Mobile Mini-House

Mobile Mini-House

Who says you need a large RV for a great road trip.  If you are watching your carbon foot print, take a look at the Mobile Mini-House designed by Stephanie Bellanger, Amaury Watine, François Gustin and David Dethoor.  Their design was a student project for the Superior Institute of Design of Valenciennes in France.
The shape and design was influenced by both the American RVs of the 50s and the Los Angeles Chemosphere house designed and built by architect John Lautner in 1960.
The Mobile Mini when fully open extends to a 252° semi-circle.

Chemosphere House, Los Angeles, CA

Mobile Mini-House photos fromgreenmuze.com and impactlab.com.
Chemosphere photos from coolbloom.net.

The Mobile Mini-House Unfolded

Easy Haul for a Mini

Bedroom

Lavatory

Living Room

Office View 1

Office View 2

Mini Fridge

Chemosphere Interior

Lilliputian Dream Houses

Storybook Bungalow

Children's playhouses can be as simple or elaborate as anything else.  But let's be honest.  If I'm going to dream, I'm going to dream big.  So the playhouses in this post are elaborate on the outside.  On the inside they are pretty simple.  This company, Lilliput Play Homes, has an extensive selection.  Besides the playhouse collections they also construct customized replicas of actual houses in playhouse size.  The list price on these babies is around $5,500 for a Storybook Bungalow.
I wonder if they would be able to customize a replica of Tara from "Gone With the Wind"?  That would be something.  It would also be something to see their collection assembled in one big beautiful outdoor showplace.  They could realistically display an entire lilliputian township.

Princess Cottage

Firehouse

Neighborhood Market

Custom Replica of a Victorian Brownstone

Hospital

Town Hall

Filling Station

Historic Homes of the King William District

King William Historic District, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio holds some of Texas' most beautiful treasures representing Victorian design in the historical King William District.  The King William area is comprised of a 25 block area near downtown.  The homes of this coveted neighborhood were built in the 1880s.

Carl Wilhelm August Groos House, 1880

The King William District became the first designated Historic Neighborhood in Texas in 1967.

Alexander Sartor, Jr. House, 1882

The area currently boasts an arts and entertainment area with shops and restaurants, perfect for pedestrians who wish to enjoy walking tours.

Steve's Homestead, 1876

Norton, Polk, Mathis House

Photos courtesy of basstbn's Virtual Tourist Home Page.  For tours and additional information visit  The King William Association.org and visitsanantonio.com.  For the complete historical background on the area visit SanAntonioConservation.org.
.

On Missing Elsa Klensch

I was thinking recently about Elsa Klensch as I was pondering over what to write next for the blog. I couldn't help thinking of Elsa. I loved her understated way of reporting. I watched her show religiously every Saturday morning at 10AM on CNN during the 80s.  My brother and I would fight over watching her show over his morning cartoons.  It was a very important half hour and I would use physical force if necessary to win the battle for the remote.  I couldn't miss Elsa.  Without her show I would never have understood the difference between an A-line or a bias cut.  I would not have begun my early appreciation for fashion, beauty and decorating.  Elsa introduced me to Yohji Yamamoto, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes, and Jean Paul Gaultier.  She really focused on her subjects and had an easy way of persuading them to dish on their collections and methods for designing. I don't know of any TV fashion journalist today that lives up to her style, integrity and onscreen charisma.  Her signature haircut always perfectly coiffed.

Elsa Klensch, Author and Former Host of CNN's Style

Elsa is now a novelist so my fix will have to include reading her last book, "Take Two".

Elsa's newest mystery thriller, "Take Two".

Here is a clip courtesy of the CynthiaRybakoff channel on YouTube featuring Cynthia Rybakoff who had the privilege of appearing on Style and being interviewed by Elsa Klensch.  Cynthia is a design enthusiast and jewelry designer.  Her jewelry has been showcased in the collections of Isaac Mizrahi, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.  You can also visit her blog at http://hallmarked.blogspot.com/?
Style With Elsa Klensch Clip


Video courtesy of beforeyouknowit01 channel on  YouTube.
Style with Elsa Klensch - Millenial Fashion 1


Video courtesy of beforeyouknowit01 channel on  YouTube.
Style with Elsa Klensch goes Back to the Future 4


More links on Elsa Klensch....http://www.elsaklensch.com/, http://www.greatertalent.com/ElsaKlensch,http://www.observer.com/node/44596.

FOR SALE: Southern Charmer in Houston's River Oaks

Front Facade

This River Oaks estate sits on more than one acre.  French Chateau style home with bayou access and manicured lawn and garden.  Exterior is limestone with hand carved ornamental details.  8200 square feet, marble stairway, five bedrooms, six full and two half baths.  Triple points goes for the his and her dressing rooms.  List $9,750,000.  Additional listing information available at http://www.johndaugherty.com/57456299/River-Oaks/3734-Willowick-Rd

Entry

Living Room

Dining Room

Breakfast Room

Kitchen

Garden Room

Library

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Her Dressing Room

His Dressing Room

Family Room

Second Bedroom

Home Gym

Fountain and Garden

Lance Armstrong's Ultimate Bachelor Pad

Front Facade

Lance Armstrong's home in Austin looks like it could just as easily be located on an Italian estate or in Napa Wine country.  The style of the home is old World with Mediterranean influences and Colonial details.
The outside landscaping reflects the Italian and French countrysides with its occasional cypress trees and thoughtfully arranged topiaries .  If I didn't know better, I would expect a vineyard to be just beyond the house.

King of the Castle

Living Room

The most attractive room featured IMHO is the rose and tan living room.  The furnishings look elegant and inviting. Plus, I'm a sucker for coffered ceilings.  Most rooms with a fireplace make it the central focal point of the room but in this case even with the fireplace at center it is not the most dominant feature.  The eyes are drawn up to the crimson painting just above the mantel.  There is plenty to please the eyes and keep them moving to take in every color and detail.  A visual feast indeed.

Terrace

Kitchen

Family Room

Media/Game/Yellow Jersey Room

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom comes in second with the shallow barrel vaulted ceiling and rose tinted accent lamps and sconce chandelier.  The ceiling really makes this bedroom a grand space.

Bedroom Vignette

Pool Cabana by day with an arbor of cypress trees in the background.

Pool Cabana at twilight framed by palms.

To read the full story see Architectural Digest.