Antique Garden Reproduction

A bit of Santa Fe

When Mark and Kathy Torcaso wed in 1994, merging their lives involved selling two separate houses and starting fresh with a new home that they created together.

They purchased a hillside lot in Los Osos with sweeping vistas of the bay and coastline. Designer William Hurley of Dos Osos Timber Works helped them work out a floor plan, then drew up renditions of three architectural styles: Mediterranean, Spanish, and Santa Fe. “We really liked the way the Santa Fe one looked,” said Kathy. “It suited our informal lifestyle.”

Rural renewal

What would you do with 2,000 square feet of extra space? That’s the question Josh and Stefanie Jacobson had to answer when they upsized to their new Santa Margarita custom home.

The couple had previously lived with their two young children in an urban-style loft above their business, San Luis Obispo screen printing and embroidery company J. Carroll. When they acquired their rural four-acre lot in Santa Margarita, they knew they were in for a dramatic lifestyle change.

“We liked the idea of our kids being able to ride their bikes and run around outside, and also to not have neighbors right next door,” said Stefanie.

A haven of serenity near Laguna Lake

Jonathan and Holly Lindenthaler took what could be called the “three bears” approach to finding the right house.

Their San Luis Obispo family home of 23 years, which architect Jonathan had designed and built, was simply too big once their children had moved out. They moved into a condominium for six years, which proved to be a bit too small — and not conducive to their needs.

“We realized we really preferred more privacy, solitude, and a stable neighborhood,” Holly explained.

Bella casa colonica

Richard and Laura Vorie had never been to Italy when they decided to build their Italian country manor in Avila Beach. Instead, their inspiration came from closer to home.

They had purchased their half-acre hilltop lot and were pondering what to build when they stayed a few nights at Villa Toscana in Paso Robles.

“We really liked the feel of it, and it turned out the architect had just built himself a home in Avila based on an Italian farmhouse theme,” said Laura.

Cherishing the Colony's finest

Three spring home tours offer a glimpse into several historically significant and beautifully designed homes in the county.

Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale brings collectors to New ...

Many homeowners flock to auctions to find antique reproduction furniture that complements their living spaces, but some of the best pieces come from the outdoors.

Recently, the annual Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale debuted at The New York Botanical Garden. For approximately three days, beginning with a preview on April 28, the show drew homeowners and garden enthusiasts alike to The Big Apple. The items for sale ranged from wooden antique reproduction furniture to marble carvings, according to Antiques and the Arts.

According to event organizers, the Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale brought in 10 percent more people than last year. However, many feared that the threat of severe weather would lower the turnout.

“We were under a tornado watch a few hours before show’s preview opened, and had plans to evacuate the tent, but fortunately it did not happen and did not seem to have any bearing on attendance that night,” Caroline Sweeney Singer, director, told the news source.

By the time the clouds parted, some booths were overcrowded by people who had a desire to brave Mother Nature in order to shop.

Some of the most popular pieces at the show were garden accent pieces. Linda and Howard Stein saw success with a French cast iron plant stand dating back to the early 1900s. A bird bath from Solebury, Pennsylvania, circa 1930 also made a splash among buyers.

Michael Trapp, a collector from West Cornwall, Connecticut, also drew crowds with pieces from the early 20th century. A bronze statue of a gladiator dating back to 1920 and a pair of terracotta jars were among the items that had crowds flocking to Trapp’s booth.

Many sellers at the event were relocated to new booth spots, but Barbara Israel Garden Antiques was able to reserve the same area for the event. Among the items that visitors were most interested in were a 1811 painting by Bertel Thorvaldsen and 1920 stone eagles perched on balls.

“The dealers worked hard, brought some wonderful things and set up attractive booths, which made for an interesting and well-attended show,” Singer told the news source.

While some sellers were first-timers at the event, many are people who have returned to continue with their line of success. Homeowners and collectors alike flock to the Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale annually because of the fresh stock of valuables guaranteed at every event.

100 Antiques of the Future

Rooms to remember, interiors inspired by the past

House & garden

Antique & reproduction furniture, tools, architectural and garden ornaments

Magazine of art