Mark Word at Hotel San José

Hotel San José

Mark Word's famous landscaping at Hotel San José, Austin, Texas...as seen in the afternoon sun.

Mark Word Design

As dusk descends, let's stroll around the garden.

A century plant towers over Congress Avenue, as (left) The Birds, an Alfred Hitchcock classic starring Tippy Hedren, is playing at Jo's, a coffee shop next door to Hotel San José.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Studio 7 at Hotel Saint Cecilia

These truffles awaited us, along with a handwritten welcome note.

Studio 7 was a magical, modern treehouse.

Studio 7's balcony


Studio 7's bathroom: love the ebony tile.

Last weekend while in Austin, Tall Husband and I stayed in Studio 7 at Hotel Saint Cecilia. The Studio decor, as you can see, is modern. This unique hotel was the best of both worlds for us, style wise, as we have an antique home plus another home furnished in classic modern. And Hotel Saint Cecilia indulges one in both worlds with cool funk thrown in for added excitement.

Over at The Bunny Bungalow, you can see the antique side of Hotel Saint Cecilia, along with its beautiful landscaping and night lighting.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Ligne Roset Boutique: Austin Opening Part 2

As promised...more photos of last night's Ligne Roset Boutique opening.

Jellyfish, ceiling light designed by Swan Bourotte for Ligne Roset

Gallery, just prior to the arrival of the crowd.

Ligne Roset Boutique: Austin Opening

Ligne Roset Boutique, Austin, Texas

St-Germain Liqueur and French Champagne

Click on photos to enlarge.

The world-wide launch of Ligne Roset Boutique, a concept store, was held in Austin last night, with local and global design aficionados and professionals flocking to the event. Antoine Roset, Executive Vice President of Ligne Roset, USA flew in, as did Jessica Cairncross of Ligne Roset USA Corporation. Also, Houston-based French Designer Anne Breaux arrived for the opening. Bruce Wolfe, owner of both the Ligne Roset Boutique and Ligne Roset Houston, hosted the wonderful, artful evening.

Note: At My Ranchburger in Houston, I blog from a chic Ligne Roset desk, Hyannis Port,which the people of Ligne Roset managed to ship unharmed through two consecutive Gulf Coast hurricanes. The day it arrived at the port, Bruce Wolfe, of Ligne Roset Houston, telephoned with good news/bad news. "The good news is that your desk has arrived at the port; the bad news is that it's not perishable."

"Not perishable?"

"Correct! Because of the hurricane, the port authorities are only allowing perishables to be unloaded at this time. Your desk is not perishable!"

The beautiful desk sat on a ship for quite some time but was worth the wait. Plus, as you see, it has it's own story.

To come later: Additional photos of the Ligne Roset Boutique Opening.

Minimalist to Minimalist

Vitra Design Miniature, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, 1928

I confess: After witnessing Hurricane Ike, Tall Husband and I went house hunting, farther inland, where my son lives with his family. We did not find a house to our liking, so upon our return to Houston I continued my search on-line.

As Tall Son shares my aversion to clutter and kitsch and is a devout minimalist, I trust his design decisions, so sent this e-mail to him:

Mom wrote:

"What do you think of this one?" (I attached a photo of a new modern minimalist house, designed by a great architect; a photo I will not attach here, as I do not want someone to scoop the house out from under us.)

Tall Son responded:

"I like it but it lacks a few Southern touches:

1. Stone hunting dogs flanking the entry way
2. A two-foot rusty lone star over the front door.
3. A junkyard sculpture of a longhorn in the front yard.
4. Twin lazy boys in the living room facing a ten-foot TV tuned to college football.
5. A pool table with a plastic Budweiser lampshade over it.
6. A poster of a large-breasted bimbo in a bikini mounting a Harley in the garage (over the arc welder of course).
7. A longhorn trophy over the TV that sings the "Yellow Rose of Texas" when you pull its tongue.
8. Antlers mounted in every room for good measure.
9. A flashing neon sign over the sound system that just reads "The King."
10. Oh, and for the little lady: a velvet painting of young Elvis over the stove.
    

Love,
Tall Son"

He loves the house!

I Don't Like Ike...

but I love these Texans.

The owner of this Houston home was grateful that this 60 foot tree did not hit her home when Ike blew it over.

The Texas Chainsaw Crew in Meyerland, Houston. This is one of many crews of neighbors who joined forces and resources to begin the horrific clean up that we face in Southeast Texas.

A crew of chainsaw-wielding neighbors clears the streets the day after Hurricane Ike blows through My Ranchburger's area of Houston. One of the crew insisted that I take a photo of the Poulan chainsaw. Guys love their chainsaws!

Ike's Landscraping

In Houston, many old trees were blown over; some narrowly missing houses, others smashing onto them. Power lines and poles were blown down. Water pressure is low, so water has to be boiled and conserved. There is no electricity and the weather is hot and humid. My Ranchburger and The Bunny Bungalow appear untouched by Ike...only tree damage and debris which we can handle. We Texans are a "can do" people. We don't stand around and whine about "when and what are they going to do for us." Houston mayor, Bill White, personifies the "can-do attitude." He has been on the radio (there is no longer television or Internet available to many of us) giving us encouragement, tips and real information about how we can help ourselves and our neighbors.

Larry, like all of his Meyerland neighbors, was out clearing his property as soon as Hurricane Ike quit blowing debris around.

There is a house somewhere behind those trees that Ike blew over.