Magnificent Home Improvements

trompe-l-oeil doors

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AcIFLxGOYnIex1D6NGUUGMKTAQh1lw2zBCuKZZkVpu6NGa2KXRfGmu2MdEOruFdt5wIHfzmnPhiuWawqxsy-7CEOo69ojxAOo8sUwaZ1MhfuYV1Z55qzixVHThU3qmCSrFMyBohv7SU/s1600/image_slide_show_new_100525_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="470" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533594907720603858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AcIFLxGOYnIex1D6NGUUGMKTAQh1lw2zBCuKZZkVpu6NGa2KXRfGmu2MdEOruFdt5wIHfzmnPhiuWawqxsy-7CEOo69ojxAOo8sUwaZ1MhfuYV1Z55qzixVHThU3qmCSrFMyBohv7SU/s400/image_slide_show_new_100525_.jpg" width="470" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What a great idea! Trompe l'Oeil door stickers.  Printed in real size on adhesive fabric.  How come no one thought of <a href="http://www.colette.fr/#/eshop/article/11430402/maison-martin-margiela-trompe-l-oeil-stickers/57/">this</a> before?</div></div></div>

trompe-l-oeil doors

What a great idea! Trompe l'Oeil door stickers. Printed in real size on adhesive fabric. How come no one thought of this before?…

29Oct2010

Happy Retirement Mr. Hadley

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg1oQhotwfG7Py1mgR6swDMQxjbWBXpiwGIPSc-wu8vFK42iXR0WYjDLmiFG5gfjHpeg5C0OvY1YSj3EQtATpYJcfYvR6wJ-pi7A5l4Gs5r3wVt9lyaMI1z-enTC_GGIaSv3tOzU5HZs/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="590" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418624665400450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg1oQhotwfG7Py1mgR6swDMQxjbWBXpiwGIPSc-wu8vFK42iXR0WYjDLmiFG5gfjHpeg5C0OvY1YSj3EQtATpYJcfYvR6wJ-pi7A5l4Gs5r3wVt9lyaMI1z-enTC_GGIaSv3tOzU5HZs/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-6.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>I was told  by a very reliable source a few weeks ago that the legendary Albert Hadley is retiring.  I felt happy for him but also sad that I won't get to see more of his always admirable work.  I called his office in an attempt to prove me wrong and they confirmed that this week will be the last week of Albert Hadley Incorporated.  Nothing I could say about his work, his legacy and his mayor influence in the design world would be enough so all I'm going to do is wish Mr. Hadley a very <span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Retirement.</span>  Below are photos of the last work designed by Albert Hadley and Britton Smith published by Elle Decor. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv97AgGL19xFLRoeysLZNqPT0bj0uQylWGzNViffth-H48-J5OygauI9_K5XqheVfm8hNDJjVceeGBPfWDAUw8_nCOTOkcWjGmeGWb_IqZT6HIX2ODjv-G7UWMROZTDuyxnJCKa_BN-4/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418484282979666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv97AgGL19xFLRoeysLZNqPT0bj0uQylWGzNViffth-H48-J5OygauI9_K5XqheVfm8hNDJjVceeGBPfWDAUw8_nCOTOkcWjGmeGWb_IqZT6HIX2ODjv-G7UWMROZTDuyxnJCKa_BN-4/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-3.jpg" style="height: 380px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDurGOwK1I3cgALbCZqZgK7sS-TxVZBE9H5p8HsqZM0WaiKZQZRTNw_kZpsLCnOHa7s7cNFUUxYOm-ygDv0AfxN-lrOMJzHZJNWA3II2weZiCljqoPSkuC_q7GvE-OttlvHfM7wbfduo/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418509308688274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDurGOwK1I3cgALbCZqZgK7sS-TxVZBE9H5p8HsqZM0WaiKZQZRTNw_kZpsLCnOHa7s7cNFUUxYOm-ygDv0AfxN-lrOMJzHZJNWA3II2weZiCljqoPSkuC_q7GvE-OttlvHfM7wbfduo/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 380px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy3GWdL6CD7jypuc5y4lpg5QTltbESVmE3DukrRxDXjZhoiHvw37tIWH-liAeDs53l2bPWkEqQV6_MHo5oi1uVx8qiubTOSASTw8hC8IPgV125K2TJk4v0dSdxgjyNZA4hh6Mch7I_zY/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418500089582418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy3GWdL6CD7jypuc5y4lpg5QTltbESVmE3DukrRxDXjZhoiHvw37tIWH-liAeDs53l2bPWkEqQV6_MHo5oi1uVx8qiubTOSASTw8hC8IPgV125K2TJk4v0dSdxgjyNZA4hh6Mch7I_zY/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-4.jpg" style="height: 380px; width: 460px;" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F1pEos4v96h2fQxRv4XrP-4ABvEeUL9pdErWEfE9Pl4ZsdmGEfl20OmIILFuVgC2Mg6qF0OZ_gisdffvAsSJUbhCX1xLchsCEoHcFQrSoaEOu7fcgDfNMyMgFO1hJHgqDVYzyoIHd6g/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418476505253874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F1pEos4v96h2fQxRv4XrP-4ABvEeUL9pdErWEfE9Pl4ZsdmGEfl20OmIILFuVgC2Mg6qF0OZ_gisdffvAsSJUbhCX1xLchsCEoHcFQrSoaEOu7fcgDfNMyMgFO1hJHgqDVYzyoIHd6g/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 380px; width: 460px;" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPIW1bBZU54f2sMbs0JW2tzZDQ4M8_zmbxt8jpXxB2A2_1D75NakoVP13ZdJN7EdIr-7g0sRoTbooi05GeoJ1A34ZkCklE-tP58V1gZV9xnEifuQOl_OwZpc1-kaPZNayEKHl-mt-HXw/s1600/ED-0510-Quasha-7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418625995546178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPIW1bBZU54f2sMbs0JW2tzZDQ4M8_zmbxt8jpXxB2A2_1D75NakoVP13ZdJN7EdIr-7g0sRoTbooi05GeoJ1A34ZkCklE-tP58V1gZV9xnEifuQOl_OwZpc1-kaPZNayEKHl-mt-HXw/s400/ED-0510-Quasha-7.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 380px; width: 460px;" /></a><br />Bellow is a shot of Albert Hadley's dining room in his Connecticut house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwQTCNm1gFk2NsHUjasPvtm_L6aOpMmDyt99b3pATDUfyVYIUecHFlhcpyI1F5697ngfSKlz1fjPvAnugcez2XzJhcEpWSloFeKrPyAoT7n6hO_Ef-bj1z067TD6o_nU2ZP3PfiKlqag/s1600/Dining-room-decorating-ideas-ss07albert+hadley+conneticut+home.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532418472495301730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwQTCNm1gFk2NsHUjasPvtm_L6aOpMmDyt99b3pATDUfyVYIUecHFlhcpyI1F5697ngfSKlz1fjPvAnugcez2XzJhcEpWSloFeKrPyAoT7n6hO_Ef-bj1z067TD6o_nU2ZP3PfiKlqag/s400/Dining-room-decorating-ideas-ss07albert+hadley+conneticut+home.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></div>

