Susan Wagner of Friday PlaydateToday, freelance writer and editor and mom of two boys, Susan Wagner of Friday Playdate, takes us on a Show & Tell Home Tour.

Let's head to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where Susan shows us around her family's home.

Come on inside ...

Susan, tell us a little about your family and your home.I live in Oklahoma City, in the neighborhood where my husband grew up; he can drive down our street and tell you who lived in what house 30 years ago, which is really fun. we moved into this house three years ago when we realized that our starter home was getting too small for two busy boys. My sons, Henry, who is 10, and Charlie, who is 8, love living here; it’s close to the country club and the boys’ school and the little league fields. We’ve also gotten to be close friends with our neighbors, which is so wonderful; the kids run back and forth from the yards and my neighbor and I meet in the driveway to trade clothes or eggs or magazines, or just to catch up about what’s going on at our houses.

This is our grown-up house, the one where we’re raising our kids. We’re never leaving -- although my husband is already planning to stick a for Sale sign in the yard the day we drop Charlie off at college. 

A teapot gift from Susan's husband and family book findsHow do you approach decorating in your home? What's the most important thing?

Decorating this house was harder than we expected it to be -- we’ve been here three years and we’re still working on it. we actually hired a decorator to help us, which was something we never thought we would do, but we were totally stumped and needed help. Shopping for dining room furniture nearly killed us; we couldn’t find what we wanted, and we were tired of being pressured by sales people. Having a decorator help us out was terrific because she was able to listen to what we wanted and really focus on finding it. She found our table and sideboard, which we adore -- and her to-the-trade discount plus her fee still added up to less than the list price for the set, which made it totally worthwhile.

We have a pretty conservative style; we like neutral colors and classic fabrics, like leather and mohair. we use a lot of sentimental pieces for accents. the books on the buffet are all ones we bought together, and the teapot was a gift from my husband. What is most important to us is that the house be comfortable and uncluttered, and that it reflect who we are and what we value. I think we’ve done a good job with that.You have two sons. how does their STUFF influence the look and feel of your home?

Our first house had one big kitchen/living area; there was kid stuff everywhere. It drove me nuts. this house has a game room upstairs, where all the kids toys live; their things migrate downstairs, but we’re through the phase where all the living areas are full of kid things. And they each have their own room, so they have plenty of space that is all theirs. They are also old enough now to understand that leaving Legos or Bionicles all over the dining room table is not okay. Ever.

Henry's Star Wars bedroom;Star Quilt and Star Wars sheets from Pottery Barn Kids

Charlie's sports-themed bedroom; Junior Varsity Quilt from Pottery Barn KidsThe boys do have their own spaces, though. About a year ago, we made over the boys’ rooms. They got to choose their own paint -- a neutral color for three walls and one accent wall -- and they got to choose the quilts and linens for their beds. My 10-year-old wanted a superhero/Star Wars room, while my 8-year-old wanted a sports theme. we made that work for them, but in a way that went with the rest of the house (quilts from Pottery Barn Kids and bead board furniture from a local store). their rooms are a balance of my taste and theirs, and we’re all really happy with the way they turned out.

Living room: favorite family spaceIn which room in your home does your family congregate most often?

We spend the most of our time in the living room. this is where the "nice" furniture lives, the new sofas we bought when we moved in and the big TV, but it’s all furniture we can use and be comfortable on. we also have a cocktail ottoman that we inherited from my mother-in-law; it needs to be recovered, but every time a kid puts his feet or his drink on it, I’m a little glad I’ve procrastinated for so long.

Our living room opens into the kitchen, so the kids can read or watch a movie while I get dinner, and we can all be together. It’s a nice place to hang out -- grown up and elegant but still kid-friendly and comfy. 

A favorite art piece: "Broad" print from Broad Summit 2010

Great design can be expensive. how do you get the most bang for your buck?We’re big fans of Pottery Barn, but of the look, not necessarily the products. I’ll tear pages from the catalog and then shop around for similar pieces to recreate that feel. right now we’re working on framing art for our office; we’re using a PB catalog as inspiration but buying the frames at craft stores and using our own photos.I also go out of my way to use what we have -- photos of the kids or pieces we’ve acquired over the years. all of the pictures I'm framing for our office have some kind of meaning to us; they’re photos of the kids or of places we’ve traveled. My favorite is the print I brought home from the Broad Summit, a retreat for women bloggers, in 2010. seeing it in my workspace gives me such a good feeling, about lots of things.

Foyer: a cozy, welcoming nookTell us about a DIY project you have taken on recently and love.Our foyer is easily the biggest bang-for-the-buck area of our house. It’s the first space visitors see when they come in, and it’s an odd shape. when we moved in, the walls were white and it was a pretty stark entry. we painted the accent wall a deep navy blue and hung framed photos of the kids; we added a Pier 1 wicker chair that we bought 15 years ago and spiffed it up with some new cushions from Target. Now the space is cozy and inviting, rather than bare and cold.

I spent almost nothing on this project; we only needed a tiny bit of paint, we found the frames and pillows on sale, and I printed my own photos of the kids. Eventually, we’re hoping to get something more permanent for this space, but for now, this was an easy -- and cheap -- way to make the foyer really inviting.Susan's office: where the magic happens

Porter Collector's Desk from Pottery BarnYou are a writer and a blogger. do you have a room or space of your own?We turned what was supposed to be the formal dining room into a home office; it’s a small, quirky room with a bow window, and it’s the perfect size for my desk, a big comfortable chair, and my husband’s stereo. It’s easily my favorite room in the house. we splurged on a Pottery Barn desk, which was the best purchase ever. I spend easily 40 hours a week in this room, working and reading; my kids will come and sit in the leather chair and study or visit with me. the office opens into our foyer and into the kitchen, so it feels like it’s part of the flow of the house, but it’s also just separate enough to be a viable workspace.

The coffee barWhat is your most important everyday ritual at home?Morning coffee. during the week, I get up early to work, and I make coffee and read my email; on the weekend, I typically wake up before anyone else and I’ll have my coffee and read the New York Times. just sitting still with my cup gives me time to gather myself before my day. That’s important to me.My coffee pot lives in our wet bar, which is next to my office. It’s an easy way to start my day, with the coffee brewing right at hand. I just need an assistant to actually bring it to my desk. that would make the whole thing perfect.

Sun porch reading roomIn your home, what is one indulgence you give into?Reading on the sunporch. on the weekend, I take the New York Times or my laptop and my coffee and a blanket, if its cold, and hunker down out there. for large parts of the year, it’s too hot or too cold to do this, but when the weather is nice enough, I’ll read or work there for hours. It’s a beautiful room -- in fact, this is the room that made me want to buy this house.What are your favorite stores to shop for home?I love Pottery Barn; I would buy everything there if it weren’t out of my budget. their look -- that kind of updated urban Preppie style -- is exactly what we’re always falling for. I’ve also always loved Restoration Hardware, but we don’t have one here in Oklahoma City. Sadly.My favorite things, though, have come from oddball local places, both here and other places we’ve lived. My bedside table is from an antiques store in Baltimore -- I bought it in 1991. Our dining room set came from a local lighting store. we also have a few antique pieces that came from our family -- the furniture in our bedroom and our guest room belonged to my grandmother. My parents had it all refinished for us when we got married.What Home & Garden blogs or websites inspire you the most?I read Apartment Therapy obsessively, and Design* Sponge. But mostly I tear pages out of catalogs and magazines and stick them on my refrigerator for inspiration. Or I’ll put them all in a folder and carry them around with me when I shop. I’m old fashioned that way.

This was so much fun, Susan. I've always wanted a better look around your pretty home. thank you for the tour. Read more from Susan Wagner on her blog Friday Playdate. you can also visit her on AOL's Holidash, where she is Associate Editor, as well as on Cool Mom Picks and The Working Closet blog at Work It, Mom!

Recent show & Tell Home Tours:

Danielle Thompson of Thompson Family-Life: show & Tell Home Tour

Lori Guyer of Frugal Farmhouse Design: show & Tell Home Tour

Stephanie Nielson of NieNie Dialogues: show & Tell Home Tour

Veronika Pollard of a few things from my life: show & Tell Home Tour

Ashley Campbell of Under the Sycamore: show & Tell Home Tour

All Show & Tell Tours

<a href="http://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/111082/susan_wagner_of_friday_playdatetag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/111082/susan_wagner_of_friday_playdateTue, 19 Oct 2010 11:17:38 GMT 00:00">Susan Wagner of Friday Playdate: Show & Tell Home Tour

Sunday, 17 October 2010

Flying to another continent to do your Christmas shopping may sound like a lot of hassle, but it could end up saving you money. Even with the current sterling rate against the dollar, consumers can still achieve more than 30 per cent savings on branded goods in new York.

New York really is a city for all seasons and all tastes but Christmas in the big Apple is especially magical.

The Christmas season kicks off with the 84th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 25. Millions of spectators will watch the parade as it begins at 9am on 77th Street and Central Park West.

Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s spruce up their window displays with beautiful Christmas-themed decor that awes visitors every year. Indoor and outdoor Christmas markets at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Union Square and Grand Central Terminal have become a new hub for shoppers looking for unique gifts created by local artists.

To help you on your way, here is Sunday Life’s guide to Christmas shopping new York style, but there's a million other things to do — and the perfect place to plan a visit is nycgo.com, the tourist web site of new York City & co.

GETTING THEREContinental Airlines (www.continental.com) operates a daily nonstop service from Belfast to Newark Liberty International Airport. Return fares start from ?351 based on travel from 01/11/10 to 14/12/10 and this fare resumes from 16/01/11 to 31/03/11, including taxes and charges. Continental also operates a twice daily service from Dublin and a daily service from Shannon with over 200 onward destinations throughout the US. Return fares start from €414 based on travel on same dates as above, including taxes and charges.

BUSINESS FIRSTA new flat bed seat is currently being installed in Continental’s award-winning BusinessFirst cabin on its Boeing 757 fleet, which services Ireland. The flat bed seat reclines 180-degrees and provides 6 feet 4 inches of sleeping space in the fully extended position. Electronic controls enable customers to easily adjust to the position most comfortable for them with individual storage space for personal items. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer’s shoulder, while iPod? connectivity allows each customer to view their personal videos and enjoy their music, all while their iPod is charging. Flat bed seats feature a 15.4-inch video monitor for customers to enjoy on-demand movies, music and games and have a privacy shell that allows for seclusion from other travellers. For reservations and information visit continental.com.

PLAN YOUR ITINERARY: NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation for the City of new York. For full shopping information check out their guide at www.nycgo.com/shopping. Visitors to new York City can stop by the hi-tech interactive tourist office in mid-town Manhattan located at 810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets. Staff will help you organise every detail of your trip and map it out for you. to get the very latest information about new York City, go to nycgo.com or call the Dublin office on 003531 6319604.

WHERE TO STAYCheck into the Hotel Beacon (www.beaconhotel.com) in the trendy Upper West Side of Manhattan. Located at West 75th & Broadway, staff at the Beacon are more than helpful and this hotel has splendid rooms, larger than most you will find in new York. The star turn is General Manager Tom Travers, an entertaining and knowledgeable new Yorker who knows everything worth knowing about the city. next door to the hotel is the beautiful Beacon Theatre, where Mick Jagger surveyed the audience during the concert that was filmed by Martin Scorcese in Shine a Light, his documentary on The Rolling Stones. The 1929 art deco theatre is famous as a rock 'n' roll venue, but was built as a movie palace and still has the 1928 Wurlitzer organ under the stage.

WHERE TO SHOPMacy's: Located in Herald Square (close to The Empire State Building), Macy’s is the world’s largest department store. it may not be as glamorous as new York's other famous retailers, but for sheer breadth of stock it’s hard to beat. You will find mid-priced fashion and designers' diffusion lines for all ages, along with all the big beauty names. with a million square feet of space for merchandise, the nine sprawling floors offer practically everything you could want. an 11 per cent discount is available to foreign visitors (just take your passport to the Visitor centre for your special discount card). I picked up a Tommy Hilfiger suit reduced by almost 50 per cent to just over $200.

Bloomingdale’s: after all these years, the little brown bag is still a girl’s best friend. The hundred-year-old-plus iconic new York City shopping experience — today a national chain — is still dominating 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. look for both trendy and luxury clothes, shoes, make-up and handbags. it has ten floors of merchandise, including fashion, cosmetics, children's clothes, homewear and luggage. The store also offers an 11 per cent discount to visitors from abroad.

Century 21: Serious bargain hunters should head down to 22 Cortlandt Street where the store has bargains galore. Be ready to rummage! go early in the morning to avoid large crowds.

Saks: This sophisticated store on Fifth Avenue has upgraded their shoe department. in fact the shoe department even has its own zip code: 10022-SHOE. The Saks flagship store occupies an entire city block, and boasts visits to in-store boutiques from the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

The Apple Store: The glass cube building that houses the store on Fifth Avenue is something to be seen even if you don't want to join the masses inside. No discounts here but the iPods and iPad will be cheaper than back home.

FAO Schwartz: A trip to this Fifth Avenue store is like visiting Father Christmas's Toy Factory. The biggest draw is the store's large ‘floor piano’. Most people will recognise it from the 1988 Tom Hanks film big, in which Hanks and Robert Loggia ‘danced’ Heart And Soul and Chopsticks.

Toys R’ Us: This toy mecca in Time Square is worth a visit. it even has its own Ferris Wheel in the store for the little ones to ride on.

Woodbury Common Outlet: This discount designer village, just an hour’s bus trip from Port Authority, houses 220 high-end stores. Shops here offer between 25 per cent and 65 per cent discounts but at the information desk you can boost your savings by picking up a book of coupons for further reductions. Woodbury Common is a mecca for shopaholics, with top designers such as Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci jostling for space with high street shops such as Gap, French Connection and American Apparel. Check out www.premiumoutlets.com/woodburycommon

DININGManhattan is something of a culinary capital. The quality of restaurants in the city is exceptional and there is something for all tastes. Special highlights on my visit included dinner at Maze by Gordon Ramsay. Maze is the natural choice for those who want to sample Ramsay's food at lower prices. Situated next to the famous chef's fine-dining establishment at The London NYC, this more accessible venture serves up inventive small plates such as tortellini of beef short rib. Their three course pre-theatre menu is excellent value at $35.I also enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Cafe Boulud, American celebrity chef Daniel Boulud's neighbourhood cafe in the Upper East. on the afternoon I visited customers included billionaire Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson. The prices were a lot more reasonable than you may expect with a three-course lunch on offer for $35.

WHAT TO SEEAfter all that shopping you will have to take in some sightseeing. If you want to feel like a real new Yorker, take a stroll through Central Park, where hundreds of movies have been filmed. No trip to new York would be complete without a visit to the top of one of Manhattan's famous skyscrapers. Having been up the top of the Empire State Building on my last trip I decided to take a ride to the ‘top Of The Rock' observation deck in the Rockefeller Centre. Built by the philanthropic John D Rockefeller during the Great Depression, it offers views across Manhattan, overlooking the huge Central Park, up towards the Bronx and Queens as well as new Jersey to the west and Brooklyn to the south and east.The Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree Lighting takes place this year on November 30, and the tree can be viewed until early January (www.rockefellercenter.com)I also took a Circle Line Harbour Lights Cruise around Manhattan. The two hour boat trip took us past the Statue of Liberty before returning down for an awe-inspiring view of the Manhattan night skyline. there are lots of festive shows worth catching. Now in its 78th year, Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, runs November 5 to December 30 (www.radiocitychristmas.com). The Theatre at Madison Square Garden will host ‘Wintuk’, a Cirque du Soleil production, running from November 17 right up to January 2. Tickets start at $30 , with a special 30 per cent discount for select children’s tickets. Check out (www.cirquedusoleil.com/wintuk)

TRAVEL GUIDE: New York

Press Release Source: Earth-Kind, inc. On Friday October 15, 2010, 2:47 pm EDT

BISMARCK, N.D., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- after a lovely summer in your cabin or cottage comes the ugly job of closing up for the winter. use this Earth-Kind checklist to make sure opening up in the spring doesn't hold any bad surprises.

