CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Four sets of nearly identical floor plans. Six hundred sixty square feet. All in the same building.

That's where the similarity ends.

Dr. Robert L. Harrison, Polly Diller, Todd Ellis and Sue Pinney all live one block west of the Capitol in Terrace Park East. Each has a space that's different, creative, efficient -- and the place they call home.

The building has been around for decades. It's been the home of a self-proclaimed Saudi Arabian prince, numerous legislators and lobbyists, yuppies and seniors and hundreds of others who have enjoyed the riverfront location, the swimming pool and the other amenities. Today, it continues to be a popular place for people of all ages and vocations.

Tasteful elegance

Harrison, 61, is the dean of the College of Professional Studies at West Virginia State University. An opera and art lover, his apartment reflects his refined style. Even his Italian greyhound, a show-ring retiree named TomTom, is elegant as he lies on the taupe couch on his own monogrammed towel.

"I had Creative Kitchens add a desk in the kitchen," Harrison said, "because there's not too much space here. It's an efficient use of the space." The desk doubles as a serving and eating space when company comes.

The quarters are adorned with art including a Shakespearean Globe Theatre model under a beautiful colored manuscript. A painting by Bluefield native Doug Bourne and many other fine art pieces line the walls. Harrison's sister, Julie, gave him a finely carved Nativity scene made from native West Virginia hardwoods, and he has it displayed on a narrow shelf in the living room. But Harrison doesn't take his collecting too seriously.

A quirky Christopher Radko candelabrum sits in the pass-through between the kitchen and the living room.

"I like bubble lights -- my mother used to put bubble lights in the window," Harrison said. "There was a Christmas one in red and green and I loved it, but I didn't like those colors to be out all year 'round, so I bought the menorah in silver and blue."

A big pink scrapbook

Diller, 84, has lined her walls with photos and paintings depicting family, community service and humor. As she walks through her apartment, it's all talk of children and grandchildren, extended family and friends.

She notes the similarity between the apartments, in a den-mother sort of way.

"You could walk around blindfolded in any of these and find your way," Diller said. "We all watch out for each other, we watch each other's cats and deliveries and all of that sort of thing. It's our version of a neighborhood."

Diller is known for her years as Charleston's consumer protection director, as a teacher at DuPont Junior High, and as the founder of the annual Reindog Parade. History is important to her.

There's a mantilla from her mother-in-law, a pillow from friend Connie Riley and a quilt from her mother on the back of the couch. She laughs at the hand-me-downs.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Four sets of nearly identical floor plans. Six hundred sixty square feet. All in the same building.

That's where the similarity ends.

Dr. Robert L. Harrison, Polly Diller, Todd Ellis and Sue Pinney all live one block west of the Capitol in Terrace Park East. Each has a space that's different, creative, efficient -- and the place they call home.

The building has been around for decades. It's been the home of a self-proclaimed Saudi Arabian prince, numerous legislators and lobbyists, yuppies and seniors and hundreds of others who have enjoyed the riverfront location, the swimming pool and the other amenities. Today, it continues to be a popular place for people of all ages and vocations.

Tasteful elegance

Harrison, 61, is the dean of the College of Professional Studies at West Virginia State University. An opera and art lover, his apartment reflects his refined style. Even his Italian greyhound, a show-ring retiree named TomTom, is elegant as he lies on the taupe couch on his own monogrammed towel.

"I had Creative Kitchens add a desk in the kitchen," Harrison said, "because there's not too much space here. It's an efficient use of the space." The desk doubles as a serving and eating space when company comes.

The quarters are adorned with art including a Shakespearean Globe Theatre model under a beautiful colored manuscript. A painting by Bluefield native Doug Bourne and many other fine art pieces line the walls. Harrison's sister, Julie, gave him a finely carved Nativity scene made from native West Virginia hardwoods, and he has it displayed on a narrow shelf in the living room. But Harrison doesn't take his collecting too seriously.

A quirky Christopher Radko candelabrum sits in the pass-through between the kitchen and the living room.

"I like bubble lights -- my mother used to put bubble lights in the window," Harrison said. "There was a Christmas one in red and green and I loved it, but I didn't like those colors to be out all year 'round, so I bought the menorah in silver and blue."

A big pink scrapbook

Diller, 84, has lined her walls with photos and paintings depicting family, community service and humor. As she walks through her apartment, it's all talk of children and grandchildren, extended family and friends.

She notes the similarity between the apartments, in a den-mother sort of way.

"You could walk around blindfolded in any of these and find your way," Diller said. "We all watch out for each other, we watch each other's cats and deliveries and all of that sort of thing. It's our version of a neighborhood."

Diller is known for her years as Charleston's consumer protection director, as a teacher at DuPont Junior High, and as the founder of the annual Reindog Parade. History is important to her.

There's a mantilla from her mother-in-law, a pillow from friend Connie Riley and a quilt from her mother on the back of the couch. She laughs at the hand-me-downs.

"I love other people's stuff," Diller said. There are gold bracelets that she's framed -- she's the fourth generation to have them -- because they are too fragile to wear. Many paintings by her son Brad are proudly displayed alongside a snippet of the purple ribbon from the opening of the first Hospice building, one the many community organizations she's volunteered with in her lifetime.

Diller has four children, "all married to really nice people," three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

'80s chic

"The '80s ruined me," Todd Ellis, 47, laughs as he points to the large posters of rock stars and movie icons he collected 20-plus years ago. Framed images of David Lee Roth, an old program from a KISS concert, Van Halen, Al Pacino as Scarface, Schwarzenegger as the Terminator all stare at visitors from metallic frames. This is the living room of a single man, to be certain.

"One thing about being single, you can buy yourself valuable gifts," Ellis said. He gestures to a large empty space on the living-room wall, awaiting his next purchase -- a large flat-screen television. The living room is his work in progress.

His cats, Zack, Bear and Banjo, dash into the bedroom that's finished and ready for viewing. Filled with fine art pieces, mostly oils, it's painted a bright blue.

"This room is finished," Ellis said. "Now it's on to the living room."

Ellis takes care of the building at Terrace Park, and admits other apartments have inspired him. "I've stolen a lot of ideas from people," he said.

Ellis loves to cook, and his little kitchen is crammed full of spices and gadgets and cookware. His cooking skills were honed in a class aboard a cruise ship, and he loves to prepare gourmet dishes.

Temporary home

Because of a tragedy, Sue Pinney landed at Terrace Park. Her home on the West Side was badly damaged by a fire, and she's living in temporary quarters at Terrace Park while repairs are being completed.

"I'm waiting to move back in," Pinney said, "so my insurance company put me up in this furnished apartment at Terrace Park." The all-granite kitchen, sleek modern furniture and hotel-like feeling of the décor are lovely, but very different from what Pinney would choose.

"This is not me," she said. "But I'm glad to have this place to land while my home is totally gutted inside and new siding and windows are installed on the outside."

In addition to counting the temporary home as a godsend, she's quick to point out another blessing in her life.

"I was at a Bible study at church when the fire happened," Pinney said. If she hadn't been at her class at the West Charleston Baptist Church, she's not sure she would be around to live at Terrace Park. "I was at the right place at the right time."

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.