Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Day 7 ~ Wine Tour with Pino in Chianti

Pino Teresi - 2004

I met Pino Teresi in 2000 on my first trip to Italy as I was introduced by our first Candelaria Tour Italy host, Louis Martin. She told us of a wonderful man who spoke very good English that could take us on a wonderful tour through Tuscany to see and taste some amazing wines, cheeses, meats and oils. What a find he has been. I have been on at least 8 tours since.

Pino Teresi - 2013 - Looking good!

We started the day with coffee on the terrace and then a quick dash to the little coffee/breakfast bar in Mercatale where we would rendezvous with Pino as he had reserved a bus for all of us. We quickly grabbed a panini and some coffee - some of us ordered a latte only to fined that means warm milk - and made our way onto the bus. Greg had attempted to get some cash out of the town ATM but the ATM machine must have been hungry too and ate their card for breakfast! Luckily, they had another, called their bank and it was off to Tuscany.

Today our tour was the Chianti region of Tuscany. After a two hour windy bus ride and a little adventure along the way we made it to our first stop, the Castelo di Meleto for a quick walk around their grounds as we were too early for a tasting. What a beautiful place, with the most lovely gardens. I had been here in 2004 and remembered how gorgeous this place was. We all took several pictures and enjoyed the surrounding scenery and sunshine and we were off to our first official tasting!

It was now noon and time to enjoy some wine. Our next stop was the Castelo d'Albola which is a beautiful winery in Chianti. Gorgeous grounds and some amazing wine and vin santo (dessert wine) cellars. Following our tour of the cellars it was off to the tasting room for some of their wines. We tried roughly five wines starting with their Chardonnay which was light and crisp and more like a Sauvignon Blanc - very delightful and I'd have to say this would be my kind of Chardonnay. Then it was time to try their Chiantis of which their Reserve was the best.  Finally, we finished with a Vin Santo. Beautiful!

Following our tasting it was off to lunch in the Chianti countryside. We enjoyed a beautiful lunch featuring a variety of crostinis, a delicious spaghetti, and a farrow salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions. All delicious. Of course red wine and lemoncello for dessert.

Then it was off to the capital of Chianti, Greve. I love this little town. We stopped at an amazing cellar, shop, wine tasting store - Le Cantine de Greve in Chianti where they had carousels of different wines featured, you buy a prepaid card, plug it into a reader and choose the wine tastings you want to explore. Loved it. We spent a good hour here trying wines, grappas, vin santos and oils. Everything from Chiantis to Brunellos, to Amarones. The Amarone was the best!

From here we went to the main piazza to shop and enjoy the most amazing butcher shop. Spectacular - it just went on and on. I wish I could infuse the blog with all the smells from the cellars and meat shops from this day! Following the tour of Greve we were off to the Balsamic Vinegar cellar in Montagliari where we toured their cellars and sampled and purchased some twenty and thirty year old balsamic vinegars that were more like delicious syrups. Amazing!

From there it was a long 2-3 hour bus ride through pouring rain back to our little Niccone Valley in Umbria where a seven course meal was waiting for us at Mimmi's. This meal, family prepared each day, is served country style with a pitcher of local farmer's wine on the table. Once the food starts coming it just keeps coming. We started with cheeses and meets and then grilled vegetables. We then went to two pasta dishes, raviolis and then manicotti, then onto roasted pork and turkey and more vegetables and then for dessert it was panna cotta with an espresso glaze and tiramisu. Fabulous.

A quick walk to the cars and drive home to our little country houses in Umbria. We were now halfway done with our adventure through Italy with an amazing half yet to come.

Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Day 6 - Assisi

We started the morning by slowly awaking in the darkness to the sound of thunder, wind, and rain! You are lying in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere in Umbria and you realize that what you are experiencing what others for hundreds of years have experience right in this same valley. You feel such a connection to the earth and this land and the souls who must still wander here!

Slowly you come back to the 21st century and realize you need to get up and get some coffee brewing. The rain was already subsiding and the light of the dawn was starting to drape the hills and burn the mist and fog. About that point, Scott awoke and joined me and I convinced him to join me to brave the remaining showers and semi darkness to find the wood pile so we could make a fire in the fireplace before everyone arose. We got that going and the coffee was ready so I had some time to work on my blog, download pictures, and charge up my cameras and phone for the upcoming day.

Once that was caught up and I could hear people stirring so it was time to make breakfast!  From the market we had purchased potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, and pancetta. Scott and I got to work. I sent him down to grab some fresh herbs from the garden including rosemary, sage and thyme. We chopped potatoes, mushrooms and tomatoes, diced the pancetta, and scrambled the eggs and breakfast was underway!

With breakfast enjoyed, it was off to Assisi! About an 80 minute drive through the Tiber River valley bypassing Perugia, and then ascending the hill to Assisi we all found our way to the top parking lot. We all gathered and made our way to the center piazza which would be our gathering spot. From there we made our way to the Cattedrale San Francesco - the Saint Francis Cathedral. Many of my travelers took the tour through - which I highly recommend. Isabel and I had done it several times on past trips so we made it back to the main square where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and then a cannoli and a gelato and then a nap on the steps of the piazza. Slowly everyone made there way back to the piazza after all dining in their own unique finds. We all grabbed a drink and made our way back to our cars for the drive home.

We had originally planned to go to Perugia after Assisi but everyone was ready to go back to the country houses to relax, nap, and rejuvenate! After a two hour nap for some and a swim for some others it was time to grab dinner. Glen, Isabel, and I headed to town where I knew a great spot for "take-away"  pizzas and salad. We selected 9 different pizzas, some insalata mistas and some melon and prosciutto and placed our order. The lady who runs the restaurant and bar said it would take about an hour so we thought we would walk down the street to the market to pick up supplies for the house. No sooner did we get there, when the restaurant owner came rushing in to purchase all of the ingredients for our order! We literally helped her carry everything back to the kitchen, ordered a bottle of wine and sat down on the street out front to watch the locals make their way through town and in and out of the restaurant! What fun to experience something like that - no one spoke English and I'm sure we stuck out like sore thumbs!

