Summer Adventures

I hope everyone is having a great summer. It's August and we have at least come close to the halfway point of summer here in Arizona. Hence the reason I do most of my traveling in August and especially in September. September is the toughest month in Phoenix/Scottsdale. It's September, football, fall, school, yet its still 100 gazillion degrees out. So - its the perfect time to just go somewhere else where fall does begin in September.






Some of my favorites places of course are Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Santa Fe, Colorado, NYC and oh ya….ITALY! All but Colorado are on the Candelaria agenda for the next two months. And just to make things interesting,  let's throw the Candelaria Design office move in there capped off with the Candelaria Design Tour Italy at the end of September. I love all of these places for the lifestyle, culture, architecture and of course the food! Sharing these times and trips with my lovely, Isabel, even makes them more special. Do you see a trend here…..?





We are finishing a nice extended weekend here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We are very fortunate to have three projects going up here now to add to our four completed projects. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this place. One of my projects here was my first project period for Candelaria Design. In 1999 my good friend, Patrick Murphy, brought me up here and encouraged me to go on my own and make his project my first. I am typing this blog from that cabin/lodge now some 15 years later! From there I ended up purchasing a second home right across the street that I had for nearly six years. What good times we had being neighbors up here and platooning my Candelaria Design staff and their families up here in the summer.  So the remodel of that home became my second project.

Then we got a wonderful commission to design a home for a couple in Black Rock - a beautiful golf community just south of Coeur d'Alene. We were here all afternoon and evening this Friday getting the home professionally photographed and of course spent the night in the guest room downstairs called the Candelaria Suite. Earlier that same day, one of my outstanding associates, Vivian Ayala, and I measured up our newest project, a master suite addition to an amazing home on Hayden lake which is just north of Coeur d'Alene. This was Vivian's first time here and she brought her husband and daughter to come up for the fun. I get the feeling they loved it and will be back. While we were there we toured the home we designed right next door - a magnificent 10,000 sf lake home for another amazing couple who truly inspire me. He likes to call me "Lefty" and we had some fun times creating that masterpiece together.  To top it all off we are designing a fun 3500 sf mountain spec home on Lot 176 at Gozzer Ranch here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This is a little gem sited on a beautiful pond overlooking a fun par 3. Nighthawk Lot 176

As you can tell from reading this - it's not just about creating a set of plans and getting a permit. That is not what Candelaria Design or I am about. It's about the experience - not only the creation of block and timber, but of the creation of a friendship. We (my staff and I) have became such great friends with these clients and it has brought such fulfillment to all of our lives. I think that is the real point of taking on a commission and designing something as personal as a house for someone. If you can't put your heart and soul and friendship out there then it's not worth it - at least on my side of the equation. The richness this approach has added to my life is unmeasurable. I truly appreciate the friendships, graciousness, generosity, and hospitality I have received from all of these clients.

It has been so rewarding and educational to spend evenings with clients in these homes, watch them use them, cook with them in the kitchen we all worked so hard to create, spend a night and really understand how it all feels - it's the best.

Yes - I do travel a lot and I do like to cook, play the piano, sing and spend time with my clients. I absorb it all and it all becomes this huge database that I draw upon in the design of every home. Not just the layout and the details but what that plan will do to steer every moment in a client's life. The other thing I have learned is that small details and adjustments in a home no matter how big or small can make such a difference in how you live and experience life each day. We take it all for granted and we don't realize the opportunities to live so much better that we do. Great design and taking the time to really think it through and create something that is a complete reflection of who you are and more importantly where you want to go can make all the difference. But don't wait for the chance to design a whole home. Take a room and dial it it and watch the difference, then go from there……

Life is an adventure…..live!

July 2014 - Get Ready for the MOVE!

Movin' on Up!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! We are about halfway through it. We have been doing our best to escape the 100º plus temps as have our clients. I have enjoyed hearing about all the trips.

Couple things - make sure you VOTE for us at Ranking Arizona. We greatly appreciate your support and have been Voted number 1 every year since 2012. So we hope we can keep our streak alive.

Well speaking of 100º plus temps - what better time to be moving than in July and August! Yes Candelaria Design is on the move! As many of you know, our Candelaria Design studio has been located in a wonderful, Al Beadle office building at the southwest corner of 12th Street and Campbell, since April of 2000. 14 years plus at this location and it has served to be a productive home for us.

But it is time to make a move and we are very excited to announce our upcoming relocation to the AmTrust Tower in Downtown Scottsdale. Our new studios will be located on the 4th Floor of the Tower and our elevator will bring you up from the Scottsdale Fashion Square parking structure and when you leave you will pop right down to the Neiman Marcus Women's Shoe Department….what could be better than that for my clients!

Our new offices are slightly larger than our current location but it is laid out so much nicer. Our decor will be clean, sleek, and simple infused with warm materials for a transitional vibe. Our reception area will feature a contemporary reception desk with a white washed, reclaimed brick backdrop feature wall from Telluride Natural Stone and of course a large screen TV always featuring our work and TV Show. We will then have two conference rooms in the new office which will allow us to have a lot more flexibility to set up for samples, consultants and in house team meetings and design charrettes. Then along with a few private office a Kitchen and Copy Room we will have a beautiful and large design studio for all of our staff's work stations with a central throw space and community table which will be great during working hours and equally functional for after hour parties and get togethers.




We are set to move in right before the Labor Day weekend and I cannot tell you how excited we are. Follow our move on our Candelara Design Facebook Page at Candelaria Design on Facebook.We will announce a Grand Opening Open House this fall once the temps come down and everyone is back in town. We want to thank so many of our vendors for helping us pull this all together. We will feature all of you and your work on a follow up Blog once the offices are complete and we can get some professional photos featuring your work.





Also - stay tuned to our show on The Design Network. We are changing our name from Architainment to Sketch with Season 2 that we will be releasing this coming month. Our opening episode will feature the transformation of one of our homes in Arcadia, along with our Guest Chef evening with Marcellino's Restaurante and the $5,000 we raised for St. Mary's Food Bank. This episode ties it all together. Other Episodes will feature our office move; a transform on another Candelaria Design home in Paradise Valley in time for our client's wedding which we will also feature; an amazing North Central home and its secret wine cellar, our extreme Guest Houses, and then great grand finale that you will hear more about as we get closer to the date…..stay tuned.

Finally, if you are a Flipboard fan enjoy our Candelaria Design Lifestyle magazine on Flipboard featuring architecture, design travel, food, wine, cars, fashion, tech, lifestyle….. its a lot of fun and easy to use.

Ok - stay cool and stay safe and enjoy life! Here we go!

Candelaria Design participates in the 2014 Phoenix Dream Center

Congratulations to everyone and all the teams, vendors and subcontractors that participated in the rework of six rooms at The Phoenix Dream Center!!! Our room was revealed yesterday for the first time to two special young ladies who will now call this their home. I want to give a special thanks to my Project Manager, Peter Ekama, who spearheaded the architecture for our Team. 

