College campuses have always been fascinating to me. Whenever I am in a city, I try to take time to walk through a college campus and experience the feeling that only a college environment can offer.

In the summer of 1988, I enrolled in a summer college program for high school students at Cornell University. High school students about to begin their senior year were able to take classes in their major of interest. As my family stopped behind dorm 1926 on West Campus by Noyes Hall, I didn’t realize how impactful the next 6 weeks would be on my life long-term, both professionally and personally. I met some great friends (Somesha, Tonie, Janella, Simone, Tanisha and Denise and David, my architecture buddy) and my love for architecture was reinforced by the intense program I endured. My sister Kyllan also attended summer college at Cornell 9 years later and was later accepted to the prestigious Sloane Program in Health Administration where she received her Masters Degree. I think she enjoyed her time at Cornell as well.

Main Quad

Cornell University is one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen. Nestled in the hills of Ithaca, NY, it’s beautiful gorges, trees and quaint college town feel is peaceful and serene. The buildings on this campus are stunning.

Sibley Hall is the main architecture building. It is where most lectures and events are held. Rand Hall (2nd image above) is where I’d spend most of my late nights feverishly working on projects. Rand Hall studios were not air conditioned then, which is why it was aptly named Rand “Hell”.

One of the libraries at Cornell featured a reading area that was partially underground. It provided a beautiful view of the steep descent to West Campus. I could never focus on reading while there. The view was just too nice.

The War Memorial, now called the Baker Dorms or The Gothic Halls were like a gateway from the main campus down the steep hill to West Campus. The Gothic-style building is my favorite historic structure on the campus. The ribbed vaults in the covered walkway are eye-candy.

Sage Chapel is another amazing building on the campus which carries on the Gothic-style tradition.

The buildings at Cornell are a graceful blend of old vs. new. The Museum of Art designed by I.M. Pei exemplifies that.

Duffield Hall is home of the Nanotechnology Department.

Schoellkopf Field features a curved seating design

Mirrors are a quick way to glam up a space. Whether floating above a nice console table flanked by buffet lamps, on a mantle or on its own, mirrors make a big statement in any room. Placed adjacent to windows, they reflect more light into a dark room. As with art and framed photographs, be sure to hang them at eye-level on a wall.

Mecox is a great source for beautiful mirrors of all shapes, sizes and materials

A pop of color is always nice in moderation. Pottery Barn masters the art of subtle flair with this round, red mirror.

These mirrors are stylish but the price tag is a little daunting to most of us. Style doesn’t have to come at such a high price. There are many similar mirrors that will be kind to your wallet. Here are some lower-priced alternatives that don’t skimp on style.

Starburst mirrors have been hot for a few seasons now and show no signs of slowing down. This mirror from wrapables.com costs only $59.99, saving you hundreds for the same look!

I love round mirrors. This one from Target is under $80 and will work well with modern or traditional decor.

Z Gallerie has lots of unique stles and their mirrors always catch your eye the minute you walk into the store. This star-shaped mirror brings gold back in a big way. At $199, it’s kind of a splurge, but its classic, non-trendy look has staying power.

We can’t forget how low prices are at good old IKEA. This Mongstad mirror had a thick frame giving it a clean line. Put it over a sofa horizontally or rotate it vertically and lean it against a wall in a foyer or dining room.

Summertime is my absolute favorite season. Last weekend I visited my friend Katrina’s newly purchased New Jersey home. I was also able to see my friend Erika’s beautiful sun room in her suburban New York home. Both of these spaces inspired me to blog about outdoor rooms. As my friends Kim, Tracy, Tara, Erika and her daughter Immanuelle sat on Katrina’s porch swing, the calm, tranquil outdoor space lulled us into a very relaxed state of mind. The freshly-made Mojitos didn’t hurt either!

The sun, warm weather, long daylight hours, poolside barbeques, parties with friends and fresh summer fruits make for great outdoor memories. Why stay confined to an air conditioned house when you can feel the breeze on your skin while lounging in a comfy outdoor room? Extend your indoor spaces outdoors with colorful, cozy furniture, water features, fireplaces and if your budget allows, even an outdoor kitchen.

Imagine having breakfast every morning in this colorful outdoor space. The fireplace can even be used in the evening for great ambiance.

Fire and water are always a great conversation piece and create visual interest. If you don’t have room or the budget to install a pool (who does these days?), a small water wall or fountain can create the same effect. A fire pit can be built on the cheap with some leftover bricks and a concrete slab.

This kitchen layout from a great outdoor kitchen company in the Bay area of California features a full-service kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances. Perfect for a summertime barbeque or birthday party without having to shuttle things in and out of the kitchen.

Target has stepped up in a major way with lots of outdoor furniture options. Chic and stylish, these pieces usually go on sale mid-summer. So if you want the best deal on patio furniture for late summer/fall, be sure to purchase collections like this around late June.

