9/11 - An Arizona sister pays tribute to her fallen NYC brother.

This week marks the 14th year since that horrible day we all remember as 9-11. I remember the morning well, being awakened on my alarm radio with the sounds of KTAR morning show host, Ned Foster, describing that one of the World Trade Towers had been hit with a plane. I laid in bed thinking was this real and turned on the TV to see the tower on fire and clear skies. I immediately thought to myself, "How does a jet hit one of the towers on a completely clear day?" In an instant my first thought was this was an act of terrorism and slowly woke up to this most surreal morning and then day. 

As I continued to watch the TV I could see another plane approaching and saying. "Oh my God there comes another jet," and watched the second tower hit live on TV. I then called all of my employees, as it was still before 7am here in AZ, and told them to just all stay home. As the day unfolded, we watched the Pentagon struck, the plane crash in Pennsylvania, the Anthrax scares... it was just all bad. 

But as with Katrina four years later, I watched all of this from the comfort and safety of my home. But, as with all of these events, real people died, gave their lives, or lived through the loss and aftermath. It is truly hard to know the grief and despair one goes through in an episode like this.

Flashback to last month, and my visit to New York. I was blogging about our trip when our good friend Maureen Geraghty, who is the Director of Business Development for Underfoot and regularly attends the ARA Network events, emails me that she is enjoying my blog and tells me a story that moved me which I would like to share. 

My brother, Eddie, was a Chief in the NYFD.  His firehouse is located in Time Square; Batallion 9, Engine 54, Ladder 4 at 48th and 8th.  Eddie was posthumously promoted to Deputy Chief as he was going to be promoted shortly after 9/11.   My grandfather and father were retired NYFD Captain's. My three brothers, brother in law, and three nephews are all firefighters.   All 3 nephews got on the job after 9/11, one of my nephews is my brother Eddie's son Connor.  My brother in law, Tommy DeAngelis, also a Chief in the NYFD was an active firefighter that day.

Eddie was 45 years old and had a wife and three young boys 14, 11 and 4 years old on 9/11. He loved his life and he loved his job.  It is a wonderful thing to see someone love their work so much.  Eddie's goal was to be running the department some day, and we all knew he would.  

We didn't know where Eddie or Tommy were on 9/11 and that was the tough part, especially for my parents.  My other two brothers worked that night and called home right away. They were down at the site every day digging and looking for miracles.  My brother Stevie later told me they knew the moment they were at the site that no one was coming home.  We found out where my brother Ed was and what he was doing by listening to a recording of his last moments.  Someone recorded the radio channel that the chief's were on and we got to hear him doing a job he loved and doing it well. I have attached a copy of some of his last words that are at a memorial in NY.  He is Batallion 9.    We found out that he was in the second tower that got hit.  He was on the 40th floor setting up a triage unit outside the elevator.  The purpose was to stabilize then transport the injured down to ambulances awaiting.  Eddie was communicating with another Chief, Oriel Palmer in the recording.  Oriel and his crew were walking up to the 72nd floor, where the planes wheels had cut through the building.  Oriel arrived on 72 and he was describing to my brother what he was seeing.  Eddie had just finished setting up the triage unit and said "I'm coming up Oriel" and then the building came down.  Eddie had no idea that the building was coming down - and indeed he was "going up."  I feel blessed to know that he did not suffer or have any fear like so many had that day.  My family also lost a brother in law as well, Thomas DeAngelis, also a Chief in the NYFD. 

This email really brought it all home for me. I had not choice than for Isabel and I to visit Battalion 9 on 48th Street and 8th Avenue which we did. What a wonderful experience and it was so nice to share some time with the good men and women of the NYFD and pay respect to Maureen's brother and all of those who gave their lives on this fateful day. If in NYC take some time to head over there and say hello to the crew and bring them some doughnuts or bagels. They love it and will take the time to give you a tour of their station. Thank you Maureen for reaching out to Isabel and I while on our trip. It was the most meaningful moment of any trip I have ever taken to NYC.

So, please take some time this coming Friday, September 11th, to reflect, pray, and thank all of those who gave their lives that day and all of those that lost those who gave their lives on that day. People and families across the world, and especially those in the Middle East, to this day still suffer the loss and instability that started with that one despicable and cowardly act. I challenge all of you to just DO something nice for somebody - anybody, and spread some love and light to drown out those that only want to spread darkness. It does't have to be anything big or monumental. All of us together doing one small thing can spread like the ripples of water from the smallest stone cast in a pond. Please share in honor of Maureen's brother Ed!

New Orleans - Ten Years After Katrina

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It's hard to believe its been ten years since the catastrophe called Katrina. The morning of August 29, 2005 the Category 3 storm hit New Orleans like a bullseye causing over $100 billion in damage and became the worst natural disaster in US History. When the storm hit it came with sustained winds of 145 miles an hour and a storm surge of over 27 feet - that's nearly a three story building. Considering most of the city is some seven feet below sea level - well you do the math. The storm killed nearly 2000 people and spread damage across 90,000 square miles of the Gulf Coast. The New Orleans' metro population went from a vibrant city of nearly 1.386 million to 1.04 million following the storm and has regrown now to 1.252 million. Over 300,000 people left and only 200,000 returned leaving parts of New Orleans still randomly deserted. Most of who left were African Americans. If you watch the videos of that week it is hard to really appreciate it from afar. We can watch from our TV and turn it off and go back to our lives, but the people who lived through this could not turn their situation off. It never left and only they could change their condition and situation. I have never had to experience something like this and I hope I never do. Those that have are truly remarkable people. 

Having just visited New Orleans in May it is amazing to see how the center downtown area and the French Quarter has been resurrected. But there are still whole swaths of this city that have not recovered and will likely never recover. The storm brought to light the inequality that was and still is New Orleans. The poor felt the impact far more than others - most of the poor being African Americans. The storm showed the vulnerability, ineptitude, and corruption that plagued government both before, during and after the storm. Mayor Ray Nagin ordered evacuations too late, given over 100,000 of the residents didn't own cars! He was then later convicted of bribery, fraud, and money laundering while in office both before and after the storm and is now serving a ten year sentence. 

Katrina showed us what is wonderful in people and a community and what is an absolute shame. Looters robbed and shot vulnerable victims, while many others did everything they could to help others. Ten years later and people are still struggling here. Katrina is a great metaphor for all of our lives. Hurricanes and storms come our way in our lives too. Unexpected illness, death, business problems and issues, the list is long and all too familiar to all of us. But like New Orleans it is what we do to prepare for storms, how we weather a storm, and what we do after the storm that counts. The trials and tribulations in our lives give us a chance to reflect and to rebuild. To start anew. I think so many choose to be a victim and stay in the squalor instead of pushing forward and beyond. Yes, some have more resources and assistance than others to move on after disaster and I think it is up to all of us to help those less fortunate but only those that are willing to do their part to move forward. Those that would rather complain and remain a victim despite assistance....well I have no sympathy for you. You have chosen to stay there. Those that do accept help, those that have faith, believe in their community and contribute to their community, and are then willing to do their share, just like the rest of us that have to deal with hard times, I commend you and your spirit and I can assure you better times lies ahead. Sometimes it just takes faith and small steps towards a brighter future.... just like New Orleans. 

You have to Mario Batali when in New York

There never is enough time to see it all and I know I tell Isabel every trip, "I wish we had another day or two...." You just do your best to squeeze in as much as you can. One thing I have found through travel is the similarity between cooking and architecture. I know - that sounds crazy but the more I do and learn of each the more I have come to appreciate their similarity. It all comes down to the ingredients. Without good ingredients in cooking or in architecture you cannot have a great recipe or a fantastic building. I have also learned that smaller dishes with amazing flavors is much more satisfying that a big dish with a lot of content but no flavor. Same with designing homes. Condense the recipe, use a few key, fresh ingredients , and top it off with artistic presentation and BAM (to quote Emerril Lagasse) you have the perfect recipe or the perfect home.  The big difference is I can prepare a wonderful dinner in two hours but a home can take up to two years..... I love cooking in that I can get that same appreciation and love back a lot quicker!

So of course I always have to pay homage to one of my Food Network idols, Mario Batali. I love this guy and what he has accomplished. I love his cookbooks, his shows, his love of Italy, his inventiveness. So we started the night with a little happy hour antipasti and a Manhattan in Manhattan at Chelsea's Market. I love this place - a definite stop while in NYC. You can also take some time to walk the Highline which goes right by Chelsea's Market. 

Chelsea's Market

The Freedom Tower as seen from Chelsea.

Well we finished our happy hour too early to go home so why not walk a few blocks across town from Chelsea to Greenwich and Mario Batali's Babbo Ristorante and Enoteca. Generally, because of the fame of Mario this is not a walk in and grab a table or a spot at the bar place but we got there early and found two seats at the bar - which i prefer anyway because you always meet new people - and we were set. How about a little lamb's tongue vinagrette with oyster mushrooms as an appetizer topped off with a entre' of roasted rabbit. Of course a little saffron panna cotta and a cappuccino to cap it off. Delicious. Amazing service, fabulous wine list beyond belief and impeccable presentation. Always great music too by the way. 

Cuisine from Eately.

So the next night where else but another Mario Batali venue this time Eataly. I love the Eatly neighborhood of NYC. Located right across the street from the famous Flatiron Building this is definitely another great spot to put on your list. Mario has captured it all in his Eataly eatery. Its a sensory extravaganza both visually, aromatically and of course your palate will also not be neglected. I love his variety of venues all under the Eataly roof. From the pasta bar, to the peace bar, to the Manzo bar, to the produce market, fish market, gelattaria, to the coffee barista. I could come here every night and never run out of ways of mixing it up. Again - everything is done in impeccable style and delivery. Well done!

I wish we had and Eataly in Scottsdale! Maybe we will just need to create one!

Wine store at Eataly.

Fish Market at Eataly.

Architecture, Dining, and Dancing in New York

New York is most definitely my favorite place to come visit and explore in the US! Yes I love Italy, Spain, London, etc....but New York is the closest thing in this country to that experience but most definitely with an American / Capitalism twist! The possibilities, opportunities, and explorations are virtually endless. I have been here many times and I delight in walking the streets to find new spots and new buildings to enjoy and capture on film. I must have 20,000 photos by now and each time I come to the city I realize it is impossible for anyone to see it all! I've barely scratched the surface on Manhattan and Brooklyn and my guess I've seen only 1% of this vibrant metropolis. Again, as i always say, the more you think you've seen the more you realize you really haven't sen anything yet.....NYC goes for ever......

So where do you begin? I just keep adding to the list, and venture down new streets I've never walked, stop in new museums and galleries and showrooms I have never toured, and try new restaurants and venues from the hundreds of welcomed recommendations I receive. I LOVE exploring and experiencing new food venues so keep those coming. Thanks for all the new follows from my NYC crowd - everyone here in NYC is so great!

