When graphic designer, Bart Crosby, longed for a serene fishing escape outside of the city on a secluded lake in Northern Wisconsin, Wheeler Kearns Architects delivered just that. The Clearwater Lake Retreat marries a single-story modernist structure with its rustic environment in a flat clearing surrounded by 2.5 acres of woods.
The pavilion-style house is oriented on the land to maximize views out of its two sides made of black-framed windows. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls are flanked by two heavy stone walls that anchor the rectangular structure.
The Clearwater Lake Retreat is crowned with a butterfly-shaped roof that seems to hover over the structure. This roof not only adds a contemporary element above the mix of stones but also extends to create a covered porch on each side, offering the perfect spots for outdoor relaxation.
The interior of this fishing retreat features an open-plan living space, that’s ideal for cooking, entertaining, and relaxation. The two private bedrooms offer private escapes, while a central core volume houses essential functional spaces, including a mechanical room, two bathrooms, and ample storage.
The cabin not only provides a visual connection with nature but also ensures a sustainable connection with the environment. Heating is achieved through hydronic floor heat, radiant tubing within the three-foot thick stone walls, and a wood-burning fireplace that adds a cozy touch to the living area. In the warmer months, the retreat relies on natural ventilation and shade from the surrounding trees to keep things cool and comfortable.
The material palette of neutral colors and earthy textures mirrors the natural surroundings. The exterior features sleek black metal-framed windows set against horizontally stacked stone walls in shades of gray. These same stone walls make an appearance inside with their colors complementing the concrete floors.
Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.
Morocco is becoming increasingly popular among travelers and as a destination that offers palace-like accommodation in Riads, endless shopping in the Souks and impressive nature experiences including camping in the Sahara Desert it’s not hard to see why. Perhaps though, it’s time for a simple guide on visiting Morocco without leaving a douchebag impression, because a few little changes can go a long way to make sure you have a wonderful (and safe) travel experience as well as travel with respect to the area you are visiting.
Before I visited Morocco, I read many blog posts and reviews which said things like “there’s no need to cover up because people know you’re a tourist.”
Insert massive face palm here.
Anyone who gives that advice has completely missed the point of why you cover up. It’s not to blend in. It’s out of respect for the local culture of which you are a guest. Put it this way, when I visit America and I go to a restaurant, I can’t use my “get-out-of-tipping-free-because-I’m-a-tourist” card. Instead, I leave a tip because that’s the way they do things there, I’m a guest and will be respectful of the social norms. It’s the same principle when deciding what to wear.
Put in that little extra effort and cover yourself from shoulders to knees.
Haggling is common practice in the Souks and other marketplaces, but I think there is such a thing as over-haggling.
For many of us travelers visiting Morocco, everything is so cheap as it is, we have a good exchange rate and are obviously privileged enough to go traveling to new countries. Haggling down to the last cent with someone whose quality of life is not quite as privileged as you just screams greediness.
There’s something to be said for giving back to the places we visit, so by all means haggle a little but keep yourself in check before you rip off people who probably need that dollar more than you.
If you are walking through the alleyways of the Medina, remember to walk to the right.
Motorcycles and scooters will go whizzing by you in these narrow streets and, though they navigate the obstacles with ease, it’s douchey to make yourself an obstacle while you wander along slowly walking in the middle of the street.
Or worse, blocking the street to take *another* photo of one of the gorgeous doors.
Stick to the right when you walk and if you stop to take a photo, stand to one side as oppose to the middle of the street.
Don’t Support Animal Cruelty
Unfortunately, Morocco is not exempt to the exploitation of animals for the entertainment of tourists.
In the Jemaa el-Fna square it won’t take you long to find examples of this from monkeys on chains performing backflips to snakes being “charmed” for tips. While I was there I witnessed one of the stressed-out monkeys get kicked repeatedly by the “owner” after it wouldn’t perform a backflip when on the command. There were even tourists feeding monkeys chocolate to get them to jump on their shoulder for photos at Ouzoud Waterfalls.
Part of not being a douchebag tourist is not supporting tourist activities that cause suffering to others.
