DerekMDesign

2012-01-25T21:36:00.001-07:00

Test post via iPhone.

Halloween

2011-10-26T23:32:00.004-06:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

http://www.4shared.com/file/sdMc3LOD/DerekMDesign_Cast_Iron_Hallowe.html

Cemetary

2011-10-26T23:23:00.005-06:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

http://www.4shared.com/file/aebc0t38/DerekMDesign_Cast_Iron_Cemetar.html

MAD Scientist

2011-10-26T23:20:00.002-06:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

http://www.4shared.com/file/zptqW387/DerekMDesign_Cast_Iron_Mad_Sci.html

Cast Iron

2011-10-26T23:16:00.004-06:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

http://www.4shared.com/file/_AenNLRz/DerekMDesign_Cast_Iron_Skeleto.html

Skelegance

2011-10-26T23:04:00.003-06:00

DOWLOAD HERE

http://www.4shared.com/file/ROhpHkkO/DerekMDesign_Skelegance.html

Cast Iron Storefronts

2011-02-20T18:54:00.003-07:00

I found myself presented with a project of designing an old Store front. A clients wanted to build an office space next to a historic Blacksmith that he had purchased. He wanted this new office space to be a compliment to the blacksmith. He acquired an old building in another city that need to be demolished, salvage all the brick he could from this building to construct this new office space. All this so the new building would have that patina of age from day one. I was set to task to create the character of the store front that would be convincing as an old building not a new one. I began my research and discovered Mesker. Mesker? Mesker was the number one producer of metal store fronts. They offered the fronts in catalogs. You would give them measurement of your front and they would create the dramatic store fronts. They used cast iron for the main level, Windows, trim etc.. and then the upper detail were created in sheet metal. Incredible more economical and light weight. They could simulate the heavy look of the cast stone on more auspicious building for a whole lot less. They epitomize what we think of as an old main street building. At one point there were over 45,000 Mesker building in the US. with the highest concentrations being in IL and IN where the plants were located. In 2006 they had a nation wide search to locate as many of the still existing ones that are left. About half are still out there. more that have not been identified yet. In fact if you go to http://www.gotmesker.com/, you can download a google earth file that shows you the location of the all the Mesker that have been located. It's fun to drop to the street level and look at them. You can also download the old catalogs. I found these to be invaluable in my research. Unfortunately there is noone making any of these products anymore. I did do a little research and find that one of the only companies making cast iron store fronts was right here in my own state. Hence they will be creating the store front for this project. My research payed off.

One House, Many personalities

2011-02-12T14:57:00.007-07:00

Color is a powerful thing. Recently I was helping client to select the exterior colors on their new home. They wanted red shutters. that was really the only thing we were set on. I went to work, and as you can see, just changing the colors around can give it a very different feel and personality.

LOVE coupons.

2011-02-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

For the last minute Valentine's Day Gift. Print out this book of Coupons and give them to your special someone.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free printable Family Record.

2011-02-07T22:57:00.003-07:00

You can get this great looking old Family Record sheet over at "The Graphics Fairy". She allways has the coolest free graphics to download. I looked high and low for things like this when I was putting together the Grandmother's house kit. This would be a great addition to it. Check it out.

Deco Caps

2011-02-05T12:25:00.004-07:00

ecorative caps by J.D.Steingruber. The newest addtion to my Blog.

Downton Abbey

2011-02-03T22:00:00.005-07:00

he free world is in love with Downton Abbey. I watched it online and loved it so much we now own the DVD. It is available on Netflix, but your wait is going to be a long one. Series two goes into production this march. We here in the US won't see it till next year. It's set in one of my favorite English time periods. Turn of the century Edwardian England. The fact that it is set in a grand house, and I mean GRAND, may have something to do with it's appeal to me. As usual I spend a lot of time watching the house and not the story. Highclere Castle plays the role of Downton Abbey. You can see more of it HERE

Architecture Alphabet

2011-01-29T15:21:00.008-07:00

recently discovered the work of Johann David Steingruber. This collection of architecture designed around the letters of the alphabet. I happened see them in the Ballard Design catalog. It peaked my interest. So thanks to the wonders of the Internet I was able to read up on these designs. They were publish in 1773! You have to agree they are interesting an unique even for being 238 years old. No letter "J". I wonder why? His own name started with "J". You would think that would have been the first one he did. NEWS FLASH. I found prints available at a price even I can afford. SEE HERE

The Gingham Dress

2011-01-29T08:31:00.001-07:00

lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. 'We'd like to see the president,' the man said softly. 'He'll be busy all day,' the secretary snapped.
'We'll wait,' the lady replied.
For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted. 'Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave,' she said to him. He sighed in exasperation and nodded.
Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office. The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, 'We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.' The president wasn't touched. He was shocked. 'Madam,' he said, gruffly, 'we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died.
If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.' 'Oh, no,' the lady explained quickly. 'We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.' The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress andhomespun suit, then exclaimed, 'A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.' For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, 'Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?'
Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them. ...............................A TRUE STORY By Malcolm Forbes

'People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel'.

Oh Snap!

2011-01-29T08:10:00.004-07:00

hat stands 5 feet tall, 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep and took 450 hours and 50,000 legos to build?

This!

See it HERE

Make Your Own Antiqued Mirror

2011-01-20T21:51:00.001-07:00

eaded glass window turned into an Antique mirror with just a can of spray paint. I love the look of this mirror..... I am soooo going to do this... just need a window.

Make Your Own Antiqued Mirror

Book Wallpaper

2011-01-16T23:18:00.004-07:00

love old books, I have a few hundred myself. I thought this treatment of walls with pages out of an old book would be fun in powder room. A book with illustrations would make it even more interesting. Although it might drive me crazy that you could sit and read the wallpaper but never read the side glued to the wall. Get the how to HERE.

Aging cabinet hardware.

2011-01-16T23:13:00.001-07:00

I wish I had this video when were trying to age the icebox hardware for the Gothic revival Kitchen. We used acid, but it never occurred to me to torch it.

Messages on the mirror.

2011-01-16T23:07:00.001-07:00

Take a look at this bathroom transformed with Chalkboard paint. HERE

SNOW

2011-01-16T17:01:00.004-07:00

now always makes me happy. It doesn't bother me to drive in it. I just like it. I love it when it falls at night and makes thing incredibly still. It makes you want to wear a sweater and put on your warmest socks and settle in for some coco. It baffles me that people can live in warmer climates and not miss Snow as part of the season of winter. I need to see it fall and cover the ground. I need to see the icicles hanging from the eves. I need to see the mitten laying on the heater vents to dry out. It is part of my life now. Maybe that is why I'm so drawn to the work of NED YOUNG. He captures that feeling of snow. His paintings of old homes, with snow men or sleighs in the front yard, take me back to a time when snow brought that joy to this kid. Me.

New Projects

2011-01-10T20:14:00.003-07:00

Here is a rendering I just completed for a client. We have been tweaking a set of plans drawn by the clients husband. ( a licenced engineer ) They had all the bones in place. It was then up to me to give it some style, personality and an identity that set it apart. It is to sit a large semi wooded lot, perched on the top of a ravine leading to a pond with a small stream. I'm sure when this one is finished it will be the next feather in my cap. It will be a beautiful french country estate. Stay tuned.

My fifteen minutes of fame.

2011-01-10T20:05:00.004-07:00

The Kitchen of "my" Gothic Revial home made the cover of Utah Style and Design magazine.

You can view the online version of the mag here.

The house that built me.

2011-01-10T19:34:00.009-07:00

ou know I am drawn to anything house related. I have a really big soft spot for my Grandparents home. This Music video touched me a little bit. I haven't been back to grandparents house in many years. Since my Grandmother passed away and I watched her things being given away to the family, me included, I haven't been able to bring myself to visit the house. It now belongs to my aunt who is doing what she can to save it and make it work for her family. In the process it has lost some of what made it Grandmas house. I'm so desperate to cling to that memory of what it was, that I stay away so that memory will not be clouded by what it is now. Part of me wants to go back and have the memories of my youth play in my head, but I'm sure I would be distracted by the obvious changes to a place I loved. Someday I will make that visit to the house that built me.

