Blake's Blog

2014-06-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

New Life Events

From Dallas to Salt Lake City

Well I have not posted in over a year due to many changes in my life. New job, new home, new state, etc. A major change has been the sale of our contemporary craftsman home in Dallas, TX and a recent purchase of a 90's contemporary home in Salt Lake City, UT.

Salt Lake City is located in a large valley, the Salt Lake Valley, separated by the Wasatch Moutains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. The valley floor is the lake bed of the ancient Lake Bonneville, of which the Great Salt Lake is a remnant. The ancient shoreline ringing the valley floor is called the bench. The Bench rises to 5,000 feet in some places. The bench area sits against the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains rising up to 10,000 feet.

Our home is located on the bench behind the State Capital building in an area called Ensign Downs. On July 26, 1847, Brigham Young and other early members of The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) climbed this hill to pick the location of the new city and gave it its present name. The hill has religious significance in LDS Church history and in its symbolism.

A few pictures of our home exterior and views below.

The front of our home is modest in terms of the facade. Looking like a single
floor ranch with a contemporary flair and natural landscape the house is
often passed by with little notice.

The home is built down the side of the hill with two additional floors
being exposed from the back side of the house. The home was built to
maximize the views of the mountains and valley floor.

The home is built on .5 acres with most of the property covered in dense local
plants and flowering plants that bloom throughout the fall and summer season.

Plenty of native plants and trees are planted including: Rubber Rabbitbush
Chrysothamnus Nauseosus, Mountain Oak trees, etc.

Three backyard areas wrap around the house.

Spectacular view of the Wasatch Mountains can be seen from our backyard.

The winter view is spectacular!

Roots of Style: The Birth of Modern Architecture

2013-07-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Learn how Prairie, Craftsman, art deco and other styles of the early 20th century came to influence architecture today

How did modernism find its way into residential architecture? Consider the meaning of "modern" within the context of the development of a style. "Modern" in this sense is the creation of a new aesthetic without building upon or interpreting earlier styles.

Two phases of modern residential design took place in the early 20th century. The first phase included Prairie and Craftsman styles, which came to a halt due to World War I, and a second phase included art modern, art deco and International style. This second phase, occurring during the 1930s, was also brief and not nearly as prolific as the first, due to World War II.

Around 1900 Frank Lloyd Wright and a few other Midwestern architects who were part of what's known as the Prairie School created a new vocabulary of design. Their buildings were not trimmed or decorated in any preceding ornamental fashion but were uniquely detailed with simpler materials confidently overlaid on solid and horizontally emphasizing forms.

Prairie

Frank Lloyd Wright deserves significant credit for contributing to the formation of 20th-century residential architectural fashion. His 1893 Winslow House in River Forest, Illinois, predicted many trends in the coming century. The design emphasized horizontal elements, unlike Victorian themes of that time, and a simpler and unified aesthetic, which felt grounded and related more organically to the landscape. His other ideas, such as Broadacre City, preceded and aligned with the influence of the automobile.

This house may be familiar to many Americans, for this fashion stretches from coast to coast and survives in many forms. A generous front porch is covered by a hip roof, where a hipped dormer allows light into the attic space. The continuous eave line confidently surrounds the structure and maintains its low profile.

This is the style of my home and I love it!

This house resembles the previous in form, and its second level, which became more common, also emphasizes horizontal elements and has generous eaves typical of the style. Some homes of this type are called foursquares, but the massing and simplified elevations mimic the aesthetic created by the Prairie School.

This new house adheres to Prairie details faithfully, yet its overall impression is characteristic of hundreds of thousands of similarly shaped houses across North America. Low-pitched, hipped roofs with broad eaves and a long, low elevation integrate the garage comfortably into its design, a trait significant to later-20th-century dwellings. The Prairie period was relatively brief, occurring from 1900 to 1920, but its influence translated into the ranch style, which began in the 1930s and persisted for most of the century.

Craftsman

This style began in California around 1903 and became one of the most popular of the 20th century in the U.S. The Greene brothers, architects in Pasadena, developed a bungalow-type structure rich with wood detail influenced partly by the English Arts and Crafts movement and partly by Asian wooden structures. The intimate scale and warm details could be translated into small and modest homes or expressed more elaborately in larger examples.