I ducked in and watched the chef make the pies and enjoyed tying to chat with him while taking pictures all along the way. The pizzas came together, went in the oven and we were getting close. We finished our bottle of wine and enjoyed some more of the locals while Glen, Isabel and I compared our journeys through life and swapped stories about our kids and our pasts!

Once everything was done, we loaded the 9 pizza boxes, the salads, and melons and headed back home and up the hill! When we arrived, the party had started and the jug wine was open! With food, wine and everyone rested we enjoyed a nice meal at the country houses, followed by some more wine and cigars, along with more stories about life, all while on the porch watching the sliver of the new moon set over the hills of Umbria.

Just another marvelous day in Umbria. 

Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Day 5 ~ Villa Piazzano & Cortona

Sunday, Day 5, is our first full day in Umbria and our country houses. We started the day by enjoying the view of the fog filled Niccone Valley and the soft sun lit hills of Umbria. I love this view which is very common and very magical as the fog wafts around the hills only broken by  the gradual enhancement of the sun until it gains the upper hand and burns off the fog until the next morning and then the whole show repeats itself.

With the coffee brewing we all got ready for a wonderful day in the country. With that delicious Italian coffee to wake us all up we were off through the Niccone Valley and up and over the hills down to the beautiful valley where the Villa Piazzano lies.

We turned off the main road and started down a long straight one lane gravel road lined by 400 year old Italian cypress trees that flank each side in a rhythm that nearly hypnotizes you into a feeling that something very special is about to happen - and of course it does....the Villa Piazzano. This is another one of my favorites, especially because it was a place that I accidentally discovered on my first trip in 2000. When I came upon it by randomly picking a dirt road to follow I happened upon the villa which was an overgrown ruin. A group of people, from Australia, were walking around seemingly exploring it also. I went up and asked them if they knew what this was, and they offered in a bewildered manner that it was an old villa that they had just purchased and they were going to restore it. I knew they had their hands full and I could see the same trepidation, yet underlying passion, to undertake this endeavor. I returned the next year to be stunned at what they had accomplished and enjoyed my first meal with them. It has been a regular stop now on every tour and I have become good friends with the family who go out of their way to accommodate us in the most elegant manner.

This year was no exception. We started with a little tour of their grounds and garden while they completed our tables following their morning breakfast to their patrons. When we arrived a beautiful table awaited us and inside was their typical, colorful and most savory array of foods from fruits, to pastries, to eggs, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and of course sweets! It is fantastic and sitting on the terrace overlooking the pool and grounds is so picturesque.

With brunch completed we took a group picture at the steps into the topiary garden, and then were given a tour of the villa, now a hotel, and the wine cellar. It's fascinating to hear the history of this villa which dates back to the 13th - 14th century. The wine cellar is wonderful - the smell alone is most memorable as it was occupied by the German army who upon fleeing cut holes in all the casks and filled the cellar with wine. When the owner returned upon the exit of the Germans, they invited all of the neighborhood farmers to bring buckets and get the wine. You can still smell that wine!

Our original plan was to have brunch and then head to Arezzo for the antique fair, and then Cortona for dinner but I could see that my group was fading from the Candelaria pace,  so I offered them the option to head back to the country houses for a little rest and recuperation and they eagerly took me up on it. So back over the hill we went and everyone hunkered down for a most common Italian siesta.

With a nice two and a half hour nap everyone was ready for some more fun and so it was back down the hill, through the valley and up and over the next hill and then through the next valley and then back up the hill to Cortona, famed for the movie and much better book, Under the Tuscan Sun. I really love Cortona. It is a happening little hill town and this Sunday was no exception! We parked and made our way as a group to our ultimate restaurant destination so everyone knew where it was and then we had two hours to shop and explore the town. The town has a main thoroughfare that traverses the town on a pretty level grade, lined with shops, enotecas, and trattorias, but the key is to wander the streets that bisect and go straight up or straight down - that is where the treasures are to be found. From amazing galleries to wine stores, we uncovered some more amazing spots.

With our exploring completed, and thank goodness a little walking included, it was time to enjoy some more Italian and Tuscan cuisine. So off we went to the Trattoria Toscana for an amazing dinner. We started with some local wines of course and then some antipasto including beef tongue in a spicy red sauce, wild boar carpaccio with parmesan cheese shavings and rocket arugula, then insalata mist, followed by an array of pastas and then grilled sirloin with white truffle shavings and a grilled porcini mushroom. Finish dinner off with a little home-made vinsanto and WOW! And the prices where less and less as we wandered further off the beaten path! An amazing meal and everyone enjoyed the laughter and good times.

We then made our way back through town, a quick photo with some old men observing life from their bench, a stop for gelato and a purchase of some cigars and we were off through the now quieter streets to our cars and back to our homes in Umbria for a great night sleep in the country.

Candelaria Design Tour italy ~ Day 4 ~ On the road to Umbria

Today we make the transition from the hustle and bustle of Florence and make our way to the calm and serenity of Umbria.

We start the day with a quick jaunt to the Mercato San Lorenzo and a little food shopping. I love this place - and wish we had something like this in Phoenix. I would probably live there! From mushrooms, to cuts of meat, fish, baked items, to fruits, herbs and flowers - it's all here and all arranged in typical Italian fashion - beautiful and artful. Even the smells are amazing as you transition from one venue to the other.

I picked up some shrink wrapped risotto, some salami and truffle honey in preparation for the Country Houses in Umbria. We spent about an hour, grabbed a cappuccino and made our way back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for both the worst and best part of this trip. The worst being transitioning everyone to the rental cars and getting everyone on the highway and the best part arriving at the country houses in Umbria. I guess there is a price to pay for such joy.