Happy Retirement Mr. Hadley

I was told by a very reliable source a few weeks ago that the legendary Albert Hadley is retiring. I felt happy for him but also sad that I won't get to see more of his always admirable work. I called his office in an attempt to prove me wrong and they confirmed that this week will be the last w…

27Oct2010

Effortlessly Chic vs. Effortfully Chic

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I could learn a thing or two about fashion but one thing I know for sure is that nothing sounds more appealing to me than the word <span style="font-style: italic;">Effortlessly Chic</span> when it comes to dressing. More for the comfort side of it than for the actual chic other. Nothing explains more an Effortlessly Chic concept than dresses, skirts, comfortable tops and fabrics like cotton and cashmere. On the other hand, please get ready for this, I may be the only person who you've heard saying this, but I dislike jeans and find them extremely uncomfortable. You must be reading this and thinking that I'm from another planet.  But the fact is that I would only wear them like Europeans do, loose enough. Don't take me wrong I've seen many Effortfully-put-together-drop-dead outfits out there like the ones <a href="http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&pwst=1&biw=1204&bih=688&gbv=2&q=anna+dello+russo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=m4rHTJ_AA4S0lQe_7IjjAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQsAQwAw" target="_blank">Anna Dello Russo</a> wears;  but having a two year old who decides to get <span style="font-style: italic;">mamities</span> whenever I happen to wear one of my Thakoon silk dresses it's not fun, trust me. So I've been searching for inspiration on how to dress comfortably and still look <span style="font-style: italic;">Effortlessy Chic</span>.  Below are a few photos that caught my eye.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsnwR-vzH_45q9EIIhupznnP4CYIWex31BavcVuarnIFOAkCfkDTbthtvN789zE7nsBh3M4u-TXcBmYR8S_q4GrIykVww2_1PUb_tRuHmmVG3lF8B2FHLuNfLBQur_6cWJmT_ZMkZbQ/s1600/ChanelWeepring201109M5qFIg6xxxxx4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550487881470674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsnwR-vzH_45q9EIIhupznnP4CYIWex31BavcVuarnIFOAkCfkDTbthtvN789zE7nsBh3M4u-TXcBmYR8S_q4GrIykVww2_1PUb_tRuHmmVG3lF8B2FHLuNfLBQur_6cWJmT_ZMkZbQ/s400/ChanelWeepring201109M5qFIg6xxxxx4.jpg" width="425" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVBLb74WLM8KCibKDrowgK3R0WAB5FOvp-QkmKZZFEclcMXMtdWmBiaClQ5FfgaaCJA25hPs6SK3yyHfkyg4t9BHK-RfZ-mlmojTnFVNJhWa-YubAyGBj2EoOSpXIlmHF-DBH8Zx1kNk/s1600/92010Blu_5983LoRes.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550467019123634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVBLb74WLM8KCibKDrowgK3R0WAB5FOvp-QkmKZZFEclcMXMtdWmBiaClQ5FfgaaCJA25hPs6SK3yyHfkyg4t9BHK-RfZ-mlmojTnFVNJhWa-YubAyGBj2EoOSpXIlmHF-DBH8Zx1kNk/s400/92010Blu_5983LoRes.jpg" width="390" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZQoCrYCxSyo0Ml6niKtzzSRPjIxH1IXaFCz_Jz53Z5s_vAlVXBqVRtIwi7I5QT5syXEGFX7dK-1_muEXffSKkhDwz4vGG8GBiolCw3GuwPitlyvYWDHrc8lBVZse_GNxK9UIQuzOKq4/s1600/fall+fashion+bellevivir.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550778863553618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZQoCrYCxSyo0Ml6niKtzzSRPjIxH1IXaFCz_Jz53Z5s_vAlVXBqVRtIwi7I5QT5syXEGFX7dK-1_muEXffSKkhDwz4vGG8GBiolCw3GuwPitlyvYWDHrc8lBVZse_GNxK9UIQuzOKq4/s400/fall+fashion+bellevivir.jpg" width="472" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSXDBexw_3A4C0CGYRxGZGGIjcbKB64hYKPrMasRoDzWhXNAGhBwIHkiQaonYyYlzRAKCL481gTrM1xCcM8J9rU8DTbtK0QYcfBXdzDiQ0ydYt2N6S_0ub5BLnYve48f3waPxEToO0W0/s1600/91210MaryKate_3623Web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550466494440402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSXDBexw_3A4C0CGYRxGZGGIjcbKB64hYKPrMasRoDzWhXNAGhBwIHkiQaonYyYlzRAKCL481gTrM1xCcM8J9rU8DTbtK0QYcfBXdzDiQ0ydYt2N6S_0ub5BLnYve48f3waPxEToO0W0/s400/91210MaryKate_3623Web.jpg" width="427" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5SEMbNZEtVH-NmO4iRFvG0BRGkNYysFewJccKOFz75QcXVuHqT1wrpBfPj5lobopLN7CUssBAQjb8Yfzodl_H_-57F7Y7SWSNeUui98fzS1rwagftxRcV2Etl3Oy1fgR9bLWjTYBZ6s/s1600/tumblr_l94k17M0pY1qzs9mso1_400.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550774226098178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5SEMbNZEtVH-NmO4iRFvG0BRGkNYysFewJccKOFz75QcXVuHqT1wrpBfPj5lobopLN7CUssBAQjb8Yfzodl_H_-57F7Y7SWSNeUui98fzS1rwagftxRcV2Etl3Oy1fgR9bLWjTYBZ6s/s400/tumblr_l94k17M0pY1qzs9mso1_400.jpg" width="425" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWqJFffdoj42JMrwwWEq5E1XsuS9K5DQ2BuRnyGiicjuNKTdPp8zbblRYTEuvHrKu2ernmgM-bE-yChyNL-_L4C1s0ACUCn9P6bwoFeGbo8U0HE0Jj3cHRcvaZfFl6L0qLYIqzbMVxqs/s1600/92310Shorts_7176Web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532550478564996626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWqJFffdoj42JMrwwWEq5E1XsuS9K5DQ2BuRnyGiicjuNKTdPp8zbblRYTEuvHrKu2ernmgM-bE-yChyNL-_L4C1s0ACUCn9P6bwoFeGbo8U0HE0Jj3cHRcvaZfFl6L0qLYIqzbMVxqs/s400/92310Shorts_7176Web.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Effortfully Chic outfits below.  One too tight, the other too big and probably too heavy also.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5yHDC8zJpT7dCMns1vrciuTcF8ZKE3pu1GSKCCkFZ9p7jRVx8xgAk4oCstA85aR56ntUOwvOhYrDWI9nKMzuq2aJOKAm-wro5HokSr3ffNsC0VaP4fIScTQy8jGPnzF5V_isBj9keyc/s1600/tara.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532551954116182498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5yHDC8zJpT7dCMns1vrciuTcF8ZKE3pu1GSKCCkFZ9p7jRVx8xgAk4oCstA85aR56ntUOwvOhYrDWI9nKMzuq2aJOKAm-wro5HokSr3ffNsC0VaP4fIScTQy8jGPnzF5V_isBj9keyc/s400/tara.jpg" width="427" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3ndKJDK5GKkMeUmexoaEDNnJE5QqfB_qxSOiVV1wDdUv8NhbEXoOeTXSa8_teFfwtbvhQgaN3DY-s0grI_A4LCA2AymrL9WG5DYG1q8gjoCXN26dY-scmsfti9H3T58qgoDHIMduzlQ/s1600/Versace+January+Jones+milan+fashion+weekg45c5L4xxxxx1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532551946334439794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3ndKJDK5GKkMeUmexoaEDNnJE5QqfB_qxSOiVV1wDdUv8NhbEXoOeTXSa8_teFfwtbvhQgaN3DY-s0grI_A4LCA2AymrL9WG5DYG1q8gjoCXN26dY-scmsfti9H3T58qgoDHIMduzlQ/s400/Versace+January+Jones+milan+fashion+weekg45c5L4xxxxx1.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Some images from <a href="http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/">The Sartorialist</a></span>.</div>

