Comments on Things That Inspire: Inspirational Architecture: William T. Baker & Ass...

OoooOOO, I love the landscaping in that last home....

2009-08-05T09:02:54.917-04:00

OoooOOO, I love the landscaping in that last home. So so jealous!

Those houses are absolutely gorgeous! I wish we c...

2009-08-04T15:30:28.457-04:00

Those houses are absolutely gorgeous! I wish we could hop on a tour bus and get a tour of each house.

what a great interview! I have always appreciated ...

2009-08-03T17:18:41.877-04:00

what a great interview! I have always appreciated his firm's work and have a number of the projects in my clipping files. Thanks -cant' wait for the rest in your series!

Beautiful homes, but I have to laugh about his rem...

2009-08-03T11:36:33.821-04:00

Beautiful homes, but I have to laugh about his remark about ranch homes having to be torn down and being anti-green. Does he really think that building mega mansions on large swathes of ground is in any way "green"? He's obviously very good at what he does, but it is not as if he's building environmentally-sound homes for the masses.

Wonderful interview and absolutely gorgeous homes!...

2009-08-03T02:07:13.985-04:00

Wonderful interview and absolutely gorgeous homes!!! Loved it!

Wonderful post, as always! I'm a big fan of B...

2009-08-02T14:31:01.695-04:00

Wonderful post, as always! I'm a big fan of Baker's work.

Thank you for sharing this interview with us. As a...

2009-07-31T23:58:07.573-04:00

Thank you for sharing this interview with us. As a student of Architecture this was very inspiring. I just found your blog and I love it. Also, I wanted to invite you to participate in my giveaway. It started today and it will go on until Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Wow! Those houses are amazing! Great interview a...

2009-07-31T18:32:03.770-04:00

Wow! Those houses are amazing! Great interview as well.

Wow! What gorgeous homes! I've always loved ...

2009-07-31T16:17:35.555-04:00

Wow! What gorgeous homes! I've always loved brick homes and these homes are so stately. Nothing like traditional architecture. Amazing Facades and photos! You always find the most gorgeous homes.

Cheers,
Karen Olivia

He is so talented! Great post!

2009-07-31T16:17:17.983-04:00

He is so talented! Great post!

Wonderful posting -- and about such a brillant man...

2009-07-31T15:15:56.762-04:00

Wonderful posting -- and about such a brillant man! Truly magical homes -- and I use the term "home" because these appear to be Homes in the best sense of the word! Another vote for the "enfilade" house! And many thanks for such a beautiful article!

Jan at the-very-ordinary-way-too-suburban Rosemary Cottage

Great interview...I am in love with the Bolduc Hou...

2009-07-31T09:39:51.255-04:00

Great interview...I am in love with the Bolduc House!

I love to read this interview. Thanks for passing ...

2009-07-31T07:17:41.010-04:00

I love to read this interview. Thanks for passing this on here. People need to read this post surely. From Condo Staging Toronto

Wonderful interview.. Can I move into the French ...

2009-07-31T03:00:16.095-04:00

Wonderful interview.. Can I move into the French enfilade house? that's my favorite, of course! What a thoughtful man he is. I love how his own house was an inspiration. Of course mine was a ranch so that's out of the question. Loved the comments on what not to skimp on. Just wonderful, great questions too!

Oh my, this is one of the most delightful intervie...

2009-07-30T17:40:34.938-04:00

Oh my, this is one of the most delightful interviews I have ever read. I find it so amazingly comforting to know that even people like him got lost on their career path and managed to find their way back on. I got down the engineering path quite by accident and daydream every day about finding my way back onto a design path. I have even thought of going to study architecture but I think my love is more for interiors. Although when I look at his homes, I realize it is really all about the architecture. We live in an area that doesn't have great architecture and so I think one naturally focusses more on decoration, as it is all one can control in a little suburban house! Although I do love his comments about the size of rooms and scale. Any house, of any size, can be done right. I have been in small old homes that have wonderful flow and light and detail, even if not enough closets.

It really is an art to design a perfect home, and one that seems to be sorely lacking except perhaps at the higher levels where Bill is working. I am always so frustrated to see new homes that are so ugly and so poorly laid out. But his work is exquisite and I wish I could afford to hire him!

I have been doing a lot of self-stufy on furniture design and it is opening my eyes up more to archtictural detail, as I am realizing now that a lot of early furniture detail was taken from architecture (like egg and dart and other detail and friezes and whatnot). It is all a fascinating world and I am so glad you're writing these rich and interesting posts. They really are a lifeblood somedays in this boring town!!

I will check out his blog - you are right - his houses seem to really grace the land and don't seem indulgent or stick out like a sore thumb! They are classic and elegant and refined and I am so happy there are still architects designing "class" and not just trying to be weird and different. There is something to be said for classic beauty.

