The Farnsworth House

Last month we took a trip to Chicago to visit our dear friend Anthony.  He planned the most amazing trip!  We saw so much from the perspective of not just a local but an architect.  The best part was we never felt rushed.  In fact, it was so mellow (albeit in the end exhausting for everyone) that we did a last minute trip out to Plano (an hour outside of Chicago) to see the Farnsworth House.  

We happened to be there on Mother's Day and it was really special to see this great work of architecture with my family.  I knew of the house but have often confused it with the Phillip Johnson Glass House. I didn't know much of it's history or about Dr. Edith Farnsworth, who commissioned the house.  

In a nutshell, what started out as a modest, weekend get away turned into a total nightmare for Dr. Farnsworth.  By the end of the construction the cost had more than doubled and her friendship with Mies van der Rohe was ruined.  So, that's pretty standard in the world of construction;  costs balloon and relationships end.  However, as we were told more and more of the history and I walked through the house and I put myself back in time to the 1950's the more I felt I could "read" between the lines. 

Dr. EDITH Farnsworth.  A female doctor.  A highly successful female doctor in the 1950s. That alone speaks volumes. I can't imagine her success came easy or without a heap  of condescending, sexually infused comments on a daily basis.  She was looking for a tranquil, secluded weekend home to retreat to. She intended to go there often which is why it's relatively close to downtown Chicago. That again speaks volumes. When you see the place you feel it's isolation.  Her work must have been tough and to survive it she needed to get away from people. 

So, she hires Mies van der Rohe, a brilliant well-known architect. The story of how they came to work together is recorded from each of their perspective.  Her's in her diary and his in a court transcript.  They met at a dinner party, that's about the only thing their stories have in common.  It may as well have been two different events.  

There are details in the house that would have angered me terribly if I was the owner.  They almost seem like passive aggressive stabs at Farnsworth, specially for being a woman. Of course this is solely MY opinion and not based on anything said by the docent. Mies didn't set aside an area for Farnsworth to put her clothes. There was no wardrobe space or furniture.  He said she should store them in the kitchen. Can you imagine the kind of wardrobe a successful female doctor has?  Put your Chanel in the kitchen! I can certainly imagine the reaction that would elicit today! 

The longest room or area is the kitchen. And it's so obvious that we had a discussion amongst ourselves about it.  It was as if Mies was saying that's where she belonged. I don't know, it was just odd. Keep in mind the house was never meant for more than one person.  It was never an "entertainers" home.  Why such a large kitchen? 

Mies chose all the furnishing for the house  and only included one lamp.  When she asked how she was suppose to see throughout the house he said she should carry the lamp with her and plug it in wherever she needed. I guess he figured she had nothing better to do that to carry around a lamp.  

Farnsworth took Mies to court. The write ups and gossip surrounding the event are all about her being in love with him and that she was angry the friendship didn't turn into anything more. Or the other option, that she was a scorned lover.   No one thought it was about a house that started out costing $45,000 and ended up costing $90,000.  

I have no personal knowledge of either side's personality.  However, knowing the era and knowing what creatives with egos are like, its as if the house spills its secrets when you walk through it.  

Ok, enough about the drama of the house.  The house is beautiful. The details are exquisite.  The landscape is serene.  The lines of the house flow with the river that runs along side it.  It's pretty cool.  If you are a lover of architecture this has to be on your top 10 list of homes to visit. And here are some pictures!

It's almost a mile walk to get into see the property.  So, if you go wear appropriate footwear. 

Mies took into consideration that the area gets flooded by the river but even so it got flooded just 2 years after completion and several times since. 

Details.  Look at the centering of the beam to the tiles.  

This is the porch. You have to take off your shoes and wear socks to go inside. 

You can't photograph the interiors but you can photograph them from the outside.  I want every single piece of furniture in there! 

Anthony with our wonderful docent.  You can see the kitchen to the left.  

Dave and little G. Cooler dad picture?  I don't think so!

Oh how I love this picture.  My girls and I and amazing architecture. 

How Memento are the next two pictures?  This happened by accident btw.  Dave taking a picture of Anthony's feet going up the stairs while I took a picture of Dave taking a picture. And we took them as they are, one in black and white and the other in color!  Just like Memento!  Ok, I'm geeking out!  

