Another Deep South Master

Another architect doing great work in the South is Ken Tate from Louisiana.  Ken, who was born in Mississippi, studied at Auburn.  His work is spectacular.  Ken, as others I have covered, does an incredible job of reinterpreting historic works to fit the homes sites or simply what he sees as fitting.  Each of his projects are unique works that fit incredibly well into their settings.
While I have seen many of his homes in person, this Norman style house I have not but love it.

Here is one of his Creole Compounds he created:

And a Deep South Estancia in Jackson, Mississippi:

Another Creole style house:

I hope you love his work as much as I do.  You can find more of his projects at www.kentatearchitect.com and in his very impressive book, New Classicists, Ken Tate Architect.

Modern Twist on Classical Designs -- Part III

A talent I've recently found that is taking modern twists on classical designs to a new level is Ken Pursley out of Charlotte, North Carolina.  His work is outstanding.  Doing both renovations and new construction, his take on design is fresh and current while maintaining a classical approach to architecture.


One of my favorite things about his work is the mixture of classical exteriors with extremely crisp interiors.  Few have the ability to mix the two.  Ken has done an excellent job of it.  I will be following his work for a long time.  What is so great about this approach is that any of these homes will fit in with the old neighborhoods across the country.


Here is his take on a Scottish Revival:

Look at the detail on the french doors below.

Here are a few images of a Colonial Revival he did.  All fresh, clean and beautiful.

Here is an English Kitchen and Garden Folly (as he calls it).  I love this kitchen.

Notice the ceiling below and the view of the "Garden Folly"

And another renovation he did:

I love the way he designed this alcove for the master bed.

Ken, like others I've covered, used to work for Bobby McAlpine.  Another great example of beautiful architecture in the south mixing classical designs with modern interiors.  Hope you enjoyed. You can find more of his work at www.pursleyarchitecture.com.  Don't miss the images of his studio.

A Big Thank You!

Thank you Rhoda at Southern Hospitality blog for the nice feature today on her blog.  She featured the Southern Accents showhouse and had many nice things to say.

If you'd like to see it, go to www.southernhospitalityblog.com

Crazy About Montecito

Of all the places I've traveled to in the United States, Santa Barbara is probably my favorite.  To be more exact, Montecito.  If you can say a city or town has "it", this place definitely does.  With the beach, the mountains, the climate, the architecture, the food.  I just don't think it can get much better.

The times I've been there, I love to drive around to see all the incredible homes and gardens.  Many are very difficult to see from the road because of the enormous walls and most of the homes are set so far from the street.  Last time we were there we dragged the kids to an estate sale just so we could see the property -- the last thing kids want to do on a Spring Break.

Well known interior designer John Saladino's estate is one of these.  Fortunately, C Magazine, did a story on his incredible home (you can also see it in his book).

His Italianate villa was built in 1929 by architect and builder Wallace Frost.  Saladino did an incredible job of remodeling the house that is quintessential Monticeto.

The roof is 18th century Italian handmade terra-cotta tile.  He brought in more than 4,000 trees and shrubs including these incredible 50 year old Italian cypress trees.

The interior is just as amazing as the exterior.  Many of the interior walls are the same stone as the exterior.  The steel windows and doors are incredible.  We are currently building a Mediterranean house in Fort Worth with windows and doors very similar.

I love the urn set into the stone window surround.  The ivy covered wall in perfect.

The dining room, with the (what I believe to be) cypress paneling and ceiling and Italian chandelier is beautiful.

All of the above pictures from C Magazine.

Another well published interior designer, Michael Smith, did an incredible job at the former Pillsbury estate in Montecito -- Las Encintas.  This Portuguese-style house was originally a California Mission Revival house built in the 1890s and is set into the hillside.  It is much different from Saladino's but typical old Montecito.  More formal and crisp.

The tile in the living room and powder bath typical Portuguese and are handmade in Los Angeles.  We are using a very similar tile from the same tile company for a current job.

I love how Smith gave the powder bath a true Period Revival feel.

While I love my city, Montecito is one of those places that is just very difficult to beat.

All of the pictures of Las Encinitas come from Santa Barbara magazine.

Period Revivals in Cowtown

Fort Worth is known as cowtown -- where the west began.  While that puts images into people's minds of horses, cattle, ranches and cowboys (and we do have that) many do not realize the incredible amount of great Period Revival houses in our city.
Throughout Westover Hills, Rivercrest, Park Hill, Colonial Country Club and Mistletoe (along with others) there is some of the finest examples of period revival architecture in the country.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

This fine Norman-Tudor Period Revival was built in 1930 in Westover Hills to be the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's "Home Beautiful".  It is the flagship of Westover Hills and was designed by Victor Marr Curtis.

This Spanish Colonial, also in Westover Hills, is a great example of a Period Revival and part of what makes Westover Hills a beautiful example of a mix of architectural designs.

I am not sure of the year this house was built, but is next door to the Spanish Colonial above and recently went through a major remodel and is beautiful.

This Tudor Revival, built in 1934 and designed by Joseph Patterson, is a home we did a remodel on a few years ago.  In Westover Hills also, it has a beautiful setting.

At the entry to Westover Hills, this home was built in 1936 and also designed by Joseph Patterson.  I love the iron flag flying on top of the turret (which is the staircase).

Set at the back of Rivercrest Country Club, this incredible Mediterranean villa was built in 1916 and designed by David Adler of Chicago.

Although the picture of the house is not great, the entrance to this English estate, built in 1927 and designed by Houston's John Staub, is one of my all time favorites.

Next door to the above English estate is another Tudor that was designed by Dallas' Fooshee and Cheek and built in 1929.  Both of these houses face #15 of Rivercrest Country Club golf course which is the hole that Ben Hogan once said was the worst hole in golf.

I will do more posts on Fort Worth's beautiful examples of Period Revival homes, as this is just a few of the many.