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Need a little help . . . Will write for an English Tudor . . . God Bless

Yes, that was me at the end of your local expressway off ramp this morning with the above hand lettered sign. Gathering spare change for the house of my dreams. Because one of my most favorite houses in Detroit is for sale. Here is what the real estate listing says:

The Oscar Webber Mansion. (Really, they had me at “mansion.”) Former Junior League Show House. ( I could do Junior League. Sure I could. Can I wear sweats?) Truly one of a kind, perhaps the most renown home of Grosse Pointe. (Grosse Point? Maybe John Cusack would come back to do Grosse Pointe Blank 2: The Search for Elizabeth, and there I would be!) Old World charm, character & beauty abounds this magnificent English Tudor. (Again, English and Tudor, in the same sentence–be still my foolish heart!) Third floor ballroom with full kitchen, elevator, all baths, multiple fireplaces, impeccably maintained. (Ballroom? Did I just die and go to heaven?)

Check out the wonderful walled garden, that I totally trespassed and risked arrest to take a picture of:

Don’t you think this is the perfect house for a romance author? I do. That is until I realized I would have to sell like 5 million books to even start looking at it.

And if these pics aren’t enough, take the virtual tour, right here. I especially like the part about the third floor ballroom. I SO need a ballroom. And if I sell, like several million books and realize my dream of owning this “renown house”, I would invite all of you over for a ball. Or a soiree. Or maybe a masquerade. Maybe I could drum up a duke or two to invite as well.

Now you may scoff, but not far from my little Tudor dream, is another house I like to call Pemberly. I’m of the opinion that it is very likely I might find a duke inside this one. Of course, my DH just popped his head in my office, read all this, and laughingly tells me this Michigan version of Pemberly is not owned by a duke, not even Motown royalty, but a man who made his fortune hauling garbage.

The search for the Duke of Detroit continues . . .

23 comments to “Need a little help . . . Will write for an English Tudor . . . God Bless”

  1. AndreaW
    August 17th, 2007 at 5:35 am · Link

    I took the virtual tour and they even play music while you watch! Wow. It’s a gorgeous house. I love the dark woods.



  2. Haven Rich
    August 17th, 2007 at 5:49 am · Link

    *faints* Ok can we share the same dream house? Cause like a house that big, we’d never know the other was living there. That is, until we got together for a ball or something.

    How lovely, they have a music room and a piano in the front parlor. Plus a private parlor. And did you see the office/library, oh yeah, those shelves would so be full of romance novels *heart doing a quick step here*. A kitchen my husband would love!!

    The only shame…no photos of the grounds.

    Man, there are houses less “wowzers” in New Orleans for three times that much.

    Holy smokes that’s an amazing house!! Just what I’m looking for, if like you said, I sell a zillion books or hit the lotto that I don’t play.

    BTW, I LOVE the idea of Grosse Pointe Blank 2, provided you’re in residence and feel up to such pressing upon your time *wink*.

    And that second house…not too shabby!! Looks like it needs work though…like a beautiful English Garden or something. Maybe a pebbled path? Yeah, yeah, I can be picky when I’m dreaming.



  3. Christina Arbini
    August 17th, 2007 at 8:45 am · Link

    Bestill my heart! I could so easily settle into the role of “Lady of the Manor” in one of these bad boys! I always thought “Lady Christina” had a nice ring to it. πŸ™‚

    Christina



  4. AndreaH
    August 17th, 2007 at 8:46 am · Link

    Oh please, please can I come for a sleepover??? Pretty please? I already pre-ordered Love Letters from a Duke and I promise to buy everything else you write on the way to 5 million!

    What a beautiful house and a romance writer should certainly have it at a really good price!



  5. Haven Rich
    August 17th, 2007 at 9:26 am · Link

    Oh glad to see that I’m not the only one eagerly awaiting Love Letters!



  6. AndreaW
    August 17th, 2007 at 9:45 am · Link

    Add another to the “eagerly anticipating LLFAD” list! πŸ˜‰



  7. ladydawgfan
    August 17th, 2007 at 11:08 am · Link

    WOWSA!!!! Now THAT’S a house I could happily live in!!! [siiiiiiigh]

    And I love the barrel vaulted ceilings, the intricate woodwork and paneling, the window seats in the great hall. All of these are characteristics of a greater age in architecture. Houses today are so cookie cutter – all looking alike inside and out, no imagination, square rooms, boring. I’ve tried to change that in my designs, but this house, this beautiful piece of architectural art, lets me know exactly how far I have yet to go.



  8. Michele Gardner
    August 17th, 2007 at 12:21 pm · Link

    OMG….That is so my DREAM House. That is beautiful.



