Just Another Candelaria Design Weekend

Ok I can pack more into a weekend than most….at least that’s what I have been told. This weekend is no exception….its only Sunday morning so technically the weekend is just a little half over. I wonder what I can accomplish today???

So starting with Friday we did our first staff Candelaria Design Home Tour. Basically, this consists of my staff and I touring three or four projects in different points in the process. From a home in framing to a home completely furnished and tricked out! Its fun to see the whole process of construction in just a few hours. It’s even more fun to hear the comments from our clients now living and experiencing the finished Candelaria Design product.

I feel it is so important for my team, who all work on these homes, to experience the finished product – a few pictures do not do them justice. Spending time exploring the spaces, details, gardens, all add to their subconscious knowledge and brain data base. We work as a team and so its great to have this visual base to use when we design and brainstorm.

 Now these homes are either under construction or just recently completed and have not been professionally shot yet so you are getting a sneak peek here of what we have coming!

This year we started our tour with a Spanish Colonial home we just completed in Silverleaf Arcadia that we collaborated with my wife, Isabel, and her staff from Earth and Images who orchestrated the interior design, landscape by Berghoff Design. Great job by my Project Manager, Damon Wake who you will read about later in an upcoming blog. Now this may be Spanish Colonial on the outside but the interior epitomizes the hot Transitional style with clean lines and fresh interiors. Stay tuned for a paella party debut in May with guests including the editors from LUXE Magazine and Scottsdale Modern Luxury and our film crew from Sketch for an episode in Season 3.

 

Our second home will most definitely be another marquis residence in our portfolio. This home was created with the dream team of interior design by Vallone Design, landscape by Berghoff Design, and built by Schultz Development. This project was the last collaboration between me and Project Architect, Jeff Kramer, who retired a couple years ago but continues to consult on all of our projects! Rural Mediterranean in inspiration this home captures the precise lifestyle of the homeowners in how the entertain, cook, work and garden. I cannot wait to share more of this comfortable yet sophisticated home in Paradise Valley.

Our third home is a Paradise Valley, hillside Transitional Contemporary home with a glamourous twist that makes you think Greta Garbo or Frank Sinatra might be right around any corner as you explore the home. This home spans the property including a wash with a water feature bridge that connects to a stunning Guest House. Under the house is a car collectors dream garage. The home was decorated and appointed by the the client’s nephew, San Francisco Interior Designer, Matt Murphy, of the Matt Murphy Studio with the home constructed by GM Hunt Builders.

We finished journey with The Village at Mountain Shadows and a wonderful wine and cheese tour put on by the builder/developer Rod and Kim Cullum of Cullum Homes. The 40 contemporary patio homes are coming along and the grand opening gala is set for April 27^th! I cannot wait for the public to see the two model homes one of which features a basement Car Bar / Home Theater! The interiors by Anita Lang of IMI Design will blow you away!

Ok so I hope you enjoyed a sneak peek at our Candelaria Design Staff Home Tour! Stay tuned to see more of these homes on our website, publications and on our show Sketch on The Design Network.

So we are still on Friday and now it was time to transition to our Candelaria Design Tour Italy Pre-Trip dinner at Vivo! This is always fun for me and my travelers. It gives everyone a chance to meet, break the ice, and go ever the details of the trip. This dinner was for our June travelers where our trip will have its grand finale’ at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como. I have travelers coming from Philadelphia, Long Beach, Coeur d’Alene , Idaho, Santa Monica, Las Vegas and of course Scottsdale – 14 travelers in all with several first time travelers to Europe! What an enjoyable evening on the patio, great food, and the start of new friendships. Our 2016 June and September trips are SOLD OUT! So get ready for our September 2017 Tour which will have an incredible finish in Venice!

Now onto Saturday! How about a birthday paella dinner for 20 including our dear friend and Italy traveler (her third trip upcoming) on the new al fresca patio at our Casa Candelaria! Isabel thought we should freshen up the patio so in 5 days Jeff Berghoff and his crew came in and gave our patio a complete makeover! Top it off with some bistro lights and pole coordinated by builder, Chris Johnson, and our personal lighting designer and friend, Walter Spitz, of Creative Designs in Lighting and wah-la we had a new Italian patio and a party!

The hit of this dinner was my leftover ham and cannellini bean soup! Recipe forthcoming – you definitely want to make this. I mage a giant soup terrine full and it was empty within minutes.

What a wonderful evening celebrating our friend and Italy traveler, Gicela Dulcich’s, birthday with many of the travelers who joined her on her last trip! 

Finish with a cigar and a nightcap under the lemon tree. This was the perfect way to christen our new patio.

So that get’s me through Saturday!  Now it’s Sunday – nothing like leftover Paella with a couple fried eggs over the top! How are you all spending your Sunday???? Wishing you all a fantastic April! We have some more exciting travels, projects, and events forthcoming so stay tuned.