18 April 2010
JTO Designers: The Outside-In and Vice-Versa
Posted by mjohnson under: Cara's Corner; Guests' Reviews .
We’re continuing our dialogue with the dynamic duo, Gino Dreese and Troy Williams—gifted landscape and home interior designers. As we last discussed Gino and Troy are the mad geniuses behind the transporting uniqueness of Joshua Tree Oasis vacation resort. The two have designed homes for residences all over the country and attack each project with the same passion as is visible throughout each interior and exterior at Joshua Tree Oasis.
One of the most compelling aspects to this exquisite desert retreat is the fact that the outside and inside feel seamless. Look again and you’ll notice that as funky as some of the elements they’ve chosen to be imbedded within the walls and fireplace and nooks and corners outside and inside— from terra cotta heads and tea cups, to watch fobs and coins, the “unfunky”, natural materials they’ve picked are true to the pure desert landscape. You won’t find river rock or Sedona rock here. They would look fake and out of synch. So the granite and lava rock and basalt are soothing to experience because they are indigenous to the area. There’s nothing jarring or discordant about them because there’s a purity to everything. The outside and inside truly flow together. The designers said that they equally consider how the home is affected by seasonal changes and what kind of ongoing maintenance might be required.
“Every window offers its own scene—a view that’s like a work of art in and of itself,” Gino explains. “That’s our goal for every place we design,” Troy affirms. “…if we’re working with a place that has hills or fences close to the home we create as much breathing space, as much dimension as we can. We take a minimalist approach and work closely with the owners—so every pond, every fountain, every piece of sculpture all need to be true to what you see from the outside looking in and vice-versa. If it’s too frenetic, too busy and jars your senses from peace and tranquility, then it’s not a good fit.” Unless the home owner has requested a wild and upside-down look and feel, they both laugh. They can make that happen, too. But, thankfully, not in Joshua Tree Oasis which is peace personified—thanks to the beauty of the desert and the brilliant visionaries who love and honor it, Gino and Troy.
TO BE CONTINUED: Next week—“Choosing from Nature’s Palette-Pleasing Colors”
-Cara Wilson Granat
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