7 inside tips:

1.  Shut the water off and drain the plumbing system.

2.  Turn off the power at the main switch.

3.  Remove all food. This includes canned goods, which might freeze and burst, and plastic containers. Plastic doesn't stop bears or rodents.  

4.  Defrost the refrigerator-freezer and unplug it. Leave doors open or put an open box of baking soda or an Earth-Kind all-natural air freshener inside.

5.  Place some proven anti-mildew products around the cabin.

6.  Close and lock all windows. Close all drapes or blinds, or hang blankets over windows. Remove and store screens if possible.

7.  Place industrial-sized Fresh Cab™ pouches everywhere rodents may hang out: attic, pantry, closets, crawl spaces, under the sink, and by the stove.

7 outside tips:

8.  Till your garden and add fertilizer or compost. place a Fresh Cab™ pouch in your seed storage bin.

9.  Mow your lawn. Apply natural fall fertilizer or lime. Trim branches that touch the cottage. keep woodpiles off the ground and at least 30 feet from the cottage.

10.  Put gas stabilizer in your gas cans and vehicle gas tanks. start engines and motors to run the stabilizer through the system. Drain water from outboard motors. Store expensive property in a controlled storage area, if possible.

11.  In your shed, pick up tools and remove debris. place one industrial-sized Fresh Cab™ pouch for every 8 square feet of floor space.  

12.  Inspect the cabin roof. Replace missing or broken shingles. Check any wire mesh screens and the caulking around the chimney flashing. (Don't use foam caulking; it won't stop rodents).

13.  Check the dryer vent—the most common rodent entry point. Make sure it's fully caulked (but not with foam) and has a wire mesh screen. place an industrial Fresh Cab™ pouch just inside the vent.

14.  Ask neighbors to watch your place. Make sure they have your phone number and e-mail address.

These 14 tips were sponsored by Earth-Kind, inc., manufacturers of natural solutions for natural problems. Fresh Cabâ„¢ is the only indoor-use natural rodent repellent registered by the Fed. EPA.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101007/CG78327LOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101007/CG78327LOGO)

14 Tips From Earth-Kind for Efficiently Closing Your Summer Cabin for the Winter

Over the years, Rodger has constructed a railway wonderland incorporating several villages and stations, a lake, treetop taverns, hundreds of Lilliputian figures and one very excitable frog.

"I have a bent toward architecture and city planning, and the trains offer me an artistic outlet," he said.

Amberley is nestled on a small peninsula bordered by Ridout and Whitehall creeks. Across the creeks lie the neighborhoods of Whitehall and Pleasant Plains. En route to the Findiesens, a sod farm provides a glimpse of bucolic rural scenery.

The Findiesen home is at the end of a long driveway, surrounded by shrubbery and a fringe of trees. Built in 1965, the six-bedroom brick residence has been home to the Findiesens for 19 years. their three daughters - Andrea, Amelia and Alexis - grew up there.

Vanessa, who shares her name with a dazzling genus of butterflies, is a registered vascular technologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Rodger is the one with wings, however. he has had two overlapping careers. he was an Air Force reservist pilot for 20 years. Near the end of his reserve service, he was activated and flew Lockheed-Martin C-141 USAF cargo aircraft during Operation Desert Storm. Based at Zaragoza Air Base in Spain, he flew supplies, munitions and troops to stations in the Middle East.

In his civilian life, Rodger began as a pilot with Continental Airlines, then flew for Air California, which was purchased by American Airlines in 1987. he retired from American Airlines in December 2008 - "not because I had enough money, but because I had some money," he joked. now, Rodger is active as a lay minister at Calvary United Methodist Church on Rowe Boulevard.

There are also two cairn terriers in the family. Gadget is well-behaved, while Sparky loves eating little plastic people.

A trip to Lilliput

Rodger may be in his 60s, but he retains the joie de vivre of someone much younger. he insisted The Capital photographer and I visit the backyard first, and we happily complied.

In the center of the yard is a serene, azure blue, kidney-shaped pool. "It's the best shape for a pool," Rodger noted. "it can clean itself, as there are no dead corners."

But we weren't looking at the pool.

Alongside the pool were swarms of teeny, tiny people having a great time in the waning days of summer. Two resort taverns, built atop tall shrubs, were in full party mode. At one, a groom hoisted his bride high in his arms, while a pair of working trams transported wee folk from one bush to the other. A bartender poured beer while keeping an eye on a buxom blonde at a nearby table. on a street behind the Schonweiler village train station, a brass band was preparing to play.

A yellow engine, equipped with special wheels to scrub the brass tracks clean, wound its way through the town shaded by bonsai-like shrubs, passing a pond dotted with a small rowboat and sailboat. A very real frog leapt from the water, nearly capsizing the rowboat.

Across the pond was a glass greenhouse filled with flowers and a bustling waterfront restaurant reminiscent of Cantler's. The engine passed through several molehill-sized mountaintop tunnels, not even pausing at an amusement park featuring a hot air balloon, a carousel and a scaled-down Statue of Liberty. it didn't stop at the brewery, either, where tipsy wee people were having an early happy hour.

Rodger says the trains are made in Germany on a 1:22 1/2 scale, and about 400 feet of track loops through his backyard. Were it life-size, that would be about 2 miles of railway.

"I built all the buildings from kits, but how I constructed them is my own design," said Rodger, who often combines elements from several kits to get the look he's after.

Though he's collected trains for at least three decades, the outdoor train garden began when Vanessa balked at having tiny choo-choos running through the house. The trains are brought in after each use and the elfin-sized figurines - the ones Sparky didn't eat or bury - are boxed up during winter months, but the major structures and tracks remain outdoors year-round.

Elegance and fun

Indoors, the spouses' collections of art, games and toys coexist in a home that is both elegant and fun. it starts at the front door, inset with a clear, beveled and leaded glass panel. Near the back door, the Findiesens have a large indoor hot tub. Alexis painted a tequila-colored sunset on an oversized, paned window sash and hung it on one side of the tub as a unique privacy filter.

The dining room is in the front of the home, just off the central hall. Visitors pass a cabinet bustling with more small people - this time, they are Vanessa's collection of Hummel figurines. Inside the dining room, sparkling cut crystal glistens in three wooden china cabinets.

A collection of cloisonne artwork is displayed on a low set of mahogany bookshelves, and three striking still-life oil paintings by local artist Joan Johnson adorn the walls. A large sideboard holds a vintage wooden music box.

On the other side of the hallway is a small sitting room. Two more cases hold numerous Lladro figures Rodger purchased in Spain during Desert Storm, and a taffrail log hangs on a wall. The thing is handsome enough as a sculpture, but is a late-19th-century brass instrument used to determine the distance a ship had sailed.

The Findiesens' collection of Victorian oyster plates also is carefully hung throughout the first floor. each one has several depressions to hold the slippery bivalves.

Coke in the kitchen

The Findiesens renovated their kitchen in 1997; it looks as fresh as a showroom model, with granite countertops and cherry cabinetry. they removed a half-wall separating the kitchen from a breakfast nook and installed an island. Above it, an eclectic hodgepodge of new and vintage utensils and pans dangles from a hanging rack.

A framed 1944 Coca-Cola poster, the focal point in the breakfast area, features two young women saluting G.I. Joes with bottles of Coke. it is a print of a painting by Haddon Sunblom, longtime Coca-Cola artist. The Findiesens discovered it in an antique mall in Waynesboro, Pa., owned by Vanessa's father.

The family room, paneled in knotty pine, is comfortable, colorful and filled with what Rodger calls "eye candy." A china cabinet holds part of Vanessa's collection of the "Autumn Leaf" china from the Superior Hall Quality Dinnerware collection. The china found its way into American homes as promotional pieces packed in boxes of detergent or through giveaways offered by door-to-door jewelry salesmen.