Last September Candelaria Design Associates was invited to take part in the phase II renovation of the Phoenix Dream Center’s Hope Wing by Mark and Chrissy Donnelly who spearheaded this entire project. Candelaria Design Associates was joined by Lynda Martin and Rebecca Arteaga of Camelback Interiors and John Gurley of RJ Gurley Construction and given one former Embassy Suites to transform from its worn and dated state into a home for two women and their newborns. 

Candelaria Design Associates jumped at the opportunity to use our design capabilities to enhance the lives of two women we have yet to meet. Our room, #409, will help expand the capabilities of the PDC’s fourth floor Hope Wing, which is already operating at capacity.

Since 2009, PDC has implemented an amazing outreach program called The Rescue Project (http://www.rescueprojectphx.org/) to bring women to the Hope Wing, and through their efforts, more than 161 women have taken part in the program with 100% retention. The Phoenix Dream Center provides rescue, housing, education, counseling, legal, and medical services, and much needed love and support for women to rebuild their lives shattered by commercial sexual exploitation.

Our room, among the others, plays a key role in providing the safe and loving environment for the women and their children to heal, dream, and ultimately thrive. A beautiful and safe well-design space goes a long way in fostering Hope. CDA thanks all those who have helped to bring our labor of love to fruition. Please come see what we believe is just the beginning of transformations, with many more transformations to come in the lives of the women and children that now make the Hope Wing their home.

 

http://www.phxdreamcenter.org/hope_wing

If you were unable to make the Open House the September Issue of Arizona Foothills Magazine will feature the Phase II Dream Rooms as well as many of the people and companies that contributed to making the rooms possible. Arizona Foothills will also hold a voting similar to Arizona Ranking (http://azbigmedia.com/vote-ranking-arizona) for the public to vote on their favorite Dream Room.  

If you would like to join the efforts of the Phoenix Dream Center through either physical or monetary donations please contact Kathie Gadberry the Dream Center’s Chief Development Officer at kathie@pdcfoundation.org phone: 602.346.8778. We will be gearing up for next year’s makeover so please join us in making a difference. All donated materials and labor are tax deductible.

Thanks to the following Vendors and Subs - your generosity is so appreciated! Many if not all of you are good friends and companies we have had the pleasure of working with over the last 30 years. Thanks for stepping up and making us all look good!!!:

Alexander Sinclair, Banker Insulation, Breinholt Demolition, Ceramica, Chisel Marble & Granite, Clyde Hardware, CopperStone Construction, Creative Designs in Lighting, Creative Metals, Currey Plumbing, Dennis Sage Home Entertainment, Distinctive Custom Cabinetry, Ed Nolte Quality Painting, F1 Cabinets & Furniture, Foreman Furniture, Horizon Art, J Squared, Kravet Fabric,  La Galleria of Scottsdale, MAS Framing, MCC - James Morrissey, Norcon Industries, One Way Electric, Premiere Wood Floors, Roardrunner Glass, Saguaro Drywall, Sexton, Sierra Pacific, Superior Stucco, Surface Refinements, Today's Window Automation Systems & Design, & Younger Brothers!

Let's get Summer Started!

It is time for summer to begin….105º, 110º, 118º???? The mass exodus to the coast, the lakes and the high country has begun. I am off to Durango, San Francisco and Dallas in the next month. Durango and San Fran sound good – Dallas might not be the perfect spot to spend the end of June but I’ll be heading to Coeur d’Alene for the week of the 4^th so that will definitely be the reward.

One of the things I love about our body of work are the summer getaways we get to design! From homes in Colorado, Mexico, Canada,  LaJolla, Coeur d’ Alene, Northern California, to now a lake house in Michigan – what fun! It’s amazing the different approach a client takes with their getaway house from their primary residence. Even their spirit and energy is different.  – so it becomes a very creative endeavor. It all becomes more about living and enjoying life and not so much about working and getting the kids ready for school. It’s about barbecues and entertaining, guests, sleepovers and outdoor spaces.

I think second homes make sense when your children are very young or when you are an empty nester. When your children are in those tween and teen years it is just tough to get everyone there. Second homes also make good sense as a family compound where you share the whole place amongst the family…..if you can get everyone on the same page. Of course, there is always the upkeep, taxes, and HOA’s to deal with any home and vacation and second homes seem to always have their share – especially because they sit empty sometimes for weeks or months.

We have designed some amazing second homes. The key is being able to accommodate lot’s of people at any one time. From a large functioning kitchen, to plenty of outdoor spaces, to ample places to sleep including some creative bunk rooms. It’s all about making it fun and beautiful.

People always ask us can we use you to design our home even if it’s outside of Phoenix. The answer is an affirmative YES! We love it and because design is so virtual anymore we can design a home anywhere. The key is to have your initial meetings on site to really understand the place, spend some time with the local governing authorities to give them some face time, and get to know some local builders and generally a local structural and civil engineer. Once the preliminary design is going everything else can be done long distance – not an issue! We love being able to work with different materials and styles and a different climate and landscape.

So with summer coming keep Candelaria Design in mind not only for your Arizona home but anywhere…..perhaps Italy!!!

Spring 2014 - Possibilities

What a busy start to this year! WOW – I have already traveled to Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, North Carolina, Kansas City, and now New York City and its only April. Off to Denver next weekend to start on a new project, and get a little fly fishing in up in Wyoming and then back to Denver to help my mom and dad move to Phoenix! I am so excited they are moving closer to me. I am looking forward to some of my mom’s amazing cooking and just having more time with them! Then it’s off to Couer d’Alene in a couple weeks to start the design on a new home on Hayden Lake.

All this traveling is totally for fun – fun projects!!! We have eight projects going in California, one now in Idaho after completing four, a couple going in Colorado, several in New Mexico, one in Las Vegas, and a lake house in design in Michigan. Excited about all that’s brewing in Kansas City and Dallas too!  Of course I always work some non-working fun in too on these trips! New York was one of those strictly non-working trips….I took my three daughters, ages 26, 12 and 8 for their first trip to New York. What fun and wow did we cover some ground….as anyone knows who travels with me.  More on that below.

On May 20^th I will be the Guest Chef with my good friend Marcellino Verzino at his fantastic restaurant, Marcellino’s in Old Town Scottsdale.  This started with us selling the 16 spots around the exhibition kitchen table for $165 a pop but then decided to auction the 16 spots off and donate the proceeds to the St. Mary’s Food Bank. We have roughly a month to go and we have already raised over $2500. Go to this link and get your spot! www.candelariadesign.com/auction/ We will be filming the evening for one of our Architainment episodes for Season 2. www.thedesignnetwork.com This is going to be a really fun evening so come join us for some fun and great food and wine! By the way – thanks for the over 250,000 views of Architainment’s Season 1 – on to Season 2!

