The Eyes & Ears of
Homebuilding and Remodeling in DFW
Savvy Travels
Northwest Style—In Touch With Nature
By Beverly Smirnis
Architectural styles in Canada’s Vancouver, British Columbia range from what we think of as traditional Northwest architecture–large overhangs, expansive glass, and lots of wood accents–to contemporary interpretations of the traditional Northwest styling with some Asian influence and popular 1970s-shed style mixed in. During this winter’s Olympic games, Vancouver is also sure to grab much attention for its elegant forest of tall, slender, glassy condominium towers.
The common thread across all different expressions of architectural style in this gorgeous Pacific Northwest city is the influence of nature. Beautiful gardens and parks complement the magnificent ocean and mountain backdrop, and the materials used on the homes complement all of it. It’s hard not to be creatively inspired in Vancouver! After returning home, we had to laugh at the contrast of a suburban neighborhood park we drove by consisting of a blank field of weeds and a couple of uninviting park benches—The only possible use of this park is a dog restroom! Now where’s the creative inspiration for the homes surrounding that park? Read More
Old Word Details—Nowhere More Prevalent Than Europe Itself
By Beverly Smirnis
Before designing our personal home some years ago (which we sold a couple of years ago now), we took numerous photos of details we hoped to incorporate and reinterpret into our own home built in Fort Worth. After not having travelled to Europe in some time, it’s easy to forget all that a trip across the Atlantic has to offer in the way of design details. Read More
Explore the Incredible Homes of the Eastern Caribbean
By Beverly Smirnis
Derek Galon and Margaret Gajek are home and garden aficionados of a very unique breed. They have decades of art photography, art history and research expertise between them, sharing a love of fine architecture and landscaped gardens. They’ve also devoted much of their lives to traveling the world in search of the most unusual and spectacular creations made by mankind.
In their new book, Tropical Homes of the Eastern Caribbean, – one of very few books available on Caribbean architecture – they’ve uncovered some of the greatest architecture jewels — including the most spectacular homes in the Eastern Caribbean. Read More