entitled “The Valentine”by sculpture George Wayne Lundeen.
When we first move to Carmel, a Japanese couple come to clean this sculpture every day.
We continue up the street to the First Murphy House- built by M.J.Murphy in 1902, it now houses the Carmel Heritage Society. About
Gael points out the Milk Shrine. In Carmel’s early days, these shrines were around town. Residents would leave their empty bottles and orders here for the milkman and return to pick up their milk.
As we continue, Gael notes that this area was a paradise for the Indians who are the first inhabitants. Mild climate, fishing, river water, rich soil, and a variety of herbs and plants that have culinary and medicinal uses. Rosemary flavors food, is used in cleaning products, burnt as incense and used to improve memory.
Next we make our way to the Happy Landing Inn with its many charming details. HAPPY LANDING INN – BUILT WITH THE ” HANSEL AND GRETEL …
Gael takes advantage of walls, steps and other perches to make herself seen and heard.
We stroll past the Tally Ho Inn
and then onto Ocean Ave. past The Cottage of Sweets CARMEL’S COTTAGE OF SWEETS « Once upon a time..Tales from …
And into the Court of the Golden Bough Carmel’s first courtyard -the court of the golden bough
Next stop City Hall where Gael shows us her “Permit To Wear High Heels”. Yet another quirky custom that endears Carmel to me.
We pass L’Augerge Carmel L’AUBERGE CARMEL « Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by …
And continue to The Church of the Wayfarer Home | Church of the Wayfarer, Carmel, CA ,
step inside to admire the stained glass windows.
A pianist is filling the sactuary with beautiful music. Stepping quickly by THE MASTERS GARDEN AT THE CHURCH OF THE WAYFARER …
We walk through Doris Day’s Cypress Inn Cypress Inn
The Twiggery THE TWIGERY-FLORAL ART BY MICHAEL MERRITT-AIFD « Once …
And The Courtyard El Paseo el paseo- one of Carmel’s courtyards and secret passageways
By now some grumbling is starting in the hungry tour group. One man announces that he will only give Gael ten more minutes before he departs for a chair, cold beer and lunch.
But all is forgiven when we enter the Steven Whyte Sculpture Studio Gallery. Where we are treated to the sight of the artist in residence. As he works he graciously answers questions. Stevenwhytesculptor.com
The grumbling begins again as we briskly stride through Casanova and past the desert trays and happy diners sipping wine and eating pasta.
CASANOVA Restaurant :: Carmel’s Most Romantic Restaurant
Gael is not really through with us- there is always more to share. But she is called away to give her afternoon tour of Point Lobos and has to leave us in Defendorf Park.
She gives us our “money’s worth” and then some.
The others head out for lunch and I head home for lunch with Bill.
I can not recommend this tour too highly.
“My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flower that grows.You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.”
Irish Rose is one of the newer cottages in Carmel. She is lovely in any light, but seems to prefer Carmel fog.
Her owners obviously love her and lavish her with quality details. Unique windows
Plaques
Lanterns
Inserts
And copper gutters .
She sits across the street from the Jay’s Nest which I am photographing today.
I decide to enter the gate.
I ring the door bell and when no one responds , put my card under the knocker.
A Scarab beetle observes me from above the door. I stare for a while until I am sure he is not real.
I exit and take some shots from outside the wall. Such a pretty house. I love the complex roofline and the slate tiles.
The iron gate is ornamented with shamrocks.
A Carin has been constructed out of stones, driftwood and even a feather. Cairns are used as a memorial or landmark.
I can see a mulched path along the front.
Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea 