Inspiration: Mosaics in Paris

/ June 9, 2011
Our last day in Paris we decided to have a look at the newly restored dome of Galleries Layfayette. On the way we stepped into Au Printemps and found this wonderful encaustic mosaic in the entry. The colors are vibrant and it is a lively and welcoming floor.

Our last day in Paris we decided to have a look at the newly restored dome of Galleries Layfayette. On the way we stepped into Au Printemps and found this wonderful encaustic mosaic in the entry. The colors are vibrant and it is a lively and welcoming floor.Slideshow

Many buildings near rue de Bac and rue de Sevres are beautiful 19th century Beaux Arts style and this photo is from one selected at random. I liked the way the leaf border moved across the edge of the foyer.
Another random building with a great decorative moment. Both the mosaic above and this one have little dots of bright color in the field.
More pretty leaf borders. I particularly like the way the corner is treated in this one with the leaves flowing out into the body of the floor. Note also the wave in the flield.
In the French Art Nouveau style, this is a typical vestibule design for the Guimard buildings. The colors are soft and very fluid.
It is often difficult to navigate corners with mosaics. This is a Guimard example that is graceful and attractive.
Simple and graphic both traditional and modern depending on color choice.
This is my stealth photo of the floor at Laudree. No photos, no photos, the woman said but I could not resist this graceful pattern with the inset of a piece of chocolate and a good organic border.
The signature Hermes floor. This one is in the store on Rue St. Honore a soft yellow and gray palette. I have seen it in other colors in other stores
The new Hermes store on the Left Bank (or is it now the West) pays homage to the swimming pool that once occupied the space. It is a lovely combination of cream dotted with green to feel like the watery bottom of a pool.
The great new shop "Merci" created a rather crude mosaic for thir signature.
Another wonderfully executed corner detail. You can see how perfectly the corner is franed by the desgin details.
The facade of a building in the Marais. It is a brightly colored scallop design. I thought it was unusual.

Most people go to Paris and record vistas of beautiful gardens, remarkable architectural detail and people in cafes or walking their dogs. I do that as well, some of the time. But on my most recent trip in March, I wanted to find really beautiful mosaics that were not in museums. By accident, I happened to look in an apartment vestibule and spied a really wonderful mosaic and photographed it.

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Bath Tips: Thermostatic Shower Valves

/ June 1, 2011
The brass casing around the thermostatic shower valve.

The brass casing around the thermostatic shower valve.Slideshow

A photograph of the internal components of a thermostatic shower valve.
Aero trim applied to the concealed valve which is buried in the wall.
An exposed thermostatic shower valve system with a handshower.
This complex installation shows 6 body sprays, an over head shower and a handshower. It is usually more satisfying if the body sprays are on opposite walls.
This is the simplest installation using only an overhead shower. I would recommend that all showers are installed with a handshower, even if it is used only for cleaning the shower.
A tub/shower installation using a thermostatic valve + 3 wall valves. One for turning on the tub, another for operating the showervhead and the third to turn on the handshower. This is a great arrangement for any tub where a wall installation is required.

On May 18th I wrote a post about pressure balance shower valves. A plumbing tutorial is not complete without a discussion of thermostatic shower valves. So, once again, I will try to demystify the terminology and give you the tools to create the ultimate showering experience.

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Bath Tips: Pressure Balance Shower Valves

/ May 18, 2011
Cast in brass, this is a pressure balance "rough". While you will never see this once the wall is tiled, the quality and engineering of the rough is the most important part of your shower system.

Cast in brass, this is a pressure balance "rough". While you will never see this once the wall is tiled, the quality and engineering of the rough is the most important part of your shower system.Slideshow

A "cut-away" of the rough to show the sophisticated internal workings of the valve.
We tend to focus on the "trim" for the valve. This has a traditional/transitional design with a white porcelain handle.
A hand shower on a bar lets you adjust the height of the shower head.
The specification for the hand shower on a bar.
A hand shower on a hook. On a bar or hook, it is essential to have one for cleaning the shower.
A specification for the hand shower on the hook. The installation is visually pleasing when all of the escutcheons and valves are lined up and it looks like there was careful thought to placement.
An installation diagram for a shower valve and head.
This is the most complicated of the installation diagrams. The shower valve has a diverter to take the water from the tub spout to the shower head. (If you have the water delivered to the tub spout first, it is easier to test the temperature.) The two way diverter delivers the water from the shower head to the hand shower. You cannot have the shower head and hand shower on at the same time with this mechanical system.
This system shows the installation of the two way diverter to divert the water from the shower head to the hand shower on a hook. Note how the valve and escutcheons line up for a visually pleasing arrangement.
A simple tub shower system. The valve has a built in diverter that takes the water from the tub spout up to the shower head. It is a very neat arrangement especially if everything is perfectly lined up.
Finally, a classic, well crafted tub spout that looks much better than the universal diverter spout. This works when you install the Waterworks pressure balance valve with built in diverter.

I am asked all the time the best way to lay out a shower. There is really no “best” way. The design and layout are a function of personal preferences, budget, wall and door placement in the shower and valve selection. There are two things that are a must in my opinion: a hand shower and a place for soap and shampoo.

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Inspiration: A Visit to Copenhagen

/ May 11, 2011
Kobenhavn-Design-Leadership-Summit1

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Newell Turner participated in the Summit along with Margaret Russell of AD, Dara Caponigro of Veranda and Michael Budroo of Elle Decor. Their presentations were personal and inspiring.
Beautiful traditional architecture, sparkling canals, and clear blue skies.
This is a typical example of Danish classical architecture and landscape. This "scene" is in pockets throughout the city.
Design, style and fashion ever present on the Copenhagen landscape. This is our tour guide on a boat trip around the many islands that make up the city.
Interesting and original balustrades in one of the historic buildings where our meeting took place.
Beautifully crafted ironwork light brackets are all over the city as are elegant gates.
Lee Mindel took this colorful and artistic photo at the Republic of Fritz Hansen, the great manufacturer of iconic Danish modern furniture.
Tempting window displays. I love the bright green letters.
Red boxes and vintage rescue blankets in light brown with red accents. What a great color combination.
I love Krenit enamel bowls with their black exterior and colored inside. There was a great assortment of shapes and colors in this window. Thank goodness I found this on Sunday and the shop was closed.
Beautiful signage always makes me want to explore the shop.
Lovely vistas and great parks.
Fabulous outdoor spaces for recreation.
I found this 19th century palette card in a museum. You never know, it might become a new tile line.
A picture perfect Copenhagen doorway with ample evidence of transporation methods.
I couldn't resist this sign.

Last week I attended the Design Leadership Summit held in Copenhagen. This is a gathering of the nation’s top architect and design principals. The event featured outstanding speakers who shared their expertise in organizational development, marketing strategy and inspirational projects with the overall objective of strengthening the design community. This year, as in years past, the gathering was exhilarating, the conversations stimulating as well as provocative, the speakers inspiring and camaraderie at an all time high.

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