Sketching - Keeping the Art in Architecture at Candelaria Design

Anyone who knows me knows I love to draw and sketch. I think I purposely made the conscious decision to not learn CAD so I would not lose my passion to draw.  I have been drawing buildings, houses and whole cities since I was a small child. My clients love when I draw - it brings the design process alive and makes it an instantaneous adventure that engages and entertains my clients.

I remember when I first started in architecture I was blessed to work for the late George W. Christensen, FAIA who was an amazing sketcher and taught me to sketch upside down! He often had another architect, Bruce Kimball come in and do his quick sketches for projects. The two were amazing and left a lasting impression on me. I loved how clients would be mesmerized by them drawing right in front of them and seeing the details of the project come alive.

I am really saddened how this art seems to be fading and I notice each year the graduates who come in are so agreed towards computer rendering and modeling and I doubt many no longer even own a pencil or sketch pad. I still wonder what an architect does in the field or at a cocktail party - pull out their CAD station???? I have designed and drawn whole bird's-eye  sketches on tablecloths at restaurants with clients, or details and ideas on plywood sheets while out in the field.

We put a real emphasis on hand drawing combined with CAD and 3D Computer modeling. The two together really make a difference. The CAD and 3D modeling, although absolutely amazing and don't get me wrong I love it, when you soften it with the human hand something happens - I think its like making bread from scratch - some love goes into it.  Sketching forces the designer to think and consciously feel every inch of a design. With CAD you are always cutting and pasting large swaths of area and the thought process is just different. We are fortunate at Candelaria Design to have several skilled artists/architects on our staff and we all love to use and express our craft!

I personally feel a house designed with PAD has a totally different feel than a house all done strictly with CAD! One is personal and has spirit - the other tends to be stiff and lack life. At least that's how I see it....and draw it!

Easter Brunch at Casa Candelaria - Leg of Lamb!

Happy Easter and Passover everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend - we sure did!

I don't know about you, but each year I debate - go out for Easter brunch or make Easter brunch? Going out is pretty easy, make a reservation, get dressed and ready, gather the troops and head to some swank resort hotel for brunch. Of course there is no prep time and no dishes. Unfortunately, we have had some real misses at brunch and then you get the tab and think geez we should have just cooked. Of course making brunch involves shopping, prepping, setting the table, cooking and of course cleaning!

Last year I took the girls to New York City for Easter so this year it only felt right to cook at home!

Cooking at home was definitely the right choice! My oldest daughter, Tiffany, was in town, and my daughter Bella was with us and we were joined by my Mom and Dad and Isabel's Mom. So a party of 6 - no sweat for me having cooked for as many as 80 in one setting!


Of course I am a Food Network junkie as I always have it on on Saturday's while I draw in the morning and I draw and enjoy the creations of Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Trisha Yearwood, and the rest....Well last Saturday while watching, a recipe by Giada caught my eye - an Italian Springtime Lamb! So this recipe is totally Giada's with my little twist on it!!! Add Bobby Flay's roasted brussel sprouts with another Candelaria Twist and we were set!


Meanwhile, Isabel joined in with her amazing Challah Bread French toast and jasmine rice, her Mom would bring a salad, and my Mom would make a gluten free cherry cheesecake! Our brunch was in gear! We all pitched in and enjoyed a lovely afternoon enjoying a fabulous dinner and then watching a slide show from out NYC Easter trip!

 So here is the Italian Springtime Lamb recipe:

I bought my lamb at AJ's where they deboned it and butterflied it so I could stuff it and roll it up. You start with warming two tablespoons of olive oil in a cast iron pan over medium heat. You add the garlic, rosemary fresh from my garden, crushed red pepper flakes and I like to use piñon nuts instead of the walnuts in Giada's recipe. Toast this in the pan until fragrant and starting to brown. Stir in the raisins and then add the chopped spinach and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and cook until wilted.

Preheat the oven to 350º. Spread the lamb out flat, fat side down in a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread evenly with the mustard, distribute the spinach mixture over the mustard. Starting from one side, roll up the lamb with the filling inside. Tie with the butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals. Season the outside with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt.












Wipe out the sauce pan and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Place the pan over high heat and allow it to get hot. Place the lamb in the pan and sear it on all sides. Here is where I like to pour in some red wine to give the lamb crust a little flavor and aroma. Sear it on all sides until golden brown and toss the pan in the oven and roast for an hour and fifteen minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 135º. When done, place on a cutting board and let it rest for at least fifteen minutes before slicing.

While the lamb is roasting, prepare the gremolata. In a small saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the gluten free bread crumbs, stirring regularly, until golden brown. Add the parsley, lemon zest, pepper flakes and salt. Toss and set aside to the let the flavors mingle.

Giada's recipe is on the Food Network website Gilda's Italian Springtime Lamb  along with a video. It is really easy and very tasty. Don't be intimidated - go for it. You will like my twists on the recipe! Add some Bloody Mary's with bacon and shrimp my Mom's cherry cheesecake, Alette's salad and that delish french toast with homemade lemon curd from our lemon trees and - yes we had another Casa Candelaria feast! I'm glad we stayed home!

Take me out to the Ball Park

Wow - what a start we have had to 2015 so far. First thanks for all the LIKES and SHARES on Facebook for the Mark Candelaria sings the National Anthem at the World Champion SF Giants Spring Training Game in front of 12,000 at Scottsdale Stadium this past Thursday afternoon! What a rush that was.

So many asked how I got that gig? I'm not really sure how it all started but I have always wanted to sing the National Anthem. First of all - needless to say, I LOVE our country and I am always so proud of those who have given to this country including my father, Donald, who is an US Army Veteran and along with my Mom whom is a first generation immigrant from East Prussia, Germany, whom my father met while serving in Germany and later married here in the US. My mother taught herself English and went on to get her US Citizenship. So the National Anthem means a lot to me and to sing it before my Mom and Dad and Isabel and her mother, and my Candelaria Design Staff and my fellow Scottsdale Charros meant a lot!

