Candelaria Design ~ Enhancing your Lifestyle

Happy Holidays - December 2011

2011-12-24T13:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays to you all! We close out 2011 and look backat a busy year and we look ahead to what 2012 will bring.

2011 was a busy year for all of us at Candelaria Design. Wesaw several great projects begin and several complete. We’ve had our ups andour downs but we continue moving forward in always doing our best to designbeautiful homes that hopefully “Enhance our Clients’ Lifestyles.”

Casa Candelaria

First, thank you for all the goodies and bottles of wine. Itis always appreciated but definitely not necessary. We are so blessed andreally, we have enough popcorn balls and peanut brittle to last till July. Thisyear instead of sending gifts to all of the current and past clients, vendors,builders, subs, etc…. we are donating a day at St. Mary’s Food Bank as we didduring our first years whereby we will sort and package food for them which inturn feeds hundreds of families just from our one day effort. We will let youall know the date and we encourage you to come join us. It is a very fun andespecially rewarding day.

Zona Verde - 2011 Gold Nugget Award

A few highlights from 2011 include receiving the GoldNuggett Award for 2011 for the Best Custom Home over 6500 sf at the PacificCoast Builder’s Conference in San Francisco in June of this year. This awardwas given to our Zona Verde home in Paradise Valley that we designed for twolovely clients who have been so appreciative and gracious. We again want tothank our great team, Builder Desert Start Construction; Landscape Architects,Berghoff Design Group; Lighting Designer Walter Spitz and Creative Design inLighting, and Interior Designer, Vallone Design. I also must thank two specialpeople on this project, Jim Smith of Serve the Nation who ran the show and keptus all heading down the right design direction; and my project architect, JeffKramer, who made it all happen!

Extreme Home Tour Entry Courtyard

Extreme Home Tour Living Room

Extreme Home Tour BunkHouse

We were featured on the Extreme Home Tour by Phoenix Homeand Garden Magazine in November for ourlovely Spanish Colonial Estate in Paradise Valley again for two wonderfulclients who offered their home for the tour to raise money for the HeardMuseum. Yet another fabulous dream team, Builder Greg Hunt of GM HuntConstruction, Landscape Greg Trutza of New Directions in Landscaping, Lightingby Creative Designs in Lighting and Interiors by Patty Burdick of Wiseman andGale. This is the fourth home we have had on this tour over the last five years!

We were fortunate to be featured in Phoenix Home andGarden Magazine several times includingthree covers this year alone and also received nice coverage in LUXE Magazinefor a number of our homes. We greatly appreciate their continued coverage ofour work.

The year saw several wonderful projects completed which isalways so rewarding for us to see our clients’ live in their dream home. What ajoy it is to hear their stories and as many of you know, I love the opportunityto then come in and cook for you or with you in that new kitchen! From homes inIdaho to homes here in Arizona we saw a lot of projects wrap up and had somereally good times at those open house celebrations!

Parlor Interior of Yuma Farm house

MRA Custom Homes Open House Event

Yuma Farm Estate House

Framing underway in Silverleaf Home

Paradise Valley Estate Home

Arcadia French Country Manor House

We also have started some great projects this year and weare very excited about what we have on the boards. The years have been lean andwe are fortunate to keep it all going. We currently have two exciting projectsunderway or just ready to break ground in California, a fabulous home under constructionin Idaho, and some renovations going in New Mexico, Tucson, and Colorado – notto mention several amazing projects here in Arizona. We are designing homes forclients from Chicago, Ohio, New England, New York, Texas, and Canada. It is somuch fun to see them all get excited about their new homes.

Candelaria Design also had a lot happening with our staff.We had a member of our staff get married and then welcome a new baby! We have amember of our staff with a baby on the way! We added a new member to our teamin November, Damon Wake, and brought back an original member, Meara Perrin.They have been great additions as we head into 2012. Damon comes to us viaCornell University and is the nephew of one of our clients. He has alreadybrought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our team. Many of you remember Mearawho came on board this Fall and is running the front desk and directing ourMarketing. She has several great ideas going forward into 2012 including arevamped website and some apps forthcoming that I think clients and fans willfind useful, creative, interactive and fun. Overall, I love my team and thanksto all of you for putting up with me! Every day is definitely an adventure.

St. James Tavern London

Picadilly Circus - London

London at Night

Santa Fe

Espanola, New Mexico

Glacier National Park

Our last ski trip with our late friend Dave Reinsch (center) in Park City

Dukes Hotel - London

Santa Fe

This year we had trips to London, New York, LA, Park City, Montana, Colorado,Houston, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, LaJolla, and Idaho just to name a few. TheItaly Trip 2012 is set for May 30^th – June 11^th with anextension option to Paris for three days and three nights…..More details tofollow. The response for the trip has been overwhelming so we are nowpotentially planning a fall trip too!

My girls at the Farmer's Market - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Getting ready for the Parada del Sol - Scottsdale.

Meanwhile, we keep working and drawing away. I manage to putin my 60-80 hours a week, I attempt to keep up with my two younger daughters,Sophia 6 and Isabella 9, and my oldest daughter, Tiffany, who just was awardedthe Trailblazer of the month at the Westin Kierland Resort! And then there wasDancing with the Stars for the Arizona Kidney Foundation last February, andalso my time with the Scottsdale Charros and our rides and San Francico Giantspring training. So we are always busy.

Dancing with the Stars

Finally, I want to thank my lovely Isabel who has reallyhelped me through this year that included back surgery at the end of April,moving several times, and just always being there for me during this crazyyear. She truly is my angel.

Isabel and I at the Ivy in LA

Well, that’s a quick rundown. I’m exhausted and ready to geta little rest before we kick it in gear and get ready for 2012. I wish everyonethe best – we are always there for you whether as your architect or as yourfriend. God bless you all.

October 2011 Blog - MRA Custom Home Events

2011-10-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

CandelariaDesign Blog

October2011

Welcome to October!!! I think we all breathe a sign ofrelief from the long summer when the calendar flips to October. It’s myfavorite month of the year – cooler weather for sure, fall, football, WorldSeries, and winter visitors falling in love with Arizona!

Thank you for your readership of our Candelaria DesignLifestyle blog. Over 12,000 readers thus far with over 1050 viewers lastmonth. So thank you for checkingin and we will do our best to add some great material in the months ahead.

MRA Morning Glory Estate Lot 2

This month we have two wonderful events coming up – bothhaving to do with our client MRA Custom Homes http://www.mrahomes.com/. Construction is nearing completion on these two $10 million homes we haverecently designed for MRA on their beautiful subdivision located on MorningGlory just north of Mockingbird in Paradise Valley. On October 16^thwe are proud to have these two homes included on the AIA Phoenix Metro HomeTour http://aia-phoenixmetro.org/architecture-month/home-tour-2011/.The tour is a self guided tour and will feature several homes of all differentstyles throughout the Valley and runs from 10am – 5pm and costs only $25.00 andbenefits the American Institute of Architects.

MRA Morning Glory Estate Lot 3

The second event includes an exclusive invite only party atthe homes on the evening of October 21^st followed by anopen-to-the-public Open House weekend on October 22^nd and 23^rdfrom 12 noon to 5 pm.

MRA Morning Glory Lot 2 Kitchen

My relationship with MRA started in 1999 when theyapproached me while I was still at CCBG Architects to design their new spechome on Desert Fairways Drive in Paradise Valley. When I decided to startCandelaria Design later that year, they chose to follow me and were one of myfirst clients. We both fondly reminisce many times of our first meetings at mydining table in my condo and working out the design details all by hand on mydrafting table. The home we designed with them drew wonderful attention forboth of our companies and profitably sold allowing them to have CandelariaDesign create two more homes followed by three more homes, and now these twohomes all over a course of the last 12 years. Both of our companies have agreat respect for each other and a commitment to quality and creativity indesign and construction that clearly shows in these homes.

Aerial View of MRA Morning Glory Estates

The two homes on Morning Glory represent a culmination ofthe 12 years of our collaboration and both homes are on the one hand verysimilar in execution and quality but very different in style. One home is aformal Mediterranean Estate the other a French Country Chateau. Beautifulmaterials adorn both homes, from carved limestone to custom roof tiles, andboth are landscaped impeccably by Berghoff Design Group http://www.berghoffdesign.com/ whohas also been a key component in the execution of these homes over the last 12years. The homes are also green in that they are constructed with insulatedconcrete block, foam spray insulation at the roofs, double insulated windows,and solar panels discreetly positioned on the homes to reduce the overallenergy consumption.

MRA Morning Glory Estate Lot 2

The MRA quality is clearly shown in these homes and Iencourage you to attend these events. You will be rewarded with a visualexperience that I hope will inspire you and give you a fabulous sneak peek of these homes that willsurely be marquis homes in

Paradise Valley.

PR & Press

October is turning out to be another great month for PR andPress. Check out the newly released issue of LUXE Magazine and the beautifulhome featured that was designed by my associate, Vivian Ayala. This is abeautiful project she spearheaded and we appreciate the attention this home isreceiving. More to follow on this feature!

Mountain Residence - Flagstaff, Arizona

We just received word that we have been included on the 2011list of Top Mountain Architects and Designers in Mountain Living Magazine http://www.mountainliving.com/article/top-mountain-architects-designers-0. This is our sixth consecutive year to receive this honor.

Dream Home to be featured on Phx Home and Garden Tour - Nov 6th

As noted last month stay tuned also for the November issueof Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine, asone of our homes will be featured in the Dream Homes Extreme Tour to be held onNovember 6^th. Tickets are limited and can be purchased on line at http://www.facebook.com/PhoenixHomeGarden?sk=app_203351739677351.

Tapas at Twilight - Earth & Images

I want to thank all of you who attended the Tapas at Twilight event at Isabel's store, Earth and Images http://www.earthandimages.com/ , last month and the launch of her new website. With the Holidays coming check out her site for unique gifts for clients, friends, and family.

Italy Trip 2012

The Candelaria Design Italy Trip is a go for 2012! We havehad great interest thanks to our Candelaria Design Italy Trip 2010 FacebookPage (800 fans and counting) and we are excited for our 9^th tripwhich will depart Phoenix on May 30, 2012 and return on June 12th. See ourFacebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design-Italy-Trip-2010/415280225531?ref=mffor more details on the cost and itinerary. Prior blog postings also go intomore detail from our 2010 Trip. I’m taking 12-14 travelers and I know this willfill up fast – so call Meara and book your reservation. We will have a greatgroup going, and in addition to Florence, Tuscany and Umbria, we will behitting the coast and Portofino. Iam looking forward to the adventure once again.

October Recipe of the Month

Many of you have asked that I provide the recipes to some ofour Facebook cooking postings so here we go…..

Cioppino Pasta

We had a great time putting this little dish together lastmonth. My girls were watching Anthony Bourdain – yes the acorn does not fallfar from the tree - and were inspired by his visit of the seafood marketin Seoul, Korea whereat Anthony and his host were eating fresh squid and baby octopus. Theyasked if there was a market like that here in Phoenix. Well we don’t quite havethe venue they saw on his show, but I did tell them there was a pretty goodfresh fish market at the Ranch Market at the Chinese Cultural Centerhttp://www.phxchinatown.com/99ranch_market.html . Well they got very excitedand we were off to find some baby octopus and squid. I was curious to see howthis one was going to play out. My two youngest are age 9 and 6 so tentaclesand fish heads although interesting may not be appealing once sitting on thedinner plate.

We made our purchases and headed home to clean the squid andoctopus and de-vein the shrimp. That was fun and was like science class. With alittle garlic, butter and pasta we whipped together a dinner that not only wasfun to shop for, but was inexpensive to make and was a lot of fun to prepareand was only outdone with how great it tasted. My girls loved it and you willtoo.

Ingredients:

1 lb of Baby Squid

1 lb of Baby Octopus

1 lb of Shrimp

4 tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup of olive oil

6 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper – don’t add if serving thekids!

The squeeze of two lemons

1/4 to 1/3 cup of white wine

2 cans of diced tomatoes with the juice

3 scallions diced

2 teaspoons of thyme or Italian seasonings to taste

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

1 box of pasta – fettucine, angel hair, spaghetti –whatever!

Clean the seafood – go to google to find very simple directions!Chop up the cleaned seafood as you like. Get your pasta cooking and cook eldente. Melt your butter and olive oil in a large pan – I love using my paellapan. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper – sauté and add the lemon juice andwhite wine. Add the seafood and cook until the shrimp change color and appearcooked through. Add the diced tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper. Drain the pastaadding two ladles of pasta water to the seafood. Add the pasta to the seafoodand toss everything together. Let this concoction cook for 3 minutes or so soall of the flavors combine. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Add the dicedscallions for color and flavor and serve it up! You can always add clams ormussles also – we didn’t see any fresh supply the day we went to the market butthey are great in this dish!

September 2011 Blog - Candelaria Design Update

2011-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

London - Picadilly Circus

September2011 - Candelaria Design Update

Rendering - New Residence in Arcadia on the boards!

Well by my lack of blogging I guess you can tell we’regetting busier! I’m still cautiously optimistic that this blip in activity willtake hold and possibly the ship is slowly turning in the right direction despitesome of our politicians best efforts to sink the ship.

We have been blessed with some wonderful new projectsconsisting of a number of new homes both here in Arizona, as well as Californiaand Idaho and many renovations and remodels. We are also seeing a lot of ourgood friends from Canada and we are really enjoying working with them. Sohopefully, the pendulum is starting to swing back in the positive direction.It’s amazing how far the pendulum swung both ways over the last ten years. Itwould sure be nice to see some slow, steady growth without the mass exuberancein one direction or the utter despair in the other.

Interior framing details on house underway in
Silverleaf

New Home under construction on Hayden Lake, ID

PR & Press

In terms of Candelaria Design, there are some great thingshappening! We have had several projects published in the last few monthsincluding the cover feature in the June 2011 issue of Phoenix Home &Garden Magazine. This project spearheadedby Project Manager, Lisa Mallas Matthews, features an amazing renovation /remodel of a tract home in McCormick Ranch into and eclectic Old World casashowcasing the amazing antiques and treasures collected through the years byour client. I love this project and especially the clients we worked with – Ihave worked with them for years on a number of projects and they are trulyamazing people. I was then excited to see the project featured again in theSeptember issue and once again it made the cover!

Stay tuned also for the November issue of Phoenix Homeand Garden Magazine, as one of our homeswill be featured in the Dream Homes Extreme Tour to be held on November 6^th.Tickets are limited and can be purchased on line at http://www.facebook.com/PhoenixHomeGarden?sk=app_203351739677351.

Check this home out on the Extreme Tour - Nov 6!

LEED Certifications

Zona Verde Residence, Paradise Valley

We also have received LEED Certification on two of ourprojects both constructed by Desert Star Construction http://www.desertstarconstruction.com/. The first is the El Chorro Renovation in Paradise Valley which received aGold Certification and is the first restaurant in Arizona to receive a LEEDcertification. Then the Zona Verde Residence which consisted of severalstructures, the Main Residence is Certified LEED, the Guest House receivedGold, and the Caretaker’s home received Platinum. Furthermore, both projectshave now been awarded finalists in the National Gold Nugget Awards for 2011 andwe ultimately received the 2011 NationalGold Nugget Grand Award for the Zona VerdeResidence for the Best Custom Home over 6500 sf. Great job by ProjectArchitect, Jeffrey Kramer, AIA on both of these projects along with ValloneDesign, http://www.vallonedesign.com/Berghoff Design http://www.berghoffdesign.com/ and Creative Designs in Lighting http://www.cdltg.com.

El Chorro

Team CDA

Speaking of my staff, I am so proud of how my team has stucktogether during these trying times in our industry. The national unemploymentrate for architects reached a peak of 70% during this recession. I am proud tosay we are still a ten person firm with what I am sure is the best, mostqualified team out there. Three members have been with me over ten years and everyonehas been with me at least if not close to five years. I’m also fortunate tohave a very capable and hard working administrative support team includingEvelyn Jung, who runs the show, Meara McHugh Perrin – who runs the front desk and ishandling our marketing, and Dianne Kleber who is our utility player and doeswhatever we need to help get the job done! All of us are committed to our adageof “Inspiring Excellence”.

I also want to congratulate my associate, BradenSantarcangelo and his new wife Linda Giordano on the birth of their new littlegirl who came into the world on September 8^th. We are very happy for them and wishthem all the best.

Italy Trip 2012

Villa Piazzano - Tuscany

Brunch at Villa Piazzano - Candelaria Design Italy Trip

Wrap Up

Hope's Window and Door Factory
Jamestown. NY

Speaking of traveling, in June made a trip to Jamestown, NewYork and the Hope’s Window and Door Company, http://www.hopeswindows.com/hopes.shtml to learn more about their product and reviewseveral projects we have underway with them. It was a very informative tripcoordinated by our good friends at Sienna Custom Windows and Doors http://www.siennacustom.com/. Later that same month I was off to visit the Crittal Window and Door Company,http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/ in the UK to check out their productalong with my client and builder, John Schultz of Schultz Development Company, http://www.schultzdevelopment.org/. This was a wonderful trip coordinated by our friends at Roadrunner Glass http://www.roadrunnerglassco.com/. As they say, its all in the details and when striving for a great look andunique finish there is only one way to do it and that’s to engage the entireteam in the process including the vendors and craftsmen executing the work. Ilove this process and the pride everyone brings to the table.

Crittal Window & Door Co. - England

South bank of the Thames - London

Well that’s the latest. So be looking for more blogs, more updates, andmore postings. Plenty brewing and some wonderful projects on the boards andunder construction – we thank you ALL for the support and referrals and thanksfor following us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design/147697373192

St. Paul's Cathedral - London

Support Two of Our Causes

2011-02-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a great start to 2011! So far it has been busy and it looks like 2011 will be another exciting year.

As part of our mission at Candelaria Design, we are always trying

to give back to the community and we are proud this year to be involved in two charities, the Scottsdale Charros and the Arizona Kidney Foundation Dancing with the Stars AZ.