We packed up and said our goodbyes to the wonderful staff of the Hotel Brunellschi - especially Fabiola who always takes such amazing care of all of us. I highly recommend this hotel for the location, beauty and impeccable service. We then loaded the luggage and took our transport vans from the Hotel Brunelleschi to the rental car lots at the airport. I like getting the cars here as you can virtually drive off the lot, make a hairpin turn and boom you are on the A11 Autostrada and then right on the A1 for Roma.











There is always a fair amount of anxiety when you have 18 people all of sudden being asked to drive their own car especially after spending three days in Florence witnessing some of the craziest driving I've ever seen. But that is in the city and we stay far way from places like that. After getting everyone checked into the rental cars we spend a fair amount of time making sure everyone has a dropped pin in their phone to the country houses in Umbria, and that everyone's maps are marked. We have had some real adventures getting people to the country houses. Not so much from Florence, but some of our episodes from Rome to the country houses have been quite memorable....we will skip the details.

This years drive went without a hitch. Nine cars streaming down the A1 and into the countryside. I think we either looked like a funeral procession or the Secret Service! After about 2-1/2 hours we climbed over the mountains and into the Niccone valley whose river divides Tuscany from the west side of the valley from Umbria on the east side. It is beautiful, tranquil and most fertile with an assortment of crops being grown from corn, to sunflowers to tobacco. The smell of the earth and Umbria is infused in the wines that I enjoy later. I love it here. You can just feel the calm and the relaxed way of life, especially from the constant buzz of Florence.

We make our way to the foot of the hill that leads us up a long, steep and dusty road that eventually concludes at our destination, - the Altabella Country Houses. I love how remote these homes are and the wonderment of my travelers with how I ever found this place....that is a story in itself. This trip we have two, two-story farmhouses with a gorgeous negative edge, Italian cypress lined pool overlooking the valley below.







 After settling in and unloading the luggage we made our way down to the pool for a refreshing dip and a glass of wine and then loaded up and made our way back down the hill to the little market in Mercatale - the village in the valley. With 18 of us descending on this store, I think we just about cleaned them out - I'm sure we made their day! Everything from eggs, to cheese to the local jug wine, we were ready for a wonderful week here in Umbria.

Upon our return, our home manager, chef, owner and author, Elizabeth Wholey, and her sidekick Paola, prepared us a meal of local cheeses and honeys, local salamis, truffle hardboiled eggs, lasagna with fresh made pasta, an absolutely delicious salad dressed with local olive oil, apple vinegar and honey. Finally it was capped off with panna cotta (cooked cream) with fruitti di Boscho - wild fruits from the forest. There is nothing better than enjoying laughter, amazing food, local wines and the fabulous view of the hills of Tuscany and Umbria. It was  a wonderful way to start our adventures here in Umbria.

Candelaria Design Tour Italy - Day 3 ~ Firenze

We only have one full day in Firenze and so everyone has a lot of exploring to get done in a very fast day. We started the day with a walk through the city at 6am. Six of my travelers joined me and were blessed to see this city in a very unique and quiet manner. At 6 am you own the streets and you see the town in a way few do, without people!

I love this walk. It is cool, the light of the dawn is forthcoming and slowly the town comes to life right before you eyes. I start the walk from the Brunellschi Hotel and make our way to the Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore and again experience this space free of the tourists and the street vendors. Its beautiful and most inspiring to just imagine everything that went into the creation of this marvelous structure and the people who contributed to its manifestation. It is, as so many things in Italy are, indescribable.

After several snapshots there we moved on to the Piazza della Signoria which sits in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the famed town hall of Florence, the governing home of the Medici family, and the site of the original David sculpture by Michaelangelo. I love this building - it is my favorite in Florence primarily because of the map and globe room inside. If you get the chance read Dan Brown's latest book, Inferno, as he spends a fair amount of time in this building. Again, I love the shots I can get with not a soul in site and the light just getting better and better.

We then wander through the Piazziale degli Uffizi to the Arno river and the famed Ponte Vecchio bridge. From there we made our way to the Pitti Palace and then through the south side neighborhoods to the Ponte all a Carraia across the Arno to the north side and then down the beautiful shopping street of the Via della Vigna Nuova and back to the Piazza della Repubblica where we stopped for a cappuccino and then back to the hotel.

It was about 8am and I headed back to the room to freshen up and join Isabel for our day. We walked Barbara and Molly to the Galleria dell' Accademia where they had a private tour of the Gallery and of course the rear David sculpture. The rest of my travelers were on their own private tours of the city.

Isabel and I took a stroll through the city, enjoyed a few more churches and sites and headed back to the hotel for a siesta. At 2pm we met at the lobby of the hotel where we went on a private walking tour of the city and enjoyed many sites. There is always so much to learn, and the private walking tours with just 4 or 5 people is the best way to do it.

Once the tour was over, we grabbed a quick bite and made our way to the hotel for a little more jet lag catch up rest and then it was time for one of our included premiere dinners - Villa San Michele. This is truly one of the best venues to dine I have ever experienced. A former monastery designed by none other than Michaelangelo himself, this hotel restaurant and staff are truly memorable. We have dined here every year for the last eight years and even though it is at the beginning of the trip, it truly one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

You drive up the hills northeast of Florence and then arrive at this beautiful stone and stucco facade with the most breathtaking and romantic views of Florence. After a few pictures of the group its inside, through the monastery and to the back terrace garden for bellinis and appetizers. We enjoy the sunset and then its onto the loggia and our table at the far west end where we are met by my same waiter over the course of the last 8 years, Antanelo. He is the best! We had selected the menu and paired the wines starting with a lobster salad, followed by a wild mushroom ravioli, and then the roast sirloin with a brunello wine sauce and finally crepes and a dessert wine. Fantastic and what a wonderful time with my travelers.

A cab ride home and a few nitecaps and a cigar on the terrace in front of the hotel and before we knew it we were into day 4!

Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Day 2 ~ Firenze Arrival

So wonderful to be back here in Firenze (Florence)! And it is always so exciting to share that first evening meal with my travelers right in front of the Cathedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. It is a setting that really is impossible to describe.

