Door Swagger: Decorative Details by Voysey

How many times a day do you use doors?  Really, think about it.  And how many times do you ever stop to notice the handles?  The hinges?  The rosettes (the piece of hardware behind the knob)?  How much more might you take notice if you were grabbing onto something gorgeous?

Voysey Hardware

Few have done door hardware better than Charles Voysey (1857-1941), an English architect, textile and furniture designer known for his Arts and Crafts style.  I have come across this photo of Voysey hardware many times, and every time I drool a little.  The doorknobs and pulls are lovely, but what really gets me are the keys and hinges.  Those hinges!

An early pioneer of industrial design, Voysey upheld the idea of form and function over ornamentation.  Though his architecture and interiors were certainly pared down for the times, perhaps he made exceptions for his textile and hardware designs, which have a more decorative approach.  I’ll be sure to do a post on his charming wallpaper designs, so stay tuned!

Adore A Door: Isfahan, Iran

This stunning door can be found at Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque in Imam Square, Isfahan, Iran. Initially built as a private mosque of the royal court, construction of this exceptional example of Safavid Iranian architecture began in 1603 and was completed in 1618. It is now a registered UNESCO world heritage site.

An Entrance to Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque –
Photo Courtesy of Momentary Awe Photography

The traditional Iranian tiles match color and complexity with the simple and bold. It is a lovely demonstration of mixing graphic patterns in a cohesive manner. The worn wood adds a touch of warmth; simply gorgeous.

A Day For The Ages: 12/12/12 at 12:12

This moment has been over ten years in the making. A moment for which my best friend and I have long waited. As teenagers, we made a pact: on the twelfth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of this millennium, we were to meet at 12pm in the center of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. We made this plan when nothing was certain. Who would we become? Where would be living? What would we be doing with our lives? What things would we have seen by then? Would we still even be best friends?

For a long time, all of these things remained unknown. With each passing year, we would joke about how much closer this moment was coming. Now, it is finally here. Some of these questions can be answered, some of them still elude us. We still have a lot more to learn, a lot more to do, and a lot more to become. But one thing remains certain: we are still best friends, and we will continue to be for many many years to come.

Entrance to the GE Building – Photo Courtesy of Jaime Martorano

The entrance to the GE building, close to where we are currently meeting (12:12pm on 12/12/12, it has arrived!), is located at 30 Rockefeller Center. It harbors a gorgeous frieze above the entryway, titled Wisdom, designed in 1933 by Lee Lawrie, a German-born, American architectural sculptor. The panel is made of Indiana limestone, cast glass, polychrome paint, and gilding. It is in true Art-Deco fashion, the style of the times. The phrase, “Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of thy times,” is written below, quoted from the book of Isaiah, 33:6 (King James Version). Appropriate in so many ways.

Today’s post is dedicated to one of the most special people I have ever met in my life. Someone who I have respected, appreciated, admired, and loved for over ten years now. I am proud to have the honor of calling the one and only Emerald Traveler, Tracey Greenstein, my best friend in the whole world (just don’t tell that to my ten and a half year old Labradoodle, Milo). Tray – here’s to 12/12/22!

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Special thanks to Jaime Martorano for use of one of his beautiful photographs.

Adore A Door: Jaipur, India

Gorgeous door spotted in Jaipur, India by Emerald Traveler.  Thanks for the beautiful image!  The details and color palette are phenomenal: wood mixed with what looks to be brass, blue tile, stucco walls, white rectangles framed by black borders, and those lights!  If you look really closely, you can see an interesting reflection on the windows inside.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Nathan Moore House: A Beautiful Embarrassment

I recently had the opportunity to drive across our beautiful country, which was nothing short of eye-opening, breathtaking, ______ (fill in your adjective of fascination here).  Along the way, we stopped in a suburb of Chicago, known as Oak Park.  All you Frank Lloyd Wright fans out there, I can feel your ears burning.  For those less familiar with his work, Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of residential properties designed by the renowned architect.  It also happens to be home to Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace, be still my heart.

Hordes of people visit this area every year to pour over mid-century architectural wonder.  Tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio are offered daily for a small price, as are tours of his Robie house.  But with a beautiful day and a wallet short on change, a walk around the area provides just as much pleasure.  My personal favorite is the Nathan G. Moore House, also known as the Moore-Dugal Residence.

