On The Outside, Looking In

It’s been a while, my apologies. I’m currently compiling a post about my FAVORITE architectural and design detail, but I need the best images to portray them. It’s taking me much longer than anticipated.

However, here’s a nice piece on the interim.

I have been working on many bathrooms in the last couple of weeks, and it’s really had me delving into unique and beautiful pieces to incorporate. Through all of this, I’ve been able to compile my favorite pieces for a bathroom I would want.

While I will always love beautiful, clean, simple, white bathrooms, I have a soft spot for dark, moody, masculine bathrooms. Many clients I encounter think that going dark in the bathroom makes it feel dirty or dingy. I think that the combination of dark woods, geometric wallpaper, dark stones, interesting patterned tiled, along with *swoons* brass fixtures makes a bathroom elegant and timeless.

Above:

• Vanity - Jeton Collection Vanity by Bill Sofield for Kallista — $5211
• Faucet - R.W. Atlas Collection by Roman and Williams for Waterworks 
• Vanity Lights - Ava Bath Light by Alexa Hampton for Circa Lighting — $294
• Shower Exposed Thermostatic Contron - R.W. Atlas Collection by Roman and Williams for Waterworks
• Wall Mounted Toilet - Vintage Wall Mounted Toilet for Hastings — $530
• Wall Tile - GEL Beadboard Ceramic Tile, Chair and Baseboard by Hastings 
• Floor Field - 6x24 Petrified Wood Herringbone by Hastings — $12 sq.ft. 
• Shower Accent Tile - Circulos by Cement Tile Shop — $14.50 sq.ft. 
• Wallpaper - Aronel Vivid-Cream Wallpaper by Walnut Wallpaper — $69/roll

I stumbled upon the best gem on the internet regarding the Titanic. The real ship wasn’t photographed extensively because of its short lifespan and the state of photography. 

However, Anton Logvynenko at Titanic-In-Color.com has painstakingly colorized the few pictures that exist. Using a mixture of color matching to black and white photography and records that exist of the interiors, these photos help to bring back some grandeur to the ill-fated ship.

These are just a couple and I spliced them together to compare the color to the black and white versions. I think they’re stunning, and the vintage appeal of recoloring photos makes them even more special.

I would definitely check out the website, if you are interested in seeing more pictures.

Obviously. Click on pictures for larger size and for description of what is photographed.

[Pictures taken from and all rights belong to titanic-in-color.com]

I had the opportunity to meet with Josh Laughlin of Tsar this morning. Tsar is an Australian company and has just opened their showroom here in NYC, down in Tribeca. What an awesome guy, almost as fantastic as his collection of rugs. 

I will NEVER be disappointed by a beautiful area rug. These rugs by Tsar feature wool, worsted wool, silk and bamboo silk. I know. Bamboo Silk, what is that? I thought I would do a little research regarding this interesting material. This interesting material is a combination of viscose derived from Bamboo (approximately 70-75%) and spun with silk. According to Josh, it holds up better than traditional silk and is much cheaper. With the same light reflective properties, colors and texture of silk, what an awesome way to get silk…on a budget.

Worsted Wool is another interesting choice in carpet production. I’m not going to get into the specifics in rug production and fibers, but worsted wool is basically a smaller thread. So, when you look at a traditional wool carpet, you can see the individual fibers, but worsting the wool makes it a thinner thread which allows for a really sharp line and detail in the overall rug design.

I’ve pulled a couple of my favorite’s on the Tsar website. They are able to do custom work, and their turn around time (because they own the mills) is much faster than any other rug company I’ve dealt with. I can’t wait to specify one of these, but until then, check out these beautiful designs.

I would definitely recommend checking out the Tsar website or stopping by the showroom in Tribeca to see these designs in person. Because, even though I saw small samples, feeling the texture and seeing them in person makes them even more stunning.

[As always, click on photo to enlarge, and to see the name of the rug]

Images pulled from Tsar website.

Here are the final shots of this project. This is the last project I worked on at Jarlath Mellett. Lots of custom furniture, rugs and architectural details. So beautiful and fun.

[As always, click on the pictures to see full size]

Photo Credit: Tria Diovan

These are the professional shots from one of my last projects at Jarlath Mellett. You may remember the chandelier and the quick iPhone shots that were taken and posted a while back.

[As always, click on the photo’s to see larger images]

Photo Credit: Tria Diovan

With the excitement surrounding the Mars rover “Curiosity”. I’ve decided to pull together a couple items that would be right in place on a small colony on Mars. 

Today, The Foundary is running a sale on space-age inspired art. Included are my two favorites, “The Ray Guns” and “The Rockets”. These are printed on blocks of wood with vintage inspired colors and make a nice graphic statement on a wall, or as accessories on a tabletop. The Space Car is a charming addition to this collection, and very Jetson-esque. 

Speaking of the Jetson’s, here’s a futuristic pre-fab home from the 60s, The Futuro. Designed by Finnish designer, Matti Suuronen, the pod is a perfect example of 1960’s Utopian Sci-Fi. Just imagine all of these dotting the Martian landscape, and picking out the finishes via online ordering a’la Sears Catalog Home of the 1920’s.

To get in the best futuristic thinking, I’ve included some travel posters that I’ve been OBSESSING over for the past couple of years. Created by Steven Thomas, these vintage-inspired planet travel posters are a fun way to infuse some color and humor into your terrestrial abode. 

Finally, no Mars dwelling would be complete without a copy of Ray Bradbury’s, The Martian Chronicles. My favorite book by one of my favorite authors. The best place to read this? The Papa Bear chair by Hans Wegner…naturally.

Shaking and Crying at these beautiful pieces of recreated mid-century furniture. Now. I think that midcent is running it’s course, but I don’t think we’ll ever shake it. The fact that there are beautiful clean lines and simple shapes make these pieces able to fit into a perfect Eichler home or a contemporary Manhattan penthouse.

These are all created by Thrive Home Furnishings out of Los Angeles. I think I just may use one of these sofa’s for a project I’m currently working on…if I can convince my client that she doesn’t need to sit in one before we buy it.

You guys might remember the in progress pictures I took of this last summer, here are some of the final shots.

As always, click on the photos to see them larger sized.

Photo Credit: Tria Diovan

Some quick shots on my iPhone for my last project with the firm. Loved the way this apartment came out, and I can’t wait to get the professional pics!

(click on pics to see full-size)

THE chandelier was installed Monday. Can’t wait for the professional pics of the space to see it all lit up and shining in it’s glory. Here’s some quick shots taken with the iPad. It’s amazing.