Apples to Apples?

I visited Santa Fe last weekend and returned with a real estate catalog, thinking it would be interesting to post two properties--one in Santa Fe and one in Key West--that are the same price and to compare the features of both.

While it may seem that Santa Fe and Key West couldn't be more different, the two towns actually share some similarities. Both are towns with year-round residents as well as seasonal folks. Both can boast outdoor adventure and resort lifestyles: Santa Fe has mountains and Key West has water. And both towns are artsy meccas attracting both the glitterati and the quirky; however, the glitter in Key West tends to be worn by the drag queens!

But the real estate is decidedly different. Obviously the constraint of living on an island with only so much space vs. the great wide open of New Mexico makes square footage biggest difference between homes in Key West and Santa Fe. Take a look at these two properties both listed at $995,000.

813 Frances Street, Key West











18 Primrose Circle, Santa Fe









Here's how the details compare:

Square Footage:
813 Frances St. - 1,450
18 Primrose Cir. - 3,300

Cost per square foot:
813 Frances St. $686.21
18 Primrose Cir. - $301.51

Lot size:
813 Frances St. - .06 acre (2,759 sq.ft.)
18 Primrose Cir. - 1.5 acres (65,340 sq.ft.)

Bedrooms:
913 Frances St. - 2
18 Primrose Cir. - 3

Baths:
913 Frances St. - 2 full
18 Primrose Cir. - 2 3/4

Amenities:
913 Frances St. - pool and off-street parking (this is a biggie in Key West)
18 Primrose Cir. - 3 fireplaces and heated attached garage

Big thanks to Marquis Properties Realty and Doug Mayberry Real Estate in Key West and to Rush/Van Camp in Santa Fe. One visit to their websites will have you running out to buy a lottery ticket! The hardest part will be deciding which town to choose.

Elle Decor's A-Team (Part VII)

I'm seriously running out of intro ideas for these Elle Decor's top 25 interior designers posts... How many more ways are there to say the same thing? It's now clear that we're going through the 2010 list and talking about what we personally find appealing about the designers...right? Anyway - just a couple more weeks to go in covering the rest. It's been a fun summer project!

Here is what we think of the next three...

(If you're new to this, you can catch up with: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V and Part VI.)

Robert Stilin

ED (Elle Decor) describes Stilin's work as "carefully edited, serenely contemporary settings that invite laid-back living...His fuss-free projects are finely tailored and warmly textured, incorporating clean-cut fabrics, strong lined vintage, antique, and modern furniture..., dark metal, natural woods, and grandly scaled art with a compelling graphic presence."








Stilin's work leans more toward contemporary than the Style Key West look, but if there is one thing that we absolutely agree upon, it's a well thought out room that maintains comfort and functionality regardless of aesthetic. The images we selected are those closest to our own style and feature very livable spaces with the perfect balance of universal appeal and individual personality.

Madeline Stuart

ED describes Stuart as "funky, classic, elegant - Stuart produces them all, imbuing her work with romance, history, and a sense of expansive ease. The interiors...can be appropriately dramatic or restrained depending on whether she's designing a Georgian manse or a sleep contemporary beach house...Whatever their style, her rooms usually feature a compelling mix of antiques and bespoke pieces."







This was a hard one to go through since Stuart's range of work is pretty epic. It covers Spanish, Modern, Ranch... But antiques, vintage styles and rich textiles figure prominently in her work. One theme of the portfolio that greatly appealed to us is the attenion to personal spaces such as dressing rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. There is a level of decadence to styling fantastic spaces that are rarely seen by visitors.

Steven Volpe

ED (Elle Decor) describes Volpe's interiors as "ranging from lusciously palatial homages to the past to edgy exercises in modern living. The San Francisco-based designer was strongly influenced by his years in Paris and is known for a spare sensibility that never forgoes luxury or richness, juxtaposing strong colors with refined detailing, modern works of art, and subtle doses of glamour and shine."







I'm finding myself at a loss on this one... I selected images that I found appealing for their composition, fine art and obvious taste level, but none of them particularly speak to my personal taste. I think the last two images come the closest, but there is little here that reflects the Style Key West design philosophy. Volpe's work is probably best appreciated from afar. It's hard to imagine people living in these rooms. Maybe entertaining...but not sitting around with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. I would find it hard to feel comfortable in these spaces. Everything is "just so". But then again - the images were pulled from a portfolio, and room styling plays a role in this perception.

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.

Elle Decor's A-Team (Part VI)

Only nine more to go in this Elle Decor's top 25 interior designers feature. We were quite fond of the three we covered last week (even the one that was the least in line with our own design style). Here is what we think of the next three...

(If you're new to this, you can catch up with: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V.)

Michael S. Smith

ED (Elle Decor) describes Smith as "The tastemaker for the private quarters of the Obama White House...his posh-trad vocabulary of contemporary art, deluxe antiques, cozy upholstery, and romantic fabrics inspired by English chintzes and Indian cottons. His style is knockout but never over-the-top."







It's clear that Smith puts a lot of thought into keeping a consistent look throughout each house and expressing the subtle personality of each client. We love the luxurious bathrooms featured in the his portfolio. Another feature to his work, much in line with our own, is his use of accessories to add depth and interest to each room.

Matthew Patrick Smyth

ED describes Smyth as having "quiet style with legs, a classically inspired but always lively mix of traditional furniture, up-to-the-minute upholstery, and luxe fabrics that run the gamut from graphic ethnic prints to Savile Row-style wools and cashmeres."






Again - we love this designer's use of accessories to personalize spaces. The images above reflect this best, but they also provide a good representation of how Smyth's designs provide a fresh perspective on traditional style.

William Sofield

ED (Elle Decor) describes Sofield as "crafting spaces that are almost decadent in their interplay of materials, history, and mood. [Sofield] has a luxurious, worldly aesthetic that spans from rigorous haute-industrial allure to theatrical pan-Asian refinement. Though he considers himself a modernist, his work often nods to 1930s Hollywood glamour and features hand-wrought finishes and custom pieces that celebrate the artisan."

When I linked to Sofield's website, Studio Sofield, it was only a landing page with address and phone number. So I had to find images online - a task that proved rather difficult since there aren't many of them. Here are the ones I liked best:





It's hard to get a real feel for this designer since there are so few images to view at the moment, but the glamorous style is undeniable. I personally, respond quite positively to a little ornate gold leafing upon occasion (my mother says it's the Italian in me) and I love the retro ambiance of these images. I looked at the pictures before reading ED's description, so I found the 1930s reference to be dead on. I could easily see Bette Davis or Joan Crawford sashaying through any of these rooms. Quick! Someone put out some ashtrays!

*images from: Material Girls, Habitually Chic, Architect Design, vitruvius

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.