Due to the popularity of this style, there are many variations on the theme, but they are usually detailed with some type of generous front porch. Columns can be straight and set atop tapered brick pedestals, as in this example, but this detail varies widely.

Decorative brackets visually support the rake (the upwardly sloping eave of the gable end) in most types, and a flared lintel detail above each window trim piece is common.

Notice the railing on this porch; variations often make a particular house unique. They can have shingle siding, but clapboard and stucco also occur. Brick is normally used for porch pedestals and chimneys, as is the case with this house.

This remodeled and updated house has tapered wood columns set on stucco pedestals. In contrast to the previous house, the roof formation is a side gable, rather than front facing. A shed dormer penetrates the main roof form. This is a common Craftsman characteristic. Also notice the mixture of stucco and shingle siding.

This new house has been designed with Craftsman details likely to be found on originals, but it also has a few features that define it as a neo-Craftsman. Both the arched lintel between the porch posts and the French doors leading onto a deck wrapped by the main roof and parapet railing are distinct contemporary adaptations.

Art Deco

The word "modern" in the context of architecture commonly brings to mind white stucco, glass walls and flat roofs. These are the characteristics of three important styles that developed between World War I and World War II. Art deco, art moderne and International styles sprouted from the age of the machine. Developed countries around the world had all firmly entered industrialization, and architecture reflected the phenomenon with a new aesthetic.

The International style developed in Europe through the architecture of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, among others. The Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen is credited with deco's having won second place in an important competition in 1922 in Chicago.

This new art deco–inspired residence illustrates vertical emphasis characteristic of the style. Many originals of the day were much more detailed, with decorations of chevron patterns along with reeding and fluting at door and window surrounds. More commonly found in commercial or apartment buildings of the 1930s, this style was highly adaptable.

Art Modern

More prevalent in residences than in commercial buildings, the art modern style played on the theme of streamlined machines. Cars, ships, toasters and quite a few other objects became places for expression of the aesthetic. Note the curved glass block wall in this example. Though there are few houses today that can be classified as being this style, glass block has continued to be a favorite material for translucent walls and windows in many American houses.

International

European architects of the 1920s and 1930s adopted a philosophy of no ornamentation, and all elements served only functional purposes. The beauty of a building was to be achieved by the exactness of machine-finished materials and structural transparency. For the first time, exterior walls were not structural and were labeled curtain walls. The structure (usually steel) occurred on the interior of the building, and supports were placed to allow as much freedom as possible for interior configuration.

Seen in this house is a sharply executed arrangement of elements. The chimney is a floating cylinder, the walls above the windows appear to float, and the forms appear to enclose indoor as well as outdoor spaces. Windows are grouped or stretched in long rows, and razor-thin supports define separation.

Notice how the architects have given the impression of a floating roof in this Los Angeles house. The windows are large, focusing on a particular point of interest, or arranged in ribbons and mitered at the corners. The walls of the house appear massive and solid, like large blocks. The details are flush and smooth.

In this wonderful Vermont house, the cantilever of a second level serves as protection to an entrance. The materials are detailed to feel precise and crisp. The windows and doors align horizontally and are flush with the ceiling and the floor. Notice how even the patio extends over the slope of the landscape, but is not too high off the ground, as a railing would spoil the scheme.

Particularly influenced by the German Bauhaus school, the International style set into motion an architectural discipline that is, to this day, essential and formative to the profession.

Historically, the trajectory is fascinating. The style became popular in Europe before World War II but lost favor after the war; it subsequently regained popularity later in the century. In America, despite art deco and art moderne, residential fashion of the 1920s and 1930s was dominated by revivals and eclecticism.

It was not until after World War II did this style fold into an American mainstream vernacular, as we shall see in a future ideabook.

Article was informed by:

Steven Randel

Houzz Contributor. Steven Corley Randel has practiced architecture in California...

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/13815137/list

Pinterest Addiction

2013-03-19T07:27:00.001-07:00

For those of you who use Pinterest on a regular basis as a image bookmarking site you know how addictive it can be. To date, I have almost 2,000 images pinned and close to 400 followers.

The Website is an ideal way to save and categorize images/topics of interest to you. I have been using the site to catalog architectural images from around the world. I especially love the Contemporary Craftsman style homes that I have stumbled upon as I peruse the Web on many a late night. Check out a few of my favorite pins by following my alter ego "Grumpy Cat" on Pinterest by clicking on the link below.

Grumpy Cat Pinterest Page

Vickery Place Dallas Texas

2013-03-12T08:19:00.003-07:00

We built in Vickery Place due to its closeness to downtown Dallas; beautiful old gingerbread homes in the M Streets and wide ranges of people and professions.

Vickery Place was founded in 1911 and is one of the original suburbs of Dallas. As a historic East Dallas neighborhood of 1200 households with a vibrant quality of life and spirit of community shared by residents, neighboring communities and local businesses it is an ideal place to live. The neighborhood is a prime location that borders Greenville Avenue and Knox-Henderson (see map below).

Vickery Place (numbers represent homes on the Centennial Home Tour in 2012)

When we built our contemporary take on a Craftsman style home (only Craftsman, Prairie and Tudor home plans are allowed), we were aware that we were pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable. While our home is on the contemporary side, we love many of the old and new home facades so prevalent throughout the neighborhood. Take a look at a few of the homes that we think are beautiful.

5606 Vickery

5605 Vickery

5847 Velasco

5742 Velasco

5406 Greenland H

5234 Merrimac

5434 Merrimac

5630 Monticello

5314 Mon

Contemporary Craftsman Style Homes

2013-03-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

I love the traditional Craftsman style home with its wood and arts crafts design elements.

My home is a contemporary take on the craftsman style. Surviving into the 21^st century, Craftsman design style appears in new and updated construction. My home design is a modern take on the craftsman style. Craftsman style, much like modern design, is all about clean simple lines. Creating a contemporary Craftsman homes is a great blend of traditional, simple styling, quality craftsmanship, the use of earth friendly materials with all of today’s conveniences skillfully integrated into period architecture. I have also introduced and incorporated traditional Japanese linear elements into its design. Craftsman style does not mean you must live with a completely art’s & crafts home. By blending Asian design style and pieces along with contemporary ones I have attempted to create a truly unique space with a nod to traditional
Craftsman sensibility.

My inspirations include a variety of designs.

TM Advertising

2013-03-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

I am working at TM Advertising in Dallas, Texas as the SVP, Digital Innovation. I am responsible for identifying and crafting Digital, Direct and Data strategies for our clients including: Discover Network, Universal Orlando, Community Coffee, etc.

The culture at TM Advertising is a little bit flaky, funny and hard working. People like to break out into dance and song at every opportunity. Click on the image to the right to see how crazy the people at TM actually are.

Harlem Style

Gargoyle Tattoo Design

2013-01-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Our Contemporary Craftsman Home

2012-02-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Froehlich home is an example of Contemporary Craftsman style as reported on in the Dallas Morning News

The link to the article is below.

Froehlich Home

Grandma Lila

2011-12-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

My grandma Lila passed this year after 96 years (not really sure since she never told anyone her age) of a wonderful life. My grandma was not your normal run of the mill type of grandma. She never met a stranger she did not make her friend. She had the type of warm and gregarious soul that people were immediately attracted to and wanted to be around.

Lila loved life and always made sure that everyone was happy. She loved to cook for people as well as enjoyed a drink or two at her favorite restaurant. Even into her 70's Lila would party like a women half her age.

I have so many found memories of my grandma that it is hard to pick just a few. With that being said, I thought I would list a few of my favorite memories of growing up with my grandma:

Greek Spaghetti (no one, I mean no one could make it like Lila)
Being her favorite grandchild. She told me every time I saw her (No it was not Todd as he will tell you).
Going to a Greek bar and placing a dollar bill in the dress of a belly dancer when I was 17.
Being called little shit (skata) in Greek often for being mischievous
Eating Greek potato salad at Pappas restaurant in Tarpon Springs, FL
Sleeping with the lights on. Lila was afraid to sleep in the dark
Greek religious icons on Lila's walls
Having my back rubbed. I would always make Lila rub my back until her hands became numb with pain

I miss my grandma but know that she is no longer suffering. I wish my daughter Lila Angel Linn Froehlich could have met her great grandma. They would have gotten on nicely. However, every time I say my daughter's name I think about my grandma Lila and it brings a smile to my face.