With limited time, as is always, the case, I try to squeeze in as much as I can! Come on - those who have traveled with me totally can appreciate that - get ready Italy travelers - this trip always gets me in fine travel training :-)!!! So this trip I wanted to see the Guggenheim Museum - I have never been. Isabel and I of course walked from our Midtown Manhattan hotel through Central Park and made our way to the Museum on north 5th Avenue along the east side of Central Park. Of course with every Frank Lloyd Wright project there was controversy! The project was conceived in 1943 when Wright received a letter from art advisor to Solomon Guggenheim asking him to design the new museum in New York City, Of course Wright did not think New York was worthy of a project like this and argued vehemently  over its location. The site near Central Park was chosen due to its proximity yo the park and nature. The museum opened in 1959 following years of struggle and battle and following Wright's death. 

The structure sought its inspiration from nature and the park. The building is an embodiment of Wright's attempts to capture the plasticity of organic forms in architecture - something he always sought to render in his work. The inverted spiral ziggurat  allowed visitors to take the elevator to the top and then slowly wind their way down to the ground floor. Isabel and I wound our way up and then re-experienced the exhibits and space on the way back down. Very interesting experiences traversing both directions. The Guggenheim is most definitely one of Wright's crowning jewels of his late career. I encourage you to experience it. 

Of course after all that walking we had worked up an appetite. So with a quick stop at Dean and Deluca for a salad we made our way back to the hotel for a cat nap. We overslept and realized our driver, Ludwig, was picking us up in 15 minutes for a fantastic and romantic NYC date night I had planned! I have my favorite restaurants I frequent but I was given a new recommendation by several clients - Blue Hill in Greenwich Village. WOW! 

Blue Hill is a little gem hidden three steps below street level of an old speakeasy in Greenwich Village just off Washington State Park. Blue Hill's menu showcases local food and a wine list from nearby farms, including the Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. We chose the "Farmer's Feast" a six-course tasting inspired by the week's harvest. Ok don't panic - these courses are virtually small, elegantly and artistically prepared and presented morsels on slate squares. From the Montauk swordfish, to the Blue Hill Farm Pig, the range of flavors was diverse and inventive. A total visual and savory experience. Add the beautiful, calm, and sophisticated interior and setting and talk about a sexy start to our evening!

Ludwig was then waiting for us to traverse us across town to Rockefeller Center and some sunset cocktails on the roof of the Sixty-Five Bar and then dancing to 40's and 50's standards in the Rainbow Room.as performed by the Max Weinberg Orchestra. Fresh off a whirlwind 2-1/2 year, 175 concert world tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, it was a nice touch to ride the elevator up from the 65th floor with none other than Steven Van Zandt himself. That was a nice touch! 

So nice to experience the elegance of a time that has sadly long passed us all. Everyone was nicely dressed, people danced in each other's arms, and there was just a feeling that Frank Sinatra was somewhere in the room. I love that era and the class, grace, and sophistication that went with it.....I wish we could bring that back!

Saturday Arrival in New York

I've been to New York many times over the last 30 years and each trip is always so unique as the explorations and discoveries are truly endless. I remember reading guidebooks to this city when I was a kid and studied maps of the city for hours imagining the spaces and places....of course this was all years and years before the computer and Google Maps and Earth....I can't imagine what I would have done with that as a kid! I have always been fascinated with this City!

My first trip here came about with me and my parents spending a week in Virginia for my brother's wedding and then had a free weekend following and I convinced my parents to hop in the car and let's drive to New York and check it out. We did it - drove up the Atlantic Coast from Newport News, Virginia and in one day ended up eating pizza on top of the World trade Tower that evening! It was a Sunday night, so the City was not crazy b busy. After our pizza on the tower, we drove across the Brooklyn Bridge, flipped a U, and made our way back across, up Fifth Avenue to Central Park and then across Midtown to the Lincoln tunnel and then all the way to Philadelphia where we found a hotel and ended our day! Ok, that was one day! Well, anyone who has traveled with me, including the Italy trips, know I ALWAYS pack as much as I can into a day! Obviously this behavior has been going on for some time now!

Well I still love coming here. I come with Isabel every August to keep her company while she shops for her store, Earth and images. From the Market to little artisans and boutiques she discovers, we do a ton of walking and exploring, of course with some fabulous restaurant stops and discoveries along the way. We LOVE all the wonderful restaurant tips we receive from you. As you know the food and restaurant scene here is endless!!!!! You could never ever hit them all but keep them coming as we love everything and never met a food we didn't like.

After landing at JFK, Isabel's driver, Ludwig, is always there waiting for us! He has been our limo driver for years. It's funny, but just the familiarity of having the same driver every year makes the trip and the arrival so special. Why start the trip in a stinky cab or super shuttle..... It's NY do it in style.  We catch up on all the goings on with Ludwig as we make our way across the East River and into Manhattan and our hotel the Warwick in Midtown. We check in and head right out for a stroll through the city and our first dining spot!

Of course one of Isabel and my favorites is a spot Isabel has been coming to for years and that 's the Trattoria Dell'Arte on 57th Street and 7th Avenue just a few blocks south of Central Park and right across from Carnegie Hall. Fabulous food and service and very New York/Italian in atmosphere and culture. Chef Anthony Acinapura has a wonderful and flavorful menu. The lobster risotto is fantastic but this trip we started with a roasted vegetable antipasti, followed by capresse salad made with fresh heirloom tomatoes the chef had just purchased at the Farmer's Market that afternoon on 6th Avenue. Fabulous. Then I had the free soft-shell crabs and Isabel had the Branzino. All fresh and fabulous. It was then nice to sit and chat with chef Acinapura about the restaurant and of course our travels to Italy and some great tips and connections he gave me for our stay in Positano next month. Wrap up the day and our travels from Phoenix to NYC with a nice stroll home, a cigar, and a little porto nightcap at the hotel bar, and our day was done. 