Meanwhile,  besides my mom and dad moving we are moving our offices. We have been in our little Al Beadle courtyard office for 14 years and this summer we will be relocating to the 4^th floor of the Am-Trust Tower in Scottsdale just to the west of Nieman Marcus and the Scottsdale Fashion Square. Imagine a Candelaria Design meeting and then go right down the elevator and into the Nieman Marcus shoe department….

In terms of exciting projects we are now underway on the design of the Residence at Mountain Shadows. We are designing a number of models that will range in size from 3800 sf to 5500 sf. The plans will be very open with indoor-outdoor features, roof decks with incredible views of Camelback, three car garages and a transitional style. We will be downsizing our typical Paradise Valley 7500-10000 sf home with all of its bells and whistles into these comfortable gems we will be creating. Get ready for more on this!

Our 2014 Candelaria Design Tour Italy is SOLD OUT and we will be starting to fill spots for our 2015 May trip to Florence, Umbria/Tuscany, and Positano/Capri.  This year will be our 11^th tour and we have 20 people traveling with us. Our itinerary this trip includes Florence, Umbria/Tuscany and Lake Como. I am looking forward to this year’s trip and the group we have going! Isabel and I will celebrate our one year anniversary at the Villa d’Este where we got married on the last day of our Tour Italy last year.

Ok now on to New York…. What a great trip we had this last week. I love New York and have now been there several times – the first time being a spur of the moment trip where I was in Virginia for my brother’s wedding in 1990 and I convinced my mom and dad to hop in a rental car after the wedding and we drove up the entire eastern seaboard in one day ending up in Manhattan at dusk whereupon we drove across the Holland Tunnel and parked in the basement of the World Trade Center, took the elevator up to the observation deck and grabbed some pizza.  Got back into the car and then drove across the Brooklyn Bridge and back across Manhattan and then all the way to Philadelphia where we found a hotel.  What a great trip and the only time my folks have been to NYC, and of course the last and only time I was in the World Trade Center. Wow has life and times changed since then.

This trip I took the girls to as many spots as I could in the five days we were there including the new Freedom Tower and the 911 Memorial, the Empire State building, the Today Show, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Easter Mass, a Broadway play – Mamma Mia – Little Italy for dinner, Mario Batali’s Eatly for lunch, Chelsea’s Market, Central Park, Strawberry Fields, 5^th Avenue for shopping, a ferry ride around Manhattan, Carnegie Deli, and of course Times Square.

 

I love NYC and the can do attitude this city represents. Nothing stops it – it just goes and goes and goes…..I like that as you can probably tell! Every trip I find new great places to dine and new streets to explore. I enjoyed getting the girls out of their safe little Phoenix bubble and showing them a place like this with people from every corner of the world. I know it really opened their eyes to what a big world it is.

I love travel for that reason – it keeps your eyes open and shows you endless possibilities. I love possibilities….

The Cinder Box - Micro Dwell

  

 This winter Candelaria Design Project Manager Damon Wake teamed up with friend and fellow architect Hunter Floyd to design and build a miniature dwelling unit for an exhibition at the Shemer Art Center in Arcadia http://www.shemerartcenter.org 

Appropriately named, The Cinder Box, the tiny structure has been on display for the MicroDwell 2014 exhibit (http://www.microdwelling.net/) since the middle of February.  This Sunday was the last day of the show but the Cinder Box will still be on display for another month as it is currently for sale (http://www.cinderboxdwelling.com/).

         

Last year Fire Captain and custom steel Fabricator Patrick McCue started the first MicroDwell Exhibit at the Shemer.  With his experience in steel work at his company RocketFAB (http://www.rocketfab.com/), Pat was inspired to build a small house to sit inside one of his warehouse spaces.  He convinced a few more builders to make structures to display at the show and thus MicroDwell was born.  The Shemer Art Center and Museum, located on Arcadia (50^th St.) and Camelback Road, has a large orchard space that was perfect for the display of small scale structures.  This year’s exhibit featured 13 structures nestled between orange trees.  All of the units vary in size, program, and construction.

 After last year’s show, Hunter and Damon were inspired to design and build their own tiny structure.  While Damon has been working on houses of many scales with Candelaria Design for more than two years, Hunter has been at Corgan working on the commercial side of architecture, primarily on schools and airports.  The summer collaboration resulted in the design of the Cinder Box.

   Once the design was complete, they put together marketing material to raise money for the materials.  After setting up a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cinderboxmicrodwelling) they started a crowd funding campaign.  Their campaign on the site Crowd Hoster (https://open.crowdtilt.com/) raised about $5,800.  Combined with their own funds they embarked on the construction the day after Thanksgiving.  Working nights, weekends, and Holidays, they completed the structure after several long nights and workdays for the show which opened on February 15.

While Damon and Hunter have been drawing up plans for years neither had any construction experience.  Damon worked as a shop technician at Cornell University in the Colleges of Architecture and the Sculpture department several years ago so his skills were rusty. The building process was slow going at first as they figured out, often the hard way, how to put a home together, but the experience proved invaluable.

The plans were simple.  Just some dimensioned framing plans and some elevations.   Much of the design and detailing happened in the field.  As all contractors know, many important decisions are made in the field as the structure starts to take shape.  This was no different.  As the framing went up Hunter and Damon made tweaks to the design, taking advantage of the opportunities they saw inherit in the structure.

           

The design concept was inspired by the dichotomy of desert ecologies.  The exteriors of rough surfaces like cactus and succulents contrast with the fleshy interior that hold the moisture necessary for desert life.  The simple form is clad in a burnt wood that contrasts with the birch plywood interior.  The wood burning technique called “shou-sugi-ban” was borrowed from an ancient Japanese method of burning cypress.  It protects the wood from pests and rot while making it fire resistant.  The plywood’s natural grain is exposed by sealing it with a clear coat of water based polyurethane.  The contrast allows the interior to glow like jewel box while the outside deals with the harsh desert sun.

            The overall structure is 200 square feet.  Not being plumbed gives the structure the flexibility to be dropped on most properties in the Valley without a building permit.  The front entry is set back to create a porch with doors and windows on the north and east sides.  This helps keep the space cool during the day as no direct sun hits the glass after the early morning.  The main living space is big enough for a couch or a fold out bed.  At the back wall is a desk alcove, a closet, and deep set steel shelves that double as a ladder to the loft bed above.  The whole unit is wired with LED lights at the desk and in the wall niches behind the couch.  It also has wiring for Internet and Cable TV.  They also pre-wired for a future mini-split AC system.

 

The structure consists of 2x10 studs which allowed for R30 insulation.  The over structured frame was also necessary to keep the unit rigid during transport.  It was primarily built in a lot in downtown Phoenix before a crane picked it up and placed it on a double-drop low boy trailer.  Then the crane picked it up again and dropped it at its current home on the Shemer’s back yard.  Sitting on 10” concrete blocks allows it to stay portable and move as the future owner sees fit.