Turn the page music off in the side bar before playing the vid.

Traditional Building Magazine.

2011-01-10T19:16:00.004-07:00

I started taking this magazine last year, and the few issues that I have are wonderful. At last a whole magazine devoted to recreating the past or preserving it. Its is far more interesting ha the Old House Journal. They have a much broader range of projects that they cover. This latest issue is particularly good since it features an article on a local Design firm FFKR. You can read it here. There is also a sister publication "Period Homes", I so want to be in this magazine some day.

12 Days of INCREDIBLE

2010-11-23T20:52:00.003-07:00

Nothing compairs to seeing it in person. Which I was lucky enough to do. You might catch a glimpse of me in the second balcony. (doubt it). This version has ruined all other version of this song for me. ( except for maybe the John Denver and the Muppets Version. shhhhh) I had a cousin and several friends in the choir that night, and a family friend constructed the village around the choir. Listen to it, I'm sure you'll love it too. The 12th verse is the BEST. talk about raising the roof with song.

Turn the background music off first in the left sidebar.

One fireplace, three movies.

2010-11-21T21:34:00.007-07:00

I found the same fireplace in three different movie. Yes, I do other things besides watch movies.
I first spotted it in the Disney Movie. Pollyanna.

Then I spotted it the Disney movie. The Happiest Millionaire. I wasn't that surprised, they had used much of the same set from Pollyanna.

But then I spotted it again in the Disney Touchtone film "Oscar". Which only surprised me that it was still around. Have I mentioned how much I love the house in Oscar? It is a wonder. I spotted some chairs in this movie that were in the movie "Age of Innocents" I'll save that for another day.

Spot the Prop.

2010-10-02T08:09:00.002-06:00

We all know that Hollywood has an endless supply of props and furniture that they can use for productions. But when it comes to recreating the past antiques are the way to go. The cost and expense of building recreation is just not cheep. There are many prop houses that specialize in this type of thing. Their resources are not endless. There are only so many Antiques available to them to use. So it will be no surprise that props are reused in several pictures over the years. I have found just such a prop. I love to watch period films. I'm more interested in the set itself in some cases more than the actual story line. I began to spot a unique chair. Granted this chair came from a British prop house, an is used in British productions. My point is still the same. This chair has made 4 onscreen performances that I know of starting in the early 60's, to my last spotting in 2003. So with out further adue. Chair, this is your life.

The Avengers, 1967

The Musical, The Slipper and the Rose. 1976

Ever after, 1998

Johnny English, 2003

It truly is a unique chair. With those Princess Leia swirly buns on its sides. That is part of what made it so easy to spot. I think you will have to agree that it is the same chair(s) in all these pictures. Such a fine working career it has had. Working with the likes of Diana Riggs, Dame Edith Evans, Richard Chamberlain, Drew Barrymore, John Malcovich, Rowan Atkinson.

If you spot it making a debue, let me know. I'll add it to it's resume.

Old House Dreams

2010-09-25T08:28:00.003-06:00

Need a place to waste 6 hours or so? You won't feel like you wasted any time at all if you are anything like me. OLD HOUSE DREAMS

The Demise of Old houses.

2010-09-17T08:25:00.003-06:00

I found this blog post about the destruction of old houses....

http://beachbrights.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-wrong-with-people-my-hug-house.html

Great pictures of Storybook style homes. Speaking of Storybook style. My Gothic Revival House is going to be in a new book coming out. "Storybook Style 2 - The Carpendar Gothic"

The Demolition of Grandma's House

2010-09-12T09:03:00.006-06:00

Shown above is the work of local artist, Scott Brough. http://www.scottbrough.com/ . I know Scott. I love his work. He paints the spirit of old and disappearing place like no other I know. You can't paint a picture of an old House or barn and do it complete justice unless you love the subject. We artists are just that way. We need to be personally vested to get the creative juices flowing. It shows in his vast work that he loves what he paints, there is a personal attachment to the subject. This Guy gets it.

I arrived at work one morning to find a newspaper article on my desk. The ladies that I work with know my fondness for old houses and more to the point their preservation. I was saddened as I read this article to find that another Old house had fallen prey to progress. If that wasn't bad enough. it was Scott's Grandmother's house. I hurt for him and his family as read of the demolition of Grandma's house. Read below what Scott had to say about this.

The Demolition of Grandma's House.

By Scott Brough

I grew up in Kaysville and have always believed that my hometown was a unique and very special place rich in history. My grandmother's home was like a jewel, located in the center of town. It was an historic red brick home with beautiful stained-glass windows, gables and a bar tile roof.Giant walnut trees gave the house perpetual shade and made hot summer days cool and comfortable. The original part of the house was built in 1903. Grandma always had her eye on the beautiful home and when it eventually came up for sale in 1928 my grandparents bought the property.

As a young man growing up I have had many choice memories there along with my siblings and numerous cousins. To everyone I knew grandma's house was the heart of Kaysville. We couldn't leave grandma's house without a hot loaf of bread or a jar of homemade jam in hand.
I was nine when Grandma passed away and I remember when Kaysville city bought the house from the family. We all watched as the house slowly became neglected and gradually fell into disrepair over the next three decades. Even though the house was no longer in prime condition, it was always grandma's house and we all hoped that it would some day be saved and restored.

As a fine art painter living in Davis County, I travel to many locations in search of older buildings as subject matter. Like many of my artist colleagues I am finding that these places are becoming increasingly harder to find. It has become a trend for communities to allow the destruction of virtually any old building.I find this to be extremely disturbing. In my work I see many beautiful old structures which endear me even though the building may be previously unknown to me. Any old structure has a unique history and profound significance regardless of your personal attachment. It doesn't matter if it is a place you know well and have a personal connection with. The value is still there.

I fear we are destroying ourselves whenever an old building is torn down. With each demolition a piece of us dies. These old structures are the physical manifestation of our heritage and the heart and soul of our communities. It is who we are. There are many more proactive communities around the world that realize this principle and cherish their historical structures. Those communities are loved and visited by travelers around the world solely because of the wealth of historical old buildings. Just because it is old does not mean we should throw it away.
On Wednesday, Aug. 25, I watched with many of my cousins and other family members as Kaysville city demolished Grandma's 107-year-old home. They did this in concert with the demolition of the Gailey home (the original Kaysville telegraph office) built in 1858, located a few hundred feet away, and on the heels of the demolition of the historical Boy Scout cabin a couple of weeks earlier. They said that Grandma's house was "in the wrong location," or "too far gone to be saved".

Jared Taylor, city councilman, called it a "danger and a liability." Another city official, Ally Isom made the claim: "The value is not in the wood, the floor and the rock; it is in the people that were involved over the years." I wonder what citizens of certain older European communities would think of Ms. Isom's sentiment. I'm afraid that my hometown is no longer the special and unique place I once knew. It's not at all like the "city of distinction" as is stated on Kaysville's website and welcome signs as you enter the city limits. Kaysville city is now becoming a common town, just like any other.

A piece of me died that day and the heart of Kaysville is no longer with us.
I strongly believe that we are headed in the wrong direction in regard to what we value. Each of us is the product of our community's history and we must pass our heritage on to our posterity. It is our obligation to be the caretakers of one of the most important elements in our towns and cities: our old buildings and structures. Anything less is irresponsible.
Some would claim that the demolition of old buildings is necessary for the sake of progress. I argue that the opposite is true. Once a piece of history is destroyed it can never be replaced. The damage already done to our community by shortsighted city officials will forever impact generations to come.

Cutting out the soul of our towns and depriving our posterity of meaningful structures is a mad dash away from progress. These irreplaceable historical locations need to be vigorously fought for, preserved, and maintained for future generations to enjoy and marvel. It is who we are.
Brough lives in Syracuse.