We had a great flight with everything going like clockwork, as opposed to last year's trip where we practically landed in every major city in Europe trying to get to Florence due to our plane's mechanical problems and then missing our connecting flight. We arrived to a sunny and very warm Florence, met our drivers and made our way through the winding streets to our hotel, the wonderful Hotel Brunelleschi right in the middle of the city.

I love this hotel and the people who run it are fabulous. I cannot recommend a nicer and more convenient place to stay. This is probably my 8th or 9th stay here and they have totally renovated and upgraded the hotel - it is stunning. We all checked in, some of us caught a power nap after our 16 hour flight through the night, and others went for a quick stroll through the city to get our bearings and work off some of our arrival adrenaline! A quick bite - a delicious fresh seafood salad and a Peroni beer and Isabel and I made it back for a quick power nap before we met everyone for dinner.

We all met in the hotel bar for a welcome cocktail and then it was a short walk to our dining venue right there on the piazza del Duomo. Nothing can beat this setting for our first dinner - right there on the street in front of the Baptistery and the Duomo. What a way to experience your first dinner in Italy. The special as always, Bisteca all a Fiorentina - steak dinner Tuscan style. We are talking serious steak here. Add some local wines and we are off! I love when these steaks arrive at the table accompanied by roasted potatoes and thats it. It's heaven and the table comes alive.

After devouring half a cow between all 6 steaks consumed at our table, we were off on a walk through the town t night and a nightcap at Harry's Bar on the Arno. A little lemon cello and some dessert and it was a walk back to the hotel and some much needed rest!

Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Day 1 ~ Departure

Our trip has started! I am typing this somewhere over Newfoundland, Canada as we get ready to traverse the northern Atlantic towards our intermediate destination of Frankfurt, Germany. I have been up since 4 am after going to sleep at 1am trying to get everything done before I leave, yet I am not really tired. I am always so excited to get to Italy and enjoy the awe and wonder in my traveler's eyes as we arrive at our hotel after a meandering drive to the hotel from the airport, to hear the background sound of people speaking Italian, Vespas whizzing by, the smell of pasta carbonara emanating from trattorias.... It's a different world  - definitely indescribable.

The transition from our American way of life to that of Italy takes some time. I love to watch it unfold and our trip understands this and our travelers really don't realize it is happening. We start the trip in Florence, which of course is an amazing Renaissance time warp, yet a busy, bustling city. After two days in Florence we drive to the countryside in Umbria and there the stress of our everyday lives almost melts away like gelato on a hot summer day.








I love to learn the motivation of my travelers to embark on this trip with some architect from Phoenix. I have some repeat travelers and its very fun to see the difference in their experience from the first trip to the second trip. It is very rewarding to see their confidence and their expanded awareness of detail now that they can shed the fear of the first trip. Then in contrast it is so wonderful to watch my virgin travelers discover the David in Florence or the Trevi Fountain in Rome, or their first dish of pasta with black truffles. I love it all.

Probably the best part is watching the connection and budding friendships that grow so strong, I think, due to the shared experiences of beautiful scenery, tastes, and smells and the experience of discovering this passionate culture together!

Ok, it's time to get some rest before we get to Frankfurt and have a quick connection to our flight to Florence. We arrive in Florence around 1 pm, so some time to get settled and then venture out for my first dish of fresh pasta and of course a gelato... Oh yeah and some architecture!

Candelaria Design 10th Anniversary Tour Italy

Candelaria Design 10th Anniversary Tour Italy Begins!

Mark & Isabel at the Villa San Michele above Florence

This Wednesday we depart on our 10th Anniversary Candelaria Design Tour Italy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48t7DAX6LxQ  Isabel and I have 16 travelers going, many that have never been to Italy, many have never been to Europe. It's about on this fourth day prior to the trip where I start to feel the anxiety and excitement of bringing and leading 16 people who have never traveled together through Italy. Be sure to follow our trip right here on the blog as I will do my best to post every day – along with some photos and video from the trip. We also will be posting on our Candelaria Design Tour Italy page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CandelariaTourItaly So make sure to follow us as we make our way through Italy.

2012 Trip at Villa Piazzano

Enjoying brunch at the Villa Pizziano - Tuscany  - 2010

Casa San Marino - Umbria

Many people ask me how the idea for this trip started. It simply began with a client who came to me and wanted me to design a Tuscan home. I asked him if they knew what a Tuscan home was and they said no not really. I jokingly suggested we should go to Tuscany and really figure it out and they loved the idea. At the same time I was designing a home for a travel agent and her husband and I told her the story and she said she had great connections in Tuscany and Umbria and in fact they would go with us and show us around and get us set up. It all sounded good to us and off we went!

2003 Tour Italy - Montepuciano

St. Mark's Square ~ 2001 Tour

What impressed my client was not only the interesting architecture, but the food, wine, and way of life, especially in the country - off the beaten path! During this inaugural trip my clients suggested I do this every year and bring clients and let them experience this. I loved the idea and the Candelaria Tour Italy was born.

Trevi Fountain - Rome

The Vatican - Rome

Villa Rotunda - Vincenze

Over the last 14 years we have had as few as four travelers and as many as 22. We have explored Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan, Portofino and the Cinque Terre, and this year we add Lake Como! We have had travelers as young as 8 years old and as old as 65. The trip has really transformed from those first adventures but the essence of the trip and the message of the trip is the same and that is embracing and enjoying life and the company of good friends. That is what we do on this trip and the Italians are the best at it - at least based on all of my travels to other countries I still think Italy does it best!

Tour Italy 2004

When we first did this trip it was before cell phones and google maps and GPS. We had walkie talkies and I was the GPS! Those of you who were on some of those early trips remember some of those crazy adventures. The trip is so well put together now that as a first time traveler I could not imagine a better way to break into traveling.

