Modern Delta lighting and Poliform cabinet showroom visit

Recently a few of us from my office visited an interesting new concept of a showroom here in Georgetown: Sagartstudio.

The interesting thing about the showroom is that it's actually a townhouse that has been expertly renovated as if it's a real house, utilizing many interesting products. No one lives here but you can bring your clients to see different items 'in use'.

They pride themselves that it shows how even an older traditional Washington rowhouse can incorporate modern design and the latest conveniences.

The house is branded as a Poliform showroom but all of the lighting is from my new favorite lighting company, Delta Lighting, along with other European brands furnishing the rest of the house.

 As I was saying the house was beautiful renovated, even to this architect's eye; "No expense was spared".  The nice thing is that one can bring a client to a high-level project to see items in situ and not a bland showroom:  Very little imagination is needed here!

 Everyone wants a bathtub in the master bedroom, right? Ok maybe not, but it makes for a nice picture.

The owner was telling us the house was completely gutted and basically rebuilt.  In general I cannot stand recessed lighting (loathe it actually) but these small modern fixtures disappear nicely in a way that works in both modern and traditional environments.

 Love this cute little reading sconce.

Generally nicer recessed architectural fixtures like these are many times more the cost than the average recessed can from home depot but the Delta lighting is actually pretty reasonable and definitely affordable.

 These small recessed spots are great.

 Another great product is this recessed track system into which many types of fixtures can fit.

I love the adjustable lights which pull down from the track (or recess) so that you can aim them at artwork.

These recessed floor lights work well in a bathroom or anywhere you need a little extra night-lighting; hallways perhaps?

Also featured are trufig recessed electrical outlets which are a nice minimal approach. Here Sagartstudio used them in black as a contrast to the white walls.  Generally I have spec'd them in the wall color so they disappear but this is a nice look too.

I love these kitchens that sort of fold away when not in use which are great for city apartments; looking like a built-in wardrobe system or paneled wall when not in use.

Another interesting product were these adjustable recessed lights that were small enough to fit into the stair carriage.

 These lit the exposed brick wall nicely; stair lighting is always tricky!

 Another interesting sconce that doubles as an art piece are these flat light fixtures which appear to be 3-d,  rather like Sol LeWitt.

And who says plumbing fixtures can't be fun colors? I forget the Italian company who makes these but rather fun for a child's bath.

Believe it or not this is not a sponsored post (other than the glass  or two of champagne I enjoyed...ok 3) but I wanted to share some fun new products. If you're in the DC area I highly recommend a visit to the Sargartstudio to see these products for yourself -tell them ArchitectDesignblog sent you!

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Gil Schafer, A place to call home

The most highly anticipated book this year has got to be architect Gil Schafer's "A Place to Call Home" from Rizzoli.  His first book, 2012's "The Great American House", was a huge hit and is one of my top favorite design books in my library. The book is split into 2 parts: the first he discusses what resonates with him when designing a house for a client (or himself) and the second part takes an in depth look at some of his more recent projects. 

I think one of the reasons Schafer's work is so popular is that he believes in the maxim God is in the details. In no project is this more important than in a home where someone lives with and physically touches each design decision on a daily basis. Schafer is a residential master; the projects in the book range from the traditional architecture he is known for to more modern styles.

The book is written so conversationally one walks away feeling you've made a new friend!   It's easy to form a connection to Schafer as he begins the book with stories of his childhood of different family houses: the sites and smells he remembers. I think we all have those memories of grandma's house!  

My favorite section is called 'the spaces in between' which are so important to a home; Linen closets, mudrooms, butler's pantries; etc.  Some great tips to pick up from that chapter!

Clients today rarely ask for formality and Schafer addresses this intelligently. It's possible to have functional spaces in a more traditional design aesthetic; candlelight and dressing up are not required!

This book is a must have for any design library and will bring a smile to your face. I promise you'll return to it again and again!

All images taken from the book, published by Rizzoli, and photographed by Eric Piasecki.

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Learning from Ledoux, Paris

While I organize my photos from last week's trip to Paris and Brussels I thought I would share with you a hotel particulier by Ledoux that I stumbled upon with friends in le Marais.

The last standing private house designed by Ledoux, the Hotel D'Hallwyll also was really the start of his prolific career. Ledoux started this extensive renovation to an older house (designed by Mansart) for the wife of the Comte d'Hallwyll who had inherited the house from her father.

The house now holds 12 apartments and is private but we were lucky to walk by and gain access to the front courtyard.

Located at 28 Rue St-Michel-le-Comte (on the bottom of the plan above) one enters into the entry courtyard. The extensive stables for 18 horses are located on the upper right hand corner with the famous garden on the upper left hand side.

Most of the interiors have been lost over the centuries although the staircase is original and was recently renovated (read more about that HERE with fantastic pictures)

The Neoclassic facades were the most modern of their day. Part of the reason they were so revolutionary is that Ledoux never studied in Rome unlike other architects.  His sometimes rather inventive designs were based on his second hand knowledge from Palladio and Piranesi (in the manner of later post-modernists).