Great post TTI!

Terri xo

What a fantastic post!! It was such a fascinating...

2009-07-30T15:47:43.051-04:00

What a fantastic post!!

It was such a fascinating interview and the photos were breathtaking.

You have inspired me to get in my car and do a summer time drive by :)

TTFN~~Claudia ♥

There is a French / vernacular / low country (what...

2009-07-30T13:14:21.711-04:00

There is a French / vernacular / low country (whatever) with a huge sun sheltering porch in Brookhaven, a high-style vernacular. It's the house in the neighborhood I most want to approach.

* Ah yes, the uber-talented, always-a-gentleman Mr...

2009-07-30T11:50:38.356-04:00

* Ah yes, the uber-talented, always-a-gentleman Mr. Baker can design OUR home ANYTIME.... (Oh, that he WOULD... Oh, that we COULD retain him!!!)... He's as fascinating as every single one of "his" homes!!!!

WOW!
Linda in AZ *

What a lovely interview. I have long been an admi...

2009-07-30T11:38:33.758-04:00

What a lovely interview. I have long been an admirer of Bill Baker's work. It is wonderful to hear his story.

Angela in WA

What a wonderful interview and an inspiring story ...

2009-07-30T10:07:17.571-04:00

What a wonderful interview and an inspiring story about William T. Baker. I am fascinated about that moment for each person when the door opens and the future walks in. On paper Mr. Baker's career plan would look deliberate, totally controlled. In reality, it is more circular, more intuitive, more drawn by the heart. Having both of these qualities makes him the comprehensive architect: meticulous and artistic. His homes were a joy to view. My heart was taken by the stone house. You did a thoughtful, insightful and knowledgeable job on this.

Helen - thank you! I too am a Rice University grad...

2009-07-30T09:28:39.903-04:00

Helen - thank you! I too am a Rice University graduate, and had many friends who were 'archies' (as the architecture students were called - I was an 'Academ', a liberal art student). I am going to look at his site right now!

Atlanta is a fascinating place - one can live just...

2009-07-30T09:26:39.437-04:00

Atlanta is a fascinating place - one can live just minutes from the heart of Buckhead (considered to be prime real estate in Atlanta, and where many of these homes are located) with all of its world class shopping and dining, and live on a horse farm with 10+ acres. There are also areas of Buckhead where most of the properties are 2-3 acres, and there are other areas that were built up in the 20s-40s where the lots are smaller, but the homes are unique and very exquisite. I frequently show such large homes on my post, but it would be interesting to highlight some of the other areas of Buckhead!

Given that there is a fair amount of land in Buckhead (although most of the lots already have homes - the number of houses in Buckhead does not change year to year as most new construction takes place on lots where a home has been torn down - infill, I think they call it) - there exists the ability to build these very large homes, and they are not McMansions fit onto a tiny lot, they are estate homes that are on large lots. There is a difference, I think.

However - I wonder whether the trends will be changing. My ideal is to have a good size lot, but a house that is manageable both for now while I am raising my young children, and for the future when they are in college and beyond. I have noticed that some of the top architecture firms in town have started to place ads in AH&L with smaller homes pictured.

I recently noted that a 2 acre lot had sold, and the owners plan on using one of the top architects in town, but want to build a smaller size home - a beautifully crafted, beautifully built home - but about 3000 sf (which is not large for Buckhead).

I am drooling. wonderful interview, just wonderfu...

2009-07-30T09:19:21.887-04:00

I am drooling. wonderful interview, just wonderful, and you couldn't have picked a better person to begin your interview series with, William Baker. Kudos all the way around. (nice way to start this morning)

My brother, Patrick Carmody,(www.patrickgerardcarm...

2009-07-30T09:18:32.711-04:00

My brother, Patrick Carmody,(www.patrickgerardcarmody),is a gifted residential architect in NYC,designing country homes and gutting and re-designing brownstones for many notable people.One of his rooms was recently featured in Metropolitan Homes Showcase home for SHOWTIME.He graduated from Rice University many years ago, and hails from Louisiana, and there is a strong southern classical aesthetic in his work.I encourage you to look at his website...it's stunning!

I honestly know zilch about architecture but I lov...

2009-07-30T08:44:54.798-04:00

I honestly know zilch about architecture but I love looking at houses, always have. Bill Baker is amazingly talented, but he also seems like a very nice, obviously approachable, honest man. This is a great interview! I adore some of these homes and could look at them forever. The Christmas House 2009 is breathtaking but my favorites are the house you walk your dog past and the house that was completed recently. I think they are exquisite.

This is a wonderful project and I'm looking forward to future "installations"! =o)
Amy