Cities need to identify the treasure they have, and protect them. Offer tax incentives to people to renovate and preserve. Demolition is not always the answer. Houses can be moved. I posted awhile back about a house in LA that had been moved three times. There are people that want these old houses. I would rather see a house moved to a new location, than to see it moved to a landfill. These houses, or other old building for that matter, once they are gone, they can not be replaced. Fine talk for someone in my profession that recreates the past. I will be the first to admit that you can't recreate all aspect of an old building. The soul is something you can not recreate. That soul is created over time, not by reproduction.

Magazine Photo Shoot.

2010-07-30T11:31:00.001-06:00

Brad Mee and Tessa Woolf of UTAH STYLE

I recently participated in a photo shoot of one of my project. It was great to see and participate in the process of setting and staging shots for a magazine. Who knew it was so labor intensive to photograph something that doesn't even move. We had a great time with the team from UTAH STYLE & Design, Brad Mee and Tessa Woolf. The photographer, Scott Zimmerman and his wife were a joy to work with as well. You'll be able to see this project in two up coming issues Of UTAH STYLE magazine. For a bit of a sneak peek you can read about it in UTAH STYLE's Blog here. (Yes, that's me behind the Gladiolas on the kitchen Island.)

Derek

Small house makeover

2010-05-14T13:16:00.002-06:00

Taking a small little house that's listed on the city's historical register and giving it a new life can be an adventure. Granted the owner had the responsibility of working with the historic committee, so ultimately his adventure was greater than ours. It began with this boarded up little shack.

It made it onto the registry due to its unique double entrance. Frankly I think this is just an early example of a duplex. So our first task was to get permission to eliminate one of the doors. So we proposed this new look for this little house.

After making a few concessions for the Historic committee, construction began.

After many weeks of hard work including all the renovations that took place on the inside. This little house got a new lease on life.

Good inspiration can come from anywhere.

2010-03-03T08:19:00.005-07:00

As the kitchen from my dream job is features on Hooked on Houses. I take a moment to look back, and remember the process that brought it to fruition. I remember many years ago while on a business trip watching "Practical Magic". Now any movie with a great Victorian house usually pulls me in whether the plot is good or not. I'm focused on the unsung character, the house itself. I'm a guy so that hunting instinct is strong. I hunt for things. The perfect light fixture, paint color, pattern, you name it. Sitting there in my hotel room watching that movie. I found the perfect period kitchen. I logged away the details. gather pictures of it as reference. Storing up the information to make that kitchen for myself one day. When this dream job came to me. It was the perfect opportunity to pull that file out as reference. But as the design process It was my intention to change it here and there to make it unique to this project. It became clear as I tried to make alterations that nothing was as good as the original. Now, I live by the motto that good inspiration can come from anywhere, even a movie. I was inspired to the point that I couldn't mess with perfection. We made every effort to capture the spirit of that fabulous kitchen. Alteration had to be made to fit the space and layout of the house. We went as far as to create what looks to be a converted porch for the dining area just to give us the opportunity to do that great pass through area. The large wood work table was designed and built to our specifications. It took 6 men to move it into place. Despite its weight it was designed to be rotated 90 degrees to make it into a great serving buffet for large gathering. I was very specific on where the lights were to be hung. so that when the table was moved in this way the light fixture was still centered over the table. I'm funny that way. The granite counter tops proved to be a challenge. We wanted the look of the old marble with out the stain ablitiy of marble. I think we found the perfect piece of stone. I selected the slabs myself. The tile proved to be a challenge too. I found what looked to be an exact match to that in the movie. The problem was the price was that of a Hollywood production too. The final selection fit the bill. the color was perfect and it had an aged crackle to it. You have to agree that the AGA range truly ages this kitchen. There was never a question as to what range we would use. It is the heart of that kitchen, and a warm heart at that. That range is constantly warm. It took three days to warm that puppy up to service ready temperatures. The appliances are hidden, with good reason. A visible microwave or DW would spoil the illusion here. The Sub zero, although easy to hide, finding the icebox hardware was not. I found many antique sets that held an antique price. I ultimately had to find reproductions, but the color was the problem. Everything new came in bright shiny brass. A few dips in the acid and some faux painting wizardry and they looked "old". Worth the effort I think. I regret to say that the cabinet company that created the cabinets is no more. The owner retired after this project. We are not sure if this project put him over the edge or if he in fact wanted to retire. I'm sure that I gave them heart burn on more than one occasion. I was very picky about the cabinets. I had them construct a prototype, (which I kept for myself) so that I could make any changes before they went into full production. I can't express the importance of a prototype on a project like this. It was invaluable for tuning everything to be perfect. Working out every milling profile, the placement of the hinges, the height and location of the mullions and so on. As you can see, the million little decisions that had to be made and coordinated brought this beautiful kitchen into being. It truly is a jewel in my career crown even if every little detail was not a creation of my own. I had plenty of other opportunities to flex that creative muscle elsewhere in this house. Thank you Julia for thinking of my project. and for supplying me with my daily house fix. Someday maybe I will be wealthy enough to hire you to write my text for these things. Writing is not my forte. http://www.oviattpratt.com/

Meet me in St.Louis- vs - Cheaper by the Dozen

2010-02-20T16:56:00.002-07:00

It's true. The house in "Meet me in St. Louis" was used again in the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen" Although the CPTD movie was originally filmed in black and white, I prefer the colorized version because it give the sets alone more life. There are many clues to indicate that the house had a working set interior, but on the hand there are things that make me think it was a set on a sound stage.. Either way, the CBTD movie used the same interior set. It had new woodwork and new stairs but the configuration of the rooms is the same. See for yourself.

The Meet me in St Louis House, Designed and built just for this movie.

Here we see it in Cheaper by the Dozen, The addition of a drive way, and the bush lined fence.

The front doors in MMISL. The high door knobs and the etched glass.

This shot is one indication that the set is on a sound stage. The painting of the house across the street, and the lighting out side is to much like the inside lighting.

The front door in CBTD, Same etched glass, and high doorknobs. Although you can not see it the pattern etched on the glass is the same in both movies. The dental moulding under the window is only on the outside side of the doors, as you can see on the shot when the Family first arrives at the house.

The stairs in Meet me in St Louis. They rise to a landing mid way up the stairs, and a large cut lead window.
The stairs in Cheaper by the Dozen, The mid way landing is gone. Moving the upper balcony closer to the front of the house. the wall on the left has been moved in, covering the large led window. The window is now at the top of the stairs, Perhaps the hall felt to large for this movie. I love the painting on the wall at the base of the stairs. The image of a man on the left appears to be looking out of his frame and up the stairs.

Here is a full view of the CBTD entry. I love it! But what is the bump in the upper top left corner. With an entry this size there should be an impressive chandelier hanging in this space.

The MMISL Dining room.
The CBTD Dinning room. The addition of the paneled wainscot, and the door to the kitchen is moved from the left to the right. Incidentaly we never see the kitchen in this movie.

I tried and tried to get a good shot of this scene. If you notice through the front door you can see the painting of the two men at the bottom of the stairs and the blue wallpaper. In the movie they pan back. you can tell that the interior of the house is trimmed out. Whether they trimmed out just what you can see through the door I guess we will never know.

This Shot I happened to spot the shadow of the boom mic on the lawn to the left.

A big thank you to Julia over at Hooked on Houses, for the use of the MMISL pictures that she captured for her post on the movie. Check out Movie Mondays on her site to see house and sets used in various movies. She is just the coolest house person I know.

You can spend hours on her site. You could anyway. I check it everyday so I don't miss a thing.

Valentine's Day LOVE coupons.

2010-02-13T10:50:00.007-07:00

For the last minute Valentine's Day Gift. Print out this book of Coupons and give them to your special someone.

DOWNLOAD HERE

I printed mine on some old tan card stock to give them a more vintage look. I need to thank GraphicsFairy.blogspot.com for most of the graphics. I credit her website for the inspiration for this little project. Check out her Brag Monday post on her blog. and see other things made and inspired by her clipart.

So for those of you in need of a gift at this eleventh hour. You have my sympathy and my coupons to get you out of hot water. What you put on the Coupons is all you. I don't want to know.

