Serenity and Peace in Water Features

The serene sound of a fountain can provide mesmerizing relaxation. Like white noise, but better. Close your eyes, in close proximity to a little fountain, and be lulled into a wonderful respite zone. Even indoors, this is an effective relaxation element…outside the birds and breeze contribute to the joy. 

Pets reap benefits too! Kona gets a refreshing sip from the fountain!!!
At night, that same fountain offers gentle water sounds and an interesting sculptural effect.

Social distancing and isolation – these two popular terms that have defined so much of our daily living in the last several months and imparted a negative connotation. They paint a picture of living more at home – alone and even “out-of-touch” – literally.  All of my childhood I heard the phrase “ne touche pas!” My uncle’s favorite, for sure! And now I hear it in my mind all the time. Don’t touch the shopping cart, door handle, people’s hands, “ne touche pas!” and if you do – wash and sanitize to a fare-thee-well!

Yet, on a positive note, this stay safe – be safe – living at home has spawned creativity to maximize that environment and relieve stress. It means, more than ever, expanding your outdoor options from placing a pair of chairs and tiny table on a previously unused, diminutive urban balcony or adding a palatial pool in your backyard…there are many options in-between depending on your circumstances and means. 

Our cousin in Tucson has created a lagoon effect with the dark bottom and mosaic trim. an oasis in the desert.

Water features are an amazingly therapeutic design element. Water suggests cleansing. It is refreshing and renewing. Water has promise. It can also suggest escape.

The Calgon add campaign of decades ago resonates today for those of us who remember…”Calgon, take me away…Lose yourself in luxury” The escape and indulgence of a relaxing soak in a tub. The gentle buoyancy relieves tension and encourages rest. It often suggests leisure. It is a luxurious, pampering exercise.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yjGPgs0_S0  Here is a video from the 70s to take you back to “Take me away…” Come back Calgon!!! We miss your commercials now more than ever!!!

Taking that refreshing water scene outdoors is one of the most popular design projects trending today. From DIY to major construction people are discovering ways to escape without leaving home. Water features provide virtual escapes and actual refreshment for many people seeking that added dimension, diversion and sought-after pleasure in their lives.

A friend in Phoenix has tricked out her pool with fabulous landscaping, spectacular iridescent glass tiles and LED lighting – the luminous colors an be changed with her mood!!!!

Swimming pools, a gorgeous grotto, lap lane, all afford the luxury of submersion and even exercise.

We’re speaking with Diamond Spas of Longmont, Colorado this week on behalf of a client who is interested in a partially above ground swim spa!! https://www.diamondspas.com/swimming-pool-spa-collection/custom-pools/stainless-steel-swimming-pools/

The sound of a small water feature to a creek-like landscape addition in your yard – the projects are many. This DIY guy created what he fondly calls “Covid Creek” – a project that took several weeks of focused creativity and back-breaking work all prompted by being stuck at home. The results are a magical mountain stream flowing beneath the trees in their modest-sized backyard. A creek-like water feature or pond can offer a respite to sit beside, dangle your toes and imagine scene far from the confines of our limited environs. You would be amazed at what beautiful illusions can be accomplished!!!

A babbling backyard book built as a therapeutic DIY project during the COVID confinement.

Such multi-sensory water features offering the touch and feel of water, gentle sound and visual beauty are powerful design elements to exercise the senses. Our senses suffer with redundant stimulation.  The reclusive limitations of recent months have us stagnating with sameness.  It’s the variety if stimuli we are so accustomed to experiencing that keeps things interesting and alive. Moving water is one of these exceptional sensory stimulations. 

Organic garden sculptures – chiseled granite boulders with re-circulating water – meld with the landscaping.

Whether a tiny fountain or in-ground pool…even a galvanized livestock tub – investigate your options. Regard your environment and study your spaces to select the best design elements for your setting. 

Isolation Invites Innovation

Here, today, find designer focus and pro-tips for improving our living spaces. Most of us have spent more time at home than we have in years.  Sure, we usually wake up, prepare for the day and return in the evening, to end the day.  Weekends are usually that bonus time around the house – unless we spend them on road trip excursions. However, being at home every day is unusual for many and has provided opportunities to critique and take stock. Go from “making-do” to making better, with a little focus on the details and some professional help!

New catch-phrases like “shelter-in-place” have become part of our vernacular. Staying home has resulted in massive numbers of internet orders, cautious home improvement store visits and related activity.  The shared anxious energy and creative energy  spawned, from our restricted living and working regimens, is “going viral!”

Well, we certainly never really considered that trendy term of something being popular being a REAL virus spreading across the planet – but the humor, common complaints and simple joys, of this surreal modification to our lives, are “going viral” all over the internet.  From the vantage point of the design world, we are seeing a multitude of comments about people going  stir-crazy and making plans for needed home and office improvement.

HOME DEPOT – Pick-up in the store or have it delivered FREE to your doorstep!!

We are finally – and I say finally, after nearly everyone else we know has done so – ordering  storm doors. Yes, to leave open and let in the light of day!!! It has taken being around the house for so many consecutive days that has geared us to the circadian rhythm that our orientation provides and illustrated the need to avail our interior of a significant missed opportunity for natural light! Just never seemed that important…until now! We have labored over having lights (glass) in new primary doors, but after weighing the options for light, security and transparency have opted for clear, full-panel laminated glass storm doors with interchangeable screens, for fresh air – weather permitting.

Yes – Anderson DOES do double storm doors – but try finding that information on their website or even through Home Depot – they’re terrific – you just need to inquire!!!

This unique opportunity to be quarantined inside our homes has given us an opportunity to evaluate the flow, function and lifestyle within our private environments.  Have you noticed any things that you want to change as a result of this confinement and forced, close-up evaluation?

Here are a few topics and tips that have come-up in recent conversations from both consumer/clients and designers:

More perceived space:  Perhaps open a wall or completely remove a wall(s) and connect two rooms for better communication and visual enlargement of the floor plan.   

