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COVER STORY
In Linda's first article for
Su Casa, she talks about
her affection for Santa Fe,
her search for the right home,
and how she brought new
life to an old adobe.
The Spring II issue of New Mexico's premier design publication, Su
Casa, features Linda's Casita Alegria on the cover, 11 new photos of the home, and an article written by Linda.
The issue comes at a propitious time for guests of Linda's Design in the Desert
weekend in September, as it provides
a sneak preview of what they will see on the private tour of
the residence that is part of the 3-day weekend of events, which
includes
an in-depth workshop revealing how she achieved the home's
stunning renovation (see below for details).
The
following is a sampling of photos and excerpts from the article,
in which Linda reminisces about her first visit
to the "City Different," and describes
in detail how she updated
her 1932 adobe while maintaining its architectural integrity. To
read the entire story of Casita Alegria's transformation, pick up the
Spring II issue of Su Casa (on newsstands May 12) or view the article at www.sucasamagazine.com. This is the first in a series of articles Linda
will contribute to Su Casa in the coming months.
Santa Fe Calling
An old adobe charms Bay Area designer Linda
Applewhite
into applying her life's work to the City
Different.
By Linda Applewhite
Photography by Kirk Gittings |
With the
expert help of Santa Fe–based W. Peterson & Company,
Applewhite
transformed the dark and claustrophobic den by removing
two exterior walls that bordered the windowless hallway and entry.
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In
the fall of 1988, I visited Santa Fe for my first fiesta. I'll never
forget gathering in front of St. Francis Cathedral, where candles
placed in paper cups were handed out as Indian chiefs and Spanish
conquistadors rode
through the crowd on horseback. A flame passed from person to person as
one candle touched the next and the basilica's courtyard glowed with
flickering candlelight. The New Mexican sky filled with a startling
array of colors to announce the beginning of a stunning September
sunset--a
perfect backdrop as the crowd made its way to the Cross of the Martyrs.
As
I carefully carried my candle, sheltering the flame from the wind, I
was surprised to find myself surrounded by nuns with rosaries in hand
chanting Ave Maria as we ascended the hill. The Cross of the Martyrs
was aglow
with light and sound. A group of choir boys sang hymns in Spanish as
bells rang softly and the sun began to disappear beyond the magnificent
high
desert landscape.
Suddenly,
storm clouds gathered, majestic thunder pierced the air, and bolts of
lightning lit the sky all around us. Rain began to fall. The candle
flames
flickered and died one by one. In an instant I found myself surrounded
by tiny wisps of smoke and soft rain, each with its own distinctive
smell. The
crowd started to run down the hill, but I was hesitant, as were many
around me, to leave this sacred place. As I descended with the crowd
from the
elevated point in Santa Fe to its glowing downtown streets, I was
struck by the beauty of northern New Mexico--its history, colors,
drama, smells,
land, and soul--and in that moment, I knew I would live here someday. |
Applewhite
transformed the original spiral staircase not only with the
historically
inspired New Mexican balusters and newel posts, but also with the stair
carriage, now a rich faux wood-grained texture created by artist Shawn
Man
Roland. |
After
20 years of Santa Fe calling me, I finally answered and bought a home
in the City Different. But as charming as it was, it needed an
update for today's style of living. I knew this must be done lovingly
and with care, making choices that would support the feel of the
structure's
history, architecture, and soul while providing a place where family
and friends could gather comfortably and experience the essence of each
other and
northern New Mexico.
Creating
the right feeling was
my goal in what I came to call Casita Alegria--a happy little house
filled with luminous light, beautiful color, and a reverence for local
history.
The home harmonizes with the spirit of northern New Mexico, reflects
the architectural uniqueness of the region, and is intimately connected
to the
magnificent high desert landscape. It is a place of warmth and beauty
in which I express and share with others a little bit of the Land of
Enchantment's soulful essence, this amazingly magical and sacred place
I discovered in Santa Fe years ago.
◊
To
read the entire article, including a complete list of
resources used in the renovation and exclusive before and after
photos, please,
click here or go to http://www.sucasamagazine.com/.