Walking into a person’s stall or store, taking a bunch of photos for the ’gram and walking out is straight douchey. Yet I saw it a lot on my recent visit and even saw that some store owners had placed signs up in an attempt to combat the behavior.
Of course the colorful displays of spices are eye-catching, the rugs are unique and the shiny trinkets are like being in the cave of wonders itself, but at least buy a little something while you’re there or leave a tip for the store owner.
Morocco is a wonderful country to visit with an energy and ambiance like no other. Over and over again the people I met during my visit were nothing but friendly and helpful. Visiting as a solo female traveler, I was nervous at first but was quick to realize that it wasn’t all as scary as the media made it seem and I felt safe the entire time I was there.
I believe that if you assume the worst in people, you will find it.
Open your heart, put your biases aside and enjoy what Morocco has to offer.
If you’re planning a visit to beautiful Morocco, stay tuned at The Katie Show Blog for more info and trip planning advice. The Katie Show Blog is also on social media: Instagram, Twitter & Facebook.
On the 18th floor of the tallest residential building in Poznan, Poland, the 18TH Apartment, with just under 700 square feet, has been reimagined by wiercinski-studio. With an emphasis on functionality and views of the city, this apartment blends minimalism, a natural color palette, and custom details for a unique, yet cozy interior.
A subdued, light background serves as the canvas for natural oak and black grids of ceramic tiles. The elements adorn the walls and baseboards by the floor, creating a visually striking contrast that elevates the space’s aesthetic.
The 18TH Apartment faces Poznan’s western horizon, giving residents full views of the sunset, which casts warm orange light throughout the interior.
The kitchen takes center stage, with dramatic light changes as the sun sets. The patterned granite changes in appearance with the shifting daylight, acting as a dynamic, ever-evolving piece of art within the apartment. Its format and colors interact with the surroundings, turning the space into a living canvas.
The main focus behind the project was to enhance functionality while maximizing the use of the glass facade that spans the entire width of the apartment. The clever use of sliding panels creates flex spaces, transforming the apartment from open and communal to private and intimate at will.
To complete the interior, custom furniture and details crafted by Adam Wiercinski round out the design. These unique pieces, created in collaboration with local artisans, infuse the apartment with a distinctive character that sets it apart from the ordinary. Steel, stone, natural oak, and glass combine to deliver a seamless and elegant finish that appeals to the discerning resident.
Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.
Morocco is becoming increasingly popular among travelers and as a destination that offers palace-like accommodation in Riads, endless shopping in the Souks and impressive nature experiences including camping in the Sahara Desert it’s not hard to see why. Perhaps though, it’s time for a simple guide on visiting Morocco without leaving a douchebag impression, because a few little changes can go a long way to make sure you have a wonderful (and safe) travel experience as well as travel with respect to the area you are visiting.
Before I visited Morocco, I read many blog posts and reviews which said things like “there’s no need to cover up because people know you’re a tourist.”
Insert massive face palm here.
Anyone who gives that advice has completely missed the point of why you cover up. It’s not to blend in. It’s out of respect for the local culture of which you are a guest. Put it this way, when I visit America and I go to a restaurant, I can’t use my “get-out-of-tipping-free-because-I’m-a-tourist” card. Instead, I leave a tip because that’s the way they do things there, I’m a guest and will be respectful of the social norms. It’s the same principle when deciding what to wear.
Put in that little extra effort and cover yourself from shoulders to knees.
Haggling is common practice in the Souks and other marketplaces, but I think there is such a thing as over-haggling.
For many of us travelers visiting Morocco, everything is so cheap as it is, we have a good exchange rate and are obviously privileged enough to go traveling to new countries. Haggling down to the last cent with someone whose quality of life is not quite as privileged as you just screams greediness.
There’s something to be said for giving back to the places we visit, so by all means haggle a little but keep yourself in check before you rip off people who probably need that dollar more than you.
If you are walking through the alleyways of the Medina, remember to walk to the right.
Motorcycles and scooters will go whizzing by you in these narrow streets and, though they navigate the obstacles with ease, it’s douchey to make yourself an obstacle while you wander along slowly walking in the middle of the street.
Or worse, blocking the street to take *another* photo of one of the gorgeous doors.