Growing Up Wild!

2011-12-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that many of my baby pictures are in black and white (before the advant of color photography)! Thought I would share a few of my thoughts associated with pictures of me and my family growing up. Enjoy.

"Wow, I look like a small white Pimp from Laramie Wyoming! At least I am in all white."

"Walking at 9-months and taking my first steps into a life of hardship, work and responsibility."

"Who is dressing me? First I look like huggy bear from Starsky and Hutch and now I am dressed like an oompa loompa from a small Bavarian town in Germany. At least I look better then that adopted child next to me."

"Finally a picture in which I am dressed in a professional manner. Lucky for me I was able to get some time off from work at the accounting firm to make this shot. Wow I now see where my mom and dad get their good looks (from me if it is not obvious to the viewers). Again who is the strange child next to me? I guess my mom picked her up off the floor to have something to hold in the picture."

"Most kids would find sitting on a tractor as a fun experience. Not me! After 10 hours working in the fields on my grandparent's farm in Sodus Michigan I deserve a break! I must admit I do make this tractor look good.

"After a hard day in the fields picking produce for the man all I get for my sweat equity is this old dirty apple! I need to mobilize the workers and strike against these harsh working conditions. Who is this kid next to me? I wish he would stay out of my pictures. He looks like he has been road hard and put away wet."

"I love you ya..ya..ya. I love you.... Sorry, since I look like one of the members of the Beetles in this picture I thought I would play the part. This suit coat is a bit tight since I began working out but I must admit I do make this outfit look good! Get out of my picture strange little girl. This is my shot and I don't share with anyone!"

"I am trying to make love to the camera! What else do you want me to do? If you don't stop bothering me I am going to go Full Magnum on your behind! Please stop fixing my hair and NO I don't need any makup on my moneymaker!"

"No I am not the Hispanic waiter, I am the talent! I do look hot and I make this burgundy tux look good!"

"What can I say? The bright pastel colors, 80's boy-band hair, soft mustache and members only pants and belt combo - De.Li.Cious! I now see where I get my fashion sense. Thanks mom."

2011-12-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

Cadillac SRX

My new car is the Cadillac SRX. I thought about the Land Rover Evoque and the Cadillac CTS as well as Audi A7 but I decided on the SRX.

The 2010 SRX is a five-passenger, mid-size crossover that is front-wheel-drive and about the that same size as the popular Lexus RX 350.

The 300-hp, 2.8-liter turbo V-6 in the SRX 2.8T, has a 0-to-60 time of 7.6 seconds, and that seems believable from the seat of our pants. It might not be a huge improvement over the 8.4 seconds recorded in the 3.0-liter, but acceleration from low revs feels far better. The turbo engine builds revs quicker, and its 295 lb-ft of torque hustle the SRX with greater enthusiasm without having to resort to revving the engine to its redline. The torque peak arrives at a low 2000 rpm and remains steady until about 5000 rpm.

Where the Cadillac really shines is in its suspension tuning, quiet demeanor, nearly complete list of standard equipment, and attractive interior.

Father's Love For His Son

2011-12-11T20:16:00.001-08:00

Bubblicious GoodTime!

My son Alex is such a wonderful child. He is loving, sensitive and caring. I am lucky to have such a great son.

It is not flesh and blood, but heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Friedrich von Schiller

I wish I could be closer and be there for you every day.

I love you son.

Froehlich Family Halloween Video

2011-10-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Froehlich family gets down on Halloween.

Froehlich Halloween Party

Faces Of Lila

2011-10-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

My daughter Lila is the joy of my life and brings a smile to my face every day. After a tough day at work she walks up to me with a huge smile and her arms out to be picked up and thrown in the air. She has an amazing personality and a wonderful soul. A few of the faces of Lila that make me smile.

Vickery Place Centennial Home Tour

2011-09-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Vickery Park Centennial Home Tour Website Vickery Place commemorates our centennial with a Home Tour featuring several beautifully renovated historic homes ranging from original 1911 Prairie designs and 1920's Craftsman models, accompanied by a newly constructed home in a contemporary Craftsman style. There will be a special VIP kick-off event on the preceding evening featuring a bonus home of Craftsman construction.

