Market Monday: Kate Morton & William Morris

"Wars make history seem deceptively simple.  They provide clear turning points, easy distinctions: before and after, winner and loser, right and wrong.  True history, the past, is not like that.  It isn't flat or linear.  It has no outline.  It is slippery, like liquid; infinite and unknowable, like space.  And it is changeable: just when you think you see a pattern, perspective shifts, an alternative versions proffered, a long forgotten memory resurfaces."

 Kate Morton is the brilliant author of this quote.  I just finished reading her book, The House at Riverton, and I loved this paragraph for a couple of reasons.  First, it summed up succinctly the way I've felt about  history in just a few lines.  Second, the same can be said about design.  It seems linear until you think about what determines a trend.  Following the outline of one style to the next you can see how what is happening in the world has everything to do with how we choose to adorn ourselves, our homes.  Studying history in conjunction with my love for art and design gives me little thrills as I see the one affected by the other.  The Victorian opulence being followed by the Arts and Crafts is the example I'm thinking of today and Kate Morton's books have a way of weaving beautiful stories including details of the architecture and details from the lifestyle that make history really come to life for me. This particular novel was a perfect choice because it is set in time as everything was shifting from the very conventional to the more free spirited movement.

So while the Victorian has never been one of my very favorites in terms of style, I can appreciate all that hand crafted detail and the pretty feminine lines. I've spent some time the last couple of weeks studying it so that I can better understand the Arts and Crafts movement since I'm working on a home being built in that style.
  
Which leads me to my second feature: William Morris.  He was a big player in the movement from Victorian to Arts and Crafts.  {I'll be talking more about this later.}

I especially love the paper products with his patterns on them.

{source source source}

#11 - Terra Numa {St. George Parade of Homes 2011}

Big surprise that Kayenta's home was my favorite this year. {if you aren't catching the sarcasm, this statement is drizzled in it}  I love Kayenta for a lot of reasons.  The landscaping is kept at bare minimum, {I believe grass is outlawed} so that the homes blend into the landscape. Plus, the Coyote Art Village is a great place to spend the afternoon with art galleries, photography, and other shops.

While we were there an art festival was going on and I came home with some lavender spice that I can't wait to use.

The floor plan was what sold me on this house. 

{built by J2 Construction/design by Gulch Design Group. above image borrowed from here.}

While I might add a bit more pattern here and there, change a painting or two, the design and color scheme is right along what I consider very livable and could imagine living in this home and being very comfortable.  I would love the proximity to all the great hiking, biking, and general outdoor fun.  Being out there surrounded by so much natural beauty, my obsessive compulsive photography would probably reach new heights of neurotic.

The doors in the master suite are on tracks to slide back out of the way and become just another beautiful architectural detail.

Not pictured is the great fireplace, built in book shelves and fire pit outside the huge windows.

LOVE the gray and white stripe!

When can I move in?

#9 - Streams of Flowing Water {St. George Parade of Homes 2011}

Setting out to do the parade in one day we knew we couldn't see all 26 homes featured so we picked a few from the catalog in addition to the homes we already knew we wanted to see.  #9 was on the short list but we were starting to think about dinner {sushi!!} and almost skipped it until I ran into a friend who strongly suggested we make time to see it. And I'm so glad we did.  As we walked in the gorgeous front door the sun was hitting the chandelier {above} sending prisms of light sparkling through the living room.  The jewel toned color scheme was subtly mixed in throughout the home and the unexpected details like plexi glass stair rails made this home really stand out to me. 

"This villa exudes peace and relaxation, allowing one to take in one of nature’s most majestic and cataclysmic scenes. Ancient fields of molten lava are juxtaposed amongst the angular masses of pillars, planes and spires." Split Rock Home Information

 One of the things I love about the popular architecture style in St. George is bringing nature inside.  This home had so many applications of this, I noticed water was part of each room design with windows opening up to natural pools and creative bathrooms.  The bathrooms were amazing. 

I'll feature my favorite home next!

St. George Parade of Homes 2011

I am so {SO!} excited about this weekend.  I'm going home to enjoy some incredible desert winter weather and join the crowds of people at the St. George Parade of Homes.

This has been one of my favorite events in St. George and I'm looking forward to seeing my friends who have homes in the show this year, like the home above by AJ Construction.  Also looking forward to seeing designs by Robert McArthur and Alice Lane down there.

ski cabin

I know this is nuts but I have been loving this frigid cold weather.  I never thought I'd say that. {Ever. I'm a desert rat to the bone} and really, I wouldn't be sad if I woke up to spring tomorrow, but as seasons go I'm not struggling through the blah winter blues just yet.  Maybe the skiing and hiking and all kinds of winter things have kept it fun enough for me not to care too much? 

And cabins come with winter fun right?  Well, they should.  I've stayed in some sweet cabins over the years.  My favorites being the kind that are actually cabins, not giant mansions with a cabin theme.  The most outrageous 'cabin' I've stayed in was in Park City on the Canyons Ski Resort.  It could have eaten 10 normal cabins for breakfast.  Maybe the proper term for it would be chalet?  Equipped with a 'ski in' prep room it took the cake for pampered treatment.  A heated room with a snow floor allowing skiers to come in and out without having to put their gear on while standing outside in the cold.  It was rad, even if it was a bit much.

So I know I should remember where I first heard of the Seattle based firm Olson Kundig Architects but I can't.  I frequent their site often to check in on the latest. They came to mind today as I was thinking about cabins and snow fun because of a couple of their projects I've noticed in the past.  Check em out, it's always fun to dream.

As for my winter fun? I'm off to Alta's free ski this afternoon.  The life of a cheap ski bunny.

UDLA Designer Show House Fall Tour

I can't remember the first time I heard the name Robert McArthur,but it has always been synonymous with really great architecture.

It might have been when my friend Jenny lived across the street from his studio and I did some research on the architect who would dream up what he did to the old home he converted into something pretty spectacular. Or maybe it was when he renovated an old home on the route to my grandma's house and we watched as the home got some serious curb appeal and was featured later in a home show. 

So last year when the Designer Show House Fall Tour featured his personal home I was excited for the opportunity to see what he would do to his own space.
{above is the entry and below is a great home studio.}

Just his chair collection alone had me drooling. Bertoia, Eames...oh my.  Then the details around every corner had my mom and me going back through the rooms again just to make sure we got it all in.

This year is the fourth annual show and I've already scouted out what houses I want to see in my limited time tomorrow after work. Most definitely Summer Wood {5} and Maple Hills Place {8}

If you are in the area, stop by Noble House and get a couple tickets.  If you can't make it, I'm sure I'll post pictures later. You can also watch the video below from Studio 5 yesterday.

The really great thing about this show beside the talent poured into each home is the proceeds go to Circle the Wagon, a non profit organization supporting people in the aftermath of a violent crime.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

{images borrowed from RGM website, go there to see more.}