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Fascinating story about an 'abandoned' Parisian apt

10 years ago

at least it is fascinating to me....and the pictures of the apartment are incredible....so many questions it raises for one's imagination!

(guess you will need to cut and paste the link)

http://themetapicture.com/abandoned-this-apartment-from-1942/

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Comments (9)

maire_cate
10 years ago
Here's the link:

What an interesting story. And the apt didn't really look all that bad for being vacant for decades.

Here is a link that might be useful: Parisian apt
Annie Deighnaugh
10 years ago
Wow! What a find!
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A true Ghost Story
Q
Comments (20)
I sort of agree and slightly disagree Mel. I've never really ever believed in ghosts until our house in Shelbyville. The then little bitty LF (0-2 1/2 years old) would say he saw "line" people. You always felt watched in the front bedroom, where his room was. We woke up one day to a brown ooze that went straight down the middle of the house, but only one side of the ceiling, and not under any pipes or leaks in the roof?!!! Totally weird. One day, my baby boy, ok 2 year old son, said "They're chanting for you to get out." Chanting?! I was convinced. He wasn't around anyone but me or Ed at that point, him watching him during the day, and I watched him at night, and chanting isn't a word I use for anything, nor Ed. Chanting. And the look on his face. Oh my, it scared the bejeebers out of me. Such a small child to have such a horrible look on his face. I high-tailed it outta the house, and called my sister in law. Shivers. That's where the sage, praying, and admonishing comes in. So, here's where I disagree, that night, when he was going to bed, he got his jammies on, sprayed his monster repellant spray, I told the line people to leave him alone, he tripped getting into bed. He got a black eye instantly. Not good timing, maybe. But when I was lying in bed, I felt someone standing behind me. I just shouted, I told you to get out! Flash of light at that exact moment in an empty field behind our house, and never again was the LF bothered. I was mostly pissed about that black eye. You know how every kid has that goose egg forehead? He never had one of those. He basically bounced off of everything when he fell, little butterball. Never really got bruises, except that one. Looking back, the rest of the house made sense. The last tenants left their clothes all over the house, like they left in the middle of the night. Even still in the washer and dryer. Never have encountered any ghosts since then either.
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Per request - See this apt w/Pug collection and the layering
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Comments (84)
Not to be too analytical but having read about her life IMO it's a wonder she's alive at all or not living in a padded room. My own fairly adventurous life looks like a yawn in comparison. This woman is a survivor. I find there is much to like in this home and think it would be very interesting to have a conversation with a person who decorates like this. I don't think because she decorates in this way she is necessarily lonely, extremely dysfunctional, or any of the other labels mentioned. I think we are living in a strange time of home decor and consumerism. Mass-produced things that cost too much are valued as long as the current style is not violated. Seems there is a line that should not be crossed. I can't wait to see how some people are decorating 20 years from now. In examining the pics closely I was amazed to see the the wall shelf in her bedroom appears to be old, dented, and repainted none to skillfully. Lovely old piece which many probably wouldn't appreciate. I think these rooms are less "decorated" than collected. We all speak of trying for the "collected" look - well, this is one person's version. It looks well-loved, comfortable, endlessly fascinating, and welcoming to me. BTW for the person who wondered about the German Shepherd, the caption on the pic says that a pug mother did not survive the birth so the Shepherd raised them. Takes a caring owner to facilitate that. Her talent for needlepoint is also amazing. Not too many would needlepoint an entire rug. Another thot I had when reading here is that lots of shoes are OK but lots of pugs or tschotschkes are not. ;-) What's the difference? Pal, I'd love to see your candlesticks, the most I ever do is about 6 on a tray! I'd hate to be thot a minimalist, better find more! :-D
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Pics of Jill's Apt From Real Housewives of NYC
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Comments (63)
I received the May issue of Trad Home and you're right it does photograph very well. They also give a layout of the apartment. That's a lot of bathrooms for such a small space. There doesn't seem to be any place where you can escape the color blue. But since she gets to redecorate every 7 years she won't have to wait long to have something different, even if she does grow tired of it quickly. When I watched the show Jill had her hair up and was wearing a print dress. The photograph that made the magazine had her in a solid blue dress with her hair down straight. I wonder how many times she frenetically changed her look before settling on the right one!
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Comments (10)
We were in Butte & Anaconda last summer while traveling in Montana & were fascinated with the mining history. I bought a book about William Clark & the other copper barons. Clark was the first to get into Montana copper & got the richest veins, then along came the telegraph, then electric lighting & all that need for copper wiring. He was the first copper baron to get out of Montana copper too, avoiding the historic labor clashes and the depletion of the mines. What struck me is the fact that before he died, he was one of the 100 richest Americans, but the only one whose assets were entirely privately owned -- he didn't share a penny of his wealth with any other investor or stockholder. I'm in SoCal right now. We were sight seeing in the Hollywood Forever cemetery the other day, & the most spectacular, biggest burial vault there belongs to the Clarks. William Jr. was the founder of the LA Symphony. I downloaded Empty Mansions to my Kindle. Can't wait to read it on the flight home! Thanks so much for mentioning it.
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mdrive
Original Author
10 years ago
i've been reading a lot of comments about this story (actually the event of her death occurred in 2010, and the original story is in the Telegraph) ....a lot of 'no way, this picture must be stage' to 'where's the dust'? (i see dust) but generally speaking people are flabbergasted she kept the apt. and apparently never returned...

some of the items (stuffed ostrich?) are truly fascinating, some are totally exquisite! that mirror! and the crown moulding..the vanity is just incredible....the painting is what i find most intriguing....this was a portrait of her grandmother by a FAMOUS artist, yet she never returned to get it?

wonder what fascinating story is behind that!

i keep studying the apt. pics....-gg

of course the mickey mouse doll (and is that porky the pig?) seem SO out of place, yet just adds to the charm of it all
kkay_md
10 years ago
I loved this; a friend sent it to me last week. My husband got a job offer in France and a friend of ours said she had found an apartment for us there, and sent me that link. I was quite excited, and then fascinated.
maire_cate
10 years ago
Miss Havisham would be quite at home there.
deegw
10 years ago
This story has been making the rounds for a few years. I think the apartment was discovered in 2010. I would be great if someone did a follow up story about what happened to all the lovely things.
patty_cakes
10 years ago
If that apartment has been vacant sine 1942, it would be full of cobwebs and possibly rodent droppings and damage. The drapery / upholstery color wouldn't even be visible with that many years of dust buildup. And what about the changing temps of hot and cold? Surely there would be a breakdown of anything of fiber or wood, not to mention the stack of paper. I don't find the story believable and it could be a real estate gimmick, and a good one at that! As for it being a painting, it's the reflection in the mirrors that just doesn't look real. Definitely a sales 'prop' of one sort or another, and phony in actuality, whether it's a set stage OR a photograph, IMO.
mdrive
Original Author
10 years ago
my first reaction was that this must be a hoax as well, but i did searches to indicate that it was and thus far have found nothing but the story as written in the telegraph article (2010)....

from what i can tell the apartment is still owned by the heirs, and nothing more has been disclosed about the sale of other items other than the painting of her grandmother....so for now, i am giving it a 'hmmm' could be possible but not totally convinced...

i'm not sure any 'gimmick' would be needed to sell that apartment, it is stunning....it would certainly be interesting to hear from a forensic scientist about how the items could remain in such condition....i think it is entirely possible, especially if the 'rent' included basic heat and cooling....the water damage surely indicates that there was exposure there
lynninnewmexico
10 years ago
Very fascinating indeed. Thanks for sharing it with us, as I really enjoyed the story and pics.
Lynn

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