For a cozy, casual living room feel, opt for a sectional like this one from Target. Kick your shoes off, grab a tall, chilled beverage and RELAX!

Z Gallerie features some fabulous summertime tents to create a chic cabana style anywhere in your yard or small deck area.

Enjoy the summer, everyone!

Kieran Timberlake Associates’ Loblolly house is a great example of a new day in modern, mass produced green construction. This project reaffirms our hope in prefabricated design.

Ever since the first post-war planned communities like Levittown in Hempstead, New York, planned communities and cookie-cutter construction has been given a bad rap. I’m not a big fan of mass-produced homes that all look the same and are void of character and individuality. However, the reality is, most people assume that it is easier to conform and build a home like everyone else’s rather than strike out on their own and design a custom house. Does prefabricated construction have to lack character and style? Not necessarily.

Photos by Barry Halkin

Prefab construction is quickly encompassing the all-important elements of sustainable design, using environmentally-friendly materials and construction methods. Re-purposed items and low VOC materials are finding their way into all aspects of the building phase. Site sensitivity and preservation are at the top of the to do list.

Now this is how prefab should be done!

I have been busy working on several projects lately. One of the most exciting has been a master bath for a client who has become a friend of mine and my best client ever! Maybe it’s because she’s also an Ohio native but we had so much fun transforming her 80’s bathroom into a beautiful new spa-like getaway. I hope she enjoys it now as much as I enjoyed working on it. Love ya Barbara!

This was the old 80’s style tub area. Functional and spatious, yet not very stylish.

We added an arched furrdown to define the tub area and add an architectural feature to the space.

The old vanity was very long, but needed some style.

The owner wanted lots of storage and separate his and her-style vanity areas.

The shower and toilet were all in one room.

We replaced the old linen closet with a separate toilet room and created a walk-in shower room.

Oil rubbed bronze body sprayers and shower head.

This picture was taken right before mirrors were installed. The oil rubbed bronze fixtures, Kohler sinks and chocolate glazed cabinets worked well with the tropical brown granite against the blue walls.

It is a well known fact that master bathrooms (and kitchen remodels) equate to substantially hgher resale value in a home. If done right, these two areas can be instant deal-makers for potential home buyers.

Since just about everyone is laying low in this economic slump, why not enjoy your house while you’re in it by gradually adding a few things to bring some interest into your bathroom? If you plan on selling your house once the housing market improves, and you have some extra cash to work with, faucets, sinks and vanity cabinets are an easy way to update a tired, boring bathroom.

If you want to be a little adventurous, ditch your typical surface-mounted sink for a vessel sink and brushed nickel faucet like the one above from Kohler (www.kohler.com). The flirtatious curved edges are subtle yet bring alot of style to a daily function. This is almost too nice to brush my teeth in!

Tired of the standard built-in vanity base cabinets? Find a really nice console table like these from Ikea or Target and incorporate a vessel sink with it. Of course you may have to modify the drawers by making them fixed to make room for the plumbing, but with the help of a good plumber, you can have an eye-catching jewel piece in your bathroom in no time.

Think granite is too expensive? Recently I found a medium size rectangular piece of granite at a surplus store for $14.99! secure a slab of granite pre-cut for plumbing to the top of a console and what do you have? A hot new inexpensive vanity top.

If your cabinets are in great shape, but have a less than appealing wood stain, give them a new look by sanding, priming and coating them with a fresh layer of paint. Painted cabinets are filling up pages of interior magazines.

The High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia was designed by architect Richard Meier. His signature white porcelain enameled steel panels with concrete framing used in other projects are a stark contrast to the lush, green landscape surrounding it. Light plays a huge part in the museum as it pours through the ribbon windows and skylights. Typically museums are careful with they type of light they allow into a museum due to the damage it could do to the works of art that inhabit it. However, in this case, light was a symbol to illuminate the historic and cultural relevance of the works displayed. The dynamic nature of the space is supposed to heighten the experience of observing art.
I have never been to this museum, but definitely plan on visiting the next time I’m in Atlanta.

Has anyone been to this museum? If you live in the Atlanta area, stop by and blog about your experience.

If you ever find youself in Barcelona, Spain, this building should be on your must-see list. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, it’s obvious curvilinear structure is eye-catching. Gehry’s concept for this building was to mimmick the fish-like qualities typical of his work. The titanium panels take on a poetic, sculptural form, which is ironic since titanium is such a strong material. This has been one of my favorite buildings since its completion over 10 years ago. Any thoughts?

As previously posted, settees are adding sizzle to dining rooms everywhere. The moss green fabric coupled with the espresso finish on the Allegro Settee will give any space a clean, fresh look for spring. To find a piece like this at Crate & Barrel is a steal! Click on the image for details.

Art is one of the best ways to infuse color into a space. Great, affordable art can be found at Garden Ridge, Kirklands, Burlington and Target just to name a few. Check out these abstract pieces from Z Gallerie (www.zgallerie.com), each for under $100: