Reimagining the Home of Anne of Green Gables
Celebrating Canadian author LM Montgomery’s birthday this month, we ponder what the home of Anne Shirley of Green Gables fame would be like
Lovers of literature often become besotted with particular books. We swoon over the setting, contemplate the characters and wonder about the worlds that the author creates, until they become so real we can enter those worlds wholeheartedly. It’s common to become so enamoured with a character that we subconsciously believe they’re real, and more, that they’re a friend. As such, we find ourselves wondering what happens to them once the story ends. This is the first in a series of articles that explores that idea, looking at where a famous character from literature might live in the real world and how they would spend their time there.
Fictional Character at a Glance
Who would live here: Anne Shirley
From which book: Anne of Green Gables
Author: LM (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Why this month: On November 30, we celebrate the author’s birthday
Home style: Country classic
Fictional Character at a Glance
Who would live here: Anne Shirley
From which book: Anne of Green Gables
Author: LM (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Why this month: On November 30, we celebrate the author’s birthday
Home style: Country classic
The setting
Green Gables was the setting of Anne’s childhood and the focal point of the novel. When Matthew Cuthbert mistakenly picks up the young orphaned Anne Shirley instead of the requested boy, Green Gables is where he brings her. While Matthew and his sister Marilla were initially going to send her back to the orphanage, they were eventually charmed by Anne’s chatty friendliness and decided to keep her.
Anne dreamt of living in a home like Green Gables her whole life and fell in love with the house, its gardens, her new family and the friends she made there. Marilla and Matthew soon fell in love with her too. So much so that Matthew later said, “I’d rather have you than a million boys, Anne.”
Photo by John Sylvester
Green Gables was the setting of Anne’s childhood and the focal point of the novel. When Matthew Cuthbert mistakenly picks up the young orphaned Anne Shirley instead of the requested boy, Green Gables is where he brings her. While Matthew and his sister Marilla were initially going to send her back to the orphanage, they were eventually charmed by Anne’s chatty friendliness and decided to keep her.
Anne dreamt of living in a home like Green Gables her whole life and fell in love with the house, its gardens, her new family and the friends she made there. Marilla and Matthew soon fell in love with her too. So much so that Matthew later said, “I’d rather have you than a million boys, Anne.”
Photo by John Sylvester
The house
While Anne loved Green Gables fervently (she often felt fervently about things), she was also an independent soul who was quite ambitious. As the story progresses through subsequent books, Anne goes on to move away, attend university, become a teacher and a writer and (spoiler alert) marry the wonderful Gilbert Blythe.
So, ultimately, she would never have gone back to live in Green Gables as she had moved beyond it. However, it was so close to her heart that I like to think she would would want to move into a house like this one. It’s not Green Gables, but it’s alike enough to remind her of her beloved childhood home.
While Anne loved Green Gables fervently (she often felt fervently about things), she was also an independent soul who was quite ambitious. As the story progresses through subsequent books, Anne goes on to move away, attend university, become a teacher and a writer and (spoiler alert) marry the wonderful Gilbert Blythe.
So, ultimately, she would never have gone back to live in Green Gables as she had moved beyond it. However, it was so close to her heart that I like to think she would would want to move into a house like this one. It’s not Green Gables, but it’s alike enough to remind her of her beloved childhood home.
The entrance
This entrance makes me think of Matthew for some reason. I think it’s because he was often in the barn and these doors are an elegant suggestion of that. Anne would enjoy walking here daily and thinking warmly of him.
Matthew was Anne’s hero. I think she knew they’d be kindred spirits as soon as he said, “You can talk all you like; I don’t mind,” For talkative Anne had only ever been told to keep quiet, so Matthew’s acceptance of her was validating. He was the kind and quiet champion who thought the sun rose and set with Anne. He said to her, “I never wanted a boy. I only wanted you from the first day. Don’t ever change. I love my little girl.”
This entrance makes me think of Matthew for some reason. I think it’s because he was often in the barn and these doors are an elegant suggestion of that. Anne would enjoy walking here daily and thinking warmly of him.