It was tough ignoring the trains whooshing around the room on a ledge above our heads. We were also transfixed by the coffee table, a shadow box that displayed Vanessa's collection of new and antique playing cards, vintage tin Easter eggs, dog tags, campaign buttons and a large medal presented to Rodger by an appreciative Saudi Arabian government for his Desert Storm service.

Next, a tour of the basement rec room, which is really an extension of the family room. If everything were scaled to human size, it would be a fully loaded, multilevel parking garage - with a stocked bar and waiting pool table. on one wall, several shelves hold Rodger's collection of sports car models, all neatly parallel parked. An opposite wall holds many of his colorful train cars and engines. A half wall that divides the space provides a pad to display a model of the Norwegian three-masted tall ship, the Jutland. Rodger built the model in college.

Above the bar is a print depicting Santa Catalina Island, Calif. (cue Beach Boys music). with a dreamy look, Rodger explained its significance: "It's where I took my future wife sailing on our first date. The sailboat was called Afternoon Delight."

Yes, the house has bedrooms upstairs. but, after all the excitement of the basement, main floor and backyard, when Rodger assured us there were no more trains upstairs, we choo-choo'd out the front door.

It felt so wrong driving away in an ordinary, life-size, 21st-century hybrid.

Would you like to see your house, townhome, condo, apartment or cottage featured as The Capital's Home of the Week? To nominate your home, e-mail Wendi Winters at wendi@quantumstep.com. Include your contact information and details about your residence.

Home of the Week: Eye candy for kids of all ages ? Top Stories (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

Its leaves taste like spinach, its seeds are a nutritious cereal grain substitute, and its flowers serve as a bold accent in the annual garden bed.

Yet it nearly became extinct half a millennium ago. this plant was one of the three pillars of the Aztec diet, along with corn and beans, but its seeds were also made into a dough that was shaped into likenesses of Aztec gods. The missionizing Spanish, upon witnessing the baking and eating of the idolatrous figurines, made haste to destroy every field they could find of the plant used to make the dough.

For several hundred years, cultivation of this plant for culinary purposes ceased.

Here and there, in Europe, it was grown as a garden curiosity. Only recently, where new crops have been sought that can subsist in harsh conditions, was this plant rediscovered as a food source. it is currently being evaluated as a staple crop for extensive cultivation in both tropical and desert areas throughout the world.

The plant to which I refer is Amaranthus (a = not; maranthus = dying or fading), a reference to the everlasting quality of its flowers, which persist for a year or longer in dry arrangements.

There are many ornamental Amaranthus species. The most prominent ones have foot-long, blood red, purple, pink or yellow woolly inflorescences that stand at the top of leafy stems that can grow 6 feet tall or more. Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is distinguished by drooping flower tassels, as opposed to the vertical types.

Amaranthus leaves will remind you very much of spinach, except they have three times the iron found in Popeye's favorite food. Amaranthus seeds can be roasted, upon which they inflate, popcorn style. Milled seeds are turned into flat or puffy bread, high in protein and rich in calcium and iron.

A most attractive aspect of Amaranthus, whether you are a subsistence farmer or gardener, is its ease of cultivation. Just broadcast seeds over bare ground in late winter or early spring and you will see them germinate within two weeks. They will grow quickly enough into flowering plants and bloom nonstop into the fall.

Do not pick all the flowers for your arrangements. Let some go to seed and you will be rewarded the following spring with a self-sown crop of new plants.

Amaranthus tricolor is an ornamental species grown strictly for its variegated foliage.

Amaranthus culture provides insight into proper care of Celosia, an Amaranthus relative and one of the most irresistible annual flowers. Celosia is that gorgeous gem with red, purple, pink, orange or yellow flowers that are shaped like miniature Amaranthus plumes or as fasciated cockscombs.

No plant is more tempting in the nursery and no plant fails more regularly and miserably in the garden than Celosia. The reason for its quick garden demise is overwatering. in the manner of Amaranthus, it should not be soaked more than once a week and always with a soaker hose or drip irrigation.

However, if you want Celosia to really prosper, plant the giant types from seed as opposed to the smaller varieties that you see in 4-inch pots or six-packs. you will be impressed with their long flowering season and minimal water requirement.

One of the most versatile container plants to emerge in the last decade is a cycad appropriately named, on account of its toughness, cardboard palm. it has a tiny water requirement and will survive freezing temperatures, although leaves will burn at 28 degrees.

It is ideal as a patio container plant, enjoying both partial shade and bright light, and not growing to more than 4 feet tall, although its girth may eventually expand to 6 feet. it is a sturdy indoor plant as well where light exposure is excellent. Due to its slow rate of growth, it is also suitable for cultivation as a bonsai selection.

Cardboard palms (Zamia furfuracea) may be regarded as succulents when it comes to watering them. Let soil dry to a depth of two inches before applying water and, after water drains through, do not allow it to stand in a dish below as this can lead to root rot. Fertilize in early spring and late fall with a houseplant fertilizer product.

If you see some charming six-petaled white flowers poking up in shady spots this time of year, you are probably looking at white rain lily (Zephyranthes candida), one of an exclusive group of bulb plants that bloom in the fall. Even when not in bloom, its lustrous green and grasslike foliage, reaching 10 inches in height, will make you happy to have it in your garden. Situated in just the right spot, it will expand into a serious clump with the passage of time.

Tip of the weekLong-blooming lantanas, both bush and semi-trailing varieties, are easily trained into patio trees. Select a stout shoot from a 1-gallon specimen and remove all other shoots. Place a stake alongside the selected shoot and tie it in place. Encourage vertical growth by rubbing off side shoots as soon as they appear.

As the plant increases in size, you will want to transplant it into a 5-gallon container. you can keep it in this container by pruning its roots back when they begin to circle the inside of the container and by replacing the soil or, if you choose, plant it out in the garden.

Joshua Siskin's column appears every Saturday in this section. he welcomes questions from readers and will answer them in his column. If you have a question, please send an e-mail to Joshua@perfectplants.com. Include your full name and the city you live in.

<a href="http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_16290570tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_16290570Sat, 09 Oct 2010 08:21:37 GMT 00:00">Joshua Siskin: More to Amaranthus than meets the eye

Urban Housing Communities has commenced construction on Horizons at Morgan Hill, a 49-unit affordable senior housing community in Morgan Hill, Calif., designed by KTGY. this new $21.2 million community will offer healthy, supportive and eco-friendly apartment homes to seniors 55 years and older earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of Santa Clara County median income.   View as PDF  Print View

October 18, 2010 (FPRC) -- IRVINE, CALIF. - according to KTGY Group inc., Architecture and planning, Santa Ana-based developer Urban Housing Communities LLC has commenced construction on Horizons at Morgan Hill, a 49-unit affordable senior housing community in Morgan Hill, Calif., developed in collaboration with the City of Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency, Bank of America, and KTGY. upon completion in August 2011, this new $21.2 million community will offer healthy, supportive and eco-friendly apartment homes to seniors 55 years and older earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of Santa Clara County median income. ??We are excited to begin construction on Horizons at Morgan Hill and are thankful to our partners??the city and county, investors and lenders??who have helped us,?? said John Bigley, Chief Operating Officer of Urban Housing Communities (UHC). "This project will offer seniors an attractive, healthy and supportive place to enjoy this next phase of their life. we look forward to meeting our future residents." Designed by KTGY, Horizons at Morgan Hill will offer 36 one-bedroom, one-bath and 13 two-bedroom, two-bath apartment homes, averaging approximately 778 square feet and 1,025 square feet respectively, and occupying a single three?story building. Each thoughtfully-planned apartment home will offer a covered patio/balcony, central heat and air conditioning, walk?in closets, Energy Star lighting, windows and appliances (including a refrigerator, dishwasher and garbage disposal), water?saving kitchen and bathroom fixtures, dual flush toilets, a gas range, washer/dryer hookups, tankless water heaters, high?speed internet access, and be wired for cable television. Rents are expected to range from $597 to $1,193 per month, based on family size and income level. ??Over the next decade, many seniors nearing retirement age may be forced to relocate due to fixed incomes and increasing housing costs,?? said Garrett Toy, Director of the City of Morgan Hill??s Business Assistance and Housing Services Department. ??Horizons at Morgan Hill will enable seniors to afford to remain in Morgan Hill after retirement. this beautiful, new project will provide affordable senior rental housing to a growing population, eliminate a blighted property, install McLaughlin Avenue and much needed public improvements. Horizons is conveniently located near the downtown and public transportation providing easy access to shopping, medical services and senior recreation,?? added Toy. Located on 2.60 acres of land at 98 E. Central Avenue in Morgan Hill, Calif., at the intersection of Central Avenue and McLaughlin Avenue, west of Highway 101, Horizons at Morgan Hill will feature a spacious 3,000-square-foot community center with a computer lab, media center, a fully-equipped kitchen, a manager??s office, laundry facilities, community garden, swimming pool, picnic and BBQ area, and generously landscaped courtyard areas. the community center will also serve as the location of a supportive services program provided by UHC??s non-profit partner, Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing (CVC). CVC provides resident?based services to support seniors in achieving personal, financial and family goals. By building long?term, trusting relationships with senior residents, CVC encourages individuals to find and follow their own path. Services include budget planning, housekeeping tips, credit counseling, resume writing, computer training, physical fitness instruction and health/nutrition classes. "We have designed ample open space and multiple seating areas to promote interaction and activity among the residents of the Horizons at Morgan Hill," said KTGY Studio Director Alan Scales. "Additionally, the pedestrian-friendly location, a great swimming pool, physical fitness and nutrition classes, and a community garden encourage the residents to stay physically active and healthy. furthermore, the Horizons at Morgan Hill's senior programs help the residents explore a variety of opportunities and enjoy a new, dynamic phase of their life, which makes getting older more fun!" Adding to the healthy lifestyle is the eco-friendly, sustainable design. Horizons at Morgan Hill has been designed to exceed Title 24 energy-efficiency standards by more than 15 percent, lowering energy consumption and providing another cost-saving benefit to residents. Solar panels will generate electricity for community room and outdoor common area lighting. Additional green features include: zero?VOC interior paint and primer, and low?VOC paints, adhesives and finishes for all interior application; low dust stucco; formaldehyde free Insulation; insulated walls, ceilings, floor joists, and roofs; fiber cement siding that contains recycled content, does not emit harmful chemicals into the environment and is manufactured in environmentally friendly plants (SFI certified); energy-efficient roofing that contains recycled content, does not emit harmful chemicals into the environment and is manufactured in plants that are ISO 14001 certified; hard surface flooring in all areas to improve indoor air quality and reduce flooring replacement; furniture, barbeques, trash and recycling receptacles made from recycled content; recycling receptacles provided throughout the site and central recycling bins provided at each trash location to encourage recycling; nonsmoking buildings or sections of buildings to improve indoor air quality for health of residents; landscaping features minimal turf areas, drought?tolerant non?invasive plants that do not require shearing; and plants grouped by water needs. Additionally, Kent Construction of Gilroy, Calif., the general contractor for the project, plans to recycle a portion of the construction waste. "Horizons at Morgan Hill's eco-friendly sustainable design and construction, and its close proximity to public transportation, shopping, medical services, employment, and recreation, further increase affordability and quality of life for seniors who have few affordable housing options," added Scales. although a pedestrian-friendly location, Horizons at Morgan Hill will offer gated access and ample parking for both resident and visitors. UHC began collaborating with the City of Morgan Hill??s Redevelopment Agency in 2005 to develop housing opportunities for low income seniors who were long time residents. the Redevelopment Agency committed funding through a soft loan and UHC secured financing through the highly competitive 9 percent tax credit program. Additional financing for the project was provided by National Equity Fund (NEF), the Bank of America Community Development Corporation (BACDC), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the County of Santa Clara, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) of the Federal Home Loan Bank. Horizons at Morgan Hill is UHC??s fifth project to begin construction in less than 120 days. UHC recently broke ground on the Crossings on 29th Street, a 34-unit affordable community in South Los Angeles; the Crossings at North Hills, a 38-unit rehab property in the San Fernando Valley; the Crossings at big Bear Lake, a 42-unit affordable housing community targeting families in big Bear Lake; and the Crossings at Escondido, a residential community that will feature 55 high quality, affordable apartment homes for working families in San Diego County. KTGY was the designer for all five projects. Seniors interested in living at Horizons at Morgan Hill, should contact Solari Enterprises inc. at (714) 363?4090. About Urban Housing Communities Urban Housing Communities LLC is a "mission driven for-profit" affordable housing development partner of Morgan Stanley and Banc of America Community Development Corporation specializing in multifamily and senior housing facilities in California and Hawaii. UHC was formed in 2003 by executives of SunAmerica and ASL Housing, and has since been joined by professionals from KB Home, CalFed Bank and the California State University System. Together, they have financed or developed over 10,000 units of housing. For more information, visit www.uhcllc.net. About KTGY Group, inc. Established in 1991, KTGY Group, inc., Architecture and planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Tysons Corner, Va. See www.ktgy.com. # # # Contact: Merilee Langdon mlangdon@uhcllc.net office: (714) 835-3955 x120

Send an email to Anne Monaghan of Monaghan Communications888-456-KTGY

Keywords:KTGY design architecture, affordable senior housing, transit oriented development

The Sobrato Organization Begins Construction on KTGY-designed Eco-friendly Apartments for Santa Clara University Students (Tue 19th Oct 10)

The Muller Company Wins BOMA Chapter's 2010 Outstanding Building of the Year Award for Class A Building Campus in Phoenix, Ariz. (Mon 18th Oct 10)

Yoogli Announces Release of Next Generation Search Application (Fri 15th Oct 10)

KTGY Principal Manny Gonzalez, AIA, LEED AP to Speak on "Echo Boomers Shaking Up the Rental Market," Featured on MultifamilyBiz.com's Free On-Demand Webcast (Fri 15th Oct 10)

Investec Raises $130 Million for Acquisition of West Coast Retail (Tue 5th Oct 10)

<a href="http://www.free-press-release-center.info/pr00000000000000092938_ktgy-designed-eco-friendly-senior-housing-breaks-ground-in-northern-california.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.free-press-release-center.info/pr00000000000000092938_ktgy-designed-eco-friendly-senior-housing-breaks-ground-in-northern-california.htmlTue, 19 Oct 2010 05:06:45 GMT 00:00">KTGY-Designed Eco-Friendly Senior Housing Breaks Ground in Northern California

Photo courtesy of Recreational Vehicle Industry Association: RV and camping diehards and newbies alike can find an array of outdoor vacationaing options at the 21s Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show Oct. 6-10 at the Rock Financial Shoindoorgalace in Novi.

