In sorting through a box of photos and memorabilia that my parents had, I found some photos of my apartment in Cambridge. I sent them to Mom and Dad so they could visualize where and how I lived. Some of these you might have seen before because I have a set somewhere, as well.
These three photos are here for specific reasons.
Sorry for the light flash on the photo. I’m taking pictures of pictures because I don’t want to go upstairs and scan them.
The loveseat: That’s the living room loveseat in its original position in my apartment. I needed something that would fit into the recess created by the bay window. It came with two of those patterned pillows. I bought that coffee table for a song when I spotted it while taking a walk up Mass Avenue. I bought the rug, too. It lived in my apartment in San Diego, as well as our house in San Diego. Check out the diamond panes on the windows! Goodness, I loved that apartment. Tons of light. Perfect for plants, which I had everywhere. I had to leave all of them behind when I moved to CA, because you aren’t allowed to bring plants into the state – or at least, you weren’t allowed to back in 1993. My friend Eve, who eventually took over the apartment, kept them.
Fiesta collection: I started collecting vintage Fiesta when I was living in Cambridge. I found it everywhere, but my best source was a woman who ran a vintage shop in Somerville. When she found a piece, she would call and leave a message on my answering machine. No email yet. No cell phones. Just phone calls and messages. Also: no eBay. There’s another shelf of it to the left that is out of the frame. I loved that collection.
I eventually sold it to a collector when we were living in San Diego.
Why did I do that? I suspect we needed the money and I guess I wanted to move on to other things, but I regret it a wee bit. I did pull a few favorite pieces to keep; some salad plates, a huge platter, two coffee pots, a tea pot, and two large mixing bowls, a gravy boat, and a water pitcher.
But now that I look at that photo, why didn’t I save the red bud vase? Or the other mixing bowls (Maybe I did? Maybe they’re inside the other bowls? I’ll have to look.) Or that gorgeous yellow compote on the table?
The answer, I’m sure, is that they were the priciest items and so, I sold them. I can’t remember the total price of the Fiesta I sold, but it was well over a $1000.00. Again, no eBay. I did have a computer by that point, but the only way to sell was to find a user group of Fiesta collectors. That’s how I found my buyer.
The other side of the kitchen had that sink I told you about. And there was also a nice-sized pantry. I made the pillows on the chairs from a vintage tablecloth.
I sat in the chair on the left when I got the message that my brother died. I remember that very clearly. My friend Annette, who died last year, ran downstairs to comfort me.
In my bedroom, the table/desk: For the life of me, I can’t remember how I got hold of that retro table (which I loved). Did someone give it to me? I had very little money in those days and I don’t remember buying it. I must have left it behind when I moved to San Diego. (Why, Claudia? Why?) This is the kind of table I have always loved. So what was I thinking? I must have felt that I had no room for it in my San Diego apartment.
I wore that hat everywhere. Big brim, floppy yet stylish. I loved it.
That red chair was part of a set of four that I took out of an apartment I shared with a roommate when we were going to grad school in Philadelphia. I’m not sure if they were actual Thonet or not, but I painted them a bright, glossy red. Sadly, I left them 3 of them behind in Philadelphia because there was no room for them in the apartment I was moving to in Boston – the smallest apartment I have ever lived in. I might as well have lived in a pod.
The Cambridge apartment had hardwood floors throughout. Two big windows in the kitchen, five windows in the living room, three windows in the bedroom, a bathroom with vintage black and white tiles on the floor and a long hallway that was wide enough to house three bookcases. The living room had a lovely non-working fireplace. Eventually, Mary, the owner of the building, died and all the apartments were converted to condos. I suspect that the very elements I loved – the pantry, the kitchen sink, the tile on the bathroom floor, the hardwood floors – were tossed in the upgrade.
Sigh.
There are other photos of the apartment on the blog. Just go to the sidebar and search for “Cambridge” and “apartment.”
A little walk down memory lane. And now I’m going to search for that yellow compote on eBay. Because, when I move the fern to the porch again in a month, it would look perfect in the middle of the kitchen table. Besides, it was one of my favorite pieces.
Happy Thursday.
So…I’m readingthis post, all the while thinking why did you get rid of those things? Well…you explained it very eloquently. But, your post reminded me of all the things I have mysteriously sold or given away, that I now wish I still had. But to what end I ask myself? I obviously don’t need them…maybe my heart needs them. But, logically, no…they are not necessities in my daily life. But…I still wish I had them.
