Our big summer vacation was a road trip through some National Parks and, as importantly, their lodges. While I intended to do a quick post on here focusing on the architecture/design elements of our trip, I got SO MANY logistical questions from those of you following along on IG stories (which I saved on my … More National Park Architecture Road Trip

We made the shortest trip ever to our hometown (homecounty?), Orange County, CA, recently and had to pop in to one of my favorite places. A wonderland of a park in Anaheim. No, not that park. The second happiest place on earth: Brookhurst Community Park. I shared some (ok, a million) pictures of this place … More Space Age Moon Park

Whew! We’ve been traveling intermittently over the past two weeks and both trips, oddly enough, included Stan Bitters centered pit stops. His large scale textural ceramic work and creative process have left me so inspired. And I love that these memories will now be part of my kids’ “annoying things my parents made me do on … More Stan Bitters Road Trips

Heeeey there! No house projects today, just a rainbow of rocks! Last weekend, my husband and I took a quick trip to Las Vegas for the Viva Las Vegas rockabilly festival. I never leave Las Vegas loving the city, but the music was great and we made the most of our time. We stayed at the Delano, … More Seven Magic Mountains

If you’ve ever wanted to look at endless photos of palm trees, you’ve arrived! We spent some of Thanksgiving week in our favorite place and spent a wonderful morning exploring the Palm tree oasis’ in Indian Canyon. Just south of the city sits not just one, but several, of the largest oasis’ of California Fan … More Palm Springs Indian Canyons

This has been the longest, weirdest summer ever and our our trip to AZ in June feels like years ago. But I realized I never wrapped up our Arizona architourism adventures (previous posts include Cosanti, Arcosanti, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross). Only a few months late, I’m here with the granddaddy: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. We have stopped … More Taliesin West (with kids!)

If you read my last post, you probably gathered that I’m a Paolo Soleri architecture super fan. And as if Arcosanti isn’t enough genius for one person to pump out in a lifetime, Soleri built another magical wonderland, Cosanti, as well. I can’t tell you which is my favorite because both are my favorite. Cosanti … More Cosanti

Continuing with our Arizona architectural adventures: ARCOSANTI! If you are unfamiliar with Paolo Soleri, he’s a genius nut most known for his pottery bells and his urban planning philosophy incorporating architecture and ecology, called arcology, a push back against the consumerism and suburban sprawl of the 60’s and 70’s. Arcosanti is Soleri’s experimental utopian town … More Arcosanti

I talked a little about our time in Sedona last week, so today it’s down to business: architectural delights. I always picture Sedona as a wacky retreat for New Agers searching for vortexes, so I was surprised to find this incredible modern chapel just south of town. It is utterly amazing and so appropriate for the … More The Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona

We’re trying to get back into the swing of house related things after a few exhausting weeks off. We took a road trip through Arizona, had family in town, and are now gripped by a vicious summer stomach flu. Additionally, and on a very sad note, my husband and I both lost a grandma in … More Arizona Road Trippin’

Hi! We’ve had some busy weeks around here with visitors, birthdays, and end of the school year madness, so today I’m just popping in briefly today to share a local home that I recently had the privilege of touring in San Luis Obispo. I came across this place a few years ago on Airbnb and … More SLO Mid Century House Tour

I’ll say it again: what an incredible treat to tour the Frey House II during our recent Palm Springs visit. Visiting Edris was enough for a lifetime, so this pushed things over the top for this crazy architecture lover. I have a thing for rock in homes so obviously this house blows my mind in every way. … More Frey House II

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to tour the Edris House during Modernism Week last month. Perfect is the only correct word to describe this dwelling. Utter architectural perfection. Built in 1954 by architect E. Stewart Williams, the house was meticulously custom built for his friends, the Edrises, who gave Williams free rein in design and budget. … More Edris House

Hey all! I’m a little behind recapping Modernism Week, but we left, as always, with so much momentum that would be stupid to not act on asap. Major floor work getting done over here! The week was so great though! Such a packed, but fun visit. While I wasn’t particularly jazzed about the increased Palm Springs crowds – … More Modernism Week Recap

Something unexpected and wonderful happened. Our family has been planning to go to Disneyland. Three times. If you are a Southern California resident, which we barely but officially are, you can go 3 times between Jan-May for 1.5 times the price of daily admission. So, again, Disneyland three times. I love Disneyland but offhandedly I said, you know, … More Palm Springs Again

We just got back from Palm Springs and it’s seriously my kind of town. Every time I go, all I do is WANT. I want in. I want the houses, like every single one of them – definitely including you Edris House. I want the palm trees, want the pools, want the mountains, want the desert. Surely I have moderate … More Palm Springs

Graceland, yo! The house as legendary and over the top as its former inhabitant. So iconic and such a part of our American vernacular that it is easy to dismiss it as simply a gathering place of the fanatic and the work of a manic (and it may well be), and then miss the masterful interiors. Don’t let its proper … More Graceland

I like to casually (obsessively) glance over (inhale) photographs of houses, and my favorite this week is a new Eichler built in Palm Springs. Not because I am in love with the house but I’m undoubtedly intrigued with the concept of reproduction vintage homes and here is one in the flesh. Not familiar with Eichler? Joseph … More Desert Eichlers