Jun 8, 2012

The Wall of My Studio Space


My Studio Space
Stacy Reynaud


view here
may soon be converted into


Stacy Reynaud
seat covers for my dining room set.


Jun 6, 2012

Quote of the Week - Giovanni Brino


brutalist demolition vancouver

Furniture can be reproduced and so can photographs, but architecture is unique and once it is lost it is gone for good.




Jun 4, 2012

From Here to Architectural Eternity

West Van Midcentury

Built Autumn 1954

From Architecture
Demolished Spring 2012
Made eternal by Google Maps Street View (2362 Haywood)
I'm creating a Google map of the homes I've written about. Click the map link above, then click the the blue way finder for more info. There's a link you can click on in the box that pops up that will take you back to the Bijou Living post associated with it. If you have a link or address to a fine work of Pacific Northwest Modern architecture (1940s-1970s) please feel free to add it to the map.

Jun 1, 2012

A Snippet of Our Living Room

Stacy Reynaud

distressed leather sofa and pillows from an estate sale (the matching love seat is in the fireplace room), old growth slab table is an old thrift store favourite, Ingmar Relling Siesta chairs from a yard sale (you saw them first on FB), layered cotton rag rugs (try Etsy), indoor/outdoor banana fibre stools (IKEA). I took the blue damask rug back because with a red sofa the colour scheme was too Superman.

We're calling it Beach Chic.




May 31, 2012

Another West Vancouver Home Demo



Dundarave









One tree was saved.

May 28, 2012

How to Make Thai Noodles


This was good, easy and even better cold the next day.

What you need:
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1-2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp Sriracha or Sambal oelek or Tabasco (we used Sriracha)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp honey or brown sugar (we used honey)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 8 oz dry spaghetti or vermicelli (we used vermicelli)
  • 2 cups sliced tofu
  • 1 carrot
  • 1/2 long English cucumber, seeds removed and cut into thin strips
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds or chopped peanuts (we used sesame seeds and peanuts)
  • 1/4 cup cilantro to garnish (we skipped this as I detest cilantro)
  • Food processor or blender
  • large bowl
  • a pot to cook the noodles
  • frying pan to saute the tofu

What you do:
  • Combine the first eight ingredients (peanut butter through sesame oil) in a blender or food processor
  • Puree until smooth - add more water if it seems to thick
  • Set aside
  • Saute the tofu and set aside
  • Cook the vermicelli until Al dente, drain, rinse and let cool
  • Combine the vermicelli, tofu, peanuts and vegetables in a large bowl
  • Pour half of the sauce over the top, toss to coat noodle mixture - add more sauce if desired
  • Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro
  • Serve in a deep bowl

Makes four servings



adapted from Angela Shellard's Romancing the Stove Column -  North Shore News


May 25, 2012

Come One Come All

Yard Sale

The yard sale tables have turned!
1306 Bidwell Street (Vancouver's West End)
This Sunday - May 27
10-4
Dolce & Gabbana, you're invited too.




May 23, 2012

The Staples Residence - Another West Coast Modern Demolition - or not

1966 courtyard facing north
Staples Residence image  Stacy reynaud
Back in May 2009 I stumbled upon this home accidentally. Being in such a bad state, I thought it was abandoned.

Erickson Massey Architects
stacy reynaud
In October of 2011 I received an email, from a fellow Vancouverite and West Coast Modern lover - who, oddly enough, was also a real estate developer, informing me that this home was now for sale -  
 
Erickson Massey Architects 1966
stacy reynaud 
for $3 million.
The Staples Residence was designed in 1966 by Bruno Freschi for Erickson Massey Architects (Arthur Erickson and George Massey)

1966 kitchen
 
Wanting to capture this iconic piece of Northwest Modern before it was torn down I got on the phone to one of my real estate agent colleagues. I want to make it clear that I wasn't just snooping, in West Vancouver standards, water front property for $3 million is a steal and I thought that perhaps I'd be able to wrangle up some fellow West Coast Modern lovers, buy the place and shoot a documentary of us bringing it back to all its former glory.