Yes - I am attempting to dance and will be doing so this coming Friday, February 25th at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. This is a great cause and your vote of support will help raise money for the Arizona Kidney Foundation. My lessons have been going great and we have several video posts of my practice sessions and an interview at one of our projects in Paradise Valley on our Facebook page and on the Kidney Foundation pages. As of this morning I have raised $40....so not so good. So I can really use your help to raise some money for this amazing organization! You may help support me "at the push of a button" by purchasing tables and votes. The link below takes you directly to my Kidney Foundation web pages, his debut You Tube video, and the purchasing page. Please help support my two left feet for a greater cause – The National Kidney Foundation of Arizona!

http://community.azkidney.org/page.aspx?pid=416&

tab=0&frsid=22

So if that was not enough, the very next evening we kick off Spring Training for the World Champion San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium with our Scottsdale Charros First Pitch Event Saturday evening, February 26th at the Scottsdale Air Center at 5pm. This is going to be a real fun evening, low key, boots and jeans, country music, dancing, and includes all food an beverage! Individual tickets are $150 or a table of 8 can be purchased for $1000. All proceeds go to supporting our Scottsdale Charities which primarily aim to support education and scholarships for Scottsdale youth and teachers and the community in general! Tickets can be purchased by contacting my office at 602-604-2001 or emailing me at mark@candelariadesign.com. I hope I see you there and we get down to some great food and fun times.

You can also purchase tickets for San Francisco Giants spring training games and help the Charros by going to

http://www.springtraining.com/

and when prompted enter promotional code CHAR-CANDE for great deals on both general admission tickets and tickets to the Charro Lodge which is a great way to enjoy the game and entertain clients, friends, and family!

And, while you're in the voting mood, be sure to help support your favorite residential architect

(under Real Estate - Residential) in Ranking Arizona's 2012 poll. You can vote for us once every 90 days. Thanks for keeping us in the Top 10!

http://rankingaz.azbigmedia.com/index.php

So that should get us through next weekend. We have updates coming on additional events, projects, recipes, publication features, and our 2011 Candelaria Design Italy Trip being tentatively set for August 31st through September 11th! Thanks for all the support both on our blog and our Candelaria Design Fan Page on Facebook. We appreciate it!

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 7 - Day at the Umbrian Farmhouse

2010-09-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today was our quiet day at the Umbrian Farmhouse. The decrescendo of our journey. A day to just enjoy the countryside and the beautiful home and grounds capped off with our cooking class at the end of the day.

Of course I woke up before anyone and being we were out of coffee at the houses, I thought I would head to town early and grab some provisions to start the day for my travelers. Of course it was only 6:30 am so all was quiet in Mercatale. I made my way into the local coffee stop, Sheila's, and asked what time the local market opened. Well of course that wasn't until 8 am so I grabbed a couple cappuccinos and kicked back and watched the news, in Italian of course. I enjoyed watching the locals stumble their way in to start their days - mostly farmers and construction workers, all who likely engaged in this ritual every day. And even though I stuck out like a sour thumb, all were friendly with a gruff, but non-threatening, buon giorno and a nod of the head.

At 8 am I was off to the market where I was the first patron of the day. The proprietor was kind and tolerated my hand gestures and sketches on paper to describe a bag of coffee, sugar, and cream. Grabbed some croissants, a little fruit and I was out the door. As I drove back to the houses the light through the wafting fog dancing on the hills over the sunlit tobacco and sunflower fields was captivating. So what should have been a 15 min drive home quickly became a 45 minute drive with stops here and there along the way to snap vignettes of this quiet and picturesque landscape. You realize that men and women have been farming this valley for years - thousands of years. What spirits were dancing in the fog???? I can only imagine.

Life was stirring at the house when I returned. Coffee was quickly on the stove and the day now really began. With no agenda, everyone started to set their own course for the the day. I had a group that wanted to go to the old antique stoneyard, Lacole, for a quick tour of their treasures and finds. Seven travelers chose to check this out so we were off in two cars.

We made our way north of our home, past the small walled city of Citta di Castello, and up the valley toward Arezzo. Finally we found the old stoneyard and we pulled in and parked. Not two minutes later a gentleman pulled up ascertaining our purpose. I quickly aksed for Giacomo who is the son of the family who runs this amazing operation. He quickly called him and in minutes I was speaking with Giacomo and he was excited to hear I was back for a visit. He was finishing lunch (always a priority) and would join us in about 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, we would walk the yard and see what treasures were on the grounds. In the past, this was their only location and all of their inventory was in this open air yard. Walking around it became quiet apparent that this was no longer the case. The yard was filled strictly with building materials, pavers, tiles, beams, and a few old fireplace fronts, basins and fountains - all probably not good enough to make the grade of their new location. With a huge thunderstorm approaching we quickly toured the yard and made our way to the cover and safety of our cars. No sooner did we get inside than the rain came down - big time. Of course that is when Giacomo arrived and jumping out of the car to chat was just enough time to get totally soaked! He asked we follow him to their new showroom.....

After a short drive through the farm valley we made our way to the new Lacole facility.....WOW. The new showroom is simply mindblowing! A huge 2 story showroom is only augmented by a huge outdoor yard where all the pieces from the old stoneyard that were randomly strewn about are now organized in beautiful vignettes and rows making the treasure hunting experience for the patron very pleasurable. Everything from the antiques to the snails on the ground are beautiful in true Italian style! It is very gratifying to see how far this family's operation has come in the ten years I have been visiting them. I have purchased roof tiles, doors, fireplace fronts, and many other elements for projects in Phoenix from Lacole and so its always great to visit them. Mamma who runs the antique side of the business is always great to see - she never ages and is a beautiful woman. I could sit and just listen to her speak for hours.... They gave us a nice tour and after two hours of wandering around we said our goodbyes and we were on our way back to the Umbrian Farmhouses.

With a stop at a farm to see the chickens, turkeys, pigs and ducks all race to greet us (by the way a chicken is faster than a turkey) we made our way home to the laughter and commotion of the house. Several of our travelers all had made their way on their own adventures and explorations of the area so we all arrived with our stories of the day. Elizabeth and her crew were getting things ready for our cooking class which starts around 4pm and runs until 8 pm whereupon we all sit down to savor our gastronomic creations! The cooking class is always a great time - relaxing, fun and with vino flowing, always full of laughter. People jump in and out of the various activities involved in the production of the various dishes. Along the way we are all savoring the tastes as the light from the day slowly descends on the Umbrian hills. Its a very memorable way to spend the day at the Country Houses.

With dinner behind us and a fire in the fireplace it was time to unwind. As we did a group started to strategize about branching off and heading to the Amalfi Coast for a little side adventure over the next three days. After enjoying another glass of vino or two, we all had our game plans for Day 8 and it was time to call it a night......let's just say at about 2am ....again.

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 6 Wine Tour

2010-09-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today marks the halfway point on our trip. It's a day I always enjoy - our tour of the Tuscan Wineries with our guide, Pino Teresi.

We had full interest with the exception of my daughter, Tiffany, who decided to hang at the house and have the place to herself for the day. The rest of us were up and out of there by 8:45 with the fog still lifting from the Umbrian hills. We made our way down the gravel road and into the closest town, Mercatale, to meet Pino at our little coffee stop, Shiela's. A quick cappuccino and a bottle of water to go and we all hopped on the charter bus Pino had arranged. Ahh, no driving today, just sipping wine, taking photos, and letting Pino run the show.

Pino is an amazing guide and I highly recommend him if in the area. He is well educated and extremely knowledgeable and quite respected by anyone we encounter in any of the towns - they all love Pino! Like all Italians, his descriptions are always animated and passionate and he is just a delight to listen to.

Our driver made our way past Cortona and from that point forward all of the iconic photos of the Tuscan countryside were right out our window. As we made our way through hills punctuated by rows of Italian Cyprus and stone farmhouses we made our way up the hill to our first stop, Montepulciano, home of the fine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine and several beautiful cellars. The town was settled in the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C. by the Etruscans and later the Romans. I suppose if you produce great wine there is no reason to leave!

Our first stop was at the oldest winery in Montepulciano, Contucci, http://www.contucci.it. The Contucci family founded this winery in the 11th Century and continue their passion for fine wine, vin santo and olive oil still today. We were presented several wines and the history of the winery and the story of their grapes by Pino and the host, Adamo! What a character this guy was. The first words out of his limited English vocabulary was the fact he loved wine, women, and their breasts....well what a way to start a wine tasting at 10:30 am. Adamo worked the room and proceeded to kiss every woman on the tour, many several times for each photo op. After several samples it was time to give Adamo and the ladies a rest and move on to our next venue.

The next stop was the Cantina del Redi, http://www.cantinadelredi.com. We always make it a point to make a stop to this amazing cellar buried deep in the tufa stone below Montepulciano. The smell, the mood, and the fact you just keep going down until you ultimately reach the temple of barrels and brick vaults which tower over this wine heaven even if it is deep underground. I love the look of my travelers when they arrive in this cellar. It's beyond description as the sight, smell, sound and light all tantalize your senses....and that's before you even taste the wine. This is always one of my favorites and continues to be despite all of the wonderful places Pino has taken me and my travelers over the years.

A quick walk through town, a little shopping and it was time to herd the troops up to our next stop Pienza. Again, the drive to Pienza is gorgeous as the bus climbs up and down subtle hills with the turned soil or vineyards full of the grapes we were beginning to enjoy on this day. We made our way to Pienza where we had a lovely lunch at the La Mensa "Del Conte". www.lamensadelconte.it. This place is always on Pino's agenda for this day and the food is always simple, hardy and definitely Tuscan. With lunch behind us we took a quick walking tour through Pienza - home of the impeccable Pecorino cheese, a hard cheese made from ewe's milk.

With Pienza behind us it was off to our final stop Montalcino and home of the Brunello di Montalcino wine. Here we tasted the number one rated wine in the world as rated by Spectator Magazine, the Casanova di Neri 2001 Tenuta Nuova Brunello, http://www.casanovadineri.it. I was fortunate to snag a few bottles in 2007 when touring this winery and I am saving at least one for my upcoming 50th Birthday in October! This trip we spent the afternoon at the Enoteca di Piazza, www.enotecadipiazza.com, which is a great wine tasting room with a wide selection of wines all available via the tasting carousels and a great view of the countryside out the window! The proprietor was knowledgeable and spoke very good English so the time here was great and their shipping system was well organized. Needless to say, after an hour of samplings it was not difficult to place orders for several cases.

With lunch and plenty of wine it was time for the long bus ride back to Mercatale where a nine course meal was waiting for us at Mimmi's। Yes 9 course meal। I of course knew this so I took a nice cat nap on the hour and a half ride back to Mercatale। Upon arrival we said our goodbyes to Pino and I quickly dashed up the hill to get Tiffany and then it was off to Mimmi's for the endless country meal all served family style। This marathon of gastronomic indulgence started with two different appetizers, followed by three separate pasta dishes - cannelloni, lasagna, and raviolis, and then two vegetable dishes then finally three different meat dishes - roasted pork, turkey and beef।

Then finally a desert dish featuring tiramisu, gelato, and God I cannot remember the third little delight on that plate.... We always outlast every guest of this restaurant and by the end of the night the place is ours and our debauchery begins। Jokes, laughter, singing.....its always a relaxing and comfortable place despite the size of your waistline at the conclusion of dinner!

By now it was close to midnight.....again... but tomorrow was a free day. No real agenda other than sleeping in and hanging out at the pool.....we'll see!

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 5 Deruta and Assisi

2010-09-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Day 5 began quietly. After all of the excitement from yesterday's adventures everyone was moving a bit slower on this morning and some were not moving at all!

Those of us that were coherent, started the morning with a little coffee on the porch and enjoyed our ritual of watching the fog burn off in the Niccone valley below. Once we were loaded with caffeine we were ready to start our Monday tour of Umbria. I love it as the trip progresses and everyone starts to get comfortable with being in the country and since everyone has their own car, the agenda is there but you don't have to follow it. Most of the group stayed behind and slept in! I had 7 with me and 7 were sawing logs.

Off we went down the hill, through the valley then up and over the big hill, the great view of Lake Trasimeno and then down the hill. We jumped on the freeway which is interrupted by numerous tunnels but with just two cars in our Umbrian convey today was a breeze. We passed Perugia, which is a great town, and proceeded down the Tiber river valley to Deruta. Deruta is most recognized for its excellent ceramics which are exported throughout the world. The fine clay from the Tiber River provides the unique medium for this craft which has been perfected over the centuries.

We stopped at my favorite studio and shop, CAMA, which I have been visiting for nearly 10 years now. The Niccacci family has been operating CAMA for over 60 years and every time I visit Mamma and Pappa are there to welcome me with kisses and a personal tour for my guests of their studio. Uncle Luigi throws the clay and his hands magically, precisely, and repeatedly produce the myriad of pieces they produce. He is a a master and it is simply mesmerizing to watch him on the wheel. Then to watch the speed and precision of the stenciling and painting of each piece, one by one....it truly gives you an appreciation of the love, passion, craftsmanship and history that goes into each piece. Needless to say, once everyone experienced the tour and the spirit of this place - including pictures of the family presenting pieces to Pope John Paul II next to biking and soccer photos of Pappa when he was much younger - the purchasing was in full fervor. Let's just say the Niccacci's are always happy when I come to town and make what is probably a slow Monday into a nice little uptick in their sales for the month! This trip was no different.

After the ordering was done, Roberta Niccacci escorted us through town to a great little country house in the farmland of the Tiber valley for lunch. I love these little bed and breakfast places. Pappa or Mamma cooks and the other serves. Other than perhaps the mayor of town, we were the only other diners on the patio overlooking the tobacco and sunflower fields. We ordered antipasti for 7 and of course instead received 7 individual antipasti platters....ahhh dining in Umbria was on! A little vino, and the sound of thunder and lighting from an approaching thunderstorm and you couldn't ask for any better ambiance for a Monday afternoon lunch in Umbria. I enjoyed the Tagliatelle con Chingale (pasta with wild boar sauce), whose order was confirmed by the waitress giving a pig snort sound, and of course a glass of chianti. A myriad of dishes were ordered by the group and the sampling began! Delicious!

As we were dining in Deruta, our late sleepers had risen and were off on their own adventure and stopped along the Lake Trasimeno for their lunch which apparently was also equally amazing. Pasta with white truffe sauce along the shore of the lake....sounds pretty good to me. We closed out our purchases at CAMA and we were off to Assisi to all rendezvous.

Assisi is always a favorite on the trip and this time proved no different. Parking is always an adventure in these hilltowns but we all seemed to find a spot and eventually all meet at the main piazza. Touring churches and shops, grabbing a gelato to top off the pasta and enjoying the passing thunderstorm all added to a relaxing afternoon in this beautiful Umbrian hilltown. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the religious order of the Franciscan monks in this town in 1208 and shares honor with Saint Catherine of Siena as the patron saints of Italy. You can definitely feel this aura as you stroll the streets and occasionally pass a monk or nun on their way to mass. The streets are tight and medieval in character and you always catch a glimpse of the quilted patchwork of farm fields below as you glance down the streets. Its really a beautiful and spiritual place.

Both groups arrived at the Basilica di San Francesco which was damaged in a quake in 1997 but was restored and reopened just two years later. This church is amazing and one of the best on our tour. Three levels make up this marvelous structure capped off with the tomb of Saint Francis at the bottom level which acts as the emanating core of this church. Everyone was moved by this remarkable place. We sat in the middle church and watched all of our travelers emerge from the tomb just shaking their heads in awe as mass was being said in the adjoining chapel. Talk about mood....wow. We then all gathered and proceeded outdoors to the sun peaking through following the rainstorm.....again amazing. Fantastic light and the cameras were in full motion. We made our way back through town, did a little shopping along the way, and capped our conquering of Assisi with a gelato and/or cappuccino at the Piazza San Rufino at the top of the town.

We then proceeded to all make our ways back to our cars....some had an adventure in that task but we all eventually made it and drove down the hill and back to our little dark and quiet Niccone valley. Along the way we stopped in our favorite pizzeria in Lisciono Niccone and grabbed six pies, panna cotta for desert, and of course a couple jugs of the local house wine for reinforcements!

Back to the houses, a little dinner, a quick swim under the Umbrian stars, and then it was back onto the porch for recollections of the day's adventures, laughs and then eventually some more swimming at 2 am.... what fun!

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 4 Sunday in Tuscany and lost in Umbria

2010-09-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 4 Sunday in Tuscany

Sleeping in the Umbrian countryside is fantastic. Too bad I don’t let my travelers get much of it! It’s Sunday morning and today we have another fun filled day in Umbria and Tuscany.

After getting everyone moving – which is always a challenge especially with 14 travelers – we fixed some espresso in our little Italian coffee makers, enjoyed the sunrise from our terrace and we were off to the Villa di Piazzano for our Sunday brunch.

Villa di Piazzano is an amazing place and one I stumbled upon while snooping around Tuscany. My first visit was in 2001 when the Wimpole family purchased the property and begun their amazing restoration and transformation of this property. I have made it a point to visit this splendid place every trip and the work they have done is truly remarkable. The Hotel Villa di Piazzano is a manor house of the 1400s located in the countryside just outside the town of Cortona, a town on the border between Tuscany and Umbria made famous by the American writer Frances Mayes with her book and later the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun. The drive into the property is alone worth the trip and sets the bar high for what is to come.

After we parked the cars we strolled the grounds and then were greeted by the proprietor, Mr. Damian Wimpole, and his lovely daughter, Alessandra. It has been a real pleasure to know these people over the last ten years and they have always warmly welcomed us, my guests, and subsequent referrals. Many of my clients and friends have stayed there, including myself one time, and it is definitely a memorable experience.

We slowly made our way into the dining room where they had prepared a wonderful brunch of meats, fruits, cheeses, breads, etc. All simple but beautifully staged and choreographed just like everything in Italy. As with anything here we spend as much time enjoying and photographing the food as we do eating it! We dined outside on the terrace and enjoyed a relaxing champagne brunch.

Following brunch Mr. Wimpole gave us a tour of the hotel including the newest acquisition across the drive that features contemporary decorated quarters set in the customary Tuscan style façade. Amazing and very chic’. Loved it. The finale consisted of their tour of their stunning wine cellar that I can only dream someday of having a dinner with my buddies some late fall evening with Brunello’s followed by cigars and Lemoncello. This will happen someday!