Matthew was Anne’s hero. I think she knew they’d be kindred spirits as soon as he said, “You can talk all you like; I don’t mind,” For talkative Anne had only ever been told to keep quiet, so Matthew’s acceptance of her was validating. He was the kind and quiet champion who thought the sun rose and set with Anne. He said to her, “I never wanted a boy. I only wanted you from the first day. Don’t ever change. I love my little girl.”
The mudroom
Anne loved a bit of adventure and had a great affinity with nature. She was always out walking in the woods around Green Gables. As an adult, she would surely have to remain in the countryside. She would need the grounding influence of the outdoors to feed and soothe her poetic soul.
Anne also grew up to have seven children (though only six survived through childhood) and at least five grandchildren, so a room like this would be fabulous to corral their muddy boots and winter jackets.
Anne loved a bit of adventure and had a great affinity with nature. She was always out walking in the woods around Green Gables. As an adult, she would surely have to remain in the countryside. She would need the grounding influence of the outdoors to feed and soothe her poetic soul.
Anne also grew up to have seven children (though only six survived through childhood) and at least five grandchildren, so a room like this would be fabulous to corral their muddy boots and winter jackets.
The parlour
Poor Anne was never allowed to use the parlour at Green Gables. It was the formal room for special guests, and Marilla couldn’t possibly trust accident-prone Anne in there without supervision. As an adult, I’m sure Anne would delight in having her own glamorous parlour to use whenever she wished.
This one is decorated in a pink palette because, while Anne loved the colour, she felt it clashed with her red hair and never let herself wear it. As she gets older and more self confident, she probably wouldn’t worry about such things as much, so she could happily splash out on this beautiful room. All she needs now is an afternoon tea party with her bosom friend Diana. And even better, they’re now old enough to drink Marilla’s currant wine!
Poor Anne was never allowed to use the parlour at Green Gables. It was the formal room for special guests, and Marilla couldn’t possibly trust accident-prone Anne in there without supervision. As an adult, I’m sure Anne would delight in having her own glamorous parlour to use whenever she wished.
This one is decorated in a pink palette because, while Anne loved the colour, she felt it clashed with her red hair and never let herself wear it. As she gets older and more self confident, she probably wouldn’t worry about such things as much, so she could happily splash out on this beautiful room. All she needs now is an afternoon tea party with her bosom friend Diana. And even better, they’re now old enough to drink Marilla’s currant wine!
The kitchen
While Anne wasn’t much of a cook as a child and thought, “there’s so little scope for imagination in cookery,” this kitchen may appeal to her. It’s a beautiful room, and if she gets bored with cooking she can always wander over to that gorgeous window seat and daydream out the window.
After all, it’s the 21st century now and Anne needs to take advantage of home-delivered meals and men who cook. Get in that kitchen Gilbert and whip up something for the family!
While Anne wasn’t much of a cook as a child and thought, “there’s so little scope for imagination in cookery,” this kitchen may appeal to her. It’s a beautiful room, and if she gets bored with cooking she can always wander over to that gorgeous window seat and daydream out the window.
After all, it’s the 21st century now and Anne needs to take advantage of home-delivered meals and men who cook. Get in that kitchen Gilbert and whip up something for the family!
The pantry
Adding a little antique piece like this to her pantry may help to remind Anne of Marilla and the times they spent together in the kitchen. Marilla tried hard to teach Anne how to cook, and suffered through her many gastronomic mistakes. Anne once forgot to put flour in her cakes, and left the cover off the pudding sauce she was making so that a mouse drowned in it. Though this sorely vexed Marilla (Marilla was as often sorely vexed as Anne was fervent), she loved Anne and said to her, “I think you may be a kindred spirit after all.”
Adding a little antique piece like this to her pantry may help to remind Anne of Marilla and the times they spent together in the kitchen. Marilla tried hard to teach Anne how to cook, and suffered through her many gastronomic mistakes. Anne once forgot to put flour in her cakes, and left the cover off the pudding sauce she was making so that a mouse drowned in it. Though this sorely vexed Marilla (Marilla was as often sorely vexed as Anne was fervent), she loved Anne and said to her, “I think you may be a kindred spirit after all.”
