Today, clients look for a very diverse range of amenities in their homes; fitness centers, wine cellars, home theaters, spas and even golf simulators. Of all the things that clients tend to look for, a conservatory is rarely on the top of the list, let alone on the list at all. Perhaps the idea of a home conservatory, or greenhouse, is an antiquated concept. 

Built by the Franciscan monks in 1867, the "Paterskirk" in Mechelen, Belgium looks like an ordinary church- which is what I thought it was prior to entering. As I walked in I was greeted by a doorman ready to take my suitcase.

In 2009 the Paterskirk church opened as a 4-star hotel known as Martin’s Patershof. Nowhere else in the world is there a five-story hotel with 56 rooms inscribed within a church.

The Dansaekhwa movement emphasized going back to nature. The return to nature denied the artist as a subject. Working on canvas, artists paid attention to the properties of soft objects and renounced figuration. Use of hanji Korean paper and earthy tones became popular.

As you turn onto the Rue Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech, Morocco, you hear many different languages coming from the line of tourists waiting to enter the Jardin Majorelle. The famous garden was started in 1923 when artist Jacques Majorelle bought a four-acre plot of land on the border of a palm grove. Eventually Majorelle purchased adjacent land, growing the garden to ten acres.

In 1981 Memphis Milano or The Modern Memphis Movement began in Milan. A group of designers led by Ettore Sottsass gathered to start a revolution against serious and functional modernist design. The group was named after Bob Dylan’s song “Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues” as it was believed that they listened to this song on repeat throughout their entire first meeting.

Welcome back to the continuation of our previous blog on prepping your home for the holidays and any visitors that this time of year may bring!

Whether you are hosting a large party or just sharing a meal with your old college buddy, the kitchen and dining room should feel festive, inviting, and comfortable. A centerpiece in the middle of the dining table does most of the heavy lifting for you! This also applies to the kitchen table. You can’t go wrong with some greenery in a vase or a display of candles. Adding a festive table runner and colorful dinner napkins can also bring on that holiday cheer. 

As the holiday season approaches, our homes often become gathering places for friends and loved ones. Hosting doesn’t just include having holiday meals, traditional gatherings, or overnight visitors. It can also include casual dinners earlier in the season and travelers popping in on their way elsewhere. During the holidays, you never know who to expect: long-lost relatives, friends of family, friends of friends, family of friends, and so on.

Preparing your space to host guests, parties, or for the entire season can seem daunting, but with a little planning and creativity, you can create an inviting atmosphere that reflects your personality and immerses everyone in holiday cheer and the warmth of friends and family every day of the holiday season.