Adding mirrored walls or individual mirrors add depth and also expands a space to give it a perceived increase in size.  

Add cozy color and texture with area rugs, throws and accent pillows.

Add skylights for more daylight.

Change paint colors for a refreshed feel.

Remodel kitchens and bathrooms – people have been sharing intimate spaces and preparing meals significantly more than regular lifestyles dictate and now recognize limitations in their current designs.

Re-upholstery of existing pieces that function well, but need to be refreshed and modernized.

Purchase new furnishing to improve the comfort, function and visual appearance of the interior.

Desires for additional lighting or replacement fixtures, to improve and enhance the quality and color of light inside all rooms for tasks, ambiance, accent spots, indirect illumination, decorative fixtures and even landscape lighting to highlight the features of the plantings and exterior structures, have been heightened.

Workplace design has migrated into homes prompting consideration for a more efficient permanent pocket of living spaces designed for that specific purpose of home-offices. A few from our website portfolio are illustrated here…

Before – this cluttered space was serving as an office – but without organization or pleasing aesthetics.
After – this same space reorganized furniture placement, added new work-surfaces and cantilevered shelves to match existing teak pieces, creating an atmosphere of organization, enhanced workspace and display of personal hobbies and memorabilia.
Before – this room doubled as a sewing room and home office – but the lack of organization made it inefficient and unpleasant.
After – by adding storage, cutting a steel trundle bed (found in their storage unit) down to window-width, and rearranging the workspaces, this same room can now comfortably accommodate a guest, organize work and sewing spaces and pleasantly display art and memorabilia.

For both working from home and schooling from home – the needs, for this space, have become critical. Imagine, down the road, more on-line courses might be considered and even more opportunities to work from home now that the practice has been proven!!

Even a pocket tucked in the corner of a room can be ample space for quiet focus and an organized workspace.
Areas designed for study can also be used for arts and crafts and other projects.

Office spaces will reflect this modification in the working environment, by creating more flexible workspaces allowing a variety of scenarios for performing tasks between home and office and an increasing appreciation for a more fluid arrangement of office layouts and furnishings. 

During this isolation, I have enjoyed several ZOOM continuing education classes offered by Knoll that have centered on workspace layout and furniture both at home and in corporate settings.

Here are more helpful tips from Knoll for your consideration when planning a home-office. https://www.knoll.com/shop/work-from-home/home-office-setup-guide

Patio perk-ups to expand the enjoyment outdoors –  at both home and office – maximizing the livable exterior areas of either small balconies to expansive spaces, backyards, decks, improved  landscaping,  outdoor kitchens and fully-furnished furnished living spaces – are seeing increased attention to detail.

Woodard furniture – one of our favorites –  has been designing and fabricating for  well over a hundred  and fifty years. Since 1934 they have perfected the art of metal furniture design and fabrication. As industry leaders, their expertise brings  a collection of superior craftsmanship and a wide variety of materials and styles to accommodate both commercial and residential applications.

Let’s keep moving forward through this pandemic with positive vibes for creating enhanced living spaces – both inside and out – for more productive and enjoyable living!  

Finding Peaceful Places

Where are you finding comfort, peace and a reprieve from the crazy of it all?  I’ve been checking in with people from around the country asking where they are finding peace and tranquility during these unusual times.  Sharing their peaceful places has been fun and thoughtful.  

Isabel sends greetings from “The Beach” – Standley Lake in Westminster, Colorado.

Discovering comfort in familiar and new places is the name of the game during this time of uncertainty and isolation. Some are more isolated than others. Some are surrounded by real or virtual workmates, others family, some have the companionship of a pet while others find themselves living alone and feeling a different kind of isolating solitude.

Several sunsets submitted…seems that is a restful time for most. Jan finds peace, at the end of the day, from her backyard. Nice.

Snuggling up with music or a good book, watching movies, playing  games and exercise are all a part of our daily lives, but in this current situation they are magnified with importance.  Technology has certainly broadened our reach.   The information we can access is nearly limitless and connecting platforms to video chats have facilitated the way we communicate over the miles. Activities and focus on our senses heightens our physical and sensory benefit and enjoyment .

Whether a tablet, paperback or hardcover – nothing says escape like a good book.
Solitaire or a battle of gin…with a little gin.

Interiors are our haven.  Finding peaceful places within your realm is a new adventure of discovery that is occurring as a result of a resourcefulness to stay comfortable and balanced.  It’s a great time to pamper yourself. Who doesn’t like to take a bath? I don’t. But these days, that tub and inviting bubbles and fresh scents are intriguing. If you don’t have any bath salts or bubbles…find some fresh rosemary sprigs or pine needles…lemon juice or grated rind…perhaps a little ginger powder or grated fresh…put it a cloth pouch so as not to clog your plumbing.

Light a scented candle, make your own fragrances, play a little music and escape for a bit.

I usually feel too rushed – and that’s ironic because taking a restful soaker is supposed to be a perfect stress-reliever.  How awful is it not to have time to decompress? Well…we all have a lot of time on our hands – albeit time being utilized differently.

Roll-up a few towels to set the stage – make it like a vacation spa – if only for an hour until the world catches up again!!!

Curling up with a good book. We know that getting up and getting dressed in the morning provides a normalcy and participation that keeps us from feeling less reclusive. Preparing for the day! And inasmuch as it is a rarity for most of us to stop in the middle of the day and read a book – it is a luxury we should allow ourselves. It is an escape, a reprieve.  Discovering new places and positions to enjoy a good read is another way to find peace. Places where daylight filters in is restorative.

Tracking daylight through your interior…you might notice the orientation, time of day and penetration of light with more time spent at home.

Outside, weather plays a big part in how we can expand our isolation beyond or interior walls. From quiet garden spaces to hiking and exploring nature’s playground – the  ability to enjoy exterior spaces is prime. Having warm weather on the way broadens that area of our safe shelters.