The Duomo - Firenze

John and Denise Schultz - Villa San Michelle - Florence

We fly into Florence, enjoy two nights there including an amazing dinner at the Villa San Michele in the hills above Florence. Then we set you up with your own car and we convoy through Tuscany to our farmhouse agriturismo compound in Umbria. Here we have a chef and wine guide and this becomes our base for seven days. I love the Umbrian countryside and the beauty of being away from the crowds and the tourist traps. The people are genuine, the food is genuine and the wine is fantastic. Relaxing on the patio overlooking the hills of Tuscany with a great Sangiovese and nothing is better.

Tour Italy 2010 - Trattoria Toscana, Cortona

Mark enjoying a cigar in Siena

From our country base we explore wonderful places like San Gimignano, Assisi, Siena, with wine villages of Montalcino and Montepulciano, Pienze, and Cortona - famed for the Frances Mayes book Under the Tuscan Sun. Everyone loves the country! From the fancy hotels at the beginning and end of the trip to the simple quarters and facilities of a country house, you truly experience the contrast and delight of the country. What’s nice about this trip is you have your own car, so if you want to take a fork in the road and go do a little exploring on your own you are totally welcomed to. We always set up rendezvous points and I love the variety of experiences and treasures that everyone comes back with each day!

Villa d'Este - Lake Como

The end of the trip is always different, usually something new, and a place I have never been. At that juncture of the trip, my travelers and I become explorers together and I love it. It truly then becomes an adventure like the early trips and we discover new places together. We still set up the final hotel venue and it is usually amazing and most memorable. This year we conclude our trip at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como – and bring in fall at the foot of the Italian Alps – what could be better.

I’m excited about my travelers this year. In addition to four returning travelers I have a couple clients, a couple designers, and then people that just want to explore Italy, and again many for the first time! I am also bringing Evelyn Jung and her husband Scott. Evelyn runs my office and has been organizing this trip for me for years! I felt it was time she experienced the wonderful trip she has helped me orchestrate and execute all these years. I have travelers from age 22 to age 60 so a nice diversity there. We had our pre-trip dinner at Tomaso’s and so everyone for the most part has already met and so the ice has been broken and we re ready to get into the full swing of our trip come Wednesday.

Door in Assisi

And so begins our 10^th trip! What adventures and experiences lie before us??? What great new wines and recipes will I discover? How many pictures of fabulous doors will I add to my already 100,000 images of doors in my data base, along with corbels, and windows, arches, and groin vaults….. I take about 300-500 pictures a day so I need to clear out the computer and get ready! As noted above follow us here and on Facebook and participate in the party! We have 52 people who have already expressed an interest in next year’s trip in September so we may be adding a trip in May too! We will see. Details of next years trip is on our Events tab on our Candelaria Design Tour Italy Facebook page.

Ciao!

NYC - Designers Part 1

I am always surprised how a trip to New York reinvigorates me and inspires me. I have been to a lot of great cities across this country and the world and New York definitely ranks as one of the top spots to have on your list of destinations.

I've been here many times and always sort of under my direction, but this time I came with Isabel who directed the itinerary and what fun this has been. First, to be in a city like this with someone you love makes it very special and definitely romantic. Great architecture, food, sights and smells, it is a sensory experience that virtually overwhelms you. I love the energy of this city - it never stops! And of course, virtually every culture is represented as the background sound of chatter is filled with languages I have never heard of.

This trip I made it a point to meet up with several designers and publishers. Yesterday, I met with Mary Foley and Michael Cox of the amazing interior design firm of Foley & Cox http://www.foleyandcox.com. What a beautiful studio and such warm and friendly people! Their work is outstanding and features everything from beautiful homes, condos, and penthouses in NYC to beach homes in the Hamptons and Bahamas, mountain lodges at the Yellowstone Club in Montana, to appointing the interiors of private jets! Their work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Town & Country, New York Home and AD Germany.

Later that evening, Isabel and I had dinner with interior designer, Gerald Tolomeo http://geraldtolomeo.com. Gerald is a noted NYC designer and has been honored as one of New York Spaces Magazine's 50 Top Designers three years in a row. We joined him for dinner at the Cookshop on 10th Avenue and 20th St. Fabulous venue and fantastic food by the way! His work is outstanding and he is a very active in the social media spectrum so check out his work!

Ok - busy day today. We have some more amazing NYC designers and publishers to meet and of course more sights, smells, sounds and tastes to take in! 

Candelaria Design Projects win 2013 ASID Awards

As I am flying over some of those “flyover states” on our way to New York it gave me a little time to put together a quick blog to congratulate three ASID Interior Designers we have had the recent pleasure to work with on a couple Candelaria Design projects that were just awarded several ASID Awards a couple weeks ago.

First, is our wonderful commercial project, Julia Baker Confections, at the Biltmore Fashion Square, that received a first place award for best commercial retail project, by the talented, Claire Ownby of Ownby Design!  http://www.ownbydesign.com This retail space project was featured in our Valentine’s Day Blog of this year http://candelariadesignlifestyle.blogspot.com/search?q=julia+baker. We were hired right before Labor Day 2012 and the store was open and ready for the Holidays just a couple month’s later. The store was built by Schultz Development and was coordinated in my office by the talents of Vivian Ayala and Timothy Mathewson. I encourage you to go enjoy the fabulous wine and chocolate bar and the fabulous interiors of this space!

Second, congrats go out to Angelica Henry of Angelica Henry Design, http://angelicahenrydesign.com who received an ASID Award for the best home over 6500 sf for her work on this Candelaria Design home in Carefree. This project was a remodel and as you can see from the before and after it truly was a complete makeover. Angelica worked closely with the clients to take a very vanilla, southwest style home that was not capturing the views and was lacking punch and style, and collaborated with us to transform the home into a contemporary, rustic, open space that embraces the outdoors.  The home was constructed by J. Andrew Development and was spearheaded by our Project Manager, Timothy Mathewson. 