The 21st Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show in Novi is expected to draw thousands of people looking to continue their love affair with RVing — or, if they’re newbies, take a closer look at what this family- and budget-friendly activity is all about.It’s estimated that 10 percent of all pleasure travelers in Michigan are doing so with an RV, or recreational vehicle, and there are 30 million RVers in the United States. Ask them what they enjoy about RVing, and they’ll tell you how RVs offer a fun and affordable way to vacation with the entire family. they experience comfortable and hassle-free vacations every time they travel — taking all the comforts and amenities of home with them. the RV lifestyle provides the freedom to go where you want, whenever you want.RVs of all shapes, sizes will be at showVeteran RVers come to the Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show because they’re either in the market to upgrade or to simply enjoy exploring so many RVs in one place.and those newbies attending the show, testing the RV waters, will be exactly where they need to be. the show will feature over 200 new RVs on display including folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers, park models and fifth wheel travel trailers. Prices range from folding campers (pop-ups) starting at $4,999; trailers from $8,999; and motorhomes from $49,999. Plus, manufacturer rebates will be available on select RVs and many dealers will offer bargains on 2010 year-end models.also at the show, which is sponsored by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC), will be dozens of booths featuring parts and accessories, campground information, on-site RV financing and RV rentals, making this the complete RV show experience. also at the show you can enter to win the Ultimate MIS Race Experience package from Michigan International Speedway, which includes tickets, camping and VIP access (valued at nearly $3,000).two local RV dealerships, A&S RV Center in Auburn Hills and General RV in Wixom — which also has several other locations in Michigan, Indiana, Utah and now Illinois — approach the fall RV show somewhat differently than the RV show in late winter/early spring.“for the fall show we usually bring in bigger coaches, so we’ll have bigger motorhomes, bigger fifth wheels, bigger travel trailers, and we do that because a lot of the people buying at the fall show are buying for a full season’s use down in Florida or in Texas or wherever they might want to go for a longer season,” said Larry Andree of A&S RV Center.although the spring show, which is Feb. 16-20, 2011, is more geared toward families and RVs more suited for weekend trips, Andree quickly pointed out that the fall RV show will have a number of those types of campers as well.“there will be a lot of smaller units here, a lot of family units and a lot of bunkhouse trailers,” he said.Dennis Anderson of General RV said his dealership also focuses on “couples coaches” for the fall show, but they, too, will be bring a wide selection of a variety of RVs.“We’ll be bringing really the whole gamut, across the board,” Anderson said.a rebounding industry“There’s quite a few new floor plans and new products that have come out over the summer,” Anderson said. “in fact, the RV industry has really evolved quite a bit in the last year to two years.”Anderson said perhaps the biggest development to hit the RV industry in the last several years has been the advent of the ultra-lightweight travel trailers. this allows more features to be included, making them more functional. Flat screen televisions and the resulting space-saving cabinetry are another innovation, as are outdoor kitchens.although not as recent, slideouts — in which sections of a wall “slide out” to create more interior living space — has been a huge evolution for the industry.One of the RVs A&S RV Center will be bringing to the show is a 43-foot Ventana diesel pusher by Newmar, which features four slideouts. the yacht on wheels is fully equipped with full-body paint, washer and dryer, satellite dish, tile floors, air conditioning and a whole host of other high-end amenities. “It’s about as deluxe a motorhome as you can find,” Andree said.Both Andree and Anderson said their businesses have seen a dramatic improvement as people are starting to buy RVs again. It’s a refreshing sign, especially since the RV industry’s decline preceded the national recession, so its rebound is seen as an indicator the downturn may soon be over. Nationwide, dealers are reporting a 48-percent overall increase over 2009 sales. this is pretty significant as it follows years of 9.5-percent, 33-percent and 30-percent decreases in the previous three years. and, through the first six months of 2010, the industry has shipped 136,000 units, which represents an increase of 87.1 percent from 2009.“There’s been a real swing in the industry,” Anderson said. “Certainly two years ago we went through a very difficult time in the recreational vehicle industry as well as in the automotive industry here locally. but we’ve seen a tremendous upswing. Many of the manufacturers have opened all of their plants back up. They’ve hired all of their workers back. It’s been a tremendous upswing in the recreational vehicle industry this year.“Basically, what we feel is many people are looking at RVing as being a family-friendly thing to do. and affordable thing to do, as opposed to hopping on an airplane and traveling across the country to stay in a condo somewhere or staying in a hotel. Frankly, with an RV, you have your hotel right in your driveway. and you know in an RV, you don’t put your clothes in a suitcase, you put them in the closet in the RV, and a lot of people really like that idea.”If You go ...21st Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV ShowWhen: Oct. 6-10Hours: Weekdays 2-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.Where: Rock Financial Shoindoorgalace, 46100 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI 48374. Exit I-96 at Beck Road, 1 mile east on Grand River.Admission: Adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $8, senior admission is $7, and children 12 and under get in free! RV show ticket will also get you into the Fall Remodeling & Design Expo, Thursday through Sunday.Coupons: a coupon is available at www.marvac.org, southeast Michigan CVS Pharmacies, big Boy restaurants and in area newspapers. With this special coupon, everyone can get a $1 off any adult or senior admission.More info: call 517-349-8881 or visit www.marvac.org.while you’re there: Running simultaneously with the RV show at the Rock Financial Shoindoorgalace is the Fall Remodeling & Design Expo, Oct. 7-10. One admission ticket will get you into both shows.Anything and everything you need to remodel and design your home can be found under one roof. Browse exhibits in kitchen and bath interiors, windows and doors, flooring products, furniture, cabinetry and more. Talk to local home improvement specialists and designers to see the latest trends in indoor and outdoor design and get inspired.a special “Green Lifestyles Area” will showcase the latest trends in incorporating the green lifestyle into your home. Special appearances will be made by “America’s Favorite Handyman” Glenn Haege, the Inside/Outside Guys and Murray Gula.Walk through a whimsical fall-themed home and garden scene, made entirely of balloons by the crew of Pabloon Balloon Company. Gleaners Food Bank of Southeast Michigan will be accepting nonperishable food and monetary donations at the show.At the show, enter to win valuable giveaways, including:

•  a Free Complete Roof  PLUS “Solar” Panel Package, which includes up to 2,000 square feet of shingles, lifetime workmanship warranty and a 1kw photovoltaic (solar) system connected to the energy grid, courtesy of Rapid Roofing. two second place prizes of 2,000 square feet of shingles and 10 third place prizes of free insulation, gutter or shingle upgrades will be awarded. Total value for all prizes is $35,000.

•  a deluxe 15-piece set of stainless steel cookware valued at $2,895 from Kitchen Craft by Americraft Cookware.

•   a full kitchen, stainless steel appliance giveaway, including an Energy Star refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and microwave by Whirlpool. Prize is awarded by Wholesale Builders Supply.
• The Fall Remodeling & Design Expo, sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan, is open weekdays 2-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. the cost for adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $8; children ages 12 and under are admitted free! Seniors (ages 55 and over) are admitted for just $7. a coupon and more information is available at available on www.novihomeshow.com.

21st Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show rolls into Novi

Kenzo spirited Paris back in time, mining four decades of in-house design to create a sumptuous line of fairy-tale folkloric costumes to ring in its own 40th birthday.

Staged Tuesday in a historic indoor circus in the French capital, all plush red seats and red-and-gold curtains, the Fashion Week show by designer Antonio Marras had 40 richly-attired models take place on the central ring.

Like living dolls, Kimono-like ethnic costumes wrapped the wearers from head to toe -- with elaborate headdresses towering a foot high, leaving only the face visible, powdered white with coral lips.

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From multicoloured striped knits dresses with a towering pom-pom head-dress, to a layering of deep fuchsia pink silks, and on to greens, reds, browns and finally, ceremonial whites, the outfits worked around the colour spectrum.

But on closer inspection, they revealed their true DNA: pieces lifted from Kenzo's archives spanning four decades, subverted, layered and reassembled.

"I looked at the lines from the 80s, the 90s," Marras told reporters after the show. "They were beautiful but it didn't feel right to just show them as they were."

So the Sardinian designer, artistic director of the house since 2003 when its Japanese founder Kenzo Takada retired, decided to turn the clothes into something new.

"A jacket becomes a hat, a dress becomes a belt," Marras said. "It's like a journey around the world," he said. "It is also a tribute to all the designers from Kenzo's past."

The Kenzo retrospective followed the label's ready-to-wear show for spring/summer 2011 -- a line of long, loose dresses in pale, exquisite prints, worn with futuristic Oriental-style platforms in bright green or pink.

Earlier, at Alexander McQueen, dresses adorned with ears of wheat and pheasant feathers defined the first line since the designer's suicide in February, unveiled by his successor and ex-number two Sarah Burton.

Carried in on planks of light wood, wild grasses seeming to grow between them, the first piece was a riding coat of layered raw ivory silk, without seams but with threads dangling loose, over a pair of trousers.

Dresses had leather leaves embroidered onto a skin-coloured base, like climber plants twining up the body to encircle the neck, while a short-sleeved orange dress was entirely made from butterflies.

