Jim Becker
10-29-2004, 10:30 AM
My business travel this week took me to (not-so-sunny-but-rainy) southern California...and afforded the opportunity for an extended visit with Mark Singer and his family. I have to say that it was a great experience to see his woodworking and architectural accomplishments up-close and personal...there is more talent in this man's little finger than I have in my whole being!
The Singer's home is incredible, mixing the very contempory with a wonderful feeling of warmth. The design is such that you almost don't realize you are indoors...and I'll leave Mark's "trade secrets" on that point for him to 'splain to visitors! His own furniture is throughout the house and is a good lesson about how multiple species can happily coexist in the same space. Everything "belongs", including the custom built-ins. It's a good example where design plays as much a part as good craftsmanship...Mark exhibits both all the time.
The woodworking shop is great, too...you don't even need to turn on the lights most of the time due to two very large diffused sky lights set in the very high ceiling. I had the opporunity to see, fondle and even try out a bunch of wonderful Neander tools in Mark's collection.
At any rate, I'm very thankful to Mark and his family for the warm hospitality and hope to reciprocate one of these days. Two pics...a couple of fellows in the shop with the "supervisor" and one that shows some of the incredible view from the Singer residence.
The Singer's home is incredible, mixing the very contempory with a wonderful feeling of warmth. The design is such that you almost don't realize you are indoors...and I'll leave Mark's "trade secrets" on that point for him to 'splain to visitors! His own furniture is throughout the house and is a good lesson about how multiple species can happily coexist in the same space. Everything "belongs", including the custom built-ins. It's a good example where design plays as much a part as good craftsmanship...Mark exhibits both all the time.
The woodworking shop is great, too...you don't even need to turn on the lights most of the time due to two very large diffused sky lights set in the very high ceiling. I had the opporunity to see, fondle and even try out a bunch of wonderful Neander tools in Mark's collection.
At any rate, I'm very thankful to Mark and his family for the warm hospitality and hope to reciprocate one of these days. Two pics...a couple of fellows in the shop with the "supervisor" and one that shows some of the incredible view from the Singer residence.