Stick to the right when you walk and if you stop to take a photo, stand to one side as oppose to the middle of the street.
Don’t Support Animal Cruelty
Unfortunately, Morocco is not exempt to the exploitation of animals for the entertainment of tourists.
In the Jemaa el-Fna square it won’t take you long to find examples of this from monkeys on chains performing backflips to snakes being “charmed” for tips. While I was there I witnessed one of the stressed-out monkeys get kicked repeatedly by the “owner” after it wouldn’t perform a backflip when on the command. There were even tourists feeding monkeys chocolate to get them to jump on their shoulder for photos at Ouzoud Waterfalls.
Part of not being a douchebag tourist is not supporting tourist activities that cause suffering to others.
Walking into a person’s stall or store, taking a bunch of photos for the ’gram and walking out is straight douchey. Yet I saw it a lot on my recent visit and even saw that some store owners had placed signs up in an attempt to combat the behavior.
Of course the colorful displays of spices are eye-catching, the rugs are unique and the shiny trinkets are like being in the cave of wonders itself, but at least buy a little something while you’re there or leave a tip for the store owner.
Morocco is a wonderful country to visit with an energy and ambiance like no other. Over and over again the people I met during my visit were nothing but friendly and helpful. Visiting as a solo female traveler, I was nervous at first but was quick to realize that it wasn’t all as scary as the media made it seem and I felt safe the entire time I was there.
I believe that if you assume the worst in people, you will find it.
Open your heart, put your biases aside and enjoy what Morocco has to offer.
If you’re planning a visit to beautiful Morocco, stay tuned at The Katie Show Blog for more info and trip planning advice. The Katie Show Blog is also on social media: Instagram, Twitter & Facebook.
What is the future of the modern home going to look like? According to LG Electronics, it should be smaller, smarter, modular, and markedly more energy efficient (and of course, operated by their own ThinQ app). Such prognostication takes form in the LG Smart Cottage, a pre-fabricated residence fully stocked with the Korean brand’s line of premium appliances and high energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions.
LG Smart Cottage showcases the brand’s smart home appliances and integrated app-controlled features, with energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC,) and solar energy solutions keeping the home comfortable.
Despite the decor and lifestyle associations attached to the word “cottage,” the LG interpretation more closely resembles other contemporary prefabricated structure rather than any countryside abode. LG did make efforts to give their hi-tech small home some invitingly homey details, using touches of warm hardwood, tile, and fabric finishes throughout to project the brand’s “gentle, stable, and refined” ethos, partnering with European timber prefab company Dan-Wood to bring the latest showcase home to life for the IFA 2023 technology show in Berlin.
The structure itself is realized in a “Sea Ranch exterior meets Silicon Valley condo” aesthetic, and has been presented with both lighter and darker themed interiors and exteriors (the 2023 IFA showcase took on a more darkly themed interior than previous iterations).
As part of LG’s Better Life for All initiative, the two-story, studio-style layout is all about optimized functionality, space efficiency, and eco-conscious performance, all with creature comforts one might expect from an idealized home of the future.
Everything LG is integrated level where one cannot separate the technologies from the home, and vice versa, with various built-in kitchen appliances, the WashTower Compact, QuadWash dishwasher, a water purifier, and the Therma V Monobloc air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) for cooling and heating, all stamped with LG’s moniker. And of course, everything is operable and customizable using LG’s smart home centerpiece technology, ThinQ connectivity.
While not designed as a fully off-the-grid residence, the LG Smart Cottage partially self-produces its own power via solar panels installed across its slanted roof. The roof-mounted 4-kilowatt (kW) solar panels are paired with the company’s Energy Storage System (ESS) allowing homeowners to collect and store solar power for use when needed, generating as much as 15 kilowatts of electricity per day.
Over the years we’ve seen numerous prefabricated homes built with similar high-minded intentions. Brands like Muji and Vipp have also designed similar architectural solutions featuring optimized efficiencies and furnished with turnkey features designed for modern living to varying degree of sustainability and attainability; pre-planned communities like Serenbe propose a more interpretable architectural canvas. But none of these homes of the future – LG designed or otherwise – have become a reality addressing the challenges of turning an innovative home concept into a scalable and livable place to call home for the many.