With the tour of Villa di Paizzano concluded it was off to Arezzo for the antique fair and Renaissance festival. Arezzo is a beautiful hilltown rising from the floodplain of the River Arno. Founded by the Etruscans this is a very old city and was a prominent medieval center which has maintained this character and feel to a tee. A quick stop at the ATM, which by the way are everywhere, and as we turned around here comes trumpets, drums, horses and jousters – the complete medieval parade with representation from every neighborhood proudly displaying their flags, and attire. Amazing and magical. The church bells ringing and those Italian faces – wow! The parade lasted a good hour whereby we were on a quest for antiques and a cold bierra or a gelato.

With Arezzo conquered it was off to Cortona – the home of Under the Tuscan Sun! I love this little hilltown and there is always excitement and drama on every corner. Sundays are always a busy evening in this town and this trip proved no different. Parking is the first adventure and this trip we had a little of everything. I found my usual spot at the bottom of the hill and made my way up the hill following the beautiful couple who looked like they just flew in from Monte Carlo. I happily followed them to the top of the escalator and I found my first group parked illegally at the drop off point at the main entry to the town blocking all of the tour buses. I quickly told them that we needed to move their car and jumped in and drove them down to the lot I parked in. Back up the escalator following Monte Carlo couple number two only to arrive at the same top of the hill to a huge traffic jam. Apparently, someone decided to also park illegally and ended up blocking the tour bus and then all of the cars behind including one of our cars. Now the drama of this Italian hilltown was in full swing. Every grandmother, baby, police women, dog, and cat were all there throwing their hands in the air and yelling at each other in a symphony out of a Fellini movie. Beautiful – I love the excitement and drama! The tow truck arrived, towed the car, and once again we were all moving. Boy am I glad we moved our car number 2 as I can only imagine what the experience of trying to find your car that had been towed would be like….!

So we finally had everyone in the main piazza and everyone unwound and started pouring the vino. Let’s just say a few really enjoyed the vino and probably a few other beverages along the way…. The rest of us strolled the narrow, magical streets and piazzas and caught the Tuscan sunset on this picturesque town and the valley and quilt of farms and villas below. Beautiful.

A few others made their way to Il Falconierie, (http://www.ilfalconiere.it) a wonderful hotel consisting of a restored villa, farmhouse, and chapel along with a restaurant featuring cooking classes and wine tastings. This is a beautiful place featuring world class cuisine, service and scenery.

We all rendezvoused for dinner in the Trattoria Toscana and enjoyed a nice simple dinner at half the cost of what we had been spending in Florence. Of course when 14 people take over one of these small and quaint trattorias its quite the affair. After dinner it was back to the parking lot but not until it was discovered my car keys were missing…..more drama! Well in the search through the streets of Cortona for the keys – which by the way were left in car two in the mad dash to park the cars. With the key drama solved we noticed that one of our group had left without us. Brave ones to drive off on night number one with the cars…..hmmmm.

We made it all home, which is about a 30 mile drive from Cortona, or so we thought….. My phone had died and I thought we had all made it home and I would just charge the phone in the morning. My daughter, Tiffany, thought it might be smart to charge the phone now in case anyone needed to get a hold of me. Well sure enough, as soon as the phone charged the texts started coming in. My Iphone sounded like a slot machine that had hit the jackpot. The group who left early were lost somewhere in Umbria. Of course this was the car with three women and the gentleman who had indulged a bit too much and was out in the back seat…

I quickly called them and talk about a happy group to hear my voice. I was already home and did not want to drive down the winding dirt road in search of them, God knows where, at 1am in the morning in Umbria. I had them start reading signs and describing what they were seeing and within minutes I knew where they were and proceeded to guide them home one farmhouse, pig sty, tree, and wall at a time all the way home. MC and my Iphone was better than any GPS!

So concluded day 4 and our first full day in Umbria! Off to Deruta and Assisi tomorrow and who knows what adventures lie ahead.

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 3

2010-09-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh- we made it to the country houses in Umbria. Here is where I finally relax and unwind. After the stress of getting 14 people from Phoenix, via Philadelphia, via Frankfurt to Florence and then the hustle and bustle of Florence, followed by convincing six of my guests to rent cars in Italy and hop right on the Autostrada - well I think you get the picture and why now I am finally relaxing.

To retrace day three....our transition day. We started the morning, blogging once again from the rooftop of the Brunellschi Hotel where I was joined by one of my travelers who was kind enough to bring a tray of coffee. So we enjoyed the sunrise overlooking the Duomo and slowly woke up and started the day. I love this hotel in that the staff are always so friendly and accommodating and the hotel is perfectly, centrally located so you are in the heart of all the sites of Florence.

We headed down to breakfast and put our strategy together for the day. This started with a quick trip to the San Lorenzo Market which for me is always a treat. The square is filled with street vendors selling everything from t-shirts to beautiful leather jackets. After maneuvering our way through the vendors you finally find the indoor market which is amazing. A maze of meat markets, fish markets, flower stands, bread and pastry shops, its the equivalent of Pike's Market in Seattle - only better. We enjoyed the market, made our way back through the street vendors and back to the hotel to check out.

After checking out, the shuttles were there to meet us and take us to the airport where we were to rendezvous with one of our late arrivals who was unable to fly over with the rest of the group. We proceeded to get our rental cars and head out to the country. Of course nothing is ever very efficient in Italy, so after waiting several minutes for them to find my car and then clean my car we all got ourselves in order and proceeded onto the Autostrada - 7 cars, all nice Mercedes so we looked like quiet the entourage. Getting the rental cars from the Florence Airport has proven to be the easiest way to get out of the city and immediately into the country. Some trips past this task has been a real adventure but all went like clockwork this time - again thanks to my assistant, Evelyn!

We drove about 45 minutes south to Montevarchi where the top secret Prada Outlet called Space is located. This is always a tricky place to find in that street names are difficult to see or find that is if they truly even exist. Google has a long way to go when locating places in Italy, and the GPS loves to tell you to flip a U-turn....... So when all else fails flag down a local, pay him 5 euros to escort us there and another 5 euros when we arrive. Worked like a charm! This place is very discreet and almost top secret. Grab a number outside the warehouse, wait your turn and then you duck in and boom you are in Prada. The girls scattered in every direction and fortunately, whoever came up with this place was smart enough to include a bar / restaurant right next to it so all the guys headed there. We gave the girls 90 minutes which quickly became 2 hours but eventually they all pulled themselves away and walked out with their discounted purchases with big smiles on their faces.

We left Space and instead of jumping right back on the Autostrada we winded our way across the countryside and eventually made our way back on to the Autostrada. After about an hour we exited at Tuoro and made our way up the hill and the beautiful views of Lake Trasimeno. After a winding climb up its an equally long and winding climb down into the lovely Niccone River Valley that divides Tuscany from Umbria. Tuscany is on the west side of the valley and Umbria is on the east. The valley is dotted with old castles, villas, tobacco, corn and sunflower fields - picturesque is an understatement. Once we arrived at the valley floor we stopped in Mercatale for some provisions - mostly wine and water - and a quick call to our house caretaker for updated directions in and we were on our way.

The road through the valley is nice, and paved but we eventually make our turn to the dusty, gravel road through the scrub oaks and up a very steep hill. The dirt road is a good mile maybe two and my guests are wondering where in the hell am I taking them....These country houses are remote but the isolation and view are most definitely worth it. Up, up, up (you hear that a lot here in Italy) and finally after coming around a tight curve their are the houses - La Pietra and La Quierca. Beautiful, simple, charming old farmhouses. We park and everyone gets out of their cars and just sighs.... you can feel the relief that we have arrived and you see the amazement and anticipation in everyone's faces that this is really going to be something different, and that it is.

We walk past the gate, and through the herb garden whereupon our host Elizabeth Wholey, her husband, and staff are there to greet us and give us a tour of the house. A simple yet extremely beautiful light dinner is awaiting us and we all settle in for our stay here in Umbria. After dinner, we open a few more bottles of vino, make a fire in the fireplace and run down to the pool for a quick candle lit dip under the Umbrian sky and then back up to the house for stories and maybe another glass of wine.....

Life is good in Umbria!

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 2

2010-09-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

Writing this morning as dawn approaches from the rooftop of the Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence, Italy. Listening to the bells of the Santa Maria del Fiore and recalling all of our memories from Day 2. Beautiful morning here and not a cloud in the sky! What a great day 2 we all had!

The day started bright and early for me as my body clock has not adjusted to the time here in Italy, so i was up at 4am. Fortunately, I was able to receive a call on a new project in Pheonix whch we were able to close a deal on so that was a very nice way to start the day and this vacation! I headed down to the bar to write my blog, check emails and get ready for day two. I love the mornings in the Italian towns and cities because you basically own it. No vespas, people, nothing - quiet stillness. It is very hard to come by when in the cities in Italy. So I make it a point to always get up early, enjoy the start of the day, then catch a nap later in the afternoon. This was definitely the plan today!

After blogging and catching up on the emails, I was coaxed into a morning jog through the streets of Italy by fellow traveler, friend, and fabulous interior designer, Kim Colletti. We ran and walked our way on a nice loop through Florence past the three main churches of the city, Santa Maria Novella, the Duomo - Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Basillica San Croce. Now this was a great way to start the day and get the blood moving and fend off that damn jet lag!

Following our run we hooked up with some of our travelers in the hotel restaurant, grabbed a quick bite, some much needed coffee, grabbed a shower in the room and it was off to our walking tour through Florence. The walking tours in Italy are great and in particular the one in Florence. Three hours walking tours truly enlighten you to so much that you simply take for granted when ignorantly strolling the streets. It is amazing all of the significance each corner, square, street and church offers and the multitude of stories and history this place is filled with. Basically, in our modern world and culture, despite our problems, it is nothing to what life must have been like in these cities during the Dark Ages or the Renaissance. Now those were some rough times to be a human being. You were either a slave or commoner with virtually a meager existence or you were wealthy and having to constantly fend off your rivals who wanted to quarter you or burn you at the stake in the square....we have nothing to complain about - trust me. I could write a whole blog about the stories we were told - all fascinating and all brining such a new layer of understanding and appreciation of how this place ever came to be!

After the walking tour we grabbed lunch in a familiar trattoria just around the corner from the Palazzo Vecchio and then it was off to the airport to retrieve my lost bag! Thank God it was located and so I was fortunate to not lose a beat on the trip. Grabbed the cab ride back to the hotel and proceeded excitedly to my 2-1/2 hour siesta!

Woke up, and we all rendezvoused, in the hotel bar, a few cocktails, glass of wine, and then it was off to dinner. Our dinner was little more low key tonight - basically a small trattoria across the alley from the hotel! But it was nice, quiet and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. A great bistecca fiorentina, a glass of wine and then, it was off to the streets of Florence for a little fun! And fun we had!!!

Night life in Florence is quite the spectacle! Street performers. Mimes, and musicians all fill the fabric, sites and sounds of the evening. We grabbed a gelato and a cigar – nice combo by the way and the girls took a ride on the carousel in the Piazza Republica and we then proceeded to the River Arno and Harry’s Bar! This a a great spot and home to the founding of the Bellini. We enjoyed a little desert and then it was off to the Westin to listen to our piano player, playing of course American music, and share some final stories before walking home and saying goodnight to beautiful Florence!

Italy Trip 2010 - Day 1

2010-09-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

We made it! That is always one of the most stressful parts of the whole trip - getting everyone here and safely checked into the hotel. Well this year we did great. All the flights were on time, the transfer from the airport to the hotel was waiting for us and the Hotel Brunelleschi is always dialed in. Last trip the airline that will remain nameless, and never to be used again, lost nearly all of our travelers' bags and screwed up our flights to the point of being laughable - well actually it brought my wife to tears. This trip - perfect - thanks to all the hard efforts of my assistant, Evelyn, who has done a spectacular job making this trip and all its millions of details come together. So, despite me, the tour guide, leaving my little carry on at the gate check in desk in Frankfurt, we had no issues and no drama! Bag has been found and is here in Florence so we are good to go!

Once we checked in, despite traveling for many hours, everyone wanted to take a quick glimpse and explore the city around our hotel. We checked in about 2pm local time and we were on the streets by 3pm. Perfect weather, 80's during the day and cool 60's at night. Everyone started out right on my hip, but after passing a couple shoe shops, clothing stores and of course by the time we hit the Palazzo Vecchio I was down to one or two who wanted to go back to the hotel after this quick peek and grab some shut -eye. The rest were out and discovering all Firenze has to offer.

I grabbed a quick siesta and awoke to the sounds of the Florence street life below. Quick shower and shave and then we all met in the lobby decked out to the nines. We were off to dinner at truly one of the most beautiful spots I've ever been to - the Villa San Michelle - see the link on our September List at the top of the blog! To paraphrase their website: "The Villa San Michele must be one of the most romantic places in the world. This former monastery, nestled on a hilltop surrounded by trees and terraced gardens, overlooks the city of Florence below.

Dating from the 15th century its facade is attributed to Michelangelo. To step inside is to experience the ethereal beauty and solitude of a renaissance building that is as much a part of Italy's culture as the country’s greatest cathedrals and galleries. Here, each visitor is a privileged guest, invited to stroll in the Italian gardens, filled with lemon trees and roses, and savour the superb Tuscan cuisine on the alfresco loggia as if in a private home."

None of this is an understatement and I'm sure my guests, after sitting on a plane for God knows how many hours, were blown away and now are just beginning to understand what this trip is all about. I must back up a bit as the drive from our hotel to the Villa San Michele of course at dusk is devine. You escape the hustle and bustle of the city and wind your up the Tuscan hills villas, estates, olive groves and end up at this magical and formidable facade with a view of Florence that is unrivaled. I love the looks on everyones' faces as they step out of the bus and set foot on this small piece of heaven. The service is impeccable and after a few pics - yes we were the poppaorazzi, we were guided through the lovely and to the garden for appetizers and bellinis. How civilized! Sitting in the garden and enjoying the fall air, and the last few strands of light on the hills, I knew I had finally arrived. I could feel the joy of being here and sharing this magical place with my guests.

Of course this was just the start! Following appetizers in the garden we made our way through the building and back to the grand Loggia overlooking all of Florence. It is here we dined to a wonderful pre-set four course meal featuring a blue lobster filet served with a herb sauce, followed by ravioli with wild mushrooms and a truffle sauce - by far the most talked about dish this evening, followed by thinly sliced sirloin of beef with a Brunello sauce and fresh spinach, finally followed by Florentine crepes filled with fresh fruit and muscat grape sauce, capped with a cappuccino of course. Absolutely phenomenal and obviously a high bar set for the balance of the trip.

Quick cab ride back down the hill following our 4 hour meal and back to the Hotel Brunelleschi. It's midnight and the streets are empty but everyone was so jazzed that we took a stroll down to the Duomo, which is only a couple turns down the street, for a few pics, a couple more laughs then it was off to bed.

Today was a great day - considering it was really almost two days. The first 12 hours in Florence - amazing!!!! Tomorrow is our first full day in Florence and features our three hour guided walking tour through the streets of the city. Time to sleeeeeepZZZZZ. Ciao!

September Morn - Arrivederci Phoenix

2010-09-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

We leave in 4-1/2 hours and just buttoning up the last details. Did I get everything done I had hoped....no! The hours just flew by and I can't believe I'm down to two hours from my pick up. We switch planes in Philadelphia so I can get more done on the flight from Phoenix to Philly.... see how this works. Those that know me well know I never stop, but I will TRY to relax on this trip and enjoy the pace of Italian life. Three hours of sleep last night so I should be able to sleep very easily on the flights to Italy. Shoot - I have one more sketch I need to get done.......scan and email from the airport!

There is nothing more magical than boarding the plane in Arizona with our familiar brown everywhere, flying across our country, then flying over the ocean and watching it get dark and almost as quickly getting light again to the western shores of Europe. Looking out the window you can tell you have been transported to a whole new world. Little villages, beautiful churches, the pattern of tile roofs, small winding roads, it's just different and you can then feel the anticipation of the dream you are about to be a part of.

Well, I need to run, finish packing, get Tiffany (my daughter who is joining me on the trip this year) up and moving and get this show on the road. Looks like we will beat Hurricane Earl to the east coast so Arrivederci Phoenix - we are outta here!

Italy Trip 2010 One More Day to Go!

2010-08-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

Down to one more day. I can definitely feel the excitement from the texts and emails I am getting from my travelers. So today is about tying up loose ends and getting packed (yes I wait until the last minute).

The whole thing becomes sort of a dream in that today I will be frantically jumping from item to item, project to project, making sure everything gets done or properly delegated and saying my good byes to my employees, clients and most importantly my family. Then tomorrow we will get with our group and head across the pond whereby on Thursday we will be in one of the most beautiful and architecturally significant places on earth - Florence, Italy, home of the Renaissance.

I always feel so much excitement combined with trepidation when doing this trip in that it is great to experience this wonderful corner of the world yet I constantly worry about the happiness and comfort of my travelers. This is our 8th tour and each trip is filled with so many stories and sites so here we go again! We will be setting dates for next year's trip as we have received overwhelming interest for Italy Trip 2011!

Here is our agenda and we will attempt to update the blog each day depending on internet access as we will be in some remote spots:

Wednesday September 1st - Fly to Florence
Thursday September 2nd - Arrive in Florence
Friday September 3rd - Day in Florence - Walking tour of the City & dinner at Villa San Michele http://www.villasanmichele.com/web/ovil/villa_san_michele.jsp
Saturday September 4th - Morning in Florence then on to the Prada Outlet and then to our Country Houses in Umbria with a welcome dinner prepared by our private chef.
Sunday September 5th - Brunch at the Villa Piazanno in Tuscany http://www.villadipiazzano.com/ then onto Arrezzo for the Antique Fair. Dinner in Cortona.
Monday September 6th - Cama Deruta ceramic studio tour, Perugia, Assisi and dinner in Assisi. http://www.camaderuta.com/
Tuesday September 7th - Wine Tour of Tuscany - Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino, 7 course meal at Mimmi's.
Wednesday September 8th - Farmer's Market in Umbertide, Tour of Architectural Antiques Yard - Lacole, and our cooking class in the Country Houses.
Thursday September 9th - Tour Sienna
Friday September 10th - Drive to Rome with a stop in Orvieto for lunch.
Saturday September 11th - A day in Rome
Sunday September 12th - Fly back to Phoenix

Yes - its a full schedule and I'll need a vacation after my vacation!

