I have I found that generally hotel restrooms are more up to date than those in restaurants or stores, while museums have more functional WC’s. It is particularly annoying not to have a place for your handbag (other than a nasty floor),  a hook for your coat, a latch that functions and a full roll of toilet paper.

First impressions count, always. It would be great to find public bathrooms that are both artistic and practical and no longer the step-children in the design of all public spaces. If in your travels you find some worth candidates, please send me your photos.

The traffic is frightening, the drivers terrifying and the taxis ready to fall apart. But, once at your destination the sensory inspiration is overwhelming.  You simply do not know what to look at first. I tried to stay focused on three things; saturated colors, architectural shapes (a result of its complex past) and patterns with their Persian influence. The most compelling idea is that there is a visual freshness to the ancient aesthetic.

There are many design influences in Morocco. Most obvious are Islamic, particularly the patterns used in the tiling. Spanish, for decorative and exuberant detail and French for their organization of the cities; buildings that are only 4 stories tall and flat roofs. Under the French, balconies were constructed not to look over neighboring courtyards and at least 20 percent of the building area was dedicated to a courtyard (an open area with access to God) or green area. They encouraged public parks and wide boulevards. The architecture today remains a combination of old and new and includes emblematic features such as domes and arches and architectural lines reminiscent of Casbahs. In visiting 2 riads, I noticed very high ceilings, long and narrow rooms, very few windows on the outer walls with the majority of light coming through the open courtyard and open doors. I have been told that the plumbing is antiquated particularly in the medina.

I was completely intrigued by the finishes and tile surfaces used on floors and walls. The cement floor tiles, in countless colors as well as graphic patterns both traditional and modern, are usually 8″ squares though other shares are available.  The cement is hand finished and has a slightly irregular appearance. They are cool to the touch and help keep the buildings cool.

The ceramic tiles are patterned as well. The patterns are geometric, floral or calligraphic. I must have taken hundreds of photos of the beautiful zellij tiles in bright colors with some softer neutrals (favorites of Moroccan Berbers). They become one texture amongst many in a Moroccan interior.

In another post I will return to Morocco to write about the tiles and colors. However, if you happen to be in LA this week to participate in LCDQ, please visit the Waterworks Showroom on Thursday, 5/10 from 10-11am for the “Visions of the World: Morocco” panel discussion. Also, be sure to check out the delightful windows created for LCDQ in the Moroccan theme by designer Philip Gorrivan. They are festive, colorful and authentic.

The space seems more than adequate for a .25 tub that becomes the sculptural object in the room. The Lagos Azul marble plank floor mimics the hardwoods in other rooms of the house. A larger rectangle of Lagos is installed in the shower and smaller rectangular hand made ceramic tiles are on the walls. The beautiful nickel plated medicine cabinet adds much needed storage and the inclusion of personal objects and stellar pink peonies warm up the room.

The Gianetti’s are a rapidly growing family of five with countless activities to juggle, a yard full of chickens to manage and a lovely garden to tend. They visit antiques shops where ever they go and, to my envy, the Rose Bowl flea market regularly. At each stop they manage to photograph and record lovely objects in rough wood, rich leather worn with time and industrial artifacts. Their palette is soft, warm and neutral and their paint selections are about transparency and luminescence. The interiors they create are always serene. It is because they buy only what they love and nothing is too precious.

I was interested in the way the Gianetti’s treat bathrooms. They embellish them with art, antiques, rugs and warm textures. They think the bath should be decorated just like any other room in the house with the tub acting as a piece of furniture. A vintage cabinet can be repurposed as a vanity or a storage closet and a chair is a necessity for having a conversation or painting toes. Brooke says, as I often do as well, the paint color must be flattering. So glad we agree on all of the best practices for a space that should be calming and very personal.

This is a charming book with great photographs and many helpful ideas.

This particular space has so many relevant details; a classic black and white stone floor, a pair of period chairs with simple black upholstery and a copper tub with a richly aged patina.  The scale of the urn gives credibility to the design and balances the scale of the tub. Lovely art in the alcoves and soft curtains give the space texture and warmth.

A wonderful traditional bathroom, elegant in its simplicity.

Waterworks Clothilde Copper Bathtub

Brass finishes seem to be popping up more and more these days. There is something about the warmth and the way it ages that reminds me of old world glamour and elegant European hotels. I love seeing its resurgence and use in more contemporary spaces – take London’s innovative Nopi restaurant for example.

The latest outpost of renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi, the food is obviously top notch but what I really love is the space. If you have any interest in bathroom design it is a great place to go for inspiration. Designer Alex Meitlis has brilliantly combined modern and antique brass fittings with white subway tiles and tied it all together against a backdrop of Golden Spider marble. The women’s bathroom is particularly jaw-dropping… I won’t spoil the surprise but even men should try to pop their heads in to have look!

Whilst you can buy new fittings finished in brass, antique versions are readily available and much more authentic. Ottolenghi’s husband, Karl Allen, actually sourced much of the fittings himself, trolling antiques stores, salvage yards and markets, along with newer elements from designers like Tom Dixon.