New York New York

Ok it was 117º yesterday so its time to get out of here! So where to go??? We just came back from Idaho, we spent the 4th in Park City, did a little business in LaJolla., Italy is next month. so where to escape and get some inspiration and some Mark and Is time???? We LOVE NYC. 

So I am typing away at 35,000 feet as we are flying somewhere over the panhandle of Texas on our way to one of my favorite places and cities on earth! Isabel and I make it here at least once if not twice a year for shopping, dining, exploring and discovering. We have come alone and with clients and friends. I love the all the dining tips I receive from clients each year and so we do our best to visit new spots and experience new venues on each trip. We have a couple new ones on our itinerary this trip so stay tuned. 

I love the perspective being in New York gives me. It's so easy to think you are where its at while working away day after day in Scottsdale and then you come to New York and you truly see at least one of the true centers of everything in the world! Just the energy I feel when crossing the Queensboro bridge into Manhattan is electrifying. I truly feel it and love that sense of wonderment each time I come. And it's true - every trip has brought a new and unexpected experience. Again one of the reasons I love travel so much. I guess some guys like to golf or go boating or what have you - mine is travel! 

I will likely snap 300 photos a day from everything as macro as panoramic views of the city, to the micro detail of a cornice or wrought iron rail on a fence or building. It all gets absorbed into the subconscious upon which I can draw upon later. Its the refill of the creative fuel tank. So clients - I'm sorry I do travel so much but it truly does wonders for my creativity I bring to you. With the technology available today its very easy to work on the road. I have my laptop, sketchpad, iPhone, iPad, stylus, and buff paper, and of course my giant wad of pens and scales wrapped with a rubber band always with me. Those of you who know me well, I'm always working and don't sleep much so NYC is perfect for me and provides the visual stimulation I need. 

So Isabel and I have some fun adventures in store for this trip and I have a few surprises for her! Stay tuned this weekend and week ahead and we'll share our explorations. Remember the Candelaria Design Tour Italy departs in just a little over a month from now on September 16th. Follow that journey right here on our blog. Stay cool in AZ guys!

Candelaria Design Tour Italy 2015 - Departure set for September 16th!

We are just a little over a month away from our departure on our 12th Candelaria Design Tour Italy! Yes - this is a REAL tour and we really do go with clients, friends, and people who have discovered our trip and just want to go explore Italy in a special way. I have a wonderful group traveling with us this year with travelers as far as Delaware and Oklahoma joining us. I also have some first time to Europe travelers which I love! 

Before I get into it - I do have an opening for two travelers as two of my repeat travelers from last year had a little family situation come up so I have room for two more travelers!!! Now I know we are just 39 days away from our departure but I always find some spontaneous adventurers who have their passports and love the idea of going on the spur of a moment!!! Our September 2016 trip is SOLD OUT but we are adding a trip in June of 2016 due to the strong demand! Thank you!

This year's trip will be fantastic. We will fly to Florence where we will spend two days and two nights and explore this beautiful city of the Renaissance. On our first night we will dine on the street right in front of the Duomo and the second night I will take our group to the spectacular Villa ste Michele on the hills above Florence. This hotel, designed by none other than Michelangelo, is so elegant and the perfect contrast to dining on the street the night before. 

From Florence we rent cars and convoy to our farmhouse compound in Umbria hosted by Elizabeth Wholey. She will have a traditional Umbrian dinner waiting for us. I love the contrast of being in a luxury hotel in Florence and then to the quiet tranquility and rustic nature of the farmhouses. We will spend a week there and explore the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside including a wine tour through the hill towns of Tuscany and our cooking classes. We will explore and experience such picturesque towns as Assisi, Cortona, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, and Siena. 

Then after a week "roughing it" we will drive 5 hours southward towards the Amalfi Coast and our final destination in Positano! Isabel and I have never been here so we will join our travelers in this new adventure! I love that part of the trip when we all explore something new for the first time together. Three nights there and we will return to Phoenix. 

I love this trip and the experiences we share and the friendships that transpire! From clients, to friends, to people I have never met and have found us through social media or our website, the best part of the trip is the friendships that grow during the trip. It is truly the intangible that no one expects but becomes so lasting. This will be Isabel's fourth trip with me - of course on trip two we surprised our travelers by inviting them all to our wedding on the last day of the trip at the Villa d' Este on Lake Como. That was quite the grand finale'.......who knows what we have planned this year! Follow this blog and our Candelaria Design Tour Italy Page on Facebook where we will post blogs, pictures and videos from each day's travels! You can also check out our Tour d'Italia page right here on our website for more details on next year's trips! If you have never been to Europe or Italy this is the way to learn to travel and see a part of Italy few tourists ever experience. 

Until then Ciao!

Wonderful Trip to Idaho

On the road through Eastern Idaho.

Last week we packed the car and hit the road to Idaho to film three of our homes for our show SKETCH premiering this fall on The Design Network. 1300 miles across three states including deserts, mountains and farmland - all beautiful country! We have made this ride many times and yes it takes two days and I'm sure you are thinking why would you not fly? I LOVE road trips and the time to just be quiet, uninterrupted and think! Isabel is the same. So we hit the road and virtually meditate. 