Hi Zoe in Northern Virginia!!!!! Families are having lots of outdoor time. “What a GREAT backyard you have!!!!!!!” “The better to stay isolated and still have lots of adventures,” says she!!!!!
Wowee from Maui – thanks Linda for this shot from your window- some people have it rough!!!! Isolation in paradise!!
A quiet corner of a garden can be a new discovery now that we have the time to pause and focus on the details around us.

Biking and walking trails are being explored, in these new times, and revealing great resources within our reach. One of the positive outcomes of this “down time” is a desire to get out and move – the restlessness is prompting a newfound need and satisfaction gained from exercise.

New growth brings new promise as spring peeks through….taking walks is great for both body and mind in the high desert of Albuquerque.
Hello Heather over there in Arlington, Virginia – running over the Rt 66 trail!! Not much traffic!!!!!
Shelley sends this scene from their lovely Lake Keowee neighborhood in the secluded woods of northwestern South Carolina.
My friend Jeannie, who usually works at the now very enormously lonely Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, writes that her Peaceful Place is “on one of these benches in this jewel of an oasis called Carl Shultz Park here on the Upper East Side overlooking the East River. Nice breezes to enjoy and usually lots of pleasure boats. Been doing a lot of reading here and a fine place to get a whiff of fresh air.”

Hobbies and projects have flourished. Weather permitting, outside gardens need tending and indoor projects/hobbies have truly been re-vitalized with renewed appreciation and interest.

A recently added potting table on Cathy’s deck provides a perfect area to focus on preparing patio pots and new growth!!
Adjacent to her potting area, Cathy has a perfect place for repose. Reading or playing cards, enjoying a morning coffee, evening cocktail or a quiet meal – this area provides a perfect retreat.
More fun and games as Bonnie attacks her 5th jigsaw puzzle since the quarantine started just a few weeks ago…with a little refreshment and plenty of early evening sunshine! Love that the days are getting longer!!!!

Plump your pillows and prop up your feet –  inside or out – a healthy combination of  rest and meditation, healthy eating, brain work and physical exercise is the recipe for success during our surreal pause. Find your peaceful place – find your joy.  

Discovering Extraordinary Ambiance on the Side of a Dusty Road.

After experiencing and pondering the value of incorporating nature’s elements into architectural planning in the previous blog, I find myself winding into the countryside from sea level to a mile high into jungles and ultimately pine forests, across vast expanses of rivers and towering bridges spanning grand abysses…and stopping at a modest panaderia (bakery) on the side of the road.

You can’t tell a book by its cover as this simple little rural structure – standing alone – looked curiously intriguing and quaint enough, with an unpaved parking area transitioning to well-tended pea-gravel. Traffic cruised by, on the way across the bridge.

Those that knew, turned in. We pulled off the road and were told that this couple had a wonderful bakery and were promised an exceptional treat! Fresh empanadas that would bring remarkably satisfying mid-morning joy.

Very tidy and thoughtfully eclectic, this little destination bakery is a precious find.

Oh, were we in for a surprise! At the entry, I stopped to shoot the whimsical cup of coffee mosaic set in a field of stone and concrete. I thought – what a fun design element to greet arrivals and set the stage. But I had no idea to what extent I was about to be elated. What unfolded so exceeded my expectations that I wanted to stay all day!!!

Happy stone and tile-work adorned the pathways. From the textures of stone and brick, tile and wood – it was an organic fantasy – an unexpected design experience.

Simple, yet spectacular – simply spectacular!!!!!

 Ceilings of colorful floral blooms – perhaps wisteria – suspended from their vines and other plantings intertwined with the structure.

Spotless and meticulous the eclectic elements were a harmonious creation.
Stone walls, wooden slats, vines and adobe all worked together to define the spaces.

 The wafting aroma of fresh baked goods – it was more than delightful.  From warm savory clouds with mushroom filling and another with chile-laced sausages – and an array of sweet strawberry, cream and pineapple empanadas to corn muffins, banana muffins and more! All nestled beneath colorfully woven cotton tablecloths.

Light and delicious – the best empanadas ever!! With a tiny sprinkles of granulated sugar, for a sweet crunch, before sinking into the fabulous fillings! Muffins challenged any others and savory treats were so satisfyingly delectable. Little buttons of banana slices on top denoted which were the banana muffins!!

Rich Mexican coffee with a touch of freshly ground cinnamon and luscious hot chocolate were served in custom-glazed “barro ware” complimenting the fresh-from-the-oven confections.

The exhibition baking kitchen overlooked the serving line. The buffet of pastries thoughtfully explained by our gracious and welcoming host, Jesus!

Carmen presents fresh strawberry tarts just from the oven!!!
A combination of old and new – tradition and technology meet in this cozy kitchen.

Fragmented spaces open, yet enclosed, offered intimate pockets in which to pause and enjoy.

Color-pops insert themselves effectively around the interior and exterior spaces.
Inviting seating areas semi-concealed offer private repose.
Tucked away – more areas to enjoy…

Clever use of clean blond wood shavings on the floor of the main covered patio created a wall-to-wall carpet of fresh aromatics complimenting the inviting aromas emitted from the ovens.  Rocking chairs and rigid sturdy versions, with a fun little rope swing, all surrounded  by tropical plantings made a cozy area to gather.

Soft underfoot and subtly fragrant – the wood chips make a great shag carpet!!!

As I meandered around exploring all the interesting spaces, textures, colors and plantings, I marveled at the sensitivity with which this had all been crafted and assembled. It was artful interior design with an exterior feel – open air and charming, with a decidedly handcrafted, Mexican sense of place.

Slices of handsome tree trunks make perfect stepping “stones” with graduated heights.

It was an eclectic collage of furniture, structure and organics – living and static – that was welcoming and artful, delightful and so pleasing, that it was a treat for all the senses.