The bedroom
When Anne first arrives at Green Gables she is disappointed with the starkness of her bedroom. It had “whitewashed walls that were so painfully bare and staring that she thought they must ache over their own bareness.”
There would be no such aching from this room, where I imagine Anne today, with it’s bright pink walls, decorative accents and a glamorous chandelier. As an adult living in her own home, she would relish the opportunity for the frill and fuss this bedroom provides.
When Anne first arrives at Green Gables she is disappointed with the starkness of her bedroom. It had “whitewashed walls that were so painfully bare and staring that she thought they must ache over their own bareness.”
There would be no such aching from this room, where I imagine Anne today, with it’s bright pink walls, decorative accents and a glamorous chandelier. As an adult living in her own home, she would relish the opportunity for the frill and fuss this bedroom provides.
The writing room
After Anne grudgingly takes Gilbert’s advice to “Let your characters speak everyday English, instead of all that highfalutin mumbo-jumbo,” she begins a successful career as a writer. She would need a beautiful room such as this to escape to and write in. The aesthetic here suggests to me the style of the grown-up Anne. It has a touch of the glamour she so loved as a child, but the simplicity and elegance that I feel would have typified her as she aged.
After Anne grudgingly takes Gilbert’s advice to “Let your characters speak everyday English, instead of all that highfalutin mumbo-jumbo,” she begins a successful career as a writer. She would need a beautiful room such as this to escape to and write in. The aesthetic here suggests to me the style of the grown-up Anne. It has a touch of the glamour she so loved as a child, but the simplicity and elegance that I feel would have typified her as she aged.
The reading nook
Anne loved nothing more than to curl up with a good book. Her home would likely be filled with many little places that she could comfortably sit and get lost in the pages of a beautiful piece of literature. LM Montgomery wrote of Anne: “She declared as she brought her books down from the attic, ‘Oh, you good old friends, I’m glad to see your honest face once more – yes, even you, geometry.’”
Anne loved nothing more than to curl up with a good book. Her home would likely be filled with many little places that she could comfortably sit and get lost in the pages of a beautiful piece of literature. LM Montgomery wrote of Anne: “She declared as she brought her books down from the attic, ‘Oh, you good old friends, I’m glad to see your honest face once more – yes, even you, geometry.’”
The library
Anne would also need a lot of bookshelves to house her many books. Hopefully she would have kept all the old writings from her childhood, and from the story group she formed with her friends. As an adult in this room she could look back fondly and have a laugh at the dramatic stories they created and shared together.
As the young storyteller said in Anne of Green Gables, “Jane’s stories are too sensible. Then Diana puts too much murders into hers. She says most of the time she doesn’t know what to do with the people so she kills them off to get rid of them.”
Anne would also need a lot of bookshelves to house her many books. Hopefully she would have kept all the old writings from her childhood, and from the story group she formed with her friends. As an adult in this room she could look back fondly and have a laugh at the dramatic stories they created and shared together.
As the young storyteller said in Anne of Green Gables, “Jane’s stories are too sensible. Then Diana puts too much murders into hers. She says most of the time she doesn’t know what to do with the people so she kills them off to get rid of them.”
The guesthouse
Anne and Gilbert would have many friends and family members coming to visit from Avonlea, and so would need some lovely guest accommodation. While a simple pull-out sofa or a spare room might do, as Anne says, “When you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worthwhile.”
So, let’s have a beautiful big guesthouse that Marilla or Diana can come to stay in the utmost comfort. It might also double as a shed for Anne, which she could use as an escape from the demands of life as a busy author and mother of six. She could come out here, bury her head in a book and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Anne and Gilbert would have many friends and family members coming to visit from Avonlea, and so would need some lovely guest accommodation. While a simple pull-out sofa or a spare room might do, as Anne says, “When you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worthwhile.”