Now this year we did stretch the two day trip to four days as we had a wedding to attend in Sedona right on Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing.....this time it wasn't ours! What a beautiful setting and then one of our vendors from Scottsdale offered us his home along Oak Creek to stay a couple nights. What a treat and what a beautiful place complete with orchards, pool, and an amazing view of the red rocks of Sedona. 

It was difficult to leave and continue on the road trip but we had a rendezvous date with our film crew so we loaded the car and headed north! Now usually we head north from Flagstaff, through Page, and through southern Utah to an overnighter in Salt Lake - which we did. Then the next day we venture north on I-15 to Butte, MT and head west on I-90 to Coeur d'Alene, ID. This year though we thought let's see some new country and so we chose a route through Sun Valley,. ID! Wow- beautiful!!!! Love coming into town and passing the small airport full of private jets. 

Our google route then showed a path north of Sun Valley up central Idaho to Salmon and then Missoula. Looked good on the map however little did we know that the road would gradually narrow, then turn to a dirt road, and then turn to a one lane jeep road with turnouts for on-coming traffic! But we continued on as we were to far into the route to turn around. Turned out to be absolutely stunning! So remote and so beautiful. We traveled the Sawtooth Range and dropped down into the Salmon River basin which flowed for miles without a single fisherman for miles. Talk about tempting! I love to fish and this is definitely a place I am going to have to come back to. Of course no cell signal for miles....so definitely a slice of heaven. 

We continued northward and had lunch in Hamilton, MT and then made our way to Missoula, MT where we reconnected with our normal route on I-90. A couple hours more and we were back to my favorite slice of heaven, Coeur d' Alene, ID! I love this place and have been coming here every year since 1999 when I started my first Candelaria Design project. Some 16 years later we just finished our fourth project here! We checked into a home we rented on the Spokane River where we met up with our film crew from Wedgie Creative - Kenny Moskowitz and Phil Click. We unloaded the troops, luggage and gear and headed into town to one of our favorite spots, Moon Time for dinner. Lamb burgers, curried cashews and crafted beers! Great start to our trip.

Day 1 of filming would be filming our second home we designed - a beautiful Mountain Villa in Black Rock for two lovely people who hired us in the midst of the 2008 economic debacle! What a memorable moment that was to get their call for a new project and of all places - in Coeur d' Alene. Not only did this turn out to be a great project but again, we made two wonderful friends along the way!  Just to give you and idea - they named one of the duties in the home the Candelaria Suite! So fun to film this home and spend time with our two friends.

From there we headed to the Wednesday Coeur d' Alene Farmer's Market which is one of my favorite parts of coming here. Fresh produce and flowers from local farmers. hand crafted pizzas, and of course my favorite, the bread vendor! I love this experience and seeing the same vendors for the last 16 years! It's lime a time capsule! 

Then it was off to Angelo's for dinner with all three clients from Coeur d' Alene. How nice to share dinner with all three client couples and spend some time with chef and good friend Angelo Brunson and his crew. This is my little slice of Italy when I'm in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho! Angelo uses fresh produce from his garden, fresh meats from the local ranchers and now makes his own wine - which was fantastic. Always a treat and one of my must stops when I come to town. 

The next day we filmed my first Candelaria Design project - not just here in Coeur d'Alene but anywhere! The Murphy Lodge is an amazing log home set virtually on a cliff on the west shore of Lake Coeur d' Alene. 17 semi trailers of logs make up this home with spectral views of the lake. Of course we had to film this home in style from a beautiful Stancraft boat approaching the home from the lake - all captured by a drone from 3DR out of Austin, TX. The footage this drone can capture is fabulous and I can't wait to share it with you with these episodes.

After filming at the Murphy Lodge we made our way to the Stancraft Boat Shop where owner Robb Bloem is busy crafting some works of art on the water. He gave us a tour of the facility and some of the boats they have under construction or receiving maintenance including John Elway's boat. We also came across a boat he mentioned would be used in someone's ceiling as an accent piece. Turns out that boat is going in our client's game room ceiling! 

Our final day of filming culminated at beautiful home on Hayden Lake which is just north of Coeur d' Alene. This home was completed in 2012 and is truly magnificent. The 10,000 sf two-story home is rustic and in mountain style but yet is very sophisticated and elegant. The client is a world renowned orthodontist and holds numerous patents for state of the art products he has developed. He and his wife are wonderful people who inspire me not only professionally but personally. 

We finished our Coeur d' Alene adventure with a trip to the Kootenai County Farmer's Market on Saturday morning! Can you tell I love farmer's markets!!!! Nothing like a lamb burger with a fried egg on it at 9am in the morning!!! 

Great trip and so nice to catch up with my friends from Idaho. I am so excited to share these three homes in a three part series on our TV series SKETCH this Fall on The Design Network! Stay tuned!!!

New Candelaria Design Website

Well they say that every two to three years its time to get a new computer.....and I'm definitely due! They also say you want to update your website every so often and we were overdue! So although we are still fine tuning it, we welcome you all to our new Candelaria Design Website!

Through the amazing work of Ken "Spanky" Moskowitz and his company Wedgie Creative they have totally revamped our website, look, and branding. Now it is still being fine tuned but please check it out and give us your feedback.

We want this to be a fun and beautiful experience for you and we are so proud to share our Candelaria Design creations and the work of so many talented and skilled designers, landscape architects and designers, builders, and craftsmen and artisans who all contribute their passion and skill to our work!

Now not every detail is fine tuned yet so give us some flack and definitely give us some feedback. We are also featuring our Candelaria Design Lifestyle Blog on the website and you can like and comment right on the website.

