Marching through March

MC with Laurie and Jon Hunter - Getting ready for Fight Night

What a busy March! Wow – I love it.

Thanks to all of those who made it out to watch my third performance of the National Anthem at the Giants/Indians game at Scottsdale Stadium. Nothing like having the mic go out on you during the first stanza but having the entire crowd rise up and sing along – a very special moment for sure.

So as always, we are busy not only with our clients and projects but with our community projects and events. I want to send a shout out and a congratulations to two of my good friends, Jerry Meek of Desert Star Construction and fellow ARA architect, Brent Kendle, both who were inducted into the Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine Master’s of the Southwest class of 2017 this month. I am proud to have them join me as I was inducted in 2005 and it is a real honor to be a part of this elite class of Masters of the Southwest!

Top - Jerry Meek and MC, Bottom - Brent Kendle and MC

MC Photo from my 2005 Master of the Southwest

We then were featured on AZ Family Channel 3 for the second time this year as they showcased our French Transitional estate in Paradise Valley currently listed by realtor Tracy Fitzgerald. https://tracy-fitzgerald.luxuryrealestate.com

Realtor Tracy Fitzgerald with AZ Family 3 and MC

Then a week later on March 15th we finally were allowed to announce our involvement as the architect for this year’s HGTV Smart Home located right here in Scottsdale. What an honor to be a part of this team along with local builder, Jim Audiss of Eagle luxury Properties. http://eagleluxuryproperties.com and Interior Designer, Tiffany Brooks, http://www.tiffanybrooksinteriors.com Our Project Manager, Damon Wake, worked night and day to get the design completed and permitted and did so in 2 months – so yes we can design a home in just 60 days…..when the client gives us a program and lets us do our job! Stay tuned on April 18th for the premiere of the design and construction on the DIY Network at 8pm AZ Time.

MC with builder, Jim Audiss, designer, Tiffany Brooks and Project Manager, Damon Wake

Fight Night Founder Jimmy Walker

Then it was off to Fight Night which is always a wonderful event marvelously orchestrated by the amazing Jimmy Walker. Such a magical evening always attended and supported by many of our clients and friends. http://www.celebrityfightnight.org

The Murphy Family with Is and MC

Italian Fashion Designer, Stephano Ricci with MC at Fight Night

MC, Is with good friends and Italy / Spain Travelers Erika and Russell Dickey

Clients and friends, Patricia and Fernando Iacona with Is and MC

Now looking ahead, we have some marvelous community service projects we are involved in. On March 31st we will be hosting a table at the Ryan’s House Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore. We are currently working with Taylor More in adding a Candelaria Design Storage Room to their beautiful facility located in Central Phoenix. They currently have to use one of their bedrooms for storage – a room that could be used for one of the many children and families who could use this space. Their waiting list is long and this storage room addition will make a big difference. Stay tuned for more on how we can get this done! 

We need to make this a bedroom again - and build Ryan House a new Storage Room!

Help us build the Ryan House Storage Room right off this far corner and free up a bedroom!

On April 7th my wife Isabel and I along with builders and our good friends, Rod and Kim Cullum, will host the BluePrints and Blue Jeans fund raiser for the Habitat for Humanity right at our Village of Mountain Shadows Project in Paradise Valley. Tickets are available now for this fun event where Isabel and I will be preparing and serving our signature paella right there in the kitchen! Please come out and support this amazing organization who does so much for so many in our community. http://habitatcaz.org/news-and-events/events/

Builder / Developer Rod Cullum and my Associate, Vivian Ayala at The Village at Mountain Shadows

Finally, on April 28th Isabel and I will be the honorary hosts of this year’s Gigi’s Playhouse Gala at Wingate Ranch in Scottsdale! We are so proud to be a part of this organization and have been a part of the design and creation of Gigi’s Playhouse. Orchestrated and created by our good friend and client, Jennifer Gage, Gigi’s Playhouse is a one-of-a-kind achievement center for individuals with down syndrome and their families providing therapeutic and educational programs right here in Scottsdale, AZ. This Gala will be a total blast and I invite you all to come and have a fun evening with us! https://gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix/gala/

Gigi's Playhouse Phoenix Founder, Jennifer Gage with MC & Is at the Gigi's Gala

Ok – meanwhile we are drawing away as many of you know. We are breaking ground on two beautiful homes in Paradise Valley and work continues on many others. We have some very cool projects on the boards too so get ready for more from Candelaria Design.

Two Candelaria Design Homes in Fulton Ranch, Chandler

Concept sketch for a new Arcadia Kitchen

Concept elevation for a new hillside home in Silverleaf

Our first Candelaria Design Tour Spain is SOLD OUT but we do have some room for some travelers for our September 2017 Tour Italy. This trip will be amazing and we will be finishing in Venice so you do not want to miss this!

Ok Im done blogging – so it’s back to the board to create some more!!!

Celebrating 35 Years in Architecture

Celebrating 35 years in Architecture!

Happy Saturday everyone!

A couple quick reminders. First, don’t forget to catch my singing of the National Anthem this coming Monday, March 6th at 1pm at Scottsdale Giants Stadium in Old Town. http://charros.com/spring-training-baseball/ I’m looking forward to singing for the third time. I am really looking forward to this third time as the butterflys are a lot less! Let me know if you need any ticketsto the Scottsdale Charro Lodge for any of the games!

 Ok today is a very special day for me! 35 years ago, on March 4th, 1982 I started my first day of my career in architecture! We had a fun little celebration yesterday morning and I want to thank all of those who stopped by out of their busy days for a bite from our omelet bar accompanied by a Bloody Mary or mimosa!

So 35 years….I remember that first day like it was yesterday. I was 21 years old and had been working at Schuff Steel as a steel detailer drafting billboards. In fact, I did detail the largest billboard in the country at Anaheim Stadium in California. But my billboard detailing career was short lived as they put a moratorium on billboards and I was out of a job in the middle of the 1982 recession. So I was on the streets, recently married, trying to get enough funds to get back to architecture school at ASU. Things weren’t looking too go until I saw an ad in the paper for a draftsman position at the firm of George W. Christensen and Associates.

My mentor, the late George W. Christensen, and I at our Enchantment Resort circa 1987

I found my way to the old Lon Megargeehttp://www.a-1beerprints.com/HTML/Lon%20Megargee.html

designed office on the southwest corner of 24th Street and Campbell where George Christensen and his crew had their offices. I really wanted this job as George was an associate professor at the school of architecture at ASU and so I knew this was the key to my future and a job I just had to get at all cost. I didn’t have much of a portfolio (other than billboards which I didn’t think was going to make a big impact) so as soon as the time and date of my interview was set I ran home and starting creating drawings from my architecture drafting books. I really didn’t know what I was drawing but I can tell you the drawings were well executed.

I got up early that big day and was greeted by Dianne Kleber who was running the front desk (running the office!) and she brought me into the conference room which is still one of my favorite spaces. What was a livingand dining room with a beautiful plaster fireplace with of course a Lon Megargee painting above. Of course at that time I had no idea what I was doing or who Lon Magargee was but here I was sitting in front of these serious architects. I was 21, hair down to my shoulders, and hoping this would be my big break. I went through my drawings and then it came down to the question of what did I want to be paid? Luckily, I was really hungry and wanted this job, so I countered with, “Look, this is the place I want to be. I can draw anything and love working so I would be happy to come here, do whatever you need me to do or draw and I will gladly take whatever you want to pay me for the work!”

MC with the lovely Dianne Kleber at our 35 year celebration party!

The interview went well I thought and I followed up with a nicely written letter and I then waited by the phone – no email in those days! A week or so went by and then I got that call that changed my life forever. Dianne Kleber called and said well Markle Sparkle you got the job. When can you start….of course I said I can be right over! How special it was yesterday to have Dianne Kleber at our little celebration! What a special lady she is! We worked together at Christensen’s office and then she worked with my at my firm, Candelaria Design Associates for several years! I have been so blessed to have this lady in my life!