I would think this simple service stairwall (located in the lower right hand corner of the entry courtyard) is also original. Love the ancient limestone floors and bottom treads.

 I also loved these gates separating the courtyard from the street featuring a Greek key pattern.

The street facade has stone rustication which Ledoux based on the (now gone) building located next door. Prior to this time period, extensive stone rustication was generally found on prisons or banks.

As the street is so narrow it's hard to get the full facade in a photograph so below is Ledoux's drawing.

Notice how the rustication is different above the 2nd floor windows than what was built- a change probably made in the field during construction to keep the roof lower.

 Fluted columns frame the entrance gate below a lovely carved stone tympanum.

 Notice the 2 service floor windows are banded together with a larger principal floor on top.

The interior rear garden was the largest innovation by Ledoux, located at the far right of the building section drawing below.  He surrounded the garden with a Doric colonnade much like those found in ancient Roman villas making the house appear much larger than it actually was.

The street behind (Rue Montmorency) was not in existence when the garden was built so a faux colonnade was painted above the rear wall onto the side of a building which no longer exists. Now however the garden benefits from doors directly out onto the street found on either side of the colonnade.

The beauty of walking around Paris is finding gems such as this!

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"New" Hardwick Hall tour

Hardwick Hall should really be called "New Hardwick Hall" because as with many great British estates it was built to improve upon one which already existed, Old Hardwick Hall is seen below.

Built for Bess of Hardwick, the Countess of Shrewsbury, in the 1590s by architect Robert Smythson, the house is more glass than wall. This may impress us even today but imagine the effect this would have had on guests 500 years ago; the saying was "Hardwick Hall more glass than wall"!.

It was also built 'upside down' in effect as the main entertaining spaces are on the top level to take advantage of the views. In Elizabethan times it was also popular to dine on the roof - we weren't the first ones to have rooftop decks!

Much of the interior paneling found inside came from Old Hardwick Hall, which was kept as a ruin for scenic effect.  Trees were even planted inside the old house in the 18th century.

 The Hardwick coat of arms is seen above the fireplace in the entry hall.

The drawing room and dining room also feature salvaged paneling and more Hardwick coats of arms on the chimney breast.

 These rooms are fairly cozy and one can imagine using them on a daily basis.

 Not used as often perhaps was the Long Gallery on the top level, measuring 167 feet long!

Generally in these older houses the stairs wouldn't be used very often by guests but here they were a prominent feature. Built of stone, extra-wide, and lined with tapestries, these stairs would have impressed the most notable guest.

Many of these tapestries were restored in the early 20th century by the houses's last inhabitant, Evelyn Cavendish, the Dowager Countess of Devonshire. She was quite the battle-ax and reading about her is really entertaining!

 Notice the poems incised on the stone stairs.

 "Look to her well, she will one day be even as I am" Queen Elizabeth I

 All those stairs...all those tapestries.

The Long Gallery was lined with treasures of the family - everything was built and decorated to impress the visitor with the wealth and importance of the family.

Many of the tapestries were cut to fit the spaces where they are displayed but here in the Gallery they could be displayed to their full size.

Bess of Hardwick was obsessed with textiles and tapestries and household records still list her collections.

The 'Sea Dog Table' is the most important treasure inside the house. Made in 1600 of walnut it is considered one of the wonders of the Elizabethan age.

This marquetry woodwork is also pretty amazing though!

The Great Chamber's notable decorative element is the plaster frieze depicting hunting scenes.

Diana the Huntress is featured throughout the frieze.

 The coloring is really extraordinary.

 Can you imagine anything so beautiful in your own home?

 The Arms of Bess can be seen on the chimney breast above.

 The house is full of amazing plaster, stone, and wood work.

 Of course no great house in Great Britain is complete without a host of bedrooms with canopy beds!

Naturally they are all surrounded with tapestries as well -the blue room seen above. Here they were actually useful in trying to keep out drafts.

 This simpler bedroom above is probably my favorite, with Venus in plaster on the chimney breast.

Imagine being a guest of the last resident in the 1950s and pulling up to stay for the weekend and being put up in one of these (dusty) bedrooms!

 The Green room is seen above.

The Green and Blue rooms were the primary bed chambers located right off the long Gallery and would have also been used for entertaining.

 The muniment room is lined with drawers, each one labeled with a Cavendish property.

My favorite spaces in these houses are always the store rooms. Imagine rooting around in here for treasure! This one started out life for another purpose obviously as it has a grand mantel and chimney breast.

The kitchens are an extraordinary space with tall ceilings to help dissipate the heat. The furnishings were built for the space in the 18th century.

The collection of copper cookware is astounding! The scullery below features a charming sign that I feel is so important and I constantly see people forget during tours of historic buildings "A single act of carelessness leads to the eternal loss of beauty".  PEOPLE, DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING, WERE YOU RAISED BY WOLVES? (I'm obviously not as subtle as the British)

To read more about Hardwick Hall, particularly the kitchens, visit the LostRememberedPast blog HERE.
Many thanks to penpal Neil as always for providing photographs from his travels!

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