We will also feature short videos of our projects on the page and currently featuring a short video of our Scottsdale French Chateau on our Traditional Page. This is just a short peek at what we will be featuring in Episode 2 of SKETCH on The Design Network this Fall.

There is a lot more to come and we are excited about the new website and the new projects, drawings,  videos and blogs we will be sharing! Thanks for following and supporting Candelaria Design!

Earth and Images - Welcome to our New Home In Downtown Scottsdale

Congratulations to my Isabel on the relocation and opening of her new boutique and interior design studio, Earth and Images , in Downtown Scottsdale! I am so proud of her and I invite everyone to stop in and check it out.


Last month she packed up the old store and studio that had been in the Scottsdale Design Center located in North Scottsdale for 23 years, downsized, and rebranded her look for her new location on the southwest corner of 5th Avenue and Marshall Way in Downtown Scottsdale. What is most exciting is that instead of being in the dark and dreary Scottsdale Design Center, she now has a beautiful display window facing 5th Avenue and all the retail and tourism traffic that the Art and Cultural center of Old Town Scottsdale brings.

She has downsized the retail area to now where it is an absolute jewel box of treasures and finds from our travels around the country and Europe. All of the items are arranged in beautiful compositions and feature items as small as candles and toiletries to specialty patio furniture and home accessories, to even works of art by artists and architects. Stay tuned - I plan on having some of my new paintings currently underway in her studio!
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Isabel is also working with Candelaria Design and other builders and architects in providing interior design and decorating services throughout the Valley. From projects in Arcadia, PV, Verrado, Silverleaf and Desert Mountain, Isabel and her team are busy! It's fun for me to work with her on some of our projects. Now - interior designers out there don't worry, I'm fortunate to have some great projects and we are so happy to be working with many of our favorites from Vallone Design, David Michael Miller, Wiseman Gale, Clair Ownby Design, April Lozevski, Matthew Boland, Anita Lang, Tony Sutton, Paula Den Boer, and Nelson Barnum just to name a few. What is so nice is how these same designers all support each other and Earth and Images! I know Isabel thanks everyone for their continued friendship, support, and patronage.

Stop on by and say hello and do a little shopping - you will love it. Her boutique is open Monday - Saturday from 10-6pm and stay tuned for some fun Thursday evening art walk events and get togethers this fall including her grand opening celebration. 

Escape to Kingston - One final trip.

I love the West. I don’t mean the West we experience every day living in Phoenix and Scottsdale. I mean what is left of the real West we still see in Westerns. It’s still out there but you do have to get way out to still see a part of it. Luckily, living here in Arizona it is not that far away and if you really venture on a road trip to New Mexico or Wyoming or Montana you can really find some places that time has just passed by.

I know some of you shudder at the thought of a road trip and many of you never will even dare to do this. But I personally love road trips and getting off the beaten path. Today's blog comes from the passenger seat while Isabel drives down New Mexico highway 90 southwest of Silver City, NM. Its exactly what we do on the Candelaria Design Tour Italy – get off the beaten path. I have been trying to figure out why and I think I know – it’s real. It is what it is, there is no pretense. People do what they do, they farm, they ranch, they mine, they timber, they railroad. That’s about all there is to do. They work hard and are one with the land. There is a connection. They gather at the local diner for super – not dinner. They talk about their day, their families, their horses, and their crops……not quite what we talk about when we meet for cocktails at Houston’s.

This weekend, Isabel and I are on the road to Kingston. Not Kingston, Jamaica! Kingston, New Mexico. It’s by Silver City…..ok that didn’t help you any did it. Ok about 2 hours northeast of Lordsburg…..still didn’t help you. Ok try about an hour Southwest of Truth of Consequences, New Mexico! Ok you get the point. Google Map it and it may show up. It’s a long drive out here, about 6 hours from Phoenix. Kingston, New Mexico is an old silver and gold mining town established in the late 1800’s and grew to over 7000 inhabitants before the silver crash of the late 1880’s. It’s at the foot of the Mimbres Mountains and is beautiful and reminds me of the country and terrain around Prescott. Now there are probably more wild turkeys and buzzards than there are people here. – but this is a place that time has forgotten.

Isabel’s family bought a summer home that was built in 1885 built by Mr. Dawson who was the town pharmacist. Isabel’s family used the home as an escape and summer retreat from the heat of central New Mexico. Well the home was passed down to Isabel’s mom, Alette, who has been tending to it and using it as her Arizona escape since 1996 but this week she received a cash offer for the property and with her getting older she felt it was time to sell. So we are here sorting through the old items, furniture, nick knacks, and sharing the memories.

I remember coming here for the first time in July 2012 with my girls and loved this aspect of Isabel, her mom, and her family. Simple, honest, hard working people who have no pretense. Here family were loggers and lumber mill people and my family were railroaders. Few people know that my great grandfather, grandfather, father and even I all worked on the Durango~Silverton Narrow Gauge train in Durango. The old West is in my psyche. It is a big part of what makes me tick. I think it is why I love being a part of the Scottsdale Charros – getting on a horse and riding and camping in remote parts of the Old West. At the same time I design amazing homes from Rural Mediterranean estates, to contemporary hillside homes, to mountain ranches but no matter the style, I always try to infuse that spirit of the West.

