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Where's Ralph?

Where is Ralph Lauren?  Don't you see Ralph shooting an ad here in amongst the horses and stables. The models are leading a gorgeous horse around the beautiful tree lined property. Okay it's a little cliche but you get the picture. Wouldn't you want to throw up a tent and have your wedding here?  Look at that stable. It's huge and fancy with that red roof and copper cupolas. And what about the white fencing and gorgeous mature growth trees. The house is what you would expect to see, a large white colonial with years of history to recommend it. Oh and it is a  hilltop location with a view of the water. I'd say a spring or fall wedding for sure. Now that I am on a roll. It's a perfect backdrop for a hoedown. Bring on the tent, dance floor, fiddle players and BBQ.

View location S118 and imagine your own event. You really can't go wrong. Feel free to contact me about locations, production services and scouting at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Rejuvenation!

The year was 1827 or there abouts. The house was surrounded by farmland, smallish in size, it had low beamed ceilings, wide plank wood floors, narrow windows and a brick fireplace for heat.  Flash forward to 2010 and it is surrounded by vineyards, sizeable by any standards and painstakingly rejuvenated. It combines the old house which apparently had good bones with a contemporary addition to provide room for a luxurious kitchen, living room and master bedroom.

First and foremost, the owners wanted to pay close attention to restoring the original house to it's 19th century glory. They retained as much of the old house as possible and lovingly brought it back to life. Once you enter the front door, to your right is the dining room with a brick fireplace. Note the pine floors and wood beams that extend from points on the walls, surround the doors and cross the ceilings. Note the doors and windows, most of which are original, again beautiful warn wood that you cannot begin to recreate. To the left of the front door is a study. A narrow steep staircase leads you up to the two bedrooms, one small with a peaked ceiling and one larger with a wood beamed ceiling. Modern bathrooms on each floor are the only signs that speak to the modern world.

Walk through the doorway to the kitchen and you've entered the 21st century. The transition is not as stark as you would think. Yes, there are all the modern amenities you could want. And yes the ceilings are higher and the rooms bigger. But note the subtle color transition in the floors and walls, the beamed walls and ceilings and the wide plank floors. Wander into the living room with a stone floor to ceiling two-sided fireplace that has a sun-soaked sitting room on the other side. The ensuite bedroom upstairs is an oasis with a stone fireplace extended from the one below and a deck overlooking the vineyard.

To get a look at how old meets new, click on location N206. Please feel free to contact me about this location and others at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

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A Modern Twist

I love modern architecture. I love every little detail. I want to exist in the brain of this architect. I have lots of questions. What was the thinking behind the design of this house? What is behind the fairy tale quality? At the risk of putting a label on it, I want to call it modern/contemporary with a flight of whimsical fancy thrown in for good measure. You'll understand when you see the photos.

When you drive up to the main house it appears somewhat contemporary, a shingled house with a deep front  porch decked with a hammock. But walk around back and the whole picture changes. First, the main house takes on a different look. There is an octagon shaped porch that comes to a turret point at the top. The porch combined with chimneys on either side make it look almost castle like. Make an about face and there is a guest house/studio which is decidedly "alice in wonderland" dreamy with a steep set of stairs climbing to a wisteria covered canopy.

 The interior of both the main and guest houses evokes a clean summery feeling with white walls, butterscotch wood furniture and gorgeous wood floors. I felt that if you lived in this house, it would always be sunny. I love that all of the furniture was designed for the house. It adds to the castle meets princess fairy tale feeling with the high ladder back dining chairs and a fireplace that pushes out from the house with clear sides to be seen from the outside as well as inside. Climb one of the matching staircases on either side of the living room to the bedroom. There are dressers affixed to the walls, a glass table that doubles as a skylight to the downstairs and the is bed strategically placed between the two stairwells.

I've described this house as whimsical fairy tale castle-like but there is nothing child-like about it. The design is so sophisticated in its detail. You just want to wander around and take note of every last feature. View location S117. As always, please feel free to inquire about this location at my new website, www.locatethis.net, email me at info@locatethis.net or call me at 631-805-6252.

