Name: Odile
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
Size: 2,200 square feet, 7 rooms
Years lived in: 48 years
As a collector who has had almost half a century to curate and amass, it's best to think of Odile's sprawling pre-war apartment as a museum. Clearly, this is not your average house tour, but it may invoke memories of her daughter's apartment — Caroline's In/Animate Collection.
While New York has been her home for quite a while now, Odile was born in Normandy — a descendant of Joan of Arc on her brother's side — and survived D-day as one of 5 children to a widowed mom. In 1949, while on a Fulbright to the United States, she met her future husband, a jewish New York dentist-in-training. Not too much later, but after a necessary dispensation from the Vatican, Odile and the dentist-to-be were married.
Odile has dedicated a lifetime of passion and creativity to mineralogy, travel, penguins, painting, and of course absorbing and arranging an incredible breath of objects and memories.
"Everything here we picked because we loved it. So, I keep it," explains Odile referring to an interest in the oddities of life shared with her late husband. But Odile knows that it's more complicated than that. When asked why she likes to collect, Odile responds, "It is a disease." She believes that her need to hoard is tied closely to growing up during WWII in a large family with a mother who practiced a zero waste policy out of necessity rather than choice. Odile knows the value of re-use and recycling first hand.
Odile has a sense of humor and a command of the surreal that informs her habit. Her acute sensibility and artistic tilt transform collections into installations. And as a naturalist who volunteers at the Museum of Natural History, her 'history of the earth' collection — rocks, minerals, shells, and sands — is carefully labeled and arranged in scientific cabinets.
This way of life is not one known to many Apartment Therapy readers, but it is a wonder to behold. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to be a guest of this incredible woman, eat her delicious home made quiche and get a personal tour of her home — a deeply honest reflection of her rich life and her strong beliefs.
Apartment Therapy Survey
Style: Eclectic
Inspiration: Art, Nature, Recycling, and Technology
Biggest Challenge: Keeping track of collections
What Friends Say: This is a Museum
Biggest Embarrassment: Dust
Biggest Indulgence: Artwork
Best Advice: Follow your muse.
Dream Source: The World
Images: Jill Slater
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Wow. The penguins in aquariums!
And the carousel horse!
I loathe to be negative; because art is art and just because it's not my taste doesn't mean it's not valid, but oh my! I feel clausterphobic just looking at the photos, I can't even imagine being there it would be horrifying. It's much to much in a dizzying and cramped arrangment.
I do love the horse, very much.
Man, I'm totally into that horse. O_o
Whoa.
AMAZING!!
this is so wonderful to see, I love homes that tell a story. while this is probably "too much" for many readers, I just hope they appreciate the love that is put into her art and collections.
my faves were the Christo piece and the wooden umbrella handles.
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
I think this is interesting, but in part only because it sounds from Jill's preamble that she sees herself as somewhat trapped by her collections. I think it needs editing, but maybe this is set up this way for a holiday and its not always like that. The "why" reminds me of "Hoarders" but I can see keeping some of these things and making the little displays. I just don't get that all of it falls into that.
I thought this was a shop until I looked at the post and realized it was a house tour.
I can understand why this lady loves her collections but I agree with 'Original A' above, that she is "somewhat trapped".
I love the art on the kitchen door though.
If psychopaths feel no empathy for other beings,I think hoarders like Odile are the opposite end of the behavior spectrum and feel empathy and love for everything.
Someday we will understand the brain chemistry behind all behaviors. I don't think this is because she endured hardship or deprivation. I think she is an artist and this is her art.
I ordered this beautiful documentary that if you appreciate Odile you will enjoy:
http://www.thecollectorfilm.com/
wow, this takes hoarding to a whole new level.
she obviously loves her collections and they are fairly organized, so good for her!
makes me feel better about my garage :)
Yes crowded and I would not live there but I can just imagine how happy this lady must be. I love it.
It's a lotta crazy. It does seem fairly controlled, so as not to be hoarding. And it's a statement - worthy of being covered in an AT house tour. But, YOWZA! It makes my head hurt just thinking about being there (whoever said claustrophobic is right). Especially all those umbrella handles in the bathroom! I'm definitely a fan of collections, but, y'know, maybe one or two....
