I recently took a 10-day trip to Tuscany to refuel my design senses. If you’ve never visited this region, I highly recommend it. From an architect’s perspective, it was truly a feast for the eyes. Italians have a way with stone, and I took in at every turn some unique application of pavers, masonry and plaster. Vaulted masonry ceilings that seemed to defy the laws of nature, and paving stones that beckoned us to journey its path were some of my favorites. I also loved the gardens there, the use of cypress to define a space and provide privacy is something I do in my own work. I enjoyed the contrast between the countryside and the city–in Florence, a much more cosmopolitan and formal air prevailed as opposed to the relaxed elegance of the country home where we stayed with friends (playing chess became a favorite pastime for us!) I loved simply sitting in the open squares sketching the buildings I saw, where more than one passerby probably thought I was a street vendor selling my drawings! The color, texture and detail of this area truly inspired me to incorporate more of their lifestyle here in America. It’s a lifestyle truly worth living.