1966 kitchen
 
My favourite area was the kitchen. A galley kitchen at its finest

Staples Residence
 
 and 100% in its original state!

1966
stacy reynaud 
Original carpeting, single pane windows, electrical - you name it - even the leaks Erickson is synonymous with.

lounge
stacy reynaud
1966 front texture - back of fireplace
stacy reynaud
Staples Residence living room from outside
stacy reynaud 
Built on the face of a cliff in Horseshoe Bay the home - surrounded by old growth trees and the buffer for Westerly winds - seems quite precarious.

dining room
stacy reynaud 
Kitchen, dining room, living room and lounge encompass the first floor of the 2600 sf residence.

Staples Residence deck from dining room
stacy reynaud
1966 looking up at hallway from living room
 
Second floor hallway looking up from the living room.

1966 hall texture
 
detail

hall towards master bedroom
 
The second floor consists of two bedrooms a bath and a master bedroom with ensuite.

balcony from one bedroom
 
Each of the smaller bedrooms has a sliding door leading out to a terrace at the front of the house.

master bedroom closets
 
The master has a walk in area with enclosed closets - that I love.

Erickson Massey 1966
Erickson Massey 1966 image stacy reynaud 
It also has a southwest facing deck

view from master bedroom
 
 and amazing views.

Master Bedroom Staples Residence
Master Bedroom Staples Residence image stacy reynaud
1966 back entrance
 
The 1966 back entrance to the living room.

back yard
images Stacy Reynaud
The back yard.
 
All in all I figure the home needs about $500,000 to $1 million in renos and upgrades.
The home did sell sometime between last October and April. It is, however, for sale again - and no, I haven't found anyone willing to join me on the adventure of a life time yet.
For more images please visit my Staples Residence set on Flickr.
 

May 19, 2012

Tip of the Week - Coffee

Add your coffee grounds to your rose bush, they love it.




May 18, 2012

The Owings Residence

Big Sur, California
Architectural Digest 1996






May 14, 2012

Quote of the Week - Henri Matisse

fishin
You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover.


May 11, 2012

How to Make a Sparrow Veggie Burger

Sparrow Veggie Burger






I love sloppy food, particularly old-school vegetarian sloppy food. My love of sloppy food attracts me to the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. In Astoria, NY, this episode of The Sparrow Tavern and Chef Pablo Garcia's wicked Veggie Burger sent me off on a search for the recipe.

I found it!


Thanks to Yum Veggie Burger: Veggie Burger Reviews, Ratings and More reader Beth for posting the Sparrow Tavern veggie burger recipe.

What you need:

These are all approximate based on the video clip—toy around with them. 

Veggie Patties
 
  • 2 shredded carrots
  • 1 large shredded zucchini
  • 1 cup barley
  • the corn off of one corn cob
  • 1 cup green peas
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • handful of scallions
  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 diced red pepper
  • 5 large chopped mushrooms
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • pita bread
  • lettuce or bean sprouts
  • pickles (optional)
 What you do:
  • mix all ingredients together and let sit for one hour
  • measure out six-ounce portions - about the size of your palm - and form little patties
  • place patties on a lightly oiled baking sheet
  • cook in the oven till done in the center - worked out to be about 45 minutes on 325, but monitor them
  • remove from the baking sheet and cook in a lightly oiled frying pan until crunchy on the outside
  • drizzle sweet cayenne sauce in pita
  • add lettuce (and whatever else you want)
  • add pattie
  • add more sauce
Sweet Cayenne Mustard Sauce
  • 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt (or mayo or Veganaise)
  • 3 tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup brown grain or Dijon mustard
  • 3/4 cup agave or maple syrup
  • mix them together
Yield -  about six thick patties. Next time around, I'd make eight out of the same recipe.  

** We've done variations in a wrap with asiago cheese, bean sprouts and tabouli



Big thanks to Yum Veggie Burger: Veggie Burger Reviews, Ratings and More reader Beth for posting the Sparrow Tavern veggie burger recipe.


The Back 40