Ok back to how I came to sing on Thursday.... with all of my desire to sing this song, I saw an email calling for auditions to sing the National Anthem for the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. I signed up and was assigned my lucky number 44. I sang more in the Frank Sinatra style and did well but not well enough to make the cut. I remember getting the email a few weeks later saying I was not chosen, so it was back to architecture!

Well late last year, I received an email from Scottsdale Stadium asking if I would be interested in signing. They knew me from all of Scottsdale Charro work at the stadium, and apparently they were given my video so they could fill their Spring Training game schedule. Of course I couldn't resist! This would actually be better with the smaller venue and in the home of my Scottsdale Charros.

Yes, the adrenaline was flowing but it's a quick song and once I got started it was just me singing the song I had been singing since I was a little boy. No worries forgetting the words that's for sure. Thanks to all of you who came to hear me play and even those that went to the wrong stadium and game to hear me! There were a few of those too! It was a great day! Thanks to my director and producer of my show SKETCH - Architainment coming to The Design Network this spring for filming the event! Great job!

Meanwhile, we were honored to also be a part of upgrading the Charro Lodge sundeck with the amazing work and materials from Rob Myer and Dayna Bigelow of Telluride Natural Stone and the metals from Creative Metals, and the coordination and inspiration of my Project Manager, Mathew Grove! What a difference in look and feel and what a nice tie in to our front entry Charro Lodge facade that this same team did two years ago! Fantastic and thank you so much on behalf of all of the Scottsdale Charros!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. This year, Isabel and I are celebrating our 5th Valentine's with our first being at my El Chorro. This year we are keeping it pretty low key with me riding in the Parada del Sol this morning down Scottsdale Road, then we are off to our client's grand opening of Gigi's Playhouse in Scottsdale and then we have a nice dinner reservation at the spot of our first date, Zinc Bistro.

I am so fortunate to have found and fallen in love with my Valentine, my lovely Isabel. Life is funny and I have learned it is simply an adventure and despite your best attempts to plan and control its outcome, you really can't.  As soon as you accept the fact that you just have to have an endless endurance to push forward and have faith that good things lie ahead you just have to embrace the pot holes, hurdles, and detours life throws you and really relish and celebrate those good things when they do finally come your way. Trust me, I have had my share of the potholes.....but I have also had so many absolutely amazing experiences, met so many remarkable people, with my Isabel being the best surprise and gift in my life.

Isabel is my best friend, my lover, and truly my life partner. We have so much fun together including now designing several projects together. I know our clients are enjoying our talents and passion not only for design but each other and the energy we infuse in our projects together. We love to travel - Isabel drives and I navigate, we love to cook with and for each other, and we love just hanging out and reading, playing the piano and enjoying what little downtime we get - trust me - that downtime is really hard to find!


So, thank you Isabel for brining so much joy in my life. Every day is Valentine's Day with you!

Super Bowl in Arizona

Well the day has arrived! SuperBowl Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Although I am not going, I am having a few friends over to enjoy some Paella and the game! Isabel and our good friend, Gicela, are off to New York this afternoon to do a little shopping for her store, Earth and Images. So I will be bachelor-ing it for a few days!





I am hoping for a better Super Bowl this year than the one I had to withstand last year being a diehard Denver Bronco fan. Seattle and New England - really you couldn't ask for two better teams to come to Arizona - both wonderful cities with amazing entrepreneur spirits and two of the wealthiest cities in the country. So I am happy they are bringing the dollars here to Arizona. I wish the weather was a bit better so we can truly showcase our beautiful city. How about the fog this morning.....geez - Really???

Its been fun to just be in the city and feel the electricity. Yesterday was my father's 80th birthday and so Friday we made it to the Super Bowl Breakfast where they honored Peyton Manning and then off to the Phoenix Open to get poured upon, so we escaped to the Spa for some massages and of course a martini, and finally capped the day off with dinner with the family. But what was great was all the people coming and going and the celebrities we saw all over town. What fun.

So no Super Bowl red carpet parties, didn't make the NFL Experience, and no ESPN Zone.....just a wonderful day with Dad and today I'll kick back and enjoy the game on my big screen with some good vino and good friends. I am proud of our city - what a great opportunity for us all! Let's all be gracious ambassadors and make this the best Super Bowl ever so the NFL has no choice but to come back. I think with all this fog and rain you would think Seattle.....but last year was the Year of the Horse and look what happened! So I am going with New England 27 - 24 in OT. So who do you think is going to win today????

Congratulate my two new Associates at Candelaria Design

Well in our last blog we looked back at the year that was 2014. Now its time to start looking forward and what better way than to announce the promotion of two long time members of my Candelaria Design Team and Family.

We are starting our 16th year at Candelaria Design and my 33rd year in the business. My goal is to keep Candelaria Design going long after I'm gone and keep the spirit of our homes and design moving ahead with the next generation. I've been blessed with some amazing people who have worked with me over the years but two in particular have earned and deserve their new titles.

And so I am most proud to announce the promotion of Vivian Ayala and Evelyn Jung to the title of Associate. Vivian will head the Design and Production  functions of the firm and Evelyn will head the Business Operations and Development.





Vivian will still run her projects - which if any of you had Vivian as your PM you know why she is getting the promotion! She is amazing and a very dedicated, hard working, just overall wonderful person and soul on this earth. She inspires me every day and is just the best person to be a teammate with. Vivian joined me shortly after I started the firm in 2000 and has been with me over 15 years. She is from Puerto Rico and completed her studies at ASU. I remember she could barely speak English when I hired her but now - wow - she's hard to keep up with. We completed some amazing projects and have some outstanding projects now underway including a new project getting started in Montauk, Long Island, New York!

