Sunday, May 24, 2009

Back in the World

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A spectacular two-week trip to Turkey has been refreshing and productive - the craftsmanship and devotion expressed through its architecture, cuisine and handmade wares were truly inspiring.

The trip began in the magnificent madness of Istanbul, progressing east through arid cave towns and underground cities and then south to the gorgeous coastal town of Kas where the food, blossoming bougainvilleas and abundance of textile wares were utterly beguiling. The hand painted tiles, woven blankets, hammam towels, kilims, rugs, lanterns and ceramic arts were perfect distillations of context, even when reproduced for a traveller's benefit.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Bermuda House 1

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Design consultation for a home in Bermuda is commencing - an H shaped house with vaulted ceilings, views through a terrace toward palm trees and pool... a white canvas. Currently considering lightweight and airy fabrics, sculptural swiveling chairs such as Patricia Urquiola's Fjord chair with hewn pebble-shaped ottomans, crisp white bedding linens, overhead fans, and stone to clad the fireplace.

Cambridge Garden 1

A garden is to be designed for a little house in Cambridge Ontario. The garden is being composed as a series of rooms, each mysterious to the other, with graduated fragrances, glimpses, moments. It is important to the owner to experience a sense of adventure within the garden. The garden must anticipate a small writer's cabin, kitchen garden, places to entertain, and of course a generous table for meals al fresco. The garden falls down a hill toward the end; we will need to see whether a small grove of birch trees would thrive there. Or perhaps a tiny orchard.