MC and Brian Cassidy, 2016

That first day was very memorable also. I was the last desk on the row of drafting tables in the studio. Dick Miller, Verner Wulf, John Williams, Brain Cassidy and then me – the new kid in the studio. First task was to set up my drafting table. I had no idea how to set up my mayline (rolling straight edge) and fiddled with it for a while when Brain turned to me and said, “let me help you Junior!” That nickname stuck for a number of years! Brian got me all set up and between him and Dick Miller, who ran the production of the office, they mentored me along and were instrumental in my development of becoming an architect.

The Van Houten Residence, Paradise Valley

Some of my first projects was the Van Houten Residence in Paradise Valley with Gerald and Jerry Meek of Desert Star Construction. http://desertstarconstruction.com and the Paradise Valley United Methodist Church sanctuary on Lincoln and then the Casa Blanca Phase 2 Patio Homes in 1984 which I was now the project manager and in charge of putting that project together. Then throw in the Enchantment Resort in Sedona where I was the project manager and the Castle Hot Springs project. My career was off and running.

Paradise Valley United Methodist Church

Casa Blanca Phase 2

Casa Blanca, Scottsdale

Enchantment Resort - Sedona

Enchantment Resort ~ Sedona

Well after 5 years I had moved up from “Junior” who was willing to work for anything to becoming George Christensen’s partner and the formation of CCBG which still exists today. During those years, I never made it back to ASU for architecture but at the savvy recommendation of George, I did go to the College of Business where I studied accounting, finance, business law and of course my favorite, marketing! I also then had the time under my belt to qualify to take the architecture registration exams which I did and received my license in 1992. So this September will mark 25 years as a registered architect.  Add another twelve years and George was ready to retire and so it was my time to head out on my own and form Candelaria Design in August of 1999.

So now some 35 years and some 100,800 hours later I have designed well over 1000 homes all across the country, Mexico and Canada. We are celebrating our 18th year of Candelaria Design and I am proud to have a team who was there at the beginning, namely my associate, Vivian Ayala, 16 years and Jeffrey Kramer, AIA some 17 years.

My first Candelaria Design Holiday Card, 1999

As we all know, nobody does everything on their own and I have been blessed to work with so many talented architects, amazing clients, and phenomenal builders and craftsman who have been so instrumental in bringing these inspirations and visions to reality. I was always fortunate to have designing and drawings as part of my soul and makeup and to see where it has taken me is beyond my wildest imagination. I had no idea when I wandered into that office on 24th Street where the journey would lead me. However, to remind me of that start at the old 24th Street Office, I did find a Lon Megargee print of the A-1 Beer painting the "Cowboy's Dream" that hangs in my home studio. George loved that print and so do I! 

The 2016 Class of Candelaria Design

Thank you to everyone who has been and continues to be a part of my journey, which despite the rumors, I have not retired and continue to work some 70 hours every week. I’m usually up at 4am drawing away, which I love more than anything, and then in meetings or out at jobsites during the day, and then cooking away for clients, friends, and family with my lovely bride, Isabel in the evening! Squeeze in our tours to Italy and now Spain and I can assure you I am far from retiring! Candelaria Design is doing great and we have put into place a wonderful way to keep it going for years and years with our buy-sell agreement which allows all of our Candelaria Design lifers to be a part of the ownership!

The Candelaria Design Management Team!

Here is to the next 1000 homes! Ok back to the boards I go!

Spring Training Time Is Here!

We are into the heart of the winter season! Spring Training is off and running and the streets and restaurants are filled!

Ok don’t forget to get your tickets for my singing of the National Anthem at Scottsdale Giants Stadium at 1pm March 6th http://charros.com/spring-training-baseball/ I’m looking forward to singing for the third time. The first time I sang in opera style, the second time I went country, and this time I’m going to give it another spin and style! Let me know if you need any tickets to the Scottsdale Charro Lodge for any of the games! Thanks again to Telluride Natural Stone for having built our Lodge and assembling and disassembling the Lodge every year!!!  

Last Wednesday I was honored to be part of a panel of design, real estate, and construction experts as we spoke on the means and methods for modernizing old world homes. We had an amazing turn out and some interesting statistics were noted by realtor Thomas O’Leary. The Phoenix/Scottsdale market is really undervalued and the number of homes/properties that are in need of remodeling or freshening up is enormous. As we said in our last blog we love remodel / addition projects and we have some amazing projects going.

Then last Thursday we had our September 2016 Tour Italy Post Trip Dinner at the Candelaria Design~IMI Design~Cullum Homes Village of Mountain Shadows. We had a such a great time reuniting with nearly all of our travelers! Seriously, these trips just get better and better and we are exciting to be adding our first Spain trip this coming June and our 15th Tour Italy this coming September finishing in Venice. We do have room for one couple and/or a single for the Spain trip and we have room for two couples for the September Italy trip! http://www.candelariadesign.com/tours

So we do squeeze in some architecture! Here is a peek of what Candelaria Design has under construction!!!

From traditional to contemporary, from Scottsdale to Montauk, Long Island, we have some very cool new builds and remodels underway! Right here in Scottsdale/Phoenix we have some very interesting projects underway. Probably one of our most unique and extreme projects going is the home we have under construction on the south slope of Camelback Mountain! This home is being built by BedBrock Developers http://www.bedbrock.com with the interiors by EST EST http://www.estestinc.com . This home is truly an engineering feat given the home is sighted on a 73% slope. Because Phoenix will only allow a 20% slope driveay the only way we could get to the pad site was to make half of the road a tunnel in order to get more length and height.  Our Candelaria Design Project Architect, Meredith Thomson, has been leading the way in getting this home out of the ground (rock)! If you drive down Camelback Road and look north you can’t help but see it emerging on the mountain.

We have also moved to Phase 2 of our Ranch compound project near Fountain Hills. Fellow Principal, Vivian Ayala and I have been working away on this project for some time. We have completed the horse arena and the connected barn is nearing completion. Next we connect all of this to the main residence which Schultz Development http://www.schultzdevelopment.org  broke ground on last week.  The main house will then connect to a guest house, which will connect to an indoor pool, 2 lane bowling alley, indoor pistol range, indoor racquetball court, and indoor gym. Oh, and don’t forget the indoor telescope observatory! Interiors are being done my wife, Isabel, and her crew at Earth and Images http://www.earthandimages.com

Our Village at Mountain Shadows Project is still moving as we have now seen more than half of the available 40 units sold. The development and construction is being orchestrated by Cullum Homes http://cullumhomes.com with interiors by Anita Lange of IMI Design Studio http://imidesignstudio.com Fellow Principal, Vivian Ayala and I have designed 5 models but nearly every sale has customized the plans to their needs and so this has turned out to be so fun and we have enjoyed meeting all of the new residents. Last night the Cullums threw an amazing party celebrating the new beginnings at Mountain Shadows where the new hotel will be opening soon! The 7C’s – caviar, champagne, couture, cars, cigars and car bars! What a great time and what a wonderful project.

We have broken ground on a beautiful mountain home up in the Flagstaff Area of Pine Canyon. The home is being built by Schultz Development with interiors by Kati McPherson of KAM Interiors https://www.facebook.com/kaminteriorsinc/?rc=p This is our second home in Pine Canyon and is being quarterbacked by our Project Director, Rob Banach! This will be a beautiful two story mountain lodge with stellar views of the award winning golf course and the San Francisco Peaks of Flagstaff.

Ok that is definitely just a peek of what we have under construction. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we have under construction not to mention what is on the boards! Stay tuned for more in the weeks ahead and I’ll be adding some more recipes soon too! 

February and its Time to Remodel!

Ok so we are nearly halfway through February – wow the time is flying! I don’t know about you but January flew by and February is shorter and will go faster I’m sure.

This morning I am heading to Old Town Scottsdale to ride in the Parada del Sol Parade along with my fellow Scottsdale Charros. Come on down and support us and enjoy the parade and fantastic weather.