I Believe in Santa Claus

2009-12-25T00:59:00.001-07:00

I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS - author unknown

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma.. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way, my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted..."Ridiculous! Don't you believe it! That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where Grandma", I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous.. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95. May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care... And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

Eatable Architecture

2009-12-22T22:40:00.011-07:00

How do you take this old picture of the Carson Mansion in Eureka, CA and.........

....turn it into this?

It's the work of one man. John Learner of Stow,Ohio.

I spotted some pictures of this creation on the Martha Stewart Message boards. My jaw dropped.

What impressed me more was that it was a guy... Despite what some people think we men are capable of creative thought. I contacted John and got permission to show some of the pictures of his work and ask a few questions of this master builder. He has taken first place in every competition so he truly deserves the title of master builder.

Who doesn't like Victorian houses?!
1. How did you get started Making gingerbread Houses?

8 years ago I started a father-daughter project to use up all of the leftover candy and food that no one would eat, had gotten stale, nobody liked, so it wouldn't have to be thrown away. We had leftover pop tarts, old cereal, Halloween candy, Easter candy, old tins of popcorn, etc. I made a cardboard house to make it easy for the girls to visualize the end product, and we just started gluing food and candy decorations on it using hot glue and royal icing. The result was amusing and spectacular. I took it to work, and showed it off for a month during the Christmas season because my wife didn't want to see it around home. Everyone liked it so much, I decided to save it to use as a Christmas decoration every year and to add a new one every year so I would eventually have a village. Now I have 8.
When I had four houses in my village, people suggested that I enter them into contests. The next year, my dad sent me an ad from the Cleveland paper announcing a competition at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. I registered and entered and won first place. And now I have won first place 4 years in a row. They have a very nice competition and a nice facility. Their competition rules are reasonable. I've checked out other competitions, and found that many of them are fund raisers where the houses are sold off. I want to keep my houses, so I don't enter those competitions. The national competition is at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville NC, but I don't want to make two round-trips that far, so I don't enter that one.

2.Do you use gingerbread?

Yes. The Kent Victorian weighs 65 lbs, which is mostly solid gingerbread. The St. Ignatius weighs 85 lbs, which is mostly gingerbread. The Carson house has only 10 lbs of gingerbread, as decoration.

3. Do you use royal icing as your glue??

Yes, and hot glue.

4. Do you start with some sort of practice model?

No. I take an 8x 10 photo of the house and draw lines on it to make a graph over it. Then with a ruler, I transfer it to the real gingerbread house. A standard gingerbread house uses a single piece of gingerbread for each wall, with icing at the corners. I prefer to layer my gingerbread like plywood and make thick walls, layered like a stack of pancakes. It takes a lot of gingerbread, but you now have a strong structural wall that you can carve deep into for windows, doors, and details. A lot of the work is tedious, like unwrapping 700 sticks of chewing gum and carving a scalloped edge on each one. Or sanding candy cigarettes down until they're flat and thin to use as window frames.

5. You obviously try to copy the real structure as best you can. do you use just photos as your reference material?

Yes, just one or two photos is all it takes.

6. What are some of the most unique candy /food items that you use?

Swedish fish, cherry lifesavers, ring pops, ice cream cones, chewing gum, twizzlers, pop tarts, hard tack candy, jolly ranchers, candy cigarettes, fettuccine noodles. Never use chocolate; it distorts over time. (M&Ms pop. Hershey kisses explode like jiffy pop over time.) Pop tarts are a better building material than they are as food. They can be mitered, beveled, tongue-and-grooved, and they come with icing on them that looks like snow. So they're good for roofs. I used M&Ms and Hershey kisses on my first house, and after a couple years, the chocolate turned to powder and made a dusty mess on my house, which i tried to vacuum off. Don't ever vacuum up chocolate dust! The dust turns back into chocolate in the hot motor and ruins your vacuum. I had to clean the dust off with my leaf-blower. Don't use chocolate wafer cookies; they look good, but they separate into layers after several years.
I go to candy stores looking for colors and shapes, something that will work as pillars and window frames. It's hard to find candy that looks like doors. I mentioned to you about HirstArts.com and the molds you can buy there. They sure help with the fine detail, although the scale isn't always accurate.

7. How long does a house the size of your Carson Mansion take to complete?

Carson took me 6 months in my spare time. St. Ignatius took 6 months. Both would have taken longer if I was the one baking the gingerbread, but I barter for my gingerbread from a baker I know.

8. Did you have an interest in Architecture before you started making gingerbread houses? Your creation suggest a understanding of geometry and model making.

Yes, who doesn't like Victorian houses?! My real hobby is making model ships. I'm working on my sixth one.

9. Where do you get you inspiration from?

They are fun and easy to make.

10. Do you have any other creation in the works?

I have, in my head, plans to make the Flatiron Building on 23rd & Broadway, and Stan Hywet Hall in Akron OH, and a traditional German building.

Here is John with his St. Ignatius creation. Truly a wonder! Then some pitures of several of his works on display for competition.

Thank you John for allowing me to share these with my readers. It truly is a work of candy art. Keep up the good work and we look forward to seeing your next creations. What better way to celebrate the Christmas season than with my two favorite things. Candy and Architecture. Eatable Architecture.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT FOR THE MASTER BUILDER..

Good Job John!

Merry Christmas To ALL....

Peppard Cottage revisited.

2009-12-13T12:44:00.006-07:00

You may remember my post back in October about Peppard cottage? Here is proof that if you wish for something hard enough it will come true. Over a year ago I posted on here and on some British forums requesting pictures of this house from anyone willing to share. Then my lucky day came. Sean Menzies happened to do a search for Peppard Cottage and found my little blog. Sean had actually been to village where Peppard cottage is. I receive these emails from him. He shared some interesting bit of knowledge about this little English gem.

Hey Derek, I found your blog by doing a search for Peppard Cottage. After having visited the house, I was curious if there were any references to it online OTHER than it having been used in Merchant Ivory's film. Most of it was about the Bloomsbury Set and the film, of course. I did see it used once, a few years ago, in a Mystery on PBS.

I've attached as many of the giant photos of the place I took as I can. It is really a lovely house. I think a one Lynda Rothbarth lives there now, she's a horsewoman. The young caretakers, a couple who live in back, were very nice to me and let me take pictures of the place. I wanted to see if the teeth were still in the chestnut tree, but we ran out of time.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics.

Cheers,

Sean.

I love this shot. It shows a view of the west side of the house that we never see in the movie.

Of course I was absolutely giddy to see these pictures. I wrote him back begging for any other pictures he might have, and permission to post them here. He responded with more pictures and trivia.

Go ahead, Derek, post away! I've attached some others, too. I took a lot but didn't realize until I looked at the pics later that most of them were from the front! I regret not getting a photo of the metal plaque that says "Peppard Cottage" which is affixed to the fencepost next to the gate (the one Emma Thompson barges through in the film to go save Helen). In the film, it has been removed and one can see the rusty square where it usually resides.

The white poles in one of the pics I sent are goal posts, plastic. There were a lot of children's toys in the front yard and I tried to shoot around them. Also of interest is the fact that the owners have kept all the production design put in by Luciana Arrighi. The dining room is still painted red and the acorn wallpaper is still in the front hall, I could see that much through the windows.

I've attached the wider view of the front of the house and the fuzzy pic I took of the chestnut tree. All the foliage had been cut back for the Winter so the wisteria was hacked down and the chestnut tree looks like a stump! It was very cool to go up to the front door and touch the wooden railings and cold iron door handle and to knock on the glass. The atmospheric sounds of the wind and the birds are exactly as they are in the film, which reproduced it accurately. Also, it is surrounded by other houses, which you've seen from the Google shots, and there is a pub, The Red Lion, within walking distance!

Oh and the last pic is of Henley-on-Thames, right down the road. It's the most beautiful place I've ever been, at least in the past couple of years. You walk along the Thames, before it is polluted by London, on a tremendous wooden boardwalk that at one point goes out into the middle of the river then back. Just beautiful. ALSO again: the bluebell wood that Leonard walks through is literally at the bottom of the road; the road, once it goes past the house, drops down drastically into a thick wood the is full of bluebells every May. We were there in March, so it was all damp and moldy.