Evelyn has just completed nine years with me. We found her as a temp for our front desk. After two days in the office it was clear we couldn't let her go! Starting as my assistant, Evelyn quickly absorbed all of the intricacies of our little operation and has now run the show for several years including getting us through the Great Recession - ahhhh that was a fun ride. But here we are now in 2015 and she has us on fire. Evelyn is due to have her second child in March and will take a short leave to attend to her growing family but will return this summer and will transition more into a broader scope of running the business with the focus on overall business operations and business development. As you can tell from the 2014 That's a Wrap Blog, she has full plate keeping up with me! From our Tour Italy to our Television show, Sketch, she will be busy.




The next step for both is full on Principals of the firm with ownership of the company. I plan to make this announcement this time next year! So stay tuned!!! So please congratulate them with an email, Facebook Post or comment here on our blog! They truly deserve the honor. 

2014 That's a Wrap and here we go ~ 2015!

Wow, what a year 2014 was. I enjoyed it thoroughly and all it brought our way. Probably the biggest change was relocating our offices from Central Phoenix to right in the heart of Scottsdale. The overall reaction from our clients has been very favorable and we all love our new home. Much was accomplished and I am so optimistic of what lies ahead in 2015.

First and foremost, I thank my clients, staff, friends, vendors, builders, and of course my family for the continued support and encouragement. We have all made it through some tough times over the last eight years and I feel like we are all now back on track and moving forward. I'm so encouraged by the projects underway and just the underlying optimism and drive I'm seeing out there is so uplifting. What an exciting month we have ahead here in Phoenix/Scottsdale with the Barrett Jackson Car Show and the Pro Bowl, Super Bowl and Phoenix Open! I love it! Let's all showcase our beautiful city and state in a positive and friendly manner.

It all comes down to our attitude, our drive, and our optimism not just with our work but with our lives. And the power of our collective optimism makes an even greater difference. So let's GO!

So here is a look back to 2014 - what a year for Candelaria Design. I think you will see that Candelaria Design is about much more than just drawing a set of plans. We are about infusing a lot of life and living into our plans and designs. Enjoy and follow us in 2015 on Candelaria Design on Facebook  and Candelaria Design Lifestyle on Flipboard

January 2014 

We started the year with some cooking of course. A little paella is always a good start to the year at Casa Candelaria with friends from Arizona and Spain!

We wrapped up the design on several homes to start the year including a lovely Ranch Hacienda home now starting drywall in Verrado being build by Steg Custom Homes and a Ranch Contemporary underway in Paradise Valley by Schultz Development. 

Project Manager, Meredith Thomson, and I traveled to the Bay Area to start design on a home in Atherton and toured the process on our Candelaria Design home under construction in Cupertino. CA. 

Probably the most exciting event was the selection of our new Candelaria Design Home in Scottsdale and the start of our design and construction!

We then saw the completion of this beautiful Candelaria Design Formal Mediterranean Estate at Silverleaf  built by Schultz Development! The home is now featured in the Spring / Summer 2015 Issue of Tuscan Style! 

We finished the month off with a trip to Vegas with clients to shop for finishes at the Surfaces Show. 

February 2014

We finished production on our first Season of Architainment on The Design Network. Get ready for Season 2 now with our new show SKETCH on The Design Network.

We started work on the Mountain Shadows project which is so exciting! Get ready for construction starting this January 2015!

Of course we always worked some cooking in! How about this herb crusted pork roast with roasted apples!

We always work in our commitment to community with our work on the design for the new Colton Bat Cave and of course our ten year commitment now to St. Mary's Food Bank!

A number of new projects continued forward including this Candelaria Design ~ Earth and images Desert Mountain remodel by Landmark West Construction. 

And this beautiful Transitional Style hillside home underway on Mummy Mountain being built by GM Hunt Construction!

Mathew Grove joined Candelaria Design in February of 2014 as an intern and affiliated with the firm full time as Job Captain following his graduation from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the College of Architecture Planning and Landscape Architecture. 

 March 2014

March was filled with a lot of action! From the completion of this Candelaria Design Ranch Hacienda in the Upper Canyon of Silverleaf with interiors by Caroline DeCesare and construction by Ron Barney. 

 

to the completion of this beautiful Santa Barbara Transitional Revival in Paradise Valley by Schultz Development and Berghoff Design Group. 

Design wrapped up on a Candelaria Design Spec Home in Verrado being built by Steg Custom Homes.

We enjoyed a day oaf Spring Training Baseball at the Charro Lodge at Scottsdale Stadium with the Candelaria Design staff  and I auditioned for the singing of the National Anthem for the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. I didn't make the cut for the Diamondbacks but I will be singing the National Anthem on March 5th, 2015 at 1pm this spring at Scottsdale Stadium!!!

Our Project Manager, Damon Wake, designed and built this fabulous Micro Dwell at the Schemer Art Center in Arcadia. 

We broke ground on our 5th Candelaria Design home in Arcadia Silverleaf with interiors by Earth and Images and construction by Tom laBlonde and we completed our 3rd and 4th homes both built by Fratantoni Luxury Estates.

We completed this amazing backyard and Pool Cabana featuring and underground poker room and wine vault as featured on our show Architainment on The Design Network!

We completed work on a beautiful Candelaria Design renovation in LaJolla, California. 

Traveled to Kansas City, MO to look at some exciting new Candelaria Design possibilities. 

And we said farewell to the amazing Jeff Kramer with a goodbye happy hour at El Charro! We may have said goodbye on a day to day basis but its great to have Jeff available as an on-going consultant to our firm. Jeff and his family will always be a part of our Candelaria Design Family.

April 2014

We started this month with a lovely open house hosted by our clients at this spectacular Candelaria Design ~ Schultz Development ~ Berghoff Design Group ~ Treken Interiors estate in Silverleaf!

Work started on the remodel and addition to this classic Candelaria Design ~ MRA Custom Homes  estate in Paradise Valley with interiors by Earth and Images.

 Isabel and I traveled with our lovely Desert Mountain clients, Phil and Renee Giltner, to Highpoint, North Carolina to do a little shopping in the furniture capital of the country, enjoy a little Southern barbecue and some sights from the Vanderbilt Estate in Ashville, North Carolina.

