Many think that the architecture of Palm Beach is one that never changes -- building in Palm Beach is no easy task. It is but for a fortunate few who can first and foremost afford it, and secondly jump through Architectural reviews, neighbor's approvals and sometimes a lawsuit or two. Architecture is not taken lightly, and while some see the island as a place where things never … [Read more...] about Searching For an Architectural Soul
Life
Auto Reviews – 2018 Nissan Versa
The average price paid for a new car last year was about $35,000. But that doesn't mean you have to pay $35k to drive home a new car -- a nice new car. You could buy a brand-new Nissan Versa -- with air conditioning, a four-speaker Bluetooth-ready stereo and intermittent wipers -- and pay less than $12k. A Pinto reimagined it's not. What It Is The Versa sedan is the … [Read more...] about Auto Reviews – 2018 Nissan Versa
2018 AAS Flower Award Winners
When you are looking at garden catalogs and plants in the garden center, it is sometimes difficult to know how well a plant is going to do in your garden. All-America Selections is an independent nonprofit testing organization that tests new plants. It has more than 60 test gardens, from Alaska and Canada, to California and Florida. It also has over 175 display gardens all … [Read more...] about 2018 AAS Flower Award Winners
Design Options for a Flexible Guest Room
There are many ways to create a flexible guest room. You can often grab inspiration from hotel rooms because they operate from the perspective of providing not only the obviously required bed but also a working desk, comfy seating and a TV. Maybe some of the surfaces are too harsh for home use, but you can adapt the basic ideas easily and turn them into the exact level of … [Read more...] about Design Options for a Flexible Guest Room
Designing a Home Interior That is Perfect For You
As a designer, I am often asked whether I like the interiors of the latest restaurant or the lobby of a hyped hotel. And when I am asked, I'm always cautious to answer. Not because I'm afraid to offend anyone, but rather because as a designer, my "likes" will possibly different. Since the 3rd Century BC in Greece, the expression "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" has … [Read more...] about Designing a Home Interior That is Perfect For You
Auto Reviews – 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler, the company that invented minivans, is the last of the Big Three to still have a minivan in its lineup. GM and Ford long ago retired form the field, effectively ceding this market to the Japanese and Koreans. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna pretty much own the segment now, with the Kia Sedona and Nissan Quest cleaning up most of the scraps. So, it's brave … [Read more...] about Auto Reviews – 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Real Estate – Selling a Home a Realtor and Agent Dilemma
Dear Edith: We plan to sell our house in the spring. We interviewed three Realtors and told one we plan to sign with her at the end of the month. In the meantime, we notified our neighborhood and have shown the house to two parties. In our mail today, there was a handwritten note from a Realtor (someone in the same company) saying they have a well-qualified buyer interested … [Read more...] about Real Estate – Selling a Home a Realtor and Agent Dilemma
Review – 2017 BMW 330e iPerformance: Plug-In Hybrid Is a Techno Powerhouse
As BMW barrels into the frontier of autonomous driving, it may need to change its tagline from the "Ultimate Driving Machine" to the "Ultimate Driven Machine." Today's tester is a 330e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedan. Of course, it has all the overthought attention of BMW engineering. It is an accomplished hybrid-electric experience and much more accommodating than some of … [Read more...] about Review – 2017 BMW 330e iPerformance: Plug-In Hybrid Is a Techno Powerhouse
The Art of Design – Santa Fe Style
Yee-Haw! During the 1990s, there was a fascination with the architecture, interiors and designs inspired in the southwest. The decor came in waves by travel and a rediscovery of places such as Sedona, Taos and Santa Fe. The color palette was filled with earth tones born of the adobe architecture peppered by tones seen in the sky at dusk ranging from faint amethyst to cornflower … [Read more...] about The Art of Design – Santa Fe Style
Understanding and Addressing Pestering Woodpeckers
Q: For the past few years, woodpeckers have attacked my house. Sometimes they are hammering on the chimney. Other times they are drilling huge holes on the sides of the house and pulling out the insulation. I want to do something before they come back this year. Do you have any suggestions? A: They are protected by federal law, so there are limits to what you can do. If you … [Read more...] about Understanding and Addressing Pestering Woodpeckers