Italy Trip 2010 Begins!

2010-08-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Well Italy Trip 2010 is upon us. We leave Wednesday morning on our adventure across the pond and arrive in Florence, Italy on Thursday just past noon. We will spend 11 lovely days in Italy starting with a couple days in Florence, then our quaint and charming country houses in Umbria for 6 days and then onto Rome for two more and then back to our lives here in the States. Thanks to all my travelers for signing up this year. We have 14 total so a nice group this year. Also a special thanks to Evelyn and Megan from my office who really put this whole trip together!!! I couldn't do it without you!

I invite you to follow our trip on our blog and on our Candelaria Design Italy Trip 2010 on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design-Italy-Trip-2010/415280225531?ref=mf over the course of the next two weeks. We will be posting tidbits, photos, videos, recipes, wine recommendations, you name it. It will be a lot of fun and every trip we've done (this is number 8) always is filled with new sites, stories, hundreds of memories and lasting friendships.

I am excited, apprehensive, a bit stressed, well a whole mixture of feelings that changes on the hour. I am excited to see the looks of a number of my travelers who have never been to Italy, many who have never been to Europe the moment we walk down our street to the Hotel Brunelleschi. The sites, sounds and especially smells all overwhelm the senses. I'm always amazed at how vibrant and memorable everyone's dreams become during this trip. Hard to imagine we will all be there in a little over 72 hours!

Well back to work, wrapping up details, trying to hit deadlines, packing, errands......craziness.

August 2010 - Making it through the summer!

2010-07-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

Wow – the summer is flying by and finally some monsoon rains to stir things up and bring some welcomed moisture to the Valley of endless sun!

We have been all busy at Candelaria Design finishing up some amazing homes and now starting some great new projects that we have picked up over the summer. My staff and team have done a great job and they have all put in a lot of late evenings and weekends to keep things moving! It’s definitely appreciated!

It’s exciting and very interesting to see the dynamics of the market and how things adapt to meet people’s change in tastes, needs, perceptions and of course economics. Of course our industry, real estate, construction and design have been the most affected industry out there with this significant downturn. Architects have one of the highest unemployment rates currently running at 67%. It has been trying on all of us and all of our builders and consultants and its been frankly heart-wrenching to hear the stories and witness first hand some of the hardships and sacrifices people in our industry have been making to get through these tough times. The truth of the matter is we all will get through this – how?… that is the chapter yet to be written. I know we are working as hard as possible to find projects, finish projects, spread the work around, and put people to work and we appreciate the referrals that we receive back from everyone!

Speaking of finding work we definitely are not limiting ourselves to just Phoenix and just houses. We have been blessed to land some great projects in a number of places. Phoenix and Idaho of course, but also Albuquerque, Las Vegas, LaJolla, and Dallas. We are looking at another restaurant project and doing a number of apartment clubhouse and pool area renovation projects which have been a lot of fun! The remodels and guest houses keep coming and we love doing them! Remodels have always made up 65-75% of our workload. I think it is the most green way to go when you can make use of an existing home and save what you can and add with green and energy efficient products and materials.

I have been fortunate to get a little traveling in – mostly for business - this summer including Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Big Fork, Montana; Austin, Texas; Durango, Colorado; and La Jolla and now I’m in the process of moving my daughter, Tiffany, who graduated cum laude in May from the University of Portland with a Bachelors Degree in Communication. I am very proud of her and I’m excited to have her back in Phoenix! She’ll be looking for a job so any leads – we’ll take em’!

We have recieved some great press this year including a beautiful editorial of one of our homes in Arcadia featured on the cover of the summer issue of LUXE Magazine! Great team effort by Candelaria Design, Schultz Development, Vallone Design and Berghoff Design. Please check it out as it is on the newsstands now! El Chorro still gets its share of press too including a nice write up in Sunset Magazine and nice accolades for the patio and design. I’m looking forward to those nice fall evenings there sharing a glass of wine around the firepit after a little bocce! http://elchorrolodge.com/

The Italy trip is just a month away and we will have 15 travelers joining us on this year’s adventure. We had a wonderful Pre-Trip party at Coup des Tartes a couple weeks ago and everyone had a chance to meet and get the party started. http://www.nicetartes.com/ Check out our Facebook fan page for the Italy trip and follow us each day as we make our way through Tuscany, Umbria and Roma! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design-Italy-Trip-2010/415280225531?ref=mf We will be setting the dates for next year’s trip soon and I can tell we have a lot of interest from those who couldn’t make this year’s trip but want to be included in 2011!

Finally, thanks for all the new fans on our Candelaria Design Facebook Fan Page. We just passed 1300 and we are growing our base day by day. We are also on Twitter at CandelariaArchs. We love your support and posts and my Marketing Director, Megan Wahl, is looking forward to adding some great material there over the balance of the year ahead. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design/147697373192

It’s back to drawing for me and back to school in ten days for my girls. One graduated from college and the youngest is just starting kindergarten…..so I’ll be drawing for many, many years to come so stay tuned!

June 2010 Blog - Summer is here

2010-06-05T14:22:00.001-07:00

Wow - summer is here and the 110º temps are finally knocking on the door. It's been a while since I have posted a blog and thought it was time to catch up. It's hard to believe that half of this year is nearly over.

Well a lot has been happening. First I want to congratulate our Evelyn Bhattan, who basically runs our operation, and who many of you have known for years - well her and her fiance, Scott Jung, were married today in Cancun, Mexico! My Evelyn, is all grown up. We all send our well wishes to both Scott and Evelyn from the entire Candelaria Design gang.

We are all weathering these tough economic times in the real estate and construction industry and it has been nice to see everyone come together and rebuild relationships, bend and lend a hand to help others, and offer support and encouragement when needed. As they say, its easy to be everyone's friend during the good times, but you really find out who your friends are during the tough times. Needless to say, we have been blessed with so many wonderful friends! We're all working together and we appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation over the course of the last few years.

That being said, we are blessed to have a number of exciting projects going on here at Candelaria Design. We are completing plans on two beautiful new homes in Silverleaf and another in DC Ranch. All three are amazing homes. We were also pleased to hear that the home we designed in Silverleaf for West Development and Construction sold for $7.5 million last week - http://www.azcentral.com/business/realestate/articles/2010/05/26/20100526biz-donedeals0526.html?source=nletter-news nearly $700/sf!

We are also fortunate to be working on two projects in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. One is nearing completion of construction at Black Rock and another is on the boards in Hayden Lake. Both are spectacular lake homes in one of my favorite places in the world. Other projects beyond Phoenix include a stunning Pallazzo we designed in the middle of an 80 acre farm field in Yuma, another mountain home near Dolores, Colorado, and a formal Mediterranean courtyard home outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We have several amazing homes finishing construction in Paradise Valley and Arcadia and they will all complete this fall. Look for some upcoming features in LUXE magazine this summer.

Another major component of our work load is and has always been remodels, additions, and renovations. That usually surprises a lot of people but those projects have always made up half if not two-thirds of our work load. Given this market, we are seeing a lot of work here and we really enjoy them! I think clients always expect a new home design to be spectacular but are usually so surprised and amazed at how we can turn an existing home into something spectacular. The transformations always truly show off the creative ability of our Candelaria team! We have some very interesting remodel, renovation projects and it is amazing how many guest houses we are doing these days - this is definitely a trend with our aging population. In all cases I am always proud that we are creating something real that does create or keep real jobs.

Our Italy trip from September 1st - September 12th is a go and we have a great group going this year! I am very excited about our trip and the group traveling with us this year. I am excited to be traveling in September and seeing this part of Italy as fall approaches. Details on the trip and our pre-party will be coming out in the next two weeks. We do still have room for two more! See details of the trip on our Candelaria Design Italy Trip 2010 Facebook Fan Page. This is a great trip and a very unique way to experience one of the most magical areas of Italy.

Well - time to hit the pool with the kids and dog and then back to the drawing board! Thanks for all of the great projects and support!

February 2010 Blog - El Chorro Reopens

2010-02-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog and I’m a bit overdue. Needless to say, between the Holidays, the end of the year, project deadlines, and everything we have been up to it has slipped a little but it’s nice to put a few words together and update everyone on all that is going on at Candelaria Design.

El Chorro Lodge
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the last year has been our participation on the El Chorro Renovation project. One of the Valley of the Sun’s most favorite landmarks of all-time, El Chorro Lodge www.elchorrolodge.com , located at 5550 E. Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley, is completed and open for business.

The A-team assembled to complete the renovation on the existing 11-acre site was comprised of Candelaria Design – Architects, Desert Start Construction – Contractors, Berghoff Design Group – Landscape Architects, Vallone Design – Interiors, and Creative Designs in Lighting and of course our client and leader, Jacquie Dorrance. Jacquie joined forces with Tim & Kristy Moore who have operated Continental Catering for years and they brought on chef Charles Kassels from the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe, to run the kitchen. The entire design team made it top priority to keep El Chorro’s rich history and classic charm while updating the facilities to today’s technology and energy efficiencies.

We took special care to embed environmental awareness into this project that is nearly undetectable to the eye. Materials were salvaged, doors and windows were updated to more efficient standards, and the tops of the buildings now capture solar energy for the restaurant’s use.

El Chorro was purchased by Jacquie Dorrance last May 2009 with the goal of wanting to preserve and improve one of Arizona’s longest standing restaurants. We began sketching in June and construction was underway by late August. Yes – it was a busy summer! The completed project combines old El Chorro elements such as the Classroom Bar, the white outdoor furniture, and the sticky buns – a favorite on the menu - with new, pristine interior spaces, an additional open air inside-outside bar, and the spirit and character that match the grand exterior spaces with views of Camelback Mountain and the other surrounding mountains in Paradise Valley.

El Chorro now has a total of 4800 SF of dining and bar space, 7500 SF of patio space, 13 fireplaces, three fire pits, indoor dining that seats 150, exterior patio seating for 200, a 4600 SF Event Pavilion that can accommodate up to 250 with an adjacent lawn area, a vegetable and herb garden, and a bocce lawn off the old Classroom Bar, one of my favorite past times! Other amenities include solar energy, updated entertainment sound systems, and free Wi-Fi.

Everyone that worked on this project and helped make it a reality deserves a pat on the back. I especially want to recognize my team, Jeff Kramer, Tim Mathewson, and Vivian Ayala who worked many late evenings and weekends to get the plans completed and get the construction underway.

El Chorro is truly an Arizona landmark that we can all be proud of and enjoy with our family and friends for many years to come. I invite you all to come by, kick back, play a little bocce and enjoy what Arizona outdoor living is really all about.

10-years of Beautiful Homes 1999- 2009 Candelaria Design Anniversary Book
After all of our hard work, we have finally completed our 10-year anniversary book titled 10 Years of Beautiful Homes 1999 ~ 2009. It is a great coffee table book with pictures of some of our most memorable projects over the past 10 years. If you are interested in reserving a copy, please call the office at 602-604-2001.

Phoenix Home & Garden AZ Style Showplace 2010
This past weekend , February 12-14, we participated in the Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine AZ Style Showplace 2010 at the Scottsdale Quarter and, I must say, what an amazing turn-out. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us. We would especially like to thank my team leader, Nelson Rodriguez and all the craftsmen and vendors who helped make our Booth at the AZ Style Showplace 2010 a huge success! -- Architectural Design Works , Dave's Custom Millwork, Facings of America, H. Ryan Studio, Premiere Wood Floors, and Tierra del Lagarto.

Italy Trip 2010
The Candelaria Design Italy Trip is a go! We have had great interest thanks to our Candelaria Design Italy Trip 2010 Facebook Page (300 fans and counting) and we are excited for our 8th trip which will depart Phoenix on September 1st and return on September 12th. See our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design-Italy-Trip-2010/415280225531?ref=mf for more details. I’m taking 10-12 travelers and we are about there. We have a great group going and I’m looking forward to the adventure once again.

Wrap Up
Well how’s that for things happening. We are happy to announce the rehiring of our good friend and Marketing Director, Megan Wahl. So be looking for more blogs, more updates, and more postings. Plenty brewing and some wonderful projects on the boards and under construction – we thank you ALL for the support and referrals. Thanks for following us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design/147697373192 .

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone in 2010! We are looking forward to a great year with some exciting features, travels, recipes, and of course Architecture! Wishing everyone a great year.

October 2009 - Candelaria Design Fall Update

2009-10-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Fall is finally upon us and how nice it is to be outside again and enjoying Arizona. Sitting around the firepit, cocktail parties on the lawn, friends over for a barbecue, and the kids can finally be outside all day. I love October – it’s my favorite month. Great weather, football, World Series, fall color, parties – I love it.

This month’s blog is a bit of a hodge-podge and is more of an overall update on things going on. First and foremost, it is exciting to see some life out there. We have definitely seen things pickup over the last 30-60 days so that is very encouraging. Credit is still very tight and at least in our corner of the world we haven’t seen nor heard of any of this so called stimulus money out there. Perhaps its time to start the Cash for Clunkers program for all the foreclosures. Seems like doing this instead of giving the 700 catrillions to the banks might have done more to get the economy going. Nevertheless. deals are happening and hopefully, the worse is over.

Many things are happening at Candelaria Design. Several very interesting projects getting started including a new house near McCall, Idaho whereby our goal is to make the house as self-sustainable as possible, through the use of geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar. It’s a project for an old high school and college buddy so that is really going to be fun. We have a number of new houses we are just getting started on and several incredible houses on the boards, many more in the field. I believe last count we currently have 12 houses under construction in Paradise Valley alone. We currently have three houses featured in national publications and we are working on a TV spot so there are some great things going. I really feel our projects, clients, and work just get better and better each year. My team has held in there through these tough times and I cannot imagine having a better crew to work with than what we have at Candelaria Design. It would be great if the government didn’t take so much of my profits whereby I could actually maybe hire someone.

One very exciting project we have underway is the El Chorro Restaurant on Lincoln in Paradise Valley. We are working with such great team, including Jacquie Dorrance – our client, Desert Star Construction, Berghoff Design, Creative Designs in Lighting, Vallone Interiors, Tim & Kristy Moore, well the list can go for a while….. Be watching for details and check out the website at http://www.elchorro.com . I’m sworn to secrecy about what the new El Chorro will be like but I can assure you it’s going to have the Old El Chorro flair and feel and yes the sticky buns will still be baked each day.

We were also awarded an 2009 Excellence in Masonry Award last weekend for a beautiful house we designed and had constructed by Schultz Development in Horseshoe Canyon ~ Silverleaf, Scottsdale, Arizona. The masonry work was done by Sutter Masonry. The home has been featured in the November 2008 issue of Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine and will be featured in a new book we have coming out this fall.

The 2009 Italy trip has been pushed back to 2010 due to the economy – but we have a good list started for 2010. So I am hoping the added time allows everyone to save their money for this great trip. Perhaps we’ll pay for the trip in Euros now and by the time we go the trip will be free. Anyway, the trip is set for September 29, 2010 and returning on October 10, 2010. The trip runs between $4500 - $5000 depending upon if you go single or double. That includes your round trip air fare, rental car, transfers, hotels in Florence and Rome and your accommodations for the farmhouses and chef we arrange in the Umbrian countryside for the balance of the trip. Many other great highlights to this trip so email me if interested. I plan to take no more than 12 people and I know with this much time we will get it filled out.

Coming up on Sunday, November 8th is the Free Arts of Arizona and Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine 15th Annual Palette of Homes Tour which we will be having one of two of the homes on the Deluxe Dream Tour. The fundraiser benefits Free Arts of Arizona which is a non-profit organization that brings the power of creative arts to abused, neglected, and homeless children by partnering with over 100 group homes, treatment centers, and shelters in Maricopa County. This is the third home we have been fortunate to have on this tour and we thank our clients for opening their homes up to this truly wonderful program that really makes a difference in many children’s lives. If you need tickets, you can call our office at 602-604-2001 or go to http://www.freeartsaz.org/index.php/volunteer/poh . Tickets start at $100 for the basic tour and go up to $250 for the Deluxe Dream Tour. The house we have featured is truly spectacular and one you do not want to miss. 14000+ square feet on 2+ acres showcasing some amazing work by several of the Valley’s best craftsmen and artisans.

That’s about it. In two weeks I head out for the Scottsdale Chorro Ride down in Tubac, Ariona. Four days and three nights on a horse with about 150 other urban cowboys. This will be my fourth ride and I always look forward to the ride and hanging with the guys. More on that in blogs ahead.

Speaking of blogs ahead, we will be featuring some fun topics in the month’s ahead, including wine and wine rooms – maybe a wine trip, more cooking and kitchen topics, Going Green and LEED items, of course architecture and design, and some features on some of our clients and what they are doing. Check out our Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candelaria-Design/147697373192 for daily updates, videos, etc. All exciting! Enjoy the fall weather - time to get back to the drawing board!

August 1999-2009 - 10 Year Anniversary

2009-08-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce our 10 year anniversary of Candelaria Design – August 28, 1999 – 2009. Wow that went by very quickly but looking back so much has happened in now what seems like a very short time. It’s funny how time is like that…..

I moved to Arizona 30 years ago this month to attend my second year of school at Arizona State University after spending my freshman year at the University of Colorado. Some of my first classes were with the late Cal Straub (you architecture junkies will know him) and of course my ultimate mentor, the late George W. Christensen. Little did I know that three years later I would be a draftsman in George’s office over on the corner of 24th Street and Campbell. During the course of going to school I met my ex-wife and needed to get a job. Of course the economy was quite bad in 79-80 and there were not a lot of jobs out there – especially for a guy with no real experience, and lacking a degree. Well I found one with a subsidiary of Schuff Steel designing billboard structures. I designed billboard structures for Outdoor Systems, Gannett, etc. Little did I know that 25 years later I would be designing personal homes for two of the principals of those firms later in my career and my office would ultimately be in the original headquarters of Schuff Steel designed by the late Al Beadle.