In the next 60 days I will be everywhere from LaJolla, CA next week to start on a new home on the beach, to Sedona and Flagstaff to check out some lots for a new project, then a 22 hour road trip with Isabel to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to film three of our homes for the fall premier of SKETCH. From there Isabel and I will head to Manhattan NYC in August for the fall Market – probably run out to the Hamptons to check on our project there – so coast to coast. Then of course we will fly off to Italy for our 2015 Candelaria Tour Italy. Quite a journey from the homestead here in Kingston…….

Candelaria Chicken Cacciatore

Thanks for all the likes and comments on my cooking adventures we post on Facebook! I love to cook and I love how it relaxes me and takes my mind off my real work for a while. But what I really love is the immediate satisfaction it gives me feeding and nourishing my family and friends. After all, architecture takes some time!

Let's add the fact I am a Food Network groupie. I love the Food Network - no one ever gets hurt or cries, or gets killed. Every show ends on a happy note and everyone is eating great food in a beautiful setting. I love having the Food Network on while I catch up on work on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A recipe or idea always catches my eye and by noon I'm thinking of some fun and savory thing to make and who Isabel and I can have over. Sometimes it's a romantic dinner for just Isabel and I, and on the other hand sometimes I'm cooking for two or three dozen. I did both this week! My favorite though is cooking for Isabel and my girls  One of my girls' favorite is my chicken cacciatore.

It's a simple recipe and really based on my paella recipe which I also made this week for a party of 12 who won my dinner for 12 as a silent auction item benefitting my client's organization, Asian Pacific Community in Action. Yes it was a busy week ;-)!

So here it is - I urge you to make it for the family. It's delicious and easy. Let me know if you give it a try!

Candelaria Cacciatore

3 Chicken Legs

3 Chicken Thighs

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons of paprika

Kosher Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil

1 large sausage of your choice - I like a spicy andouille sausage.

4 garlic cloves, diced

1 Spanish onion - diced

4 stalks of celery - sliced into 1/2" pieces

4 carrots - sliced into 1/2" pieces

8 ounce box of white or cremini mushrooms sliced.

1-1/2 cups of wine - dry white wine like a Pinot Gregio or you can go red like a Baraolo

1 - 16 ounce can of diced tomatoes

1 -1/2 cups of Arborio Rice

2-3 cans of chicken broth

1 teaspoon of Herbs de Provence

2 Bay Leaves

Fresh chopped basil or Italian Parsley for garnish along with wedges of lemon.

Start with a nice width pan with a lid. Season your chicken with the oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Heat up the olive oil with medium to medium high heat and brown the chicken and sausage. Once browned remove and set on a platter with paper towels.

Pour off the excess fat, reduce the heat to medium, and then add the onions, garlic, celery and carrots and let them cook down and soften. You can add the wine now and deglaze the pan. Let this all cook down and soften but don't over cook - you want the veggies to stay crunchy and firm. Then add the mushrooms and let them cook down. Then add the tomatoes and let them heat up and blend in with the veggies.

Create a well in the center and add the rice. Let the rice fry and then gradually stir it into the veggies. Start adding the chicken broth - you can also add more wine if you like! As the rice absorbs the broth keep adding the broth. You can also heat the broth in a separate pan before you add so its at the same temperature as your main dish. Keep this process going for 10 minutes until the rice and then add back the chicken and sausage and tuck it into the mixture. Keep adding broth as needed so the rice doesn't get dry but not to much to make it soupy. Add some salt and pepper to taste and some herbs de Provence and toss in a couple Bay Leaves. Now reduce the heat to simmer and let simmer 30 minutes or so.

Serve in a nice bowl and garnish with chopped fresh basil or chopped Italian parsley and a wedge of lemon. You can always zest some lemon peel over the top and of course some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Rural Mediterranean Estate Featured in Luxe Magazine

We are so proud to have one of my favorite projects featured in the summer issue of LUXE Magazine. This home is very special to me for many reasons. Enjoy the pictures and story in the LUXE feature - but I would like to share the creation and some of the real story behind this house and how special these clients are.

Flash back to October of 2008....  I'm sure everyone remembers how tough things were then. Actually, at that juncture we had just all been kicked in the gut but no one knew how long the healing and recovery would be. Everything had come to a halt, our industry was getting hammered, and there were really few projects out there.  The stock market had just fallen 6000 points and we were gearing up for the election - no one knew what to expect! A $27 million dollar project I was attempting to develop with a number of partners had the funding dry up as the Feds shut down the bank we were working with on the day we were supposed to sign the loan.....as that turned out I know now that was a fortunate turn of events! Add to that my marriage at the time was falling apart. Those of you who know me well, know what I was going through - these were pretty dark days.

Well this client called me in the midst of all this and I went and met them on a Saturday I remember well. We walked the lot and I went through my presentation. Then after the meeting I remember going to the McCormick Ranch Railroad Park and just sitting there praying this project would come our way. I was sure he was interviewing everyone he could given the economic situation so I knew this would be a real blessing if we got this way. I remember him calling while I was still at the park saying we got the job. It was one of several rays of sunshine I received during those dark days that kept me engaged in my work and kept me going.

The client wanted an authentic Rural Mediterranean  home and the lot was good but not great...that is until we got on a ladder and stepped up about 5' - wow - the view exploded. Now it was up to us to capture as many of these views as we could. We worked collaboratively in the design as I do with all my clients and as I look back at the first sketches - the essence of the original layout and orientation did not change much. Courtyards, gardens, a pool and spa - even a bridge across a garden below all were incorporated.  By raising the house the 5 feet we had room below for a basement so we added a 20 x 40 gym, pilates room, guest bedroom, game room ... oh and a 12 car garage under the 6 car garage above! I love our clients and projects!!!