Ok don’t forget to get your tickets for my singing of the National Anthem at Scottsdale Giants Stadium at 1pm March 6th http://charros.com/spring-training-baseball/

This afternoon we will stop by and celebrate the two year anniversary of Gigi’s Playhouse and the kickoff of Gigi’s Café and University. Candelaria Design is proud to have offered our services to design the Playhouse and now the Café and University. https://gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix/events/

It is definitely getting busier out there and has been gaining momentum for some time. The Phoenix Business Journal in their November 30th issue noted that according to Realtor.Com Phoenix, and it’s metro area, will be the fastest growing housing market in the country in 2017 and we believe it.

We love doing these projects although they require a totally different skill set from designing a ground up home. First and foremost is the ability to work with what is there and figure out what how walls are being supported, mechanical systems are being run and then understanding zoning and neighborhood restrictions and codes. Developing a budget for these projects is also a lot more challenging in that many times you can’t just use a cost per square foot rule as you can on a new build. Getting the conceptual design on paper and then getting some initial and early cost estimates can really aid in making decisions before you move forward with engineered drawings and construction documents.

Half of your construction budget is generally composed of the bones or sticks and bricks and the other half are the finishes and goodies of the project. It’s the goodies where most clients blow their budget so it is important to get this initial estimate broken out so you know what comprises your budget. Then use this initial estimate to fine tune your “goodies” budget so you and / or you and your designer can select “goodies” that match your budget.

Of course there are SO many homes that have been built in the 70’s and 80’s here is Phoenix/Scottsdale that simply need to be freshened up. On February 15th from 12:30 to 2:30 PM LUXE magazine will feature an event where I will be on a panel along with Interior Designer, Anita Lange and Architect and fellow ARA member, Dale Gardon whereat we will discuss ways to freshen up Old World Custom Homes. Let’s just say, there are a lot of them out there and it seems the color of choice was “brown”! We have been busy de-browning a lot of houses in the last ten years and many times that is all it takes to give an existing house a simple makeover. Check out this episode of our show SKETCH where that was all we basically did to a home we had designed ten years ago. What a difference! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modernizing-old-world-luxury-homes-tickets-31713654394

https://www.thedesignnetwork.com/episodes/sketch-reimagined-spaces/

From the brown trim – casings, crown moulding and baseboards, to the brown doors and brown millwork – lightening these elements up can make all the difference in the world.

Working with our team and a good interior designer and a landscape architect can make all the difference in the world in freshening up a dark Old World, Southwest or Tuscan Style Home. The difference is dramatic. We are happy to come out at no charge and give you a consultation to get your project going! I wonder in ten years if we will be “de-graying” homes????  

Let's Remodel!

2017 - Here we Go!

Happy New Year. I’m still having trouble getting used to writing or accepting 2017 but time marches on as we all know.

We are all back from our travels and back to work on some amazing projects. A lot of new work is in the pipeline and many projects are about to break ground and we have a bunch currently under construction! We have a ton of remodel and makeover projects going which we love!!! We see this market only growing in the future and we are very excited to be a part of it.

We are busy adapting and employing new technology to both design, present and experience our designs and we are currently working on a Candelaria Design Dream Home that we will share in the virtual reality world each month as it is designed so that everyone can experience and in essence live in a Candelaria Design home. With no limitations, we expect to have a lot of fun with this and at the same time show our untethered abilities. As the home takes shape our viewers will be able to send comments and ideas so the project will in essence evolve over time.

Our Candelaria Design crew is always involved in community service and giving back and we are currently in full swing for our Gigi’s Playhouse University and Café project and the Colten Foundation Bat Cave. Two projects that we are so proud to be a part of and we encourage all of you in the design and build community and of course our clients and vendors to get involved in.

Last week we announced the kick off for the construction of Gigi’s Playhouse University and Café. https://gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix/ Candelaria Design along with Earth and Images donated our services for Phase 1 of the Playhouse a couple years ago and the project has had such success that now we have just completed design on Phase 2 and are in the process of raising money and donations of materials and services for its construction.

Then there is the Colten Foundation Bat Cave!!! https://coltencowellfoundation.org This 35,000 square foot cave is getting ready to kick off under the construction expertise of LGE Design Build. We have a number of fun events planned to raise funds including an auctioned off home cooked dinner for 20 at Casa Candelaria where Isabel and I will cook a gourmet meal paired with wine. This will be a blast and all of the proceeds will go to Colten Bat Cave.  I look forward to getting more people involved in this project – email me for more details.

Finally, we have a couple amazing Candelaria Design Tours set for 2017. In June we will embark on our first Candelaria Design Tour Spain and we are happy to say that that trip is SOLD OUT. http://www.candelariadesign.com/tours  We will start the tour in San Sebastian Spain and include a day the San Sebastian Cooking School. From there we will head south to the Rioja/Basque Wine Region and enjoy four days in LaGuardia, Spain. The trip will finish up in the magical city of Barcelona where we will enjoy the work of Gaudi and the cuisine of Catalan. We are now taking reservations for our 2018 Candelaria Design Tour Spain which will in essence be this same trip so make your reservation now to join us in 2018.

In September 2017 we will embark on our 15th Candelaria Design Tour Italy! We do have a couple spots open for this trip if interested. We depart on September 20th where we will fly to Florence, Italy. We will enjoy three days in Florence and then will take our convoy down to our Umbria farmhouse compound where we will enjoy a week in the countryside of Umbria and Tuscany. From there we will drive to Venice, Italy where we will enjoy three days in this magical city. If interested – don’t hesitate to contact us as this trip will fill quickly. We are offering reservations now for our 2018 trip which will finish in Treviso where we will tour a number of Palladio Villas. This tour will depart on September 26th 2018 so get on the list for this spectacular experience.

We are considering adding a Candelaria Design Tour Santa Fe this August. This will be a short 5 day tour featuring the art, cuisine, and spas of Santa Fe, New Mexico which is a very special place for my wife Isabel and I. She was born in nearby Espanola and my ancestors settled the area in the late 1600’s. We are looking forward to sharing this experience to a handful of travelers over an extended weekend. Email me if interested.

Next, I am a board member of the Arizona Chapter of Habitat for Humanity http://habitatcaz.org and we have some fantastic events coming up this spring including a big fund raiser we will hold at the Candelaria Design Village at Mountain Shadows http://cullumhomes.com/projects/the-village-at-mountain-shadows  This will be a fun event where I will be cooking for the entire venue with our Mark Candelaria Collection Pasta Maker. By the way you can purchase your machine complete with recipes on our website. You will love it. http://www.candelariadesign.com/candelaria-products/candelaria-premiere-collection-gourmet-pasta-maker

On Monday, March 6th I will be proudly singing the National Anthem for the third time at the San Francisco Giants ~ Cleveland Indians spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium. I am very excited to be doing this again and I look forward to the opportunity to sing in front of my fellow Scottsdale Charros. Email me for tickets – I know the game will be great and the singing will be fun! http://charros.com/spring-training-baseball/

Ok so that fills in my free time. Meanwhile, we are busy with our projects and clients with homes on the board on the far east coast of Long Island to projects on the Oregon and California Coasts and projects underway in Kansas City, and a beautiful home on the boards in Cherry Hills, Colorado. That’s just to mention a few – not to mention the wonderful projects we currently have underway right here in Arizona from Scottsdale, to Flagstaff down to Yuma, AZ. All exciting!

We look forward to a great 2017! Thanks for reading and participating on our blog. We will continue to share our designs, travels and of course recipes for Inspiring Living the Candelaria Design way!

Welcome to Spain - where it all started for the Candelarias.

Casa Batllo - Barcelona

Yesterday my family and I, just missing Tiffany this time, landed in Barcelona España. We are here to finalize details on our new addition to our Candelaria Design Tours – Spain! We will still be doing our Italy Tour with our 15th tour set for this coming September finishing in Venice. But we thought it was time to branch out and so now we will be offering Spain. Our June 2017 trip is SOLD OUT. So do not hesitate to get your spot reserved for the 2018 trip most likely set for June also.