Several short dresses, with exaggerated, rounded hips, conjured the sprit of the late McQueen, whose mark was also felt in the baroque ambiance and generous the use of gold.

For Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld called up the spirit of Versailles in a glamorous procession of feathers, faux-tweed, rips and lace.

Under the vast glass domes of Paris' Grand Palais exhibition hall, models walked out on white gravel between fountains and black rock "hedges", a wintry French garden effect to showcase Chanel's ready-to-wear look for next summer.

Actress Keira Knightley and singers Lily Allen and Courtney Love were among the famous faces who graced the front rows as the hall filled with a symphonic orchestra's renditions of pop anthems from Bjork to Oasis.

"It's Versailles. It's -- quote -- 'dead French'," the designer quipped after the show.

Models wore silver or gold platform ankle boots or platform sandals that morphed into black leather thigh boots, their hair pulled back into slick pony tails or cut short and boyish.

Chanel classics were there -- but sexed-up and revisited -- like faux-tweed skirt suits in pastel yellow and pink, or jackets twinned with risque mini-shorts in black, ivory or lime green.

Ostrich feathers puffed out a jacket, spiced up the hem of a tweed-effect dress, or clothed a model head to toe, in a coral sleeveless dress that swept caressingly around the legs.

Dayside fabrics were given a roughing-up, with ripped holes piercing black and white jackets, while a baby-pink satin dress had rectangular panels of slashed strips like shredded paper.

"Fashion changes, fabrics change -- that's what is fascinating. but there has to be a certain mystery in novelty," Lagerfeld told reporters of the show's trompe l'oeil tweed, rips and other quirks.

At Valentino, there was not a pair of pants in sight and a diaphanous blouse was the starting point for an ultra-feminine summer look that layered organza, tulle and chiffon in subtle, tone-on-tone plays on transparency.

Cut sleek and close to the body, light-as-air knee-length dresses layered sheer organza, flecked with delicate polka dots in black and white, over caramel or dusty pink petticoats to create a sensual nude effect.

Collars were modestly high, fastened by small ribbon bows, flounced, or rounded with fine black hemming, while sleeves were either short, with flounces, or long and draped over the wrists.

Hair was loosely plaited, there were gentle ruches at the breast, wrists and shoulders, while elegant closed-toe heels in nude pink or sand completed the look imagined by designer duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.

Kenzo's birthday show whisks Paris back in time

by Ann Bertelsen / photos by Dasja DolanPalo Alto Online Staff

Knowing what you want and how to get it takes much of the guesswork out of remodeling -- especially if you work with the right design team. Clint Smith and Elizabeth Arndorfer did just that when they converted a 1940s ranch-style house in Barron Park into a contemporary home that's a recipe for "green" living. When they purchased the house six years ago, they knew it was a temporary fix for their growing family, but wanted time to analyze their needs and work within their budget to get what they wanted -- and then some. But it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. "We knew that we wanted an architect with a strong 'eco' bent," Arndorfer says. she and her husband chose a San Francisco firm whose work had been featured in a national magazine. the project architect, David Waldorf, presented them with a highly imaginative, cutting-edge design that they loved. But it wasn't a typical add-on with its dramatically soaring roofline and innovative features. Moreover, the contractor hadn't had a lot of experience in "green" design, so it was a learning curve for everyone. the couple has two girls, aged 8 and 10, and a 5-year-old son. Their goal was to break open the boxy house and create an indoor-outdoor environment, re-using original or reclaimed materials where possible. "Initially, we were just going to expand the house in the back, adding a new master suite and a family room and home office that could double as a guest room," Arndorfer says. "But our architect convinced us that we'd be sorry if we didn't also remodel the front," she says, pointing to the new front porch with its built-in seating and colorful planter boxes. the 1,063-square-foot addition involves a new master suite on one side of the back of the house, a family room, home office/guest bathroom on the other side, and an updated kitchen in between. seen from the rear garden, it has a futuristic look -- a pitched cantilevered roof that offers shade in summer, while its photovoltaic panels capture the sun and generate electricity. Large concertina doors off the dining room and a sliding barn door in the family room create natural circulation throughout the house, as do banks of clerestory windows, avoiding the need for air conditioning. the massive barn door that slides from an exterior metal frame, came from a farm in Fairfax. while most of the action takes place at the back of the house -- the living room and original bedrooms retain the same footprints -- the entire residence now assumes a new drama without appearing disjointed. "That's because we reused as many of the original materials as possible, so the old and new has a natural flow," Arndorfer says. the couple loved the beautifully milled redwood ceiling in their living room and wanted to replicate the look in their remodel. But the cost of installing new saw-cut redwood was prohibitive. Instead, their architect found new uses for the redwood beams and ceiling ripped from the old dining room. he also devised an ingenious solution to match the living room ceiling. Arndorfer affectionately calls it her "chicken wire" ceiling. "We took sheets of expanded steel mesh and pre-rusted it," architect Waldorf says. That involved spraying it with vinegar and dipping it into salt water to intensify the rusting process. "It became a family affair; we all went out to the beach and soaked the mesh in seawater," Arndorfer says. the rusted mesh was then applied over plywood, stained to match the adjoining redwood ceiling. it results in an interesting play of light between the two materials. Redwood beams from the old dining room were reused for window and door trims and for a loft staircase in a bedroom. old floor planks were used for a new kitchen banquette and a built-in daybed in Arndorfer's office. the original dining room ceiling now graces the new front porch, and sections of old redwood were fashioned into a backsplash in the home office bathroom. it also sports a cabinet found on Craig's List, and a stylish stainless-steel counter top that Waldorf found discarded on a city street. "I took it home, cleaned it up, and it's prefect for the bathroom," he says. Green materials include flooring -- the dramatic cork floor in the family room, reclaimed wide-plank floors in the kitchen and dining area, and bamboo floors in the new master suite. Simulated stone kitchen counters (made from recycled paper products), bamboo kitchen cabinets, EnergyStar-rated appliances, non-VOC Yolo paint that eliminates out-gassing, and cement siding that emulates the original board-and-batten exterior continue the "eco" theme. Arndorfer says the remodel took 14 months to complete and in spite of the inevitable hiccups along the way, she and her family are thrilled with their new house. "It's a lot like giving birth," she says. "You ultimately forget the pain and tend to revel in the end result." Resources: Project architect: David Waldorf, San Francisco, 415-377-7738; www.dogsix.com Building contractor: R.J. Smith & Assoc., 460 S. California Ave., #82, Palo Alto, 650-321-1775; www.rjsmithconstruction.com Landscape design: Candice Stein, 408-297-8873; www.candicestein.com Goal of project: Update and expand a ranch-style home, using as many "green" materials/building methods as possible. Unexpected problems: Roof needed to be recalculated and redone; additional permit needed for front porch Year house built: 1943 Size of home: Originally 1886 sq ft; now 2946 sq ft on a 10,000-sq-ft lot Time to complete: 14 months

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<a href="http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=18445tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=18445Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:18:56 GMT 00:00">Palo Alto Online : A recipe for green living

With more than 500 miles of well-maintained, signposted footpaths and 60 miles of coastline to explore, the Isle of Wight is a great destination for walkers. The four-day Autumn Walking Weekend aims to make walking accessible to everyone, including children.

Among the 60 scheduled walks are a number of family-friendly expeditions including a guided fossil-hunting walk along the beach at Yaverland, a hands-on falconry walk with the opportunity to fly Harris hawks and a Hallowe'en Adventure when participants will be encouraged to wear fancy dress for an eerie evening in Parkhurst Forest, home to Britain's largest colony of Barbastelle bats. The Autumn Walking Weekend runs from October 22-25. Booking is essential (01983 823070; www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk)

Where to stay: Red Funnel Holidays is offering three nights at Little Pidford Farm Cottages for £165, arriving October 22. in a rural location in the centre of the island, the two-bedroom cottages give access to a variety of walks and cycle paths

(0844 844 2688; www.redfunnel.co.uk)

2 Enchanted Forest, Perthshire

The wooded glens and hills of Perthshire are renowned for their autumnal displays of colour, which coincide with the Highland Perthshire Autumn Festival (www.pitlochryautumnfestival.co.uk), from October 22-November 7.