IMPORTANT
SEMINAR SCHEDULE UPDATE
In last month's newsletter, we announced two seminars, Design Among the Vines in California in June, and Design
in the Desert
in New Mexico in September. However, in order to accommodate a general
preference by our guests for a fall date, and Linda's
vision for an expanded agenda and additional activities, we have
combined the two seminars into one fabulous event, which will take
place in Santa Fe
in September. This year's Design in the Desert will cover the techniques and principles Linda wrote about in her book, Linda Applewhite's
Architectural Interiors, and applying them to all styles of design and remodeling, not just Southwestern. Please read on for details, and we look
forward to seeing you in Santa Fe!
Design In The Desert
September 26, 27 and 28, 2008
Santa Fe, New Mexico
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The backyard of Casita Alegria is
the colorful
refuge where seminar guests will enjoy a relaxing evening
reception following a tour of the home. Linda raised the height of
the existing
garden wall to increase privacy, then added bright lawn furniture and
seat cushions on the newly built shady banco. |
Join
Linda for three days of art-filled fun and design
knowledge in Santa Fe this fall -- the perfect time of
year to visit the beautiful Southwest. In addition to Linda's full-day
workshop of architectural and interior/exterior design principles, we
will
visit art galleries and antiques shops, enjoy local foods, tour
the Santa Fe Design Center, and have an unprecedented opportunity to
see two
homes that have been featured on the cover of Su Casa magazine - all in one
weekend!
Registration is now open for this
event on our website.
SEMINAR AGENDA
Friday, September
26
5:30-7:30 p.m. - Welcome
Reception
Guests
are
invited to join Linda and meet the LA&A team for wine and
cheese at one of the spectacular galleries on Santa Fe's famous
Canyon
Road.
Saturday, September 27
Daytime
Before
lunch, we
will tour the home of artist Kirby Kendrick in Santa Fe's historic
Garcia Street neighborhood. Linda worked with Kirby on the remodel of
her 1932
artist's compound, which was featured on the cover of Su Casa magazine's Fall 2007 issue.
For
lunch, we will
head over to the Santa Fe Design Center. Linda will lead a tour of some
of her favorite shops, including Diseņos, which carries exceptional
Spanish Colonial art and antiques; Sparrow Antiques, which offers
vintage textiles and crafts from across the U.S.; and Gloria List
Gallery, home to
an amazing array of ethnographic or sacred art from throughout the
world. Guests will have the rest of the afternoon to explore on their
own.
Evening
Seminar guests are
invited to a private tour of Linda's own 1930s adobe home, Casita Alegria, on Santa Fe's historic east side. The home is
featured on the cover of the Spring II 2008 issue of Su Casa,
New
Mexico's premier design magazine, along with an article written by
Linda about her personal discovery of Santa Fe and the transformation
of her home.
Wine and delicious New Mexican specialties will be served.
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Antique French chairs surround an old painted pedestal table from Faircloth/Adams of
Santa Fe.
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Sunday, September 30
9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. - Presentation and lunch
4:00 p.m.
Cocktails
La Posada Hotel, Santa
Fe, NM
Linda's
slide presentation will include
before and after photos of Casita Alegria's transformation, showing
step by step how she updated the floor plan and function of
the living
spaces, while respecting the original architecture and retaining the
character of the old structure. The presentation will focus on the
principles of
good design, and illustrate application of these principles to a range
of styles including contemporary, Traditional, Mediterranean and
European
Country, among others. Her discussion will include:
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Transforming your home inexpensively with
color
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Uncovering your home's "character
potential" and good bones
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Connecting all the rooms, both indoors
and out
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Embellishing your home with decorative
architectural elements
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Furnishing from the floor up - where to
start, how to layer textures, fabrics and colors
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Secrets for selecting and
placing accessories for a "wow" finish
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Transforming
your life through beauty - both inside and out
Seminar Registration
The
registration fee is $295 per person, and includes the
welcome reception on Friday, both private home tours
and evening reception on Saturday, seminar presentation,
materials, lunch and
cocktail reception at La Posada on Sunday afternoon. To register,
please visit our website's Seminar page. You can register online via PayPal or credit card, or print the registration form and mail it to us
with a check. If you have any questions, please call us at 415.331.2040. We will be happy to answer them!
Hotels
Santa Fe has hundreds of choices of
accommodation in every price range. We have listed some of the accommodations near La Posada on our website's Seminar page. Please book early, as the city's rooms are expected to fill
up for the Wine and Chile Fiesta.
See you in September in Santa
Fe! |
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