Ok so why Spain???? Well it turns out that the Candelaria family originated nearly 400 years ago from Spain when one of my ancestors left Oviedo, Spain for Mexico and then his ancestors eventually made their way to the Albuquerque area of New Mexico and was one of the first or a handful of families who initially settled there in the early 1700’s. So Spain means a lot to me! We will be fortunate to spend some time this coming weekend in Oviedo and so my girls will see one side of where they originated from.

Casa Batllo - Barcelona

Spain is also significant to me in this is the country where I caught the travel bug. You see in 1990 my good friend and high school classmate, Laurie Clauson, insisted I come with her to visit the family and friends from her times as an exchange student here. I was in the recovery mode from marriage number one and was really searching for what my life was about. I was 30 years old.

Rooftop chimneys at Casa Batllo

Grand Salon at Casa Batllo

Laurie, convinced me to join her and she showed me Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Oviedo (which at the time I had no idea my ancestors originated from there) and my favorite, the little fishing village of Luanco on the far north coast of Spain and the home of Laurie’s friends and adopted family. That trip changed my life for many reasons. I discovered this most magnificent country, I connected with my ancestry in a way I would later more fully understand, I realized there was a whole world out there to explore, it opened my eyes to the endless opportunities in design and architecture, it awakened my passion for cooking and food. Well that pretty much sums me up now some 27 years later. It’s interesting that that trip really marked the moment I awoke….I feel I am at another awakening now as I close in on my 60’s and move into a new stage of my life.

Rooftop chimneys at Casa Mila - Barcelona

I have returned to Spain on a number of occasions since that first trip and my love for Spain continues to grow. I realize now though I have not been here since 2004 – way to long…..! I am so happy to be back, and I am typing this blog from the 25th floor of the Hotel Arts overlooking the entire city of Barcelona. Spectacular.

City view of Barcelona from the Hotel Arts

I remember my first trip to Barcelona all by myself. Really my first trip abroad without anyone but me…..a very intimidating but also very freeing experience as it gave me the confidence that I could really do anything and that there is nothing that makes you feel more alive than stepping completely out of your comfort zone. An experience that ever since has served me well with many aspects of my life.

Casa Mila - Barcelona

Lightwell at Casa Batllo - Barcelona

Lightwell at the Casa Batllo - Barcelona

I recall walking the streets of Barcelona, and taking in the sights all alone, with no one to reflect or discuss my observations and discoveries. I remember thinking to myself, “how wonderful it would be to be here with someone I love and explore it that way!” Well some 27 years later here I am, with the love of my life, my Isabel, and two of my three girls, Isabella and Sophia. I cannot tell you how excited I am and how special this trip is for me and my life.

My family in Barcelona

Life is interesting how it all plays out. I have learned that you just need to keep going and make the most of each day. This is it – this could be the last day. I have been on that edge a few times in life and these near ends have reminded me that this is it – there is not TEVO in life – no replays. Thanks for reading my blog and being a part of my life. I know if you are reading this you must be someone special to me. Enjoy our journey……

Casa Mila

Cas Mila rooftop

Merry Christmas from us all at Candelaria Design

The Candelaria Design Class of 2016 wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

So this is Xmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Xmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Merry Christmas to you all! Another year older…. 2017 right around the corner. All of my shopping is done and now its time to relax and enjoy a wonderful weekend with family and friends. Yes, Isabel and I will be cooking – prime rib this Christmas Eve! No big plans though just relaxing by the fire and chillin’.

The Candelaria Design Crew at Eddie's House in Scottsdale

I am so blessed in so many ways. A wonderful wife, family, friends, clients and of course my Candelaria Design Team! My crew works so hard and this year I am pretty sure we hit an all-time record for the amount of hours we worked. But we have a lot to show for it – beautiful projects on the boards, under construction and now completed. We have many clients spending their first Christmas in their Candelaria Design home. I can only imagine what that would be like….

Cooking paella at a Candelaria Design open house.

I live a pretty modest life in some ways and obviously a pretty big life in other ways. Isabel and I rent our 2700 sf patio home….no we do not live in a mega mansion. I drive my 4 year old Prius…. nota Tesla …..although I would like one. Some guys spend their spare time on the golf course - I love to travel. I love to cook and entertain and get involved in causes that give back to those that are less fortunate…..Gigi’s Playhouse, the Colten Bat Cave, Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent DePaul, St. Mary’s Food Bank are just a few of the many we play very active and direct roles in.

Back patio at Casa Candelaria

I love my work. Creating homes and the place people live is so challenging yet very rewarding. The clients and people I have met and have had the honor to work for is beyond my wildest dreams. It is my life, my passion, my soul. I am so excited about the projects we are currently involved with and really our best work is still to come. Truly, my reward comes from the thank you’s and wonderful appreciation we receive from our clients – especially those now living in their Candelaria Design homes. I hope the environments we have created have changed the way our client’s go through life and experience every day.   

I love my team. They all care and give so much effort. I cannot tell you how many times I go in at 4 or 5 am and someone is already there working away. They are motivated by the same thing – just knowing a client loves their work is music to their ears. Architects are not a lot different than a stage actor on Broadway. We live for the applause. It’s our biggest motivator. Unfortunately, there is not an audience to give you an ovation at the completion of every drawing, rendering, or field report so it only shows how much these people truly love and care. The talents of my team are amazing and I love taping into it and watch it blossom and flourish.

My Associates, Evelyn Jung and Vivian Ayala at our Candelaria Design El Chorro

The Candelaria Class of 2016 at the Car Bar at Mountain Shadows

The Candelaria Team - yes we do take breaks now and then!

Working away at Earth and Images

Damon Wake, Meredith Thomson, Evelyn Jung and MC at the Phoenix Home and Garden Home Tour

I love my clients. Wow you are all amazing and inspiring. I have learned so much just being around you and soaking up your knowledge, style, drive, and passion for life. It all fuels me and pushes me to take our designs and projects further. I wish I could spend time with them more – away from architecture….just to learn. I love seeing my clients in their homes and watching the creation that has lived in my head sometimes for years finally come to life.

Lisa Mathews, Damon Wake, MC and clients Cheryl and Tom Fencl

Clients Gil and Phyllis Lerner at Tina Majerle's.

Heart Ball 2016 with clients Rod and Kim Cullum, Isabel and MC

I love my wife and family. None of this matters without the love of my wife and family. My sweet Isabel has made the biggest impact on my life than anything that has ever happened to me. Her love has allowed my creativity and energy to blossom and hopefully I have had the same impact and effect on her life. I love my time, although it’s never very much, with Isabel and my girls. Our travels are the best. Monday we leave for Spain for a 12 day trip to preview and fine tune our Candelaria Design Tour Italy for June 2017. We look forward to fun adventures, great food, wine, and some well- earned rest.

MC, daughter Tiffany, and her boyfriend Josh touring some of Dad's work!

Our 2015/16 Family Holiday Tour of Italy

Christmas in Assisi 2015

Merry Christmas to you all. Enjoy and make every moment count and take nothing for granted. On to 2017 we go!

On to 2017 we go!

Happy Holidays - Thanksgiving Escape to Napa

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday season! We are enjoying the winter temps and all of the parties, functions, and holiday get togethers.

Meanwhile in the midst of the holiday fun we are busy working away on our projects – ranging from a beach home renovation on the far end of Long Island, NY to a beach home renovation in LaJolla, CA with a number of amazing projects in between – of course most right here in Arizona.

Proud to see all three of the spec homes we recently designed in Arcadia and one in Silverleaf all sell in 2016! We now have several new specs in design!

I appreciate all who came to my photography show at Isabel’s store Earth and Images. We had a great turn out and sold several of our Candelaria Collection Pasta Machines and several of my photo pieces – thank you!!!

http://www.candelariadesign.com/candelaria-products/candelaria-premiere-collection-gourmet-pasta-maker

It is definitely a busy time of the year and business wise it has been really getting busier as the year is coming to an end. Usually the slowest time, I am optimistic with what we might see in 2017. So to gear up and get a little down time in the midst of my 70 hour work weeks, Isabel and I snuck off to Napa to enjoy a long Thanksgiving weekend.