Nathan G. Moore Residence, Oak Park, Illinois

Original Nathan Moore House

It was completed in 1895, but has since been altered due to an electrical fire on Christmas Day in 1922.  The damage impacted much of the home and took out the entire third floor.  Though Wright had acquired much success by this point and had quite the busy schedule, he took Moore’s request to redesign the house.  The first floor and foundation were kept the same, but the remainder went through significant modifications, primarily a change in the height of the house, and the addition of many ornamental details, completed by 1923.

It is said the Wright drew inspiration not only from English Tudor (which he apparently found to be ‘repugnant’), but also from the “father of modernism,” Louis Sullivan, and even Mayan architecture.  My absolute favorite part is this moment to the side of the front door.  The screen is slightly geometric yet incredibly detailed.  The house also features casement windows, half-timbering on the upper floor, an ornate balustrade fence, and a wide, medieval brick chimney.  I find this house even more interesting when compared with his later, more modern compositions.  The home is currently a private residence.

What make’s this home embarrassing?  Well, it is rumored that Wright disliked it in his later years.

To view more information and photos of the Nathan G. Moore Residence, check out these: Steinrag, Frank Lloyd Wright Tour.

Sources: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_G._Moore_House&gt;

Stay in Style: Amsterdam – Lloyd Hotel

For those of you who spend hours pouring over the interwebs looking for the most design-worhty hotels, search no more!  The answer in Amsterdam is Lloyd Hotel.  Not only are the interiors worth drooling over, the prices are just as attractive.

Lloyd Hotel is quirky.  It’s cozy.  It’s unexpected.  The building itself dates back to 1921, designed by architect Evert Breman.  It is steeped in history, originating as a hotel, transformed into a prison, and then rented out as artist studios.

Reopened in 2004 as a hotel once again, Lloyd offers rooms at different levels, spanning from the simple one star room, with shared bathroom facilities, to the the five star, offering more luxourious accommodations (some rooms even have wooden swings).  Each room has a quirky layout, maximizing function and space, and all have been outfitted by Dutch artists and designers.

The dining room is sleek and modern.  Shelves cover one wall floor to ceiling with goodies, most of which are for sale in the hotel shop.  Enormous windows allow light to pour in, making the communal table and standard two and four tops a perfect place to grab coffee before a long day of adventuring.

I had the opportunity to check out two rooms during my stay.  The first featured a red and white interior, where furniture fit into place like Legos.  A bathtub is the central focus, which doubles as a table when covered with planks found hanging on the wall.  The bathroom is neatly tucked away behind two doors: one leading to the loo, the other hiding the sink.  The white part of the room harbors the bed, which is smartly fitted with side tables that slide around the frame on tracks.  The room is truly transformable, and quite fun to play around with.

The second room was on the top floor in the converted attic space.  Though a bit drafty, the room was quite charming.  Features include wood paneled high ceilings, a view overlooking the bay, simple hooks acting as the closet, and a shower and toilet tucked away behind frosted glass.  Accommodations border on the simple, yet they exceed their price point in style.

Architectural detail and design elements hide around every single corner.  Nothing has been overlooked or left to chance.  The hotel is just outside the city center, located in the Eastern Docklands.  Visitors will most likely need to ride their bikes or transfer to the appropriate line from the magnificent Amsterdam Centraal Station to get there.  But it takes a certain type of person to put design above convenience, and therefore the clientele matches the look: plenty of creative types, hip young things, and touring musicians.

When I next find myself in Amsterdam, there is no where else I would rather stay.  If you’re nearly as obsessed with design as I am, I think you’d agree.  Traveling on a budget has never looked so cool.  Escape the prices, and more importantly, the crowds, at The Lloyd Hotel.

A Cobbler’s Work, Williamsburg, VA

Quality seems hard to come by these days when everything is made as quickly and inexpensively as possible.  I doubt I’m the only one who longs for goods worth waiting for; things of beauty and craftsmanship.  This beautiful collection of footwear handcrafted right in the Cobbler shop at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia is an exceptional example.

For Tracey.