The cool morning air of the mountains mingled, with the comforting fragrances, creating an atmosphere inviting gentle conversations of people gathered around good food and artfully relaxed surroundings.  

Peek in places and through doorways to find worlds of design waiting to be discovered!!!

Nature’s Design Elements

Neighborhood covenants, zoning, physical practicality, budgetary constraints…all enter into whether it is realistic or desirable to save vegetation when clearing land for development. Carving around existing  growth can be a tedious and costly addition to a project. But there are times when it is a design asset – an imperative even – to the over-all setting and effect of the scene.

Saving trees when designing a built environment is a challenge that often pays off.

A spectacular backdrop to this seating area – the decades old tree is the focal point.
At night – well lit – the same tree towers with dramatic illumination in the darkness as the rear “wall” of this seating area.

Raping acres of woods for barren subdivisions and adding back newly planted saplings the caliper of a quarter is unfortunate and takes years to satisfy. FHA requirements were the tell-tale token of bringing green back after a bulldozer’s brutal removal of all plant-life on a property. That lanky stick standing in the center of a dirt patch, that might get sod or seed…or rock, was a pitiful attempt to give back to the environment.  However, in addition to broad-sweeping examples, individual decisions to saver rather than remove can prove valuable.

Years ago, when planning a patio expansion and exterior kitchen, friends brought the plans to me for a quick check before committing to the design from the design/build contractors that they had engaged. The new patio plan meandered along nearly the entire back facade of the house.  With all the exciting kitchen layout and bar, seating areas and dining space, I instantly focused on the fact that their beautiful red-bud tree was gone – not in evidence on the pans!  I exclaimed about it and was told that they were told it had to go. That was about 10 years ago – or more, yet it still stands today having modified the design to include a tree-well in the patio and opening in the proposed high-ceiling patio cover.  The stunning multi-truck tree thrives, in the ground as it had for decades, and climbs skyward through the opening spreading widely toward the second story of the home. A wonderful, living, sculptural element, in the space. Good save!

Warmer climates invite the indoor/outdoor melding of living spaces. We all try to achieve them despite bitter cold transitions and near, if not complete shut-downs “off-season.” But in the tropics, outdoor living spaces become remarkable dimensions to expand living.

Sculptural trees are powerful elements viewed from inside and outside.

This past week, that situation came to mind as I enjoyed several examples of incorporating nature into the design scheme. Yes, landscape design is just that. Landscape architects do just that. They design exterior spaces with organic material. But what I was feeling recently was two complimentary things – one that designing in and around existing growth is so satisfying and in some cases, the living plant material becomes the architecture – not merely compliments it.

In addition to their sculptural beauty, they add balance, scale and a canopy over the exterior rooms.

This past couple of weeks, we have see the results of 2 years of preparation and construction which transformed of a piece of partially vacant land into a seaside resort. Several key palms and a couple other key trees  were saved and hundreds more were brought to the site to complete the design. The towering new trees showed signs of shock with their dried frond tips  – but will surely survive.

What has been a foreground of some landscaping and virgin jungle ,with houses beyond, was bladed and terraced last year in preparation for a new project.
Buildings and pools appeared, jungle growth was removed and a few key organic elements retained.
The recently finished scene is dramatically different – incorporating specimen trees throughout the property into the new plan.

When landscaping becomes architecture you know you have crossed an exciting line. What I mean by that is to have the growth become walls – to have the vegetation read as though structural framework.

This terraced dining patio is framed by massive bamboo and other large trees and plantings. They are substantial enough to read like screens, if not walls, framing the space.
From a canopy of growth, strings of LED lights are suspended as though from the ceiling – a ceiling of branches over this enchanting outside dining venue.

A tree house is another example. The tree is the structure – the framework to begin the additional elements that create a suspended room.

This entertaining and imagination-spurring book by Philip Jodidio is worth investigation. Here. find extraordinary examples of trees as the structure of other amazingly fanciful spaces!

By observing examples in your world, you will see, when designing around and in concert with the natural landscaping, the effects can be dramatic and of great value to the scene. On your next project, consider the possibilities of saving rather than removing – incorporating and celebrating nature’s design elements!

Creating a Catio

This is the story of a very lucky cat. Her name is Bijou – French for Jewel.  Once the pet, of a let’s say, “not-ready-for-this-responsibility” somewhat transient young man living on his own between high school and the next move, she was along for the ride with kids coming and going, parties and nothing in the way of consistent comfort and security. Perhaps loved, in a way, but without the tools or experience to properly care for her, she was collected by a close friend and given a new home.

This what the new owner saw.

Bijou, a fragile kitty.

This is what her other two cats saw.

Doesn’t play well with others.

She had led such an erratic life with so much activity and unexpected actions, activities and unsettling inconsistencies, she was skittish and defensive. She did not play well with others. Syd and Sam, her two new brothers, were bookends. They were fairly mellow and had full run of the house…until now.

Bijou was a mess around them – picking fights and acting untamed. This spread to her reaction to her new people too – the fear of the other cats made her skittish to the point of biting and scratching for seemingly no apparent reason.

Her new owner knew that if she took her to Animal Humane that she would have difficulty finding a home with her bad behavior and therefore would more than likely be euthanized. This was not an option. For all of her crazy, she was still loveable and had become part of the family.

Being isolated to the daughter’s bedroom and end of the hallway bath, Bijou had a quarantined life. And it was not pleasant nor convenient for the rest of the household either.

Cat solitary…

Cat psychology and medication were not working.  The light bulb went off and her generous and soft-hearted  new owner imagined a “catio.”  With that she began gathering examples from all sources. Some were elegant and lavish while others were smaller and efficient. But the idea was to provide an environment where Bijou felt safe and could commune with nature, relax and release her tensions and enjoy life.