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Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.
With remote working comes freedom and flexibility — but sometimes working from home can get a little stuffy. Coworking spaces provide freelancers with a shared work space that’s affordable, as well as a community of fellow-freelancers for making connections and building friendships. As the job market continues to shift, creating more and more remote positions, coworking spaces are also beginning to steadily pop up across the globe.
Rounded up below are 20 of the best coworking spaces in the world, taking into account aesthetics, wifi capabilities, location, and communities.
Hubud in Bali, Indonesia
At the bamboo haven of Hubud, you’ll find Bali’s fastest internet connection, an assortment of micro-environments that foster both socializing and solitude, and a cohort of ambitious remote workers. A main room, loft, organic cafe, garden area, conference room, meeting room, and Skype booth make up the Bali facilities, and Hubud even offers coliving packages that include accommodations, a rental scooter, airport pickup, and an unlimited coworking space membership.
NeueHouse in Hollywood, California
You’ll find NeueHouse in the heart of Hollywood in the landmarked CBS Radio Building. With seven stories of working spaces (including recording studios used by the likes of Orson Welles, Lucille Ball, and Bob Dylan), NeueHouse members are often involved in the film, design, fashion, architecture, and publishing industries of Los Angeles, creating an eclectic crowd of artists and entrepreneurs. Two outdoor decks also take advantage of L.A.’s phenomenal weather, so there’s no chance of cabin fever.
The Work Project in Hong Kong, China
Created by hoteliers who know the ins and outs of hospitality, The Work Project in Hong Kong feels more like a luxury resort than it does an office (and we mean that in a good way!). Ergonomically designed and beautifully decorated, The Work Project pulls out all the stops for its members, including custom-blended tea, a customized music selection, mail handling, and a carefully curated daily food selection.
Patchwork in Paris
You’ll find Patchwork in the heart of Paris. This unique coworking space clearly gets its name from its colorful interior design and conceptual basis of bringing together designers, architects, bloggers, photographers, creators, and entrepreneurs into one space. You can acquire membership for either the shared coworking space, an open space desk, an office, or a meeting room.
BeacHub in Koh Phangan, Thailand
Located on one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches, BeacHub offers ocean breeze inspiration and fiber optic wifi. Members work at a beachfront shared desk, have beach and shower access, and can dine at Karma Beach Kafe (one of Thailand’s finest dining establishments). Hammocks are also available for lounging and working, making BeacHub the ultimate beachfront coworking space.
B. Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam’s former IBM headquarters is now home to one of the city’s coolest coworking spaces. B. Amsterdam offers memberships for both fixed desks and flex desks, depending on your budget. All B. Amsterdam members also get access to the building’s gym, events, photo studios, and the rooftop garden. A fresh, daily lunch is available on-site for those who are interested.
Ministry of New in Mumbai, India
Located in Mumbai, India, Ministry of New provides a main 2200 square foot workspace for members, along with a high-ceilinged quiet space, four naturally-lit team rooms, an outdoor-indoor corridor, breathtaking views, a cafe space, and multiple meeting rooms. Beautifully designed and decorated, this unique coworking space provides the perfect combination of retreat and socialization.
The Working Capitol in Keong Saik, Singapore
The Working Capitol is a newer coworking space with a well thought out list of amenities and intentionally designed work areas. Lounge and breakout areas can be found amongst the phone booths, event spaces, meeting rooms, and shared desk areas, as well as showers, a magazine library, an on-site cafe, storage lockers, and even a weekly members’ lunch.
Dojo in Bali, Indonesia
Only a one-minute walk from Echo Beach, Dojo offers a versatile workspace for freelancers wanting to create an enjoyable work-life balance. This two-story venue is surrounded by lush, tropical gardens, filled with air-conditioned conference rooms, and contains both open spaces and nooks for collaborative or individual work. The real clincher though? The pool.
Factory Berlin in Berlin, Germany
With over 16,000 square meters of office space, Factory Berlin is the coworking home to some of the top technology businesses in the world. Marketing itself as a “business club” the networking at this coworking space is top notch, as are the facilities, which boast everything from yoga lessons to flex desks to outdoor patio access.