Decorative niches with cove lights change color and provide an opportunity for storage or art.  The hot rolled steel plates with water jet hand holes were kept raw to expose the natural “mill scale” finish that the steel comes with out of the steel mill.  Pipe fittings also serve as a hand rail and guard rail at the loft.

Brandon Boetto of SlabHaus(http://slabhaus.com/) teamed up with Hunter and Damon to make a custom piece of concrete furniture just for the dwelling.  They took the burnt wood theme and created a board formed light weight concrete slab for a coffee table.  Brandon floated a piece of glass over the table and set it on top of four inset hair pin legs.  The table was raffled off in an Instagram competition.

The Cinder Box is perfect for any use from a cabin up north to a back yard studio or guest bedroom.  It can fit a TV in front of the couch and be Man Cave or just a get-away space for the kids.  The space is flexible enough to fit the needs of any future owner.  The design is flexible enough to be customized to meet an owner’s needs.  The structure is for sale so Hunter and Damon are still talking to any potential buyers (http://tinyhouselistings.com/cinder-box-dwelling/).

So far the reception has been better than expected.  Articles on the show and specifically on the Cinder box have appeared in the New Times (http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2014/02/microdwell_2014_at_the_shemer.php) , the Arizona Republic, NPR (KJZZ)( http://kjzz.org/content/19779/microdwell-celebrates-diminutive-digs) , Houzz.com (http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24234311) , Fox 10 News (http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/24795943/2014/02/22/microdwell-exhibit-demonstrates-minimalist-living-at-phoenix-exhibit) , tinyhouseswoon.com (http://tinyhouseswoon.com/cinder-box/) , and more.  Hunter and Damon are also due to appear on the cover of the magazine LocalReVibe this next month.  Channel 11 local Phoenix news is also due to have a piece on the show coming up.

Now that the show is ending, they are both ready for some long needed rest.  As this second quarter of 2014 starts to heat up both Candelaria Design and Corgan have had the good fortune of getting busier in this improving economy.  Damon and Hunter are excited to focus on their respective roles as Project Managers while they bring their newly added building experiences back to the office! So you see, we don’t just design mega-mansions – even in Arcadia!

Honoring and Remembering George Christensen & Bruce Kimball

In the last month many of us in the design community both celebrated and honored the lives of two architects who not only changed the Arizona landscape with their wonderful designs and collaborations but inspired and mentored many of us. Last month we lost one of the best free hand designer and sketcher in Bruce Kimball and this last week we celebrated what would have been the 85^th birthday of the late George Christensen.

I met both of these two amazing mentors in 1979 while attending ASU. George was one of my professors and Bruce taught sketching and rendering. I was fortunate enough to get my first job in an architect’s office in 1982 when I started as a draftsman for Christensen, Roberts and Jones and ended up becoming George’s partner, along with Brian Cassidy and Kym Billington in 1987.  This partnership lasted until 1999 when George retired and I went on to open Candelaria Design. 

During all of this time we were always collaborating with the talents and friendship of  Bruce Kimball who did a lot of our quick conceptual sketches and renderings from George’s amazing ideas and concepts. All I can say – and anyone who knew these two – was that we worked hard and we played hard! We would crank all day on a design charette and then as we approached the finish line George would crack a bottle of Dewar’s and pour everyone a Dewar’s with a splash and off we went solving the world’s problems!

I learned so much from these two – of course the most important lesson – working hard and playing hard. Skills from design and sketching to just how to work with and collaborate with clients and bring their wishes to reality. These two were not only masters in the design and presentation process with their loose and quick means of communicating an idea including sketching upside down so the sketch was to the client, but they were masters in just how to deal with clients and people – always friendly, always positive and always creative. Finally, they were always giving back to the profession through teaching at ASU, to George and his involvement with the AIA , to their yearly San Francisco – ASU spring break trip! So many firms have sprung from architects who either worked for or learned from these two.

Bruce’s memorial service last month was very nice and it was so good to see friends and colleagues I had not seen in 30 years. His wife Patti is an angel and the whole thing brought back so many great memories.  Following the ceremony many of us chatted about getting together to celebrate George’s 85^th birthday which we then did this past Wednesday at George’s old neighborhood pub, Feeney’s. We had a great turnout from partners from the late 70’s all the way to his final group from 2000 on. George passed away ten years ago and its hard to believe it has already been that long. It was great to share a Dewar’s with a splash and a cigar with so many from those great days.

So much of this profession is about sharing your talent and teaching others – mentoring. Its passing on the knowledge and wisdom while having fun doing it. That was the mastery of these two – Christensen and Kimball. Cheers to you both!

Before & After - Remodeling!!!

I love how we always get pigeon-holed into the Mega-Mansion world. Yes we do our fair share of Mega-Mansions and we love them! However, most people find it surprising that probably a good 40% of our work are remodels, renovations, and additions….and we love them!

Candelaria Design Formal Mediterranean Estate in Paradise Valley ~ Desert Star Construction ~ Crestwood Homes

Before - Clearwater Estates

Most architects once they break into the Mega-Mansion marketplace turn their noses to the remodel and addition market. Not us – I have been doing remodels and additions for over thirty years.

I have many reasons for this. First, I love the challenge of a remodel or an addition. They are like a big puzzle waiting to be solved. How do you take something that might be well done and add or modify it, or how do you take something that is horrible and make it all better? People expect perfection when you design and build from scratch but with a remodel it usually is more of a feeling or need for help or for any level of improvement.

After - Clearwater Estates

Concept Sketch

The market is huge and with the plethora of bad homes that were hastily designed and constructed during the last boom cycle, the inventory of potential remodels is enormous. Land is getting harder and harder to find and lots with great views even tougher. I am always amazed at how many absolutely horrible homes are parked on amazing lots.

Before - Clearwater Estates

I know that one of the best ways to evaluate a remodel or potential remodel is before you purchase it! This can’t always be done, but if you are in that position it is best to have an architect and builder on board as part of your team to assess the property in terms of your needs and wishes. Set up an adequate due diligence period with the seller and get to work. If you already own the property and have been living there for

awhile then that can be an advantage too in that you know the property and what its downfalls are but you may not see all the advantages – the "can't see the trees in the forest" phenomenon. Get your builder and architect out there and do the same thing – some brainstorming!

After - Clearwater Estates

I then like to quickly sketch some thoughts on an as-built set of plans. First a little bit about as-builts. I don’t care what set of plans you may or may not have, they will be wrong and not accurate. We always take some time to go through and verify the as-builts as best we can. These are our XRays and if they are not right it is difficult to diagnose the patient correctly.

We like to do our own as-builts of both the plans and exterior elevations so that we actually see every corner of the house inside and out. It gets the house in our heads.