To give you  an idea of how special this client is back in the Christmas of 2008 I was attempting to fly  my girls and I up to Coeur d'Alene. Idaho for Christmas - I was pretty sure this might be our last Christmas in our home up there given the economic situation and everything that was happening with marriage. A huge storm was hitting the northwest and every flight we attempted got cancelled starting on the 21st of December all the way up to the 23rd of  December....Christmas was fast approaching and every attempt was being thwarted by flight cancellations. We even made it as far as Salt Lake City but had to come back as the flight to Spokane had been cancelled. Well, as written in my December 27, 2008 Blog this client came to our rescue flying us up in his private jet. What a way to go and what a journey that was - you can check our our landing right here -Miracle Landing

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To top that off when the project was completed he hired the PR firm of MMPR Marketing to represent Candelaria Design, the Interior Designer David Michael Miller and builder Anthony Salcito of Salcito Custom Homes and then through an open house whereat we could invite anyone we wanted. Many clients, friends, and followers made it that day which was a wonderful opportunity to show of our work.

Such an amazing client and now friend! Enjoy the Luxe feature and some wonderful footage of the home in our Season 1 of Sketch - Jet Setters on The Design Network and we will be featuring the whole story of the creation of this home in Season 2 of Sketch premiering this Fall!  So it's 7 years later and the times have sure changed.....this project has a special place in my heart and history and will always remind me of the lesson to carry on no matter how dark the clouds might be. I hope you enjoy!

4th of July - Park City, Utah

Ok - that was a nice 4th of July! And what's best - today is Sunday and another day to relax and enjoy some down time.

I love this Holiday in that it seems everyone checks out for a while. My emails have trickled down to maybe a dozen, mostly just ad-mails! I've had some wonderful time with my girls, lovely wife, Isabel and her mom and family. Now we have a couple days just to our selves to enjoy Park City, Utah. I have been coming here for years usually through the invite of clients and friends who have had or have places up here. What a fun place. If you haven't been - I highly encourage you to come and check it out.

What I love about Park City is how easy it is to get here. As opposed to Telluride or Aspen, Park City is a snap.... hop on a flight from Phoenix and in two hours you are in Salt Lake City. Then either rent a car, or take one of the many shuttles up here and you are here in another hour. Beautiful scenery, great restaurants and bars - yes you can get a drink in a bar here without joining a club like the old days, and lots of fun things to do with the kids from the Alpine slide in the summer to of course, skiing in the winter. The Sundance Film festival in the winter, and add snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking......well you get the picture.

We started yesterday with the 4th of July parade. Definitely one of my favorite events of the year. I love the simplicity of it and the purpose - the birth if our nation! I mean where else do you see someone jamming out from the back of a pickup with their porcupine-elk! For someone who has sang the national anthem at a Giants Spring Training game - not once but twice - I love anything that pays honor to our nation and the people who have served to preserve our rights and freedoms. We are all so blessed to live in this country. I loved all the posts from my friends around the country and how they all celebrated the 4th! And let's add tonight's Woman's World Cup Championship Game! Looks like this country is having a fantastic 4th of July!

Happy Fourth of July 2015 from Candelaria Design

I wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! My favorite Holiday of the year.

My Candelaria Clan has headed north to Park City, Utah for the long weekend! Wow is it nice and cool up here - nice drive up, a little rain, good tunes, all good!

I love this Holiday, as I have written in past blogs, in that it seems everyone winds it down and just gets into the Holiday and some family time. The emails have come to a halt, the phone is quiet and its just some good time to chill.

I'm fortunate this year to have my two daughters, Bella and Sophia, with us, Isabel and her Mom, as we are all up here for Isabel's Conley Family Reunion. To top it off, my oldest daughter, Tiffany, and her boyfriend, Josh Stephens, flew in last night, so we are all together. What struck me was how my girls are growing up. Tiffany is 27, Bella 13 and Sophia just turned 10. No more babies or little kids. It is so cool to watch them grow up and change and develop their personalities. The conversations have evolved and its neat to all chit chat, laugh and converse on more adult topics. I LOVE traveling with my girls - and we have some good trips coming on the calendar!!!!

You realize how fast the time is going by and having a 27 year old daughter, I know how fast the time is going to go with my girls before they are off exploring the world and shaping their own lives and families. I'm sure you all are experiencing the same. That's what I love about family trips during a Holiday. You get away and with things slowed down you get a snapshot of where you are in life's journey.

Meanwhile, my Mom and Dad, Mom 75 and Dad 80, drove to Durango from Phoenix, for the long weekend. They are there visiting my brother, James and wife, Beth and their three children - also growing up quickly. The two oldest, Rianne and Deryn are already off to college and their son - our only male Candelaria to carry on the name - Trevor, is in high school. My brother, who works with the US Department of Justice, is transferring to Jamaica in August. My father was born in Durango, and my brother and I went to high school there, and with my brother moving, I have to wonder if Dad and Mom wonder when the next time they will return. This is their first time back since moving to AZ last summer. It must be an emotional trip for all of them.

All of this just emphasizes how fast time marches on and how every moment with our loved ones is so precious. People grow old, they move, they follow their own paths, they die, they get married, they get divorced - its always in motion. Where will we all be tomorrow, next week, next year........who knows.....Hence, make the most of this day, this weekend. I wish all of my Candelaria Design crew, clients, and friends a wonderful weekend! Be proud to be an American and celebrate the good fortune we all have to experience our freedom with our families and loved ones in this great country. Happy 4th Everyone!!!