Interiors: A home away from the ghosts and ghouls

May 15 2008 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson visits the old Victorian apartment of a woman whose job is terrifying people

WHEN scaring people is your stock in trade, living in a Victorian townhouse basement might be considered something of a busman’s holiday.

And Shiverpool tours creative director Alex Stone does admit that she sometimes lets her imagination get the better of her.

The 26-year-old lives in a three- bedroomed apartment in the Lark Lane area with her flatmate.

Her bedroom is in the basement, and she says sometimes her imagination runs wild.

She says: "I do a lot of research for the Shiverpool tours, find out the history of areas and buildings, and some of the not so pleasant things that went on there.

"Our house is quite old, and, of course, all houses have their stories to tell, so sometimes I wonder what went on in the basement a hundred years or so ago . . . and, yes, since I moved in, I have been sleeping with the little lights on!"

The flat is in Marmion Road, one of the leafy streets off Lark Lane. She only moved in in February, but has lived in the area for five years.

She says: "It is quite special round here, I think. Very young and vibrant, lots of great bars and restaurants, but also really relaxed. You can get up with a hangover and walk down Lark Lane and know that you are not alone!

"It is also close to Sefton Park, where my mum always used to take me when I was little, so it has always felt like a magical place. It is also only 10 minutes away from town, which is brilliant."

Alex runs Shiverpool with her brother, John.

She says: "Cities like York and Edinburgh had them, but we didn’t. I’ve always been interested in spooky things anyway, and I did history at university. We really research everything well.

"The tours are scary but fun, we use actors as ghosts, it’s part performance, part storytelling, all in costume – with a lot of surprises."

Certain aspects of those interests are reflected in Alex’s home, but in terms of decor she has kept it deliberately un-spooky.

The large main living area has the beautiful high ceilings and bay windows of properties of that era, and the walls are painted bright white.

She says: "We have kept it nice and fresh and simple. The walls are white, the floors laminate – I have to get away from the horror sometimes!

"Although there is a crystal ball and a bookcase that has horror film posters and tales of executions at Walton Gaol . . . the usual light reading material!"

The "light reading material" has recently included research on the business district for their new Auld City Tours.

She says: "It starts at the Slaughterhouse, which has its own history as an abattoir, and takes in plague pits, slums, jails, and all sorts of tales you wouldn’t expect to find around that area . . . there is a story around every corner in this city."

As well as the lovely high- ceilinged main room, the apartment also has a separate dining room, and a galley kitchen with modern fitted units.

The apartment is split level, and Alex has her bedroom in the basement.

Spookiness factor of the location aside, the room is again kept nice and bright, with white walls. There is a theme of black and white damask, with a headboard she made herself and similar bed linens. The look is livened up with bright reds and fuchsia pinks brought in through soft furnishings, and a pretty net covered with roses on the wall.

She says: "There is also a small room which is like a room of calm, with a little meditation area and things that are special to me, like family photos. It’s a nice place to go and find a bit of peace.

"I think that about this whole area, though, to be honest – it can be lively, of course, and there is a great social scene, but there is the park, and it feels nice and leafy here. I lived right in the city centre for a while but it was just too much for me – this is the best of both worlds."

* DO YOU live in a Liverpool apartment? Are you proud of your home and would like to show it off on the pages of Style City? If so, then send your details to debbiemjohnson@hotmail.com and we could be popping round soon.