Category Architecture
Progress at the little house
Quick overnight trip to Boise this weekend to check on the renovation project. The house has been gutted, reframed, and newly outfitted with HVAC and natural gas. It’s ready for drywall, floors, and the rest—and since the historic district approval came through on Friday, we’ll be able to get started in earnest on the next […]
I bought a house in Boise!
As of Friday, I’m the proud owner of a little 1905 house in Boise’s historic North End neighborhood. It doesn’t look like much at the moment—in fact, having been abused by renters and neglected for years, it needs a complete gut and remodel. But it’s got incredible potential and the neighbourhood is one of the […]
Exploring Reykjavík
Oh man, what a day. We criss-crossed this charming town no fewer than five times from end to end under the biting winds of a north-Atlantic cyclone. The meals were delicious, the architecture fantastic, and those shapes, colours, and textures of the houses? I’m obsessed. Off to bed now—photos in order, without explanation; out into […]
Paris!
After a visit to the British Library on Sunday (which apparently I forgot to write about…), things figuratively went south when I came down with a mild stomach bug that Amy may have brought from her nephew in New York. I laid low and worked from home and tried to recover as quickly as possible […]
Hamilton Gardens
Legend has it that everything south and inland of Auckland is just not that cool. A lot of ranch land and unremarkable small towns. Most of that proved true on the drive from Auckland to Hamilton, but there’s a gem of a garden on the outskirts of Hamilton that was a complete delight. Built on […]
Exploring Auckland
Sunday was my day to explore Auckland. I caught a mid-morning ferry to the CBD . . . . . . and made my way to the Auckland Art Gallery, which with its striking wooden awning is my certainly favourite building in Auckland so far. The gallery has an impressive collection of Maori art . […]
All the pretty houses
I’m just loving all the little white bungalows here in Auckland. They’re pristinely kept and have delicate details, they but don’t feel fussy. I think it’s because the corrugated roofs add an element of austerity, while the subtropical plants lend a bit of chaos. I’d love to see what they’re like on the inside.
Auckland!
I made it! The flights went smoothly and confirmed the value of paying for the extra legroom seats. When you’re spending 23 hours in a plane (7 to Dubai, then 16 to Auckland) it’s a glorious thing to be able to stretch out and/or stand up as much as you want. I went directly from […]
Look who’s here!
While I was managing the flower emergency, Justin was landing at Heathrow. And because all Americans now enjoy the streamlined border control, he was out and on my doorstep practically before I knew it (certainly before I was fully ready!) First order of business was lunch at The Grind, a New Zealand cafe to give […]
Lights are up!
One of my favourite nights of the year: when I come home and my little Passage is all lit up for the holidays. It’s just the best. And since I’m in England I don’t even have to pretend I’m horrified they didn’t wait until after Thanksgiving. That window you can see just over the shop […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 