1865: Wallpaper merchant builds house.
1940-2000: Rooming house. Whorehouse. Flophouse. Meat-rack (nice!).
2005: Hapless, clueless South African couple purchase said property.
Week Two: Second floor tenant calls up landlady (AKA me). “So sorry to worry you, but the ceiling just fell in.”
Week Two and one day: Thankfully, no injuries or permanent concussion. Dodged ‘the-ceiling-just-fell-in’ bullet. Patch. Skim-coat. Repeat.
Day 68: Take occupancy of 2nd floor. Boiler takes final bow. Carbon monoxide escapes from every orifice. 4-yr old and I spend 9 hours in emergency room. House appears to be furious and is clearly trying to murder us (attempt #1).
Day 69: Bedroom steam-damaged walls remain pockmarked and decaying for 5 years. Inhale at own peril.
Month 10: Convince myself the room is Shabby Chic.
5 years later: Shabby Chic becomes intolerable (picture Grey Gardens).
2011: Sudden realization that original vision of creating an embellished Parisian-apartment look-a-like will obliterate budget.
2011 and then some: Slight change of scope. When prepping one wall, we discover original wallpaper in sepia tones – far from pristine but gorgeous. Room demands small semblance of decay for old time’s sake (see Palimpsest).
2011 and then some more: Inhale paint fumes all night. So worth it…
Photographs by Philippa Berrington-Blew and Craig Strydom
1940-2000: Rooming house. Whorehouse. Flophouse. Meat-rack (nice!).
2005: Hapless, clueless South African couple purchase said property.
Week Two: Second floor tenant calls up landlady (AKA me). “So sorry to worry you, but the ceiling just fell in.”
Week Two and one day: Thankfully, no injuries or permanent concussion. Dodged ‘the-ceiling-just-fell-in’ bullet. Patch. Skim-coat. Repeat.
Day 68: Take occupancy of 2nd floor. Boiler takes final bow. Carbon monoxide escapes from every orifice. 4-yr old and I spend 9 hours in emergency room. House appears to be furious and is clearly trying to murder us (attempt #1).
Day 69: Bedroom steam-damaged walls remain pockmarked and decaying for 5 years. Inhale at own peril.
Month 10: Convince myself the room is Shabby Chic.
5 years later: Shabby Chic becomes intolerable (picture Grey Gardens).
2011: Sudden realization that original vision of creating an embellished Parisian-apartment look-a-like will obliterate budget.
2011 and then some: Slight change of scope. When prepping one wall, we discover original wallpaper in sepia tones – far from pristine but gorgeous. Room demands small semblance of decay for old time’s sake (see Palimpsest).
2011 and then some more: Inhale paint fumes all night. So worth it…
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| Detail of science project growing up the wall |
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| Details and collection of French steel-cut shoe buckles |
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| Looks nicer in this photograph than in reality |
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| The previous, rather boring 'apartment cream' color on the walls |
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| Detail of the mantel |
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| Detail of 'what lay beneath' |
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| David (painter) and I after the initial 'recapturing' of wallpaper (also, if you look at the light bulb in the reflection of the mirror, you can see the ceiling damage) |
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| Warm grey for remainder of walls |
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| Benjamin Moore Soot for bed backdrop |
Photographs by Philippa Berrington-Blew and Craig Strydom
Photo of desk by Virginia Jarvis - Apartment Therapy
Love the Synopsis...I'd forgotten about those early days!
ReplyDeletei am not worthy.
ReplyDeletecraig... you are totally worthy!
ReplyDeletelove the house's history.
Breath-taking, just spectacular. Want to put all my furnishings (sans Persian enamels) on a pyre and have you decorate my house. Could you start next week?
ReplyDeleteOwow this chronicle is amazing! Love the dilapidated walls era...such a stunner...something I'd love to see in my future home one day...A house filled with stories...Always the goal! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletexo-Julie
Haute Khuuture Blog
How did I miss this post? HYSTERICAL!!! I absolutely love what you have done, the grey and the 'soot' are brillaint. Cannot wait to see it in the flesh.
ReplyDelete