The Frauenkirche in Dresden

Recently, an Australian friend of mine went on a worldwide tour and sent me back lots of his photos he thought I would enjoy. I was immediatly struck by the beauty of the Frauenkirche in Dresden but even more so by its' fascinating story! The baroque styled Lutheran church was originally finished in 1743, by George Bahr. The sandstone dome...

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detail shot or welcome home

Whats the first thing you see when you get home? If you have this condo (office?) in Carmel, CA, it just may be Ganesha, an Indian god. Why have an ordinary door knocker when you can have something extraordinary like this instead (and I am loving this green door)? A house may be about location, size and style but a home is in the detai...

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A spot to hang your hat

Don't we all wish for a little place to hang our hat and get away from it all? This charming dormer window in Paris looks to me to fit the bill. The ubiquitous geraniums in pots on a Juliet balcony really are so welcoming and homey. You know behind this facade is a little garret bedroom covered in toile de jouy with stacks of books and...

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Hanging around DC

I've been a bad blogger this week with only 1 post, so I'll make up for that here with 2 photos I took this week. The first is a beautiful garden, ready for fall, in Cleveland Park. This quaint Victorian house is up on a little hill and I love how the plants get gradually taller (and more colorful) as they work their way up the embankment....

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Playing with Architecture

Where do you stand on playing with architecture; Akin to playing with fire? I don't mean quite the level of playfulness of Disney, but more like this little townhouse I came across in San Francisco. A plain white stucco house but with some amazingly FUN grillwork; I love the use of color and playful shapes here. You know whoever lives here...

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An evening at the Kennedy Center

Last night at the Kennedy Center, I couldn't help but think how the building has grown on me in the last 8 years since I've moved to DC. When I moved here I thought it was the most hideous building in Washington, but now, I sorta like it! I've ALWAYS loved these Lobmeyr fixtures in the opera house, above. They look like jewelry in a box...

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Cypress Inn, Carmel

After leaving San Francisco, my next stop was Carmel where I spent the majority of my vacation. Yes, this is the week of hotels at ArchitectDesign!I stayed at the Cypress Inn, one of the better known hotels in Carmel, partly owned by singer & actress Doris Day. The board-formed concrete building dates from 1929 but has had many lives,...

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Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco

While in San Francisco, another hotel I stayed in was the legendary Sir Francis Drake, right off Union Square Park, seen above; a fantastic central location only blocks from the Fairmont. Opened in 1928, the hotel saw its heyday up till WWII when it was used primarily by the military for army housing. The Drake has always been known as...

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The Fairmont, San Francisco

While in California earlier this summer, one of the hotels I stayed in in San Francisco was the beautiful and historic Fairmont. Located at the top of Nob Hill, a VERY tall hill, it requires a little bit of work on foot (trust me). However, once there, the climb was worthwhile with spectacular views in every direction. The lobby is one...

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