Effortlessly Chic vs. Effortfully Chic

I could learn a thing or two about fashion but one thing I know for sure is that nothing sounds more appealing to me than the word Effortlessly Chic when it comes to dressing. More for the comfort side of it than for the actual chic other. Nothing explains more an Effortlessly Chic concept than dres…

27Oct2010

Kips Bay Showhouse, news

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCTfwAeP-YJNLFOXGh0uPFwWAmDtLjwQ0En5xv8SmK6tuKE4sQH2ObV0uahLn1BbmJIZOxFPd1iGVXSZl9zGrADH5YfDOvuXjip4eH3-6vZcDMrypj2HRZP9Khx20U9Br5FdtXceYZK0/s1600/66319_161938767159255_146171965402602_427152_5710178_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532183056212413330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCTfwAeP-YJNLFOXGh0uPFwWAmDtLjwQ0En5xv8SmK6tuKE4sQH2ObV0uahLn1BbmJIZOxFPd1iGVXSZl9zGrADH5YfDOvuXjip4eH3-6vZcDMrypj2HRZP9Khx20U9Br5FdtXceYZK0/s400/66319_161938767159255_146171965402602_427152_5710178_n.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>If you have already been to this year's <a href="http://showhouse.kipsbay.org/show_info.html">Kips Bay Showhouse</a> you must agree with me that the rooms look stunning.   For those of you who cannot make it to the House you can go <a href="http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/10/15/decorator-show-house/">here</a> and take sneak peaks into the beautiful rooms.  Then, on November 4, <a href="http://www.gilt.com/gilthome">Gilt</a> will sell the furnishings that are being used in some designers' rooms as well as giving everyone the chance to win a two-hour consultation with one of the featured designers like 2Michaels and Jennifer Post and $1,000 credit to shop at Gilt Home.  To enter, you simply need to visit <a href="http://on.fb.me/KBContest" target="_blank">http://on.fb.me/KBContest</a> and register for this unique opportunity.  Head over to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GiltHome">Gilt's Facebook page</a> to see photos and videos of The Kips Bay rooms.<br /><a href="http://bit.ly/GHinvite" target="_blank"></a></div>

Kips Bay Showhouse, news

If you have already been to this year's Kips Bay Showhouse you must agree with me that the rooms look stunning. For those of you who cannot make it to the House you can go here and take sneak peaks into the beautiful rooms. Then, on November 4, Gilt will sell the furnishings that are being used i…

26Oct2010

What would you pay an Architect?

<div><span >When I decided to pursue Architecture as a career, I really didn't know much about it.  I did not grow up hearing about Le <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Corbusier</span> nor did I spend summers travelling to Architectural monuments across the country.  In fact, the only thing I truly knew about Architects was that Mike Brady was an Architect and he had a cool house in California with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">kickin</span>' home office.  Truth be told, that was enough for me.  I always liked the idea of living in a great space and being my own boss.  I also liked the reaction I received when I told people my intentions.  As George Costanza will tell you, people always seem to be impressed when you say you are an Architect.  As far as the general public is concerned, they hold Architects in similar regard as doctors or lawyers (for better or worse).  And like doctors or lawyers, most people can only imagine having to consult an Architect as a matter of necessity.  </span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Now those of you who have read my blog know that the reality of the Architecture profession is much different than the perception.  Most graduates spend years working at or around minimum wages and the only way to move up the pay ladder at a regular pace is to change jobs frequently.  Each day working as an Architect is spent trying to justify your fees to clients and also trying to collect monies owed.  When additional costs arise (usually due to field conditions or client changes) many clients are quick to try and assess penalties to our fees as though everything were our fault.  And those of you who read my blog also know that we Architects have allowed this to happen as our society has moved to a value driven business model of convenience.  We now find ourselves competing against big box home improvement stores and companies who leverage global workforces.  To put it mildly, things are getting harder.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Three years ago, I made a decision to ditch the profession of Architecture for development.  I sold my practice, started a development company and started building modern houses.  The development business gives me the best of both worlds.  I get to Design whatever I want to build and I get to sell a product that is tangible instead of a service that is intangible.  I don't have to compete with other Architects on a dollar per hour basis and I can pretty much make my own schedule.  Of course, I knew it was bound to happen that eventually people would start calling me about Design work.  Originally, my thought was just to turn down Design work as I never found it to be as rewarding as development.  But recently, the projects being offered my way have started to get more interesting and offer a greater sense of creative control.  So the question now becomes what is Architecture in this post-recession economy?  Are there firms out there just taking work at rock bottom prices just to keep the lights on?  Do people still see Architects as valuable when facing a real estate market that won't likely recover for at least a decade?  How important is green design in any new project?  Would you hire an Architect to help you figure this stuff out and if so, what would you pay an Architect?  </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >All of these questions reflect conversations that I have been having with other Architects.  Some say that the recession has forced the weak companies out of business.  Others say that the real estate collapse has created new opportunities for Architects to work with builders to re-engineer their product lines to meet 21st Century demands.  For my part, I can only say that the Global Economy has added new challenges and opportunities to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">everyone's</span> business.  Clients of mine want to buy furniture from China (because it's cheaper) have renderings done in Southeast Asia (because it's cheaper) and want to use the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">internet</span> for video conferencing instead of meeting in person (because it's cheaper).  Surviving in business today means cutting costs and being efficient in order to make money on slimmer profit margins.  It's only a matter of time before the entire profession of Architecture gets absorbed into the Construction industry similar to how big box stores chain stores are now putting supermarkets in all their stores.  One stop shopping for convenience and because the big box stores will make it more attractive from a price perspective.  They can afford to lose a little money on groceries and make it up on clothing or sporting goods.  Architecture will be like Whole Foods:  a niche resource for a very small part of the population who can afford it.  </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is likely that I will start doing Design work again and that I will get some great opportunities.  But I will tell you that that my approach to the work will be radically different.  I will negotiate for more control and better terms while delivering greater value.  If I can show a client how I can save them money, I will be able to better justify my own fees.  I think this is what it will take to survive in Architecture, if we can survive at all.  </span></div>

What would you pay an Architect?