Children were welcomed on the tour.  They were very kind. I think it helps to have a stroller that blends in with the good design.  Hee hee!

One of my favorite photos of the entire trip to Chicago.  Anthony, is an architect.  We've been friends since high school and he's known he's wanted to be an architect since then.  Mies van der Rohe is his favorite but this was his first time at the Farnsworth House.  Very special day for all!

Mies did end up building a wardrobe and entertainment piece for the house.  However, he delivered the piece to Farnsworth under a different name. At that point they were no longer speaking to one another. Mies didn't want another person designing the furniture for the interiors but he knew if he delivered it as his own design Farnsworth wouldn't want it. I only got a picture of the wardrobe side but the other side has a sound system.  The whole things is brilliant.  The sound comes out to you when the doors are open and when they are shut the sound goes up creating a surround sound effect in the entire house.  

This piece is now in a separate building on the property because it's received too much water damage from the numerous floods.  It's here for it's own safety.   

Our Magic Carpet

When Dave and I traveled to India in 2004 we bought a large rug.  I love it despite it's lack of "Mid Century trendiness".  I put it in quotes, "Mid Century trendiness", because who has the final word on what is trendy when it comes to Mid Century?  Today it's such a mishmosh of 1950s with, without, and in combination with modern day elements. Is it Dwell?  Mad Men? Or do Ray and Charles Eames continue to set the standard?

I'm going to go with the latter but, as I said, there are lots of ways to do Mid Century today. So just when I thought we had made a bad investment with the rug we visited the Eames House in the Palisades and my love for the rug was rekindled and has never faltered since.  Ray and Charles had similar rugs throughout their home, along with other pieces that clearly retold stories of their travels. 

courtesy of the LA Times

Our lovely rug did the move from our apartment on the west side of LA to our current home in the Valley.  In our apartment it was on a carpeted floor so it never moved. On our tile floor it dances!  The kids and dogs make it dance even more!  I spend most of my days straightening it out.  I held off on getting a pad because I thought I could secure it down with the sofa's feet.  That was a bust!  

Just when I was about to venture into Target for a flimsy rug pad I got some help from our friends at  Rugpadusa.com  I didn't realize rug pads came in so many different options!  They carry pads for carpet, wood, laminate, tile, stone, concrete and outdoor floors!!! They have varying sizes to fit rugs from 2'x3' to 15'x24', square, rectangular and round. The options continue with your choice of thickness and cushion and there are even eco-friendly options. And I really appreciate that Rugpadusa's products  are made here in the United States, which is what makes them so affordable.    

Because we still have little kids I'm always looking for the least toxic options so we got the felt and rubber pad made out of natural rubber and recycled felt. It's very safe for the home and keeps the rug in place on the tile floor.  It's so nice to see the rug laying flat and staying put!  The kids and dogs run on it and it doesn't curl up behind their tracks like cartoons do when they run fast!  What I really love about it is the cushion it gave the rug.  I  like walking on it in my bare feet now!  Even the dogs love laying on it even more now!

The rug has a lot of sentimental value to me and Dave. We met the man who made it...

...and his family! The trip to India was a big deal for us. We had only been dating a month when we ventured off together, with my mom!  It's amazing how quickly you get to know someone in a 3rd world country!  It kind of brings me a sense of accomplishment when I see our kids playing on the rug. We've made a life together. There have been ups and downs but we've made us work. The rug was the first thing we bought together for our home and we continue to layer "pieces" of our life on it.  

Recently Dave and I have gone through things that have made us even stronger as a couple. It's why I find it rather ironic that we finally got this pad....the stability and cushion to the rug.  

Anyway, maybe I'm reading too much into this!  But what I am having is second thoughts! As I look through all these pictures I'm wondering why I didn't choose some of the other options!  What was I thinking?  Thank God Dave took a picture of the rug "store" sign out in the middle of Udaipur. We can always go back for more! And no matter where I put a rug or what size I get it I now know I can go to Rugpadusa.com for a pad that works beautifully! 

