Rumor has it that this turreted mansion in the Portage Bay area was originally built for the left-handed mistress of a timber magnate. This is totally unconfirmed—unless you count doors hung backwards as proof—but if it’s true, he must have loved this southpaw dearly. The house was designed by famed local architect Edwin Ivey, possibly in collaboration with his architectural partner Elizabeth Ayer, both known for grand homes with plenty of trimmings. That’s prestigious enough without the only known extant fountain by Ernest Batchelder, an artist from the Arts and Crafts movement renowned for his tile work.

That’s a lot, and we haven’t even gotten to what one owner called the "potter’s palace," so let’s start over on the street. The home is turret-forward, with a tower front and center and latticed windows winding up its side. An exterior staircase curves around to a stately, arched front door trimmed in carved stone. Inside, the entry hall looks more medieval, with multiple archways adorned with corbels and elaborately carved crown molding that continues throughout the home.

The ostentatious hallway is the perfect lead-in to the soaring, ornate living area. The trapezoidal cathedral ceiling has two oversize beams running down the length with a relief pattern that matches the crown molding—crossed by narrower beams, each ending in its own miniature corbel. A recessed stone fireplace on the far wall extends from the mantel all the way to the ceiling, bookended by arched, latticed windows. 

It’s really hard to beat that room, but the large formal dining room gives it a good shot, with large grille windows and doors leading out to a serene patio. The eat-in kitchen is surprisingly low-key, especially by comparison, but it has plenty of counter space and an island with what looks like a built-in marble pastry board. But don't get too comfortable. Things get medieval again in the tower, which holds a spiral staircase with a dramatic peak and statement chandelier at the top.

The home has a whopping five bedrooms, but the prettiest is a palatial room with a study-like design with wainscoting and decorative molding in a bold blue-green, surrounded by large grille windows and candle-look sconces.

Honorable pretty mention goes to a bright, opulent Art Deco bathroom—matching the home in outrageous effort, even if it's not aesthetically consistent—with patterned black and gold tile blanketing the walls and ceiling.

The exterior of the home is just as dramatic as the interior. The Batchelder fountain descends down the wall on the back patio, bisecting the French doors to the dining room. Gardeners have a large, beautiful, and fully-featured fenced-in workspace to play with, with a shed that looks like cabinetry, lots of counter space, and a dedicated sink.