Well the billboard business went into the tank and I was laid off. While searching the newspaper I found an ad for a draftsman at George Christiansen’s office – now that job I wanted. I answered the ad and went to the interview conducted by Dave Jones and Dick Miller – two of the best architects I ever knew or worked for. I told them I needed this job and would work for free if they gave me the chance. Once there they could determine what I was worth and I would be happy. Fortunately, God blessed me with the ability to draw and they must have seen enough of that ability in the meager portfolio I was able to put together combined with my passion for this position. March 3, 1982 I received a call from Dianne Kleber (George’s office manager who now works with me 27 years later) that I was being offered the position. I was so happy and I was willing to work endlessly (and I did) to show these guys they had made the right choice. Within days I was working on the Van Houten Residence (now one of my retirement fund managers for our firm) the Paul Harvey Residence in the Biltmore, amongst many others to come. The first builder I met with was Gerald and Jerry Meek of Desert Star Construction who ended up building the Van Houten Residence for I think $280k…… unbelievable.

Well the years went by and after projects like Casa Blanca in Scottsdale, and the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Paradise Valley Methodist Church, Mount Claret, not to mention hundreds of homes and remodels I became a partner with George in 1987 and CCBC, Inc was formed. George Christensen was an amazing mentor, friend, teacher and a very missed drinking buddy. Boy we had some great times and of course the George stories are endless….that’s a blog in and of itself.

The years passed and George retired and moved on and my time to set my own path was upon me. I remarried in May of 1999 and upon the return of my honeymoon it became apparent it was the right time to set forth. By September 99 I said my goodbyes to the CCBG gang (with George’s departure Joe Groff had stepped up – hence the G) and started my own gig – me and my two dogs Nacho and Lulu were the whole office. I was determined to keep things simple and work from my little loft space at my townhouse and just enjoy life. Heather and I would field measure projects together and one of our first projects was a garage conversion (that never went forward) on Exeter Blvd. in Arcadia. Again, little did we know that within 10 years we would be doing some of the most grand homes on Exeter and changing the landscape and character of that street.

Six months later my wife said it was time to get an office. The loft was full and the papers, were falling over the railings. So I set out to find a space. My good friend Fred Fleet said he had some space he could sublease and so I went to check it out – 4th floor but down four levels in a basement….. didn’t feel right. I received a call 10 minutes after looking at the basement space that my friend's PR firm was splitting up and they had some space to sublease. Of course that is our current office space in the old Schuff Steel headquarters just a few blocks west of where I first went to work in George's office.

The years went by and the staff grew – some of my early additions are still with me today, Jeff Kramer, Vivian Ayala, and Dianne Kleber. All three of them have been just amazing, hard working and talented people to work with. Their commitment and integrity are impeccable. I have been truly blessed to have them both join me during the early years of my company. I also want to thank Evelyn Bhattan who does the best job at running my operation everyday. She is a phenomenal member of our team and allows the rest of us to play architect every day. We then have been lucky and have been able to land some really great projects. My good friend Patrick Murphy and Larry Peery each had new houses for us to do. Patrick’s little cabin in Coeur d’Alene and Larry’s house in Cottonwood, AZ. Both got us going….more followed, many, many more. We started the Italy tour which really had a major impact on the growth of our firm and the client list – not to mention a huge influence on our designs. Jeff Kramer and I did the very first house ever constructed in Silverleaf, homes in Idaho, California, Oklahoma, Colorado…..its been a real ride.

Many names and faces have passed through our doors and our client list has grown way beyond my wildest dreams. I thank everyone, especially my wife and children, for making the life and career of a guy from Durango, Colorado whose Dad was a hard working railroader and whose Mom used to drag me through model homes on weekends, a dream come true. I thank my current staff and team who are working very hard to ride out these tough times together. Your commitment, encouragement, dedication and talent are all greatly cherished - you are all a great joy to collaborate and have fun with.

Reflecting back on all that has taken place in the last 10 years, not to mention the last thirty, I can only imagine what the next 10 years will bring……

Tiffany's Things - Home

2009-08-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

Tiffany's Things - Home

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July 2009 - Candelaria Design Italy Tour 2009 ~ September 30th - October 11th

2009-07-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great summer. It's been nice up here in Idaho and I am getting ready to head back for my be-weekly visit to Phoenix - I cannot wait to be back in those 110º + temps!!!

This month's blog is dedicated to our upcoming Italy 2009 trip to Tuscany and Umbria. This will be our 8th tour and I am really looking forward to our first Fall excursion through this absolutely magical place. Over the years we have had some great trips and each year we fine tune things and the trip gets better each year. This is a great way for first time travelers whether to Europe or Italy to really experience the lifestyle, culture and country settings that you would never see on a canned tour. First of all I limit the travelers from between 8 - 12 people, you have your own car, and you stay in beautiful country homes overlooking the Tuscan/Umbrian countryside while enjoying local vintage wines and cusine.

Our trip begins on Wednesday, September 30th whereby we will depart Phoenix and fly to Florence, Italy. We land in Florence on Thursday morning, October 1st, whereby we will check into the Hotel Brunelleschi (http://www.hotelbrunelleschi.it/) for two nights in the heart of Firenze. This hotel is fantastic and is just a few steps from the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and the Ponte Vecchio. After settling in Thursday morning and getting past the jet lag we are free to tour all that this Renaissance gem has to offer. The David at the Academia, The Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Santa Croce Basillica where Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, are all entombed just to name a few. Friday evening we travel up the hills above Florence to dine at the Villa San Michele (http://www.villasanmichele.com/web/ovil/villa_san_michele.jsp). The former monastery, whose facade was designed by Michelangelo overlooks the entire Arno River valley and all of Florence. This dinner is always one of the high points of the trip.

Saturday, October 3rd we grab our cars at the Florence airport and we make our way south of Florence on the Autostrada to the Umbrian countryside and our country houses in the Niccone River Valley. These homes are a real treat and although our guests get a bit spoiled staying in the 4 star hotel in Florence, the quiet, solitude, fresh air, and country tempo make this a real experience for first time travelers to the country. These homes are rustic, and very authentic. Three homes make up this retreat sitting high above the valley floor overlooking castles, farms, and wooded hills on 155 acres. The grounds feature a stunning negative edge pool and beautiful gardens and terraces for relaxing and enjoying a quiet respite from the busy agenda we tackle each day. Our in house chef Melchiorre has a wonderful dinner cooking when we arrive and it is a great way to transition from the hustle and bustle of Florence to the tranquility and hospitality of the country.

Sunday, October 4th we drive to the Villa di Piazanno (http://www.villadipiazzano.com/) for brunch on the terrace. This is one of my favorite places to visit. When we came 10 years ago they had just opened after purchasing the estate and it has been remarkable to see the changes over the last decade. The operators are very friendly and always accommodating to my groups. Their food is fantastic and the scenery here is most memorable. We then venture on to the historic town of Arezzo, Italy and the monthly antique fair and marketplace. We wrap the day with dinner in Cortona, Italy - site of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. .

Monday, October 5th we start the day with a trip to Cama Deruta for the pottery factory tour, lunch in Deruta, Italy and then we make our way to Assisi, home of St. Francis to tour the church and town wrapping with a fabulous dinner in Assisi.

Tuesday, October 6th is the Wine Tour with my good friend Pino. He always puts on a great tour for us and gets us into some amazing cellars. This is an all day excursion and we meet him early in the morning whereby he rents a van/bus for us so its sipping wine and napping as we wind our way through some of the most picturesque countryside you could ever imagine. During the day we stop in Pienza, Italy for a great lunch followed by a trip to a fabulous olive oil and cheese shop to pick up our wedges of pecorino cheese. Montalcino, Montepulciano, are all stops on this fabulous day. We finish the day with a seven course, family style meal at Mimmi's. This is always voted best meal of the trip in terms of taste!

Wednesday, October 7th starts with a trip to the Farmer's Market in Umbertide, Italy. This is a great market that moves from town to town in the region during the week. We stock up on supplies and farm fresh ingredients for our cooking class and dinner later that evening. During the day we head to Lacole' for our search of architectural antiques and doors. The tour at Lacole' is broken up with a great lunch in one of the small country houses near Citta di Castello, Italy. We make our way back to the country houses in the afternoon to be greeted by Melchiorre and our in-house cooking class. From home made pasta, to salads to main courses cooked over the open flame of the Living Room fireplace this is always a wonderful and relaxing evening.

Thursday, October 8th will be our trip to Siena, Italy. This is probably my favorite town. This rival of Florence sits atop a beautiful hill and has a unique atmosphere all its own. The duomo is amazing and always a definite stop but as with every trip after a busy day of walking and shopping the winding streets we all finally convene at the beautiful Piazza del Campo, the town square. The square is famous for hosting the Palio horse race each year. This is a wonderful space to just sit with a glass of wine, a little antipasto or a gelato (which by the way is amazing in Italy) and just watch life go by. It's always hard to pick yourself up and leave this space - no cars and you get a sense of what life may have been like here hundreds of years ago.

Friday, October 9th, we will say goodbye to the country houses and make our drive to Roma. Last trip we stopped in Orvieto, Italy and that was a good move. The town and Duomo are amazing. Have a little lunch do a little shopping and site seeing then it is on to Rome. We drop the cars off at the Rome airport and then transfer to the Hotel Forum (http://www.hotelforumrome.com/) which yes, is right next to the forum with fabulous views of the ruins. This is a great small boutique hotel with a nice bar and lounge and close proximity to all the action Rome has to offer. We generally grab a late dinner and find our way to the Piazza Navona or the Campo de' Fiori. Both great people watching spaces for the late night crowd.

Saturday, October 10th, is a free day in Rome. We start the day with breakfast on the Hotel Forum rooftop restaurant overlooking all of Rome. What a great way to start the day. Fresh Italian coffee a little croissant and off we go. The Vatican, Colliseum, Pantheon, shopping, food, etc.....it's all good. We generally have a nightcap on the hotel rooftop bar and get ready for the long journey back to Phoenix on Sunday, October 11th.

So that's the trip - its a great trip full of many memories. If any of you past travelers read this blog I encourage you to post some comments for those that are considering the trip this year. We basically have 2 spots left so I encourage you to contact us as soon as possible for information. We plan to close the trip and book our flights on July 31st so time is running out. This is a great way to travel whereby you really have nothing to do but purchase your spot and have your passports ready. It will be a fantastic time of year to see this wonderful place. CALL NOW 602-604-2001 or email me at mark@candelariadesign.com for details. Please join me!

Summer 2009 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

2009-06-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe we are already at the halfway point of 2009! Boy, what a busy first half of the year. It’s nice to have the time, and luxury, to return to my back-and-forth, Phoenix to Coeur d’Alene, summer schedule.

In many ways it feels as if I am at a crossroads and at the threshold of many milestones. First, this year is the 10 year anniversary of my marriage to my wife, mother of my two youngest daughters, and biggest supporter, Heather. How she puts up with my schedule and commitment to Candelaria Design is a blessing. Her reward is spending those beautiful summer days in Coeur d’Alene. This is also the 10 year anniversary of Candelaria Design. Over the last ten years we have grown from a staff of me and my two dogs in year one, up to 24 people during the boom times and now back to a much more reasonable size of 10 – which I love. We have accomplished a great deal in this time and have designed hundreds of homes for some unbelievable people. Finally, this is the one year anniversary of our Candelaria Design Blog! Looking back at the pictures and blogs from the past year it has been a busy time and the year ahead looks equally exciting and filled with many creative opportunities.

Reflecting on all that has transpired since I typed from this very deck while overlooking the lake a year ago it is amazing what has happened. New president, new economy, new projects, and some old projects have since come back. Girls getting bigger, new dog, my wife doing triatholons, trip to Italy, British Columbia, Canada, Santa Barbara, Denver, Portland….We have some of the best houses on our boards or under construction at this time – much better situation than a year ago. Everyone’s healthy and we are truly fortunate.

Probably the biggest trend I’ve seen over this year is a focus on time with the family, the simple things, good food, and enjoying our homes. I think that is what I love most about being up here in Idaho. The girls spend time planting flowers, growing tomatoes, playing on the beach, baking cookies, hiking through the forest – not watching TV or playing video games. They are out and enjoying nature and making memories. Our summer visitors start arriving tomorrow – and we are excited to share this place with our friends, employees and family this summer.

Next weekend is the IronMan Coeur d’Alene ( www.ironmancda.com . The race starts with a 2.4 miles swim in Lake Coeur d’Alene which is about 52-54º today (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=12417610 ) …..brrrrr. That is followed by a 112 mile bike ride then a full 26.2 mile marathon. I have three friends doing it next weekend – two guys and one gal all from Phoenix. I admire the commitment something like that takes. It will be real interesting to see how they prepare and recover from this event.

My idea for a quick recovery would be boat ride across the lake to Gozzer Ranch and Lake Club (www.gozzerranchclub.com). A Discovery Land Company property this is truly one of the most well done developments I have ever seen. A nice massage, a dip in the Red Barn pool (a little warmer than the lake by the way) and then maybe sipping a martini at the Jones Cabin while putting on the practice green and you have the makings of a great afternoon. If your real ambitious and the Ironman was not enough you can play a round of golf and maybe some paddleboarding down at Squaw Bay and now you are talking about my kind of IronMan.

Finally, you might cap the day off with another jaunt across the lake on a Stancraft wood boat (www.stancraftboats.com) . These works of art on water are handcrafted in nearby Post Falls, Idaho by our good friend Robb Bloem. These boats were first handcrafted in the 1930’s and now are on their third generation of family craftsmen putting their love and passion into every boat that comes out of their shop.

By this time you have to have worked up an appetite and what better place to enjoy a great dinner than Angelo’s in Coeur d’Alene (www.angelosristorante.net ). Angelo Martini Brunson opened this quaint ristorante in 2004 and we discovered it shortly thereafter. Angelo’s produce, beef, lamb and chicken all come from local farmers and the fish comes from the nearby lakes and ocean not farms. His commitment to quality and the friendly atmosphere is always a first visit when we come to town. You never know who you might sit next to from John Elway, Dennis Frantz, or Wayne Gretzky all CDA homeowners. Definitely try the Lobster Ravioli – this one is always one we share with the whole table.

Every weekend there is something happening up here, Ironman, Car – d’Alene, Farmer's Market every Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon, the best 4th of July you could imagine, the CDA Wooden Boat Show, the Gozzer Barn Dance . . . well you get the picture. It is better than any summer you could ever imagine.

May - Mother's Day Blog

2009-05-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all you ladies out there who raise our children (and husbands) and make our lives sweet, wonderful and tolerable. I especially want to wish my wife, Heather, the happiest of Mother’s Days!!! Between my long hours, late and early meetings, endless phone calls and texts, blogging, travel, etc., etc. I want you to know I appreciate all you do for me and our girls! I love you.

This month’s feature is focused on two ladies – mom’s of course – who have started two fantastic ventures just a few feet from each other on the southwest corner of Camelback and 44th Street – Trouve’ and Chestnut Lane. These two businesses follow the old adage that if you do what you love, do it with passion, sophistication, and a commitment to quality, you have a winner. I love both of these establishments for that reason and the fact that every time I go to either one I walk away inspired.

Chestnut Lane, (www.chestnutlanecafe.com) a quaint café serving fresh baked goodies, coffee and teas, a short list of breakfast items, great salads, soups, and sandwiches, was recently started by my client and friend, Polly Levine. I was fortunate enough to design an absolutely gorgeous home for her and her family a few years ago with Nance Construction. In doing so, I got to work with and appreciate her and what exquisite taste and dedication to quality she has. These values have transcended right into her new café. Inspired through her visits to Joan’s on Third in LA and Dean & Deluca in SoHo, the café is simple and small but a feeling of quality, care, and simplicity emanates throughout. I love it. Between my stops there and all the lunches from Chestnut Lane I have at Vallone Interiors I gladly get my Chestnut Lane fix every week.

Polly Levine’s concept grew from her passion for food and cooking. She learned to cook when she was 12 years old and had her own subscriptions to Bon Appetite and Gourmet by the time she was 14. She is a self–taught cook and through travel and reading and just cooking she knew this was something she wanted to pursue. Her café is committed to bringing back the real and forgotten things in life – especially good food through the use of premium, locally grown, in-season ingredients and her belief that processed foods have no place in our lives and especially our bodies. Foods are prepared fresh each day and when they run out that is it. Nothing sits around for very long – that I can assure you.

The freshness is definitely appreciated and the day I was there I enjoyed the Tuscan Vegetable with Barley soup and the Lobster Cobb Salad. Both were fantastic, not over salted (in the case of the soup) and tasted like food should taste – every ingredient had something to offer because of the freshness. It was a joy to eat. The lobster cobb salad is definitely my favorite. Lobster and bacon – hmmm sounds like a good combo to me! Of course add some bib lettuce, avocado, egg, plum tomatoes and a little roasted corn and wow! Of course I had to top it off with a pecan bar which was fantastic – not so sweet that it was pure sugar, but perfectly balanced with great flavor. I encourage you to check it out and enjoy. Chestnut Lane is open Tuesday through Friday 7am-2pm and Saturday from 8am – 1pm. Take out and case goods are available – 602-535-5439.

Trouve’, (www.trouvehome.com), meaning “found” in French, is the dream shared by mother and daughter team of Joan Colangelo and Krissie Brubaker. Again, I was fortunate to work on three homes for the Colangelos over the last ten years and what a joy that has been. These ladies, as with Jerry, all have exquisite taste, class, and style and that can all be found in their beautiful shop and courtyard featuring antiques, architectural collectibles, vintage treasures, and gifts. A trip to their shop and courtyard is like a quick jaunt to Europe without the hassle of a 12 hour jet ride.