The Montage at Laguna Beach

 

Last week we stayed three nights at the Montage in Laguna Beach.  It was an amazing and much needed trip.  We were very grateful that it was on the company dime.  (Although they did charge us for $550 of spa services. I never set foot in the spa and as of yesterday they had yet to reimburse the charges. Not very classy of a 5-star hotel.) Dave was shooting a commercial on location at the hotel. So while he worked all day, P and I took long walks after breakfast, swam in the pool, went to the gym, vegged in the room and P got to play in their kids club called Paintbox.  I could go on and on about all their luxuries but I think the pictures capture it best. 

The hotel was built over looking the ocean.  The property which once was a mobile home park is now home to a $1 billion hotel.  They must have some agreement with Laguna Beach because the path in front of the hotel and the cliffs right below are all native gardens and habitat for wildlife.  It's all protected area.  It was very inspiring to walk through their paths.  I hope to have our front yard looking much like their gardens in a couple years....except we it won't be just native plants.     

 

The crew took over the mosaic pool one day to film one of the scenes. 

 

They also converted five rooms into production space. Dave and P are in the far corner chair while other crew members are hard at work.  It's a luxury for P to see Dave on shoot days. 

Our room. The beds were super comfy. However, I am proud to say we have softer sheets! High thread count is a luxury I will gladly splurge on. It makes for many great nights.

We each got slippers, even P. They brought up a robe and slippers in her size!

 

The view from our balcony.

P and I having lunch on our balcony. The sound of the ocean and the sea gulls was so relaxing!

The gym with the lap pool in the foreground. 

 P doing "semi laps" in the pool. 

 The view from the treadmill. An open air view of the Pacific Ocean!  How inspiring is that?

 One entrance to the hotel has this amazing iron sculpture. Then you walk down a flight of stairs that leads to this courtyard.

 

 The view from the lounge. Great place to have a glass of wine or hot cocoa.

 Finally we had to say goodbye to Dave.  P is standing in the lobby calling Dave on my phone to say goodbye....even though he's right there in front of her. 

Palm Springs

Dave had to scout in Palm Springs this past weekend so P and I grabbed our bating suits and leisure wear and tagged along to the desert.  These "workcations": trips done for work with a vacation squeezed in,  are always last minute.  Sometimes they can be a juggle for me but I wasn't about to pass up Mid Century Modern heaven.

We were put up at the Holiday Inn, which was quite nice and in tune to the Palm Springs feel. They've done a pretty good job of "upscaling" the brand.  But, it was no Ace Hotel.  We did go over to King's Highway for breakfast. The hotel and the meal did not disappoint.  As always, it's the details that make a place so perfect. 

 

 King's Highway

Ace Hotel Lobby

The pool at the Ace Hotel

Dave had to shoot in the morning and afternoon. He managed to squeeze family time in the middle of the day.  He drove me to a couple of thrift stores and shops but I didn't find anything we needed that was within our budget.  After dropping Dave off at the airport to rent a car I had about a half hour to kill before DWR opened. I decided to drive around and look at houses in the meantime.  I came upon a garage sale and found these three Hoop chairs for $200!  Yep! $200 for all three!

I was so excited! I texted Dave a picture. He said to get them but he didn't understand that I wasn't at a store. I had to run to the ATM to get cash.  I drove off and half way to the ATM I realized I was on the phone with Dave and wasn't watching where I was going. I didn't write down the address before leaving either and I do not know Palm Springs very well.  Luckily, Dave with his genius sense of direction got to the house before I started driving back and texted me the address!  Phew! 

I saw great chairs and said "I'll get them!" not thinking about how to get three patio chairs into a Prius with a child!!!! P wasn't in any rush to leave. She was happy lounging on one of the chaise chairs for sale while watching us play rubix cube with our three hoop chairs and the car.  

In the end it all worked out but I had the luck of timing that day. Within seconds of arriving on the scene another woman arrived and wanted the chairs as well.  Thank God I claimed them and thank God Dave arrived to get me back to the house and to load the chairs in.

I'm thrilled with our weekend purchase.  I did go to DWR after but as usual, even a sale at that place is $1000 over my budget. But I did see these two pots across the street and I had to photograph them for reference.  Loved the plant combos as much as the color combination.