Vickery Place was founded in 1911 and is one of the original suburbs of Dallas. We are a historic East Dallas neighborhood of 1200 households with a vibrant quality of life and spirit of community shared by our residents, neighboring communities and local businesses. The neighborhood is a prime location that borders Greenville Avenue and Knox-Henderson.

The home tour is October 16th from 11:00am-5:00pm.

Official Home Tour Website

Vickery Place Home Tour

2011-06-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Our Home will be featured in the Vickery Place Home Tour September 2011. Home description:

HOME: 5347 Vickery Boulevard

BUILDER: Ron Davis Custom Homes

YER BUILT: February 2011

DESIGN STYLE: Contemporary Craftsman

DESIGN NOTES:
Surviving into the 21^st century, Craftsman design style appears in new and updated construction. The home at 5347 Vickery Boulevard is a modern take on the craftsman style and is termed a Contemporary Craftsman. Craftsman style, much like modern design, is all about clean simple lines. Creating a contemporary Craftsman homes is a great blend of traditional, simple styling, quality craftsmanship, the use of earth friendly materials with all of today’s conveniences skillfully integrated into period architecture. 5347 Vickery Boulevard has also introduced and incorporated traditional Japanese linear elements into its design. Craftsman style does not mean you must live with a completely Art’s & Crafts home. By blending Asian design style and pieces along with contemporary ones 5347 Vickery Boulevard has created a truly unique space with a nod to traditional Craftsman sensibility.

My Dream Machine

2011-06-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

ALL NEW AUDI A7

I have been waiting for the introduction of the all-new Audi A7 this year with great anticipation. The A7 is a beautiful vehicle with 5 doors (hatchback) and a more aggressive profile.

I have owned several Audis over my driving lifetime including an A6 and TT. I love the look and handling of the Audi and the interior finish is hard to beat for the price point.

Do I have $70K to blow on this car (loaded with features) – No! Will I spend $70K to get this car when I walk into the dealer – No!

Life Changing Liquid

2011-06-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

I have been taking Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar with Unfiltered Honey 3 times a day for a variety of aging issues. The liquid taste horrible but the effects are amazing. Who would have thought that fermented apple juice could have such a major impact on the human body.

According to the Web ACV and Honey help with:

Reduce sinus infections and sore throats

Balance high cholesterol

Cure skin conditions such as acne

Protect against food poisoning

Fight allergies in both humans and animals

Prevent muscle fatigue after exercise

Strengthen the immune system

Increase stamina

Increase metabolism which promotes weight loss

Improve digestion and cure constipation

Alleviate symptoms of arthritis and gout

Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections

For me it has really helped reduce my excess sweating. Nothing had worked before but 3 glasses a day of this liquid has made a huge change in my body in just 2 days.

I recommend ACV and Unfiltered Honey. The only thing you have to lose is your lunch if you can't keep the taste down.

Our New Home

2011-04-28T12:33:00.001-07:00

Our new contemporary craftsman home built in Vickery Place, Dallas Texas.

Froehlich Family Home

2011-04-28T12:32:00.001-07:00

Main living area with 22 foot ceilings and a wall of Austin Sand Stone cut in a mosaic of rough and smooth to create a more contemporary look with natural materials. Built-ins are created to create a smooth look in regards to the TV and display items. In addition a fake fireplace cutout has been created to simulate the look of a fireplace without the expense.

Our kitchen is made with maple wood, silestone
stainless steel Miele appliances and ceramic
tiles.

Metal staircase rings the entire great room with maple wood floors.

Secondary bedroom bath has silestone countertops and an interesting glass tile mosaic on the wall.

Froehlich Family Home

2011-04-28T12:16:00.001-07:00

Well my family and I just moved into our new home on the M Streets in Dallas Texas. The house only took 9-months to build (hint of sarcasm), however it really stands out in terms of its look (Contemporary Craftsman) and its size. I will post a few pictures that should highlight how dramatic the home is.

Muskego High School Class Reunion

2008-11-03T21:14:00.002-08:00

Jeff, I will get you for posting that picture of me pumping iron. What a cheese mustach and that hair. WTF was I thinking?