I hope everyone is out enjoying the wonderful weather here in AZ! The weather is great but the allergies are in full force!
Buckhead, GA
Busy week last week as Isabel and I finished our trip to Buckhead. What a wonderful time and very informative as there is a lot going on in the Design Industry. We enjoyed inspiring presentations by designers Cynthia Rowley, India Hicks, Nathan Turner, and Mary McDonald. Throw in a couple wonderful dinners, Sunday night at Barcelona with Chris Meeks of Hartman Windows & Doors and his lovely daughter Whitley, followed by dinner Monday night at Hal’s Steakhouse with The Design Network founder and CEO, Jason Harris hosted by Surya President, Satya Tiwari.
Mary McDonald at the Designer Conference in Buckhead
Cynthia Rowley at the Designer Conference
Designer India Hicks
Isabel and Interior Designer Audra Wrightson
Dinner at Barcelona with Chris & Whitley Meeks
MC with Satya Tiwari of Surya and Jason Harris of The Design Network at Hal's Steakhouse
Isabel and I returned just in time to kick off Spring Training with a day at the Scottsdale Charros Lodge at Scottsdale Stadium for our two companies – Candelaria Design & Earth and Images. What a wonderful afternoon! I encourage all of you to get out just one day and take in an afternoon at the ballpark – it is definitely one of the best and very unique experiences here in AZ.
The Candelaria Design crew out at the Ballpark - Scottsdale Charro Lodge
Our ad in the Scottsdale Charro Spring Training Programs!
Isabel and MC with the team from Earth and Images at the Charro Lodge
The rest of the week was all about work – including this weekend! We have some wonderful projects going from coast to coast. Isabel and I are heading to Albuquerque this coming week to move the design forward on a home there. Several projects are just starting and several are coming to the finish line and our clients moving in soon! So exciting!
Grand Hall nearing completion with this Candelaria Design ~ Earth and Images French Transitional home on the Paradise Valley Country Club built by Desert Star Construction.
Breakfast Room nearing completion with this Candelaria Design ~ Earth and Images French Transitional home on the Paradise Valley Country Club built by Desert Star Construction.
A new Candelaria Design ~ Nance Construction Farmhouse Transitional remodel in Arcadia
Group photo of our 2015 Candelaria Design Tour Italy travelers at the Villa Piazzano
Meanwhile – we have had two spots open up for our June Candelaria Design Tour Italy! I have several couples that have expressed interest so I know these spots will be gone soon. This will be our thirteenth tour and I have a wonderful group of travelers coming from across the country. Our pre-trip dinner is coming on April 1st so if you are thinking about going you definitely want to sign up and meet your fellow travelers at this pre-trip dinner.
Our departure date is June 1st and we will fly into Florence, Italy where we will spend two days and two nights in this center of the Renaissance with a fabulous welcome dinner at the Villa San Michele. From Florence we will all drive in our convoy of private sedans to the countryside of Umbria where we will reside in a lovely 19th century farmhouse compound.
Pino Teresi and Isabel at winery Casanova di Neri
From our base in Umbria we will visit Cortona, Assisi, Siena, San Gimignano, and the wine country of Tuscany with our private guide, Pino. We will dedicate a day towards cooking and relaxing at the farmhouse compound when our private chef, Elizabeth Wholey, will guide us through authentic recipes from Umbria.
After a week in the country, we will then convoy to the luxurious Villa d’Este on Lake Como. From the rustic elegance of the country to the over the top ambiance of Lake Como you will experience the beautiful diversity of Italy.
What’s special about our trip is the fact that you really do not have to do anything but show up and start enjoying. Our trip runs $7500 for a single and $14k for a couple. This includes coach air-fare (upgrades are available), hotels, houses, your rental car, hotel transfers, several meals during the trip, cooking class, and wine tour. Add in the pre-trip dinner and post trip dinner and it is a total bargain.
One of the special outcomes of this trip for me and my travelers are the friendships that have been formed. There is something special that happens when cooking and dining and traveling that creates lasting memories and friendships. I have many repeat travelers and several coming on this June trip. Visit some of my past blogs and our website for more detail. Don’t wait though…..Let’s go to ITALY!
Mark and Isabel at the Villa d'Este ~ Lake Como
