Sunday, November 9

The Site of a Wedding


Click to enlarge!

Sometime in the mid 1980's, I did flowers for a wedding in this home of a local businessman. The setting was lovely, and the home was so unusual for this area that I photographed it. Top: the approach to the house, which is almost totally surrounded by lakes.

There are few examples of ultra-modern architecture here in this area. We are prone to have traditional or transitional homes and Craftsman-style cottages. This is rather austere in appearance for Raleigh, except for the size.


The wedding was in early May, and I remember well going into that cold, cold pool to anchor a float which was covered in flowers. Yikes.


This was the first time I had seen a "swim-up" bar anywhere other than a resort. For the wedding reception, the round bar was covered with flooring and the cake sat under that gazebo on a round table. It was a unique setting for the huge five tier cake, large enough to feed 500 people. They had plenty left over, since only about 250 attended the wedding.

The main entrance.

What do you think of post-modern architecture? Could you live in a house like this? How would you furnish it?

17 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

Gorgeous! However, I wouldn't be comfortable living there.

Star said...

I think I could become accustomed to it. My question is, are they still married?

kenju said...

Star, I saw them about 5 years ago, and it was after they'd been married 10 years.

They were still married then and still are, as far as I know. He is so well-known around here, that if they were divorced, I think I'd have heard about it.

Anonymous said...

I think that it's the type of place where one can only live with servants or else have a lot of pep to clean up and keep it reasonably tidy! And even if I could afford it, this wouldn't suit me...
It seems that comments are fixed :)

Rick Rockhill said...

I love the style, its like a different world.

Beverly said...

I don't think I would care to live in a home like that.

Pat said...

Fine for a holiday in the Greek Islands but whilst I can appreciate it - it 'aint my cup of tea.
Apart from the travelling, seeing all those places must have been a terrific bonus and made your work interesting as well as creative.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

pictures, Judy! We have so very many of these types of houses here in Los Angeles....My experience is that how they are furnished really makes all the difference in warming them up and making these austere types of houses a true Home....!
I've never seen a Bar in a pool before....(Even here...lol)..That is quite something, isn't it?
How great that you have all these pictures, and I know you must be glad, too! Such a wondrful reminder of those days of Preperation and ALL the work that went into it, and the Beauty of what you created!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Gid knows where the first part of that FIRST Sentence went...I think I said "What GREAT pictures..."LOL"!

Sky said...

wow! i like ultra modern architecture, but i am not sure i would ever feel at home in it. i imagine i would feel like i was on vacation instead, and my nesting instincts would not become activated. being from the south, i love white houses (1-3 stories) with dark green shutters and white picket fences!

in furnishings i like a mix of it all. i especially love asian antiques. each room of our home has a different style. our master is asian influenced, our office is cape cod with white wood and navy accents and a small navy futon, our living and dining rooms are traditional with a splash of asian. an antique, hand-painted, asian buffet and a large indian silk wall-hanging of small gold and burgundy paisley print with tiny, flat mirrored beads scattered about are in the dining room. the family room is traditional with a splash of asian in pillows and a few pieces of pottery.

it is all fun - mixing and matching and playing with the things we like.

Carolyn said...

I'm w/the majority here. It's nice to visit but... I don't like the entry at all. Bad feng shui! It should be welcoming and warm, something to beckon me, not glaring and mirroring like that.

Frankly it looks too commercial, like a bank or mall entry.

Shelly said...

It's fascinating to me to think that people live like that. It would be fun to live there but I think the maintenance would be overwhelming...I get overwhelmed here at the farm and just one look at all of those windows would scare me away, and I don't really care for the idea of having staff around even if I could afford it. I'd furnish it with an eclectic mix of antique wooden tables with really modern yet comfortable upholstered pieces.
Love looking through all of your old photos...thanks!

sage said...

I love the pines around the house, but that style house isn't for me.

brendalove@gmail.com said...

Only if someone else would clean it for me.

Darlene said...

I visited a Frank Lloyd Wright house once and it was very interesting, but not at all comfortable. Somehow this type of house has a commercial look and looks like it was built for show and not to be lived in.

All said and done, I do like it. I like the symmetry of the architecture.

Pearl said...

I'd have to go for really modernist, minimalist furniture and some sculptures in the spare airy space.

Shephard said...

Nope. Couldn't live there as is. I'd have to redecorate. Or in this case... decorate period.
~S