I am utterly in love with the antique coat hooks that adorn the walls of the restaurant (so much so, I hunted Allen down to find out where he got them!). It turns out he stumbled across a stash at the back of an antiques store on London’s Church Street and emailed an image to Meitlis knowing they needed coat hooks for the restaurant. Completely by coincidence Meitlis had a similar design, found at a Berlin antiques market years earlier, in his own apartment in Tel Aviv. They promptly bought the lot, most of which have been used in the restaurant with a remaining stash now in a cupboard in Allen’s London flat.

Other antique brass finds add character and warmth to the space, like a flower shaped pendant lamp found at Alfies Antique Market that hovers above the entrance. The wall-mounted newspaper holders are actually re-purposed carpet rods found at a shop in Gloucestershire. Even the towering entrance doors, found at an architectural selvage yard, are brass and were the original front doors of iconic department store Harvey Nichols!

So here are some images of Nopi and a few other brass fittings spotted of late that have caught my eye.

Sarah Watson lives in London and owns bath furnishings company, Balineum.

I was certainly surprised on my last visit to see that they have expanded in to an adjacent space that is part of the same historic house. Their goal is to bring more of their naturalist design spirit to CT.

David Whitman and Peter Stiglin, owners, have a great collective eye and are wonderful visual merchandisers! They carefully curate a sensuous mix of vintage furniture (for inside and out), uncommon plant material (live, fresh-cut, dried and preserved), beautiful planters and containers, natural history and gardening books, curiosities of the wild kind as well as simple hostess gifts (like a burnt glazed double leaf condiment dish from Japan that Bunny Williams gets by the handful).

The pair are frequent visitors to Kyoto where they go for inspiration and to explore the special relationship that the Japanese have for the natural world. They often return with antique offerings and artful expressions of all kinds from their travels. The additional space will allow them to display these refined artifacts.

Visit Pergola online.

David mentioned that in their newly enlarged space they plan to expand their offerings from their favorite craftsmen such as Ben Wolff pottery, Christopher Marley’s framed specimens and Compo de Fiori. My photos were taken with my iPhone; in reality the assortment is textural, sensual and very refined.

Interested in upgrading your bathroom or kitchen in a subtle, yet sophisticated way? Looking for an approach that goes beyond quick trends, chic moves or merely what’s cool? If you’d like to make an impact that’s light-handed, quiet and timeless, then here’s a powerful idea that will not only elevate your design, but offer you unbounded opportunities to exercise your creative mind.

We call it “wet vs. dry.” Yes, it’s that simple, and you can be an expert at it with just a bit of insight into this effective tool.

When it comes to interior design, contrast is often leveraged by organizing opposites in an interesting way—like the use of black and white, or dark with light. Opposites also apply to your kitchen counters and powder room walls, but through the use of different textures and sheens.

By integrating “wet” surfaces with “dry,” through the imaginative use of contrasting finishes—shiny, polished, smooth, matte, brushed and textured, for example—you can create subtle patterns, fascinating rhythms and a wide variety of subtle moods.

“Wet vs. dry” applies to paint finishes too—flat, eggshell, satin and gloss all have different effects. In fact, the higher the sheen, the darker and more intense your color will look. Same with the multitude of tile and hardware options available today—the stronger the sheen (wet), the darker and more sophisticated your room may feel. Textured or matt finishes (dry), on the other hand, will create a more casual appeal.

Glossy surfaces also introduce reflections, creating more glamorous, dramatic, theatrical results. Gloss dazzles. It creates sparkle and a cleaner look—it’s also more durable (but, it does show the dust!). Matte finishes, on the other hand, are earthier—it’s all about how light interacts with and bounces off the surfaces in your room. And you can use the same color palette for everything, with amazing impact.

Here’s a simple rule of thumb—to go modern, or create a more current look, use more “wet.” To make a room feel more traditional, go with more “dry.”

The “wet vs. dry” approach allows you to achieve something unique and classy, all by contrasting and balancing different textures and sheens. Think of a how a street looks when it’s wet vs. dry—the difference in color saturation, light reflection and mood is dramatic. You can do the same in your home—like a shifting theatre set that is all about tonalities and reflectance, try playing with wet and dry rather than color this year!

Eric Mandil, AIA, RA

Mandil Inc.

Eric Mandil is the principal, architect and designer of Mandil Inc.  Founded in 1980, Eric and his Denver based firm have been creating commercial and residential buildings, architectural interiors and retail spaces on many different scales.  Their work ranges from horse ranches in Wyoming to retail stores for Barbie at FAO Schwarz in New York City. 

 Color has been a strong focus on all elements of design.  The application of exterior and interior coloration has been a creative voice in all aspects of each project. 

 His work has appeared nationally in magazines like Traditional Home, Western Interiors, Source & Design and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles. 

 “There is nothing more noble than creating beauty”  -Eric Mandil