That View

No matter where you are there's that view. Breakfast on the porch. There's the view. Lounge on the chaise for two. There's the view. Stretch out on the hammock. There's the view. Sit around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. There's the view. It's not just a "oh there's the beach" view either. It's a full throttle on a cliff overlooking the water view.

Of course that's not the only detail worth mentioning. The deep porch is really an extra room with plenty of lounging and dining space. Walk inside from the porch and you get a full look at the living and dining rooms. The fireplace can be seen from both rooms which is a nice touch as the seasons change. The green, white and blue colors feel beachy and fresh. Dark wood floors, animal print rugs and cushions create additional warmth.

Each bedroom has it's own unique feel. The master bedroom features chocolate, pale blues and white and is strategically placed to enjoy the overlook. The rest have batik bed coverings, animal skin rugs and ornate bed frames. The color palette flows nicely throughout the house tying it all together.

It's tucked into the side of a hill surrounded by full growth trees. Once you curve down the driveway, you feel like you've been dropped into the middle of nowhere. That view draws you in immediately. You sit down, look out and breath a sign of relief.

View the view (location S116). Contact me with any inquiries at 631.805.6252 or info@locatethis.net.

What If?

We all ask ourselves "What if...? What if I had a million dollars? What if I could live the rest of my life in Tuscany? What if I were given a raw space in Manhattan to do with whatever I wanted? Okay so it's more like fantasizing. But you get the idea. This Manhattan raw space comes with several floors. As I was wandering around my head was spinning with possibilities. First, it's uber spacious. Second, the windows are big and in some cases floor to ceiling. Third and this seals the deal, there is an incredible rooftop with a view of the Empire State Building. At this point my "what if" kicks into high gear. Can I have a deck, lots of trees, maybe a small plot of grass, lots of chaise lounges and what are we gonna do with that exquisitely beautiful dome shaped thingy. As you can imagine, my "what ifs" grew from there. What if there is inclement weather but I still want to be on the rooftop. How great would it be to create an enclosure that still takes advantage of the view?

I think my tour guide had to rouse me out of my fantasy. Oh, this isn't my beautiful place to do with whatever I want? Oh, I am here to talk about how this can be used for a shoot of some kind. Okay, I can do that kind of "what if". What if you use it as a back drop for some fabulous haute couture clothing. Throw in a few props, lean the model against one of the pillars or near the wide floor to ceiling windows. Or a chase scene a la "Law and Order" up the stair wells to the rooftop where the bad guy hides in the dome thingy. You can play "what if" by viewing Location N001 under photo albums. Contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252 with any inquiries.

Just Relax

This home exudes peace, quiet and relaxation. It's tucked away on a quiet road, the beach grass on either side of the driveway luring you in for a peek. You really want to explore the grounds first. As you wander around, seating vignettes reveal themselves just on the edge of the woods surrounding the property.

Wooden gates open to the garden where you'll find a swath of wild flowers and a well groomed vegetable patch. Seating vignette number one is a small round table

with an umbrella. Head toward the furthest point to seating vignette number two with weathered adirondack chairs. The next vignette is a cushioned wood bench followed by the ultimate seating vignette in the form of a sauna.

If you can tear yourself away from the spa, continue your tour to the deck which extends down one entire side of the house. Again, more outdoor seating outside the living room and the master bedroom. Oh and there's one more seating vignette, a round table and chairs in yet another oh so private part of the yard. What number are we up to now? I think it's seven.

Suddenly you begin to wonder if the home owners ever spend anytime indoors. You walk toward the side door to see what the inside is all about and find yet more inviting chairs on the porch. You finally drag yourself inside. All that sitting around has you so relaxed that you need a nap. The interior reveals an open floor plan and high vaulted ceilings. My favorite feature which can be found in the living/dining area and the master bedroom is the extra wide screened opening. If you didn't quite get how much they appreciate their surroundings yet, it will become clear now. In essence you are once again sitting outside.

