Retro cool in San Diego
As an architect, I took great offence to Jay Grant's recent article "Marketing a spec home without buying the lot" (January 2011, page 8). His advice is very good for the home builder, a decent deal for the landowner, and all built on the expense of the architect who is "paid for his plan only if the effort results in a sale." Architects are notoriously bad businesspeople, and giving away free work with no reward (other than being paid the usual fee) is among the top of the list. Architects who participate in any such arrangement should either pull out a house plan they already have in the drawer (and been previously paid for design) or agree to a higher than usual fee to compensate for the risk. Otherwise, your magazine is promoting for builders to capitalize on the same bad business practices architects face from maltors, banks and others who have created the current housing economy.EAT There's not a red-checkered tablecloth in sight at airy Bencotto, run by transplants from Milan and Modena. Choose from eight sauces (such as spicy pancetta) and homemade pastas. $$; 750 W. Fir St.; 619/450-4786.STAY The El Rey is Santa Fe's hipster-vintage motel of choice, cozy casita-style rooms, heated pool, and all (for more details, see "50 Under $150," page 89).Ceramic vase ($44) from Mixture (mixturehome.com).There is an upside: I am writing in pajama pants, T-shirt and slippers. Downside: I have eaten two bowls of Cap'n Crunch, six handfuls of Cheez-Its and a bag of popcorn. The baby has eaten toast, organic risotto and a handful of dog food.It was coffee grounds. Non-poisonous, which has become my only criterion for concern. If it doesn't involve the CDC, I don't panic.He has wandered into my home office and pulled the door closed behind him, which surprises him, so the current ambient noise is frantic baby-banging on a glass door.Bamboo, wool, and silk yarns (from $6) from Fancy Tiger Crafts (303/733-3855).2 | Architectural Salvage The gently musty aroma in this 5,000-squarefoot treasure trove will quicken the pulse of any This Old House fan. Piles of drawer pulls and house numbers beckon, though you can also take home entire doors or windows--or maybe just some soda-pop signs from the 1950s. 2401 Kettner Blvd.; architecturalsalvagesd.comSan Diego retro cool4 | T-Trove Asian Decor The exterior may look like a warehouse, but the chi inside this showroom is fantastic. Check out the desk devoted to calligraphy, including how-to books and brushes. Closed Sun; 189 S. Broadway; t-trove.com or 303/722. -0949.--STEVE KNOPPERWe are here because said baby spent most of the night impersonating Vesuvius. There were a lot of sheets and jammies to wash, but not much sleep to be had. It seemed that might warrant a trip to the pediatrician, who does not have an appointment available until tomorrow afternoon. The last time we had an afternoon appointment at the pediatrician we showed up 10 minutes early and sat in the waiting room until our appointment time had come and gone and an additional hour had passed. After our five-minute visit with the doctor, we waited another 40 minutes in the exam room for the nurse to come administer the vaccinations. The explanation: She got busy on the phone and forgot we were in there.He has learned to open the large drawer that holds the kitchen trash containers. I don't know what he has just removed from the trash bag, but it's headed for his mouth. I'll be right back.EAT El Diablo, a spacious family place with a huge square bar in the center and) funky red lamps, supplements a surprisingly wide taco selection with chocolate-drizzled churros. $; 101 Broadway; 303/954-0324.1 | Victoria Price The daughter of actor Vincent, Price blends contemporary furnishings with a traditional Southwest vernacular. Look for the work of locals Sherry Stein, who sews sturdy canvas workbags, and Yuki Murata, creator of minimalist tableware. Suite B102; victoriaprice.com or 505/982-8632.It's definitely a challcnge to push yourself outside that comfort zone from time-to-time but when you do and you embrace it, the feeling is amazing. I look at it as a way to not only be a better person but to also be that much better at what I do in the buikling industry. I pushed outside of my comfort zone this past summer and decided to start writing a blog (crafti 945. blogspot.coin). I had no idea what I was doing at first but found my way and made a commitment to keep pushing on.Firebird MonoRail pendant lamp (from $290) by Tech Lighting from Form Function (formplusfunction.com).Soule Studios ceramic cafe bowls ($40 each) from Santa Fe Modern (santafemodern.com).Assuming tomorrow's appointment goes about like the last one, my productivity for Tuesday and half of Wednesday will be greatly reduced. Despite that, I have been able to read and respond to e- mail, check my calendar, and