The Prettiest Hidden Homes of Carmel
Houses, like people, have different personalities. Some are bright and bubbly and just exude charisma. They stand out and seem to get all the attention. Others are quiet, shy, and like to stay out of the limelight. Sometimes they like to remain hidden for privacy, and other times they have been been ignored or simply overlooked. Join me as I explore the prettiest hidden homes of Carmel.
Kuster Castle
The Kuster house, sometimes called Kuster Castle, sits high on a hill on Ocean View Avenue. It is somewhat hidden behind greenery and a fence made of tree branches. It was built in 1920 by Edward Kuster, an attorney, who moved to Carmel and eventually built the Golden Bough Playhouse. Kuster’s move was considered scandalous at the time because he was the ex-husband of Una Jeffers, now wife of famous poet Robinson Jeffers. So what did Mr. Kuster do, but build his house next to the Jeffer’s Tor House! Apparently, both couples got along extremely well. Una even did her laundry at the Kuster’s because Tor House had no electricity.
Hob Nob Cottage
Hob Nob Cottage is easy to overlook. Because the gate is rather dark and the house below the road, it remains somewhat hidden from view.
Built in 1924, this Tudor Revival home was originally known as the Garfield D. Mermer house. The origin of its current name is interesting. Hob and nob first came together in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, when Sir Toby Belch warns Viola (who is disguised as a man) that Sir Andrew wants to duel. “Hob, nob is his word,” says Sir Toby, using hob and nob to mean something like “hit or miss”. Since that time, hob and nob became a phrase meaning friends drinking hobnob to each other, and from there it became associated with congenial social gatherings.
Birthday Cottage
It took some clever camera finagling to get a proper glimpse of the Birthday Cottage. This one really tugs at your storybook heartstrings with its steep storybook gables and half timbered walls. Unfortunately, most of the house is simply out of sight, hidden behind trees, shrubs, and foliage. I have not discovered the story behind the home’s name, but maybe it was a present for some lucky soul back in 1929 when it was built. Located at the corner of Santa Fe Street and Sixth Avenue, it was part of a complex of five homes commissioned by W. O. Swain and built by Hugh Comstock.
Fables
Almost completely buried in a tapestry of vines and ivy, Fables is another hidden cottage. Fables is sandwiched between the Birthday House and the Doll’s House. Featuring a steeply pitched roof and Carmel stone chimney, Fables was built by Hugh Comstock in 1928.
The Doll’s House
Nobody ever seems to come play in this Doll’s House. Located next door to Fables on the corner of Santa Rita and Ocean Avenue, it appears to be empty. It too remains largely hidden from view by trees and shrubbery. This home was also built by Comstock in 1928.
Märchen Haus
Märchen Haus is German for Fairytale House. Located at the corner of Dolores and 11th Street, it is several blocks away from many of the other other Comstock homes. It is also somewhat disguised by all the trees and shrubbery surrounding it. This house is clearly very loved and was getting a fresh coat of paint this past spring. The hand cut shingle roof and curved front door remind me of something from Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This home was also built by Comstock in 1928, which was clearly a busy year for him.
Seaward
At the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, “Seaward” lies just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Carmel Highlands. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of it, hidden behind a high stone wall and a forest of cypress trees. Designed by Charles Sumner Greene and built in the 1920s for D. L. James, it seems to naturally grow straight out of the cliff. If you look closely, you will see all the tiny stones making up the beautiful architecture. I can’t fathom how many people or hours it took to build this iconic home.
I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at the prettiest hidden homes of Carmel. You may also like 12 Storybook Cottages to Enchant You! and Cottage Love in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas.