I was also able to do a little filming with The Design Network on the Hot List!

Of course there is always work to do…. started design on a beautiful Paradise Valley Transitional Estate with MRA Homes. 

Finished design and broke ground on a beautiful Candelaria Design ~ DC Homes Rural Mediterranean estate in Desert Mountain! 

 

Worked in some more travel with a Spring Break trip with all three of my girls to NYC!

And finished the month starting conceptual sketches for the new Village at Mountain Shadows for Cullum Homes. 

 May 2014

May was a great month and it started with the completion of a lovely Candelaria Design ~ Schultz Development Santa Barbara Style renovation in Paradise Valley. 

Probably one of the most satisfying events of 2015 for me was moving my parents from Denver to Arizona! It is so nice having them here and sharing time and experiences with them! 

And yes - we love the outdoors including some fishing on the North Platte River with clients and buddies  - I love it all. 

We broke ground on some more projects in May including this new home in Paradise Valley with Schultz Development with interiors by Caroline DeCesare and landscape by Berghoff Design Group. 

Design continued on this French Transitional Candelaria Design ~ Earth and Images home coming on the Paradise Valley Country Club being built by Desert Star Construction.

Then we celebrated a beautiful wedding of our client at her newly decorated Candelaria Design ~ MRA Custom Homes estate in Paradise Valley with interiors by Isabel of Earth and Images. 

Then I worked in a trip to one of my favorite places, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to start work on a new home on Hayden Lake and stop by to visit our client on another Hayden Lake home we completed in 2013!

We completed the renovation of this little Candelaria Design  ~ Andra Miller Design ranch charmer in Clearwater Estates, Paradise Valley only to have a buyer walk off the street and buy the house shortly after the homeowner moved in……Not bad!

 

Finally, we finished the month with a little more cooking both at Marcellino's where I played guest chef with the amazing Marcellino and then he was gracious enough to come cook at my client's home where we christened her new Candelaria Design kitchen at her home in Arcadia. My guest chef appearance raised over $5000 for St. Mary's Food Bank!!! Thanks to all of my clients and friends who supported us. What a great evening that was. 

And we are were proud to bring Hector Medina on board as a Project Manager. Hector graduated with honors in 1996 from ITESM (Mexico), started his own firm as an Architect/Builder. He lived in Italy in 1997 and 1998, where he learned not only the language, but the culture.Mark and hector worked together on a number of projects in the past so it was great to bring Hector on board and part of the Candelaria Design family. 

June 2014

Summer arrived and the projects just kept moving starting with framing underway on our Candelaria Design ~ Ownby Design `Schultz Development Ranch Contemporary in Paradise Valley.

We broke bread for the fist time with our Candelaria Design Tour Italy 2014 Travelers at Marcellino's.

Design continued on this Candelaria Design Formal Mediterranean residence on Roadrunner Rd in Paradise Valley while drywall way underway on the Candelaria Design Spec home right next door completing five Candelaria Design Homes in a row on Roadrunner!

And preliminary sketches were underway on a new Rural Mediterranean in Mirabel in North Scottsdale and this Mountain Lodge in Flagstaff. 

Isabel and I made a quick trip to Dallas, TX to market and some brainstorming time with my good friends at Bentwood Kitchens.

 Lee Tribbie joined Candelaria Design in June of 2014. Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in architecture from Fairmont State University. He then decided to move to Arizona to study at Arizona State University to receive his Masters of Architecture. During his time as a student, Lee has had the opportunity to study abroad in many cities including Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, New York and Montreal. 

July 2014

$th of July is one of my favorite holidays and definitely a time my family and it seems our clients take a nice summer break to escape the AZ summer 100º + temps. We made our way back up to Coeur d'Alene to spend a little time with clients and family.

Work continued on several Candelaria Design projects across the Valley including Litchfield Park, Paradise Valley, and Desert Mountain.

And the ground was broken on the Village at Mountain Shadows by Cullum Homes with interiors by Anita Lange of IMI Design Studio. 

Scott Morgan joined Candelaria Design in July of 2014 as a Job Captain. He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Architecture from Arizona State University, and will graduate in the Spring of 2016. 

August 2014

August had some more travel with another trip to Coeur d'Alene at the beginning of the month to start another project there with my associate, Vivian Ayala and her family, then off to Santa Fe, NM to enjoy the summer temps and time with Isabel's family,  and then to NYC with clients! So much fun!!!

And I said goodbye one last time to my old office of 15 years at 12th Street and said hello to our new office in Scottsdale. And so the move in began …..

 Even with the traveling and moving we kept the projects going including a groundbreaking on our fourth Candelaria Design home in Fulton Ranch - this one with Fratantoni Luxury Estates right across the street from another Candelaria Design Home with Argue Custom Homes.

September 2014

September was probably the busiest month with us finalizing the moves of both our office and home and then Isabel and my American Wedding to our departure on the 12th Candelaria Design Tour Italy. Still - we made some amazing progress on a number of wonderful projects. 

 

Final touches on this Candelaria Design ~ Manship Custom Homes residence in Desert Mountain with Interiors by Ashley P Interiors. 

 

Our first Candelaria Design Happy Hour in our new home compliments of our client John Deakin!

 French Country residence in Arcadia.

 

New Rural Mediterranean Residence in Horseshoe Canyon ~ Silverleaf. 

A new spec residence for Sage Luxury Homes in Arcadia getting ready to break ground in January 2015. 

 And of course the wedding and Tour Italy! Thanks to all who attended our wedding and donated to the American Heart Association!!!

October 2014

We finished the second half of our Candelaria Design Tour Italy with the grand finale at Villa de Este at Lake Como. What a great trip and fun group!

One of our Candelaria Design ~ Nance Construction  homes made the cover of Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine and was featured on the Dream Homes Tour. 

