best residential architect
Today’s Room of the Week comes with a special shout out and yet one more reason to be Arkansas proud: local firm Marlon Blackwell Architect was just selected as the nation’s top residential firm of the year by Residential Architect magazine!
This comes as no surprise to us, as we’ve followed Blackwell, head of the architecture department in the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas, and the work of his Fayetteville-based firm for years. And we published his own home, which you can read about here.
That’s where today’s Room of the Week is from, the open family room in the Blackwell’s home, with kitchen/dining at one end
and a sleek library on the other
Well deserved kudos to this Arkansas talent!
At Home with Architecture 9.30.09
Did you know that the University of Arkansas School of Architecture hosts lectures with notable architects from around the globe? I try to attend as many as I can, it’s like a mini-trip to see new work from all over the world.
This photo is of a striking new eco-spa in Utah designed by Phoenix-based architect Wendell Burnette, who will be speaking at the U of A tomorrow night at 5:30. For full details:
http://architecture.uark.edu/647.php
And if you can’t make it tomorrow night, check out the full series:
http://architecture.uark.edu/374.php
Hope to see you there-
At Home Room of the Week 10.6.09
At Home Hits the Runway 11.5.09
This master bedroom (by Tobi Fairley and featured in our March 2009 issue), with its gold hues, ornate light fixture and luxurious wall coverings and fabrics, called for a runway look that screamed “look at me.” We found what we were looking for in this corset dress by Richard Nicoll. Its gold velvet panels and even a tiny arch at the bottom (like the arched doorway) make it the runway equivalent of this gorgeous 24-karat bedroom. Add some gold jewelry and strappy high heels–and a coat to ward off a winter chill–and people will think you’ve acquired the Midas touch.
Friday Favorites 1.15.10
This post from a Little Rock blogger keys in on the trend for sprucing up a space with color and texture–a mini makeover rather than a full on reno. She went for yellow and blue/green too, which are top picks for 2010.
highlights a designer whose old world style has fresh appeal–quality, personality and a mix of antiques/new are all top trends.
Lots of ideas for combining high tech with good looks in this post from Things that Inspire.
A big trend is to add little personalized details and, if you like glamour, what better way to do that than with full-on silver leafed furniture? Since mirrored pieces tend to be more expensive, this DIY blog post fits the bill.
Check out this interview (scroll down and click play) with Academy Award-nominated Beth Rubino, who designed the beautiful homes in “Something’s Gotta Give” and, more recently, “It’s Complicated.” Her designs represent fresh takes on traditional decor. Very uplifting and light-filled too, both trends.
At Home Friday Favorites 2.19.10
Publisher Kelly Fraiser turned to I’m An Organizing Junkie while remodeling. “We are doing a minor remodel in our kitchen and found some great tips to help get it organized. If I had to think about keeping or tossing, I tossed. It’s great to know what’s actually in my cabinets. I had no idea I had a terracotta roasting pot.”
It’s not surprising acrylic colored pencil holders from Mirror Mirror caught art director Mandy Keener’s eye. “This is the perfect answer to my color therapy!” she says.
Paulette Pearson says, “Little Brown Pen is the product of a woman who loves France and photographs it obsessively. It’s also inspiration for anyone (like me) who loves French-inspired decor and design.”
Former Domino editor Deborah Needleman’s home, featured on Decor 8, tickled Laura LaRue’s fancy. Laura says, “Beautiful and inspiring! I love this!“
Katie Rawlings found this blog, Tater Tots and Jello, on a recent snow day. “Its craft ideas are adorable,” she says. “I have several lamp shades that are in serious need of an update.”
Kathy Condrey is in love with this empire chandelier (featured on Tobi Fairley’s blog). Can you blame her?
Room of the Week 5.25.10
I’m an avowed armchair traveler, and for this upcoming long weekend, here’s one seat I’d be glad to occupy and plan my next projects or trips.
It’s at the beautiful Bella Vista lakehouse of architect Chip Chambers and his wife Susan, which we features last July in our Waterfront Homes issue. With it’s classic styling and amazing view, it’s one of my favorite lake houses. And, that beautiful wooden boat would be ideal for some Memorial Day lake cruising.