The Farm in New York City, New York
While it might be situated in the world’s busiest concrete jungle, The Farm creates a friendly, relaxed working space that provides a warm interior reminiscent of a farmhouse and an even warmer community of supportive members. Access to this space is available 24/7 with monthly membership, and remote workers have the choice between shared desks or having a dedicated desk.
Betahaus in Barcelona, Spain
This six floor coworking space never gets boring with a ground floor cafe, patio, and classroom space. Continue upward to find the first floor coworking space and meeting rooms, a second floor coworking space and terrace, a four floor event space, a fifth floor siesta club, and a rooftop terrace. Located in the gorgeous city of Barcelona, Betahaus provides the perfect space for working, hosting an event, networking, and socializing.
WeWork Weihai Lu in Shanghai, China
WeWork has garnered a name for itself across the map, but its Shanghai, China office is one that has us doing a double-take. WeWork Weihai Lu can be found in a once historical London style mansion transformed into a modern workspace. Micro-roasted coffee, printing, private phone booths, high speed internet, and weekly networking events (including happy hours!) are just some of the perks.
Parisoma in San Francisco, California
Want to bring your dog to the office? Need somewhere to park your bike? Craving a complimentary breakfast every Friday? The Bay Area’s Parisoma meets all of these needs for its coworking members, and then some. This dynamic work space combines open office table seating with dedicated desks and private offices to create an exciting hub for freelancers. And did we mention they serve PHILZ coffee?
Punspace Nimman in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Along with having a well-designed interior, Punspace also has a charming front courtyard for those days when you feel like working under the sun, or simply taking a break to relax outside. Amenities include Skype rooms, private offices, lockers, and even an additional membership at the Tha Phae Gate location of Punspace.
CoworkingC in Las Palmas, Spain
CoworkingC provides a small and intimate coworking space where everybody knows each other’s names. Along with being all about community, this coworking space is only steps away from the beach, where unlimited surfing with CsC is provided. Need somewhere that balances hi-speed wifi with island life? CoworkingC is your spot.
OPEN in Johannesburg, Africa
Combining the best of physical and virtual environments, OPEN is Johannesburg’s gem coworking space. Different membership types allow for hotdesking, booking boardrooms, and free printing. You can also begin a tab at the coffee bar with member-only prices or a take a swing on the professional indoor putting green.
Duke Studios in Leeds, England
If you’re looking for a hip, creatively driven coworking space in vicinity of Leeds, England, you should definitely look into getting yourself a membership at Duke Studios. Offering coworking space, desk rentals, and even studio space, you really have your pick of arrangements here. It's beautiful, it's affordable, and it's full of interesting people — what else could you ask for?
BoxJelly in Honolulu, Hawaii
BoxJelly is Hawaii’s first coworking space, and the founder has placed an emphasis on the community aspect of coworking, helping to foster a safe space for collaboration and networking between members and non-members alike. A phone booth, conference room, and multiple corporate rooms are available, as well as a shared coworking space for all members.
Workplace One in East Toronto, Canada
Located a short walk from Downtown Toronto, Workplace One’s locale is as attractive as its interior (dozens of designer shops and artisanal cafes surround the area). Smartly designed work spaces serve the lively and cultured atmosphere that exists here, making an innovative and inspiring space of entrepreneurship.
Originally written by Chelsey Grasso on Remote.com
Catherine and VW Fowlkes attended architectural school together – not at the same place (Catherine graduated from MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning, VW from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design) but at the same time: “We lived together and had our own shared hell together,” says Catherine, with a smile. “I can’t imagine living with someone who was not understanding of the maybe false urgency that I felt, at all times. It was incredibly stressful as well as exhilarating – so it would be really hard to communicate to someone who wasn’t going through that, what the big deal was. Why are you so excited?”
