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Places to go, things to do and see and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style.

ARTISTIC LANDMARK

Decades of hard work and artistry make the Kellogg Doolittle house a destination near Joshua Tree National Park that can never be replicated.

By Moe Godat Photography courtesy of the Kellogg Doolittle House

When famed artist couple Jay and Beverly “Bev” Doolittle commissioned their home to be built in 1988, they sought for its construction to become a liveable work of art unbound by time or cost constraints; enter renowned architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, a key innovator of Organic Architecture and co-worker of the great Frank Lloyd Wright.

Constructed over a 26-year period, what’s now known as the Kellogg Doolittle house stands as a testament to art, architecture and craftsmanship. Located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua Tree, California, this high-end residence does more than blend in with the desert surroundings. It enhances it, acting as a luxury oasis to those who visit without detracting from the astounding natural experience the area provides.

Set atop granite boulders, the home features no traditional walls or framing; instead, it uses 26 cantilevered concrete columns and massive boulders to create a space

that was surprisingly warm and inviting despite the hard, striking materials.

This warmth must also be attributed to master craftsman, John Vugrin, Kellogg’s protégé who worked on the home’s interior craftsmanship from 1994 until 2014 when the Doolittles sold the house. He rejoined the home in 2021 when ownership changed hands for a second time.

The perfect clients, an excellent architect, one interior master craftsman, no time pressure or formalized budget and a stunning building site came together to create a one-of-a-kind living experience that many say can never be done as expertly again.

The main house sits elevated among the rocks while a street-level garage with living space within rests below, separated by a 550-foot paved golf cart/walking path. The home is constructed of 26 columns sunk into bedrock as well as existing boulders to form parts of its exterior. Windowpanes and custom metal and glass doors fill the spaces between; Kellogg explained that he intentionally engineered the home to be earthquake-proof.

John Vugrin personally fabricated each interior element by hand into twisting, curvilinear forms; his work transformed the Kellogg Doolittle space. He designed and built all the home’s furniture, built-in items, light fixtures, doors, windows and much more. His over 25 years of work on the interior elevated the home to its current state of near perfection.

Set beside the astonishing view of Joshua Tree National Park, the home lives up to its location both inside and out, making this home a perfect marriage between artistic expression, organic architecture and top-of-the-line craftsmanship.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

SPOTLIGHT

Tea and Coffee, please.

Whether it is going for a morning run or just sitting quietly reflecting on the day’s activities; a hot cup of tea or coffee is historically how most start the day.

By Wendy Noory

Botanica tea set, avaible at Anthropologie.

Top: Alessi Michael Graves teakettle, available at Williams Sonoma. Above: Honeycomb tea set pack, available at Williams Sonoma.

Everyone has their own morning ritual to begin the day; no matter what it may be, many choose to start their day with a coffee or tea. Some may remember their grandmother displaying an antique, full-service set with a sugar bowl and creamer, though mainly for display.

Post-modernism brought a revived interest in the use of tea and coffee service sets as a result of an international industrial design competition that started in 1979. Alessi, a small design company from northern Italy, developed a competition which brought together eleven renowned and newly found architects such as Robert Venturi, Hans Hollein, Richard Meier, Michael Graves and Aldo Rossi to name a few. This competition was called the “Tea and Coffee Piazza Project.” The goal was to create a collection to include a coffee pot, tea pot, creamer, sugar bowl and tray which reflects the architectural style of the individual architects. The creations were considered micro architecture, as the requirements were to design a tray to represent a “piazza” (city square) with the accessories or vessels standing tall like buildings on the tray.

The competition favorites went on to begin their modifications to a more consumer-friendly price point. The concept of architects as consumer product designers and a brand name in a modern market was born. Later, Target began working directly with one of the architects from the piazza project, Michael Graves, to create a fun, pop houseware collection (1998) that emulated his style of architecture and trending colors of this time.

Regardless of preference, a post-modern lover or English traditional, most love a good cup of tea and coffee in the morning. Using service sets in a traditional, modern or somewhere in between style, makes the experience more memorable, and reminds its user to slow down and enjoy the moment in the morning. Take the time to build a special set with all your favorite accessories! The options are endless with specialty boutiques, vintage shops and online global shopping.