The plans began…

The idea…

The crude beginnings to plot the location and size evolved…

Our magician of a cabinet maker – fine craftsman and designer of amazing wood cabinets and free-standing furniture, who continues to claim that he is NOT a welder stepped in to save the day. Against his better judgments, but with our strong encouragement, Enrique started to investigate.

He and I went on the search for materials. Handsome pavers to compliment adjacent materials, (creating a border of gravel to match landscape material and act as a transition between non-matching surfaces), roofing panels, the right gauge of wire and size of tubular steel.

Who knew that the seemingly common corrugated fiberglass panels were not to be found at the national home improvement stores?

We wanted a durable, translucent roof…diffused to protect from the harsh orientation of the summer sun, but to allow softened daylight to wash the space with protection from thee rare downpour during the monsoons.

Soon thereafter he pulled up on the curb of PATRICIAN DESIGN with the first load of raw steel.

Enrique’s El Camino is loaded down with steel!!!

With many meetings discussing details including access through the master bathroom window, entry door for humans outside, hiding place nook, evading code issues with house egress maintained, space for adjacent barbeque area, dodging and/or accommodating existing sprinkler valves and transitions between existing pavers and pavement – the physical work began.

Weeks turned into months as summer passed and construction continued. The work is tedious. The work is perfection. The welding is invisible. I remarked that Enrique treats iron and steel like fine wood. He is precise, careful, attends to every detail and proceeds with the intention that joinery is invisible and details are fine.

Glass panels are inserted into channels and will ultimately be lit at night with the intent of having the family each paint an image on the glass depicting cats, nature – whatever speaks to them about this very special catio.

The roof structure is extended the full length to allow for a new covered grilling area – bonus detail!! A low “hiding area” for Bijou is a work-surface for the grill too!

Bijou has just been introduced to her new environs.

She came in through the bathroom window…

The weather is turning and there is a chill in the evening air, but she and her benefactor enjoy sitting out there with a glass of wine and listen to the crickets as night falls.

The kind-hearted husband is getting into the swing of things by making this perch using weathered wood from their backyard and left-over carpet from their interior remodel.

More finishing touches will be coming in the way of the painted glass panels, ramps and ledges for Bijou, …

…so that every day will bring a more beautifully outfitted catio for this very lucky cat! Watch for the finished product!

Fantasy Centerpieces in a Magical Setting

Inspiration for centerpieces – here – a neutral color scheme – white on white on white…Often limited to weddings, take a tip from a social phenomenon – Diner en Blanc for dramatic centerpieces! Any of which could be ablaze with seasonal color – depending upon your desired theme. And with the advancements in LED lighting, the colors are limitless and instantly changeable.

The Diner en Blanc is an international event that began in Paris, 1988. An amazing concept that began with an invitation among friends to an elegant al fresco affair. This unique gathering was prestigious and decadent.

Someone gave a nod to the city of origin!

Everyone wore white so that they could find each other amidst other crowds who were gathered at the venue. ( Which becomes rather humorous amidst 2,000 people ALL wearing white!!) https://www.google.com/search?q=origin+diner+en+blanc&oq=origin+diner+en+blanc&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.5779j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The remarkable event spread around the world and Albuquerque has celebrated this creative event for several years. This is my second experience with this white fantasy. Every year the venue is kept secret only to be revealed at the last moment when attendees are assembled and usually transported on buses to the destination. This surprise location was right across from the designated gathering places downtown. And instead of boarding a bus each group, expecting just that, cued up as though to go aboard – only to be led single file across the street to the expansive Civic Plaza!

One big patio party!

This year with the Hyatt Regency team screaming with creativity from the table dressings…to the phenomenal food…to the fabulous frivolity – it was magic!

Would you believe luscious, chunky lobster salad served in a half tail, sliced beef filet and many artfully decadent extras…

Asked to wear white, bring your own tables, chairs, table dressings, centerpieces – all in white – the evening unfolds with exciting flurries of fabric, flowers, statuary, lights – all intended to make a spectacular statement for each group’s table.

Imagine all of this theatrical staging with 2,000 performers (we) in one enormous space – outside in the perfection of a last ditch of summer evening. It is a remarkable event.

Pretty parasols…
mysterious masks…

As I strolled through the tables capturing photos of the various “tablescapes”, I realized that the creativity was applicable to so many possibilities of table dressings – with color added!

LED lighting set the scene aglow with myriad magical colors! It changes the perceived temperature of a scene.

So enjoy seeing these creations and imagine them in seasonal splendor – fall now…winter coming…spring bursting forth and summer ablaze with color – for your upcoming parties throughout the year!

The scene changed and darkness fell..

With magnificent mariachis to flowing flamenco dancers the entertainment was dazzling and morphed into an enthusiastic DJ who rocked the stage for dancing into the night… It was an exterior nightclub – an excellent setting for a many faceted affair! https://www.facebook.com/DinerEnBlanc.Albuquerque/

An elegant table for Dion’s Pizza and water bottles!!!

Cheers to elegant parties! Who needs an excuse???

TIPS For Building a New Home

Building a new home? There are many ways to go about it. Here are a few photos of a semi-custom home, in the framing phase, that is currently under construction. Watch for a future blog featuring progress photos and finished shots!

Upon arrival, here at the entry, is a recessed niche – or as we say out here in New Mexico, a nicho! It is a perfect focal point, yet the dimensions are not illustrated in an elevation. The owners have an opportunity to have it sized for an existing piece that they own, plan for a custom piece or allow it to be framed-out by the contractor, without further specification, and find something that works.

From a tract home, with all the decisions distilled to a narrow selection featured in a model home and/or sales office…to the very custom where the owners select everything, from a world of choices with their consultants, there are commonalities that are worth noting to assist with the process .