The furnishings are elegant in their simplicity. The color palette includes subtle whites and grays with splashes of red that match the entrance-way doors. You can envision a fall day with a fire in the stone

fireplace. You are gazing out the window enthralled with the fall colors.Perhaps a few minutes in one of the many outdoor seating areas is in order. It's important to just relax and commune with nature. Location S115 can be found under photo albums. Please feel free to contact me regarding this location at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Mississippi Juke Joint

The minute you step into the barn you are transported back in time and across state lines. Actually the time warp feeling starts as the barn comes into view. It is dark and weathered with an old red and white Phillips 66 sign near the entrance. The interior is full of antique signs, album covers and furniture. The center of the barn is set up for music and dancing. On one side of the dance floor there is a room with a pool table, juke box and a wood burning stove. On the other side is a kitchen with an antique fridge, coke machine and sink.   Climb the staircase to the loft. Slide into a booth and have a drink. The bar and tables are painted red. The booth seating is black and the bar stools are pure vintage with silver metal legs and red and black cushioned seats.

The look of the place is dark and moody. You can imagine a cigarette smoke filled juke joint down the road a piece. It's a place to escape to after a hard work week. Blow off some steam, dance until you are hot and sweaty, grab a drink, shoot some pool and then get back on that dance floor for the next set. People are tapping their feet to the music as they watch from above. A serious pool game is taking place in the side room. Someone is going to lose big. The old time blues music is drowning out the chatter at the bar. The dance floor is full.

The owner did an amazing job putting it together. The attention to detail really captures the mood of an old juke joint. View location S114 under photo albums. Please feel free to contact me regarding this location at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252.

Have you been to Shelter Island?

Let's face it. If you are going to do a shoot it would be great if it was some place you actually want to go. Now that summer is in full swing, might I suggest Shelter Island. You will feel the stress fall from your body  the minute you step on the ferry. The ease of shooting here is palpable. There are plenty of places to shoot, plenty of places to stay and plenty of places to eat. It a veritable one stop shopping for all your shoot needs.

Need some examples of all of the above. I will take that challenge. Let's start with places to shoot. Click on "Shelter Island" under categories and you will find beaches, homes, galleries, a private island and a chapel.  Now that we've determined that you could shoot here for a week if needed, let's find you a place to stay. You must have heard of the Andre Balaz hotel Sunset Beach. It's hip happening, beachfront chic and the place to be. Dining could not be better. Catering by Planet Bliss is a must. They can supply breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of my crews from various shoots rave about Planet Bliss's food. Looking for restaurant options? Planet Bliss, Sunset Beach, Vine Street and MarkitwithG are among my favorites.

Okay, I am going to stop here and link you to my other Shelter Island shout out posted earlier this year. I regaled you with all of the nitty gritty details, the who, what, where, when and how of production on the island. Seriously folks, take the stress out of your shoot. It's guaranteed the minute you step on the island. Feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252 for location and production needs.

Symbiotic Relationship

You have to give kudos to anyone who has a healthy respect for their environment. What drew these homeowners in was the property. Just look at it. It's lush and green with mature growth trees. And just look at the house. It blends in as if it has always been there just hanging out with the trees. It's like the house has it's own private forest. It feels like a camp, albeit a bit more upscale with its hammock, fire pit and outdoor shower. Bird watching is on the camp program. Bird feeders are everywhere.

Outdoors meets indoors when you walk inside. There are lots of windows. In fact, one side of the house is almost all windows. From the living room you can walk out to a recreation room of sorts with games and a wood burning stove. There is a full wall of glass doors between the two rooms and then glass doors to the outside. I love a house that you can see through from one side to the other. It really makes it feel seamless between the two environments. You can walk outside from the kitchen as well where you find a deck patio with dining and lounge seating.

There is plenty of room in this camp. The kids room has two sets of bunk beds and plenty of camp cubby holes. The upstairs bedrooms are great with white wood floors and uncluttered furnishing. The owner wanted the feel of being in a tree house. I imagine opening all of the windows and lying on the bed. You can look out at the tree limbs and the birds perched on the feeders strategically placed high up in the boughs.

The overall feel of the house is swedish modern with white walls and light wood floors.  There are black trim accents with the lighting fixtures, fire places, glass doors and the stairway. The furniture is a combination of leather and wood. The exterior is all natural wood which enables the house to blend in so well. The same exterior wood is used for the walls of the recreation room. 

Yes I do believe the desired effect was not lost on me. I'm just wondering if they have camp counselor positions available. To view location N205, click on photo albums. For any inquiries please feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252.