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
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1966 front texture - back of fireplace
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Staples Residence living room from outside
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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
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Kitchen, dining room, living room and lounge encompass the first floor of the 2600 sf residence.

Staples Residence deck from dining room
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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.


May 10, 2012

Last Weekend I Deleted the Memory Card


I spent last weekend snapping pics of the demolition of another piece of significant West Vancouver architecture - 2362 Haywood - and scouring West Van church flea markets. Shot some great images saved them and then accidentally deleted them. Just means I need to go back to the house as I had a great convo with the guy doing the demo. He had no idea (of course). He showed me the paper lined walls - dated September 16, 1954 - which I snapped but lost.

Here are some snaps from 'the big camera' (that doesn't usually accompany me) and a few from 'the little camera' after a quick drop in to our local thrift shop yesterday.


Parthenon Greek Deli Goodies 
Sometimes I crave pickled herring. Other times I crave feta stuffed jalapenos. Parthenon on Broadway (in Kits) has the best ones I've ever had.

I thought this would work to hold our turntable as the glass is very thick.

Here's its taller sibling. Might pick this up for our dining room to act as a room divider.

I know I just wrote about getting a picnic table for our deck but the ball and claw with six distressed leather seat chairs is only $250. If it's still there next week (when we have access to a truck) I'm getting it for our deck.

Flo's first venture on the deck (she's not fat, she's fluffy).

We picked up the IKEA Brimnes daybed for the spare room. I'm thinking about decoupaging it and then staining it - like the little demo we did here.

New neighbour. No lap dog eating bald eagles - yet.

We have concrete beams on the deck which needed some creative thinking in order to hang our outdoor lamps. We're using thin wire wrapped around each beam.

Rice Paper Lights in the Evening
The led lights are going to be webbed through the beams and loosely hang on the wire. Stay tuned - picked up three more boxes of them yesterday.

Sunday's moon from the deck.

May 9, 2012

Currently listening to






- call the video a study in what you will culture (I don't say that word anymore).


May 4, 2012

B.Y.O.J.K. - Bring Your Own Jackknife


Free in a back alley in North Van - unfortunately too rotten
The Selby - if we can't find one we'll go this route

good ole Canada Parks version - Okanagan, BC 1994

Goldstream Provincial Park - I recommend staying in one of their yurts.


facing West

North - it wraps around the corner to the left as well

to the East

One of the first things I'm going to pick up for our deck is a picnic table. Not some highly varnished one or one from an outdoor store, I want an old school one like those ones at our provincial parks. One made by some local handyman or maybe even one made by a group of us friends one drunken Spring afternoon. The point being, we want to make it something reflective of us and our pals. Carve, graffiti and grind those bottle caps in as much as you want because that's why we love you.

May 2, 2012

So many choices - or not


exposed beams and Mexican Equipale leather chair and table


black acid stained concrete floor


zebra wood

You're buying one of those prefab condos and you have a choice of three different kitchen finishes - heavens to betsy you'd want to have your own taste reflected in your own home and select your own bloody finishes - I digress, which of the three of these hot kitchens would you choose? I'm torn, I want something from each - the black acid stained concrete floor, zebra wood cabinets, blue wall, white ceiling with exposed beams and the Mexican Equipale chairand table. I just moved out of a place with those exact white appliances so I'll pass.

Old Fashioned Granola Recipe