Classical Invention on the Hudson River by John Murray

Architect John Murray is no stranger to most style-minded classicists after his monograph,' Classical Invention', flew off shelves and onto design bookshelves everywhere. I recently heard him speak through our local chapter of the ICAA and his intelligence and beautiful work go hand in hand.While flipping through the most recent issue...

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Unknown architects, architecture, books, houses, housetours, ICAA, Interiors, John Murray, magazines, New Old House, Sam Blount

Do you layer?

I think the most interesting rooms are layered with finds, accumulated over time, and not 'designed' all at once. This past weekend I picked up a pair of antique Italian gilded wall brackets to hang between the windows in my living room and display some white porcelain.The treatment of this large set of windows has been kept simple to maximize...

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Unknown antiques, furniture, Interiors, just for fun, my apartment, shopping

Design is all in the details

As Mies van der Rohe was fond of saying, 'God is in the detail'; a quote often attributed to him but in fact  much older. Details have been on my mind lately as I'm currently reading Phillip James Dodd's book "The Art of Classical Details" which I would whole-heartedly recommend to all of you.While walking around the city the other...

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Unknown Architect, books, DC, houses, photographs, Washington

Those trashy Greeks.....

No the title is not meant to be derogatory but hopefully it caught your attention!  Rather, how fabulous is this trash can in the "Greek style" from the 1967 movie Playtime. I watched this movie last night at the recommendation of professor Michael Djordjevitch from the NYC Beaux Arts Atelier. If you get a chance the Atelier is...

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Unknown Architect, Interiors, just for fun, movies

Accents of color

The spring/summer 2014 issue of New Old House magazine features a new house by architect Rafe Churchill  that is traditional in its detailing, spartan even, but modern in its outlook. Most striking to me was the use of color throughout the house.Today the norm is white or cream painted trim in every room right? Any color in this generally...

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Unknown Architect, designers, houses, Interiors, magazine

Let there be light

One of the most underrated light fixtures in my humble opinion is the sconce. Mounted at eye level sconces create flattering light unlike the shadow lines created on ones' face from overhead lighting. Also, they don't take up precious table space like lamps or clutter a room like floorlamps.This weekend I helped a friend install some antique...

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Unknown antiques, artisan, georgetown, Georgetown project, Interiors, lighting, my work, photography

Chapin Residence floorplan

One of my favorite books that I've mentioned before is the monograph of H.T. Lindeberg's residential work. Many of his smaller projects are shown including just these 3 intriguing photographs of a rather odd house in Lake Forest, Illinois in 1926 for Lowell C. Chapin, Esq. If you study the plan you'll notice that the house consists of a...

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Unknown architects, books, floorplans, houses, Lindeberg, photography