Enjoy!
Sean

Thanks Sean For sharing these with me... anytime you want to become my out in the field reporter you can have the job.

A reminder.

2009-12-12T08:55:00.002-07:00

This is a great reminder of what this season is all about. Be sure to turn off the blog music in the side bar to the right before viewing.

Tree 2009

2009-12-10T19:12:00.003-07:00

"The most magical trees don't have a theme. The sundry conglomeration -the seredipitous kismet of individual ornaments with myriad histories -are the romantic soul of a Christmas tree."

- Barry Dixon, Designer.

Providers

2009-12-09T22:30:00.002-07:00

A friend of mine wrote this article.. I found it profound and thought provoking..
Thank you Kristen for letting me post it.

Thanksgiving Leftovers on World AIDS Day 2009. by Kristen Nowicki

Thanksgiving 2009 got me thinking about Zambia 2008 so I thought I'd blog about it.Last October, I had been in Zambia for just a few days, and had spent most of my time doing home visits to people infected and effected by HIV/AIDS. It was around day three of my Zambian visit. I was easily nearing my 50th house call, when I visited a woman who was dying, not from AIDS (even though she was HIV positive) but instead, from starvation. When I visited with her in her one room home, she lay dying on the floor. She had a table full of medication but no food to make her strong enough to take it.We spent the afternoon getting to know one another and towards the end of our visit, I asked "If you could choose any food to have for dinner, what would you eat?" I had decided earlier in our visit that whatever she wanted for dinner, I would pay for. I had only exchanged around $20 US dollars into Zambian Kwacha at the airport for the sole purpose of buying some cloth at the Mozambique border, but figured that I would have more than enough to buy a small dinner for her and even to do a little shopping later that week. She said she would like to have rice with some chicken for dinner. I asked how much it would cost, and while I can't remember the needed amount, I do remember very clearly that when I looked in my wallet, I had the exact amount needed to pay for her one meal. Literally, not a penny more or less but exactly enough for her one meal of rice with chicken.What stands out in my memory isn't so much that I had the exact amount she needed, or even the look on her face when I handed over the money for her dream meal. Instead, what I remember so vividly is how I felt when I looked back into my empty wallet. The lining of my hot pink wallet had never looked so vastly empty. I wasn't worried about having enough money for my trip, or sad about not being able to purchase cloth at the border, but I was angry that I only had enough for that one meal. While she sat there so happy at the prospect of having a meal in a day that otherwise would have been without food, I was frustrated that I could only provide for that one moment. I had paid for that day's dinner, but who would provide for the next day? It wasn't until I looked up and saw her smiling and saying thank you/zikomo, that I got past my moment of frustration and started to think about the bigger picture.I was reminded that God is our provider and that He gives us exactly what we need - not a penny more or less. Sometimes it doesn't feel like this is the case - that instead of having exactly what we're supposed to have, life swings like a pendulum from either having too much or not enough. It seldom seems like we're in the middle, right where we're supposed to be. But that day in Zambia reminded me that it's not just about me having what I need, but instead, its about being part of a bigger need and ultimately, being part of God's plan for provision. Whether we're the provider or the providee, maybe its about being connected to each other. Maybe when it seems we have too much its because we're supposed to be sharing with someone else, and other times when it seems like we don't have enough, someone else is supposed to be sharing with us.God is our provider but I think He sometimes chooses to provide for others through us. That day in Zambia, a woman needed money for dinner and I was the one who had the privelage to provide. You can say it was a coincidence or even just luck, but I believe it was God letting me be a part of His plan for provision.As I cleaned out the fridge tonight and threw away left over turkey, stuffing and potatoes from Thanksgiving that had gone bad, I thought about that Zambian woman. I wondered what her dinner of rice and chicken was like that one night. I wondered if she ate the next day or the day after that or the one after that. I wondered if she is still alive a year after I met her. Remembering our afternoon together a few days after a Thanksgiving that had been so full of food that I ended up throwing things away almost a week afterwards made me wonder - had God provided more than what I had needed this week, or had He had provided just enough for me as well as extra for others in need that I had misused and wasted?Most people know December 1 is World AIDS Day. While many of us don't know anyone living with HIV/AIDS, it doesn't take that kind of relationship to know that we are, and can be part of a bigger plan to care for and look after one another. I don't need to go to Zambia to provide a meal for someone who is without. While my wallet might be empty, maybe my fridge is full. Maybe all I have to give today is a kind word to someone who might otherwise be overlooked but maybe that's what I'm supposed to give.Regardless of our faith, religious beliefs or anything otherwise, we can all choose to be a part of a bigger plan and purpose. This is my reminder for myself this week. So as December 2009 begins, I'm not just giving thanks for the abundance in my life and I'm not just remembering my friends who I've lost to HIV/AIDS, but I'm mindful of my place in this world, the privelage of being a part of God's plan for provision and the opportunity I have to care for others. What happened to me in Zambia was amazing, but what really matters is how it shapes my future.

Curb appeal revisited

2009-11-25T21:16:00.004-07:00

Some of you may remember the post I did back in the spring about this house. A reader from Hooked on Houses. emailed me about giving her home a virtual makeover. It was a fun little project. I reved up the photoshop and dived in.

This is the original photo that she sent me.

I started by putting a darker color on the roof. Beefed up the porch pillars.

Just for fun I added a gable to the brick section of the house.

Here I removed the Portico and inserted a pediment door surround,

and for even more fun extended the gable out to create a two story portico.

I also removed some of the over grown landscaping

She recently sent me some pictures of the finished project. I have to say it is a stunning transformation. Some relatively small changes made a huge difference. Now when I say "small" changes I am in no way belittling the amount of work it took to make the changes. I merly meant that it wasn't necessary to make drastic changes to get this great new look.

Beefing up the columns, a new BLACK front door, new light fixtures and a dark colored roof.

Look what a difference it made.

The front portico looks substantial and formal.

New light fixtures can help any entry. These are perfect.

And you can't go wrong with a black front door.

I congratulate the home owners, and their contractor on a job well done.

Open house. A Dream project comes to an end.

2009-11-25T14:47:00.006-07:00

The Gothic Revival project that I have been working on since 2007 has finally come to a close. Sure there are still thing to be done. The homeowner, and now a dear friend, needs to begin the process of gathering and collecting those perfect and personal accessories. Things that make it a home. I feel I did a good job of putting all the bones in place. It helps when your client has impeccable taste and trust your taste too. They wanted a new house with an old soul. I think we achieved that. It has truly fooled some people. The greatest compliment I have gotten so far is when a member of a local historic society asked what year the home was built, and I shocked her with the year 2007-2009. She honestly thought is was a renovation project of a house built in 1860. We recently had an open house to which I invited some friends and potential clients. At one point a friend of mine said I had perma-grin. I couldn't stop smiling. Thank you to all who came and supported me along the way. You can see more on the design firm website here.

http://www.oviattpratt.com/

Porches

2009-11-24T18:33:00.004-07:00

Julia over at Hooked on Houses, Posted some her favorite Porches today. I thought I would share some or my own. Without further adue....

My Best friend NED.

2009-11-14T14:53:00.005-07:00

It's that exciting time of year once again. The Ned Young studio open house. I just can't get enough of his artwork. I look forward every year to see what old house he has chosen to grace his calendar for the coming year. I am never disappointed. Ever year the new addition to his collection has that signature Ned Young feeling. You may have never actually seen the house is his painting but you feel you know it. Like a memory from the past. It welcomes you like a familiar friend. It's got that coming home feeling. I find it so easy to connect with his work on an emotional level that you don't get with a lot of artist. Art is however a very personal thing we all react differently to art. Ned Young's work strikes a cord for me, my sisters and my Mother.( I'm not sure but I think our love for his work may be in our genes.) Most likely it could be because we share a similar connection to the past. Places and times that he paints remind us of places and times from our own past. Times that we look back on fondly. Our Grand parents lived in similar old home. I often find myself reminded of that house as I look at his paintings. The house may not be anything like our grandparents home, but the spirit of place they depict is very much the same. You Rock Ned. When I first met Ned Young three years ago. I told him I was his biggest fan. Three years later I think he might believe now. You can join his new Facebook Fan page here.