I know many of you have been to Napa – our USA version of Italy just a two hour flight away – we love it. This time we flew into San Francisco and met with our friends and Italy travelers, Gicela and Anthony Dulcich, who drove up from Long Beach and met us at our San Fran rendezvous spot, The St. Francis Hotel on Union Square. I love the St. Francis Hotel and it is definitely my go to spot when I come to the city by the bay!

We scheduled only one evening in the city so we had to make sure we squeezed in a dinner at the Tadich Grill, supposedly the oldest restaurant in San Francisco and California. http://www.tadichgrill.com/location-sf.php. Always fabulous, the cioppino is a must.

The next morning we squeezed in our morning walk comprised of coffee and some photography. Then we were off for Napa. This time we kept it simple and charming and checked into the Cottages of Napa Valley http://www.napacottages.com at the recommendation of our good friend, designer, and fellow Italy traveler, Rebecca Curtis – great recommendation. Charming, simple, unpretentious and best of all – quiet! We loved it and highly recommend.

We checked in and we were off to Michael Chiarello’s, Bottega, in Yountville for a fantastic late lunch. Michael Chiarello is one of my favorite chefs and have loved his show and recipes on the Food Network for years.

http://michaelchiarello.com www.botteganapavalley.com  The food was outstanding but what stood out for me what the whiskey sour the bartender made with raw egg whites in a shaker…..unreal. Fantastic atmosphere and the food was 5 stars. http://michaelchiarello.com Not a bad way to start our Napa experience. After our fabulous lunch it was time to do a little shopping, grab an espresso, a little more shopping then back to the hotel to relax. The rain moved in and after a nice nap we were off to Sonoma to The Depot for a quiet dinner. http://www.depotsonoma.com/dining/

The next morning was Sunday morning and so we started the day with a lovely Thomas Keller, Bouchon Bakery https://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchonbakeryyountville basket at our doorstep, the newspaper, hot coffee brewing, a crackling fire and some George Winston playing on our Beats Pill we always bring when we travel.

After a leisurely and relaxing start to the day we made our way out into the sunshine and a visit to the Dean and Deluca store on our way to St. Helena, CA. http://www.deandeluca.com/sth-ca I always love these stores and just browsing and exploring. From there our shopping continued in the charming town of St. Helena. Loved this place with wonderful stores and the Orin Swift Tasting Room smack dab in the middle of town. Nothing like starting the day with a little wine tasting of the Orin Swift collection. http://www.orinswift.com

After a nice light lunch we went exploring with a stop at the Castello di Amorosa Winery just north of St. Helena. This winery is over the top in terms of the authentic 13th century Tuscan architecture.  It is spot on and if I woke up from a sleep I would swear I was in Tuscany on one of our Candelaria Tour Italy journeys.   http://www.castellodiamorosa.com

From there we went further up the valley and to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. https://www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com. Another amazing winery to explore and then add all of the movie memorabilia from his films – especially the Godfather films – , the grounds and gardens and not to mention the wines and you can easily spend some time here.

Coppola Winery movie memorabilia

Coppola Winery

Coppola Winery

So after an afternoon of enjoying wine it was time to top it off with a fabulous dinner at Bouchon. https://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchonyountville Be prepared to take your time and bring adequate funds. It was fantastic – both service and cuisine.  What an amazing sensory stimulating day – my favorite – from architecture, to beautiful scenery, to fabulous wines to savory cuisine.

Dinner at Bouchon

The next morning we had our day teed up by my good friend and the uber-talented, Landscape Designer, Jeff Berghoff, who does the landscape design on most of my homes. http://www.berghoffdesign.com Jeff is currently working on the design for two wineries in Napa and he was so kind to set us up with private tastings at the Caymus Winery http://www.caymus.com  and the V.Sattui Winery https://www.vsattui.com both near St. Helena. Wow – knowing Jeff’s style I knew this would be off the charts and it lived up to my anticipation. From our two hour tasting at Caymus to our tasting followed by a lovely picnic on the terrace with V.Sattui President, Tom C. Davies. How gracious to spend time talking with us about our trips to Italy, wine, and the current state of the wine industry. All very fascinating and how wonderful to meet and make new friends in Napa.

The beautiful grounds of the Caymus Winery

The cellar at Caymus

V.Sattui Winery

V.Sattui Winery

V.Sattui Winery

Tasting Room at V.Sattui

Picnic time on the terrace at V.Sattui

Sharing stories with V.Sattui Winery President, Tom Davies

V.Sattui Winery

We finished our evening back in Sonoma with a stop at the original William & Sonoma store and home of founder Chuck Williams – all right there, in of course, Sonoma! http://www.williams-sonoma.com/customer-service/original-sonoma-store.html Very cool and equally inspiring. You just have to go for it!

Well – our time in Napa was done and it was time to get back to the drawing board but now filled with some wonderful dinners, fantastic wine, some romance, rest, and of course many fun memories. Across the Golden Gate Bridge and back to San Fran – but of course not with a stop at one of Gicela and Anthony’s favorites and now mine the authentic Italian deli of Lucca for Christmas raviolis!  http://www.luccadeli.com

I wish you all an amazing Holiday season! Get out and enjoy some great food, wine and of course architecture!

Teen Challenge Arizona

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!  I am truly grateful for my family & friends, and I treasure the time I get to spend with everyone.  The same goes to my CDA Team and the people I work with.  I always want to surround myself with the best team who have the same values and love for life, as I do.  That being said I would like to introduce you to my guest writer, Mathew Grove.  Mathew is one of my many talented and promising Project Managers.  He is heading the project for Teen Challenge Arizona and his passion for this project and foundation is unmatched.  So please enjoy and again, thank you for being a part of Candelaria Design!

(Written By Mathew Grove) Teen Challenge is an amazing national organization committed to helping those that are battling addiction. When Paul Cox, Director of Development for Teen Challenge Arizona, reached out to Candelaria Design for help with their kitchen, we were humbly honored to accept the invitation and set a meeting with him right away.  This was the beginning of a beautiful project . . . 

Background

Upon arrival to Teen Challenge, Paul Cox, Jim Moyer and Jonathon Roe educated our design team about the Teen Challenge organization and all of the incredible contributions they make within many communities around our country. Their Phoenix community alone has a daily average of sixty people (from all age groups) that participate - that is a lot of people to feed! To give you a better idea, the kitchen serves approximately 60 meals/3 times a day each year. This totals about 65,700 meals every year, not including holiday meals which serve up to 120 people each.  While jotting down these statistics, we were led to the kitchen which was noticeably in a deteriorating state – the walk-in refrigerator struggled to reach below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and continually would break down, an old dishwasher that was in constant need of repair (we noted that there was no three-basin dish washing sink to use as a backup to the dishwasher and that there was also a range that had bungee cords holding the oven doors shut), and lastly, a rough concrete floor that was not suitable for a kitchen . . . we had to help! We were told that they were applying for a $100,000 grant so they could have the funds to remodel their kitchen that was in desperate need for upgrades. So we signed on and started putting together a plan and design for their kitchen. 

Before & After of the Kitchen

Getting Started

First, we had to put together a program that contained all the necessary requirements for the new kitchen. In order to accomplish this, we immediately setup our first design meeting with Chef Ward at Teen Challenge. Shortly after, we had a well thought-out conceptual plan.  At this point we contacted a home builder here in Phoenix, Arizona who helped us put together a budget for the new kitchen - his first estimates came in and we realized this project could easily cost over $500,000. We realized this wouldn’t work with the previously disclosed budget of $100,000.

After a year of fundraising and reaching the $100,000 mark, I received a call from Paul Cox who mentioned he had a builder that wanted to help.  At this point we met with President and Founder of CR Commercial Contractors, Doug Terrell, who quickly helped put together an updated scope of work, “wish list” and project schedule to help maximize the $100,000 budget.