Hankering for some lakefront time now? Our June issue, full of waterfront homes, should be in your mail box and on newsstand soon. Just so you can do some armchair traveling of your own.
A Blogger Shares Favorite Memories & Photos From Her Trip To France
Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. And imagine you are strolling, cafe latte in hand, along the River Seine in France. Not a care in the world, just the knowledge that you are in one of the most romantic, beautiful places on Earth. Kasey Buick of Lola B’s One Girl Talks recently did just that, and she was kind enough to share with At Home some favorite moments from her journeys. Makes us want to pack up and book a flight immediately, how about you? Tell us, what place in all the world brings you the most joy?
Thank you, Kasey, for letting us in on your little adventure.
Hello.
My name is kasey and i am so excited to have been asked here to guest post and
write a bit about my trip to France. You see…..i had been dreaming about travelling to
France for a long time. I’m not a privileged type of girl…i had to wait and save…..
oh….
and pretty much beg my husband to take a week off of work so that i wouldn’t have to
drag my children with me.
Can you imagine….waiting your entire life to go to you dream place….then having to bring
the children?
I think not.
Now…don’t get me wrong….i love.love.love my babies….but i much rather spend the week
in France with one of my best girlfriends.
So i did.
I had dreamed about this trip for years…..and so when i stepped off the plane…
i knew i wanted to take in every single breath….every sound….i wanted to taste
what the French tasted and so of course….i turned French girl while there.
Hello my name is Kasey….i am a french girl.
There really is so much to see in Paris….it can be overwhelming. My friend Kim and i decided we really
did not need to hit every museum….or peruse every church. We just wanted to envelope ourselves
with the fact that we were there and just walked.
Of course we wanted to see Le Tour Eiffel….and we did. I must say that the most
gorgeous view of it was from the top of Sacre Cour. We had to climb over three
hundred little teeeny tiiiiny stairs just to get to the top but it was worth it.
The view…….amazing.
We tried new foods….we drank our Caffe creme’s….we of course….had plenty of wine.
The food was not only beautiful….but the one think i sit back and remember is
how just sitting down for a meal is an experience in itself.
Eating is an activity.
You sit and linger….chit chat…..relax.
We had to remind ourselves that we were not in a hurry…we had nowhere to go….
and to take it all in.
Being in the moment.
Then having another glass of wine {or three}.
We spent three days in Paris then climbed on a train and headed south to the
beautiful town of St. Remy.
We perused a darling brocante …ate our lunch next to a river…
and just enjoyed meandering the south.
I loved seeing the fashion. I took so many photographs of people…
and even brought home this photo of Jean-Pierre.
I keep him in a little frame on my nightstand.
Of course my husband doesn’t understand….so i promised i wouldn’t
nag him about his nail biting habit anymore.
Imagine walking street after street and seeing beautiful flower shops on every
corner….the sights..the smells. I love how the Parisians would walk everywhere and
shop for what they needed that very day.
Truly supporting the independants.
Thank you for letting me take through a bit of my adventure to France in the spring.
You can read more about my trip over at the place where i write on a daily basis…{here}..
and till we meet again…..
au revoir.
xo
At Home Friday Favorites 6.4.10
From our editor, Diane Carroll:
A lovely post from Things That Inspire, highlighting Southern vernacular
architecture. This wonderful quote, from the architecture firm Bates Corkern
Studio, so eloquently sums up the power of home:
“We dwell in our homes and our homes dwell in us. It lingers with us when we
leave. Beckons when we are weary. It is the place that gives us comfort and
ease. Home is the one place where we can simply be. Where we can find our
way in the dark. Where we can identify the sounds of our children’s feet on
the floorboards, trace the same patch of sunlight across the dining room
wall – from spring through the coming winter.”
(Inspirational Architects: Bates Corkern Studio from Things That Inspire)
“I love this soothing shade of blue for a bedroom,” says Katie Rawlings, account executive. “It is so calming, which we all need at the end of the day in our place of rest!” (“Welcome to our Blog” from Shayla Copas Interiors)
Associate editor Paulette Pearson says, “This is the epitome of summer to me: sweet lemonade and alfresco dining, and a sprawling field of green grass.” (Sur La Table from The Bright Side Project)