A lost Gem, Cliff House.

2009-11-11T08:26:00.004-07:00

I literally stumbled upon this website dedicated to Cliffhouse. For the next two hours I was glued to my monitor as I paged through the seemingly limitless amount of old photographs of this once grand seaside resort. The first Cliff house was built in 1863. A two story structure and far less grand than its future incarnation. In 1869 it was expanded to triple its size

In 1894, after changing hands, it burned to the ground. The new owner build it again. It's replacements is a marvel to look at.

To see hundreds more pictures check out this FANTASTIC website dedicated to Cliffhouse.

Be sure to check out the film section. There is a link to movie clip from 1903. It's fun to see the children playing in the surf and the men all in suits at the beach. Cliffhouse begs to be the location for a great period film. It would be thrilling to see it recreated for some "Somewhere in time" Romance film.

http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/

Postcard models

2009-11-02T17:46:00.002-07:00

See this great little house? Everything you need to make it comes on a single postcard. Just cut it out. Fold it up. Add a little glue, and there you have it..... Check out all the other models you can get on postcards.... HERE

The Steamboat House BnB

2009-11-02T17:26:00.002-07:00

I love this Gothic Revivial House in IL. The gazebo is a little out of place, way to modern for the house. It needs to be white and in the back. It currently obstruct the view of the house. It's a bed ad breakfast now.....See it here

Peppard Cottage

2009-11-01T16:50:00.004-07:00

Over on Hooked on Houses, Julia has some great pictures posted of this Cottage. Peppard Cottage. Famous for its appearance in the Merchant Ivory film "Howard's End" I have hunted high and low for a good picture of this cottage to no avail. I did manage to get a cryptic address for it. Then spent hours combing the Oxfordshire countryside via Google Earth till I found it. The house is in fact much larger than we are led to believe in the movie. Head over to Julia site for all the great pictures.

A classic

2009-10-28T17:08:00.001-06:00

Googleye... the Kit that started it all.

2009-09-27T13:16:00.004-06:00

Back from the archive. I first debuted Googleye in Sept of 2007. Here it is for its 2 year anniversary.

DOWNLOAD HERE

The Chef

2009-09-03T17:57:00.002-06:00

Ghost Hunting Camera

2009-09-02T21:04:00.005-06:00

The perfect little camera to take to the Haunted Mansion. It randomly places a ghost in every shot. Must take only horizontal shots, and the effect works best on interior shots. You can purchase one here.

Where have they gone?

2009-09-01T14:13:00.002-06:00

Haunt up your House

2009-09-01T14:01:00.003-06:00

For you Photoshop savy people, here are some step by step instruction to take a picture of a nice house and make it not so nice.

GO HERE

HM Backgrounds for digital scappers

2009-08-23T12:47:00.003-06:00

I made you digital scrappers some Haunted Mansion background papers. Based on the wallpapers in the mansion, and some coordinates to play with. Using my own pictures from the HM/I tried to use colors that go with any pictures you may take inside the Mansion. Lets face it its dark in there. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Make your own Mansion!

2009-08-22T07:49:00.000-06:00

I've said it before. I want to Ray Keim when I grow up. This guy is the coolest in paper models. You can download for FREE the parts and instructions to build your own Haunted Mansion model. Visit Ray Keim's "Haunted Dimensions" and get your paper model.

Some light (or dark) reading.

2009-08-21T08:38:00.000-06:00

ChefMayhem, Creator of the undisputed best Haunted Mansion website, "DOOMBUGGIES", has packed this book full of information about the Haunted Mansion. Get it now!

Description:
An exhaustive look at the magic behind-the-scenes of the Haunted Mansion, the celebrated attraction found in Disney theme parks. Meet the rides creators and fans of the attraction, and learn all about the personalities behind the world's favorite dark ride. Also includes a significant collectibles section and a scrapbook of rare media.

Printed: 64 pages, 8.5" x 11", perfect binding, black and white interior ink

Get it HERE.

Yours for $5800.00.

2009-08-20T09:11:00.001-06:00

This replica of one of the door in the "Corridor of Doors" in the Haunted Mansion can be yours IF..... You happened to get tickets to the Merchandise Event on 09-09-09, and have $5800.00 to spare. I want it so bad. I'm just lacking those two most important parts.

Description:

Haunted Mansion Door by

Walt Disney Imagineer, John Mauvezin

Retail: $5,800

Edition Size: 1

Dimensions: 24"H x 10"W x 6"D

Details:This impressive piece stands two feet tall and was built from scratch by Walt Disney Imagineer John Mauvezin, from original WED blueprints. The wonderful attention to detail leaves nothing to the imagination. From the snake door handle to the carved skulls guarding the entrance, this free standing door has a hidden surprise. Turning the door knob activates the ticking of the hallway clock along with its haunting chime. If you look through the keyhole you can see the clocks swinging pendulum and backwards spinning hands, while the ghostly shadow of a boney claw passes slowly by. this amazing illusion is accomplished through hidden mirrors and the magic of Disney. Keeping to true WED tradition , this is not a video playback, but an all mechanical effect. The clock itself is only 2" tall and is mounted deep inside the lower casework.

Ghost up your photos.

2009-08-19T07:58:00.001-06:00

I found this website that ages your photos for you. It gives your photos an eerie aged look. Perfect I think for those HM pictures. I find it easier to edit in my own ghost images in the aged photo than the raw image. Can you see them? Have some fun with it. The site is in Chinese but its easy to figure out. Try it HERE

See, Hear, and Read the "Haunted Mansion"

2009-08-18T09:09:00.000-06:00

Remember this classic from your youth? You can enjoy it again. Turn the page when you hear the chime.

See, Hear and Read this classic on Mousevinyl.com.

Demon Clock Model

2009-08-16T17:02:00.005-06:00

Demon Clock #01
Originally uploaded by Trader Sam

Things can be scary at times. In this case time itself is scary. The Demon clock from the Haunted Mansion. It has moving parts. The clock hands move and the pendulum swings when you turn the crank. You can even fit it with a clock mechanism if you wish. Download the paper model FREE at DisneyExperience.com.

Haunted Accessories

2009-08-16T07:38:00.003-06:00

The only thing that separates us from the spirit world is our ability to accessorize. ( that, and a few other things.) Here are some unique handmade accessories for the HM enthusiast.

See it and buy it HERE

Maybe Jewelry if your things, I think these Charms are the coolest.

See and buy them HERE

Master Gracey

2009-08-14T22:55:00.002-06:00

Here is an other interesting HM fan site. Master Gracey's. Visit his site here

Haunted Mansion Cabinet Card Frames

2009-08-13T22:17:00.003-06:00

Four cabinet card frames based on the Haunted Mansion signs located at the entrance to the HM. The same frame with four different distressing techniques. Perfect for those HM photos or Digital Scrapbook pages. (more to come)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Still green with envy

2009-08-13T19:55:00.000-06:00

Haunted Mansion Quick Frames

2009-08-12T17:08:00.007-06:00

I pulled this out of my archives just for the occasion. I made these back in 2007 for my own HM photos. I think they may come in usefull for those visiting the HM for the Anniversary this year.
They are in a .png format so all you have to do is side your pics in behind. Enjoy foolish Mortals!
( more add-ons to follow)

DOWNLOAD HERE

How jealous am I?

2009-08-11T21:39:00.007-06:00

One Lucky family got to spend the night inside the Haunted Mansion as part of the 40th Anniversary Celebration. See highlights from their stay, or go to the Radios Stations website that sponsored this once in a life time prize and see the web cams from the whole evening. They set up a bedroom in the stretching room for the family.... They got to stay from midnight to 6 am in the HM. I'm so Green with envy that it hurts to think about it.