And our Candelaria Design ~ Camelback Interiors  ~ RJ Gurley Construction Dream Room at the Phoenix Dream Center won AZ Foothills Magazine Favorite Room Award! We are looking forward to participating in 2015! Great job by Project Manager, Peter Ekama, and the entire team and vendors who contributed. 

 Finally, we started preliminary design on a new home at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colorado.

November 2014

 We finalized plans on a new Candelaria Design home in Arcadia Silverleaf...

And saw framing progress on this Candelaria Design ~ Vallone Design home being built by Schultz Development in Paradise Valley. 

Work was completing on this Candelaria Design Guest House addition to an Arcadia property by Vista General. 

And conceptual design was completed on this Candelaria Design ~ Earth and Images Ranch Transitional in the Boulders by Landmark West Construction. 

December 2014

Finally December…. We started with our Post Italy Trip Brunch so graciously hosted by our clients and Italy travelers, Phil and Renee Giltner at their newly completed Candelaria Design ~ Earth and Images Interiors Desert Mountain Home built by Ken Madden of Landmark West Construction. 

And then some cooking the very next day to christen another Candelaria Design ~ Manship Builders ~ Ashley P Interiors  home - this time in Desert Mountain. 

Squeeze in a quick framing walk through in this Candelaria Design ~ Vallone Design home is Montecito, CA. 

Design work continued on this new Candelaria Design ~ Schultz Development Paradise Hillside Contemporary Home in Paradise Valley.

along with construction on this Candelaria Design ~ Caroline DeCesare Interiors ~ Berghoff Design home being built by Schultz Development that we broke ground on in May 2014 (see above!!!)

And finally we are getting ready to go vertical on this Desert Mountain Candelaria Design ~ DC Homes  residence we broke ground on in April 2014 (see above!)

Well that's it! What a year!!! As you can see we aren't sitting around and waiting for things to happen. We have clients that keep us on the move with projects now in California, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, and a new one getting ready to get started on Long Island, New York! Tomorrow we start our first week of the year! We wish you all a great 2015 and we hope we can be a part of it. Let's saddle up and as the Scottsdale Charros say - Let's Ride! 

Merry Christmas 2014 from Candelaria Design

Merry Christmas everyone! I am blessed to have my whole family here this year. My daughter Tiffany is here from Denver, my brother and his family are here from Durango, and of course my Mom and Dad now live here so we are having a great time.

My Candelaria Design Team is definitely enjoying the Holiday. From Telluride to California our staff is out and about enjoying the festivities. Our offices will be closed from Christmas Eve through January 4th and we will reopen on January 5th.

Meanwhile…..should you need one more gift to cap off the year and do so in style we invite you to join us for our 2015 Candelaria Design Tour Italy! We have an amazing trip planned for next year and now is the time to book this on your calendar. We already have a fun core of travelers going so you don't want to wait as I take a limited number and the trip fills fast after the first of the year.  If you have even had the thought of going - this is the year. Enjoy this video of this year's trip Candelaria Design 2014 Tour Italy Video and then contact us and get this once in a lifetime experience on you calendar. We offer great terms and you have plenty of time to make this all happen.

This year we will start the trip on September 16th where we will fly to Florence where we will spend three days and two wonderful evenings in this Renaissance masterpiece. We will stay at the Hotel Brunellschi which is fabulous and we will dine on the street in front of the Duomo our first night and then in the hills above Florence at the Villa San Michele on our second night. From Florence we will drive (yes you will have your own car) to our farmhouse compound in Umbria. Our farmhouse compound consists of three homes with a beautiful negative edge pool overlooking the hills of Tuscany.

Our charming homes in Umbria will act as our base for a week of enjoyment in the country. We will explore the wine country of Tuscany with our personal wine guide, Pino, and we will have private cooking class with our personal chef, Elizabeth Wholey, right in our homes.  We will tour  Assisi, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and a number other Tuscan and Umbrian villages and hill towns.

With our week done in the countryside, we will take our convoy southward past Rome and down to the Amalfi Coast where we will stay in Positano, Italy. For three days and three nights we will enjoy the cuisine and beauty of the coast and work in a little boat trip to explore Capri! We will return to Phoenix on September 30th.

All of this can be yours for $8000 per person or $14,000 per couple  including coach airfare, hotel accommodations, your rental car, several meals, cooking class, wine tour, pre-trip party, post-trip party, book and video of the trip. Trust me you will be amazed at how much you get and what is nice not one dollar is wasted. This is our 12th trip and our hotels, vendors, and restaurants work with us to give us fantastic value and impeccable, personal service. There really is no better way to experience Italy and maximize all 14 days than this trip. You will need a vacation from your vacation after this adventure.

Join us now!!!! See trip details on our Lifestyle Tab of our Candelaria Design Website Candelaria Design

Merry Christmas ~ Ciao!

Gigi's Playhouse Coming to Scottsdale in 2015

One of the best aspects of my life and career are the wonderful people I get to meet and work for. The one consistent theme with nearly all of my clients is their willingness to give back. Currently, we are working on a number of philanthropic projects from the new Colton Bat Cave which I will feature early next year, to the Charro Lodge and now the Corral at Scottsdale Stadium, to the Phoenix Dream Room - which we were awarded The Best Overall Room this year, to St. Mary's Food Bank, and now we are involved with a new, wonderful, project right here in Scottsdale, Gigi's Playhouse!

My clients' Matt and Jennifer Gage introduced us to the project this summer. "About a year ago, I heard about a mom from Chicago that had a daughter with Down syndrome," Jennifer goes on to say.  "And when she realized the limited opportunities for her, she set out to create GiGI’s Playhouse – a Down syndrome Achievement Center."  That was 11 years ago. Today there are 30 playhouses across the country with one in Mexico!  This mom was Nancy Gianni and she has gone on to break through barriers that have existed from the beginning of time and is seeking to change the way the world sees Down syndrome, One child.  One diagnosis.  One community at a time.  