Trouve’ was the dream of this talented mother / daughter team which started when Krissie was in 5th grade whereby the two talked about opening an antique store someday. Joan started a small corporate gift division in 1989 and when Krissie’s youngest was off to kindergarten it was time to make the dream of Trouve’ happen. The store opened in 2002 and between this dream and the extensive traveling throughout Europe the two have collected everything from 17th Century tapestries, to 18th Century furnishings, 19th and 20th Century lighting to architectural items for the garden. Fireplaces, armoires, sofas, tables, fireplace fronts, the list goes on and it is all truly spectacular.

Most of their items come from their searches in France, Belgium, England, Spain and Italy but they have been venturing into the newly opened opportunities and sources in Eastern Europe. Buying trips to Europe occur two to three times a year and they are always searching stateside for hidden treasures. Although, many think of using antiques or collectibles for a traditional setting or home, Krissie points out that a number of their pieces have ended up as accent pieces in a number of contemporary homes. “These serve to soften and personalize these types of spaces,” Krissie points out and I agree.

Although the store has this sophisticated feel as a customer you will find items and prices across a wide range for everything from their unique antiques and furnishings, to gifts in the $20 range such as books and small gift items. In essence, everyone can enjoy something from their collection. Nothing does this better than their books available for sale. Sure they can be found on Amazon but the experience of buying a book at Trouve’ is what is so unique. Again, it is like traveling to Europe for a few moments, enjoy the items around you and while you are at it I can always find a new book which allows me to take the experience with me. “I want our local neighbors to realize they can find furnishings for their Arcadia homes here in our store,” Krissie point out. I have many clients who have done just that and absolutely love the personality, charm, and usually a story Trouve’ pieces bring to their homes.

Krissie and Joan’s commitment to quality, beauty, and family all come across in this store. Despite the sophistication of the items you will find in their store and garden you are always greeted with the warmth and humble friendliness Joan, Krissie and the whole Colangelo family always personify. I encourage a trip there for Father’s day as they have some great items for Dad too. Store hours are from Tuesday – Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. They also have a beautiful store in Carmel, California and it is also worth a stop when in that part of the world.

So, enjoy a trip to 44th and Camelback. Stop in at Trouve’ and then enjoy a delicious soup and sandwich or salad at Chestnut Lane and walk away feeling like you just jumped the pond and spent an afternoon in Paris!

April Blog - Santa Barabara

2009-04-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

I always forget how beautiful Santa Barbara, California is until I return and experience it once again. It’s not only the architecture – which I love and appreciate more and more with each visit – but it is the lifestyle! Great food, fabulous wine, moderate climate, sea air, and landscaping. What landscaping! That which barely survives in Phoenix absolutely flourishes in Santa Barbara. Some of the plants are right out of Jurassic Park or Dr. Suess.

I just returned from a two day jaunt with a client last week whereby we did a little research into the “Santa Barbara Style” for a house we are designing for them in Paradise Valley. What a great trip. We did a lot of walking, ate some wonderful meals, and I took nearly one thousand photos in the two days there.

Day one started at a newly constructed private residence in the hills of Montecito. The home sits on approximately 25 acres and overlooks the oak covered hills slowly rolling their way to the Pacific shoreline. Spectacular! The “H” shaped plan allows light to flow freely through all of the spaces – every room has a view either to a courtyard or the ocean. Wonderful finishes, windows, and of course landscaping.

We then made our way to Steve Handleman’s wonderful shop and studio in Santa Barbara www.stevenhandelmanstudios.com/. Steve’s studio specializes in custom, hand forged iron chandeliers, sconces, lamps, fireplace screens, etc. He has been designing and making handmade iron products for 35 years and his work has adorned many of our homes during that same time period. I love his passion and commitment to his craft and the part it plays in the overall composition and completion of a home.

Next, it was time for lunch downtown. We enjoyed a great little spot right on State Street – Pascucci www.pascuccirestaurant.com. We had a quick bite and we were off touring the downtown area and all the great buildings, courtyards, and endless details. Right in the middle of town is the historic Casa de la Guerra www.sbthp.org/casa.htm, This restored 19th-century adobe building captures the authentic feel of Santa Barbara of old. We then proceeded to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse www.santabarbaracourthouse.org/sbch/ which has to be one of my favorite spots to see in Santa Barbara. Constructed in 1929, this has been the site and home of the local government. The detailing, use of cast-in-place concrete, murals, painted ceilings, tile and stone work, and landscaping is very inspiring.

The day was quickly winding down so we stopped in the Cheese Shop in downtown Santa Barbara www.thecheeseshopinc.com and picked up some wine, cheese, salami and of course a crispy baguette. Finally it was off to the Santa Barbara Mission. www.santabarbara.com/points_of_interest/mission/. It is set in a beautiful setting up on a hill overlooking the City of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Just to the south of the foreground lawn is a great little street with a whole row of beautiful Santa Barbara style homes. After walking around the neighborhood for over an hour and snapping away we found a bench in the foreground park and popped the cork and enjoyed our goodies and relived all the sights of the day.

After regrouping and freshening up at our hotel we made our way to our final stop of the day at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, www.fourseasons.com, for a quick evening stroll and dinner at Bella Vista under the stars and a sweeping view of the coast. My wife and I have stayed here for our anniversary several years ago – it is definitely a special place for me.

The next morning started with a private tour of one of the most published, George Washington Smith homes, Casa del Herrero - www.casadelherrero.com, “house of the blacksmith”. Built in the early 1930’s this is definitely a must see when coming to Santa Barbara. I could have spent hours here and I think we did spend about two with our tour. The home and gardens are stunning and the docent led tour is very factual and educational. We were blessed with a glorious morning and being the only people on the tour really made the experience memorable.

We made one more stop at the Biltmore Hotel to take in some details of the hotel by day, grabbed lunch again at the Bella Vista, and then it was off to the airport and back to Phoenix. In two days I took nearly 1000 photos and enjoyed the one-on-one time with our client in such a wonderful setting. Should you ever wish to embark on a Santa Barbara or Spanish Colonial Home this is definitely the place to start the journey.

March - Mister C's Paella

2009-03-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

This blog I am not talking about the economy, business, architecture, or traveling - although you may have noticed I do love writing about those topics. This time it's about one of my other passions - food. This Friday evening (March 13th) I am cooking one of my favorite dishes - paella - at Westar in Scottsdale.

Paella (pie-ay-a) is a great dish and easy to make. The dish originated in Valencia, Spain near Lake Albufera, a coastal lagoon in eastern Spain. There are three common paellas - Valencian paella, seafood paella, and mixed paella - but the derivatives from there are endless. Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat, snails, beans and seasoning. Seafood paella replaces the meat and snails with seafood and omits beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of meat, seafood, and vegetables. My version definitely is in the free-style category and was developed from my experiences in Spain with my friend Joaquin Abati and his late mother (see the photos - yeah I did have hair on my head when I was younger), and other recipes I have researched and read over the years.

The key to this dish is a great paella pan. Pick one up at William Sonoma - they are an essential piece of equipment. I start with three key components - dark meat chicken, halibut, and chorizo - Spanish if you can find it. If you can't find chorizo I use andouille sausages from AJ's or Safeways. I make a little mixture of oregano, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl and dredge the chicken and fish in this mixture and let them sit for about 30 minutes.

Next I heat up some olive oil in the paella pan over medium-high heat. Place the chicken, chorizo and fish in the pan, skin side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs when browned. The chorizo will turn the oil a nice red color which will add to the rice color eventually. Once everything is browned, remove it to a platter lined with paper towels.

Lower the heat on the pan to medium. Now you want to work on the rice. I like to use arborio rice which is an Italian short-grain rice from the Po Valley - generally used for risotto - but great for paella. I start by using the oil and drippings in the pan by adding garlic, onion, tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook everything down until the mixture caramelizes and the flavors all blend together. You then fold in the rice, stirring to coat the grains. Let the rice heat up and almost fry in the mixture. Add the signature ingredient, saffron strands, by stirring these in. Now pour in chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid just like in a risotto (the only difference is you do not want to cover the dish or stir constantly).

After the 10 minutes of cooking the rice down, add the shrimp, lobster, clams, mussles and then add the chicken, fish and chorizo back in the mix. I like to cut the fish and chorizo into small pieces or slices so it gets nicely distributed throughout the paella. Tuck in all of the pieces and add more broth if you feel the paella is getting too dry - but you don't want it soupy either. I then add a little sprinkle throughout of Spanish sherry for flavor. Let the whole thing simmer without stirring until the rice is al dente, about 15 - 20 minutes. I then scatter frozen peas over the top and continue to cook for 5 more minutes, until the paella looks fluffy and moist, shrip are nice and pink, and the clams and mussels begin to open. The bottom of the pan might form a toasted rice bottom called a socarrat - it is delicious. Remove the paella from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges and enjoy!

If interested in attending the event, call my office and ask for Dianne and she can check on availability. 602-604-2001.

Candelaria Paella
3 Chicken legs
3 Chicken thighs
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons paprika
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
1 Spanish chorizo sausage
4 garlic cloves, diced
1 Spanish onion, diced
1 (16 ounce) can dice tomatoes
1 cup of Arbiorto Rice
1 teaspoon of saffron threads
2-3 small cans of chicken broth
1/4 cup Spanish Sherry
6 jumbo shrimp peeled with tails on and deveined.
1 lobster tails
6-8 clams, scrubbed
6-8 mussels, scrubbed and debearded.
1/2 cup sweet peas, frozen and thawed
Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves for garnish
Lemon wedges for serving

February Blog - Stimulus Time

2009-02-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

WOW – this year is flying by. We are already into mid February and a lot is happening. President Obama is in and Bush is out and the recession carries on. Stimulus package number two has been passed on Friday the 13th, GM and Chrysler are hitting their deadlines, loans are coming due or being called in by banks faster than TARP money can be passed out. I have had clients (yes plural) dreams shattered by the infamous Bernie Madoff who made off with their money and the funding for their projects. We are blessed with some wonderful new projects in the last six months but we are definitely seeing another wave of fear and reluctance out there. Everyone is so uncertain and who can blame them?

Those clients that are moving forward are doing so whereby they can get the very best in talent, expertise, and pricing, I’ve seen in the thirty years I have been doing this. Everyone is motivated, every staff is down to their best people, attention to service is first and foremost, and we are all working twice as hard for half as much. But that is ok – being an architect I guess I just am wired to love to work – I love what we do. Some of our best work ever is either just being completed or on the boards as I write this. I look back at the work done in the 30’s and 40’s and really that too was some of the best work over the last 80 years – so there is something to all of this.

We were fortunate to have one of our homes featured in the February issue of Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine. It's a beautiful home in Silverleaf constructed by Schultz Development decorated by Treken Interiors. It’s still on news stands so please pick up a copy. We also have a kitchen featured next month in a national magazine and I understand one of our homes will be on the Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine home tour in November. So we are very excited about that. I am also acting as guest chef for a paella dinner in conjunction with Kitchen Southwest and SubZero next month. I find people need to get out, talk, share stories of what is going on and opportunities spring forth. It’s amazing how far some good food and vino go to get people excited about an idea or a project and I am always surprised by the connections and six degrees of separation events like this create.

I am contemplating our seventh Italy Trip for this fall. Ten full days starting in Florence for two days, living in a country house in Umbria for six days, and winding down in Roma for two days. I have several clients, designers, vendors, and contacts interested in the trip this year. I have gotten so many great leads I would have never imagined from this yearly adventure. Not to mention the inspiration just being there each year does for me as an architect and someone who appreciates and preaches good living. I hope we can pull this together and get a good group to go. If interested, please contact our office. I try and limit the trip to four or five couples as the Trattorias can be quite quaint and when you walk in with 10 or 12 hungry Americans it can be a bit overwhelming. It’s a great trip and I will dedicate an entire blog just to this trip very soon.

We have a client with whom we are designing a classic Santa Barbara home for so we are planning a research trip there next month. I hope to write a nice summary of that trip in the weeks ahead. Two other clients want to take me to the Far East this year to research new sources for ironwork, stonework, windows, you name it. We have a couple companies that want us to design our own line of pre-cast elements, ironwork, doors, etc., etc. Like I say, good thing its slow out there!

I guess, its easy to get down on the economy and all the doom and gloom out there – trust me I fall victim to it – ask my wife (she has permanently banned me from CNBC in the morning). But we need to keep plugging on and what happens will happen – we’re all feeling it. The Stimulus Package is passed and the extra $13 a week we will all see in our paycheck should at least allow me to add my Spanish latte back into my morning routine!

I’ll keep drawing, creating, and trying to bring happiness to our clients through our beautiful homes. I love being an architect, a friend, a husband and a father.

Top Trends for 2009

2009-01-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Top Trends affecting Design and Lifestyle for 2009

We start 2009 with a whole new outlook – good riddance to 2008. In reviewing several magazine articles, websites, and blogs, below is the prevalent list of items that seem to be on everyone’s radar. It seems a return to simpler times and ways is definitely the direction as people move towards familiarity, comfort, and retro. Mixed in with what’s green and techno.

Return to the Kitchen:

This has been noted on several trend watches and prediction articles for 2009. I have to agree with this one and we are definitely seeing this in our practice. I think with the current state of the economy people are staying home more and where do you spend more time than in the kitchen. Cooking, game playing be it on a computer or handheld, and simply getting back to family conversations, we will all return to the safety and closeness of the Kitchen.

Rise of the Cottage Industry

We are definitely seeing this and the internet is helping this along. We are seeing the Craft Room, and Hobby Room taking over the wish list on people’s homes and we have seen businesses grow from these activities. Book writing, gardening, textiles, sewing, jewelry making, photography and film making, and of course cooking,….Look for this trend in what is being called credit-crunch couture. – check out Hermes Do-it-Yourself status bags.

Urban Gardening

From indoor herb and spice gardens to full on outdoor gardens we are seeing this trend really taking off. People want fresh produce and are willing to do more to get it. We have clients taking their entire property and planting olive groves, pecan and date groves, orange and citrus groves, raised vegetable gardens, and herb gardens and of course a compost pile to make use of the household wastes in an eco-friendly way.

Virtual Tourism

We are seeing this trend starting to pop up. With travel becoming so expensive and again with the downturn in the economy we see several services starting that basically give you a virtual tour of any city in the world. People are then able to hook this up to their home theater system and sit with a glass of wine in their own home and enjoy a trip to Prague without fighting the crowds, needing a passport or having to go through security and a 22 hour plane trip. We see this even entering the Dining Room whereby you can have friends over for dinner on the rooftop in Rome or overlooking the French Riviera. Watch this trend both in terms of how it changes design and the way people entertain.

Pet Spaces

We are seeing more and more space dedicated to one’s pets. From pet rooms with access to a contained courtyard with various features such as a small pet pool or exercise equipment dedicated to one’s pets., it is amazing what people will do for their little four legged friends. With the demographics getting older and more and more empty-nesters in the years ahead we see this trend growing.

Home Stages & Virtual Activity Areas

With the Virtual Guitars, Rock Bands, and virtual Bowling or Golf cropping up on Wii and Xboxes we see a stage space working with the Theater space. Whole families and friends come over and perform rock concerts and with a Club room or Bar space next to this you have yourself a real party.

Microtechture

With the downsizing hitting all aspects of the economy we see both the bigger houses getting smaller and the smaller houses getting even smaller. 3500 square feet will be the new 7500 square feet on the large homes and we see smaller homes being remodeled rather than enlarged. Smaller will allow for nicer furnishings and interior features and accessories and so more attention will be given to the details instead of just having a lot of vanilla space.

Comfort & Sustainable Foods

See more home baking and scratch cooking as nostalgia, retro, and a return to the safety of the home takes hold. Soups, salads, stews with simple ingredients will become very popular as they will save money and make people feel good. Watch the continued rise of the farmer’s markets where local farmers can sell their produce directly to the consumer and reduce the carbon footprint and consumers can be assured the food is safe and organic. We see the trend of larger pantries and the walk-in refrigerator is becoming more popular and being incorporated into nearly 25% of the houses we design.

Social Networking

Websites, Facebook, blogging, YouTube video presentations, Skype – all are affecting the way we work and live. Skypeing with your family whereby you can talk and see them live sure can save on a lot of airfares. Same for meetings – no more flights necessary for a business meeting. All of these technologies are changing the way we stay in touch with friends, clients, vendors, and family.

Green Movement is Huge!!!!

All of these trends noted above seem to all have a Green aspect to them. Generally, I see people using their homes more and staying home more and spending more time with friends and family. Living and living in harmony with nature will become a real focus again.

Christmas Miracle

2008-12-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

I know a lot of you were following our trials and tribulations in our efforts to get to Coeur d'Alene for the Holidays. Well we finally made it and on Christmas Eve to boot.

It all started on Saturday morning. I took my wife to the airport that morning as she was scheduled to go out on Friday but changed her flight to Saturday due to the first of three blizzards to hit the Northwest. Her flight got out and she landed safely in Spokane that afternoon. She was able to have the shuttle take her to the house in the midst of a major storm. My flight was later that morning but I had the flight time entered into my IPhone incorrectly and when I got to the airport with my two little girls the plane had already departed!!! No more flights on Saturday. I called my wife and needless to say she was not too happy.

I immediately got on the phone with American Express and they found me a flight the next morning at 11am from Phoenix to Spokane via Portland. Well we got to the airport at 9am - wasn't going to miss this flight!!!! We get to the checkin counter and immediately we are told the flight has been delayed from 11am to 4pm due to the bad weather. Well I was following the weather in Portland and it sounded like we would be able to fly in but then be trapped there until Sunday. Fortunately, the flight was cancelled by 3pm from Phoenix so more tickets were now necessary.

I called the wife, to tell her our new flight had been cancelled and to start looking for flights for Monday. She called me back and had booked us flights for Monday morning to Spokane via Salt Lake City. By this time my oldest daughter had flown in Sunday morning and my mother-in-law flew in at midnight but neither could get out of the Spokane Airport due to the road conditions and the newest storm so I was able to get them checked into a hotel by the airport.

