"BUILDING A HEALTHIER GOOGLE INITIATIVE"

Artist Ian Ross was challenged by Google to create a mural bringing the outdoors in for Google's new Mountain View, CA office wing.  

His unique "organic style" brings into the office the tranquility of nature.  

As people view these images, the large deer looking directly at them and the smaller ones not aware anyone is there, onlookers realize that perhaps they are in no normal place. They have now entered into a space in which artists are at play and where anything can happen.

 

While this is not a Historic Home, it is inspiring to bring the outdoors in!

ONE OF THE LAST GREAT HOMES OF PALM BEACH IS FOR SALE

In 1919 Addison Mizner built the legendary landmarked Louwana estate at 473 N County Road in Palm Beach.  With 12 bedrooms, 12 full and 3 half baths, this magnificent estate, one of the Great Houses of Palm Beach, is on the waterfront.  This majestically picturesque  home is on a sprawling 1.5 acres has 11,074 living sq ft. and has four interior levels and elevator.  Staff quarters are included.

On the west side of the house there is a salt water pool set in a walled courtyard and floral and rose gardens.  A 2-story tower on the ocean has a living room, bedroom and ladies and men’s baths.  There are 150’ of beautiful direct private beachfront.

Living Room measures a sumptuous 36’ x 24’, has a fireplace and wood floor and ceiling.  Ocean views are spectacular.  Wood ceiling continues into the 32’x18’ dining room which has sets of French doors that open to patio, lawn and ocean.  Floor is tile.    Den also has fireplace, wood ceiling and windows on ocean.

Master bedroom, 30’x24’,with blue walls, has stunning parnoamic ocean view through a series of windows.   Kitchen is 16’x14’.  A guest house, pool house and cabana with a living room, bedroom and his ‘ hers bathrooms,  3-car garage, 4 fireplaces, a tennis court and elevator are also on the property.

Originally listed at $28MM in June 2011, the list price is now $26MM.  The house is an enduring legend of architectural and historic significance.  The home has remained in the possession of the family that originally built it.  

ALERT-MALWARE MAY KNOCK THOUSANDS OFF THE INTERNET ON MONDAY

Crain's NY and other publications are warning computer users that, according to the FBI, there are about 64,000 uses who may be affected.

To check your computer go to http://www.dcwg.org/ and that site can check your computer and supply a fix.

Check it out.

FIRST BOCA RATON MIZNER COTTAGE RECEIVES LANDMARK DESIGNATION

 

During the Florida land boom in 1925, Addison Mizner, famous for his opulent Palm Beach mansions, built a dozen “Mizner Cottages” for the middle class in Spanish Village, on NW 7^th and 8^th Streets between Boca Raton Boulevard and NW 3^rd Avenue.  Mizner had an incredible influence on Boca Raton architecture.

These houses are 850 sq ft while those built for the Mizner Development Corp. executives in Old Floresta, which was designated an historic district in 1990, were about 1200 sq.  

The Spanish Village homes were advertised for $7000 each, not an inexpensive amount by 1920’s standards.  These homes, often owned by professionals who worked for Mizner, repeated the details of the larger, more opulent homes.  Ceilings are pecky cypress, doorways are arched and roofs are barrel tile.

It took the owner of the newly designated landmark home in Spanish Village a year to go through the landmarking process.  They plan to add more modern conveniences to the interior.  Another owner said they were a challenge to maintain as there was no insulation, the foundation was aging and the electrical wiring was old.  Pretty wood floors indicate the foundation does not meet all the joists anymore.   

 Nevertheless, the love of living in a historic home continues.  It is possible that the 11 other Mizner Cottages could also get historic landmark status in time to come.

The Boca Raton Historical Society has information on Mizner’s architectural pursuits which changed the face of architecture in Boca Raton forever.  An interesting book about Addison Mizner is, “Boca Rococo: How Addison Mizner Invented Florida’s Gold Coast”.