Harrison Architect Designs

Monday, April 28, 2014

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 of New Old House magazine I came across a renovated country house Murray completed on the Hudson River that made me feel instantly at home. Murray enhanced the existing house in such a way that one doesn't know what is old and what is new, one only knows that it is RIGHT.
 The floorplan is a dream come true for most of us I would imagine; The only thing missing is the river view!
 French casements open completely to bring in the river views and air. The century old beams are the only decoration needed architecturally, interior designer Sam Blount provided the rest.
 The kitchen has all of the modern amenities of a new house and the charm of the old house.  Again I love the french casements!
The screened porch can be used year round. And what is a screened porch without ceiling fan and sky-blue beadboard ceiling?  This definitely ranks among my country house dreams -how about yours?
All photographs by Durston Saylor from New Old House magazine, Spring/Summer 2014
Unknown architects, architecture, books, houses, housetours, ICAA, Interiors, John Murray, magazines, New Old House, Sam Blount
Monday, April 14, 2014

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 the view of the park across the street (just one large bamboo shade to cover all 3 windows). I think the brackets add some interest to a rather window treatment -what do you think? too much?
My hope is that the simple lines of the porcelain detract from the ornateness of the brackets. But it's my own house so of course I can be as fussy as I please ;-)
Unknown antiques, furniture, Interiors, just for fun, my apartment, shopping
Friday, April 11, 2014

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 day I was looking at some of the quieter buildings that normally would be under my radar and noticed that some of them had ravishing details. This brick townhouse below is almost a pattern book for a Victorian brick maker. All of that detail is of brick -such unusual shapes!
This iron railing seen below had amazing curvaceous brackets -simple but lovely. On buildings such as a standard row-house these details make all the difference and have stood the test of time. Have you seen anything that has caught your eye lately? What did we do before camera phones to capture our visual world?
Unknown Architect, books, DC, houses, photographs, Washington
Tuesday, April 8, 2014

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 a wonderful organization which gives intensive courses in classical architecture and drawing ranging from 1 week intensive courses to 1 year programs (I've been meaning to take the 1 week course myself). The movie is notable for its intricate and daring sets which are a riff on modern architecture and urban planning -they make this funny movie all the better (thro.out greek style)! Be sure to add Playtime to your netflix queue, you won't regret it.
Unknown Architect, Interiors, just for fun, movies
Friday, April 4, 2014

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 seems strange or odd. Not quite that long ago colored trim was commonplace and it's a device interior design is missing today. Even in my 1930s apartment I discovered all of my trim had originally been a bright turquoise while doing some work!
 I especially loved this screened porch -my favorite 'room' in the house.
 The cheerful apple green paneling in the family room is cozy, charming, and eye catching.
 The dining room features mustard yellow trim with white walls that tie into the kitchen.
Upstairs paint is taken to another level with glossy white painted floors in this bedroom. Interestingly while the trim is also painted a soft green, the door is left the natural wood.
Even this unusual 'country mancave' as I refer to it features dark painted trim, albeit with exposed stud walls. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to risk this much color in such a way in my own home but would you, could you?  Maybe we should all take a clue from the not so distant past and skip the white trim for awhile.
All images by John Gruen
Unknown Architect, designers, houses, Interiors, magazine
Monday, March 31, 2014

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 sconces we had picked out at Artisan Lamp (my favorite lighting source here in DC) onto some existing built-in bookshelves in his den. The effect is magical particularly in this small room without any existing lighting!
Not only are they the jewels of the room, the warm light cast by them is ultimately flattering and practical. Don't forget sconces in your next project!
Unknown antiques, artisan, georgetown, Georgetown project, Interiors, lighting, my work, photography
Friday, March 28, 2014

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 rather small entry vestibule and an enormous living room. Thats all for public space! A warren of servants quarters fill the remainder of the first floor while the 2nd floor holds 4 bedrooms. Strange but ultimately practical.
And as you can see the 'simple' house packs a lot of punch with that steep French roofline.  Rather a quirky house and it leads me to wonder how it has changed over the past 90 years or is even still extant.
Unknown architects, books, floorplans, houses, Lindeberg, photography
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