Well Monday morning came and I checked all of the flights and we were a go. Got the girls up, bathed, dressed and off to the airport. We left the house at 6:30am with all of our luggage and our spirits up as it appeared we had green lights all the way to Spokane. We got to the airport and everything was on-time!!!! We boarded our flight to Salt Lake and we were airborne. Landed in Salt Lake and our connecting flight was on time and would be departing in 90 minutes. We were very excited as it looked like we were finally going to make it. My wife, was on the way to the Spokane Airport to pick up her mother and my oldest daughter and then pick us up. Well we grabbed a little lunch and then we heard the news....our flight to Spokane had been cancelled. Well I called my wife and told her the news and called my office whom proceeded to try and find us other flights to Spokane or back to Phoenix. Well the soonest flight to Spokane from Salt Lake was on Sunday again but we could get a flight back to Phoenix in a couple hours so we booked it and headed home. We made it, our bags did not.....

Well while in the air my wife found us three tickets on a direct flight from Phoenix to Spokane. So Tuesday we hung out and made calls, ran errands we were unable to finish before we left, and I took care of my two little monkeys. That evening one of my project managers, Braden Santarcangelo, met with one of my clients and told him of our situation. I received a call Tuesday night from this client, who will remain nameless, offering to take us to Spokane on his Citation 3 on Christmas Eve. I told him we had flights booked for Christmas day but that we really appreciated the offer. Well he insisted and told us to be at the Scottsdale Airport 2 pm sharp - wheels up!

Normally, one would have been very excited but I knew there was another blizzard scheduled to hit on Christmas Eve and I told him this. He didn't seem to be too concerned seeing he was from Ohio and had plenty of snow flying experience. So I got the girls to bed and we prepared for flying the next day.

Christmas Eve arrived and we started our preparations for the flight. I called Southwest in search of our bags but they were no where to be found in the system. My client and friend, Patrick Murphy, offered to take us to the airport and we made our way there. We loaded up and by 2 pm we were up in the air on our way to Spokane. Flying private is such a treat, no ticket counters, no security, no one else on the plane - talk about getting spoiled. My girls loved it. Bella worked on the laptop and Sophia fell asleep.

Two and half hours and we were on our approach to Spokane when the radio tower broke the silence and announced that the Spokane runways were closed down due to blizzard number three. My client, who was flying the plane with a copilot buddy, turned to me and said, "Wow, you really are jinxed on this trip!" The tower came back on and said if you can circle for 45 minutes we should be able to get a runway cleared for you to land. So that is what we did - circle, circle, circle. I tried calling my wife from the plane phone but couldn't reach her. I left her a message that the runway was closed but they were going to try and get us in. Her and her mom and dad were waiting at the executive terminal in Spokane praying we would make it. Finally the tower said, "we have a small window open. Make your approach but make it fast."

Down we headed, no visibility, bouncing around. The girls were calm and I was silently praying we would make it. The two pilots seemed calm and focused and down we came through the whiteness. Finally you could see the ground and then the lights of the runway just barely through the blowing snow. Down they came and then touchdown! It was really an amazing experience and one I will never forget.

The runways were buried and it was actually more of an adventure getting from the runway to the terminal. We never made it and had to stop short and basically carried everyone out and to the terminal in the blowing snow. Trust me Mom and Grandma were happy to see the three of us. Well at least they were happy to see the two little girls!

Thank you again to my client and friend who got us up there. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. it just shows how generous and kind some people really are. The two pilots flew home to Scottsdale that night and called to let us know they made it safely home. It was truly a Christmas Miracle.

The video of our landing is located on the side of this blog. Enjoy.

Closing out 2008

2008-12-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

Well this year is finally winding down. What a crazy year......

As I look back at my posts from the summer to where we are now it has only been six months but it feels like we have gone through six years. From oil at $150 a barrel and $4.25 a gallon gas to $35 a barrel and $1.45 a gallon gas.....funny how the math doesn't quite equal out??? A new President, a new direction, not one but two or is it three bailouts...still waiting for mine. Actually, I think I will be responsible for paying for the bailout come April 15th!!! These are definitely crazy times, yet this year was a better year for Candelaria Design than 2007 so who really knows. One thing I do know is really no one does know. From the stucco subcontractor, the Thomas delivery guy to my most wealthiest and astute clients - everyone has been hit by this market and no one has a clue as to where thing are going - NO ONE.

I have learned through the last year what is important though and as I said earlier in the year it is just like sports - the fundamental values will always carry you through. Hard work, working smart, taking care of your friends and neighbors, and appreciating the simple things in life - the real things. I am glad to see people looking at the homes as places to live, and enjoy their families rather than investments and packaged flips. I definitely see my clients and friends thinking of ways to conserve and save and be conscientious of what and how they are spending their money. I see my employees really valuing their jobs and clients and putting forth the extra effort. I see our consultants, vendors, and referrals appreciating our business and giving us better service. So although there is a lot of pain we are all feeling, we are seeing a lot of great things coming out of this and the groundwork being laid for the next cycle.

Hopefully, we all remember these times when the good times return and we keep our values in the right place. I firmly believe that helping others, going the extra mile now, and playing for the marathon and not the sprint will pay big dividends in the future. We have some amazing projects underway and I am very thankful for the wonderful clients, contractors, consultants, subcontractors and most importantly my employees and my family who all make what we do possible. A 40 hour week is unheard of even in this economy. I think we are all working 50-60 hour weeks and darn glad to be doing so! I love designing homes and working hard with a team that is so excited about what we all do and really putting their heart and soul into it. It is rewarding and I know we are creating something that is real and of value.

So I leave 2008 with a lot of memories and lessons learned. I look forward to 2009 knowing where my focus is and spending quality time with my family, friends, associates, and clients. Thanks to all of you for making my life very interesting and fulfilling.

Scottsdale Charro Ride 2008

2008-11-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Howdy!

Well I completed another Scottsdale Charro Ride. Number three for me and each one gets better. This year it was in the Superstition Mountains. 130+ guys of all ages riding for four days and three nights through the wilderness. Everything from riders with 44 rides under their belt to rookies just going for their first time. It is a great trip and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this amazing state we live in and reflect of all the good things in life.

The Scottsdale Charros are a group of men committed to education and supporting various causes having to do with teaching, scholarships, etc. I’ve included their website so you can read more. They sponsor the Spring Training games each season for the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Municipal Stadium. The members consist of everything from dentists, stockbrokers, bankers, contractors, florists, and even cowboys! I am a guest of long time member John Schultz of Schultz Development who has built a number of our homes over the years. I believe this was John’s 12th ride and he was the Trail Boss this year meaning he had to scout the trails for the ride and put it all together. John in my opinion is a real cowboy – the guy can ride and he is big enough that you don’t want to mess with him. It is a real honor to go the last three years.

Over the course of the last three years I have been around these guys when times were great and now when times are lean. And although we all are going through our own unique tribulations the spirit was the same – all a bunch of guys trying to scrape out an existence and do what is right for themselves, their families, and the community. Yes the gambling was down a bit from the good years but the laughter, jokes, and smiles were the same. No one is feeling sorry for themselves and everyone was positive and exploring new ways to market and capture the opportunities out there. That is what makes America great in my opinion.

It is amazing the thoughts that go through your mind when the cell phones and emails are turned off and you are just riding a horse through the quaking aspens or under the shadow of a 500 year old saguaro. You realize what is really important to you – your family, your wife, your employees, your friends, your clients, your home…..the simple things. I don’t think this slow down is all bad – trust me being on this four day ride really showed me that everyone is now seeing what is really important to them and how good we really have it.

See y'all later!

Fall is Here

2008-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Fall is fully upon us now. Halloween is a few days away and the elections are right after that followed by Thanksgiving and then well you all know where this is leading. 2008 is rapidly coming to its final chapters. As I wrote just a few months ago during the Olympics this is the year of great changes…..well I was right and we still have two months to go.

When I reflected on the year last time a barrel of oil was $148 a barrel now its back down to $64 a barrel. Funny how it hasn’t dropped that quickly at the pump. It sure seemed to keep up when the price of oil was going up. Since the Olympics the world has apparently gone into a slow down. Those Olympics must of worn us all down. They were amazing after all! Credit remains frozen, unemployment has risen, everyone traded in their leased SUVs or quit driving to work because they don’t have jobs and now the price of oil is down to $64 a barrel again. This all in a matter of three months. Ok so where does that leave us three months from now????

Obviously we will have a new President elected in three months. I can definitely predict that… or will hanging chads keep that from happening again?….I sure hope not. Whoever wins let’s just get this over with and move forward. Whatever party you are for, the winner will take credit for whatever happens positively and will blame Bush for anything that happens negatively. So we can’t lose either way….at least that is what I am trying to convince myself.

Oil, commodities, interest rates, stock prices….. who knows? My most savvy clients who invest millions (probably billions) don’t know which way is up right now. I’ve never seen markets this confusing. However, I am seeing a number of clients buying real estate or starting construction now – in the midst of the turmoil – and you know theses are the same people I saw step forward after the S&L and dot.com bubbles of the 80’s and 90’s and ended up being on the right side of the cycle. Land prices have fallen and there are great opportunities again. Commodity prices and labor are falling and so construction costs are finally falling – it’s like oil it just takes time to see it at the pump. The stock market – never could figure that one out. I know my 401k is now a 40k or something to that effect, but I keep putting more in every two weeks so they tell me I am dollar cost averaging. My average just seems to be lower with every quarterly statement! Retirement is no where in my immediate future anyway so I guess I am ok.

2008 has been a year we will all remember – or will do our best to just forget. I always like even numbered years better so I am not sure what that means for me. 2008 has been a better year for Candelaria Design than 2007 and we have definitely been seeing things pick up since June. As architects, we seem to be the first to see things slow down and the first to see them come back so I hope that holds true moving into 2009 – uhg an odd year.

Italy 2008 - Day 5 Panto Island Party / Venice

2008-10-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Our final day in Italy was fantastic. Today we took a private boat to Panto Island - no tattoo and Ricardo Montalban weren't waiting for us - but a wonderful feast, and the delightful Panto family was.

The Panto Island is located about 4 miles east of Venice and is a private island owned by the Panto Family. The island is now a family compound and is absolutely beautiful. Giorgio Panto who started the company died in a tragic helicopter crash just off this island in November 2006. I was fortunate to meet him on several occasions including just two weeks before the accident when he and Simon stopped by my office for a visit and a cappuccino. He was an interesting gentleman having started several media stations in Italy, started a political party, and of course owned and operated the Panto window and door company. He is survived by his two sons and daughter. One of his sons and daughter hosted our party - they were very gracious and most delightful.

Our afternoon on Panto island started of course with a Bellini served on the patio. Meanwhile the food was all being prepared with the main course being freshly caught derado from the nearby Adriatic Sea cooked in encrusted sea salt over a hot charcoal grille. Of course for starting courses we enjoyed a lobster/potato salad, polenta, deep fried langostinos, and just a few thick grilled t-bones. The fish was amazing - moist with a salty, crisp crust. Fantastic!

Dinner was capped off with a wonderful dedication by the youngest son to his father - there was not a dry eye in the house. Their passion, and love for their father and all he had built and created were celebrated. The business, besides a great product, was about the relationships that had been created through the years. We were all part of the Panto family and they made you feel this way. With the dedication complete the son hopped on the private helicopter and flew away just as his father had done so tragically just two years ago. What drama - totally Italian! But what a day - very relaxing and most memorable.

After a few glasses of wine, a challenging game of foosball, and a group photo we were off to Venice for the remainder of the day. It was a great trip and I cannot thank Simon and my friends at Panto enough for this wonderful trip.

Italy 2008 - Day 4 Palladian Villas - Asolo, Italy

2008-09-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Italy Day 4 was one of my favorites - the tour of two beautiful Andrea Palladio villas north of Venice, the famous Carlo Scarpa Brion Cemetery in San Vito d'Altivol, and finally a relaxing afternoon in Asolo, Italy.

We started at the Villa Emo. Villa Emo, located in the village of Fanzolo di Vedelago, was built in the period 1559-65. The central residential space features four columns (two of them engaged) in the manner of a Greek temple front. barchesse (farm buildings) The building extends symmetrically from the left and right of the central structure, with the ends of the barchesse surmounted by dovecotes. The result is the famous 5-part profile familiar in later Palladio-inspired architecture, including the U. S. Capitol building (with the Houses of Congress replacing the dovecotes!). This is a beautiful villa and like all of the Palladian villas I have seen they are picturesquely set and provide order and symmetry to the landscape. The frescos by Giovanni Battista Zelotti inside the central space are spectacular and are in excellent condition. We had a private guide, which in Italy is the best way to see any site or town, and she gave us a very detailed explanation of all the rooms, gardens and frescos. It is simply fascinating the time and attention to detail these architects and artisans put into these projects.

The next Palladian villa we toured was the Villa Barbaro located in the village of Maser adjacent to the famous hilltown of Asolo. The villa was built for Daniele Barbaro, Patriarch of Aquileia, and his brother Marc'antonio Barbaro, an ambassador of the Venetian Republic. Construction began in (prob.) 1549 and was substantially completed by 1558. The central residential space is erected on the remains of a medieval castle or manor house. Its facade features four engaged Ionic columns adapted from the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome. As at nearby Villa Emo, barchesse (farm buildings) extend symmetrically from the left and right of the central structure. The ends of the barchesse are surmounted by dovecotes, each with a large sundial on the facade. The interior of the central residence is highlighted by magnificent frescos executed between 1560 and 1562 principally by Paolo Veronese. Set in the hillside at the rear of the central residence is a spectacular spring-fed statuary grotto known as a nymphaeum.

The villa first descended through female lines in the same family until 1838. In 1934 the villa was acquired by Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, who began the restoration that has returned to villa to its present condition. Today his granddaughter resides at the villa with her family. As in most things in Italy the family lineage and passion for maintaining their history, architecture and culture are first and foremost. These homes are part of their soul not investments. They become great investments later only because of the love and passion for these works of art.

We then took a break and headed to our best lunch on the trip in the hill town of Asolo, Italy - Ristorante de Gerry. This is a wonderful place up on a second floor with great views of the surrounding countryside from both the restaurant and the adjoining roof garden. We started with some fried mozzarella balls and sausage balls followed by a roast chicken salad and stuffed and fried zucchini flowers then roast pork and rosemary roasted potatoes all capped off with a fabulous apple tart with a zabaglione sauce. Of course a few glasses of prosecco and some red wine with the roast pork all capped by a cappuccino make for a wonderful lunch.

We then ventured to the famous Carlos Scarpa Brion - Vega Cemetery in San Vito d'Altivole, Italy. With the Brion Cemetery, Scarpa made his impact with an unreserved commitment ot the modern movement and a new sureness of language. He re-created here the splendor of nineteenth-century Middle Europe, where beauty had the power to redeem man from his limitations. He avoided the narrow dictates of rationalism, choosing rather to stress inner depth, dreams, and nostalgia. Carlos Scarpa said about the Tomb, "The place for the dead is a garden....I wanted to show some ways in which you could approach death in a social and civic way; and further what meaning there was in death, in the ephemerality of life—other than these shoe-boxes." Even if you do not appreciate or enjoy contemporary architecture this is a very unique and definitely spiritual space.

We next boarded the bus back for the village of Asolo in the foothills of the Alps. Known as the "Town of a Hundred Horizons" because of its panoramic views, this nub of a medieval hill town (though it was founded during the twilight of Imperial Rome) has become the secret hideaway for true Veneto aficionados. After walking through town we ventured to one of Heather and my favorite spots the famous Hotel Villa Cipriani in Asolo. Immersed in a private garden of pomegranate trees and fragrant seasonal flowers, Hotel Villa Cipriani is surrounded by the views that inspired Titian and Giorgione. Once the home of the famous poet Robert Browning, the hotel offers guests 31 rooms splendidly fitted with lovely antiques and exposed ornated beams. Recent guest have included Kim Bassinger and Rolling Stones rocker, Keith Richards. There is nothing nicer than sitting on the terrace with a peach bellini and chatting with friends while watching the sun set over the hills. It is magical and most memorable.

The day ended at a local pizzeria - a crusty coal fired capricciosa pizza. It's usually the richest pizza offered, and every pizzaiolo makes it differently. This is based on the Pizzaria Giancarlo, outside Florence's Porta San Frediano and includes ham, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, and of course tomato sauce - then you add whatever else you have taking up space in the refrigerator. Add a cold Birra Moretti and you just had a great day in Italy.

Italy 2008 - Day 3 Panto Factory/Treviso

2008-09-28T14:33:00.001-07:00

Italy 2008 - Day 3 was the whole point of this trip - the tour of the Panto Window factory. I was on this factory tour four years ago and I have to say the second tour was as informative and inspiring as the first. What pride - what craftsmanship - what passion about a product. Panto has it all - not to mention a factory the floor you could eat pasta off of!!!

From the glass to the teak wood frames to the custom finishing it all is a painstaking process that is constantly being refined and perfected. From spraying the varnish on in an argon gas chamber because the argon molecules are smaller than oxygen molecules and it allows the varnish to penetrate to wood easier and deeper. Their windows come with a 30 year warranty, and trust me - you can see why.

We were given the tour by Walter who runs the operations - and later in the week is our fish griller. The tour lasted about two and a half hours and where we concluded at the factory showroom. Their multislide units and their tilt and turn windows and doors are simply works of art - but extremely functional. We have two houses now in Arizona with Panto windows and they have held up beautifully in the harsh, Arizona climate.

Of course after a strenuous factory tour you need a hearty lunch. We ventured to a wonderful country restaurant where we had the best gnocchi on the trip. It was chewy and with a little pepperoncini it hit the spot. Add a cold beer and a couple additional courses which will remain nameless and you have a great lunch.

Then it was off to a quick tour of Treviso - the town just north of Venice. This town is very charming as it too has a series of streams and canals through the town only they are running with fresh mountain water and loaded with some of the largest trouts I've ever seen. My associate, Craig Stoffel, who loves to fly fish would be in heaven. The town was badly destroyed in WWII but has been nicely restored. It is amazing to think that just 55 years ago this place was like Iraq.

We closed the night off with more gnocchi with a duck ragu, and roast beef that was fantastic, and the best tiramisu of the trip - it was amazing. Another 2-1/2 hour meal and it was back to the hotel to get rested for the next day.