In the tract home, a price for a finished product is presented and all standard, pre-priced details are included – within a range of narrow selections. The selections are recorded, but not often incorporated into the plans which are is usually generically pre-designed. Changes are usually not an option. It is efficient, for both contractor and owner. In full-bore custom projects, all is decided, selected, designed and recorded on the plans to the last detail prior to pricing and breaking ground. All costs are identified, yet changes are often in the mix as owners have new ideas that they have the prerogative to change. They exchange or pay for every modification – every “change order”.

In the middle is the “almost custom”, but still packaged product. This is a package that is presented with pre-established designs and details, budgets and allowances. Potential buyers are shown examples of homes – models or occupied recent completions. A cost for construction is determined based upon square footage and amenities, as illustrated in the examples. This is a great way to get a more custom home with easier to execute plans and design details.

Which process best describes your project? In any of these new home design and construction approaches, there are similarities that challenge the owners along the way.  Even for the seasoned professional, circumstances alter cases (changes in availability of materials, weather delays, clients who continue to visualize, imagine and fine-tune their ideas and involvement in the details). All can challenge the schedule and alter the intended smooth progression of the project.

With the tract home approach not many, if any, of the on-going wish-list items can or will be implemented. They are not set-up to make changes, alter plans or deviate from offerings and the signed-off package, in any way.

In the very custom design-from-scratch home, with the “world is your oyster” approach, changes are welcome and accommodated – after all, that is the goal – to create the perfect home, for this client who is paying for the flexibility, world of choices and luxury of it all.

In the middle is the interesting situation where the owners perceive custom flexibility, have budgets assigned and make selections based upon those numbers.  Once these numbers are created to establish the budget, examples are usually presented so the owners have an idea about what their dollars will buy during the selection process. Often that method is a bit unrealistic. As estimators know, this is a tedious process – yet presenting it, in an overview, seems easy.

After examples have been shown, floor plans drawn, finishes and other design details have been budgeted, the owners sign-off on the basic idea of the home and then set out to fill-in-the-blanks. What will the flooring be? What light fixtures? What door hardware and finish? What sinks, faucets and towel bars? What countertops? What wall tile, paint or other treatments? It is usually not until that very process of assembling all the selections that an owner will know if the budget they created will satisfy their ultimate needs and desires.

 With this sense of “custom” paired with the packaged example, comes the owner’s complacency – through no fault of their own – to miss details that arise from the attempt to create a unique product, plan, design – but without having seen the actual example. It doesn’t exist – anymore than it would in the very custom home. That’s why it is unique. However, unlike the very custom home, where there are layers of design assistants from architect, interior designer, lighting consultant, A/V consultant, landscape designer, general contractor, and subcontractors who work together to best explain options, implement wishes and get it all on paper for clarity, the middle approach proceeds with pre-determined practices that don’t require recording on plans and rarely elevations, as all is based upon an expeditious course-of-conduct for the like-kind of homes presented, at the out-set. But having seen the examples/model/features, the homeowners make their plans guided by the project managers which might include a general contractor, subs and a few hours with an on-staff design consultant. Inevitably details are over-looked in the process.

Here are a few tips for proceeding with a new home project.

Don’t be afraid to ask for sketches of design details or photos of examples.

Walk through the floor plans, in your imagination. Start at the front door and shut your eyes and try to visualize the progression. Make notes along the way. Do the same from the garage or any other alternative entry, into the home. I will suggest you do this several times – each time with a different focus.

Be mindful of window locations…exterior fenestration and interior placement as they relate to furniture and artwork. Consider them both from inside and out! One they are framed and ordered, this is either difficult, expensive or impossible to change.

The first focus might be to walk through from each exterior entry and visualize where the light switches are located and what they operate. Do you want some of your switches to be three-way? This means, for convenience, that there are two different locations to switch on/off the same light or appliance.

Secondly, as you walk through the spaces in your mind, picture if there are things that you wish to highlight such as a piece of art on a pedestal or painting on a wall, sculpture in a niche or even a spot on a table for games or hors-d’oeuvres. Some things might be lit by free-standing lamps – depending upon where they are located. Beware the dreaded, but often necessary, floor plug!!

Light fixtures….locating the power sources – the junction boxes…will you have recessed fixtures, surface-mount, suspended, or wall mount? Consider the heights of the ceiling, what is centered or not, from where you will see the fixture, and where you want it to illuminate and how. This will help plan the location of the j-boxes.

With changes in technology, wireless systems, phone apps, etc…these details will change. Know the pros and cons of advancing technologies and select the best for your present and future needs. Consider the longest period of time you will be in this home and design accordingly – aging in place.

Consider what things are easy or cost-effective to modify later, if needed, and what makes sense to install initially, to be the best investment. This might be temporary light fixtures, in favor of more expensive ones once you recuperate your cash-flow! Perhaps you don’t need glass shower enclosures at the outset – can be added later…additional cabinets…many things can be upgraded later. While other items such as the flooring material, cabinets/countertops, wall treatments, skylights, electrical sources and others…should be considered in the first-pass.

At every turn, when you are walking through the space in your imagination, see your focal point. As you enter – what is dead ahead? As you turn to the right – what do your face? Do the same to the left and make your way through the house and see each focal point, in front of you, to determine what will be placed there, how will it be lit (with each exercise – imagine daytime and nighttime), does it require power, is there enough room to place the piece you intended to go there?  Inches might count.

While walking through and around the plans or even during the early stages of construction, also look out the windows. What do you face? What do you see?  Capture views and avoid what you don’t want. Should the wall be higher? Will this be a landscaping opportunity or necessity? Check patio covers and light sources. Consider the compass – what faces what? Seasonal temperature considerations are worth a nod. And think about exterior lighting.

A spectacular upgrade of over-sized sliding glass doors and flanking windows were selected to maximize this view…only to learn, after the slab was poured and framing up, that there was a massive corner column planned to support the yet-to-be erected patio cover . A modification was still possible, by sharing the load on two separate well-spaced columns and cutting back the patio cover between them to avoid a cantilever that was said to be cost prohibitive.

