Ceramic Tile

/ February 20, 2013
District Tile is inset into Moleskin marble to create panels. The glazes of District Tile are rich with dark pooling while the decoration is created by changing the grid pattern.

District Tile is inset into Moleskin marble to create panels. The glazes of District Tile are rich with dark pooling while the decoration is created by changing the grid pattern.Slideshow

Exceptional creamy white ceramic tile with a fine crackle is my personal choice for nearly every tile surface in my own house. Additionally, the molding is crisp and the one piece corner is a very polished detail.
Hand made ceramic tile often has a slightly uneven surface and gentle color variation. This wall is a good example of that but especially beautiful.
The slightly uneven surface of this handmade wall of tile is expected. The color has a gentle variation and the grout joints are very tight.
I am glad to see that Nate Berkus loves tile as much as I do. He installed a large scale glossy black ceramic tile with a lighter grout color installed floor to ceiling. The installation feels urban and sophisticated.
This is one of my favorite tiled bathrooms. The space is clad floor to ceiling with just the smallest detail of different size liners. Creamy white and watery green, classic and traditional but with a timeless freshness.
Luxe Interiors + Design, Winter 2013
A great deep blue bath tiled from floor to ceiling creates a memorable space. The crisp white floor tile anchors the bath and ties back to the white fixtures.
A dark blue panel of ceramic embedded in a wall of Bardiglio marble is simply stunning. The color variation of the tile, the vertical orientation of the material forms the perfect placement to highlight the shower fitting.
A full wall of tile in a slightly lavender toned gray. The 3x3 tiles set on the diagonal are framed by 6x6 tiles and a molding. A well shaped baseboard finishes the installation.
Crisp white tile for a kitchen backsplash is always in style. This one has been installed with a gray grout which accents the grid.
Laundry rooms are my new favorite spaces. Often they are relegated to the basement or a tiny closet. I like to celebrate clean clothes and the mindless chore of folding them, especially in well designed and lighted spaces with tiles walls.
Large scale blue tile, the color of the sky on a perfect day, is a great compliment to the Statuary floors. This is a great color and, despite its depth, is amazingly neutral.
A dark gray blend of penny round tiles makes an interesting backsplash.

It seems as if we are in a stone moment. Our overwhelming enthusiasm for stone should not eclipse ceramic tile as a fabulous material for backsplashes, fireplaces, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and mudrooms. It is extraordinarily versatile, with unique palettes, easy maintenance  and architecturally as well as structurally interesting. Personally, I think there is nothing more beautiful than a wall of handmade tile. There are nuances of glaze variation, surface irregularities and artistic expression in each tile.

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Dia: Beacon

/ February 13, 2013
The 1929 Nabisco box factory transformed into a great museum on the Hudson River.

The 1929 Nabisco box factory transformed into a great museum on the Hudson River.Slideshow

A monumental Richard Serra sculpture housed in a confined space allows you to feel its scale.
I have long been a love of the Bescher black and white industrial photographs.
One of several Sol Lewit wall installations.
A beautiful Agnes Martin from the 80's. It is gentle, thoughtful and serene.
An interior view of the museum with partial view of Fred Sandback construction.
Agnes Martin is one of my favorite artists. This is an unusual piece for her but lovely and gentle. The colors are some of my favorites.
Dan Flavin's white fluorescent light installation is enormous. You can see the beautiful original floors and get a sense of the scale of the rooms from this photo... taken before I was told that no photos are allowed.
Lawrence Weiner is a lover of words that are painted directly on walls. His sayings are often meaningful. The unique part of this artists' work is that the scale can be adapted for the size of the installation.

I am often asked where I find inspiration for the countless products we design at Waterworks. My first answer is always museums, although travels, architecture, books, magazines and fashion are in close pursuit. I was very excited to visit the newly renovated Yale Art Gallery where the changed and expanded spaces were inspirational and the art and decorative arts look remarkable in their new homes. And, last weekend we decided to go Dia: Beacon, Riggio Galleries in Beacon, New York, a short distance from where we live, to see some eye popping contemporary art.

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Maison d’Object, Paris 2013

/ February 6, 2013
Paris covered in a light layer of snow. This was taken with the early morning light creating a gray cast on the landscape.

Paris covered in a light layer of snow. This was taken with the early morning light creating a gray cast on the landscape.Slideshow

One of the well designed exhibitions. This one of cutting boards. I loved the wood colors and textures and the rhythm of the display.
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Handmade ceramic jars with unusual glazes were interesting to me.
Hidden somewhere amongst the many booths there must have been an exceptional manufacturer or craftsman who made these cleavers with beautiful wooden handles and great shapes. I love they way they are hung.
An artful arrangement of handsomely crafted chef's knives with different types of wood handles.
Carefully draped on a hook is this serious chef's apron of supple leather. Very handsome.
A great way to store vegetables.
A crazy chandelier made of cloth carrots, parsnips , beets and other root vegetables. A prize here for thinking out of the box.
An amusing Flinstones-like table setting. .A lovely natural table setting, none the less.
I loved this creative arrangement of hand mirrors. They look like a piece of modern art.
A silhouette of white ceramics hung as art objects. I liked the idea of very ordinary objects being elevated to art.
White dishes as wall art.
There were some lovely black glass objects. Is this a trend?
My very favorite booth was one where a Mother and daughter created these incredible objects from folding old books. Each book has its own patina and shape depending on its size and density of print. I loved them.
More magical book folding.
These stick tents were positioned at one of the many food stands . The best part about them was that you could isolate yourself from the cacophony of show by sequestering yourself in one and having lunch.
We took the RER to and from the show. I entertained myself by photographing the graffiti from a slow moving train.
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I am sure many of you flew to Paris to attend the renowned gift fair, Maison d’Object. I, too, was there for the first time in many years. Personally, I did not find as much inspiration as I’d hoped although some old favorites continue to capture my attention. I think we can all agree there is a plethora of very ordinary “stuff” in the market and finding inspiration is one of the delightful challenges of attending the Gift Show in New York or Maison.

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The Lace Skirt

/ January 30, 2013
The Lace Skirt

Slideshow

The only word I can think of to describe this delightful interpretation of a sink skirt is “confection”. It is both a fanciful and imaginative way to cover the bottom of a marble slab, create some invisible storage and make a design statement. The skirt follows the shape of the top, a lovely detail, and the lace is an inspired choice as a material in this setting. While the marble feels solid and heavy, the lace is ethereal and would blow in a breeze.

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