Jennifer and Matt jumped on board and are now spearheading a Gigi's Playhouse right here in Scottsdale and we are so proud to have Candelaria Design involved in this unique privilege to be among this movement.  Jennifer is orchestrating and working with an amazing group of valley volunteers and philanthropists who are making this dream a reality for the families of Phoenix! 

"Because our programs are 100% free for our participants, we are always actively fundraising and seeking support from our community businesses," Jennifer says.  "We found a great location for the first GiGi’s Playhouse for the Phoenix Metropolitan area on 92nd Street and Shea in Scottsdale.  When I reached out to my friend and architect Mark Candelaria to help design the space – not only did he make a monetary donation, without batting an eye he created the perfect space for our kids.  It is partnerships like this that will help the Playhouse to flourish and serve."

Gigi's Playhouse is set to open in early January.  It is an absolute pleasure to help out and be a part of this dream. Candelaria Design Project Manager, Braden Santacrangelo, is spearheading the architecture design of the space for Jennifer and permits have been received and work is underway! I encourage everyone to make even a small donation during this Holiday season and help this project over the goal line. They can always use volunteers at the playhouse and this makes a good team building company project.  If you are interested in making a donation or serving as a volunteer at the playhouse, please visit our webpage at Gigi's Playhouse or call Jennifer Gage at 602.291.9476   

Life of an Architect - It's not Hollywood!

I love how architects are always portrayed in Hollywood. Suave, debonaire, and nearly always affluent.  There is a fair list, from the Fountainhead with Gary Cooper, to Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio, to Indecent Proposal with Woody Harrelson. Movies with Architects As with nearly all things in Hollywood, the real life of an architect I think (I know)  is quite different - with the exception we really are at the drawing table - if not way more than portrayed on film.


We do have lives and wives and children and interesting clients, collaborators, builders, and stories…..oh the stories. Of course those are confidential. Well - at least most of them :-). My life has been filled with such interesting people who have done amazing things with their lives. And the honor it is to design the personal spaces for these people is truly hard to fathom. Frankly, the fact is I truly get to know people so well and how they sleep, eat, entertain, make love….seriously it gets personal. To capture all of this into a set of plans takes time - a lot of time. I love when I get a cold call for an inquiry and the first question is. "How fast can I get a set of plans"….. always followed immediately after by, "and how much will the plans cost." I usually want to say, "Pull up to the next window and oh would you like us to supersize the fries?" Here's a hint - we do not draw a set of plans. Our job is to capture a way of living and enhance and accentuate how a person or family lives with the home we design with them! To do this take time!!! Lot's of time.

Hence the life of an architect is filled with work. A lot of time on the board. I live on my board. And as any artist knows the time you spend on your art takes away from your time from life and an artist needs life to create art…… such a dilemma and all of you architects and artists and craftsmen out there know exactly what I am talking about. Now I'm sure its the same for a lot of other jobs or careers. And frankly, I may be sitting at my desk in my air conditioned office with a cup of coffee if early in the morning and a nice cab if in the evening drawing thousands of roof tiles…..while someone is going to have to someday lay all of these tiles on a 110º roof - so my job is not that tough. But we are not out racing cars and solving mysteries as we are depicted in Hollywood …..we are working.

Then there are the people who have to live and work with us….. that is tough and I commend anyone who is or has been married to an architect. It is not easy. I remember my late mentor, George Christensen, tell me, "Architecture is a demanding mistress!" How right he was. He never married - he was married to his architecture and his life as an architect. If we are not on the boards we are at meetings or client functions. Even when we aren't on the board we are thinking about our projects and clients - it never stops. We are technically always on the clock. I love my wife and I love my work. Luckily, my Isabel let's me work and understands what I do. That doesn't mean we still don't have some wonderful time together - we do everything we can to get some good alone time! Same with my girls - softball and basketball practice, Art and Soul acting, school, sleepovers, etc.

In other words, at least this architect lives a pretty average American life. I drive a Prius, live in a 2500 sf patio home, love to fish and camp and ride horses with my Scottsdale Charro brothers on the one hand and put on the tux and go to the Heart Ball on the other - sometimes all in the same day. I can be designing a 20,000 sf home in the morning, running the girls to a game after school, grab dinner and a glass of wine with Isabel in the evening and then finish up the night working on a small closet addition. Every day and every client and project is different. It's not Hollywood  but I LOVE IT. 

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving Week!

Happy Sunday to you all! Getting ready for one of my favorite holidays of the year - Thanksgiving! See my Thanksgiving Blog from last year for my thoughts on this holiday. I love the food, the family, and giving thanks. We all have so much to be thankful for - that is for sure.

In terms of thanks, I first have to start with my family. My beautiful wife Isabel who is so supportive of us and me and our family. She truly is my angel on earth. We have so much fun together and she she is most definitely my best friend. I'm thankful for my three lovely daughters. They are all so different and so unique and it is so crazy to see them grow up and become their own person. Then let's add my parents, Don and Karin, and Isabel's mom, Alette. How wonderful to have my mom and dad relocate from Denver to just a few blocks from Isabel's mom, Alette, down in Maricopa! Having them all together and enjoying family meals and Bronco games together is an absolute gift and one that is very special to me. My father turns 80 in January and so we are excited to celebrate in style.

Then there is my staff at Candelaria Design. Wow you guys are amazing and such a talented crew to work with. You all share my passion for design combined with hard work and pleasing our clients. We laugh, we collaborate, we solve problems, and we create together. I love working with you all.

Then there are our clients and projects. I am so thankful for you of course - without you and your projects I'm not sure what I would be doing or who I would be. We are blessed to have some absolutely amazing clients who have achieved so much in their lives. You inspire and teach me and hopefully we give to you beauty and a home that is a reflection of you, your dreams, and a home that enhances your life.

Let's add all of our builders, vendors, and craftsmen/artisans we are so blessed to collaborate with! It's so funny that my true best friends are all current or former builders and clients. It's so nice to be able to work with your best friends!