That red fiesta bud vase…yes please. I love that coffee table…do you still have that? I spied two paperweights…part of your packed away collection? This is a fun post…interesting to see that your past style, is still very much your style of today.
Enjoy your day! ;)
Yes, the paperweights are packed away, presumably in the darned shed.
When I look at those bright Fiesta colors! Oh my, I miss those pieces. Especially in the midst of winter!
Maybe you can rummage around your shed this spring….and discover other treasures you might have there? I do hope you can find that yellow compote. It would look lovely on your table! ;)
Too many piles of boxes. Too hard! When we rent a dumpster to get rid of a lot of it, then I’ll sort through everything.
Ah…the next step! ;)
Your Cambridge apartment looks like the kind of place in which I would have loved to live. My apartments while I was going to university were dull 60’s ticky-tacky put ‘me up quick no charm places. Charming places were difficult to come by close to campus.
I’m sure your shed is hiding many things about which you forgot. You’ll need to do a deep dive. I’m going through another deep declutter. This time, my huge fabric stash. I’m sending 20 pounds of cotton fabric and thread to the Navajo Quilt Project for Native American quilters who don’t have money to buy supplies. The quilts they make keep their families warm and are also sold to support the families.
I wasn’t in college then. I was teaching at a university. There’s a big difference when you’re paying rent!
And Cambridge is old and full of historic buildings.
I lived in Boston for five years, loved it and loved my apartments, especially the enormous one – it even had a maid’s room – I shared with several roommates. When I first moved there, in 1968, the thrift shops were full of Fiesta and the going rate seemed to be twenty-five cents a piece. For some reason, I didn’t like it – that’s certainly changed – and didn’t buy so much as a saucer. I, too, sometimes think of what I left behind as I moved through my earlier life, but there’s not much I regret.
I do, too. But it is what it is, right?
Hi Claudia,
I have that exact Fiesta bowl and it’s on my to-sell list! I’ve had it as a table centerpiece for TWO DECADES now and frankly, I’m tired of it. We recently moved and I scaled my Fiesta collection way back, selling a ton prior to moving.
Let me know if you want it and we can arrange a private sale. Or, I can list it my Etsy shop. Of course, I’ll give you a fantastic deal!
Oh! I just made an offer on one on eBay, but they haven’t got back to me on it. Is it in good condition? And it’s the compote?
You can email me at the address at the top of my sidebar, Kelli. The icon is an envelope. If you click on it, it will take you to my email address. Thank you!
I can definitely see how and why you loved that beautiful apartment. The Fiesta ware is striking against the white! My grandmother gave us one of those retro tables when we were first married. Oh, how I wish we had it now! Good luck on your quest to find the beautiful compote!!
I’m not sure what happened to that table. I think it didn’t survive the move to this house. I loved it and it reminded me of stuff in my grandmother’s house, of course. I remember carrying it about 20 blocks from the store to my apartment.
What a fun trip down memory lane. I love the Fiesta collection. I regret many things I’ve let go of in my years of moving here and there. It just happens. I loved Boston and Cape Cod and my years there were some of my favorite of my lifetime. There and New Orleans I think. I hope you find that compote, I saw one of your readers has one she will sell, kismet? My ex husband is staying with me a little while as he navigates the diagnosis of cancer. He brought these old Mateus wine boxes that my Dad made into a side table when we were married. He kept them and has now returned them to me. So meaningful. See you have me reminiscing now!
You’re so good to take him in, Linda. I know you are still friends and it must mean a great deal to him to rest someplace safe and peaceful. You’re a good person.
He told me last night it means more to him then I will ever know. I’m glad I can help him. He is family.
Yes, he is. Bless you. And bless him.
Love that bay window area…I’ve always wished to have one myself hut was never lucky enough to find an apt. with one…What a wonderful collection of Feista!…I have two of those old tables the smaller one serves as my desk…
I get sad when I look at those shelves full of Fiesta! And that bay window!
I love the Fiesta and the coffee table.
Marilyn
Me too, Marilyn!
I use my vintage Fiesta pieces all the time. Love them — they’re such fun with every table setting. Mine came from a woman whom I’d known for ages — her daughter was a friend. None of her kids wanted it so when they came east to visit family, they brought it along and just gave it to me. What a gift!
Love seeing your Cambridge apartment. We’re about 30 miles from there as I type this — I dearly love Massachusetts. But cold as all get out! You had such great light there. Looks wonderful. The bay window makes me smile.
It is very cold here, but it’s supposed to start warming up as of today. Have fun, Jeanie!