Before

After

Finally, the third and final award winner this year was Holly Asher of EST EST http://www.estestinc.com who received an ASID Award for the Charles Residence which also was a remodel in the Biltmore Estates. Holly collaborated in the rebirth of this wonderful 3000 sf patio home that was also lacking life and attention. The rear yard was uninviting and the pool area was abandoned.  The plan was opened up, rich materials were introduced and the rear yard was completely overhauled including the addition of a fantastic Cabana space that punctuates the exterior space. The home was remodeled and renovated by Schultz Development and was the handiwork of our Project Manager, Robert Vieracker.

I cannot express the difference in quality we see in a project with a qualified and talented Interior Designer than a project without one. An interior designer offers an objective perspective, a plethora of resources at hand and a huge date base of experience with which to draw upon. I always see the value of assembling the entire team, even on small projects – architect, builder, interior designer and landscape architect – where everyone works in concert. The key is to assemble that team early in the process so that every member of the team is equally engaged and communication is open and encouraged among the entire team.

These awards also show the trend toward smaller spaces and the importance good design is for these smaller spaces. People want smaller spaces but they want them well designed and thought out with all the bells and whistles that were in the larger homes.  I love this trend and we are all excited to live smarter, smaller and better!

Stay tuned for thoughts, photos and recommendations  following my trip to NYC this weekend and our Candelaria Design Tour Italy is just 18 days away!!!

Dallas - Highland Park Homes

Definitely one of my favorite places to go where I can quickly take in a wide array of homes of all different styles all well executed is a drive through the swanky Dallas neighborhood of Highland Park. I almost always make this a quick escape whenever I come to Dallas and each time I make my quick swing through I am never disappointed.

The first thing that caught my attention on this summer's trip was the amount of construction going on! It seems that nearly every third house had some construction project of some magnitude going on from a small bedroom or bathroom addition to a tear down and a new 20,000 sf estate being built!

The other thing I always love is the diversity in styles from a formal Italian Villa to a prototypical Dallas Hill Country Estate of course featuring that creamy Texas Limestone. I could spend hours absorbing the various styles and the plethora of details that make up those styles. To me that is the best part. I can snap several hundred photos in this quick pass through this Disneyland of residential architecture.

One of my clients introduced me to the neighborhood on my first trip here back in the mid 80's including an introduction to designers Loyd Taylor and Paxton Gremillion of the famed studio Loyd • Paxton http://loydpaxton.com of Dallas.  I love the size and high quality of this accessible neighborhood. As opposed to so many neighborhoods with homes of this quality this neighborhood for the most part is ungated so its wonderful to just drive or better yet walk all of the streets and soak in the architectural flavors. It would be like taking Encanto here in Phoenix and doing it Texas style - big!!! I have loved coming to Dallas ever since!

This most recent trip was compliments of my good friend Colin Snider of Bentwood Luxury Kitchens http://www.bentwoodkitchens.com/flash/ who brought me out to tour their showrooms and plant. Wow - fantastic work and what great people running the company. The care, quality and variety was wonderful to take in. From their fabulous Jack Arnold line of kitchens and cabinets to some of their more economical lines, they address a nice diversity of levels of cabinetry for the needs of a wide array of customers. Stay tuned on this and get ready for some exciting news from Candelaria Design and Bentwood Luxury Kitchens in the weeks and months ahead.

The city of Dallas is great and of course has many fabulous restaurants from barbecue to steak houses you can never go wrong in the Bid D! The economy of Texas is booming - with no state income tax it is amazing what happens - maybe I should do a tour and blog of Detroit as a contrast..... I highly advise you take the time to come check Dallas out and make sure to take that little jaunt through Highland Park.

Aspen Food&Wine Classic 2013

My oldest daughter, Tiffany, attended the Aspen Food&Wine Classic, much to her delight June 14-16th. Being a foodie as I am, she rapidly weaved her way through the crowds in an effort to try to taste as many treats & drinks as possible during her short breaks throughout the days. (She was there working for one of the exhibitors). She's taking over the blog post from here to tell us about her Food&Wine experience.  

The Classic took up one big square block on the Southwest end of town and was composed of two long tent rows with a smaller "feature" tent in the middle that was "Spain" along with a small lounging tent & a Patron Tequila popsicle stand. I never made it into Spain or had time to enjoy a Patron Pop, but plenty of people were always walking around with them & I heard great things were to be found in Spain.

What I was able to taste was the booth's next to me, which changed everyday! One day was "Rustique - Aspen's Country French Bistro" which sampled their truffle & roasted mushroom mac&cheese and lamb ragout. Another day, "TAG Restaurant" on Larimer Square in downtown Denver featured their chocolate lavender mousse,  but the real treat for me was the day "Franck Thirion's French Pastry" was our neighbor.

They had the most beautiful array of cinnamon rolls, chocolate filled croissants & petite French desserts that I could barely keep my eyes on my own booth & ended up sneaking bites all day long! Everything of theirs was so delicious & so authentic tasting. I have been to Paris & Italy multiple times and this was really on par or better than what I have had in my travels. I should add the owner couple are actually from France.

Last but not least, Food & Wine’s 2011 Best New Chef, Ricardo Zarate, from Peru offered authentic dishes like Carapulcra, a Peruvian sundried potato stew with crispy pork belly and chimichurri, that can also be found at his restaurants Mo-chica, Picca, and Paiche in Los Angeles. I also tried a cocktail called Chilcano de Guava, with Pisco, guava juice, honey, lime juice, & soda water that was definitely refreshing.



On that note, let me tell you about all the drinks. There was primarily red & white wines of course, but there was also a good variety of sparkling wines which are my favorite, oh & lots of booths offering cheese to complement along with Godiva Chocolates. Some of the white wines I tasted or photographed were Alfred Gratien, Cupcake Wines had a big display complete with a tiered cupcake display, Veuve Clicquot, Gosset Champagne Grand Rosé, and Gloria Ferrer.  

