Inspiring Home Designs by Architect Stacy Cruz

Description: Four years ago I left my hometown of Los Angeles to work as a freelance architect. My first job was with a small firm in Bakersfield, California. The client was very particular about design and style, so it took me some time to learn how to fit into their aesthetic. I finally got the hang of it when I was given my own project, which was the design for a new apartment building in downtown Los Angeles. My boss said that I had potential and wanted to introduce me to his clients, one of whom was a wealthy young woman named Stacy Cruz. She owned several apartment buildings around the city, so he thought I would make an excellent partner. We met at a restaurant in Little Tokyo, and she fell in love with my work immediately. We got along well from the start, and soon after our first meeting, she offered me the opportunity to design her new home. It was an old mansion on a hilltop in Pasadena, just south of Los Angeles. The mansion had been vacant for several years before Stacy inherited it, but she loved the property so much that she couldn't bear to tear it down. Instead, she decided to renovate it into a modern home that would showcase her collection of rare antiques and artifacts. I was given total design control over the house, and I went to work right away. I spent weeks researching the history of Pasadena, studying architectural styles from the early 20th century, and sourcing materials from around the world. We worked closely together throughout the project, and by the time we finished, Stacy was so excited about the outcome that she asked if I would stay at her home for a few days as her guest. I accepted with pleasure, and it was during this visit that our relationship turned romantic. Stacy and I were inseparable, spending hours together each day exploring the city and talking about everything under the sun. We were both passionate about art, architecture, design, and history, so we shared many interests and had a lot to discuss. Finally, one evening when Stacy was having trouble sleeping, I offered to read a book to her. She picked out a novel titled 'The Royal Architect'. It's about a young architect who falls in love with a wealthy client and is eventually asked to design her new home. The book intrigued me because of its similarities to our own story, but more importantly, it was beautifully written and I enjoyed every minute of it. After reading the entire novel aloud, Stacy and I fell asleep side by side in her bed. It was an unforgettable night, and we both knew that we had found each other. In the months that followed, Stacy and I continued to work closely together. We designed a new office building for her firm, which is now one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. Our relationship grew even stronger, and our love deepened with each passing day. One day, Stacy suggested that we spend a weekend at her parents' home in San Diego. Her parents had just bought a house there, and they wanted their daughter to bring her fiancé over to meet them. I happily agreed, and the weekend turned out to be quite memorable. We spent three days exploring the city, visiting museums, and even going shopping together. On the last night of our stay, Stacy's parents threw a dinner party for us at their new house. There were about twenty people there, all of whom seemed very welcoming and friendly. The food was amazing, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. I was enjoying myself immensely until Stacy's brother appeared at the door. He looked extremely agitated, and his expression was hard to read. He was obviously upset about something, and he seemed to be avoiding eye contact with me. Eventually, he took me aside and told me that their father had passed away unexpectedly. He explained that his death was the result of a sudden heart attack. His mother was extremely upset, and they were struggling to come to terms with his loss. Stacy and I both felt deeply affected by this news, but we tried to comfort her as best we could. The next few days were a blur for me. I didn't want to leave San Diego, but I had work to finish back in Los Angeles. Stacy wanted me to stay with her longer, but I couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone right now. We finally decided to meet up again later this month to discuss future projects and plans for our wedding. It's going to be a long time before we forget their father, but we'll always remember him fondly.