Inside the Flood Summer Residence

1/10/25 15 Comments

Authored & Curated By

M.J.G.

The home in Alma, known as Armadale, served as the summer residence for the Flood family, which included Rose, Jim, their "adopted" daughter Constance, and Rose's younger sister, Maude. The house was a modest Victorian structure, characteristic of California, with a monochrome paint scheme. However, the interior was entirely unexpected, offering a stark contrast to its exterior appearance.

The Home
Here is the exterior view of the home purchased by the Flood family for their summer retreats. They spent several months here each year before relocating to their San Francisco flat for the winter. The family frequently entertained friends at this residence and was well-known for hosting numerous parties.

The Hall
We mentioned this hall in the previous post, but it offers a preview of the rest of the home, displaying the exotic interior that stands in stark contrast to the exterior design.

The Parlor
This room, bearing a striking resemblance to the design of the 1890 Page Street home. It is said that a decorator was hired for the Page Street residence, and it seems evident that the same decorator also worked on this house. The fretwork spandrel is notably similar and appears to be accented in gold.

Here is a close-up view of the bench and the gold conversation chair, also known as a tête-à-tête.

This was a common design trend in the 1890s, with cherubs often draped over shelves or intertwined with stringed flowers. If you examine the window framework closely, you’ll notice a similar pattern to the one used in the 1890 Page Street home.

A close-up of a statue displayed on a brass Mexican onyx-topped table, accompanied by various other objects scattered throughout the room. Additionally, there seems to be a grand piano, though the make is unclear.

The Turkish Smoking Room
This spectacular Turkish smoking room is adorned with objects from abroad. The family, known for their travels, brought back numerous items and also hired a designer to source additional pieces for decoration. The doorway is framed by a distinctive Moorish arch, adding to the room’s unique charm.

The walls seem to be adorned with Moorish-style wallpaper, featuring a tall, bold, and heavily detailed frieze.

Beautiful, matching built-in shelving and niches line the walls of this room, exhibiting exquisite statuary from their travels, along with plates and vases.

The room is filled with plates, fans, urns, vases, lanterns, and other accoutrements commonly found in a richly decorated Turkish room. Take your time to carefully examine the variety of objects scattered throughout the space.

Wall-to-wall Turkish carpeting, with a central Turkish rug placed on top, ottomans, and a stunning inlaid center table, all contribute to making this room warm and rich in detail, offering plenty for the eye to appreciate.

The built-in Turkish corner was a popular feature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often filled with pillows, cushions, and ottomans for a comfortable place to rest your feet.

If you enter the room and turn back, you’ll notice the opposite side is similarly filled with intricate details. From a higher vantage point, you can also view the top of the fretwork archway, which features more small arches that house vases and urns, ensuring no area is left unadorned.

More intricately inlaid tables and chairs, complemented by fringed furniture, enhance the warmth and inviting atmosphere of the interior.

The Dining Room
The dining room of this house was a hub for many gatherings, parties, and late-night drinks.

Jim is seen on the left, with Rose smiling warmly on the right. In the background, one of the servants can be seen.

The walls, heavily adorned with wallpaper, plates, urns, flasks, and pictures, create a bold, dark, and fashionable dining room.

Here is a clear view of an etched glass door, with its intricate design.

This is Rose’s sister Maude on the left, with Constance May likely sitting on the man’s lap.

The Chamber
This beautiful bedroom features an ornate metal bed frame with a half-tester canopy. The bed is positioned in front of a doorway, suggesting that the room with the open door may have been an en suite. The bed appears to be a typical double size, popular at the time, and is notably high off the ground.

Flowers and cherubs dance above the bed, while a close-up view reveals the intricate picture rail and wallpaper that adorn the room.

The footboard of this bed is stunning, with a very attractive and elegant design.

A unique combination of a shelf and picture frame case adorns this wall, displaying vases, statues, a perfume bottle, and a candlestick. I wonder what the photos inside the frame might depict?

Here is a view into the next room, where you can spot a thermometer on the trim. Also, take note of the Eastlake door escutcheon on the left.

Running around to the other side of the room reveals an abundance of rattan or wicker furniture, along with dressers.

Here is a closer look at the wallpaper and the frieze paper and their intricate patterns and design details.

A closer view of the wall-to-wall carpeting highlights its detailed pattern, along with the seams where the strips are joined.

A very unique brass table, with a teacup resting on it, adds an interesting touch to the room.

This flamboyant frame on the wall holds a photo of a girl who resembles Rose, though it is likely not her. The frame features a small shelf on the bottom right, adding a unique touch.

The details on the exterior can be found here.

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