Happy 40th HM

2009-08-09T13:11:00.004-06:00

Happy Anniversary to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. August 9th 1969 The doors creeked open on this most anticipated addition to Disneyland. The week it opened Disneyland had record attendance. That record wasn't broken until the 80's. Disneyland will celebrate this anniversay on 09-09-09. in honor of the 999 ghosts that live there. I'm there! For the next month I will be posting bits of trivia and fun links and project related to the haunted mansion. Stay tuned.

This house gets around.

2009-07-12T21:27:00.003-06:00

This House in California get around. Since its construction in 1872 it has moved locations 3 times

once in 1921, then again in 1996, and yet again to its perfect location on Historic Carrol Ave. in LA. It now sits along side some of its grand sisters from the same time period.
I TOTALLY love this house. The form and balance are perfect. The new color scheme fits it perfectly. I would live in this house and I have not even seen the interior. You'll notice the porch trim is missing if you compare to the old photo. My hat goes off the talented people that have perseved this gem.

Curb appeal makeovers

2009-07-12T16:46:00.003-06:00

I tried my hand at giving a house a digital makeover. (at the request of the home owner)

The addtion of a gable and bulking up the pillars on the side porch

Far grander approach. with the addtion of a two story portico and the removal of the old one. A formal trim around the door an two larger side lights.

Mary Tyler Moore house

2009-07-07T09:37:00.003-06:00

This spring I decided to introduce my kids to some of the classic TV shows I grew up with. They are clean, safe and still just as funny. We started with the Dick Van Dyke show. My 9yo was the only kid in her class that knew the significance of the a phrase "Oh rob!". Naturally the MTM show was the next choice given her presence in the DVD show. My daughter LOVES it. Now being the old house collector than I am. I had to see and learn more about the MTM house. I found a few pictures and as luck would have it the real estate listing. As I do when I find a cool houses I forwarded them to my friend Julia over at Hookedonhouses.net. She supplies my house habit so I supply hers. We may never rehabilitate. (there are worse habits we could have) Julia has done a full spread on the MTM house this week, go and check it out.

The Bagpiper

2009-06-07T17:48:00.001-06:00

As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the remote countryside and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost and being a typical man, did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew who were eating lunch but the hearse was nowhere in sight.I apologized to the workers for my tardiness and stepped to the side of the open grave where I saw the vault lid already in place.I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I played out my heart and soul.
As I played the workers began to weep. I played and I played like I'd never played before, from Going Home and The Lord is My Shepherd to Flowers of the Forest . I closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to my car.As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Sweet Jeezuz, Mary 'n Joseph, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Bar stools in a historic style kitchen?

2009-05-05T21:48:00.005-06:00

I have received some responses to my historic kitchen post. People who are confused by an island that the bar stools do not actually go under the bar. Surprise! this was intentional not just some oversite. I designed the freestanding island myself and had it manufactured in central America and shipped here. It was designed after the large work tables found in some of the larger historic home kitchens. In these historic home the work table was never intended to be an area for seating. That is a modern kitchen thing. The point of this entire kitchen design was to make it look like it had existed for nearly a century. No Islands with bar stools, no visible microwaves, all signs of modern conveniences gone. Even the sub zero was disguised. The choice of an AGA range, despite its weight, price and many special requirements was completely worth it to achieve this timeless look. Yes there are those of you who will look at bar stools pushed up to what appears to be an island and think its odd and inconvenient. I say nay, and more importantly so does the home owner. Every aspect of this house has been planned, and scrutinized, with one goal in mind. To fool the eye into thinking this home is much older than it is.

Hooked on old Kitchens

2009-05-02T13:36:00.006-06:00

As part of the Hooked on Fridays over at Hooked on Houses. I decided to share my fixation..... I'm passionate about recreating the past. My on going project (two years now) of recreating a Gothic Revival home for my client is coming to a close and all the pieces are falling into place. Here is one of my big fixations on that project. A Kitchen that look like it belongs in an old home. This is actually in a new home but I think we hit the nail right on head and created something that looks like it has a history all ready.

view into the dining nook
view from the dining nook
Sub Zero, disguised as an icebox

You can see more photos and update from this house by clicking the Gothic Revival Update link in the sidebar.

MAGNOLIAS

2009-04-25T10:17:00.003-06:00

MAGNOLIAS

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away.

As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . . . So many details, so many bills, and so little time.

My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fianc? Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.

Tim turned to me. "Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements."

I mumbled, "Sure," as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling.

"Lord," I prayed, "please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!"

I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the chur ch, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house...No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good..... No shotgun.

When I stated my plea the man beamed, "I'd be happy to!"

He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, "Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today."

"No, Ma'am," he said. "You don't understand what's happening here." "What?" I asked. "You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday, on Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday. He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "On Wednesday I buried her." He! looked away. "On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left."

"This morning, he continued, I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody! I began to cry louder. Nobody needs me!"

"About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you'." I stood with my mouth open. He asked, "Are you an angel? T he way the light shone around your head into my dark living room..."

I assured him I was no angel. He smiled. "Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?"

"No. I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!"

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, "Forget it!" It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today. But God found a way through dead flowers.

100 Abandoned houses

2009-04-23T22:00:00.004-06:00

See the collection of over 100 photographs of abandoned homes. It is a sad thing to see. I can't help but think about these homes in there prime. When they were loved an cared for. The families that called them home. The people that lived, loved an died there. Our grand architecture is disappearing never to be seen again.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry

2009-04-08T16:50:00.002-06:00

See other strange houses here

Curb appeal

2009-04-05T11:49:00.003-06:00

Julia, over at Hooked on Houses, offered a creative challenge that I couldn't pass up. One of her readers asked for help with the curb appeal of this house. Rev up the photoshop boys I'm goin in.

Before

After

Changed the garage door. White was just to dominate. The bronze color links the garage with the rest of the house.
Larger light fixtures. The mass of the brick pillars by the door screamed for a bulkier fixture.
Front walk. The shrubbery between the door and the street feels like a barrier, and not very welcoming. Post or plantings down the walk helps too.
Gable vents should be the same bronze color as the windows. Before, you barely notice them. now they tie in with the arch of the door. Repeting shapes...Goood!
Precast stone crown on the columns. Cuts the tall verticals into managable portions.
Landscaping. You could go wild here. It's odviously fall in the before shot. The trees and grasses have been trimmed for the winter. Cluttering up the front with pots and trellises is going to far. Somtimes more is just more. There is a fine line when the landscaping begins to out shine the house. Some deeper and taller planting at the foundation would do alot to soften this house. The tree by the door is going to out grow that spot soon. It really need trees out in the yard closer to the street. More room to spread. Flowers in soft colors work best with this color of home.

The world needs more spontaneous dancing.

2009-04-04T14:58:00.000-06:00

Talk about to much house....get real....

2009-04-02T09:19:00.002-06:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

You have to see this to believe it...

2009-03-31T07:50:00.002-06:00

Thank you Kristen, and your friend Elizabeth for sharing this with me.

What is that?

2009-03-15T19:11:00.000-06:00

Return to duty

2009-03-08T16:19:00.003-06:00

Sorry folks for the infrequent updates. I have been losing supscribers left and right. Most of who are just now realizing I am no longe offering the digi stuff for download anymore. I am moving it all to it own blog. I got the worlds strangest virus. it started out like a mild ear infection. ( i thought only kids got those any more) it moved to my chest. or so I thought. No coughing. or at least not excessive coughing. Just this very odd tightness in my chest, but only on one side. Then I started getting these funny episodes where my heart would race for a minute or two. I would get these periods of shortness of breath for no apparent reason. All the time I had this dull tightness in my right side of my chest. My wife made me see the doctor. The Doctor seem to think that I had a virus that had settles in my lung or heat area. That it was irritating my Heart arrhythmia, I showed now signs of a heart problem. As time went on the episode got milder and father between, and have all but stopped now. Strangest thing I have ever had. Still very tired from it all but I feel much better. So back to work and back to blogging. I have been working on the house from time to time . Moving in day was this last week. We still have a lot left to do.

