The Comstock Fairy Tale Cottages of Carmel

Without a doubt the defining fairy tale cottage style of Carmel-by-the-Sea was perfected in the 1920s by Hugh W. Comstock. Neither a builder nor an architect he constructed his first tiny cottage in Carmel to display his wife's Otsey-Totsey rag dolls. Twenty of these remaining and restored fairy tale cottages are beautifully illustrated and described by the late Joanne Mathewson in this second edition of her 2002 book. Building permits and dates lend an historical reference to this penultimate treasure documenting the inspiration that lead to the European fairy tale charm that pervades Carmel today.