For red wines I saw Alexander Valley Vineyards displaying three different variations of Zinfandel & all their awards, Ruffino with a Riserva Ducale 2008 Chianti, The FMC, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa's Stellenbosch wine region, Croft's Fine Ruby Port, Fonseca's Vintage Port 2009, & Taylor Fladgate's 20 year Tawny & Late Bottled Vintage, which were served with either a cookie or a truffle, mmm.

It was a busy weekend & I really didn't have much time to sample for myself. I did get to people watch, and the people were as diverse as the food & wine offerings. I didn't see anyone famous but Mario Batali was doing a book signing nearby, "Ace of Cakes'" Duff Goldman led a chocolate demonstration, and many others were present (so I read) such as sommelier Jay Fletcher, & "Top Chef" head judge Tom Colicchio and fellow judge Gail Simmons. There were also all sorts of parties every evening that featured even more opportunities for delectable bites from the top restaurants & chefs across the country. The only one I know details on is the "Last Bite Dessert Party" at Hotel Jerome hosted by Gail Simmons & featuring dessert creations from Johnny Iuzzini, "Mr. Chocolate" Jacques Torres, "The Chew's" Carla Hall, "Ace of Cakes" Duff Goldman, and published cook Dorie Greenspan. Tickets were open to the public for only $125 and included "innovative cocktails" as well. I resorted to my own means of fun that night & enjoyed the napkin full of sweet treats I'd accumulated, free of charge, in my purse that day.



My weekend working in Aspen was incredible; I ate & drank the best of the best, explored an unbelievably beautiful town, befriended a few chefs, and even got to attend a private sponsored party at the Sky Hotel! I decided that weekend that I am definitely finding a way to work the Classic again next June, or even if it's just as a volunteer, I'm there!

Oklahoma Tornado - May 20, 2013

We have all been watching and praying for the victims and survivors of this week's horrible storm that hit the Oklahoma City area and in particular the suburb of Moore, Oklahoma. The tiny screen shots we see on television I'm sure cannot even capture the scale and vast area of destruction that is there. As an architect I look at the instantaneous destruction and it is hard to imagine the force this storm carried.

I currently have three clients from the Oklahoma City area and fortunately they are all ok. We designed a large home in northeast Oklahoma City and I know that home has a full blown reinforced concrete bunker safe room right in the middle of the home. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be in and then survive one of these storms, especially with small children.

I know all of us in the Phoenix~Scottsdale community want to help and so we have researched a couple sites we can all contribute to.

The Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY
Text - STORM to 80888 and make an automatic $10 donation.

The Red Cross
Text REDCROSS to 90999

I encourage everyone to just give a few dollars to these groups who are doing their best to provide aid, food, shelter and comfort to our friends in Oklahoma.

Happy Mother's Day - 2013

Happy Mother's Day

We wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and especially to my mom! Thanks for the legos, drawing pads, art kits, and dragging me to model homes when I was a kid. It all paid off! We are all so blessed and receive so much unconditional love from our mothers! From real moms to "bonus" moms they are all there to help us along.

In honor of my mom, I am going to be posting some of her amazing recipes in some of my upcoming blogs so be on the look out for those!




Summer is coming - Where to escape?

The next holiday is Memorial Day and then summer is here. I already see many of my clients planning their escapes from the Arizona heat. From Coronado and LaJolla to Coeur d'Alene to Colorado, I am hearing snippets of everyone's escape plan.


We have been so fortunate to now be designing homes in many of these places. We currently have a major remodel / renovation underway in LaJolla, one in San Juan Capistrano, Cuppertino, CA, and getting ready to start one in Carmel, CA. We have just completed a beautiful lakeside home in Hayden Lake, Idaho, and we just completed a summer escape on the West Dolores River in southwest Colorado. More fun projects include a bunk house in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Then add the Arizona escapes.... we have just broke ground on the model home for the Heritage Collection cabins at the Rim Club in Payson with MB Fine Homes. 86 home lots are available with cabins from 2600 sf to 5000 sf http://www.rimpremierproperties.com. We are excited about these wonderful homes nestled in the ponderosa pines and the beautiful Tom Weiskopf Rim Club golf course. My Project Manager, Robert Vieracker, gave each model a unique look and the interiors are beautifully appointed by the talents of Isabel Dellinger and Earth and Images http://www.earthandimages.com - from a mountain miner cabin to a contemporary lodge a wide array of styles will be available. Make sure to get up to Payson this summer and check out the progress on this premier community.

Travels

We have done our fair share of traveling the first half of 2013. From Atlanta, to Austin, Santa Fe, to Denver, Vegas, to Southern California and throw in Chicago and Madison, WI - we have been busy. Austin, Texas is amazing and what a thriving city. I was fortunate to have brunch in Austin with my good friend and former Phoenix Business Journal writer, Jan Buchholz, who is now writing for the Austin Business Journal.
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bio/12301/Jan+Buchholz
. Be on the lookout for her new blog coming soon where she will write and follow architects, writers, artists, restauranteurs and everything that is going on in Austin, Phoenix and Denver.









Next, I would like to thank the folks at SubZero-Wolf for the amazing trip to Chicago and Madison, WI and the SubZero-Wolf headquarters to see all of the new products they have coming out in the next two years! Wow - some great appliances to fill the home and all on the cutting edge of technology and beauty. Check out all of their new lines at http://newgeneration.subzero-wolf.com.





Italy 2014

Our Candelaria Design Tour Italy 2013 trip is SOLD OUT! We have a fantastic group going and we depart on our 10th tour on September 4th. This year we will start the tour in Florence and then spend a week in Umbria and Tuscany at our farmhouse compound and then we will finish the trip at Lake Como and the Villa de Este' http://www.villadeste.com/en/13/home.aspx . Do not wait to book for 2014 as we are nearly sold out on that trip! Enjoy this video which highlights our itinerary for our 2013 Trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48t7DAX6LxQ Call our office for details. We are thinking of adding a Spain 2014 trip - so let us know what you think about that? We would tour the Rioja and Basque regions of Spain including Barcelona and San Sebastian. Details to follow. We would likely schedule this trip for May 2014.