Check to see if things, inside and out, that should be centered ARE centered. And if they don’t, make sure from all angels that it won’t matter – or will in some advantageous, artfully, asymmetrical manner.  

Per the plans, the island was not centered beneath the skylight. The cabinet-maker was doing his field dimensions and asked it this was the desired position. To which we replied – no – as it impacted the location of the pendant lights in addition to being off-center from the skylight.

Furniture layouts should be placed on the plan before you finalize the plans and certainly before you break ground. If you visualize a sectional sofa from which to watch the TV – make sure you can plan for one that exists. If it is from a sofa that you will view the TV- is there a space for an adjacent guest? Make sure some collection of desired furnishing or possibilities is realistic. If you have actual pieces you own – it is an imperative and so easy to accommodate on paper before the slab is poured and framing begins.

By not centering the bed and coordinating TV and dresser which was intended to occur on the opposite wall, the master will have a entire seating area off to the side. Had the recessed niche for the TV along with wiring and backing installed for the articulating wall-mount bracket, the bed and flanking nightstands would wither have been forced to center or been awkwardly off-center to best utilize the floor space.

As previously mentioned, beware the dreaded floor outlets – will you need them? Layout the furniture, to have the best chance of getting the location right.

Yet-to-be installed fireplace, in the far corner of the room, dictates the furniture placement. Floor plugs will allow lighting to be located, on floor or tables, away from the wall – floating in the center of the space. They were placed prior to a furniture layout having been specifically planned. This might pose a challenge.

Ask friends for their opinions. Examine their suggestions from every angle. Don’t wait to ask friends for their opinions too late, in the process!

A fun snail shower enclosure will have no door…but the placement of product niches, termination of the wall tile and transition of the floor tile are critical details.

In any approach to this process…plan. Don’t guess anything that you don’t need to guess.

In about 3 months, this patio will be in full-swing for entertaining. Hopefully all the anxiety of the process will be left behind…….

Be prepared to have new or changing ideas as things proceed – but prior, proper, planning will better serve the entire process.

Don’t be that guy like in the old joke about purchasing a vehicle…after signing the purchase agreement, you realize something is missing and mention it to the agent who replies, “Oh, you want wheels on that car?”

Time to Remodel – Finding a Theme

Time to remodel the kitchen!! This charming little bungalow had already experienced its share of remodeling – well, not so much structural – although, many interior design transformations had occurred over the decades. In the mix, the well-used and enjoyed kitchen was feeling a quite tired and dated.

You might remember I have used this now completed project, in the last few months, during its transformation process to identify certain features and design practices. Here is the as-promised unveiling of the before and after photos for further discussion about the design process, intent and results.

We loved the mottled color and organic character of the existing slate floors and opposing green-grey beams with spanning boards of a caramel stain. These were the two elements that went well together as though intentionally planned. Yet in between, the pale, peachy pickled oak cabinets with their radius detailing and red-rose/black matrix of the tiled granite counter-tops, didn’t seem to speak at all well with the ceiling treatment and slate floor’s greens, rusts and charcoal tones. It was a dark, confused space.  

When observing and “listening to” the house, it was evident that the current kitchen, in addition to being poorly coordinated, had absolutely nothing to do with the original architectural intent. The new owners had brought a few very fine antique pieces into the home. The mid-century circa 1964 age of the house accepted them on its original hardwood floors also adorned with their fine antique rugs…but something was missing. There was no cohesive thread running through the house. Over the years finishes and decorative elements had been selected and installed without any consideration for original materials or an attempt to introduce compatible and harmonious materials for the good of the home’s overall theme.

In all fairness, had the entire interior been gutted and a contemporary interior been uniformly installed into the framework/shell of the structure, I might have considered it a success. However, this multiple decade decor was a mix of disparate trends and preferences that had no commonality.

To begin the process of bringing this home into a cohesive design last year, we had redesigned the living room. There we introduced a classic blue and white color scheme derived from the Persian rug in the adjacent dining room.

To the corner kiva fireplace, we added a sandstone hearth and mantle with just enough blue and white Talavera tile trim at the base of the hearth to subtly coordinate with the new scheme. The Talavera was an appropriate material for this New Mexican bungalow.

The original fireplace had a dark, broken brick quarry tile hearth and no cap on the mantle.
The face-lift replaced the hearth material with broken-edged sandstone slab and matching mantle cap with Talavera detailing at the bottom.

With this living room having been so successfully re-designed, the obvious thought came into the discussion to continue the vernacular of the blue and white Talavera into the kitchen. As a bit of a purist when it comes to application and termination of materials, I was not content for a mere back-splash.  No, if the tile were to be effective and commandeer the stage, it had to be used wall-to-wall as though an entire wall treatment.

Treating the Talavera tile as wall-covering, it continues from the kitchen, into the adjacent pocket-space housing a desk and laundry machines.

But wait! The addition of an earthy aqua handmade tile from Spain offered an appealing and unexpected accent woven intermittently through the Talavera. It created a coordinating thread from the colors found in the mottled slate floors and ceiling beams.  

Pre-grout shot shows the individually cut 1″ pieces inserted as mosaics into the random field of Talavera

The cabinets were in excellent condition, but the doors were sadly dated and in no way spoke to the home’s other cabinets, doors and finish carpentry.

The confused interior finishes we in need of a transformation!

With the white raised panel theme throughout the home’s original appointments, we elected to salvage the cabinet boxes and replace the doors and drawer fronts with a similar raised panel detail. The same red oak was used and, with a glossy white paint applied, the grain “read-through” with a very intentional yet subtle moiré-like pattern. The new raised panel white doors and drawers, with crowning top molding provided a crisp, timeless motif. The random patterned Talavera used as an entire wall-covering was very effective. The kitchen was quite gussied-up!!

The transformation was dramatically successful!

