Video Tour of Dawnridge - Tony Duquette's Hollywood Fantasy House

Irwin Weiner ASID - One of the major movers and shakers in American style is Tony Duquette. His over-the-top glam-on-top-of-glam accessorizing underscored the Hollywood chic of the Golden Age of Movies, brought over into personal style and home fashion. An influencer of the Hollywood Regency Style of glamourous interior design, Duquette was also a major jewelry designer - from homes to individuals, he was all about the jewelry and accessorizing ("More is More.")

The following video tour of his Beverly Hills home, Dawnridge, shows you some of the beautiful interiors and gardens as well as personal jewelry, brought out for visiting celebrity filmmaker and jewelry designer

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Today's Endangered Governor's Mansions

Irwin Weiner ASID - It's thrilling for me to see history preserved when significant architecture is restored. I was fascinated by the number of first ladies and other dignitaries who have conducted video tours of their state's governor's mansions, and then I realized that these mansions represent "the people's home away from home," a lovely democratic principle that probably doesn't work quite the way it sounds: "I want to stay overnight in my home away from home." Right. Not likely to happen.

There's controversy surrounding many governor's mansions - 43 states have them, and some governors no longer want to live in a tax-free, expensive home with costs footed by taxpayers. Watch the Wall Street Journal's video on For Sale or Rent: The Governor's Mansion. 

Here's a video of the first lady of West Virginia showing off her state's governor's mansion (see top photo) - and following the video are

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Fall Wine Tours & Parties - Coming Up!

With Labor Day coming, it's time to be thinking about the upcoming wine season this fall. Summer is a time for outdoor parties, white wines, BBQs, and delicious snacks. But with fall getting closer, wineries are gearing up to harvest their grapes for the fall wine tours, and you should start thinking about planning as well.

To enjoy great wine doesn't mean a vacation to international wineries in France and Italy. Napa Valley, California is one of the most noted wine regions in the United States - but there are many more wine producing regions in the country worth visiting. The Finger Lakes in upstate New York is another distinguished wine region. (And on and on....)

A great way to try new wines and decide what your preferred wine will be is to take wine tours and go to wine festivals. Here are a few tips.

• For any wine aficionado, a great vacation idea is to visit wineries instead of visiting resorts. For example, on Long Island in New York there are many wineries to visit near the coast. 
• A vacation idea would be to rent a Long Island property, tour a few wineries, and enjoy anupcoming festival like the Long Island Wine Country Annual Harvest Fest Celebration.
• When planning a wine tour, make sure there's a responsible driver for all those who are drinking. 
• A lot of folks trekking to wine country prefer to order a limo or bus service. 
• Do some research on what wineries are nearby and the most popular to visit. Plan to go wine tasting at 3 to 5 wineries for the day and that should suffice. 
• Wine touring doesn't have to be expensive; as a matter of fact, most wineries offer samples of 5 to 8 wines for $5 or less!

Hosting your own wine tasting party is a great way to try new wines from a region and to spend time with family and friends. Host a theme party by either choosing one type of wine served or by choosing different wines produced by the same winery. Depending on the wines chosen, certain types of cheese and chocolates can be paired for an even greater treat. 

Share any other great ways to enjoy the upcoming wine season with us!

Thanks to guest blogger Megan Gates, who is an active blogger and handles communications on behalf of Elliman.com. She provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York City Real Estate, Long Island Rentals, and the latest in architecture, design, and fashion. Follow her on Twitter @ MEGatesDesign.

Design2Share Video Pick: Here's a great basic how-to video from The Cheese Impressario on pairing wine, cheese, and condiments for your next wine tasting party at home.

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Mid-century Modern House Tour in Lawrence, KS

Irwin Weiner ASID - Never judge a house by its exterior! That's the big takeaway I had from the following video house tour in Lawrence, KS. For over 35 years, Dr. Dennis Domer, a Kansas University architectural historian, had been driving past this blah-looking home built in 1956, never dreaming that inside was a mid-century modern gem.

As an interior designer, it's my job to make sure that even if I can't impact the curb appeal or exterior of a home, I sure enough can help the homeowners force their guests to quickly exhale when they enter the home and think, Wow, this is a fantastic surprise; I never dreamed this home would look like this from the outside. Enjoy this house tour and lecture, and look into architect Robert W. Hess for more background on the designer of this Kansas home.

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