adjust the greeting on my voice mail so that if you tried to call me at work today you would know that I'm not there.4 | Four What happens when four artists, designers, and antiques dealers join forces? An eclectic mix of old and new, from 100-year-old Persian rugs to sleek leather handbags from Colombia. Coolest find: a super-soft felt throw of churro wool made in the high desert north of town. Suite C202; 505/995-8411.Working at home raises a plethora of questions best left to the Human Resources Office. Should the parent be charged with a sick day if he works from home? What if she doesn't work a full eight hours? Is it simpler to have the employee off and tell him not to work, or is some work better than a full day lost?2 | Decade Alongside clothing aimed at the Etsy girl--colorful scarves, flowery dresses--you'll find the quirky likes of ceramic bird-adorned drawer pulls and canvas wall hangings. An old tomcat, Stella the Fella, struts around like he owns the place. 56 S. Broadway; decade-gifts.comDeForest, Wig.1 | Lee Alex DecorDesign book ($50) from Mixture.Abe Degnan5 | Santa Fe by Design New Mexico designers hold their own on this showroom's A-list of international kitchen-and-bath fittings names. We're fans of a local blacksmith's hand-forged iron door hardware and curvy vessel sinks by Stone Forest. Closed Sat-Sun; Suite D101; santafe bydesign.com--KATIE ARNOLD3 | Fancy Tiger Crafts The DIY knitting, felting, and crocheting capital of Denver lures craftkids in thick-framed glasses with Japanese pink-robot-print fabrics, silk and bamboo yarn, and clumps of multicolor wool. 1 S. Broadway; fancytiger.com or 303/733-3855. The same crowd hits Meininger Art Supply (499 Broadway; 303/698-3838) to scour racks of colored pencils, markers, and papers.RD B BLOG3 | Boomerang for Modern set in tight spaces, the couches, tables, and chairs by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames are displayed on a scale that makes it easy to imagine them at home. Closed Sun; 2475 Kettner Blvd.; boomerang formodern.com or 613/239-2040.1930s Double Saddle Navajo blanket ($4,200) from Victoria Price (505/982-8632).I'm a custom home builder and design/build remodeler. But I'm also very connected to the rest of our market in the Madison Area Builders Association (Madison, Wis). The "big dog" builder in our market has seen its ups and downs (before the companies merged and became who they are now), but I can say that they are genuinely concerned about their quality control, and they have the National Housing Quality award to prove it. I even overlap with them on numerous subcontractors, and when it comes to those subs, they are among the best of the best. in fact, knowing what I kno~ I would sooner refrr someone to the biggest production builder in our market than to some of the midsize, "semi-custom" builders in our market. As a remodeler, I get to see the worst of the worst and sometimes some pretty good work, too.EAT At the Chocolate Maven, around the corner, refuel on a grilled chicken sandwich, and save room for a chocolate buttercream cupcake. $$; 821 W. San Mateo Rd.; 505/ 984-1980.Cowboy mod in Santa FeThere is a terrible noise coming from the living room. It is not, as I had feared, an invasion of Huns here to lay waste to our otherwise perfectly manicured subdivision. It is merely the dog and the boy yelling at one another over who has rights to said dog's tail. Since the dog outweighs the boy by a ratio of four to one, my money's on the dog.Denver boho chicSTAY There's not much nearby, but downtown favorites like the Teatro (from $189$; hotelteatro.com) and the Oxford (from $220; theoxford hotel.com) are just a 15-minute drive away.Birmingham, Mich.I have also managed a conference call today and, with a little luck, the completion of this column, which I shall e-mail to the office. None of those things were possible when our parents were raising us. If there was a sick child, someone stayed home and did nothing but care for the patient, and that was usually Mom's job. She still managed to take care of work, without the benefit of a smart phone, e-mail, or conference calling, but it waited. There were no three-hour doctor's visits then, and even if Mom couldn't do business for a day, it didn't seem to significantly impair the speed of commerce.5 | Klassik The midcentury couches and club chairs at this vintage furniture and accessories shop look trim but feel solid. Many have been reupholstered in deep reds and earth tones, and are so comfy you'll wish you'd brought a book. 989 W. Kalmia St.; klassikdesign.com or 619/640-6995. -KATRINA BROWN HUNTLEARN OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONECapaldi Building Co.
Solar lanterns by Allsop Home & Garden ($23 each) from T-Trove Asian Decor (303/722-0949).
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