When I decided to pursue Architecture as a career, I really didn't know much about it. I did not grow up hearing about Le Corbusier nor did I spend summers travelling to Architectural monuments across the country. In fact, the only thing I truly knew about Architects was that Mike Brady was an Arc…

24Oct2010

Tommy Hilfiger at The Plaza

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We all have witnessed the recent resurgence of Tommy Hilfiger's line, now a more sophisticated American look yet still rooted in the classic. Tommy purchased a two-floor condo in the legendary The Plaza Hotel in NYC which he shares with his wife Dee and their baby boy Sebastian. According to Dee the European-influenced interior decor of the apartment was a collaboration between the couple. I have to say that with the Hilfiger's incredible collection of art, among which they own more than 20 Andy Warhol's and a Jean-Michel Basquiat, it would be hard to imagine a less opulent result.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG8pjPW89apTgdJjhu8Ol1-ozk4hQPaiQDk5d0s_O0tuVUZlxdMPdet5cPnhDFvdnDV8LJjNBqdH-iwsR-vgbkiW1M5SjY-_PTYmsIZjM6kDEaftbhRbI3_Qjzajjb_2x0AHvz28Lx-w/s1600/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-10-de.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529951617688146914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG8pjPW89apTgdJjhu8Ol1-ozk4hQPaiQDk5d0s_O0tuVUZlxdMPdet5cPnhDFvdnDV8LJjNBqdH-iwsR-vgbkiW1M5SjY-_PTYmsIZjM6kDEaftbhRbI3_Qjzajjb_2x0AHvz28Lx-w/s400/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-10-de.jpg" width="460" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NZbgMPHjoSRsFnX-rgVu6Dc4YGFt0PxVgGbmkkfceKIRwCCi398Ij_OEwga-zLFxjUV75tIBuIhYGMeOhkPvZjQs_gJxzg5ooN-9mhHHGfyiElo3CkSBInRq0gfnxskV9AYUCltm55M/s1600/tommy+hilfiger+elizabethtaylor.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529952129018637122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NZbgMPHjoSRsFnX-rgVu6Dc4YGFt0PxVgGbmkkfceKIRwCCi398Ij_OEwga-zLFxjUV75tIBuIhYGMeOhkPvZjQs_gJxzg5ooN-9mhHHGfyiElo3CkSBInRq0gfnxskV9AYUCltm55M/s400/tommy+hilfiger+elizabethtaylor.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 378px; width: 461px;" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-BYB_uiEENl2mQKVCofTOlgTa_qj81nfHwiUhplGuAvo-Jx8p7HpLR_ZTKpzvjz9BwegAd2QY7osJ6LeRXmikVKbC4kFuHsIj0LPbmeZ9Ehyphenhyphent-kK4LyEZRgc2_87ir4JAa96O73j2jQ/s1600/tommy+hilfiger.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529951616452393186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-BYB_uiEENl2mQKVCofTOlgTa_qj81nfHwiUhplGuAvo-Jx8p7HpLR_ZTKpzvjz9BwegAd2QY7osJ6LeRXmikVKbC4kFuHsIj0LPbmeZ9Ehyphenhyphent-kK4LyEZRgc2_87ir4JAa96O73j2jQ/s400/tommy+hilfiger.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 434px; width: 477px;" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3I4dUBI-2DkYzNEMsoC7C7ByHTWHw268tw5xblyDFph4xDN8prcnmlJaMr_yF7j5NYJkhmCNnjQ1biWaJXWB7RUUiT6WT2NoJZl3_TCIjnn1wfaib4JO03A_Mz9ULVeBiVcTPC7fHQM/s1600/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-2-s2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="700" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529951609559899442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3I4dUBI-2DkYzNEMsoC7C7ByHTWHw268tw5xblyDFph4xDN8prcnmlJaMr_yF7j5NYJkhmCNnjQ1biWaJXWB7RUUiT6WT2NoJZl3_TCIjnn1wfaib4JO03A_Mz9ULVeBiVcTPC7fHQM/s400/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-2-s2.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KTaCM7jy1vjKsBksruowWBAspHKMVBy0q5FZs1wWC-_H-ur80CMYGq1QTjq7gndUchZkBv9HxoAK3qCv5L98UtTDOW6UfZS_NzpSNx8tOBnyy3d0kXCe-BqZN9RekvWIQ1oGc3zkiok/s1600/tommy+hilfiger+dining+room.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529951607989710882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KTaCM7jy1vjKsBksruowWBAspHKMVBy0q5FZs1wWC-_H-ur80CMYGq1QTjq7gndUchZkBv9HxoAK3qCv5L98UtTDOW6UfZS_NzpSNx8tOBnyy3d0kXCe-BqZN9RekvWIQ1oGc3zkiok/s400/tommy+hilfiger+dining+room.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 578px; width: 472px;" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29kCGJRnYufn3Rv_NmNP5g-JnmpLqfcXvPP2_I5_1n-57NXe__ptIP-HMXIK999hsW4nFQUw3-l5iDTFtdZDyAXPTcngXqylnuwd7HSbbPh4ho2_ZZsYpA_BxRH9UhqSBsPWvLh1L5lo/s1600/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-3-de.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529951606676406226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29kCGJRnYufn3Rv_NmNP5g-JnmpLqfcXvPP2_I5_1n-57NXe__ptIP-HMXIK999hsW4nFQUw3-l5iDTFtdZDyAXPTcngXqylnuwd7HSbbPh4ho2_ZZsYpA_BxRH9UhqSBsPWvLh1L5lo/s400/Tommy-Hilfiger-fashionable-life-3-de.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>All images from <a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/tommy-hilfiger-pictures-0810">Harpers Bazaar</a>.</div>

Tommy Hilfiger at The Plaza

We all have witnessed the recent resurgence of Tommy Hilfiger's line, now a more sophisticated American look yet still rooted in the classic. Tommy purchased a two-floor condo in the legendary The Plaza Hotel in NYC which he shares with his wife Dee and their baby boy Sebastian. According to Dee the…