Thank fully, much of the team was still focused on making the original concept of the new and improved kitchen a reality for Teen Challenge.  In the initial budget, appliances alone were going to utilize just about the entire budget, accompanied by the new floor, necessary dish washer and 3-basin sink. Pat Julian, from Julian Restaurant Equipment, was kind enough to bring all the new appliances in at whole sale cost! With his generosity, a rippling effect amongst the tradesmen, donors and sub-contractors began, all of whom were kind enough to donate.  Before we knew it, the kitchen had all the wish list items and we were able to accomplish our original design.

**Another BIG THANK YOU to all the contractors for their donations to make this project a reality** 

Phoenix Home & Garden Home Tour 2016

Well it has been a crazy start to November. First you had the Cubs come from down three games to one to win the World Series and then of course President elect Donald Trump’s amazing come from behind political victory. It definitely shows that persistence pays and its never over until it is over. Definitely two of my motto’s for all of my life and surely a mindset you need when you endeavor to design and build a custom home.

Just as in life, it’s never smooth sailing, whether it is a simple remodel room addition or an uber complicated project like some of the projects we currently have on the board or under construction – it is going to take persistence! Hence why you want a great team behind you.

I have been blessed to have been a part of some amazing projects with talented team members. Tomorrow we are proud to have two spectacular projects on the Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine Home Tour which by the way is SOLD OUT!  https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixHomeGarden/

On the standard tour we have a beautiful Transitional Spanish Colonial home we designed in the Silverleaf community of Arcadia. This is truly a family home that we designed on what started as a flat lot but because it was in a flood zone we had to bring in 8’ of fill to raise the pad from the street then build the house! The lot has a unique shape which necessitated a unique design.

Basically, the home is arranged on a central axis that emanates from the corner and on one side of the axis is the adult side of the house and the other side is the family and children’s side of the house. Between the two is a protected courtyard. Sounds simple, but only when you see the house can you appreciate this arrangement.

What was so fun for me on this project was the fact that this was the first ground up project I had the wonderful opportunity to collaborated with my wife, Isabel, and her studio Earth and Images http://www.earthandimages.com. We were still single and dating when the clients hired us! Yes they were a bit worried – what if we broke up???? Well you all know how that story has played out!

Add the talents of Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design Group http://www.berghoffdesign.com and my Project Manager, Damon Wake who did a spectacular job on the project and you have the makings of a home worthy of the tour.

So many wonderful memories and of course challenges along the way. One of the best was a weekend that Isabel and I put on our work clothes and chalked out all of the paneling and trim on the unfinished drywall walls climbing scaffolding and getting down and dirty. Definitely worth the time and effort and the finished product is again a testament to persistence. The home was beautifully featured in the October issue of Phoenix Home and Garden and now is featured again for Isabel’s work on the daughter’s room in the current November issue of Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine!

The clients have joined us on our Candelaria Design Tour Italy and we celebrated the completion with a wonderful pasta making party and also a separate paella dinner – which by the way we will be serving to all 800 visitors during the tour tomorrow along with selling our Candelaria Collection Pasta Machines which you can order in time for the Holidays right here….. http://www.candelariadesign.com/candelaria-products

Damon Wake cranking away on the Candelaria Collection Pasta Machine!

Housewarming party - enjoying my Paella!

Phoenix Home and Garden Pasta Party

Then on the VIP Home Tour tomorrow is another special project with a magnificent team and of course client. This home received a 2011 Gold Nugget Merit award for a custom home over 6500 sf and also is the first LEED Home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. This is a very special home in that the husband ~ client sadly passed away just months after the home’s completion. I have so many fond memories and learning experiences in my time with him – he was truly a great man and inspiring figure. The wife ~ client enjoys the home and the memories associated with its creation and she proudly and graciously opens her home up for amazing events raising thousands for various charities in our community.

I was introduced to this client by Jim Smith of Serving the Nation whom we had just finished a project in the Phoenix Country Club with and he said I have a marquis project I would like to introduce you to. I remember exactly where I was when I received that call and it has changed my life forever.

Interior Designer Donna Vallone and our team quarterback Jim Smith 

Jim Smith was our project quarterback and he pulled all of the team together from Jerry Meek of Desert Star Construction http://desertstarconstruction.com , who along with his father built the first project I ever worked on back in 1982, Donna Vallone and Niki Saulino of Vallone Design who masterfully appointed the interiors, to Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design Group http://www.berghoffdesign.com who meticulously sculpted the gardens, to Walter Spitz of Creative Designs in Lighting http://www.cdltg.com who brought the magic to the project. Then add the long list of trades, suppliers, and vendors all who were intimately involved in this project. Finally, I would be totally remiss if I did not say special thanks to my Project Architect on the project, the humble but most talented, Jeffrey Kramer http://www.candelariadesign.com/meet-the-team/ who spearheaded the project for Candelaria Design from start to finish!

This home is definitely one of my marquis homes and everyone who participated on this project has such love and respect for each other…. It is truly a highlight of my professional career and I am so happy to share this home on this year’s VIP Tour!

I guess it is easy to see why this home is then so special. The whole four year process it took to design and build this home during a very tough time in the economy and in my personal life again shows the persistence it takes to achieve great things.

Ok a couple final notes – please stop by and enjoy an evening of photography at my show Captured Moments & Inspirations featuring some of my photography on the Scottsdale Art Walk this Thursday, November 17th at 6pm at my wife Isabel’s studio Earth and Images. Isabel and I will have sangria waiting!!!!

Let me know what your favorite photo is??????

https://www.facebook.com/events/1080435822073373/ 

Candelaria Design - Giving Back!

Happy Halloween to everyone – I think it is eventually going to cool off….we’ll see! Thank you to you all for the wonderful birthday wishes over the last month – I am so blessed by you all.

Well it’s definitely been busy and we are so appreciative of all the amazing projects we are working on and more importantly the fun and creativity we have with our clients.

We are also so proud to be a part of so many opportunities to give back and we are so intensely involved in some wonderful projects that contribute to those in our community – and trust me there are many – who are in need. It is so easy to just write a check or go to a dinner or ball and be done – and all of those contributions are so appreciated and necessary - but to physically participate with sweat and effort when you can’t write the big check is just as rewarding.

I have never been able to write the big check but throughout my life I have found ways to do my best to make a difference – even if it’s a small ripple in the pond….it can transform one life and become a sunami! I have seen this in action for myself. I love seeing this become an integral part of our Candelaria Design culture and the young members of my firm embrace this spirit of giving back.

In fact tonight, my Project Manager, Mathew Grove is attending a grand opening for the Phoenix Teen Challenge http://teenchallengephoenix.com  where we donated our time and energy to create the plans for their new kitchen. Teen Challenge helps members of our community making their way back from drug and alchohol addiction.

Last Monday, I had the honor at the invitation of Jimmy Walker, Founder and CEO of Celebrity Fight Night http://www.celebrityfightnight.org to speak at the Monday morning breakfast  at St. Vincent DePaul https://www.stvincentdepaul.net and 600 homeless people. What a humbling experience and honor that was, to give a speech about Not Giving Up….. an easy topic for me to talk about that is for sure. The magnitude of people who are in need right under our doorstep is eyeopening and it definitely puts things in perspective as we worry about how we are going to squeeze ten more feet into a closet or figure out how to add just two more garages onto a home.....The fact of the matter is it really should not take that much to make us happy and give us what we really need especially when there are so many others who just need the basics. My talk however was not about giving a man a fish but teaching a man to fish which I totally believe - again its easy for those on the fed side to just hand over an extra fish but it takes time, effort and love to tach a man to fish. The focus in this country has been just giving the fish and that needs to change. 

Meanwhile, Project Manager, Tim Mathewson, and his team are making great progress working with founder and our amazing client, Charles Keller, on the Colten Cowell Foundation Crime Fighting Cave https://coltencowellfoundation.org !!! We are getting excited to be breaking ground soon and we will be inviting our entire repetoire of clients and design/construction community to help out! This will be an amazing facility and we have donated all design services for this state of the art Bruce Wayne Manor.