Many times, depending on what we are doing we like to get a survey showing all property lines, setbacks, and easements. I cannot tell you how many existing homes are over setbacks or even over property lines! We always want a copy of the CC&R’s to make sure we understand the deed restrictions of the properties. Most properties don’t allow chickens or small farm animals, amongst other things that you will likely find most interesting and many times politically incorrect! We always get down to the local jurisdiction and/or HOA and see what they have up their sleeves.

Many projects require design review of some sort so you want to have a good face to face with them as they can make your life miserable if you ignore their wishes.

Kitchen - Before

Ok with that done, our process then starts with sitting down with the homeowner and having a brainstorming “what if” session.

This is fun and creative. Instead of me sitting down with their wish list and coming up with something I think is unique and special, I like to do this process with the homeowner. I like to extract their ideas and make them creative and beautiful. They know their house and they know what they like! Once we have some ideas on paper we clean them up and break them down into almost a shopping list of areas or phases that the builder can then prepare an initial budget range for each item or area. From there we can dial in the scope a bit more and then further develop the design knowing where the budget it. So many architects and designers lose this aspect and carry the client to far down the design path without getting a handle on the budget. It is difficult to budget remodels and additions because they are usually so piecemeal. Having a great team with a lot of past historical data on hand really makes a difference.

The last thing you want to do is go all the way down the design path and then put the project out to bid!!! That is the absolute worst way to do a project of this nature. It all becomes about price and opens the client up to a plethora of unexpected surprises and stress.

Kitchen - After

As the design develops the budget and pricing follows along. We love the team approach! It has proven over and over to be the most successful way to execute a remodel and addition.

No project is too big or too small. We are doing everything form whole house remodel/makeovers to just picking new paint colors and tweaking a few materials and the landscaping on the exterior. I am always amazed at how sometimes just a few modifications, well done and well thought out can make an enormous difference to the aesthetic

feel and value of a property and how using someone unskilled can completely ruin the value of a property.

Concept Sketch and Project Under Construction with Schultz Development

Before - AZ Biltmore Patio Home

The other big question that pops up during major remodels and renovations is should we just take the whole thing down. I personally hate to see and generate unnecessary waste so I am always inclined to try and save and work with what’s

there but there is a point where it just does not make sense and scraping is the right answer. Again, having the architect and builder on board right out of the gate can really help a homeowner make the proper assessment as early as possible so that fees and costs are kept to a minimum.

The problem many times with homeowners is they start the project with a limited scope and vision but then during the process, especially during construction, get carried away and start the “while we are at it” drill and next thing you know they are remodeling or modifying the whole house. That gets expensive and that’s usually when I hear “we should have taken the whole thing down!” Take your time folks! Don’t rush the design and budgeting process. Think through the design – live with the ideas for a while before you rush into demolishing!

Also – work with your team during the design phase to get all of your selections, materials, and goodies selected. These will make up 50% of your budget and if done ahead of starting construction it will save you time, money and aggrevation!

After - AZ Biltmore Patio home ~ Schultz Development 

Ok – I will leave it there for now. Definitely more to come on this subject. I will be posting several Before and Afters in the months ahead and relay some of the lessons and cool ideas learned in each project! The important thing is to put a great team together, set your budget and expectations early and clearly and work WITH your team to create beauty and value! And remember to have FUN!

Team Photo - House under construction in Desert Mountain ~ Signature Homes ~ Earth & Images Interiors

Super Bowl Sunday - Standing Rib Roast with Porcini Mushroom Sauce

Roast 2 in the oven is a Standing Rib Roast with a delicious porcini mushroom sauce. Yes we had to go with two roasts. This is before I knew the Broncos would be the third roast of the day! Wasn't sure if my guests like beef or pork, so we are covered.

1 standing rib roast with 4 - 5 ribs.
6-1/2 tsp dried crushed rosemary
Kosher Salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil and then 2 tbsp olive oil
1-1/2 oz dried porcini mushrooms
4 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
10 oz sliced white mushrooms
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp flour - gluten free
1-1/2 cups reduced sodium beef broth
3/4 cup dry red wine
2 bunches fresh rosemary for the garnish

Place the roast, fat-side up, in a heavy shallow roasting pan. In a small bowl, mix together 4 tsp of the rosemary, 1 tbsp of the kosher salt, and 2 tsp pepper.  Stir in the 1/2 cup of olive oil. Brush the roast on all sides and bottom with this mixture. Make sure roast is at room temperature when you add to the oven.

Put the dried mushrooms in a medium bowl and cover with 2 cups of boiling water and let them steep for 20 min. Strain the mushrooms and like a sponge push out the liquid through a strainer. Collect the juice/liquid in a bowl and save the mushrooms. Then coarsely chop the porcini mushrooms and chop the garlic.



Heat 2 tbsp of butter and the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large, heavy cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the sliced white mushrooms and cook stirring until browned for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and chopped porcini mushrooms and cook stirring for another minute or two. Season with 1/2 tsp kosher salt and several grinds of black pepper.







Combine the remaining 2 tbsp butter, remaining 2-1/2 tsp rosemary and flour in a small bowl and mash with a fork to make a paste.


Arrange the rack at lower position and preheat the oven to 350º. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 125º - 130º F - about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Transfer the roast to a serving platter and cover loosely with foil. Let rest 35 to 40 minutes while you prepare the sauce. Skim and discard any fat from the pan juices. Set the roasting pan over two burners over medium heat. Add the reserved porcini socking liquid, the north, and the wine. Bring to a boil whisking constantly to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom and sides of the pan into the liquids, for about 2-3 minutes. Add the mushroom mixture and cook for 1 minute more. Whisk in the butter and flour mixture, a tablespoon at a time, and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, for about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.


To serve, garnish the roast on the platter with several sprigs of fresh rosemary. Slice the roast and pour the mushroom sauce on the meat or serve in a gravy boat.

Enjoy - we will!

Super Bowl Sunday - Gorgonzola Stuffed Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Ok - getting ready for some Bronco action. Let's get our two roasts ready and prepped before everyone gets here.

Roast 1 - Gorgonzola Stuffed Herb and red Chile Crusted Pork Loin

Large Pork Loin - Minimum 2-1/2 lb boneless pork loin.
4 tbsp dried herbs de Provence
2 tbsp to fast of crushed red chile pepper flakes
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1-1/2 cup of gluten free bread crumbs
1 cup of gorgonzola blue cheese - crumbled
3 tbsp plus 1 cup of chicken broth
4-5 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 slightly under-ripe Bosc Pears, un-peeled, quartered and and cored.
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs for garnish


Using a long knife core out both ends of the pork loin and create a pocket. Turn the knife to make a nice core.

Mix together the herbs de Provence, salt and pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. Split the mixture in half in two separate bowls. Add the breadcrumbs to one of the two bowls and add the cheese, mix this all together. Add 3 - 4 tbsp of the chicken broth to get a nice moist mixture.