20Oct2010

While in Turkey

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>@font-face {   font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style>    <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhh04cem2BcFUK4JMr_l2wRW7h9VHMj8IUXpkoMYfTvkgJwmSmy5h1NGtlTFUGbYyY3sIF6I5f1YJOni3OVbJZeaETira9Ou7BXrpaFOI1Wm2gi9oAeP95zx3UoEAW-C3XET-GNdQTZw/s1600/DSC00915.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523908244831549778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhh04cem2BcFUK4JMr_l2wRW7h9VHMj8IUXpkoMYfTvkgJwmSmy5h1NGtlTFUGbYyY3sIF6I5f1YJOni3OVbJZeaETira9Ou7BXrpaFOI1Wm2gi9oAeP95zx3UoEAW-C3XET-GNdQTZw/s400/DSC00915.JPG" style="height: 602px; width: 461px;" /></a></div>I wanted to share with you some images of my trip to Turkey.    Istanbul treated me with a lot of what I love the most: a mixture of old and new, innovation and tradition and I couldn't be happier to absorb it all in.  On the first day, our discoveries of Istanbul started at the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more famously known as the Blue Mosque (first 3 pictures).  The neighborhood, also called Sultan Ahmet, is situated on cobble-stoned sloped streets were you can also spot the Golden Horn part of the Bosphorus.   It's a non-ending contemplation of beauty.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwG8GxzPxB3V7uW7FRv77nIdRJ4aQ7pUvUtme3siQaz67IvsWZFvPOYJAfFzizSwmo29NzvCXV6apF_7xSkaXwnx-UHjZmHQ2BlZy886VjkrNBrt0MMKaC-HJ-X5CoNB-e94rMxc82pM/s1600/DSC00900.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523908241485909666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwG8GxzPxB3V7uW7FRv77nIdRJ4aQ7pUvUtme3siQaz67IvsWZFvPOYJAfFzizSwmo29NzvCXV6apF_7xSkaXwnx-UHjZmHQ2BlZy886VjkrNBrt0MMKaC-HJ-X5CoNB-e94rMxc82pM/s400/DSC00900.JPG" style="height: 354px; width: 462px;" /></a>  </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFgIlWy9i5QCUiJlmMfWlJa9gp1dOp-W0gf45xLOQ-74vlXKwFY9UXG2O70a-mS7DCRFGZ1TJUJNWyCZwDs07-W6gSgxtqVwylb3ut0cKBs9GIh938SZkWezSBLGuxLM44BnkKmESuxQ/s1600/DSC00929.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523910083852045602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFgIlWy9i5QCUiJlmMfWlJa9gp1dOp-W0gf45xLOQ-74vlXKwFY9UXG2O70a-mS7DCRFGZ1TJUJNWyCZwDs07-W6gSgxtqVwylb3ut0cKBs9GIh938SZkWezSBLGuxLM44BnkKmESuxQ/s400/DSC00929.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 569px; width: 428px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r1TbHoosar2IkB4Op9vbSjGs5gTt7ylHtz35CePx0avuzabtvcuUX19JVUYTdqmYRUn61P179d0B1MaMFlHQvUw2sQuXTBv61k30prke3MZKr33T2OG3edIZKeeBVh2gCJhIP92cQG8/s1600/DSC00962.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528612737301889650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r1TbHoosar2IkB4Op9vbSjGs5gTt7ylHtz35CePx0avuzabtvcuUX19JVUYTdqmYRUn61P179d0B1MaMFlHQvUw2sQuXTBv61k30prke3MZKr33T2OG3edIZKeeBVh2gCJhIP92cQG8/s400/DSC00962.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 323px; width: 432px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Above, Hagia Sophia's opulent Byzantine architecture where Islamic influences meet the original Church with Christian-depicted golden mosaics.   Surrounding the center of the structure is a loggia supported by magnificent marble pilasters and arched yellow and gray geometric design mosaic ceiling.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Below are images of the Topkapi Palace which is located on one of the highest points of Istanbul's shoreline overlooking the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara.  The palace, today a museum, is divided in many courtyards and buildings among which you can see a mixture of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Eclectic Europeanized architecture.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGgBeGt9OdGHMEk_T00vSEf0_kibeDvbq290NVl7KS0ID4OyoU2ecBzqglotejw7gGLf28heIEItN5cO5ghIXdreLCnRMZTCYWQfXIZRKLMIn4avGna0oB_vDP3lueYBUijBlWOQAjRA/s1600/DSC01074.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528627268985889346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGgBeGt9OdGHMEk_T00vSEf0_kibeDvbq290NVl7KS0ID4OyoU2ecBzqglotejw7gGLf28heIEItN5cO5ghIXdreLCnRMZTCYWQfXIZRKLMIn4avGna0oB_vDP3lueYBUijBlWOQAjRA/s400/DSC01074.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd283Q10zhZ5qnrsZ27X4Vs9bt_CfaiWYE8w-B4jRqmfglGVHl78LbsaJosMijlLuscDB1EjY0tu1RkocICD-oP4zwKIYzJnJ2rEy6Bjdj-3FsZtsd5fGyXb2zNVyNVmvc0GkhgCWbPU/s1600/DSC01049.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528627260853031394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd283Q10zhZ5qnrsZ27X4Vs9bt_CfaiWYE8w-B4jRqmfglGVHl78LbsaJosMijlLuscDB1EjY0tu1RkocICD-oP4zwKIYzJnJ2rEy6Bjdj-3FsZtsd5fGyXb2zNVyNVmvc0GkhgCWbPU/s400/DSC01049.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgc8VXBb9nMZB5dDf3-LaiILKOZSvcs3JutnhH6yf6leSnlJp-jg7a_f2LOruxvBby0Q8quPI3-qWdq5JsKvSc4vBdD6bBquU3pvO4-0TVTIIDO8dVRACM-VCW2K32OlVZiES832NbaQ/s1600/DSC01010.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528626164796486402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgc8VXBb9nMZB5dDf3-LaiILKOZSvcs3JutnhH6yf6leSnlJp-jg7a_f2LOruxvBby0Q8quPI3-qWdq5JsKvSc4vBdD6bBquU3pvO4-0TVTIIDO8dVRACM-VCW2K32OlVZiES832NbaQ/s400/DSC01010.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /><div class="thumbcaption">Porch of Imperial Divan at the Topkapi Palace.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiMRjug5laT4jabSW9Nmc-j9_URrojdHaZIi-3tK4dTmhFcnEskRH4gel7-AxC-mMdga9a42jDjC4l9DVHhGdQWHJFsBygCxs2ulwfPx1fQbK6IZMoRq-SpIlzJGQz6v7tF9TyPU47HM/s1600/DSC01007.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528625141379595426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiMRjug5laT4jabSW9Nmc-j9_URrojdHaZIi-3tK4dTmhFcnEskRH4gel7-AxC-mMdga9a42jDjC4l9DVHhGdQWHJFsBygCxs2ulwfPx1fQbK6IZMoRq-SpIlzJGQz6v7tF9TyPU47HM/s400/DSC01007.JPG" width="460" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjWtWYld_2s_p9Xt_rVycmW3K_jximVfqkwIO1v-6PXshuaXmLkckmtB3Z5RVZrHVzYJy0WFX6v_4leQ0xn8Bz97fxuHIWJL6TkYKCV9Xt9TFD8e2XTuYVyaUolf4cEj8imuDQbQK8uQ/s1600/DSC01001.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528625136524430482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjWtWYld_2s_p9Xt_rVycmW3K_jximVfqkwIO1v-6PXshuaXmLkckmtB3Z5RVZrHVzYJy0WFX6v_4leQ0xn8Bz97fxuHIWJL6TkYKCV9Xt9TFD8e2XTuYVyaUolf4cEj8imuDQbQK8uQ/s400/DSC01001.JPG" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vZ-uchdOS3LOKqxRtrtplmVUAxiiUwgIqOlcVwKEDPZp6yJkAzRgEl_xQlHXVXnXC-PiQlQGE2hIaUXI0vOlAZYNsui2U9e-AIbQ-7UAbxPu_dB-2DS0OKgn7u-k3tiUGPiKBPwHtQ/s1600/DSC01071.