We were enjoying the continental breakfast offered by the Merritt House when we happened to start a conversation with a woman standing nearby. We didn’t realize until later that she is the owner of the Merritt House. Her passion is restoring old houses, and with this property built in the 1830s, she has hit a home run.
When we made our reservation, Glenda had asked about the honeymoon suite, but was told that it was occupied. It’s empty now and Kate not only showed us around that room, she even offered to let us spend our last night in Monterey there in the main house. What a gracious offer! We’re having a wonderful time in our current quarters, so we just decided to stay here. She did, however, take us on a tour of the old house, which she restored and decorated.
Her taste is spot on. She did not guild the lily and put anachronistic pieces in this simple 1830 adobe dwelling. Somehow she has been able to find beds, chairs and decorations that are perfectly appropriate for this house and its style of architecture.
I mentioned to her that one of the historic houses here in Monterey, the John Larkin house, is a copy of a house that Larkin built near Rose Hill, North Carolina in the 1840s. He came to Spanish California and built a copy of his North Carolina home here. He had the means to furnish it with some glorious New England furniture, which are antiques now, and still grace that dwelling a few blocks south of here. The Larkin house here in Monterey is open for tours; the one in North Carolina is still a private residence.
The tour she gave us was an unexpected treat. We invited her to North Carolina and told her we hope she would be willing to stay with us during her visit. I hope she takes us up on the offer.Read more
October 16 in the United States