Then take the herb, cheese and crumb mixture and start stuffing the roast core with the mixture. Use the end of a wooden spoon to get the mixture deep into the roast. Work from both ends. Once stuffed, pat the roast dry and rub the other bowl of seasonings all over the roast.

Arrange the rack in the oven at the center position and pre-heat the oven to 400º F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp of olive oil and 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar, then add the pears and toss to coat.

In a large, roasting pan/tray, add the remaining 2 tbsp of oil, or enough to lightly cover the bottom, and set the pan over 1 to 2 burners on medium heat. When the oil is hot, brown the loin on all sides, for 6-8 minutes. Place the pan in the oven and roast the pork for 10 minutes and then scatter the pear quarters skin side up all around the loin. Roast now for another 10 minutes, and then turn the meat and pears. Continue roasting until the thermometer registers 150º F when inserted into the thickest part of the loin and the pears are tender and golden for 20 to 25 minutes longer.




Remove the meat and pears to a cutting board; cover loosely with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. Remove and discard any loose stuffing from the pan. Skim off and discard any fat in the pan.

Place the roasting pan over high heat and add the remaining 1 cup of broth and remaining 1 tbsp of vinegar. Reduce the liquids by a third while scraping the bits off the bottom of the pan into the sauce. Swirl in the butter and season with additional salt if needed.




To serve, slice the roast 1/4" thick. place the slices on a serving platter and garnish with the pears and fresh herbs. Drizzle the meat and pears with the pan sauce!

This roast was so flavorful and juicy! The best - you will enjoy this and easy to make.

Super Bowl Sunday Tiramisu

Let's get the dessert started so it can chill and set up while we watch the big game.

Here are the ingredients:

Zabaglione

1/8" cup of heavy cream

1/4" cup of semisweet chocolate chips

4 large egg yolks

1/3 cup of sugar

1/3 cup of Marsala wine or Vin Santo

Pinch of salt

I start by warming up 1/8" cup of heavy cream in a sauce pan just so its warmed over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Keep warm.

Then in a metal bowl add the sugar, egg yolks, pinch of salt, and Marsala wine and whisk them together. While doing this I get a large pot with about 2" of water heating up. Get this hot but not boiling - just steaming nicely. Place the metal bowl over the pot and keep whisking the mixture. Use a candy thermometer and keep whisking until the mixture is thick like a custard and the temp of the custard is around 160º to 165º. Don't let the eggs scramble! Whisk away. When you hit 160º take the metal bowl off the heat and whisk a bit more so the custard is nice and thick like a soupy pudding.

Fold in the chocolate chip mixture so they are all combined and chill the metal bowl in the fridge.

This is a great dessert on its own with fruit in a dessert cup!

Tiramisu

1- 8 ounce tub of Marscapone Cheese

3/4 cup of heavy cream

2/3 cup of sugar

2 cups of coffee or espresso

32 Savolardi ladyfinger cookies.

Unsweetened Cocoa powder sifted over the top.

Take the heavy cream and 1/3 cup of sugar and whip this into stiff peaks.  Then stir in the Marscapone Cheese and mix. If you have an electric mixer that is the way to go for perfect consistency. Then add the Zabaglione and mix that in. Get it all smooth and incorporated.

Line a 9-1/2" x 5" x 2-1/4" meatloaf pan with saran wrap. Then take the coffee and dissolve 1/3 cup of sugar and combine. Dip one cookie at a time very quickly so they do not get too soggy and line the bottom of the pan with the sugar side down. Line the entire bottom with the dipped cookies and then spread half of the Zabaglione mixture over the top with a spatula. Then add another layer of dipped cookies. Add the final half of the Zabaglione mixture and then a final layer of dipped cookies.

Wrap with saran wrap and let the whole thing sit in the fridge for about 6 hours to set up.  When ready to serve, unwrap the top, flip the pan over on a decorative plate and unwrap the saran wrap from the bottom (now the top). Sift some unsweetened cocoa over the top, slice and serve.

Super Bowl Sunday - Go Broncos!

                  
Ok - right out of the gate I am a huge Denver Bronco fan! Yes that is my John Elway signed Denver Bronco helmet that will be adorning my coffee table during today's game. I grew up in Denver and my Dad was an original Denver Bronco season ticket holder. Trust me he still doesn't miss a game; it is just now he enjoys them from his home with a glass of wine and Mom's amazing cooking….smart man!

Speaking of cooking, we are going to do some today! I have a few friends coming over, including several Durango High School classmates: including one I had not seen since my senior year in 1978! So that will be fun! We also will have star ASU lineman and former Detroit Lion, Juan Roque, in the house so we are getting up early and getting started.

I thought today's blog would be an ongoing blog today where I add the recipe with pics of each dish we prepare - many of which my Facebook friends have been clamoring for! I am going to update the blog during the day as we prepare the dishes and our guests arrive! Today's menu:

Porchini Mushroom Crusted Standing Rib Roast
Herb Crusted and Blue Cheese Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Balsamic Roasted Veggies
Tiramisu

and of course champagne and a MonteCristo cigar to celebrate the Broncos victory!

So let's get started! First we need to get the tiramisu made so it can set up all day and be ready when we begin the celebration. Here we go!

30 Year Anniversary of Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ

Historic North Central Restoration - Nance Construction, Berghoff Design, Vallone Design

I cannot believe this month is already half over. This is going to be another busy year. You can feel it in the air and the way this month has started. Wow – what a start. I hope you all saw our intro Episode 1 of Architainment at http://www.thedesignnetwork.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=477

We have received over 77,000 views so far! Episode 2 - Designing Fantasies - will launch on The Design Network at www.thedesignnetwork.com on Tuesday, February 4th! Stay tuned for an amazing Architainment launch party at two $9 million Candelaria Design ~ MRA Custom Homes estates in Paradise Valley featured in Episode 1. See our Candelaria Design Events tab for details.

First and foremost we are excited to be retained to design the residential portion of the new Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley. What an opportunity to bring our thirty plus year history of designing residences in Paradise Valley to such a marquis property.

Enchantment Resort - Sedona

And so that’s the perfect segue to looking back at an Arizona classic I was fortunate to be a part of and that’s the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona http://enchantmentresort.com. It was 30 years ago when we started our initial design work for this truly spectacular place while I was a Project Manager with Christensen-Miller & Associates. The resort sits on 80 acres in the gorgeous Boynton Canyon which is the birthplace of the ancient ancestors of the Yavapai Tribe whereupon they emanated from the earth.  When you visit this canyon you feel the energy or the “vortex” of the canyon.