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528614166127659234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vZ-uchdOS3LOKqxRtrtplmVUAxiiUwgIqOlcVwKEDPZp6yJkAzRgEl_xQlHXVXnXC-PiQlQGE2hIaUXI0vOlAZYNsui2U9e-AIbQ-7UAbxPu_dB-2DS0OKgn7u-k3tiUGPiKBPwHtQ/s400/DSC01071.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 355px; width: 464px;" /></a><br /><br /><center> Above, Grand Kiosk constructed in an eclectic europeanized style.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6e0Eth97I7HTOYZHV5xQCGLyxgDM3sJdrbZd2uHAb5qliukd8PnnqqmjpwEqfQoLgnoGmWPR7EpOUw3kzyjOJpvsiva9tpnq0E3Ecx4hNhel-8LM-3_22jkgKv6dQ2GF9p24ayVOJ5A/s1600/DSC01019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528614150967550722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6e0Eth97I7HTOYZHV5xQCGLyxgDM3sJdrbZd2uHAb5qliukd8PnnqqmjpwEqfQoLgnoGmWPR7EpOUw3kzyjOJpvsiva9tpnq0E3Ecx4hNhel-8LM-3_22jkgKv6dQ2GF9p24ayVOJ5A/s400/DSC01019.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><center> A tromp-l'oeil on one of the doors that lead to the inside of the Imperial Divan.</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs86SfGTkfcXzCV4rtdBs5WlYCsXnv0tHuvnE5WzuQYOM1YfvpXAwEpclhnqMBHbX9Lq6gg6XQB_SBU8JYlnNEv4Y4ACjgxxvObcVtCcCysKDADFag5EzKOOB9wau_HzHJheFxYNOIpXA/s1600/DSC01109.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528615575273536642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs86SfGTkfcXzCV4rtdBs5WlYCsXnv0tHuvnE5WzuQYOM1YfvpXAwEpclhnqMBHbX9Lq6gg6XQB_SBU8JYlnNEv4Y4ACjgxxvObcVtCcCysKDADFag5EzKOOB9wau_HzHJheFxYNOIpXA/s400/DSC01109.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 351px; width: 462px;" /></a><br />Above, Ciragan Palace where my lucky husband had his High School graduation ball.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mu9hMnYaNTmPJq5jE31d2XfxoGAFEkkET5e_sMFOa51QDzmnO5OP0Rt69danYgaE_3uOA-KeRG4ZSsXolHx6hN2mdlzyB5G277xzT_24zIXFwYpfkxypbXDVwezsW3kzDVHrFlpETkA/s1600/DSC01105.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528796538953190642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mu9hMnYaNTmPJq5jE31d2XfxoGAFEkkET5e_sMFOa51QDzmnO5OP0Rt69danYgaE_3uOA-KeRG4ZSsXolHx6hN2mdlzyB5G277xzT_24zIXFwYpfkxypbXDVwezsW3kzDVHrFlpETkA/s400/DSC01105.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br />The Gates of The Dolmabasce Palace.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRmd2RCss-uPDedy886TVqIgSmkg0J59cuNReQfmsgKpqO6WBMVBvv9fUsSfueRrijwZRs23KKhCcubHpSmcAgNQ_kgkggYorJLXJyhZLFeB6ZrMQFXURUCSYjdrVBDEyppXwIcMztZI/s1600/DSC00971.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528615563146632402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRmd2RCss-uPDedy886TVqIgSmkg0J59cuNReQfmsgKpqO6WBMVBvv9fUsSfueRrijwZRs23KKhCcubHpSmcAgNQ_kgkggYorJLXJyhZLFeB6ZrMQFXURUCSYjdrVBDEyppXwIcMztZI/s400/DSC00971.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 615px; width: 469px;" /></a><br />A view of Sultan Amet neighborhood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJYKBYvzNf6Mlr-Na1OvY-Il5NwfR0gR4z2NFfCDjtGHr3Taty4LFfpSxzFNAYit33ZmCJPQCFS_pWuLf3uB1cKR1fvaVKEVEJTrpyeS4si321hAvhXqJPk5q1pkcfGHSf8m0NkBWU6U/s1600/DSC01079.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528796527124123714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJYKBYvzNf6Mlr-Na1OvY-Il5NwfR0gR4z2NFfCDjtGHr3Taty4LFfpSxzFNAYit33ZmCJPQCFS_pWuLf3uB1cKR1fvaVKEVEJTrpyeS4si321hAvhXqJPk5q1pkcfGHSf8m0NkBWU6U/s400/DSC01079.JPG" width="460" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After 5 hours of absorbing the awe-inspiring beauty of Topkapi Palace we headed to Ortakoy neighborhood which means <span style="font-style: italic;">middle town</span>.  There, the girls and I went into a small store specializing in hats, while the boys went to look for a restaurant.  While trying on almost all the hats in this small open shop which is surrounded only by old buildings and with the calling for prayer as our background I couldn't help but feel as if we were the main characters in a James Bond movie.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Below, pictures of the beautiful interior of The House Cafe.</div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wBM52yL_jCWHgzKeB57xXRygAQO2pyKfdhHHnFNL1YilCPl6WxGJLXyHcvs6Vws7FyDfYfnFFmABdIGU3mRoNlRyzO8joKnsLqpI4HUCeWTWL1YWA16g3fFyV0KY-IQYDjq5KJvNgcE/s1600/DSC01134.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528617797760476162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wBM52yL_jCWHgzKeB57xXRygAQO2pyKfdhHHnFNL1YilCPl6WxGJLXyHcvs6Vws7FyDfYfnFFmABdIGU3mRoNlRyzO8joKnsLqpI4HUCeWTWL1YWA16g3fFyV0KY-IQYDjq5KJvNgcE/s400/DSC01134.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_xKUxVkG76zbIH-pXMGVl7TJTN-TQXqSyiaghmnQW5pu2WOuRs-WWoRdRogiKEGwDMjTqv9z_FRwPSkaVlremdghw7O23CVxotSNigMHS73tLFCZQLseGi07pHkQ3DLaLyr53SqvgtU/s1600/DSC01129.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528617804591874306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_xKUxVkG76zbIH-pXMGVl7TJTN-TQXqSyiaghmnQW5pu2WOuRs-WWoRdRogiKEGwDMjTqv9z_FRwPSkaVlremdghw7O23CVxotSNigMHS73tLFCZQLseGi07pHkQ3DLaLyr53SqvgtU/s400/DSC01129.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreFSBO4b8r3zMJ14oGLjew4faKR2U5hvGnZlok17li78NkXGANtV26zIRAD6ssoI_IPRMSUIghkzJsg6BSHEHX8eTCvG6ToLAXv30ImCmFszhwyZBZVi5WmX2c0ZDQNUV9nhTKj7xyTI/s1600/DSC01128.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528619194661618082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreFSBO4b8r3zMJ14oGLjew4faKR2U5hvGnZlok17li78NkXGANtV26zIRAD6ssoI_IPRMSUIghkzJsg6BSHEHX8eTCvG6ToLAXv30ImCmFszhwyZBZVi5WmX2c0ZDQNUV9nhTKj7xyTI/s400/DSC01128.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxRpARBt4USoSTPsQ-MxlaacRU4mv5jR45o4pxiHsD2KOkOu-E-zM3x0jUZaRtY7HE1DtUb44ABgNWaHnTBJAyz-O237Cxb0V4f8uGJpCKXQgCu-dbG2r0fsG2UfQnbj2M7VNRME-2VI/s1600/DSC01142.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528619202370689874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxRpARBt4USoSTPsQ-MxlaacRU4mv5jR45o4pxiHsD2KOkOu-E-zM3x0jUZaRtY7HE1DtUb44ABgNWaHnTBJAyz-O237Cxb0V4f8uGJpCKXQgCu-dbG2r0fsG2UfQnbj2M7VNRME-2VI/s400/DSC01142.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />A view of the Ortakoy Mosque from our table.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">All images are property of and taken exclusive by Bellevivir.<br /><br /><a href="http://bellevivir.blogspot.com.br/2010/08/deja-vu.html" target="_blank">Munich Review</a><br /><a href="http://bellevivir.blogspot.com.br/2011/09/when-traveling-dress-accordingly.html" target="_blank">When traveling dress accordingly:  The Hamptons</a></div></div></div>