Now, they share their personal lives and their business, Fowlkes Studio, in Washington, DC. For this week’s Milkshake, we asked them what it was like working in one of the world’s power capitals. “DC has a lot of, let’s say, Type A people – a lot of busy people, though I don’t think that’s necessarily unique to Washington,” Catherine says. “A lot of our clients are stressed, they’re busy, and to the extent that we can make their home an oasis, it can be calm, maybe they even feel like they’re on vacation in their own home – those are parts of the conversation we’re having.” VW adds: “There’s a cliché that people have “power walls” in their houses, like pictures of them shaking hands with senators,” VW says. “I don’t think we’ve done that – but it is true that it’s known to be a conformist town, and there’s a lot of historic preservation regulations in many neighborhoods. From an architectural standpoint, they tend to be a little bit more traditional in the front, and then clients give us license to be a little bit more daring in the back.”
Also in this week’s Milkshake, the Fowlkes share how they integrate craftsmanship into their residential projects, and what makes DC architecturally unique from other big cities in America – from sites like the National Cathedral and the street grid to the design elements that make the city’s embassies relevant to their countries. “The embassies in DC are very unique to Washington for obvious reasons, and the architecture of those embassies varies, of course, from country to country,” Catherine says. VW says: “Some of them are old mansions that have been kind of retrofitted into embassies, but many are reflective of those national identities. And it was really interesting as a child seeing that – in fact, I thought I wanted to go into the foreign service because I was so fascinated by the embassies. It never occurred to me that it was the architecture that was making me excited. Brazil’s, by [Oscar] Niemeyer, is one we drove by all the time – it’s a big glass cube on a smaller glass cube, and it’s out there. It was dazzling as a child.” For more, tune in!
Diana Ostrom, who has written for Wallpaper, Interior Design, ID, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets, is also the author of Faraway Places, a newsletter about travel.
Milkshake, DMTV (Design Milk TV)’s first regular series, shakes up the traditional interview format by asking designers, creatives, educators and industry professionals to select interview questions at random from their favorite bowl or vessel. During their candid discussions, you’ll not only gain a peek into their personal homeware collections, but also valuable insights into their work, life and passions.
High school sweethearts and Wisconsinites Sara Zoellick and Matt Boelter grew up just outside Madison, the state’s capital city. These days, though, the couple of more than a decade proudly calls Milwaukee home.
“After going to different colleges, we moved in together in Milwaukee and we’ve been here ever since,” Zoellick said. “We love Milwaukee, it’s really a part of who we are.”
The couple recently put down permanent roots in the city, buying a light-filled condo that sits right alongside the Milwaukee River.
It was only fitting that when they said “I do” in October 2016, they did so at the gorgeous Milwaukee County Courthouse.
Heather Cook Elliott Photography
The couple said they love the grandeur of the Milwaukee County Courthouse building.
Then, they celebrated with a sunset river cruise with their closest friends and family. Local photographer Heather Cook Elliot was there to capture both events.
“We loved the art deco architecture of Milwaukee County Courthouse and it just seemed so effortless to us. We felt a big wedding just wasn’t our style,” Zoellick told HuffPost. “Plus, the small wedding gave us what we really wanted, which is to always be on a boat!”
Below, Zoellick and Boelter, who are approaching their first wedding anniversary, share more special moments from the big day. Be sure to follow along with us as we profile couples marrying at city halls around the country for HuffPost’s Listen To America bus tour.
Who did you choose to invite and include in your wedding?
SZ: We had four couples in our bridal party, not counting us. I feel like couples think that just because you are getting married at the courthouse, you can’t have a bridal party ― not true. We planned our wedding in six weeks, and were very fortunate that most of our friends could join us on the big day. Our immediate families and bridal party were there for the ceremony which took place in the judge’s chamber. I bet we were pushing 20 in that room!
The couple -- and friends and family -- arrive at the ceremony.
Tell us a little bit about what your wore that day. Any special signficance?
SZ: My engagement ring was a sapphire ring gifted to Matt from his grandmother shortly before she passed. We made our wedding bands from his grandpa’s wedding ring, and we were able to use the metal and stones in both our bands.
My “something old” was my great grandmother’s 1933 art deco engagement ring. She and I shared the same birthday so that was very nice to be able to include so much history in our wedding.
Matt had sapphire earrings made for me as a wedding gift to match my engagement ring (“something blue”). My wedding dress was from BHLDN.