So, let’s have a beautiful big guesthouse that Marilla or Diana can come to stay in the utmost comfort. It might also double as a shed for Anne, which she could use as an escape from the demands of life as a busy author and mother of six. She could come out here, bury her head in a book and enjoy the peace and quiet.
The treehouse
Anne’s whimsical soul and playful nature would delight in the pursuits of her many children and grandchildren. I imagine she would love to create a big treehouse like this one for them, and would be thrilled to join them up there for treetop picnics and wild games of make-believe.
Anne’s whimsical soul and playful nature would delight in the pursuits of her many children and grandchildren. I imagine she would love to create a big treehouse like this one for them, and would be thrilled to join them up there for treetop picnics and wild games of make-believe.
The home cinema
Any fan of Anne’s knows that she loved a bit of drama and was fond of exaggeration. The fact that she was always in the ‘depths of despair,’ and said, “My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes”, shows her tendency towards the dramatic.
While she mellowed out as she grew up, she said herself, “I’m not a bit changed – not really. I’m only just pruned down and branched out. The real ME… is just the same.” So, I think dramatic older Anne would love her own home theatre room to watch old romantic movies and binge watch the latest Netflix series.
Any fan of Anne’s knows that she loved a bit of drama and was fond of exaggeration. The fact that she was always in the ‘depths of despair,’ and said, “My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes”, shows her tendency towards the dramatic.
While she mellowed out as she grew up, she said herself, “I’m not a bit changed – not really. I’m only just pruned down and branched out. The real ME… is just the same.” So, I think dramatic older Anne would love her own home theatre room to watch old romantic movies and binge watch the latest Netflix series.
The lake of shining waters
There’s no doubt Anne would have loved to have a property with a small lake such as this one, to remind herself of the Lake of Shining Waters near her home in Green Gables. She described it in the book: “…the Lake of Shining Waters was blue… a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all modes and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquillity unbroken by fickle dreams.”
Having a close link to the natural world at home would be just as important to Anne as an adult, as wandering in the woods and wilderness had been one of her much-loved escapes as a child.
There’s no doubt Anne would have loved to have a property with a small lake such as this one, to remind herself of the Lake of Shining Waters near her home in Green Gables. She described it in the book: “…the Lake of Shining Waters was blue… a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all modes and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquillity unbroken by fickle dreams.”
Having a close link to the natural world at home would be just as important to Anne as an adult, as wandering in the woods and wilderness had been one of her much-loved escapes as a child.
The rose garden
Anne not only loved the wild woods around Green Gables, but the flowers that grew in her garden too. She was particularly fond of roses and said, “I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”
This archway of roses may also be a reminder to her of Lover’s Lane in Avonlea, and would make a lovely place to sit and reminisce with Gilbert about their beautiful childhood friendship and later romance. As Anne famously said to Gilbert, “I don’t want marble halls or diamond sunbursts… I just want you.”
Anne not only loved the wild woods around Green Gables, but the flowers that grew in her garden too. She was particularly fond of roses and said, “I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”
This archway of roses may also be a reminder to her of Lover’s Lane in Avonlea, and would make a lovely place to sit and reminisce with Gilbert about their beautiful childhood friendship and later romance. As Anne famously said to Gilbert, “I don’t want marble halls or diamond sunbursts… I just want you.”
TELL US
Who was your favourite character when you were a child, and what do you think their home would be like if they were here today? Share your literary memories with us in the Comments section.
Who was your favourite character when you were a child, and what do you think their home would be like if they were here today? Share your literary memories with us in the Comments section.
LM Montgomery created a character so utterly charming that she has been revered by generations of readers for more than a century. Her passionate high spirits, innate curiosity, feistiness and unlimited imagination made Anne a kindred spirit to millions.
My daughter has been readingAnne of Green Gables in class, and it got me reminiscing about this beautiful character and wondering about her life. What would it be like if she were alive and living among us today? More specifically, I wondered where she would live and what her house would look like. Join me on my flight of fancy (Anne would totally approve of any flights of fancy) to imagine her home in the 21st century.
Photo by John Sylvester