While in Turkey

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } I wanted to share with …

19Oct2010

A Charming Farmhouse

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6XRZqRHnr0qYa_W0H8BFyO9K3jEQO-9qIgd_QUIb71QLdzM_tJY5Y4QY_aZzUiSnyRgEjdRFMSlbrZQbEfoejQrknd9EyPCSsi5BS4j94Gw5mfx8QWEcA9q995XyKdsYqENi6drSx7g/s1600/Tony+Cenicola.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527728587493524530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6XRZqRHnr0qYa_W0H8BFyO9K3jEQO-9qIgd_QUIb71QLdzM_tJY5Y4QY_aZzUiSnyRgEjdRFMSlbrZQbEfoejQrknd9EyPCSsi5BS4j94Gw5mfx8QWEcA9q995XyKdsYqENi6drSx7g/s400/Tom+Cenicola.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 321px; width: 483px;" /></a></div>Good morning, I hope you had a great weekend; mine was a very busy one.  There are so many unfinished projects around our house that I think being busy over the weekends is going to be the norm for a while.  I recently added this picture to my files because images like this farmhouse entrance in Walton, N.Y. of the painter Sean Scherer, is the reason why every now and then I wish I had a farmhouse- no animals included of course, where I can go and escape from the hustle and bustle of the City.  To see more country living inspired images of this home go <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/10/07/garden/20091008-catskills-slideshow_index.html" target="_blank">here</a>.  The rest of the house is even more beautiful.</div>

A Charming Farmhouse

Good morning, I hope you had a great weekend; mine was a very busy one. There are so many unfinished projects around our house that I think being busy over the weekends is going to be the norm for a while. I recently added this picture to my files because images like this farmhouse entrance in Wal…

18Oct2010

The Warm Side of Wicker

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of the things I enjoy the most about the Fall season is to hear the crackling of our fireplace.    Although it needs a face lift; mantel, new fire utensils etc, I'm getting ready to take my wicker basket out and fill it up with fire logs.   Have a fabulous weekend!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ93zLXurIg9i13z6z8WA1NxlZsQescn2AGCusEgQ0nM3Hx9vjO62o4zmvORzK2kssIk0btS5S30wdlmOmpO9s_w1wniAzcs8yOylHi1vbeEMjaia_wWkbVBv51Buik1IyGqYv84hpdM/s1600/Markham+Roberts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><imago alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528246144344451042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ93zLXurIg9i13z6z8WA1NxlZsQescn2AGCusEgQ0nM3Hx9vjO62o4zmvORzK2kssIk0btS5S30wdlmOmpO9s_w1wniAzcs8yOylHi1vbeEMjaia_wWkbVBv51Buik1IyGqYv84hpdM/s400/Markham+Roberts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 517px; width: 413px;"></imago></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0jTXQxeolc_DCDfvC2pbh8lWc6L6yeTFAll6oCrilDtbMC6nD-Gx_IBd8ceAWGOQO_9RO_BxmvxoA93SfEstUtLT19sMfx2p4iHP9eQqyyqYsK-izE71-joIpy9Jz2JsP9RZY0gPS_s/s1600/Markham+Roberts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="590" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528398442345066786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0jTXQxeolc_DCDfvC2pbh8lWc6L6yeTFAll6oCrilDtbMC6nD-Gx_IBd8ceAWGOQO_9RO_BxmvxoA93SfEstUtLT19sMfx2p4iHP9eQqyyqYsK-izE71-joIpy9Jz2JsP9RZY0gPS_s/s400/Markham+Roberts.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.markhamroberts.com/intro.html"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Markham Roberts</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo5ixBNqVsFPxgQxQCHOzx95Xh9Js5ObENwYw8jJimUaQYif92eQe4HZiG7T-THY3fdxT2fJnWRY9lyRZ7hV9hKIqoBzJaFjzlGOVlmXn-gHRqkbjK_z4X7Ur6Bt1W3zvXzcqzRlb79Q/s1600/4932076843_85ec4507db.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="580" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528244049994868450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo5ixBNqVsFPxgQxQCHOzx95Xh9Js5ObENwYw8jJimUaQYif92eQe4HZiG7T-THY3fdxT2fJnWRY9lyRZ7hV9hKIqoBzJaFjzlGOVlmXn-gHRqkbjK_z4X7Ur6Bt1W3zvXzcqzRlb79Q/s400/4932076843_85ec4507db.jpg" width="468" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.trishsouth.com/SITE/Photographers/Francois_Halard/index.php?page=Visite_Privee_-_New_Exhibition_and_Book"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Francois Halard </span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">for House and Garden</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn6xFrZjvWQaHBOZDk_OfRz8V6ITWa93tbOcRUndqwmIpJSIVjRNd8IQlDMovVywYKQBWmMfB4PCZP-5mnJSfy1gFWzSWjueErsMbbyqblleiSQ0CiGNN1dk14iBAVE83OMR_0BVKcPI/s1600/david+netto+art+placement+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528244040910952530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn6xFrZjvWQaHBOZDk_OfRz8V6ITWa93tbOcRUndqwmIpJSIVjRNd8IQlDMovVywYKQBWmMfB4PCZP-5mnJSfy1gFWzSWjueErsMbbyqblleiSQ0CiGNN1dk14iBAVE83OMR_0BVKcPI/s400/david+netto+art+placement+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 368px; width: 464px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.davidnettodesign.com/"><span style="font-size: 85%;">David Netto</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60DCJP8KXKhLua3ydEP-giiYJsfRNOMAVJkWGgUCOyQm6VfVFN63M3Q256XZyPsvUpJgBSNoBKg7yaJFUYslfR0ntERtA1I1tM23i-GBVV96VaXAQz6R4-Dc-xsuBxYxMpIRoLhn1rFA/s1600/decor+pad+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="630" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528244029833317042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60DCJP8KXKhLua3ydEP-giiYJsfRNOMAVJkWGgUCOyQm6VfVFN63M3Q256XZyPsvUpJgBSNoBKg7yaJFUYslfR0ntERtA1I1tM23i-GBVV96VaXAQz6R4-Dc-xsuBxYxMpIRoLhn1rFA/s400/decor+pad+2.jpg" width="460" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.decorpad.com/recentPhotos.htm"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Decor Pad</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR-glBr7rkWsbd9wUo5vsjwODWpHYCLc-LWAbl7F_NVK5mioW8Wh6bTzNtf9NZpMUMoq8nMqtq74FuxqlKDWxPmKPErHLgEJiBeQVndWsFa3U2tHJZCU5zjNlsfGuGq2yTpEnRfflu_Q/s1600/marley+and+lockyer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528244010739247426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR-glBr7rkWsbd9wUo5vsjwODWpHYCLc-LWAbl7F_NVK5mioW8Wh6bTzNtf9NZpMUMoq8nMqtq74FuxqlKDWxPmKPErHLgEJiBeQVndWsFa3U2tHJZCU5zjNlsfGuGq2yTpEnRfflu_Q/s400/marley+and+lockyer.jpg" style="height: 359px; width: 462px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://marleyandlockyer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Marley & Lockyer</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cmKQ97YWqja_JKlD1n6cS3rrnbB-lvkD2P_sGWAAXI0RyvUdx-wPvIVxSOAj1wPwUS0tcYEM_PZd6Zc6aWGge2swOYGjwXoZf16ZQFd_gmJch8gPms5hxTeoAc9BBE_InZksL-2h6Cs/s1600/4905490053_f6d1d09b38_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="670" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528244253324865426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cmKQ97YWqja_JKlD1n6cS3rrnbB-lvkD2P_sGWAAXI0RyvUdx-wPvIVxSOAj1wPwUS0tcYEM_PZd6Zc6aWGge2swOYGjwXoZf16ZQFd_gmJch8gPms5hxTeoAc9BBE_InZksL-2h6Cs/s400/4905490053_f6d1d09b38_o.jpg" width="465" /></a><br /><a href="http://decordeprovence.blogspot.com/2010/07/needing-little-nantucket-style.html"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Decor de Provence</span></a></div></div>

