By Frank Gran, Customer of Cushion Source
My partner, Russ, and I are registered nurses who have been fortunate to travel and work all over California. We’ve explored decorating styles from the rugged Gold Rush era of small towns in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Spanish colonial influences in San Diego.
Eventually we headed back home to northern California for good. As a result, we now live a mere 12 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. From here we enjoy the modern casual influences of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area. Living in Marin County affords us the opportunity to easily take regular trips to wine and recreational areas north of us located in Sonoma County.
The Russian River Resort area in Sonoma County has always been a popular vacation area for residents of San Francisco since late 1800’s. The tiny town of Guerneville on the Russian River offers visitors an eclectic selection of stores with fine and collectable artwork, to selections of some of the area’s finest wines and cheeses. Several restaurants in Guerneville and other surrounding hamlets feature notable chefs who use the area’s fine organic produce and meats to create their wonderful table fare.
The beautiful beaches of the Pacific can be reached in less than 30 minutes due west of town. Kayaking at the mouth of the Russian River and viewing wildlife really connects us to nature and certainly offers up a serene respite not to be forgotten.
Russ and I enjoy renting vacation homes in this area, and have done so for more than 20 years. Eventually, we decided to search for a perfect vacation home we could convert into a vacation rental. After searching for six months, our real estate agent Valerie Pritchard, found a sweet cottage located in the local redwood forest just 10 minutes from town.
Built in 1927, the quaint house is nearly 1,100 square feet, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A charming veranda surrounds three sides of the house and has six sets of original French doors. The original fireplace and hearth are still intact. The previous owners had recently completed a high-end remodeling project in the kitchen and bathrooms which included stainless steel appliances and blue slate flooring with radiant heating. We were hooked, and closed in November 2009.
Many homes in this rural area have names. After considering the saucy style and character of this seductive 1927 cottage, we christened it “Tallulah’s Shack,” with a nod and wink to actress Tallulah Bankhead who was a star in the 30’s and 40’s. The cottage has many autographed photos of Miss Bankhead and a replica of an Oscar.
Additionally, the house has been casually furnished with a mix of oriental pieces, and upholstered 40’s seating, including pillows in smart fabrics. An extensive collection of artfully framed photography is found throughout the house. The connection with the forested area surrounding the home is maintained by extensive use of windows, French doors and skylights.
The cushions are of great construction, beautiful fabric, (Legacy Onyx) and are being much admired by “Tallulah’s” guests on the veranda of this upscale Northern California Wine Country retreat. The pre-made bolster cushions made with Parallel Lines Black fabric, are a perfect accent to “Tallulah’s” indoor decor. We’re glad we found your company!
All of these features make the home a wonderful destination for visitors during throughout the year and is the pampered personal getaway for its owners!