Before I boxed Aunt Charlotte’s apartment away I photographed as much as I could. I took thousands of pictures, but could not capture what it felt like to be here, the odd warmth from the old iron radiators, and the damp cold that creeps in when they are off. The smells of incense that is permanently here, plus the wet, rot smell of a very old building, yesterdays cabbage seeping under the door, the smell of warm bread from the bakery below, not to mention Elisabeth’s scent (patchoulie) which comes and goes like a ghost. With this there is also the sounds of Paris, the morning sounds of people starting their day, the traffic, the shuffle, the whir of bicycles, the low buzz of scooters, churchbells and horns. The nighttime sounds of tires on wet pavement, echoing footsteps, hints of conversation. The ticking clock. The floorboards creaking.

I thought I could capture it all, but it’s just impossible. So here are but a few of the pictures for us to walk through if you’d like, I will be your guide, put your boots there by the door … follow me.

This is Aunt Charlotte’s study, this is where she sat writing her novels and letters listening to old jazz and opera records. It’s a magical suffocating room (in the colour of pomegranate!), there is a molting stuffed peacock and a zillion books and pillows.

Aunt Charlotte called this her art deco cabinet. Inside are hundreds of books on magic, witchcraft and, oddly, Victorian fiction. There are also stacks of playing cards and her Viewmaster collection.

Aunt Charlotte’s taxidermied albino raccoon Basil.

Aunt Charlotte’s main decorating themes were twigs, tiny lights and drapery. This is the view above her bed.

This is our favourite corner of the living area. I will miss that couch. You can see just some of her vast book collection, also, faintly, her vampire deterrent kit which alas, we never had cause to use. Two mallets from one of seven croquet sets rests in the corner.

No surface was left uncluttered.

This is a view to the dining room. Aunt Charlotte had 76 obelisks. You can also see a number of cases which contained a trombone, a child’s accordion and a glass bell piano.

Open any drawer, you never know what you will find. Not one was empty.

Aunt Charlotte loved the work of our friend, artist Magda Trzaski. Here are two heads (you can only see one) by her that she suspended in the door way – very practical.

She loved Venice and Fortuny lamps.

One of her museum cabinets filled with glass eyes and things in jars. (all labeled and dated)

Twigs above her bathroom cabinet.

Thank you so much for taking this little tour with me. There’s tea in the kitchen if you’d like some, I must get back to packing.

love,

- Sarah