It sounds like she and her late husband shared the desire to collect, so these items may be tangible reminders of him and of their life together.
I appreciate seeing a house tour from a different age group than typically seen on AT--it's refreshing to see a home that's been continually lived in for close to 50 years! I could see some of these things in a gallery setting--the "one glove" collection is brilliant.
Honestly coming from a family of hoarders I do not see a connection between hoarding and this woman. She is way too organized to be what I would consider a hoarder. It also appears clean. I've never seen that in a horder's home. I admit that I have no psychology training (besides the required 101 for my undergrad) so I could be off base.
That said I too feel stifled. I need time and space to appreciate what I'm viewing. I love that she is able to enjoy what she loves.
I'm watching 'Hoarders' as I go through this tour. I also see no resemblance. This tour can define the difference between vast collections, and hoarding. Clean, safe, organized, creative, and artistic. Compulsive hoarding is none of these.
I appreciate the clever ideas used to display various collections, and the canes are my favorite. I would love to tour her space, and take time to really look at them. :)
I can see where it looks like an incredibly neat, OCD hoarder lives here... but I also think we have to remember that she's had **48** years to collect all of this! I can only imagine how much "junk" I'd have in 48 years if I stayed in the home I'm in! At first I feel a little anxious viewing the photos... but I think that if I spent a week looking through all of her collections and hearing the stories behind them I would see the beauty behind it more clearly. It's the kind of home where I could let myself get lost for a few hours and just browse.
It's wonderful to see another generation's home. I think for all the things that she does have, it is well organized. For me, her collection went a little overboard when I saw the toothbrushes, pens, balls and mittens. That is when I thought of what she said, that collecting is a disease.
Love the penguin collection!
On the one hand, the penguins are awesome sauce.
On the other, I just had a vicarious anxiety attack.
There's something very sweet and sincere about her collections, which clearly mean something to her. I especially liked the toothbrush collection and her late husband's key rings and pens. It sounds like her husband also liked to hold onto things. (the one glove collection was pretty amazing!) She isn't trying to please anyone else- she's displaying things that bring her happiness. I bet she's also collected some great stories!
i would love to have a chat with this lady about her fine collections, inspirations for them and the intriguing life she's led. i thought the collections were awesome, intricate and creative, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, i would find it to be just too much (now imagining my tot knocking things about whilst proudly proclaiming 'broke!' 'mess!'). it's a huge place to fill to be certain...also assuming that renos (kitchen/bath) were not on her priority list, but i'll stop there since she prefers to give her time to the community at one of THE most awesome museums EVER.
What an incredibly tactile environment. I love entering spaces where you just cannot seem to take it all in visually. The whole house is a work of art, really. What better than to literally surround yourself w/ things that hold meaning for you and have those things displayed beautifully? I adore the collection & display of the ordinary-toothbrushes, gloves...really an interesting space.
Can you say Edie Beale? This is astonishingly fun and, as cluttered as it may be, it's definitely got character!
Agree with thorndale and Kate (NC). I too anthropomorphize objects, ever since I can remember. I remember feeling badly for discarded objects.
It is nice to see house tours of an older generation. Anything Yuppie and younger is all about store, organize, de-clutter. This post reminds me of my grandparents, who grew up at a time when HAVING clutter was a luxury.
Although this apartment does feel like too much for me, I do get it. It resets your perspective to see posts like this.
Lots of interesting things here in her home. It does look like a high end retail shop though. But if she's happy then good for her.
loved some of the art work such as the horse and the picture of a tied up tree but absolutely hated the hoarding quality of this home. No space for living just for accumulating discarded every day things such as piles of toothbrushes and old hats and gloves looks very messy nothing to do with art or beauty the general impression is that this house is in desperate need of spring cleaning.
To those who feel it isn't hoarding because it's organized, you have to remember that the horrifyingly disgusting hoarders you see on tv are on tv because they are the worst of the worst; there are different levels. My mother's and sister's "collections" are very neatly piled and sorted into categories. One close friend keeps every scrap of paper that crosses her door, all neatly organized in file cabinets that fill several rooms.
