Boating in Style

For the true yachtsman newer is not necessarily better, but a well built boat makes the ride that much sweeter. Harbors from Nantucket to Greece are overly filled with what I love to call "Plastic Fantastic" Overly large yachts built for looks instead of craftsmanship, but search a little harder and you will find the real Diamonds of the sea. Here are two stories; one of an older boat who was given a gentle face lift and another of a new boat that was built with love. Enjoy and happy sailing!!

Juno

Juno is a 65 ft schooner built in Martha's Vineyard by famed boat builders Nat Benjamin and Ross Gannon for a  Manhattan couple. "Purists" as they call themselves, what you won't see is a boat made out of fiberglass or metal. Instead, their boats are made with wood imported from South America and teak from the Far East. All of the metal fastenings,gears and rivets are made in America and whenever possible they buy local.
 They are a dying breed of boat builders that are schooled in the technique of handcrafted boats.  

Northwind II

Built in 1966 this yacht has been loved by a Greek shipping family since purchase in 1970. This 150 ft yacht was made by hand "Burmese-teak paneling banded with 22K gold, are the work of Maison Jansen, the august French decorating firm that left its sumptuous stamp on the Kennedy White House and the Shah of Iran’s Niavaran Palace before closing up shop in the ’80s." AD
Designed by Camper & Nicholsons and built in Gosport, England this company continues to be one of the leading yacht builders in the world. The owners returned the yacht to Camper & Nicholsons in 2006 for much needed restoration work, but demanded the charm remain the same. When the company suggested modern updates, such as satellite and telecommunication devices  the owner said he did not want to see a single piece of equipment calling it "a tacky status symboI." So, he came up with an idea to have C&N camouflage the equipment inside a former exhaust funnel and rebuild some of the structure around it in fiberglass. Turns out fiberglass is conductive to radio waves and C&N now uses this idea as an option on many of their yachts. The owners have said this boat lives between   England, Greece and "where she may go" but by no means is this a vessel for fancy parties or weekends in Monaco. Instead, they fill it with their children, grand children and friends. Sounds perfect!

This wall paper was copied from the original wall covering installed in 1966.

THE DESIGNER NEEDS A DAY OFF, DEARS!!!

Mariah Carey's closet


So, I am in the middle of a VERY crazy week. I am leaving you in great hands with Feng Shui Consultant Kathleen Ho. She happens to also manage The Summer House and will open many doors if you listen to her words of wisdom. Please click below to see her blog for the day. ENJOY!!!!! 

http://www.intuitivedesigns.blogspot.com

Tree Top Paradise

kent and britta lindvall- Tree Hotel Sweden

Who hasn't wanted a tree house and one time or another. I never had one growing up, but there was one on  my grandparents farm that was deliciously high in the sky. It has since falling down, only reminding me that they are dangerous, but fun. Tree houses for adults started making a huge splash about 10 years ago and have only improved with time. Take a look at these lovely's and see if it inspires you to live in the trees!

Cloggies uk

unknown

livbit

unknown

national geographic

O2 Sustainability Tree Houses- Minneapolis

ridetheravedesigns

robert harvey oshatz- portland

Tree-House-Design-at-Fantasy-Forest-2

cedar creek treehouse hotel- mt rainier

Not a real tree house, but a house that looks like a tree.

sweden- ooh.com

Inside a tree house

kent and britta lindvall- Tree Hotel Sweden

Landscape Architects...Worth Every Penny

I had a client who bought a painting from me a year ago and as I was placing it in her house she told me that her and husband bought land and were building a house. I said "Make sure you get a landscape architect in there first." She said it was too expensive and they would landscape at the end. I drove by the contruction a few days ago and every tree had been cut down to make room for bulldozers. They would soon have a house, but they had lost all the charm of the scenery. I'm an antique house kinda gal, so building something from scratch would never occur to me. However, so many people do and in the process make SO many huge mistakes my chopping down things that do not need to go. 

  Today, is about landscape architects and some of their amazing projects. I decided to focus on three areas of the US: Northeast, Southern California and Seattle. The styles are vastly different in these regions, but all these architects bring something unique and gorgeous to the table. Enjoy!!

James Doyle Design Associates- Greenwich CT.
His gardens are AMAZING!! This is much more english garden style then something more modern, but stunning all the same. The pictures below are of a house in Greenwich  called Old Mill Farm and honestly it looks like it belongs in the English country side. I can't image having this as my backyard.

  

 Allworth Design- Seattle, WA. I love Seattle! It's organic and everything is so closely tied to nature. These projects by Allworth are really just cool.

              

L.A. Baby! Mark David Levine Design Group is responsible for these over the top designs. They are gorgeous, big, lush and have a sense of fantasy. It's perfect for California.

This was done by Haugen/Zohar Oslo Norway. They are known for their "usable" sculptures in public parks and buildings. This is for kids.

Stone artist and landscaper Thea Alvin. A Vermont based artist, she travels all over the world to create stone art. It's SO cool. I am sure I will get some "This looks like Andy Goldsworthy" Yes, except besides to pieces Goldsworthy is commissioned to make, his true art is only to last as long as the elements of nature allow. Thea Alvin builds to last. 

Thea Alvin - However, THIS is more Goldsworthy like.