The list goes on and on and when you really start to think of all the things you are thankful for, it’s a pretty long list. We all get caught up with our problems and problems are always there and a part of life. Seriously, take the time this week, and invite your family to join you, in writing out a list of all the things you are thankful for and then after Thanksgiving dinner read your lists. You will find that all of our lives are a lot richer and fuller than we sometimes give them credit for.

So, enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone! Between the food and football take the time to connect with your family and friends and enjoy the simple things in life. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Candelaria Design!

And for some tips and techniques for getting your home in tip top shape for friends, family and feasting, check out this article from Porch.com: Readying Your Home For Thanksgiving

Trends in Housing - driven by Demographics & Lifestyle

With the Holidays right around the corner its time to get ready for 2015! The Arizona market is buzzing along with the energy states of Texas, the Dakotas, Louisiana and Colorado - oh and of course the Federal Government state of District of Columbia - that's where the jobs are!

Housing is changing due to several factors….affordability, demographics and lifestyle changes by those demographics. What I'm seeing is two distinct ends of the demographics reacting in a similar way but for different reasons. The older baby boomers - this in their 50's and beyond are downsizing and simplifying. They were the megaconsumers during the 80's, 90's and 2000's and rode the ups and downs of the booms and busts of that time frame. Then there are the children of the baby boomers, the Millenniums who virtually watched all of this and have reacted in the total opposite way by not buying and not costuming.

By the time the Babyboomers hit their mid twenties and thirties they had first and some second homes, cars, cars and more cars and of course furniture and things to fill the plethora of mini storage places we all have our "stuff" in. The Millenniums on the other hand are not buying, they are renting, some are refusing to even buy a car and instead are choosing to live in urban areas where they can walk or bike to everything, and then they are buying furniture from second hand stores and repurposing all the "stuff" that is being given away by the Downsizers!









Hence, the blog of October 28th by Josh Miller on the National Association of Home Builders noted that homeownership rate hit a 20 year low! After hitting a peak in 2004 and 2005 it has steadily declined to now in 2014 we are where we were in 1994. We see a lot of Baby Boomers buying older homes and either tearing them down and building smaller but nicer or simply remodeling. Many are renting due to tight credit and never bouncing back from the lost equity of the Great Recession. Millenniums have not been able to get the decent jobs to buy houses so many on both ends of the demographic spectrum are renting! Rental vacancy rates are at 7.4% and not this low since 1995…..see the parallel data from the homeownership bottom of 1994. Hence, our multifamily work has been booming. We are doing a ton of repurposing of old properties - all over the country! Rents are rising and perhaps that combined with easing credit may be the tipping point for the millenniums - add to the fact they will be hitting their thirties soon and perhaps finally getting decent jobs and settling down???? I don't know - I think this generation is different we will see.

So what is my conclusion….? I see the Babyboomers continue their downsizing and slow down in purchasing big ticket items, not so many second homes, but what they do buy and build will have all the bells and whistles of their mega mansions from the last decade… we are definitely seeing that. I see Babyboomers urbanizing and living in areas where shopping, dining and if they are still working - it is all right there! Same with the Milleniums - they want to be where the action is. They don't need or want a big footprint and want their space techno friendly combined with reclaimed and repurposed materials and items.

What do you get when you mix both ends of the demographic spectrum together - Transitional Style. The aging Babyboomers want to ditch the dark and heavy Tuscan / Old World for the hipper contemporary feel and style without going too far or too trendy or too cold and sterile. The Milleniums want minimalistic, airy, non-consumptional space and furnishings with reclaimed and repurposed elements infused in high tech and contemporary spaces. Both ends of the spectrum are arriving in the same part of town and searching for pretty close to the same look. The Babyboomers want more bells and whistles in a smaller package as I mentioned before…..wine cellars, morning bars, tricked out offices and media rooms; but they now want to be closer to the action.

It will be interesting to see where we go from here - things are definitely changing that is for sure. I see the inner city areas of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and even Paradise Valley continuing their urbanization. Paradise Valley would be really wise to look to the future and develop its core with denser housing for all those 1-5 acres residents hitting their 60's who don't want to leave their community but also don't want to maintain a 1 - 5 acre site and home….I'm afraid, PV may lose these people and the demand for 1-5 acre parcels may decline over the years…..But talk about sitting on a gold mine if they can have the foresight to develop some beautiful higher density housing with open space amenities to keep the balance and capitalize on the beauty of and proximity to everything that Paradise Valley has……ok that's just my view….What do you think???

Dream Room 2014 - We are ALL Winners

Just a quick thank you for all the readers of Arizona Foothills Magazine who selected our Serenity Harbor Dream Room as the Best Overall for the 2014 Dream Room project for the Phoenix Dream Center Hope Wing! We were so fortunate to be approached by Lynda Martin of Camelback Interior Design's to be a part of this project along with John Gurley of RJ Gurley Construction - you and your teams were a joy to work with and always had the can do attitude. What a fun and creative team we were and it looks like we more than achieved our goal! Thank you and congratulations to my Project Manager, Peter Ekema, who did a fantastic job and thanks also to all of the vendors and subs who made this all happen. You are all listed in our June 2014 blog when we first completed the project. June 2014 CandelariaDesignLifestyle Blog You can all be commended for being part of such an amazing cause and project that truly has an incredible impact on these women's' lives.

The stories we heard at this morning's presentation just make you shake your head that these kinds of crimes on humanity take place right here in our community. As a father of three daughters it is just frightening how vulnerable our young ladies are to these absolute scums of the earth who prey on these girls in public places that would shock you. This project makes a difference. The Dream Center gives these victims a place of safety, a place filled with love, discipline, hope and a chance to get their lives and spirits back.

It is through the vision, strength, perseverance, and inspiration of Mark and Chrissy Donnely that The Dream Center is steadily growing into a place of goodness and a landmark center that already is the model for the country. It is an absolute honor to know and work with these two! I am so proud to be a part of this project and I encourage all of you to get behind the 2015 project!

