The sunsets of Seaside

Not only is the town architecturally beautiful, the sunsets seen in Seaside were some of the prettiest I've experienced.Why is it that one notices such things so much more during a vacation then during their daily lives?

The towers of Seaside

One of the architectural features you find throughout the different styles of Seaside are towers. They not only make the house they belong to distinctive, these towers are a great place to catch the sea breezes in the summer, views of the Gulf year round and provide private outdoor space as yards tend to be miniscule.This green house was one of the most charming in town.One of the many modern houses had this interesting tower; notice the curved ceiling within the peaked roof.One of my favorite houses, designed by Charles Warren, was inspired by a Roman villa.This distinctive red shade, in a town full of pastels, makes the house the brightest in Seaside.Many of the houses along 30A are Victorian, a natural style for a tower.What do you think, Yea or Nea? It becomes a bit overwhelming in person as so many houses have towers -how many is too many?

National Portrait Gallery

One of my favorite museums in DC is the National Portrait Gallery. In 2000, the building underwent a major 6 year long renovation which included enclosing the courtyard, done by the starchitect Norman Foster.While I think this contemporary roof blends harmoniously with the classical building, formerly the National Patent Office, it's the restoration of the amazing Greek Revival building that really fascinates me.The building encompasses an entire city block so you can imagine the number of staircases required to provide access to all 3 floors.Each is different and the details astound me, every one.The stone scalloped treads of this curved stair elegantly cantilever out of the wall.While the stringer of this stair is amazingly shallow. Aren't the shadows beautiful?The first floor is almost treated as a basement in Piano Nobile style. This stair with heavy granite treads reminds me of a servant's stair from Downton Abbey.The top floor has this mezzanine and is a light filled atrium thank to the skylight, perfect for the more modern and celebrity portraiture.Check out these colorful Victorian tile floors!The art is as beautiful as the building, naturally, and there is always an interesting exhibit to check out. This bronze sculpture of the Spirit of Life, 1914, by Daniel Chester French, lies at the top of one of the many stairscases.A portrait of the beautiful Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler, 1893, by John Singer Sargent, is one of my many favorite portraits.The collection houses a number of works from the aesthetic period (my favorite) such as this painting of a Woman with red hair, 1894, by Albert Herter. So if you're in DC checking out our Cherry Blossom Festival and beautiful spring weather, don't forget to stop into the National Portrait Gallery!
The National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th Street NW & F Street NW atop the Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stop.

From the Met

Sometimes just a pretty picture will suffice. Taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A grand side facade

On a very important street of my favorite neighborhood in Washington, Kalorama, lies a house that has always intrigued me. The road T's, exposing the side of the house which is treated in a very grand manner; more grandly than the front facade in fact.

I really love this house for its beautiful symmetrical design but also the unusual colors: red clay tile roof, orange brick, french grey limestone, blue stucco and window trim. I've heard it was designed by John Russell Pope, does anyone know the backstory here?

Seaside Beach Pavilions

Unlike some of the other new urbanist beach towns which dot the Florida panhandle, the beaches of Seaside are graciously open to the non-Seaside public.Not only are they free and open but each beach access point is marked with a different architectural folly.Designed by different architects in numerous styles, a common question in Seaside may be which folly is your favorite. The good thing about these is that you can always find your way closest to home on the beach without disturbing the dunes and wildlife.Pensacola Street was the beach access point closest to my cottage, The Angel in the Dunes, about 1 block away.Designed by Tony Atkin, the top of the post modernist folly (seen above) was lit at night so I could find my way home after sunset each evening.The West Ruskin Street Pavilion by Michael McDonough was also in postmodern style and perhaps a bit dated but I loved the playfulness of it.Just another reason I loved Seaside so much, this attention to detail. Who doesn't love an architectural folly?

A small cottage plan

Inspired by my small living in Seaside, I found this little cottage to share with you. The rendering even shows it located on the water!While small, it's a cute little house and very little would need to be changed. Efficient built-ins would help with storage naturally. I would get rid of the breakfast nook and enclose the sleeping porch (sorry!) to have a private bath and larger closet in the main bedroom. I think I'd also enclose the kitchen porch for a larger kitchen. What do you think?

Washington Design Center: DreamHome

Today, March 15, marks the opening of this years 2012 DreamHome at the Washington Design Center. I was able to tour the set of rooms on Tuesday and meet with a number of the designers and am bringing you a few of my favorite spaces.This year's theme is in conjunction with the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s exhibit 40 under 40 Craft Futures at the Renwick Gallery. Each designer was designated a piece of art from the exhibit to base their room around. It was really interesting to hear from each designer what inspiration they drew from their piece to help in the transformation of their room.The entry to the DreamHome is a modern study by Miriam Dillon of Barnes Vanze Architects and her talented design team in these first photos seen here.The team's inspiration was Hula Hoop, a translucent film quilt by Sabrina Gschwandtner. Not only was the color from the piece used in the design of the room, subtle links to photography were to be found throughout the space including an amazing stop-motion photo screen above the sofa provided by Lee Odess of energy + light + control.A first for the DesignHome, the architectural team built out the space with beautiful ceiling coffers, paneling and a 3 piece crown, built by Horizon Houseworks, creating a true room with architectural presence.The lighting control system, varying textures and architectural details all meet to create a beautiful modern study.I loved the striped window film, by Decorative Films LLC, over the pocket doors to the adjoining rooms which gave glimpses of the spaces to come but provided some mystery and privacy. Behind the study was the Living Room completed by Scott Cooke. Scott took inspiration in his piece Dulce, which refers to the languid women depicted by artists such as Manet and Goya. The room truly feels like a relaxing and feminine space to comfortably lounge. What I liked most about this room was the formal symmetrical plan which was kept from being staid through the use of color and whimsical accent furniture. I especially loved those 2 red and mirrored greek key coffee tables! The office, just off of the Living room, is a very stylish space designed by Shanon Munn of the Ambi Design Studio. Shannon's inpiration was drawn from the piece Crane Chair by Christy Oates. She used the origami motif around the room, including in the amazing custom Stark carpet and the very linear leather covered fireplace surround.Shannon was also inspired by strong and stylish women such as Vera Wang. You easily could see someone like this operating her business from such a chic space.The Breakfast Room by Christine Philp for Palindrome Design is a relaxing space of calm neutrals, organic lines and natural textures. I immediately recognized the Century Furniture table from the Grand Tour collection (remember my post on it from Highpoint).The Cowtan & Tout curtains want to come home with me, they really do. I loved this little cozy reading nook in the bay window.This bullseye mirror stands guard over a number of natural decorative accessories; all just very pretty and calming.Less calming but full of energy was the Modern Lounge by the Akseizer Design Group. Inspired by the Mad Men era down to the interesting acrylic grand piano, the room was designed to complement the neighboring cityscape which the room looks out onto. This view is redolent of the opening scene of North by Northwest playing on a continuous loop on the tv. But the most dramatic room of the DreamHome is surely the bedroom by William McGovern of McGovern Design Studio. While not a room I could feel at home in personally, I feel the place for such a playful space is in a showhouse - where else can you experiment like this?Designed around the tension between the masculine and the feminine, the contrast is further enhanced by the strict use of black and white with the accent of a vintage, lacquered red 4-poster bed. Dramatic; not to mention the crystal chandlier and metallic wall covering.Be sure to check out the DreamHome on the 5th level of the Washington Design center before it closes on November 30. Admission is free to the public and open 9-5, Monday thru Friday.