Head South of the Border for Design Delights

Sarah Van Arsdale - When thinking of last-minute summer travel, Mexico may not be the first place that comes to mind. But consider this, Señora: airfares to Mexico are lower in the summer, and it won’t be any hotter there than it is in northern North America. Whether you actually go there yourself or just want to enjoy a desktop trip, we’ve found Hacienda Las Trancas: a place that is so beautifully designed it would be a pleasure to visit any time of the year. Let’s take a look at how the designers put it all together to create a space that’s welcoming, soothing, and exciting all at once.

(photo: Hacienda Las Trancas)

After all, design this good knows no season. Let’s start our tour at the front of the building, since we know from the wisdom of feng shui that a welcoming entrance to any building or apartment is crucial in that it sets the tone for the entire experience.

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Eternal Greece

Janet Ramin - One of the greatest gifts Greece gave to civilization was their classical style of architecture. Mention Greek architecture to anyone and images of columns and moldings pop up. Chances are, there's a Greek-style building in your town. The Greek classical style was born in the Golden Age of Greece—during the 5th century BC—and it's never disappeared. Greek architecture has been copied and modified throughout the centuries, right down to the present age. Even the word architecture is Greek in origin; it's from arkhitekto, meaning master builder. 

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