At the same time, our Project Manager, Damon Wake, is diligently designing along with my wife Isabel and her team at Earth and Images http://www.earthandimages.com on donating our design services for the new addition to the Gigi’s Playhouse http://gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix/ we designed a couple years ago in Scottsdale. This will be spectacular and such a fabulous addition to those families dealing with the needs of children with Down’s Syndrome.

Finally, I am now on the Board of Habitat for Humanity and we are working on our Spring Gala where we are hoping to host a wonderful evening at one of our projects to raise money for this fabulous organization! Let me know if anyone is interested in hosting about 200 to 300 guests for this wonderful evening.

 On a final note, the earthquakes continue in our beloved Italy. Please go to our Community Page and make a donation to the Red Cross on behalf of the Italy earthquake victims. At this moment they just need funds for blankets and housing for those whose homes have been destroyed. 

Well that’s a complete list of projects to keep any office busy and these are just our “give back” projects and yes they take time, effort, and dedication along with the normal pressure and stress of any project but it’s what you do when you are part of a community and have a talent and service that can serve others.

I strongly urge all of you to help out – even if it’s a donation of money or time to any of our efforts and causes. Trust me we can find a place for you where you will instantly make a difference but more importantly experience first hand, the joy and grace of making a difference…….Text, email, or call me and we will plug you in to a spot where you can instantly impact our community. Who is in????

Candelaria Design Client Appreciation Party

I want to thank our clients who made it to our Client Appreciation Party on Friday night! What a fantastic evening and it was so great to see so many of you there – especially some of you I had not seen in some time!

We are so blessed to be a part of your lives and create something as personal as your home. What amazing memories and experiences we share and it is so gratifying to know that so many of you live and experience our creation every day….that is what makes what we do so motivating to us as architects.

Evelyn Jung, Stacey Payne and Vivian Ayala - the ladies who run the Candelaria Design show!

I want to thank my staff and especially Evelyn Jung who spearheaded the event and put it all together. I hope those of you who came walked away with one of our farewell party favor bags and our invite to my Photography show set for November 17th at 6pm at Isabel’s store and studio, Earth and Images. I will be featuring a series of various photos from my travels during the Scottsdale Art Walk.

So – the rest of this blog is a look back as some of those memories with our clients over the years. In the 17 years of Candelaria Design we have designed over 1000 homes all across the country and we currently have projects in design or under construction from Long Island to the coast of Oregon. We have been blessed to work and design homes for rock stars, athletes, Hollywood stars, politicians, restaurantuers, CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, and just moms and dads and their families.

We have designed 60,000 sf homes down to 650 sf Guest Houses, whole house remodels and something as simple as a courtyard ramada. We love them all but what we love most are the people behind these projects and their unbelievable stories. We have so many fabulous projects on the boards or under construction now and we look forward to the years and projects and most importantly, friendships, ahead. A special thanks to my Mom and Dad who many of you met at the party. I know they had a fantastic time with everyone. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives and for being a part of ours!

Introducing the Candelaria Collection®

Welcome to October – definitely one of my favorite months of the year. I think we all love the change in weather – the end of the heat….Ok so it was 97º yesterday but it is amazing how after five months of 100º heat anything under 100º feels cool.

What I love most about the fall and spring months here in Arizona is you can open things up and I love making a fire, having a game on and doing some cooking. Anyone who knows Isabel and I – we both love to cook, especially together. And we have some cooking on the calendar this spring including the start of the Mark and Isabel Supper Club which we will say more about in blogs to come.

Of course Isabel and I both love design and we are having so much fun working together both on design and in the kitchen. Design of course takes months and many times, years, while cooking can be accomplished in a few hours. Both are about beauty, taste, and bringing delight and when we can do both cooking and design with a project it is absolutely heaven. I love the reaction we get to our cooking posts and I get it – not everyone can live in a Candelaria Design home, or go on a Candelaria Design Tour to Italy, but everyone can enjoy a Candelaria Design meal!

With that concept in mind we are proud to announce our new Candelaria Collection®!!! Our Candelaria Collection® is nothing more than a way to share our passion for good living in a way that is attainable and affordable for everyone. It is our way to share our recipes that we have learned from our travels, our clients, family and many friends who own marquis restaurants across the country.

So what would we start the Candelaria Collection® with but one of my favorite gadgets in the kitchen – a Pasta Machine! Ok I know – its just so much easier to just grab a bag of pasta, dump it into a pot of salted boiling water and in 9 minutes your pasta is done…..and that’s it – it’s done. The experience is over. Very American – 9 minutes and its over. It is no different that grabbing a magazine filled with floor plans off the rack at Safeways and starting construction – done. No, making pasta is about the experience – both making it, tasting it, and enjoying it. There is nothing like the taste and delicacy of fresh pasta.

Our pasta machine is beautiful and practical as the attachments for fettuccini and spaghetti are permanently attached to the main pasta roller. Like anything, the more I make pasta the better I get at it and the more comfortable it becomes which then pushes me to try more and more spins on the basic recipe. As with everything in life, the more you push the boundary the bigger the horizon gets.  Pasta making is endless. What I love about making pasta is how it gets everyone involved – especially kids. They love it – it’s like a big playdough party that you get to eat!

Isabel and her Earth and Images team and Damon Wake and I from my office all got together to use the Candelaria Collection® Pasta Machine at the kitchen and home we designed in Silverleaf. The entire afternoon and dinner was captured in the October issue of Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine currently on the newsstands. What fun to make pasta and share the experience with our clients, their friends and the team from Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine! What a wonderful afternoon and magical evening. Our Pasta Machine is now available and can ship in just days just in time for the Holiday season. You can order yours now at http://www.candelariadesign.com/candelaria-products and it makes a fantastic gift.

So once you have your machine how do you make pasta???? Well here is a recipe adapted from several recipes but mostly the recipe from my good friend, chef and author, Elizabeth Wholey. https://www.amazon.com/Sustenance-Food-Traditions-Italys-Heartland/dp/8890746106 Enjoy!!!

Making the pasta:

4-1/2 cups flour
6 eggs

The chef’s in Italy at our farmhouse like to make the pasta with two flours: two-thirds (Type 0) white floor and one-third semolina flour, made from durum wheat.

The ingredients are simple: flour and eggs. The quantities of flour to eggs will be adjusted as you go so you must mix the pasta by hand. The idea is to create a dough that doesn’t stick to your hands or the board you’re working on. If it’s too dry you add another egg; if it’s too wet you add more flour. Always dust your pasta board and your hands with floor so the dough does not stick to your hands or the board. You will use this technique all the way down the line.

Fill a large pot at least 5 inches deep with water. Cover and put on the stove to boil; add one heaping tablespoon of coarse salt.

To make the pasta, start out with 4-1/2 cups of flour and six eggs. On a large flat board pour out the flour and shape into a mound. Make a valley in the middle of the mound – create a volcano! Break the eggs into the volcano and beat them with a fork. With a fork, begin to cover the eggs with flour, and continue little by little mixing in just enough flour so that the dough eventually sticks together uniformly. Flour your hands and knead for eight minutes until it is shiny and elastic. To test its readiness, stick your finger into the middle of the dough. If it comes out clean, the dough is ready for the pasta machine. If the dough is still sticky, knead in a little more flour.

Important: let the dough rest for at least 10 – 20 minutes. It can also be wrapped well and refrigerated at this point to be rolled out the next day.

I then cut the dough ball into quarters or slices which then are easy to roll. Start with the dial on 1 and keep rolling the dough through adjusting the setting higher and higher until you get to the pasta thinness that feels right for whatever you are making.

Once your sheets are made to your desired thinness then you can either mover forward making ravioli or run the sheets through the fettucine cutter or the spaghetti cutter. Flour the cutters before you use them so the dough does not stick. Do not let the pasta sheets dry before you use the fettucine or spaghetti cutters. Once your fettucine or spaghetti is cut you can swirl them in mounds on a lightly floured tray.