I was fortunate to be assigned this project by my mentor and amazing architect, the late George W. Christensen. I was 23 years old – hard to imagine! I remember my first visit there and was in awe of the challenge of first having to rezone this property for the use as a resort. It involved gaining the acceptance of the Yavapai Tribe, Sierra Club, the National Forest, and the public in general. After a year of designs, sketches, hearings, meetings, etc., we were ready go.

Left to right - John Gardiner, Merv Griffin, George Christensen and Mark Candelaria

Our client was the late John Gardiner of the famed John Gardnier’s Tennis Ranch in Paradise Valley and his team, primarily my good friend and fellow Charro Grande, Clayton McKnight! Add the construction team of the Phil W. Morris Company and their Project Manager, Larry Peery. Larry, Clayton and I are all still great friends some 30 years later – but this is where that friendship started.

Enchantment Resort Clubhouse

Croquet Lawn at the Enchantment Clubhouse

The project involved remodeling and adding to an existing fired adobe house and turning that into the Clubhouse. The guest house would become the Spa. Then we would add some 50 casitas which we walked every spot and determined exactly where we would nestle them in and save trees going as far as to have them grow right through the decks. We master planned and designed some 30 patio homes and then laid out all of the single family lots of which we were fortunate to design several custom homes including a fun Pueblo style casa for the Hall of Fame quarterback, Y.A. Tittle.

Enchantment Casita Exterior

So many people contributed to the beauty of Enchantment. From Clayton McKnight’s wife and John Gardiner’s daughter, Tricia McKnight, who did all of the interiors, Dan Richardson from Security Savings who spearheaded the project, and many of my teammates at Christensen-Miller, especially Craig Stoffel who built an amazing model of the whole canyon!

Enchantment Casita Interior

Enchantment Clubhouse Pool Terrace

Some 30 years later, the Enchantment Resort is still one of my crowning achievements and is one of my favorite places to go, escape and look back at some amazing times and memories. I encourage you to take someone special and go enjoy a romantic escape.

Enchantment Resort Aerial - Boynton Canyon - Sedona

Architainment - Premier Launch this Wednesday

We finally made it! Our first Episode of Architainment launches this Wednesday, January 15th, on The Design Network!

First - Where do you find it? Ok our show and The Design Network is NOT on TV! So don't go channel surfing trying to find it - you won't. And it's not on a Pay-Per-View! This is a family show!!! You will find it on the internet just like YouTube and NetFlix. Go to The Design Network at www.thedesignnetwork.com  and you will find it there - but not until Wednesday. The nice thing is once launched it is always there and you can watch it any time and as many times as you like!

Second - What is the show about? Architainment is a show about taking the bones of a building and creating  fabulous architecture  and then blending it with entertainment and a way of life….most often a lavish life where dream homes become real.  The Candelaria Design team will unveil some amazing spaces with the intention of creating a lifestyle to be expressed on that stage…that home setting.  So Architainment follows my team and I as we take on the challenges, drama and rich rewards of designing these fantastic spaces where people live, entertain, escape and gather to celebrate and live everyday life the luxury way…. globe trotting the world  to find the inspiration for a room, a getaway,  a party place, oasis, haven or escape…or to create unusual getaways, interesting fantasies or private places.

Episode 1 focuses on  introducing me and my blend of home design and lifestyle with an intention of infusing the Southern European way of life into these creations - from Spain to Italy. The first show also showcases some of our fabulous homes both from the ground to magical aerial footage of several of our homes.  Episode 1 shares my passion for the Italian culture, way of life, and elements of architecture that influence our projects in America and promote entertaining and living richly in the luxurious spaces we create.  Architainment is architecture, design and entertainment all rolled into one piece that creates the cornerstone for good luxury living.  That is Architainment.

Here is a sneak peek!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tvsd24k6cy01ry7/INTRO%20PROMO.mov

Architainment is the perfect cocktail mix of beautiful construction and design that provides the backdrop to entertain and live large, (and sometimes small),….really well.  Architainment will provide viewers a sneak peek into a whole new world of high end design -  and the people who populate it.  

Third -  How many Episodes are we doing? We will be doing five (5) episodes in our first season and then hopefully five more in our second season of course if we are well received. Therefore….




Give us Views!!!! www.thedesignnetwork.com 

We appreciate all of your views of our show. We will be featuring many of our projects from Arizona and around the country. We will be featuring our Candelaria Tour Italy trips, many of our cooking extravaganzas, our clients, builders, vendors and my wonderful cast of characters - the Candelaria Design team! Each episode we will be sending an email blast listing all of the builders, realtors, designers and vendors featured in each respective episode. Our clients' privacy is always of utmost importance and we so appreciate their graciousness in allowing us to film and document these wonderful creations of so many of us.

I hope you enjoy the show and use it to show off our work and your work! Share the link and post them on your pages with descriptions of your work. That is the beauty of the internet! You will love the footage! It is fun and I hope it inspires and entertains.

Finally I want to thank several people who were instrumental in making this happen. I like to thank Meara Perrin who as our Marketing Director got the ball rolling with The Design Network this summer. I especially want to thank my team for all the time we invested in this project. Of course thanks goes to our clients who opened up their homes to our cameras. I want to offer thanks to founder and CEO, Jason Harris and The Design Network www.thedesignnetwork.com for their time and investment in Architainment. Last but not least, I want to thank my director, producer and writer, the fabulous Heidi Foglesong! She is flat out amazing and this lady gets the job done. What a talent and what a just flat out cool person to hang out with and collaborate with.


Ok so here we go! Let's have some fun and give us lot's of views and shares this week!!! 

2013 It's a Wrap - Year in Review

Let's make a toast to 2013 and welcome in 2014.

I love the quiet of the end of the year. Our clients are all away and spending time with their families and so are my employees. Our offices are closed between Christmas and New Years to let everyone catch up and enjoy some down time. I love the time to reflect, recharge and set goals for the new year.

 

The Candelaria Design Team

2013 was a busy year for Candelaria Design. I look forward to all that lies ahead in 2014. I have such a great crew who make ALL of this possible. We are working on so many amazing projects both here locally and throughout the western United States and for some very interesting and famous people! I love that aspect of this profession.

I’m excited for the new year! My team is in the process of setting new goals for the year and I just love seeing them dream and challenge themselves. It inspires me.  I think so many people go to work to do their job. We are so fortunate to create every day… and look at what we get to create!!! We are so fortunate.

So here is a recap of Candelaria Design’s 2013 and then we will look ahead.

January 2013

We saw the construction of the beautiful Spanish Colonial residence in Arcadia Silverleaf being built by Fratantoni Luxury Estates take shape from concept to reality.

We welcomed Rob Banach to our Candelaria Design team!

Our friends the Baskins with Isabel in Atlanta

Isabel and I traveled to Atlanta to the Market and to visit friends and start on a new apartment rehab project outside of Atlanta.

Atlanta, GA Skyline

We completed the design for a new home that broke ground in Desert Mountain with builder Jim Manship and designer Paul DenBoer.