Draperies to be installed. Some furniture has not arrive yet. For the most part 90% if it is done.

I'll give you a sneeky peeky below.

Now I am on to new projects. a Scottish Baronial Farm, and an Ice cream parlor franchise.

House update

2009-02-18T19:32:00.006-07:00

Moving in Day is fast approaching. Many thing left to do. Lighting is all in. The Kitchen is finished at last. Door knobs in the entry still need to be installed. I found some great reproduction hardware.

front door

Library light

Library

Family Room Light

Family Room Fireplace

Entry light

Entry

A close up of the cold air returns. Reproductions of some from the 1870's

up stairs foyer

The basement playroom. It will eventually have a saloon sign over the porch.

When you go inside there is a ladder up to a second floor that opens into the room to the right. There is a slide into that room.

House update- Kitchen!

2009-02-01T07:36:00.007-07:00

the pass thru into the dining area

the kitchen. Range hood is not quite finished.

The beams on the ceiling will be faux painted to look like dark walnut.

The sink area with plate rack above.

Does this kitchen look familar at all?

Fridays Favorites

2009-01-30T06:35:00.003-07:00

Intruducing friday favorites. Each Friday I'll post one of my favorites. This could be anything. A link. A movie. or even a color for that matter. To start off I am goin to post my favorite old house picture, or at least its my favorite this week.

I love this picture for several reasons. 1. It's winter. 2. The sleigh out front. 3. I have allwasy had a soft spot for the empire style. I allways seem to come back to this style.

44 Presidents

2009-01-27T16:40:00.001-07:00

I'm sad to say I didn't remember half of them.

You know I am pumped about this

2009-01-20T08:45:00.001-07:00

Diamonds in the rough.

2009-01-20T08:33:00.003-07:00

Two prospective houses. On our quest for a new "Old" house. these are two we have considered so far. The first one with the tower. would need considerable work just to return it to its former glory. Only the front living room and entry have not been remodeled beyond recognition. Its hard to let that tower go though.The second one we are scheduling a time to see the interior. We know from viewing the outside that it need a new roof. not a problem. The grid windows would have to go. They are not period at all for this type of house. It does come with some land. We are hoping it is in our price range.

I'll take one

2009-01-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Cookie - Christmas isn't the same with out it

2008-12-23T16:48:00.004-07:00

Ok I admit it I like to cook sometimes. I have even started collecting some great cook books.
and in my quest for the perfect sugar cookie After facing the task of making cookies for Zoe school and other holidays. ( she loves to help cut them out )I finally hit upon a good recipe that is easy and freakin delicious. I have combined the good things of several recipes and come up with this great recipe. What I love about this recipe: I could just eat all the dough and be happy. When they bake they do not swell and loose there shape. They taste great even with out the frosting. Just sprinkle with sugar before baking and I'm good to go.

Here it is.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ cups baker’s sugar, or super fine sugar (not powdered sugar)
2 large eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Method:

Cream together with electric mixer, butter, cream cheese, and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture until smooth.

Divide dough into three equal parts. Place one portion of dough onto a piece of parchment or wax paper. Place an other sheet of paper on top. Roll dough with rolling pin to the desired thickness. (1/8”). Repeat with other two portions of dough. Place them on a cookie sheet and chill until firm. Remove one “flat” of dough at a time. Peel back the paper from one side. Cut the desired shapes and transfer to cookie sheets. If dough is sticking to the bottom paper you can peel it back and replace it .to loosen it prior to cutting. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with colored or plain sugar. (unless you plan to frost the cookie).

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes… depending on the size of you cutouts.

Cookies should just start to turn gold around the edges.

NOTE:
You can make your own super fine sugar by putting sugar in a food processor for 10 seconds. The benefits of the super fine sugar is a cookie that is less crumbly and has a smoother texture. Its worth the effort

Flavors: to give these cookies a different taste you can add things like grated orange or lemon zest, grated chocolate, cocoa, finely chopped nuts, or flavored extracts.

Cream cheese frosting.
combine the following ingredients and beat until smooth.

6 oz. cream cheese
2/3 cup unsalted butter at room temp.
4 cups confectioners sugar... sifted
2 T. milk
1 T. vanilla
food coloring if desired

Trimming The Tree - Free gift

2008-12-14T22:48:00.001-07:00

Having decorated hundreds of Christmas trees through out my Career in Retail Merchandising and now as a designer. To me the mark of a good tree is one that looks good with the lights on or off. For this reason I all ways decorate ours with the lights off. (tree lights not room lights) You get a better sense of balance of color that way. I have a very methodical way of decorating the tree.

Lights off.

You get just a peek at the grandfather clock tucked inside the tree.

Antique child's sewing machine. The numbered boxes each contain a small set of ornaments that Zoe hangs on her tree in her room. Its like an advent calendar hidden in the tree.

Lights on!

My Favorite Ornaments - Coo Coo Clock , and a distorted view of me taking the picture in the silver teapot.

Double seater sleigh, with a small book with Zoe's monogram.

Acorn Orns. one of my favs.

Small Amish Carriage we got in New York. Joe's Santa plane ornament. The kids get a new ornament each year. When they get married they take there set of orns with them.

The view from the bottom.

Now for your Free gift - set of 4 gift tags.

Download the PDF file here

Print them on card stock, I like the brown paper color myself.

Enjoy!

House update

2008-12-12T14:12:00.002-07:00

The upper back bedroom Wallpaper is in. Mount Vernon Toile Red. My client has a soft spot for Mount Vernon. hence the use of this paper. It will look Great with the Black bed and the red velvet duvet.

This is the Laundry room Wallpaper. My favorite out of the Papers that were installed. I want this in my own house.
Doesn't it just look "old"?

Stain glass for the whole house has been installed. I designed all of them myself. I poured over books and websites and ultimately designed my own to work with what we had going on.

Front Door Windows.

The complete package.

Give in other ways

2008-12-11T16:48:00.001-07:00

THE SIMPLE WHITE ENVELOPE
It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas--oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it -- the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma --the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to by pass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin,who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended.Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against another team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed tosee that the other team was wrestling with out headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids -- all kids -- and he knew them, having coached little league football,baseball, and lacrosse.That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoe sand sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree,the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition--one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas . It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always. God Bless! -- pass this along to those friends and loved ones who you know are the givers who understand the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The icing on the cake

2008-12-07T19:15:00.013-07:00

The gable drapery is finished. Some times refers to as barge boards. This marks the completion of the exterior of the house. all that is left is the installation of the stain glass and the outdoor light fixtures. Fencing and landscaping will come in the spring. As I said in the previous post, the design of the drapery was taken from an old home 90 miles south of this house location.
These two homes, in the same little community were designed by John Watkins. In my research I discovered the name of the man that designed and cut the gable drapery, his name was Moroni Blood. I hope they are pleased with our rendition of their design.

our renditionMoroni Blood's creation

Happy Birthday Walt

2008-12-05T08:05:00.003-07:00

Born December 5th 1901. One of my top five people I wish I could be more like. We share the same birthday, thats one thing we have in common. I love this picture of Walt walking the park just days prior to the grand opening. It had to be one of the proudest moments in his life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALT!

House update- GABLE DRAPERY

2008-12-04T07:23:00.009-07:00

The big day has come, and it turned out to be a blustery one. The crew has begun to install the gable drapery. The crowning glory that is this house.

There was a lot of speculation on the size. The pieces seemed very large while laying on the ground.. Many people thought they were going to be overwhelmingly to large for the house. I assured them that once they were up they would see that it would be perfect. I have been vindicated. I cannot take credit for the design. It was taken from an old Gothic home about 90 miles south. The home had been our inspiration through out the exterior design of this home. It was hard to picture any other style of trim. Lets just call it a nod to our inspiration house.

The installation of the family room mantle and cabinets is under way. Still missing the corbels and the glass upper doors.

Time to Deck the Halls.

2008-11-30T20:53:00.007-07:00

www.h0lidayhousetour.com

I want one for watching TV

2008-11-26T17:10:00.002-07:00

I laughed so hard I cried watching this......