Italy 2008 - Day 2 Venice

2008-09-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

Italy Day 2 started with a 6am jog through the vineyard. What a great way to start the first full day in Italy - plus not a bad way to burn off the two plates of risotto from the night before! I have to thank Heather for getting me going as she is training for her second tri-athalon sprint. I am just trying to get some exercise into my life!

After the jog we stopped for a quick bite and some coffee and then get ready for the 30 minute bus ride to the Venice airport where we would meet tour boat to Venice and Murano.

The boat ride is beautiful as you see Venice off in the distance through the thick, moist air. It is such an unimaginable place and just doesn't seem real. This is my third time to Venice and it always awes me. You see the towers all tilting and listing from vertical and you realize this place is simply a mirage in time yet it is virtually the same it was centuries ago. What is so nice about Venice is the lack of cars, trucks, vespas and police sirens. It is quiet other than the constant sound of human chatter, a mixture of many languages, and occasional clanking dishes from the back kitchens of numerous restaurants. There is never a lack of detail and architecture. It is truly architecture Disneyland.

Before we made it to Venice though we had a quick side trip and tour of a the Nason Moretti glass factory in Murano, Italy. Murano is a small island just east of Venice and is famous for their fabulous glassworks. This was my second trip to the island and is also an amazing journey each time. We were greeted by Piero Nason - 4th generation master glass blower and now runs this family business started at the turn of the last century. The business is a family business and many cousins, uncles and aunts all have their craft and role in the company as so many companies in Italy are operated. With this comes so much pride and passion. Everyone has a stake in the manufacturing, sale and success or failure of the product. Their work is stunning and always changing. Formulas for colors and mixtures are kept in a simple three ring binder in a little back room with shelves of different metal compounds that all make unique colors. It is amazing that simple sand, soda, and minerals can make something so translucent and colorful, not to mention beautiful yet extremely functional. From stemware to Murano chandeliers it is astounding the different items these craftsmen can do with a blob of molten glass - and how quickly. It is definitely worth seeing when you come to this part of Italy. Once you see the skill and style that goes into making one champagne flute you can appreciate the price for these wonderful works of art.

We then re-boarded the boat and cruised through the main channel through Murano and then around the southern tip of Venice to the main docks just south of St. Mark's Square. As our group departed the boat at approximately 12 noon it was decided we would all meet here later in the day at 8pm - so we had the full afternoon to ourselves. Most headed right for St. Mark's Square while Heather and I took off down the narrowest alleyway and away from the crowds. We were on a venture for a fantastic lunch off the beaten path - which we found at the Traverna SanLio which is a small tavern and bed and breakfast away from St. Mark's Square but not out of reach. We started with a delicious carpaccio and a glass of Pinot Grigio. This was followed by our main dish whereby I had a local specialty Venetian liver and onions on a bed of polenta and Heather had the Sea Bass cannelloni. Both were absolutely perfect. We capped this lunch with a wonderful cheese plate. A cappuccino closed out the meal and we were off exploring the city. Of course this was quickly interrupted by a gelato which we enjoyed as we strolled the streets.

After an hour of walking we found a nice street with a park bench and we sat down and dozed off for a quick catnap. We obviously felt very safe or we were simply ignorant to our potential danger but we woke up with everything still in tact and we ventured off again. Now it was time to get to St. Mark's Square. The large cruise ship was loading up so the streets were emptying and now St. Mark's Square was ours.

We arrived and enjoyed the Doge Palace facade, St. Mark's Basilica, and the Campanile Tower and of course the Piazza San Marco. St. Mark's Basilica was constructed in approximately 1050 and is an amazing representation of the collision of the cultures of the east and west. It is an amazing structure and it is unimaginable the amount of time and detail that is present in this structure - all done without power tools and building codes!

After a few photos (ok probably 100+) we sat down in the Piazza for a glass or two of prosecco and a Cuban cigar and a couple hours of just soaking in the atmosphere. The theme from the Godfather or Volare' playing the the background and the sun slowly setting over the square with the lights of the evening slowly taking hold and you have a magical moment.

Soon it was time to go and make our way back to the rendezvous point and join up with our group. We grabbed a little pizza and a beer and it was time to take the boat back to the bus and back to the hotel. A great day for sure.

Italy Trip 2008 - Day 1 Arrival and the Veneto Foothills

2008-09-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well I have kept my Italy trip each year streak alive with an impromptu but wonderful trip to Venice and Treviso to see the Panto Window Factory compliments of my good friends at Panto Windows.

We left early Monday morning and arrived Tuesday morning at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice. We were greeted by the California sales representative, Simon and his lovely wife Marcia, at the airport. We stopped for a quick cappuccino and an introduction of our fellow travelers on the tour. I was happy to see my old friend Tony Garcia on the trip. Tony and I worked together in the early 90's at CCBG Architects and he now has his own firm in San Diego, California.

We loaded on the bus to the Hotel Relais Monaco near Treviso, Italy. The hotel is an old Villa Veneta, Villa Guarnieri, distinctively converted by the famous architects Afra and Tobia Scarpa, located in Ponzano Veneto, close to Treviso, in the heart of the "Marca Trevigiana" and only 35 kms away from Venice. It is set in a beautiful vineyard.

We checked in and after flying for what seemed like 24 hours we grabbed a quick bite on the terrace of the hotel. Great way to start with a plate of spaghetti and insalata mista - the freshest greens, tomato and mozzarella. Perfect!

We quickly reloaded the bus for a quick jaunt to the foothills of the Alps and the Mionetto Winery. Founded in 1887 from the love and passion for work and for the land of Francesco Mionetta, the head of the family and the master winemaker. In 1982 the winery completely converted to the production of Prosecco - a semi-sparkling white wine - Italian champagne made popular in the Bellini cocktail. We were given a wonderful tour of the winery by the grandson of the founder. Of course the tour ended in the tasting room and after trying ALL of their lines of prosecco it was time to move on to our next destination.

After a short drive through the hills of the Valdobbiadene wine -growing region north of Treviso we arrived at the Castel Brando. After a short tram ride up the hill you are taken with the beautiful view and the over 2000 year history of the castle. The castle has been converted to a 260 room hotel and convention center but it still feels like an old castle. It is spectacular. After a quick walk around the grounds and a tasty cappuccino it was back down the tram and back on the bus and off to dinner - something you do a lot in Italy - eat!

We arrived at a wonderful country restaurant - which I cannot recall the name but will track it down - and enjoyed a fantastic dinner. We all sat upstairs and since we are a group of 29 we were served country style - but it was fabulous. Great first dinner. The restaurant had a marvelous indoor grille and rotisserie and we had roast rabbit, chicken, and pork along with several pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, salad, vegetables and of course a delicious fruit tart with a panna cotta sauce - topped off with a perfect cappuccino. By now we were exhausted. Back to the hotel and some needed sleep! Off to Venice tomorrow. Ciao.

2008 The Year of Change

2008-08-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

The kids are back to school and we are all gearing up for the fall and winter months. Many things have changed since I left Idaho last summer compared to my departure this summer. I have changed, my family has changed, my company has changed, and the world has changed. I cannot remember a year with more change - and it is only two thirds over.....

The world is changing very rapidly and the way we are all doing business, communicating, financing, and fueling our lives is all in a state of flux. Every person in every socioeconomic group has been effected - at least that is what I am seeing. The credit crunch has hit the entire world, but that was created by excessive greed both by those speculating and those lending. Our homes became investments and no longer a place to live and raise our families. Debt spiraled out of control - from the individual consumer all the way to the level of an entire nation. The dollar plunged and commodity prices spiraled out of control. Add world demand for a better life and its limited resources and products - cars, phones, food, clothes, building materials, and of course oil and you can understand why prices are doing what they are doing. Add a war, an election, Russia flexing its muscle, earthquakes, floods, and as I said, the year is only two thirds over. No wonder I'm tired.

What can be learned from all of this? I think first and foremost our value system needs to be reassessed. Our resources our limited and we need to manage them more wisely and more efficiently. Waste needs to be eliminated wherever possible. After driving two SUV's for years that never left a paved road or freeway I have traded them in for Hybrid vehicles that use a third of the gas and pollute far less. We are not all going to be celebrities or pro athletes and creative financing or endless home equity loans will not solve our problems. America needs to get back to work. We need to have as much focus on math and science for our children as we do for basketball practice. We will need to work and educate our way out of this and produce something - something tangible. That is why I love architecture - we create something. We are at the beginning and the next beginning is now.

Watching these olympics has been very inspirational. The olympics always are. I think we all realize we - the world - not just the USA, make up this world, run this world, fuel this world, supply the world and feed the world. China is amazing - what I have witnessed just in my lifetime from when Nixon went there in the early 70's to what I witnessed the last two weeks - the change is stunning. I'm looking forward to going there soon.

Where will the US be in thirty more years? Will we be running our homes, factories, businesses and cars on renewable energy or will be still driving cars burning gas at $9.00 a gallon like it costs in Europe right now? Will our children be the leaders in technology and innovation or will they just be service providers and hamburger flippers while hanging out in Scottsdale pretending to be movie stars? Will our air be clean, our food locally produced in organic farms, our water usable and clean to drink? We are at the forefront of a new era. $4.00 a gallon gas has finally awakened us from our wasteful energy binge. Opportunity awaits all of us.

It seems to all stem on energy. Will we be able to live 30-40-60 minutes from town or have a second home in Idaho, or travel to Italy and watch our TV's, run our computers, our I Phones, Skype with our friends and family across the world, run our air-conditioning, eat pineapples from Hawaii, enjoy a Bordeaux from France, the list goes on and on. Something has to change - it already has begun.

Seafood Boil on the Deck

2008-07-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

Life on our deck in Coeur d'Alene is a big part of our summer and definitely a place we love to entertain our guests. There is nothing more wonderful than flying up from 110º Phoenix and arriving in Coeur d'Alene and hitting our deck. 70-80º weather and a cold glass of white wine or a Blue Moon beer with an orange slice and you are ready for a great evening.

Last weekend our guests for the week were my long time associate, Jeff Kramer and his wife Carmelle and their two lovely children Jason and Rachel. They have been are most welcomed guests every year since we have owned the house. We always have a great time with them.

This year they spent a few days in Seattle and then made the drive across Washington to our house in CDA. This year we demanded they hit Pike's Market in Seattle and load up on seafood for our seafood boil. They picked up lobster, crab, shrimp and clams we got the rest of the ingredients from our local farmer's market in CDA.

We started with a large stock pot on our propane cookstand sitting right on the deck - see http://www.eastmanoutdoors.com. We started with 6 quarts of water brought to a boil. Once it came to a boil we added a generous amount of sea salt, bay leaves, and the crab seasoning bags you can buy at the store. Add 6 halved lemons and return to a boil. Once boiling again add 4 medium artichokes - we added 6 because we love them. Cover and return to a boil. Let this boil for about 10-15 minutes then add a dozen or so little red potatoes, 6-8 ears of corn cut into small 2-3" sections, and 2 - 3 onions unpeeled but remove the ends. Reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes then add 6 whole unpeeled heads of garlic and 1 - 2 cups of your favorite dry white wine. Simmer, covered until the veggies are tender. Remove them to a serving platter after about 40 minutes of cooking for the artichokes.

We're almost there. As soon as you remove the veggies take two or three andouille sausages or I add a couple lamb smokies from my lamb farmer at Farmer's Market and slice them up and throw them in the boil. Let them boil for about 3 minutes. Then have all of your shellfish ready to go. Add the crabs and lobsters. Give them about 3 minutes then add the clams, then the shrimp. When the clams open and the shrimp are pink and start to curl it is showtime.

Cut the onions in half, clean the artichokes and remove the chokes. Prepare some melted butter, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, spice rubs for dipping, and you are ready to party. We served 12 easily and it was a big hit. The veggies soak up the spices and the seafood soaks up the flavor of the veggies. The sausages are always the big hit in the dish. It is outstanding and a great dinner on the deck.

Canada Pics

2008-07-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

A few more pics from our road trip through British Columbia and Alberta, Canada - Great food in Canada - definitely a European influence wherever we ate - ay! The grizzly bears were the highlight of the trip - amazing animals. What beauty and the air was so clean and fresh - what a place.

Summer Fun in Canada

2008-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from a fabulous road trip through the Canadian Rockies - well after exploring we realize this is an endless venture and we barely scratched the surface. We spent three days and two nights in the Okanagan specifically Kelowna and three days and two nights in Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Our itinerary was graciously set up by my good friend and Canadian, Patrick Murphy. While in Kelowna we stayed at the Manteo Resort. Great place - extremely family oriented with nice suites, kitchenettes, friendly, sandy beach, two pools one with a great water slide/tube which the kids loved, and a playground. Babysitting services are provided, so Mom and Dad can escape right next door at the Eldorado Hotel for a wonderful dinner on the boardwalk.

Kelowna and Okanagan Valley is the orchard and winery of Canada. It is unbelievably beautiful and fertile. Cherries, peaches, apricots and wine!!!! We sampled several while in Canada and instantly became hooked. Our favorite was the 2005 Private Reserve Gewürztraminer. It was light and not overly syrupy like some Gewürztraminers - very crisp and refreshing. We came to find virtually every nice hotel and restaurant we came across featured it. The best Okanagan red we tried was the Blasted Church Cabernet Sauvignon Revered Series 2006. I had this with a delicious venison tenderloin while at the Fairmont Hotel at Lake Louise.

After our stay in the Okanagan we headed up through the Canadian Rockies and over Kicking Horse Pass to Lake Louise. This is one of the most stunning places I have ever been! Absolutely breathtaking and indescribable. Glacier fed, turquoise streams and lakes, surrounded by cathedral peaks covered with thick forests and then this 5 star hotel set right in the middle of it all. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel ranks right up there in terms of one of the best hotels in the world. Originally built in 1893 the hotel has undergone many renovations, reconstructions, fires, well you get the picture. It's most recent renovation took place last year and it is exceptionally well done. Our room had a perfect view of the lake, mountains, and glacier.

While at Lake Louise we enjoyed a hike around the lake, the gondola ride whereon we saw three grizzly bears in the meadow below us, and a fantastic fondue dinner - and of course some more wines - at the Walliser Stube restaurant. After cheese fondue and then the venison tenderloin and of course some German speatzle, it was time for Tobblerone chocolate fondue. Ok - we indulged - we had a sitter and it was just Heather and I. Fantastic food, wine, service, accommodations, and scenery that is beyond belief.

My mom visited the resort in the late 50s and was stunned by my photos and the reduction in the size of the glacier - so for all you folks who don't think global warming is not real.....well the pics tell the tale. Today, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is recognized globally for progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism.

Please check the various websites listed on this blog for more information on the hotels and wines. I highly recommend a visit here to escape the Arizona summers. Fly into Calgary and its about a 2 hours incredibly scenic drive. Enjoy!

4th of July

2008-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

4th of July is my favorite holiday - family, parades, fireworks, red, white, and blue, and barbecue. This week’s blog will feature some of my favorite aspects of this wonderful day.

I’ve been fortunate to spend most of the 4th of July’s of this decade in Couer d’Alene, Idaho – it is like heaven here in July. Coming from Phoenix – it is green, cool air, and water. Need I say more? What I love about this day is everyone is looking forward to the day. 4th of July is great because you don’t have to buy any gifts – so no shopping, gift wrapping, or shipping. No matter what day of the week it falls on it is like the best Saturday you could imagine. No matter what your religious, ethnic, or political background – we are all Americans – at least for that day.

I will start the day with a great cup of coffee on the deck and watch the lake and my guests (usually a house full) come alive. 4th of July prompts an all-American breakfast – pancakes, eggs, Canadian bacon, hash browns, toast, and OJ. How can you go wrong?

Once everyone is well fed we have to rush into town to get our spot along the parade route which starts at 11am. The whole county is there to watch a parade of high school bands, pretty girls on horses, baton twirlers, political candidates usually running for County Recorder or Justice of the Peace sitting in a convertible with a pretty girl clad in sequins waving at the crowd – most of whom she probably knows. Well you get the picture – it’s everything that is great yet simple about America. The parade runs about an hour and with the sun bright and air moist you definitely work up an appetite.

We round everyone up and do our best to navigate the fastest route out of town. It’s back to the house to get everyone ready for an afternoon on the lawn, deck and beach. Bocce, washers, naps on the chaise loungers, billiards in the Rec Room with a movie or game going, a great book on an Adirondack chair, or just a swim in the lake, everyone finds their corner and activity for the afternoon. I focus on the food and getting the barbecue going.

Burgers, brats, potato salad, beer and red,white and blue Taramisu – ok not totally American but you have to like the red, white and blue aspect! The smell of the Kingford charcoals smoldering in the Weber is one of the best smells – it takes me back to my childhood and the same smell my Dad would originate from his Weber – most likely on a Saturday. As I cook, the tunes are cranked, and you hear the sounds of laughter and the kids and cousins playing. It is all idyllic.

The buffet is set – but it’s casual – paper plates, Dixie cups of cold beer or a glass of wine, and nothing pretentious – it’s 4th of July and no one wants to be stuck doing the dishes. Everyone sits where they can find a spot – again it’s a full house so there is no way everyone can sit around the big table on the deck. We eat, laugh, discuss politics, sports, the cost of a gallon of gas, or whatever the subject at hand happens to be. An ice cold watermelon awaits and sticky faces with watermelon juice dripping on swimsuits is par for the course.

The time between the barbecue and fireworks is followed by another round of games, another dip in the lake, or one more nap! As dusk descends everyone once again gathers after throwing on a sweater and grabbing another round of beverages its off to watch the incredible firework display over the lake. My three year old calls the fireworks - "firepit" but ultimately that is right where we end up for closing out the day with our friends the Murphy's who live next door. The hundreds of boats that were all quietly positioned on the water to watch the show now all spring away in the same direction like a swarm of fireflies - it is really something to see. A couple of smores over the firepit and a few more glasses of wine and before you know it we are solving the world's problems and reflecting on our wonderful day.

One by one our guests turn in but I am usually the lone survivor of the day. The embers slowly die down and another 4th of July is added to our family photo album.