The Candelaria Design Team with our friends at St. Mary's Food Bank

We had our day at the St. Mary’s Food Bank where we bagged several thousand meals for the hungry.

We started work on a beautiful historic renovation in the Encanto district with GM Hunt Builders.

February 2013

I rode in the Parada del Sol in Scottsdale with my fellow Scottsdale Charros.

We collaborated with Telluride Natural Stone, Hinkley’s Lighting, and Creative Metals to create the new Charro Lodge Façade at Scottsdale Stadium for the Scottsdale Charros. http://www.springtraining.com

We then enjoyed some spring training baseball with the Candelaria Design Team!

MC, Rob Banach, Jeff Kramer and Peter Ekama

We completed and photographed a beautiful contemporary southwest residence renovation with Angelica Henry Interiors and J Andrew Development in Carefree that later in the year received several ASID awards.

March 2013

We had several fun Meet and Greets throughout the year at Isabel’s Earth and Images.

We saw the completion of an amazing Candelaria Design contemporary home in Paradise Valley built by Desert Star Construction with interiors by MMB Studios.

We made homemade pasta at a client’s new home and broke in their kitchen!

Construction started on a Santa Barbara style renovation in Paradise Valley with Schultz Development and Ownby Design.

We welcomed Meredith Thomson to our Candelaria Design Team!

Meredith Thompson

April 2013

Santa Fe, NM

Denver, CO

Austin, TX

Tiffany and Karin Candelaria

Isabel and I moved my oldest daughter, Tiffany, to Denver with a stop in Santa Fe and then a quick jaunt down to Austin, TX.

Denver, CO

Austin, TX

Chicago, IL

Isabel and I then went to Chicago and Madison, WI for the SubZero demonstration of all their new products.

Chicago, IL

Subzero Headquarters

Tim Mathewson and Julia Baker

My PM, Tim Mathewson, attended the Julia Baker television show premiere party at the Julia Baker Confection store we designed at the Biltmore Fashion Park. The store would later win a ASID award for the work of designer, Claire Ownby.

Construction completed on this Candelaria Design, 23,000 sf formal mediterranean estate at Silverleaf constructed by Schultz Development, Interiors by Treken Interiors and Landscape by Berghoff Design Group. The home comes complete with a Cat Moat around the back yard.

PM Braden Santarcangelo and I started work on a contemporary design in Paradise Valley.

May 2013

Jeremy McVicars, Luke Wilson, Vivian Ayala,  Jeff Berghoff, and MC

The Candelaria Design team started preliminary concept sketches along with Berghoff Design for a 50,000 sf home in Silverleaf to be constructed by Vista General.

One of my clients purchased this Candelaria Design home in Arcadia and we went to work adding new touches along with Schultz Development.

Isabel and I prepared a paella dinner for the winner of the Arizona Residential Architects silent Holiday auction at the private residence of noted Interior Designer. Anita Lang and  12 of her guests on the terrace of the Camelback Optima.

June 2013

I then was cook for the Scottsdale Charro Pre-ride for a weekend in June. Of course I whipped up paella for the boys out in the boonies.

I then traveled to Coeur d’Alene to visit a couple of our newly completed projects there and check in on friends and contact and put the eye on some new projects.

Isabel and I then went to Dallas to start our new Bentwood Kitchens Candelaria Collection cabinet line with our good friend Colin Snider and Randy Pittard of Bentwood Luxury Kitchens.

http://www.bentwoodkitchens.com/flash/

July 2013

We then headed to Colorado to photograph this Candelaria Design home on the west fork of the Dolores River in southwest Colorado and enjoyed some time in Telluride.

Started conceptual sketches for a new home on the Paradise Valley Country Club with Schultz Development, Berghoff Design Group and Vallone Interiors while demo got underway.

Enjoyed seeing my clients move into their new Silverleaf Rural Mediterranean home built by Salcito Custom Homes.

Started conceptual sketches for a new home in Paradise Valley.

Started conceptual sketches for a new contemporary design in Arrowhead Ranch being built by Sage Luxury Homes.

Prepared another paella dinner for 16 at Goodall Custom Cabinetry and Millwork at the Scottsdale Design Center.

Gave a tour of a half dozen of my homes to The Design Network and started the launch of my own show, Architainment, premiering in January 2014! Stay tuned for details!!! www.thedesignnetwork.com

August 2013

Saw construction start on the 86 new cabins at the Rim Club  in Payson designed by Candelaria Design being built by MB Fine Homes with Interiors by Earth and Images.

I then went to New York City with Isabel to the Market and to visit with a number of interior designers and architects. 

Saw the completion of the MRA Custom Home Estates in Paradise Valley and started design work on an $18 million 17,000 sf estate for them followed by a spectacular open house in October.

Started filming for Architainment.www.thedesignnetwork.com

September 2013

 

We then took off on our 10^th Anniversary Candelaria Design Tour Italy culminating with Isabel's and my wedding at the Villa d'Este on Lake Como.

October 2013

Went to Highpoint, NC with Isabel to check ou the Market and participate in the filming for the Hot List for The Design Network.
http://www.thedesignnetwork.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=445

Started research and programming for the new Bat Cave for Wayne Industries….more details to follow!

The Candelaria Design Team

Saw the completion of this contemporary renovation at the Sanctuary in Paradise Valley by MAK Construction.

Started conceptual sketches for a new contemporary home on the north face of Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley.

November 2013

Braden Santarcangelo, MC and Anthony Salcito

Enjoyed a hosted open house by my client of their newly completed Candelaria Design Rural Mediterranean Estate in Silverleaf built by Salcito Custom Homes with interiors by David Micheal Miller and Lighting by Walter Spitz of Creative Designs in Lighting.

Anthony Salcito & Walter Spitz

Toured and filmed the completion of this Contemporary Santa Barbara Style estate in Paradise Valley built by Schultz Development, interiors by David Michael Miller Interiors, Landscape by Berghoff Design Group and Lighting by Wlater Spitz of CDL.

December 2013

             

Visited our Rural Mediterranean Estate on an 80 acre lettuce farm in Yuma, Arizona to prepare studies and sketches for the new Guest House.  This 8,000 sf house comes complete with custom designed mouse houses.

We completed design for a new home in Desert Mountain for a wonderful couple whose dream it has been for some time to build this amazing home. They have selected my good friends and builders Dominick Abatemarco and his nephew, Chris Watts to build the home. We look forward to an emotional groundbreaking party on site in January. 

So that’s the year! As you can see we stayed busy and this doesn’t even include my personal life….. yes I do have one! See you all in 2014…let’s make it a great one. I'm planning a very productive  year with two tours to Italy planned, over 50 projects underway, three daughters and time with my angel on earth, Isabel….it will be a busy one. I wish all of you a joyous, creative, and happy New Year and I hope I get to either design something or cook something for each and every one of you in 2014!