Welcome Rob Banach and Meredith Thomson


Finally, we like to welcome Rob Banach and Meredith Thomson to our Candelaria Design Team. Rob joined us in January and has been a great addition to our team. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and then received his Masters in Architecture at Arizona State University.









We have also added Meredith Thomson who is a Phoenix native and graduate of Xavier College Prep. She then went on to the University of Norte Dame and studied throughout Europe and Italy. She returned to work in New York and just recently in San Francisco. We are glad to have them both on the Candelaria Design Team.

I wish everyone a great summer. Stay tuned to our blog this summer as we will feature more travels, recipes, and of course architecture from all of us at Candelaria Design.

Springtime has arrived!

Springtime has arrived in Arizona! And it may not quite be 100º's yet but the Arizona market is sure on fire. This has been the busiest winter / spring season we have seen since 2006. It's great to see and I'm excited to see everyone busy and working hard. I appreciate all the wonderful leads and referrals and I can assure you we are doing the same on our end. I wish I had enough work to work with everyone! We have all stuck together during the tough times that is for sure and I sure appreciate everything everyone has done to help us along!

MRA Custom Homes and Candelaria Design 14 years of collaboration!

Speaking of people who have been with me since the beginning of Candelaria Design, MRA Custom Homes http://www.mrahomes.com/ has done probably more work with me than anyone! From our first project together on Desert Fairways Drive in Paradise Valley to the two beautiful homes they are completing in Morning Glory Meadows, we have now collaborated on 8 completed homes with three spectacular homes now on the boards. 

MRA’s homes always represent the very best in quality masonry construction, the finest in details and exquisite finishes both inside and out. Every person hired to work on an MRA home, including Candelaria Design, is known as the best is their respective fields. You need to come see Morning Glory Meadows on one of these beautiful weekends and enjoy the mountain views, architecture, gardens, and impeccable craftsmanship of these homes. The two homes that are available for viewing every Sunday from 12-4pm are Lot 2 and Lot 3 and are currently listed with Chris Karas of Sotheby's-Russ Lyon Realty.

Lot 2  features 9859 sq ft livable, 12,783 sq ft under roof, masonry construction with six masonry fireplaces, extensive use of hand-carved limestone and custom millwork throughout, water and air filtration systems, Apple based Savant automation system

Priced at $9,600,000.00

http://www.thekarasgroup.com/idx/mls-4707463
8345_n_morning_glory_road_paradise_valley_az_85253

Lot 3 features 9831 sq ft livable, 13,114 sq ft under roof, masonry construction with large private entry courtyard, extensive use of custom millwork and wood beamed ceilings throughout, large dining room on two courtyards with fireplace and fountains.

     
Priced at $9,800,000.00

http://www.thekarasgroup.com/idx/mls-4707464-6121_e_orchid_lane_paradise_valley_az_85253


The three Candelaria Design ~ MRA Custom Homes on the boards are all in Morning Glory Estates:

Lot 1 features 8396 sq ft livable with an elegant Santa Barbara design with large private entry courtyard and fountain, masonry construction with five masonry fireplaces, private master courtyard with spa.

           
Priced at $7,800,000.00

Lot 4 features 8660 sq ft livable and is a French inspired design with second story including bedroom, game room, viewing deck, masonry construction with five masonry fireplaces, dining room surrounded by two lush courtyards, private master courtyard with spa

            
Priced at $7,900,000.00

And finally, we have just started preliminary sketches on Lot 5 which features a full two acre lot. The home is approximately 13,000 sq ft livable with a separate guest house, separate pool cabana house, masonry construction, seven car garage with room for more and a tennis court.


Candelaria Design is proud to have designed these beautiful homes along with all of the homes we have created over the years, many of which have been featured in both local and national publications. I look forward to many more years of creation with MRA Custom Homes. 

Nick Lowery Youth Foundation Event at MRA Homes

We invite you to truly experience these magnificent homes by participating and attending the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation event on Thursday, April 4th from 6pm to 10pm for a night of elegance, prestige and celebration in Paradise Valley at one of the MRA Morning Glory Meadows estate homes. This is a party you will not want to miss. Guests will enjoy delicious food, decadent desserts. champagne, open bar and a benefit concert by renowned jazz legend and two-time Grammy award winner, saxophone player, Marion Meadows.

Guests will arrive and be greeted by a red carpet entrance, and champagne welcome. All proceeds will benefit the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation's Stop Bullying programs creating cultures of Leadership, Respect, and Diversity in Schools.

For more information email admin@Loweryspeaks.com

Candelaria Design Ranked No. 1 for 2013 by Ranking Arizona

We are proud to have received the number one spot for residential architects in the 2013 Ranking Arizona for for the second year in a row. We appreciate all of your votes in 2011 and 2012 and we hope you will support us for the 2014 top spot.
To vote:  www.candelariadesign.com/vote

Scottsdale Charros Spring Training and Last Pitch Event

Thanks for all of you who have supported the Scottsdale Charros and our 2013 Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium. We would especially like to thank Telluride Natural Stone http://telluridenaturalstone.com , Creative Metals http://www.creativemetalsaz.com/CreativeMetalsLLC/home.html and Hinkley's Lighting http://www.hinkleylighting.com for all of their time, efforts and materials in helping Candelaria Design with the new facade at the Charro Lodge! Great job.

We welcome everyone to attend the Scottsdale Charro Last Pitch event on Saturday, March 23rd from 6-10pm at the Scottsdale Galleria. Individual tickets are $150 and tables of 10 go for $1,250.00. Contact my office at 602-604-2001 for info or the Scottsdale Charro Office at 480-990-2977. Hope to see you all there for a fun evening! Proceeds go to the Miracle League of Arizona and the Scottsdale Charro Foundation Education programs. 

Stay tuned in the weeks ahead as we will be posting some more fun events, homes, recipes, travel opportunities, etc. At Candelaria Design we are always designing to enhance the way you live!