Once made you can drop the pasta into the boiling water and the fresh pasta will cook quickly – about 3-4 minutes and it will be done. Don’t overcook – you want to pasta to be firm but cooked – el dente. Drizzle with olive oil and or butter and grate some parmigiana-reggiano cheese and you have the basics….. from there you can endlessly explore. Trust me you will be in pasta heaven!!!!

I will be adding more recipes in the weeks and months ahead from raviolis to special recipes from freinds, and chefs so stay tuned.

http://www.candelariadesign.com/candelaria-products 

Candelaria Design Tour Italy September 2016 - Our Day In Florence

Well I’m already back from our September 2016 Tour Italy and now I am catching up the blogs – only because we had such a great trip and packed so much in. Each trip gets better and better and this one topped the charts. Our 14th trip and what a journey and experience it was.

First and foremost, I want to thank my Associate, Evelyn Jung, who puts this trip together each year. WOW what a fabulous itinerary featuring a number of new venues and experiences. Second, I want to thank all of my September 2016 travelers – you were fantastic! The friendships and bond we created over the course of these 14 days will last a lifetime. I love how everyone already is organizing get togethers…..that’s more of what this trip is about than just the travel.

So I will catch the blogs up as we go through the next few weeks. I think my travelers will enjoy this format better anyway as it will give them a chance to relive the adventure.

A Day in Florence

So we departed on Wednesday and arrived on Thursday and finished that long day with the fabulous meal on the terrace at the Villa la Vendetta. Not a bad start and as it turned out that evening was one of the favorites of my travelers during the trip.

With a good night sleep – our first in Italy – at the Hotel Brunelleschi, we were up early the next morning to go on my morning walk. I love starting my tour with this walk as it gives my travelers a great little lesson for all of their trips to come – a morning walk before all the tourists arrive gives you the opportunity to virtually own the city and see it in a still, calm and quiet light. It gives you a chance to experience a busy place one-on-one. I love it and I had a big group and we explored quite a bit of the city from the Duomo, to the San Lorenzo Market, to the Santa Maria Novella church to the Arno River and the St. Regis Grand Hotel and the Westin Excelsior Hotels…which we would revisit at the end of the day…..the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Palazzo Vecchio. Great way to start the day.

Then it was off to the hotel for a nice breakfast and then I debated – nap or climb Giotto’s Bell Tower at the Duomo…..well my travelers….namely Jim Steg – convinced me to keep going and climb the tower, which we did and which I always enjoy. What a spectacular view of the city of Florence.

Now – I was able to go back and snag a power nap with Isabel!!! Definitely another key to travel – get those power naps in and stay hydrated!!!

With the power nap done it was pizza time and so off we went to the San Lorenzo Market and the new Mario Batali Eataly http://www.eataly.net/it_en/shops/florence/ up on the second floor. Ok this was the second Eataly I had now been to in a month – the one at the World Trade Center in New York and now this one in Florence! Yes, I am a Mario Batali fan! I just love the sounds and smells of this place. We enjoyed a delicious pizza and a cold beer and then we did some more shopping and exploring of Florence. While the ladies shopped I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the street.

Theresa and Jim Steg, Walter Spitz and Michele Watts

Kimberly Banach, Theresa Steg and Isabel in Firenze

With a second power nap in it was time for cocktails at the hotel bar and then a fabulous dinner on the street at the Buca San Giovanni Ristorante http://www.bucasangiovanni.it right in front of the Duomo. Anyone who has been on my trip knows what a special and fun evening this is. From the lavish pomp and circumstance of the dinner the first night we relax and unwind with dinner on the street the second night…..again I love experiencing and exposing my travelers to the contrasts here in Italy. The food and atmosphere were fantastic and I was able to silence the street and get a nice applause for some of my opera signing! Finsih things off with a little limoncello, grappa and a cigar - What fun!!!

Part of the crew dining on the streets in Firenze

Walter Spitz serving the vino in Firenze

Phil Giltner, Walter Spitz and Renee Giltner in Firenze

From there we walked across town to the Arno River and back to the Westin Excelsior rooftop bar where we enjoyed a night cap, fun stories, and laughter under the star filled sky of Florence. 

Isabel, Kenny Moskowitz, Kimberly and Rob Banach

Candelaria Design Tour Italy - Sept 2016 - Departure for Italy

We are officially off and on our way to Italy as we begin our 14th Candelaria Design Tour Italy!

I love this trip especially when I get to introduce some newbies to the experience of travel. I have a couple first timers to Europe and Italy which is the best. Watching their eyes and expressions as we arrive in Firenze and come upon the Duomo for the first time.

We have a wonderful group for our September trip. All of my travelers this trip are from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. I have five repeat travelers and the Wedgie Media team who will be filming and droning our trip and the beautiful sights we will see for our new show Design and Romance - Italy. So 21 travelers in total. Some of my repeat travelers are enjoying their third and sixth trips!

So what adventures will we be embarking upon on this trip??? I have added several new venues this time including the Antinori Winery and a truffle hunt and picnic at a nature preserve in Tuscany.

Follow our journey right here on my blog as I will upload posts during the course of the trip. I will be posting a lot of pictures and videos here, on You Tube, Facebook and Instagram so you can enjoy this wonderful trip. I am very excited to start this trip with this group. I’m sensing some good times ahead for sure.

Here is our basic itinerary so join us on our adventure:

Sept 7th Departure from Phoenix

Sept 8th Arrival in Firenze with dinner at the picturesque Villa La Vedetta

Sept 9th A day in Firenze with dinner in front of the Duomo

Sept 10th Drive to Umbria with a stop at the Antinori Winery then our welcome dinner at the Farmhouse.

Sept 11th Sunday Brunch at Villa Piazzano then to Cortona for afternoon shopping and a fabulous dinner in a cellar.

Sept 12th Assisi followed by a wine tour in Umbria and dinner alfresco.

Sept 13th Wine tours in Umbria with our wine guide Pino.

Sept 14th Farmer’s market in Umbertide followed by antiquing at Lacole then our cooking class at the farmhouse.

Sept 15th San Gimignano and Siena

Sept 16th Truffle hunt and picnic in Tuscany and farewell dinner at the farmhouse

June 17th – Drive to Positano and the Amalfi Coast

June 18th – June 19th Positano and Capri

June 20th – time to come home L

Ok Here we go!

Arrival in Firenze

When you travel for nearly 34 hours between getting ready, getting to the airport, flying and then arriving and checking in…..you are in somewhat of a dream state. I guess they call that jet lag!

18 travelers and a three man film crew, with travelers arriving via NYC and Croatia and we all made it! Not one lost piece of luggage. Amazing.  Well we checked in and all got settled one by one at the beautiful Hotel Brunellschi located in the heart of Firenze http://www.hotelbrunelleschi.it We have been staying here since 2004 and it is one of my favorites. The staff if outstanding and very friendly and have been the same crew throughout the years. It makes you feel like you are staying with good friends or family and they treat you accordingly. 

We all got settled, some of us arrived just before noon and we had some time to do a little exploring and/or get a quick power nap in. Of course, my objective was to get that first Italian espresso…..that definitely helps take the edge off the jet lag.  We later then met at the hotel lounge for cocktails before we made our way to the spectacular Villa La Vedetta http://www.villalavedettahotel.com in the hills above Firenze for our welcome dinner. This is our first time at this venue and it was nothing short of spectacular.

The ladies of the Candelaria Design Tour Italy at the Villa la Vedetta

Of course everyone is in this jet lag state of being and all of a sudden you are enjoying a Prosecco on the terrace overlooking Firenze with the sun setting in the distance …..well like I said dreamlike for sure.

Michelle Watts and Walter Spitz at the Villa La Vedetta

Michelle Watts, Walter Spitz, Phil Giltner, and Isabel

We start with cocktails and appetizers on the terrace - which was absolutely lovely as we watched the sun set over Florence. This was followed by a spectacular dinner with a set menu that we had created ahead along with the wine pairings so my jet lagged travelers did not have to make a single decision this evening – just relax and soak in the experience. The stories and friendships were beginning……

Fabulous evening and a wonderful start to our journey!