Modern Love

Olson Kundig

Most of the work we do is very traditional, however at the moment we have a client who has commissioned us to do a modern lake house in northern New England. When we were in school, this was the way we were taught to design...and after so many years of working on traditional homes, it's very exciting to be coming back to our "academic" roots.  As we do at the beginning of all of our design projects, we look at other projects for inspiration.  Below are some of the projects we admire and are finding inspirational.

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig

Marmol Radziner

Marmol Radziner

Marmol Radziner

Marmol Radziner

Marmol Radziner

Bates Masi

Seldorf

Bates Masi

Unknown

Unknown

Marmol Radziner

Marmol Radziner

Unknown

Hutker

Hutker

Hutker

Hutker

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig

Seldorf

Unknown

Marmol Radziner

Keeping Flowers Fresher Longer

 

 This time of year I can use a little color.  Fresh flowers are a great antidote to the mid winter blues.  This article from guest blogger Daisy Hart will help keep your fresh flowers looking great!

Keeping flowers fresher, for longer.

Whether you have bought yourself a bouquet of flowers from the florist, or trimmed some fresh cut flowers from your own garden, you will want to ensure that they last as long as possible.  Given the right care, fresh flowers can last much longer usual. 

The standard requirements are clean water and regular maintenance and trimming:

•   If you are cutting flowers from your garden for an arrangement, consider when you do this, the ideal time of day being early morning or late evening when the temperature is cooler.

• Ensure you trim and tidy the stems of your flowers before you arrange them into your vase, to do this, trim off any excess leaves (i.e. any leaves that will be covered by the vase) or foliage as these will consume energy that your plant will need to blossom.  Submerge the stem  http://www.flowersbypost.org.uk/ of the flower in water and cut it at an angle a few cm’s from the end, keep the stem submerged for a moment to allow it to soak up some water before arranging the flower in your vase.  Repeat this process with all of your flower stems.

•   Use a vase big enough to allow the stems room for movement.

• When filling your vase consider using lukewarm water, stems can absorb warm water better than cold water.

•   Maintain your flowers, change the water in the vase at least every other day, preferably daily, and each time you change the water re-trim the stem. Always use warm water and remember to add anything included in this list or the below list to the water before putting the flowers back in.

•  Avoid placing your flowers near a heat source as this could dry them out.

•   As flowers in the arrangement wilt and die, remove them to give the healthier flowers more room and nutrients.

There are a number of unusual, yet handy tips and hints on how to best the most out of your fresh flowers.  Here is a list of things that have been known to help preserve the life and enhance the look and fragrance of fresh flowers:

•  Aspirin: Get an empty vase, crush an aspirin and sprinkle it into the base of the vase before adding water.  Change the water every couple of days.  This will prolong the life of the flowers.

•   Bleach Solution:  Fill an empty vase with 1 litre of water and add to this ¼ of a teaspoon of bleach, i.e. approx. 1.2ml.  Mix this up.  This solution will help to keep the flowers fresher.

•   A sugar and coin combo: Fill an empty vase with water and add a copper coin and a sugar cube to the water.  Stir the combination and add flowers.

• Fizzy, carbonated drinks: Fill your vase with water and add to this approximately 60ml of fizzy carbonated drinks.   Consider that any liquid you add will discolour the water, so if your vase is clear or lightly coloured, you may want to use a clear drink, such as lemonade.

•  Vodka and sugar shot: Once your vase is filled with water add a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of vodka and mix.  This combination reduces the amount of bacteria growing in the water whilst providing nourishment.

•   Sugar and Vinegar:  Fill your vase with 1 litre of warm water.  Add 3 tablespoons of sugar, stir and dissolve this before adding a further 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

•  Hairspray:   Once your fresh cut flower arrangement is completed and is in its vase.  A final touch is to add some hairspray.  Stand back from your flower arrangement and give it a quick spray, on the underside of the leaves and petals, with the hairspray.

 

 Bio:Daisy Hart is a  writer and blogger with great flair for flowers and flower decoration. She is focused on writing the best possible way and is constantly searching for new sources of inspiration. Find out here what gives her motivation presently: http://www.flowersbypost.org.uk/birthday-flowers

 

Ipmeccable Manors

Castle Howard

 

Two of my favorite things, period dramas and English Manor houses were united in an on-line article in Architectural Digest.  They put together a slide show of fabulous English Manor houses which were used as movie sets.  I did a bit more digging and came up with some additional photos and information about the various houses.

 

 

This is Castle Howard, a lovely Boroque manse in North Yorkshire designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor, and constructed from 1699 to1712. It was used for the extremely popular 1981series Brideshead Revisted....the Downton Abbey of the 1980's.  I didn't watch it then, but am enjoying it now via Netflix.

Chatsworth House

 

Chatswoth House in North Derbyshire was the setting for a recent adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The Elizabethan (also referred to as English Boroque) Manor house.  The main bloc was built between 1687 and 1707 by William Talman.

 

 

 

 

 

Kirby Hall

 

Mansfield Park was filmed at this amazing Elizabethan Manor house, Kirby Hall.  Begun around 1570, and added to over time.  I love the glassy nature of this home.

 

Dyrham Park

 

Dyrham park in Bath, Enland was the location for the movie Remains of the Day.  This Boroque Manor house was built in 1692 and designed by Samuel Hauduroy.

 

Wrothham Park

 

Wrothham Park in Hertfordshire...only 17 miles from London's Hyde Park...was the setting for the 2001 version of Jane Eyre.  This fabulous Neo Paladian house was designed by Isaac Ware and built in 1754.

 

 

Stokesay Court

 

This unusual Victoran House in Shopshire, England was the setting for the movie Anonement. I loved the book, but have not seen the movie yet.  I'm waiting for it to come out on Netflix.

 

 

 

Syon House

 

Syon House was the setting for another Julian Fellowes (of Downton Abbey fame) production, Gosford Park.  This manor house is home to the Duke of Northumberland.  It was built about 400 years ago in West London.