Pure Classic Benz

While shooting at the Classy Chassis show in Houston yesterday, I thought of designer friend, Manuel over at Dear Diary. He loves the classic Benz. So these classy numbers are dedicated to him.

Hop over to The Bunny Bungalow to see more classic cars.

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.

Mark Word at DWR Studio Austin

Mark Word, Landscape Designer at DWR Studio, Austin, Texas

The National Planter Project in Austin

Design Within Reach Studio in Austin showed off their green thumbs with Modern Planted Pots.  At this special event, Mark Word, Landscape Designer, discussed his creative and planting process with DWR Studio guests.  Word is famous for his work in Marfa, Texas; Hotel San José, Austin; and Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin.

Tall Husband and I have followed Word's work via the media, but when we saw his landscaping first hand at Hotel Saint Cecilia recently, we knew we had to meet this designer.  Then Vickie Collins,  proprietor of DWR Studio in Austin, invited us to this event.  We couldn't believe our serendipitous luck.  We immediately RSVP'd an emphatic yes and booked a room at Hotel San José so we could experience, up close and personal, Mark Word's designs for that very different architectural style.  Then we headed to Austin in my old Beemer.

Mark Word's landscaping at Hotel San José is magical.  Trees, plants, shrubs, flowers and the occasional fountain create intimate enclaves, making us wonder why we couldn't just sleep outside with the birds and butterflies.

Mark Word's planting for DWR Orb Planter

Mark Word's plantings for DWR Gratia Planter, Square as seen at Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, Texas

Mark Word designed the landscaping for Hotel San José, Austin Texas.

Some of the guests at Mark Word's presentation at DWR Studio in Austin


Seen at DWR Studio in Austin. And who doesn't love orange wedges?

Note: Drop by later for a more in depth look at Mark Word's landscape design at Hotel San José and a peek inside the hotel.

Click on photos to enlarge.

All Photos by Annie Sitton

Salad: Bosc Pears and Stilton Cheese

Bosc Pears and Stilton Cheese

Endive, Pear and Stilton Salad with Walnuts and Port Vinaigrette

¾ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons port wine (or dry sherry)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1½ tablespoons walnut oil
1½ tablespoons olive oil
Pinch of allspice
Salt
Pepper
3 medium endive, washed and divided into leaves (or use red leaf and green leaf lettuce)
2 small Bosc pears, cored and cut into thin wedges
¼ pound Stilton cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spread the walnuts on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Let cool .
3. Blend together mustard, port, vinegar, oils and allspice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. On individual salad plates, arrange the endive (or if using lettuce, toss lettuce in a bowl). Top with pear slices, then crumbled Stilton cheese. Sprinkle with the dressing then with walnuts.

Note: Some recipes call for 3 tablespoons of walnut oil instead of the mix of walnut/olive oils but straight walnut oil is a bit strong for my taste.

Serves 4

Un Cadeau

Reve D′ Édo water decanter designed by Peter Maly and Carsten Gollnick for Ligne Roset

When Bruce Wolfe and his staff at Ligne Roset Houston invited me to drop by their showroom to choose a gift from anything on the floor, I knew exactly what I wanted...the chic water decanter from their Reve D′ Édo collection.

If I were a bride, my groom and I would register at Ligne Roset so our wedding guests could experience the pleasure of choosing gifts in such a beautiful place. Anyway...I felt like a bride, or perhaps the proverbial kid in a candy store, when Bruce wrapped up my gift.

Gentlemen at Ligne Roset Houston, thank you for the excellent adventure! From your gift, I shall drink to your health, and of course to your success.

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.

DWR Presents: M+D+F 2009

Persimmon: Lighting by Gian Calaci

M+D+F at DWR Austin Studio May 3, 2009

Design Within Reach Austin Studio presented the winners of M+D+F 2009, a juried exhibition of new and exciting designs by emerging designers from the Austin area. The judges for M+D+F were Liz Lambert, hotelier; Jack Sanders, founder of Design Build Adventure; Tracey Overbeck Stead, interior designer; and Steve Ross, professor of architecture at University of Texas and founder of Design Build Alliance. The exhibition was an impressive collection of furniture and lighting designs that were functional, esthetically appealing and crafted to perfection. Each piece in this collection exemplified what good design is about today: it's first of all functional, then beautiful and finally it is environmentally kind. Watch out Didier Gomez!

Vickie Collins, proprietor of DWR Austin Studio, hosted this important and wonderful design event. Thanks Vickie for a great afternoon. And congratulations to all the designers in this exhibition. Tall Husband and I loved meeting you and test driving your beautiful designs.

Click on Photos to enlarge and to read additional information.

Seen at DWR Austin Studio. And why the sandals? Just because they are great design and so cool and hip.

Links

Candor Wines

Andy Coolquitt

Chad Kelly
Delish Cupcakes
DWR Austin Studio
Henry Levine Design, Inc
Hotel Saint Cecilia (Just because Tall Husband and I had a wonderful stay there this past weekend, and because it's one of Liz Lambert's hotels. More about Hotel Saint Cecilia, later, over at The Bunny Bungalow. )