MB: Sara’s gift to me were antique Scottish Thistle cufflinks. We went to Scotland as part of our honeymoon.
Heather Cook Elliott Photography
The bride went to BHLDN for her dress. "When you plan a wedding in six weeks, you need a dress that fits and can be taken home that day."
What was your favorite part about the wedding day, or your favorite detail?
MB: We love our wedding bands. We tell everyone about them. We love history and it means so much to the both of us that we can add our story to our heirloom rings. We really enjoyed working the designers and being apart of the creative process.
Heather Cook Elliott Photography
Bling details on the left and a brandy sweet, one of two cocktail options at the wedding, on the right.
SZ: I would add that we both loved spending the morning with our best friends. We got ready at home. At the time our friends lived right above us and the boys got ready at their apartment and the girls downstairs at our condo. The boys decorated our 1983 blue moped with beer cans and just married sign for our first look. So great!
Heather Cook Elliott Photography
"We let Milwaukee and the professionals do the heavy lifting and we just enjoyed the day," Sara said.
What were your post-wedding festivities like?
The rest of our invitees (about 60 total) joined us for a cocktail cruise and first dances on the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. Afterward, we hosted a dinner reception at one of our local bars, Paddy’s Pub. The boating was our favorite part of the reception ― we love showing off Milwaukee, and it looks so amazing from the water!
Heather Cook Elliott Photography
The couple take a special pride in introducing close friends to all that Milwaukee has to offer.
What do you love most about living in your city? What’s your ideal date night there?
SZ: We really enjoy the amenities of a big city in a small town package. Our ideal date night would be a hike up the Milwaukee River Greenway to the Hubbard Park Beer Garden for a liter and a concert. Then, we’ll stroll the city streets back home and critique the mix of old Victorian houses amidst modern construction. In the summer there is always a festival, block party, or concert to go to, and if the weather is bad we can choose between a hot new restaurant or a classic supper club like Jack Pandl’s for a good ol’ fish fry and an old-fashioned.
In winter we like to cozy up to an old hotel fireplace (our favorite spot for that is Hotel Pfister) or just put on the snow boots and head down to our local bar ― Just Art’s Saloon ― for pizza and to complain about the weather. Art’s isn’t for everyone but its totally for us. Makes you feel like you are back home in a small town. Everyone knows everyone.
Located within the Pilsen–Lochotín district of Pilsen, Czech Republic, the Double Gable House, designed by PRO-STORY, breathes new life into a once-forgotten row of semi-detached family houses, each of which have been reimagined thereby changing the neighborhood’s original scale. After the surge of renovations and additions where the original character has been altered, the Double Gable House is doing more than just preserving history – it’s helping to redefine it.
The most striking feature of the renovation is the introduction of two archetypal gabled roofs, elevating the property’s exterior while creating a dynamic and inviting interior. The house now boasts different floor levels, wooden mezzanines, and an open roof volume that invites an abundance of natural light. To balance the light with privacy, PRO-STORY incorporated windows adorned with wooden battens, offering a play of light and shadow while maintaining the occupants’ seclusion.
What sets the Double Gable House apart is its seamless blend of old and new. The project preserves the historical elements of the facade, contrasting them with contemporary additions. The original plastered facades now match with a fresh coat of white paint, while new wooden windows embrace a minimalist yet modern design ethos. The gables, roof, and garden facade are clad in wooden slats, creating a visual unity that marries the past and the present.
The side entry leads visitors through a passageway clad in vertical wooden slats before arriving at a sunny yellow door.
The ground floor features a children’s room, bathroom, and a spacious living room that connects to the rear garden. Meanwhile, the top floor boasts a second children’s room and the primary suite, complete with a private bathroom and access to a mezzanine.
The primary bathroom secures natural light through its glass wall, which also allows views from the living room downstairs and the mezzanine across the void.
The same yellow from the front door carries over to the kitchen cabinet uppers, adding visual interest with the happy hue and offset design.
In lieu of a typical staircase handrail, PRO-STORY incorporated a doubled-sided wall of bookshelves for maximum storage.
Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.