The highlight is the popular Enchanted Forest, a sound and light experience which takes place at Faskally Wood near Pitlochry. Midweek tickets are still available during half-term week. Adults from £11, children £6 (0871 288 7655; www.enchantedforest.org.uk) in Pitlochry, festival events will include a firework display, ghost tours, storytelling, street entertainers and a Hallowe'en marquee with apple bobbing, face-painting and pumpkin carving.

Where to stay: Gushat Cottage is a sympathetic conversion of the old Victorian village shop and bakery in the village of Strathtay, near Pitlochry. It sleeps up to six people and is available for three nights starting on October 27 for £590. Book through Rural Retreats (01386 701177; www.ruralretreats.co.uk)

3 Cycling the Fens, Cambridgeshire

Wicken Fen is Britain's last remaining area of undrained fenland, providing a unique habitat for wildlife such as otters, water voles, dragonflies and kingfishers. A new cycle route, The Lodes way, has opened up inaccessible tracts of this ancient landscape. Starting at the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre, walkers and cyclists can follow signposted circular routes which pass herds of Konik ponies and Highland cattle. in October, the sedge harvest is in full swing, and lucky visitors might spot barn owls and hen harriers.

Half-term family events include a Scarecrow Festival (October 23-24), a Wildlife Murder Mystery Trail (October 25-29) and a Winter Wildlife Day (October 26), during which children can make bird feeders and learn how to help garden animals survive the winter months. A spooky evening Ghost Walk along the pumpkin-lit boardwalk (October 30) rounds off the week. Admission: adults £5.75, children £2.95, family £14.70. Booking required for some events (01353 720274; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wickenfen)

Where to stay: The Anchor Inn is an atmospheric 17th-century coaching inn surrounded by Fenland. The cosy, beamed restaurant specialises in locally sourced food. from £115 per night b & b for a family room sleeping four (01353 778537; www.anchor-inn-restaurant.co.uk)

4 Kayaking on the Norfolk coast

The Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre is offering children the chance to explore the tidal creeks and harbours of the north Norfolk coast on foot and by kayak. The Adventure Day starts with a ramble across the coastal marshes, which are home to overwintering flocks of wildfowl and waders arriving from northern Europe. in the afternoon children will take kayaks to explore the coast on the incoming tide. The Ramble and Kayak Adventure Day for eight to 14 year-olds is on October 28. It costs £47 per child (01485 210719; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brancaster) Booking essential.

Where to stay: Number 3 Harbour View in the village of Brancaster Staithe is a cottage with sea views and direct access onto the marshes and coastal path. Sleeps six. One week's rental, from October 22, costs £600 through Norfolk Hideaways (01485 211022; www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk)

5 Talking trees in Cornwall

Learn about the history of orchards and different varieties of apple on the National Trust's innovative "talking trees" trail at Cotehele in Cornwall. By swiping an audio pen over designated logos on trees, visitors can activate recordings to bring to life the 18th-century orchard at this Tudor house. Audio clips cover everything from the Tamar Valley's long history of apple and cherry growing to recipes for apple crumble and wassailing songs traditionally sung to ensure a good harvest. Admission: adults £8.70, children £4.35, family £21.75 (01579 351346; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele)

Where to stay: Tamar Valley Tipis still has availability during half-term in its Sioux-style tepees. in a secluded glade on a working farm, the tepees come with wood-burning stoves and rugs to ward off the autumn chill; £350 per week for a large tepee sleeping up to four (0845 456 0302; www.tamarvalleytipis.co.uk)

6 Autumn colours, Gloucestershire

The Cotswolds are home to two of Britain's best arboreta, Westonbirt and Batsford, each of which puts on a fiery display of autumn colour in late October. Batsford has a children's trail through the woods and from October 25-29, Westonbirt will run daily Autumnal Highlights events looking at why trees change colour and encouraging children to create their own leaf-inspired art. Admission: Westonbirt – adults £9, children £4 (01666 880220; www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt); Batsford – adults £6.50, children £2.50 (01386 701441; www.batsarb.co.uk)

Where to stay: The Court House is one of nine historic listed buildings on the Owlpen Manor estate in the Cotswolds which have been converted into holiday homes. Originally a banqueting house for the lords of the manor, it sleeps up to five people. A seven-night stay starting October 22 costs £737 (01993 824 252; www.manorcottages.co.uk)

7 Pond-dipping and painting, Carmarthenshire

The National Wetlands Centre in Llanelli is a 450-acre mosaic of lakes, pools and lagoons on the Burry Inlet in south Wales. It's home to water voles, otters and countless species of water birds. from October 23-31 families can take part in pond-dipping and painting sessions or pick up a bike from the visitor centre and cycle along the boardwalk trails through the wetlands. Admission: adults £7.75, children £4.25, family £21.60 (01554 741087; www.wwt.org.uk)

Where to stay: Cothi Cottage is a converted barn on a working hill farm in the Cothi River Valley, famed for its Red Kites. Children can help out on the farm. A week's rental from October 23-30 costs £290 for a family of four (01558 650273; www.cothicottage.com)

8 Treeplanting in Essex

Hatfield Forest is a rare surviving example of a medieval royal hunting ground, an atmospheric place of ancient oaks and hornbeams, some of which are 1,200 years old. Treeplanting, bug-hunting and forest survival skills are just some of the woodland activities on offer for families during half-term. Children can learn how to make a bug house to attract insects to hibernate in their garden (October 25, £5 per bug house), join in with a Mighty Oaks Planting Day, (October 26, free entry) and learn the basics of shelter building, fire lighting and foraging on a Survival Skills day (October 27, £18 for two people). Booking is required for most events (01279 870678; www.nationaltrust.org.uk)

Where to stay: Homelye Farm Bed and Breakfast offers 13 comfortable rooms in converted stables built around courtyards in a rural setting. A two-night stay from October 24 costs £220 for a family en-suite room sleeping four, including breakfast (01371 872127; www.homelye.co.uk)

9 Lakeside adventure, Cumbria

On the shores of Windermere, the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole has something to suit all ages, from preschool children to teenagers. Young visitors can try their hand at Geocaching (October 23, £5), walk with a hawk (October 24, £3) or sign up for some Green-Fingered Fun (October 28, free), discovering the secrets of the Brockhole gardens. in addition the visitor centre will be offering taster sessions in canoeing, kayaking or sailing, with a fully qualified instructor, on the lake (October 23-31, £10 per session). Booking is essential for most events (01539 446601; www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/brockhole.htm)

Where to stay: A week's stay in a wooden cabin sleeping four at the White Cross Bay Leisure Park between Ambleside and Windermere costs £510. The park's facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, gym, bar and restaurant (01228 599960; www.cumbrian-cottages.co.uk)

10 Winter wonderland in Yorkshire

Stocked Park near Wetherby is a private country estate that is normally closed to the public, but from October half-term until the end of January it opens its gates, offering winter activities from Nordic skiing to ice-skating. Events kick off on October 22 with a week of Hallowe'en-themed activities such as pumpkin carving, treasure hunts and Fright Nights for older children in the Enchanted Forest and Psycho Maze (October 29-31, adults £10, children £9). on October 28, there will be interactive theatre performances in the forest (adults £8, children £7). and each day visitors can skate on the huge outdoor rink or try the Nordic skiing trail. (01937 586333; www.thechristmasadventure.com)

Where to stay: Jollydays (01759 371776; www.jollydaysluxurycamping.co.uk) offers luxury camping in a 200-acre wood near Stamford Bridge in North Yorkshire. A two-night weekend break in a luxury tented lodge sleeping up to six starting on October 29 costs £400. Tents are equipped with wooden floors, rugs, wood-burning stove, lavatories and hot showers.

October half-term: 10 outdoor activities