Books: The Art of Classical Details; Theory, Design and Craftsmanship

November 24, 2013

An elegant rendering by Richard Cameron for a portico at a private residence. Sketches establish the most general appearance and function of a building.Slideshow

Several weeks ago, the Waterworks showroom in Greenwich, CT hosted a book signing for Philip James Dodd, the author of The Art of Classical Details: Theory, Design and Craftsmanship. In this beautifully organized and photographed book, Phillip proves that architecture, to be successful, requires not only a knowledge of theory and practice, but also an understanding and appreciation of the craft of building. He features architects and craftsmen who have a love for classical detail. They are students of the classical orders: Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian and Composite. Each order provides a system with its own distinct proportions, details and identity. Without them, classical architecture does not exist nor is it understood.

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Living Color: A Designer Works Magic with Traditional Interiors

November 23, 2013

Slideshow

Gary McBournie simply loves color! In fact, his favorite neutral is orange and before that it was red.  Beige is not part of his vocabulary unless he changes the tone to sand or cream.

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Black & White

November 23, 2013

The charm in this space is the large scale, vintage looking black framed mirror. Without it, the space would be boring.Slideshow

In fashion or home, black and white is timeless.

I have written about black and white bathrooms before. But as I continue to see more well designed baths using this restrained formula, I decided to revisit the topic. A black and white color scheme has the potential of creating a minimalist or stark interior. A myopic view could see this scheme to as too contemporary or limiting.  I like to think of black and white as refined and restrained, orderly and liberating. The decisions made when creating a black and white bath are very deliberate.  The varying shades of both colors help create a timeless space but too much of either color will create an unbalanced room. This clean aesthetic demands the uncluttering of counters and a general tidy approach (although I believe that all baths should be neat for the best functionality).

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Just for Fun: Firemen in New York

November 22, 2013

Good graphics.Slideshow

There is never a dull moment in New York from the second I step off the train into the throngs of people to the mad dash to the subway and push myself into the car. However, a week or so ago I had a new experience in our 58th Street showroom. We were quietly working away when the alarms in our building started screeching.  Because this is New York, everyone carried on as if nothing was wrong.  We all covered our ears with our hands, “kept calm and carried on”. However, it was not long before the incessant alarm was too much and clients began exiting and all the rest of us decided we should get out too. All of the building’s occupants emptied on to the street (thankfully on a warm sunny day) and before long two gigantic fire engines came flying on to 58th Street.

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