Candelaria's Birthday Osso Bucco!

Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend and Sunday! We are loving this weather now in Arizona! It is spectacular and time to get out and get the garden going. Thank you also for all the wonderful birthday wishes last week! We have started a fun tradition now at the Candelarias whereby if its your birthday you are doing the cooking! So…..hmmmm, what to make???

Well one of my favorite dishes is Osso Bucco. Osso Bucco is a dish featuring a cross-cut veal shank braised with vegetables, white wine and broth.  It is then garnished with a gremolata which is a combo of garlic, lemon zest and parsley and served over risotto all milanese. The word Osso Bucco means Osso (bone) with a Bucco (hole) referring to the bone hole that is filled with marrow. I absolutely love this dish and accompanied by a big Brunello and I am in heaven.

So it sounds like this would be another complicated dish but quite the contrary - this is an easy dish that just needs time to cook! For my birthday,  I made 12 occo bucco shanks so I needed three pans. I am going to describe how to make osso bucco for 4 and I highly recommend it for a nice small dinner party at your home. You will blow your guests away. Here we go!

Place 1/4 cup of olive oil or butter or combo in  a Dutch Oven. I like the mixture. While the oil is heating up, season the veal thanks with 1-1/2 teaspoon of salt and 3/4 teaspoons of pepper and dredge in the floor to coat. I used gluten free flour so everyone could enjoy. Remove any excess flour by giving the shanks a gentle shake. Shake the shank! When the oil is almost smoking, add the shanks and cook until well browned on all sides - I make sure the edges are browned too. Transfer the shanks to a plate and cover with foil.

Now add the pancetta, celery, carrots and onions to the pan an cook using a wood spoon to scape the meat bits free. Cook the veggies, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are soft yet still firm and lightly browned about 4-5 minutes.  Add the garlic, bay leaves, rosemary and remaining salt and remaining pepper and cook for about a minute. Add the wine - you can add red or white - I like red. Stir to combine with the veggie mixture. Now add the crushed or diced tomatoes and beef stock and then return the shanks into the Dutch Oven and get them bathed in the goodness. Bring the mixture to a boil and then cover and reduce the heat to medium low and cook, covered, for 3 hours or when the shanks are soft and tender and starting to fall away from the bone.

When ready, I take a nice bowl and spoon the risotto or polenta and then with a spatula scoop the Osso Bucco shank and gently place it on the bed of risotto. Then scoop the veggies and gravy/juice and spoon this over the top oaf the Osso Bucco and risotto nd then garnish with the gremolata and fresh grated parmesan cheese. Make sure you open that Brunello in the morning so it has all day to breathe. Serve hot and enjoy!

Candelaria's Osso Bucco

4 - 1-1/2 inch thick veal shanks - about 10-12 ounces each

1/4 cup of olive oil/butter

3 teaspoons of salt

1-1/2 teaspoons of freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup of gluten free flour

1/3 cup finely chopped pancetta

1-1/2 cups of chopped onions

1 cup of chopped carrots

3/4 cup of chopped celery

1-1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 bay leaves

4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves

1-1/4 cups of red wine - use a good one!

1 cup of diced canned tomatoes

3 cups of beef broth

1/4 cup of chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Risotto or polenta - I like tartufo infused risotto with grated parmesan - recipe forthcoming.

1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan and fresh lemon zest sprinkled over the top!

Enjoy!

Enjoy Life - In the midst of this crazy world!

Being sort of out of the loop for two weeks while in Italy I am now slowly reconnecting with all the news out there. Frankly it is pretty damn scary. With ISIS and their reign of terror sweeping the lands we unwisely chose to vacate and the ebola virus sweeping West Africa and now popping up in Dallas, Spain and who knows where next? It reminds one of how fragile we all are and how truly dependent we are on one another. Hence my message today is simply make a point to just do something nice for someone each day. Go out of your way to do something or create something that spreads joy, happiness  and beauty. Small positive steps by a large herd makes a stampede. Just as small steps by the dark side does the same. If all of us just do a few things each day what a difference we would all see.

I don't get the hatred I'm seeing out there. Life is short - really short, and with all that is happening none of us really have a grasp of how fast it can all change. All of us in Arizona are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place, and really anyone who lives in the United States is truly blessed. Unfortunately, there are always and have always been war, disease, famine, droughts, etc. that mankind has had to deal with since the dawn of time. Despite our trust in technology which on the one hand gives us enormous means to deal with these issues, it also speeds them along with our ability to travel across the globe in a day or communicate or hack someone's account instantly. It's a double edged sword. Basically it all comes down to how we use the tools. The spear of the cave man is no different than the smart phone of today. They can be tools to feed and defend, communicate and learn, or kill and destroy, hack or cyberbully. It is all in the hands of each and every person.


I think what has now changed in the world is the true power our individual acts and morals play in the world in spite of how big a government's armies and air forces might be. As we are seeing with ISIS, dropping a few sporadic bombs here and there won't get the job done. These people are who they are and believe in evil and incivility and the more bombs we drop on them the more convinced they will become of their perspective. To think some of these ISIS troops are from teens in this country is sad. It means somewhere and somehow they lost hope here. Or opportunities did not exist for them here and they went to the dark side.



The solutions to all of these problems is not some grand epiphany that will miraculously appear and solve all of our problems. The solutions will take years if not generations. But as with all stampedes, as I said earlier, it takes just small steps in a unified and positive direction by millions of us to ultimately sweep a vast territory. Optimism versus terrorism. Love versus hate. Sharing and giving versus taking. Teaching and mentoring versus criticizing and condemning.






We all need to do more - it seems impossible but as a community and culture we can make a difference and it starts at home and with the people we all come in contact with each day. Driving to work, at the grocery store, in line at DMV - let's all try to shed light, hope, beauty and most importantly tolerance and lot more love……the world is tough enough.