The Warm Side of Wicker

One of the things I enjoy the most about the Fall season is to hear the crackling of our fireplace. Although it needs a face lift; mantel, new fire utensils etc, I'm getting ready to take my wicker basket out and fill it up with fire logs. Have a fabulous weekend!!Markham RobertsFrancois Halard…

15Oct2010

Getting heavy

There is an honourable tradition in New Zealand home design that strives for lightness, of timber homes resting lightly on the land. I remember my French teacher at high school saying that when she returned to New Zealand after many years in France, the homes in New Zealand looked as if they could all blow away in the next breeze.<br /><br />One of the finalists in this year's Home of the Year award makes a case for the European sort of solidity my teacher was referring to. The house is by Stevens Lawson Architects (who won the award with their house by Lake Wanaka, which you can see in an earlier post), built for clients who requested concrete for its heft and its low-maintenance qualities. These photographs by Mark Smith show just how solid this home turned out to be. It is located on a harbourside site in Auckland's eastern suburbs. The elevation below faces the water, with the main bedroom on the upper right, the kitchen and dining space below it, and a covered sitting area extending off the living room on the left-hand-side of this image:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303431820226338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq_3YJzpy1uAOudREnyH4a0SOQJPC3HxeDK-QAMXRCcZqw7j04CP5WryxKia1zYuvG2PfIzchV4cvGASN0THGNGzQv0aAUEkwDpiuQGw-ss8HghJg1NZhofkD4ClVd1VVH1_nMmEPp6V6/s400/Glendowie+24.02.10+CF028208p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />The house is just as sculptural at the entrance, at the bottom of a very steep driveway. This shot gives you a good view of the central 'canyon', a glass-topped, double-height hallway that drags light into the centre of the home. (The house is located beside a slope to the north that blocks sunlight for a few hours in the winter, hence the design of the glass-topped volume to admit more light).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHg0706ZbhDXS-HLToHrCfJcO5ALIO1Yv9NyCB0H8eMGfel6Ev8oTt71-wD79FPDgRjJX4NDrz09mgV8XAhSjHBUtYFNRhb-eds7QC2_eo1d5tbtuwEEh87oIL4rdbuG9cuX2t5MGKkj3/s1600/Glendowie+extras_CF035693p.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303572521517298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHg0706ZbhDXS-HLToHrCfJcO5ALIO1Yv9NyCB0H8eMGfel6Ev8oTt71-wD79FPDgRjJX4NDrz09mgV8XAhSjHBUtYFNRhb-eds7QC2_eo1d5tbtuwEEh87oIL4rdbuG9cuX2t5MGKkj3/s400/Glendowie+extras_CF035693p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The home was designed using pre-cast concrete panels that feature ribbed details best viewed in this shot of the southern elevation:<br /><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303434311847026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOGfGYncEjCUgCDTwzwJTWfxfqJqJwDJZrIjUCA46jFGcVMSrmwLX0uHXNjlOTGu4ymEJ8DyEGMwg55ZX0zXYbZn63hRP3mSSD-RBEKtRiU517Z1OUNeQwVHCQsURI9JApjg_SYehWrm-/s400/Glendowie+24.02.10+CF028295p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />The monumental exterior means some of the interiors are just as dramatic. This view shows the inside of the 'canyon' with its glass-topped roof. The timber feature is a 'bridge' across this double-height space. </div><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303441203003458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluAb6AW_V8aWzieCOSZh0Zx515b93q4j3yumtLfCKoxfSU7_9rkeeXveUlMukhcXJ-F0Ya56PFlGGLrbtVDz3lMnf3ACEqVNnAcaAmCzemY6yrcvpM1QPFZp4kEs4RUUGNBmQogB_CKcf/s400/Glendowie+24.02.10+CF028369p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />This shot looks from the dining area across to a living room which in turn opens onto the covered exterior sitting area you can see in the first shot of this post. Inside, the material palette has been kept to a simple combination of timber and concrete with slate floors. </div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdXH_km1iY_NEUZuq3utN8z-6kXqLcggTvYNqepgFK8v4IPZev4PvI_gdQU-tDL6CPQa92uKijHqHHBs5kzd0ddKBqrKayQ7KBp0z3CSc46FdnKHArpzP9LjoWRUVoW7RN0x8qnRG2AMI/s1600/Glendowie+extras_CF035677p.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303445813285858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdXH_km1iY_NEUZuq3utN8z-6kXqLcggTvYNqepgFK8v4IPZev4PvI_gdQU-tDL6CPQa92uKijHqHHBs5kzd0ddKBqrKayQ7KBp0z3CSc46FdnKHArpzP9LjoWRUVoW7RN0x8qnRG2AMI/s400/Glendowie+extras_CF035677p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Some of the rooms feature surprising and dramatic devices for admitting light, such as the space in the shot below, which can be used as a home theatre or a snug, cave-like hideaway (there is also a slow window looking out to the water just out of the right-hand-side of the frame). The home may seem intimidatingly hefty from the outside, but as you can see, the interior offers a wide range of views and experiences. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadJWBO3fX62eDc4xrpwmUblbM7HF-1XsMjdjNFaMzaXqkNKfl_NTrmYWepDaP4Gqny2nwt7CX1GjKOdXm7BrArggJWOGlH2aSzesRQFpXECefSe1FIsx4Xr7uMbT19gmVZrdGLx4W8YSq/s1600/Glendowie+extras_CF035660p.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527303440698691298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadJWBO3fX62eDc4xrpwmUblbM7HF-1XsMjdjNFaMzaXqkNKfl_NTrmYWepDaP4Gqny2nwt7CX1GjKOdXm7BrArggJWOGlH2aSzesRQFpXECefSe1FIsx4Xr7uMbT19gmVZrdGLx4W8YSq/s400/Glendowie+extras_CF035660p.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div></div><br /><p>So there you have it - an unashamedly heavyweight house. Sure, it runs contrary to the New Zealand timber tradition, but its engagement with the uniquely New Zealand landscape around it means it doesn't feel as if this is anything other than a New Zealand house. </p>

Getting heavy

12Oct2010