I think Leilynne is spot on, just because something is organized doesn't mean it can't be "hoarding." She said her collecting is a disease. I think its sweet that she and her husband collected things and of course, she probably knows she can get rid of stuff and still have the memory. Its the fact that its taking up all of her space, and I suspect that she has a feeling like she has to keep stuff and make it useful. The fact that she mentions the dusting issue shows that she knows its compulsive. I do think that collecting, even compulsive collecting, can be artistic and interesting. I just feel sad that after many years, she lives in a static display, sort of a museum of her own life. Looking at this inspired me to put away a few things that are not particularly pretting but which I had left out. I want my vignettes to be fewer and fresher.
Please pass the Claritin!
I had to smile when I saw Odile...she blends right in with her stuff.
I find it sad that the commenters are so busy pathologizing this obviously talented lady and not focusing on her amazing creation. No, it is not something that most of us would want to live in but her and her husband have created something amazing. I wish I could hire her to organize all of my collections. Genius!
Clearly a museum, lol!
As an Upper-Westsider myself, I am curious to know where that home might be...
Hope it's up to fire code too.
Vive la Normandie!
Wow. There is a VERY thin line between Artist and Eccentric!
I want to be friends with Odile—she sounds fascinating and I love her style.
Holy smokes! This is the most artful and sentimental hoarder home I have ever seen! While its a bit too much for me, she does seem to have a flair for organizing unique collections.
reminds me very much of Iris Apfel. I love her home - eccentric and fun! It's really nice to think that it was something special she and her husband created together.
Odile had a husband she obviously adored and with whom she appears to have had a great deal in common, kids who love her and her eccentricities enough to send her to Patagonia to study penguins and, I would imagine, grandchildren who go completely, utterly insane with glee every time they walk in the door. Plus the good sense to know she's a little bit diseased and has a dust problem. Odile's livin' large. I tip my umbrella to her.
I ♥ the penguins, and the quiche, haha. I'd have nightmares about my place turning into this (especially since I am moving in a few weeks orz) but it would be fun to visit! I like seeing ppl's stuff, and the woman has a museum's worth. Not to be too morbid, but I wonder if this collection is suitable for donation to a museum--I just feel like it's terribly impressive.
Er, I noted the cement trowel on the stove. ... what is it for?
I thought this was a shop at first. Her installations would be brilliant in a musuem, but I could never living in a home like this. The portrait of her is astonishingly elegant, that's my favorite part of this tour.
I got stuck on the first sentence. "a descendant of Joan of Arc on his brother's side" What's up? Who is the his? Her husband? And wouldn't his brother's side be the same as his side? Confused.
Peggy, maybe they mean: "on her brother's side" (Joan of Arc, that is)?
Hollister and Porter's grandmother?
Penguins are awesome though.
I think this way of doing it (with space to walk and breathe) is preferable. Of course, we don't all have 15k sqft.
http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/64276/
She has the kindest eyes. Peaceful. I would drop dead, instantly, if surrounded by so much but she and her home look like a lot of living went on and is still.
Love it and would love to meet her.
eye candy... I immensely enjoyed looking at every photo... more tours like this please!!!
Collections of one's "treasures" is hardly the same as the homes of people who cannot let go of anything (including out and out trash). If one has the space and desire to organize belongings in this way and it is pleasing to them, who are we to judge what is best?
As many have said, it would not work for me, but I can appreciate the vignettes and the sense of humor of having a collection of umbrella handles or single gloves. And penguins.
Now this is a cluttered space. Wow I couldn't live here without getting nightmares. I think it's time to start selling some of this on Ebay
Amazing! Personally I could never live like this, as I'd be constantly afraid of knocking stuff over and breaking it (especially in the front hallway). If I had all these collections, I'd apply for a grant to start an actual little museum (not in my home) so that the public can enjoy it. But if she likes actually living with it (and she does have 7 rooms), good for her! Love the collection of single gloves (I have always been intrigued by how many you find all over the city) and the painting on the ceiling.
I collect art myself and have a fairly large collection (for a private person), that said that house gives me the willies.
Not to be unkind but I believe one should curate their collection; not cram it all in view like a size 9 foot in a size 7 shoe.
It smacks of hording.
Again apologies to Odile, I am certain you are as lovely as you are strong to survive all you've been through.
Remarkable. I imagine this is what Henry Darger's apartment was like...and that is meant as a compliment. Interesting people collect interesting things...