The existing slate floor was beautifully organic and I felt, from a design standpoint, was a must to salvage. Making it look like an intentional selection – part of the new scheme – was imperative. Therefore, selecting a counter-top that communed with the tones in the floor resulted in a selection of concrete-like engineered Italian quartz material – balancing the floor with the next horizontal plane and ultimately with the stained and green-grey boards of the existing ceiling treatment.

The new concrete-like Italian quartz counter-tops coordinate well with the other materials.

Another asset was the connection to the outdoors, however the existing window over the sink was high and small.

The window over the sink was high and small…

By bucking the warranty of the Pella people, we had a new double-hung window made to close down onto the new counter-top that passed through from inside to out. They would not fabricate the window to do what we intended, so we had the contractor remove the bottom of the new window frame, thus rendering the warranty null and void, in order to have a completely open, uninterrupted pass-through when raised.

Amusing and interesting…existing family pieces of blue and white ceramics are being discovered and used as decorative accessories in the new kitchen!

We also captured the opportunity to open the opposing wall into the hallway adding pass-through light and dimension to the space. This exponentially expanded the space and made the encapsulated kitchen feel much less confined.

Before, the kitchen felt small and dark…
Opening the wall into the hallway brought in additional light and dimension.

To add drama to the newly created dimension, we discussed having a painting commissioned to pop an accent of yellow into the blue and white scheme on the far hallway wall. Lemons, a perfect citrus for the kitchen, was decided for the theme.  

A miniature oil painting by Federico Leon de la Vega was used to Photoshop into the scene to inspire and convey the design intent.

The additional POP of yellow is a dramatically effective contribution to the overall composition. After consideration, the owners selected a local artist to paint the full-scale painting.

A local Albuquerque artist, Thomas Tomlinson rendered the lemons in acrylic with blue and white tile details.

In summary…keeping the original slate floor, existing cabinet boxes (replacing door and drawer-fronts only), with a bling of new chrome cabinet pulls, switching out the stained glass pendants, replacing the island’s surface with a handsome solid walnut top and a new coordinating concrete-like counter-tops on the periphery, with the decorative embellishment of the Talavera tile continued from the subtle introduction at the living room’s kiva fireplace, the transformation of the kitchen is stunning – not trendy – and was truly, uniquely designed for the architecture and forward, on-going contextual design conversation of the home.

Uniquely designed…

Look around and listen to the environment for and in which you are designing. What makes the best sense for the design direction considering the function and context of your project?

Animating Interiors – for Fun!

The total sum of an interior…comprised of the shape and volume of a space, the colors and textures, architectural details…then layer the lighting, furnishings and decorative accessories and ta-da! But is that all there is?

The beauty and intrigue of interiors is what keeps us discovering and creating. Yes, finding intimate pockets or grand expanses that please and dazzle.

The romance of this setting caught my eye…the far table by the window – set for two seemed a likely scene for a tete e tete to take place!

While traveling in the tropics these last few weeks, I discovered many interesting places. Oddly, while experiencing all the sights and sounds flavors and colors of this paradise, I immersed myself in the unlikely and completely opposite world of early 20th century Russia with A Gentleman in Moscow.

Just for fun, I sat with Federico Leon de la Vega today as he did 4 – minute sketches of some of my photos…needless to say, proper illustrations would have proved more telling of my romanticizing the talents of artists conveying imaginary activities in interiors…but it was fun to play with this today!

The beautifully and artistically articulate writing style of Amor Towles held me captive. And what a dichotomy to play ping-pong with my brain as I digest the restricted realm of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov while basking in the warm sunshine with fresh sea air and palms rustling overhead…It seems that the extremes of this pairing suited me well as it was a dual escape – a vacation getaway while taking me further into fantasy with another dimensional experience of this incredibly great read!

Although there were many fascinating observations made by the author, it was this passage regarding the Count encountering a young artist/architect that prompted this subject for this week’s blog. The architect, finding himself in Moscow in the post Czar age of socialistic experimentation and implementation, bemoans the lack of work “The way things stand, I’d be happy to design a birdhouse.”

“The way things stand, I would be happy to design a birdhouse!” Sketch by PH

The mayor of Moscow has made an observation espousing the birth of  “the golden age of the prefabrication, cement-walled, five-story apartment building”  – with the very practical  “four-hundred-square-foot living spaces with ready access to communal bathrooms boasting four-foot tubs (after all. who has time to lie down in a bath when your neighbors are knocking at the door).” The mayor further emphasizes and rationalizes “So let us not get bogged down with elaborate designs or bow to aesthetic vanities. Let us apply ourselves instead to a universal ideal that is  fitting for our times.” A horribly inhuman decree in my opinion, rather than a should-be, truly magnanimous spirit. Humans are designed to design!!

The sentiments of the new regime left the architect with having to find avenues to utilize his talents – specifically sketching as he set forth to illustrate a brochure of the city’s finest hotels as retained by the Intourist department. How sad to possess the talent and passion and be reduced to capturing the grandeur without having the opportunity to design??!!

So three things struck me about this situation…one – that the artist was practicing only a portion of his talents and not the true, complete creativity that beckoned him to pursue his career…two – that renderings not only offer the opportunity to preview the proposed design of a space, but they can use artistic license to animate the space for its intended function and three – that spaces are not truly realized until they are filled with the people that are intended to occupy them.

So much so is a room not really finished until it is occupied by the inhabitants for whom it was intended to function, but Towles observes through the renewed appreciation by his architect, “I suppose a room is the summation of all that has happened inside it.” And that is what I enjoyed being revealed as a result of this simple exchange in this one of many experiences in this remarkable storyline .

Humans are designed to design. Rooms are intended to perform a function. They cannot function until they are animated with whatever they were intended to serve. Sketches allow the preview. Sketches are more spontaneous and artfully creative than computer generated versions of the same. Celebrate beauty, creativity and artists!