  9. Stephanie
    August 17th, 2007 at 1:41 pm · Link

    Amazing house! For some reason it reminds me of an old article my mother sent me, on Daphne du Maurier moving into Mentabilly (the house she based Maderley on), and the photo of her standing by the front door. I’d be happy to send you a copy if you’d like it. It’s just a one pager, but interesting anyway. :>)



  10. Stephanie
    August 17th, 2007 at 1:42 pm · Link

    Amazing house! For some reason it reminds me of an old article my mother sent me, on Daphne du Maurier moving into Mentabilly (the house she based Manderley on), and the photo of her standing by the front door. I’d be happy to send you a copy if you’d like it. It’s just a one pager, but interesting anyway. :>)



  11. Helen
    August 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm · Link

    What a beautiful house you are an autobuy author for me so I would like to think I am helping in a small way for you to get this house I would love to come for a ball or soiree it is nice to have dreams. Thanks for showing us your dream home so we can all drool.
    Have Fun
    Helen



  12. Erin
    August 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pm · Link

    Oh my gosh!!! What I wouldn’t give to live in a “House” like that! I absolutely ADORE it and I wouldn’t even complain about having to CLEAN it!

    Hugs,
    Erin



  13. Elizabeth
    August 17th, 2007 at 3:58 pm · Link

    Haven, you asked if we could share . . . well, no. I’m not sharing. But there were three more houses for sale on the block and I know you would make a lovely neighbor. πŸ™‚

    Stephanie, I would love to see the article if it is no problem.

    And Helen, thanks for the vote of confidence on the autobuy status!

    And Erin, if you can afford a house like that, you don’t have to clean it, girlfriend. That’s what the housekeeper is for. πŸ™‚

    I just think it is a fun house to dream over.



  14. Karen H in NC
    August 17th, 2007 at 6:03 pm · Link

    Well, for a house like that, I might consider moving back to Michigan…except, I don’t care for Detroit…but that house is not technically IN Detroit…and it sounds like it is on (or near) Lake St. Clair which is a good thing.

    Karen, who is standing in line with money in hand waiting to buy LLFAD.



  15. Elizabeth
    August 17th, 2007 at 7:36 pm · Link

    Karen, you are correct. The house isn’t in Detroit proper, but Grosse Pointe Shores. And the house is on Webber Place and about three houses down from Lake St. Clair.

    As for the move to Michigan, every time the DH threatens, I ask him one question: will you find a job as much as you love the one you have here in Seattle. And thankfully the answer is always the same: No.



  16. Haven Rich
    August 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pm · Link

    Ok fine, but the parties are at your house in your ballroom hehe.



  17. Amy
    August 18th, 2007 at 4:01 pm · Link

    I say that we all pitch in and get you the house and then you will have to host the RWA conference there so that we can all enjoy. !!!LOL!!! I really do adore the house and know the feeling of wanting a house that will never be yours. I still wish you the best of luck and would be willing to put in my two cents if you decide to go with my idea!!!!
    Amy



  18. Elizabeth
    August 19th, 2007 at 7:00 am · Link

    Okay, parties are on me! The Tudor house is fun, but I honestly couldn’t see myself living in such a big place. I would feel lost. I’ll stick with my friendly (small, as the DH calls it) house, where we all bump into each other constantly. To me, that’s a home.



  19. Haven Rich
    August 19th, 2007 at 7:32 am · Link

    My main drooling point is that library with all those shelves.

    I could live in a shack and as long as the office/library is well build, I’m good to go!



  20. Keira Soleore
    August 19th, 2007 at 4:40 pm · Link

    Elizabeth, just last night, I was watching a TV show for insanely wealthy real estate. Some of those houses, like Debenham in London for $70M, are very cool. There were a lot of tacky ones, too. A Versailles repro in Texas cowboy country, a bachelor party place (with poles for pole dancing on the table you dine on), and a 2000-sq-ft master bathroom with an auction bought crystal chandelier.

    Your Tudor dream looks very accessible in comparision. Hope you can meet your calculated number of books, so you can move there.

    Another one of my messages that says, “Oops, Keira fell off the healthy boat (in Seattle) and now looks like this. But she’s back!!!”



  21. Haven Rich
    August 19th, 2007 at 5:20 pm · Link

    Keira, that is one sexy picture! However, as I recall…you didn’t wear that shade of blue eyeshadow during the conference. Is it new? *wink*



  22. Keira Soleore
    August 19th, 2007 at 8:43 pm · Link

    That ghastly getup is something I drag out of the back of the closet and don when I’m particularly not doing good.



  23. Haven Rich
    August 19th, 2007 at 9:54 pm · Link

    Well it’s only a few minutes before I enter the day of sleep lol. I highly doubt I’ll actually sleep all day, but my goal is to be as lazy as one person can be. Yes, this is different than my normal day.

    Keira, I have stuff in my closet that I only dig out on the bad days. Think along the lines of Cousin It from the Addams Family.







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