Dwell Around the World

In October I headed north from our home base in San Francisco to Seattle to report a feature story for our upcoming affordable luxury issue. While there, I searched out the city's best croissants (thanks to a suggestion from our photo editor Amy Silberman), took a ride on the newish Seattle streetcar to Lake Union Park, strolled quietly through the Seattle Public Library (shown here), and peeked behind the scenes at the Henrybuilt headquarters and factory. Watch the slideshow of my trips here: Part One and Part Two.

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I also had the unique opportunity this year to head not only on to but inside the new San Francisco Bay Bridge, currently under construction and set to be completed—ahead of schedule—in 2013. Come along for the tour by watching the slideshow.

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We sent our fearless leader, editor-in-chief Sam Grawe, around the world this year, from Milan to New York to Los Angeles to London hitting up all the top design shows. While in New York for ICFF, Sam joined former Design Within Reach CEO Rob Forbes and pal Heather Wagner (wife of Readymade editor-in-chief Andrew Wagner) for a bike around the city for the launch of Forbe's new company Public Bikes. Check out their ride.

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Sam kept us posted during his jaunt through London for the London Design Festival, catching our attention with this image of Stuart Haygarth's installation at the Victoria & Albert using more than 600 meters of cut-off pieces from picture frames. While there, he also caught up with Adrian Rubi-Dentzel, Monica Förster, and Harry Allen. Read more here: London Design Festival, Day One.

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Our senior editor on the go Aaron Britt got his fair share of touring in this year, including a design trip to Scotland in May. In addition to sending back five slideshows highlighting the best the Scots have to offer, including Zaha Hadid's Maggie's Center (shown here), he also sent back several video interviews, taped over beers, of course. Here's one with architect John Macleod and another in conversation with Ross Hunter and Jim Hamilton of Graven Images. Read his Postcards here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5.

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Another adventure that proved prolific in pictures was Aaron's trip to Mexico city just before Thanksgiving. Check out his molecular gastronomy feast, the W Mexico City, a visit to Pirwi as well as Ariel Rojo's studio (shown here), and several casas by watching his slideshows: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.

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Editor Jaime Gross joined the team in July and took to the road soon after her arrival. In Phoenix, to report the December/January 2011 My House (now on newsstands), she also stopped by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and toured the minimalist Prayer Pavilion of Light, Phoenix Central Library (shown here), and several homes. Whiz through her whirlwind tour with her.

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Jaime also spent a night in Sonoma County at the new H2Hotel, designed by David Baker + Partners as a LEED gold certification contender. Take a peek into the hip hotel—but beware, you'll want to make reservations before you're finished watching.

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Our intrepid associate editor Jordan Kushins, with an eye for all things crafty, spotted a wonderful little blanket store in Frankfurt at the beginning of the year. She chatted with the owner and posted this slideshow of its cozy treasures sold within.

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This autumn, while in Italy for the Cersaie, Jordan took a day-trip to Venice to visit a 122-year-old foundry: Domus Orsoni. During the tour, she saw the crucibles used for mixing the color compounds (shown here), visited the color library, watched a worker lay out layers of gold leaf, see women scoring slabs before they enter the kiln, and witness the final product. Relive it through Jordan's slideshow.

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Hands down our most often on the road editor is Amanda Dameron, our digital director. To report the My House in our upcoming February 2011 issue, Amanda traveled across the dry, dusty desert to Marfa, Texas. Despite its desolate location, Marfa proved a unique and vibrant arts community. Her slideshow shows the highlights of her two-day stay, including views of artillery sheds, a former ballroom converted into an art gallery, a taco truck worth of New York or San Francisco, and—most odd of all—a Prada shop sitting all alone along an empty highway. Watch the slideshow.

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Amanda was also one of our three editorial team members stranded in Europe after The Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted after the Milan Furniture Fair. Turning lemons into lemonade, she headed to Tuscany and came across the Rocca di Frassinello winery, designed by Renzo Piano. Her slideshow takes you on a tour of Piano's structure, including the cavernous underground amphitheater that holds 2,500 oak barrels of a "super-Tuscan" blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Chianti.

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