A very colorful space

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLe4SFOUg3zkbIFkNipPcAiSxHoiZk3Ubuvu7-iSPDhyujGJey8vT5uvI-hDGV70NXxRRwR63zlo1WVB24F_A5Sx7KvBPrSAI4oSyW6VUn8Qc-bsxoMS6FrJTOB755FyB-yCyVBsVR-E/s1600/ironwork.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745767845054514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLe4SFOUg3zkbIFkNipPcAiSxHoiZk3Ubuvu7-iSPDhyujGJey8vT5uvI-hDGV70NXxRRwR63zlo1WVB24F_A5Sx7KvBPrSAI4oSyW6VUn8Qc-bsxoMS6FrJTOB755FyB-yCyVBsVR-E/s400/ironwork.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring the <em><a href="http://www.oas.org/en/default.asp">Organization of American States</a></em> original headquarters with the <a href="http://www.classicist.org/">ICA</a>. Now, I've had a love affair with this building since early college when I had a (45 page!) term paper I wrote on the building, designed by Paul Cret and finished in 1910; so you can imagine how excited I was to actually take a tour (I had never been inside). <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745669318521154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbaXLctw4rpYseFyeh5QxdzMLKuotVDVsZICv81XpGmj1WRswhvDaoWkN1TCNYtn89TpSgRUEbWXaxk78N84aBl7FNN1cU_uqWE8FZVof5haClHdxDxJwvIxodUdxdZpiVrWaLmo0r6c/s400/house.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Rather than jump in with the main building, however, I'll start small with an auxiliary building I had never noticed behind the main structure that started life as the house for the director of the organization.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzFp23ao4S-ajM5XIC6fm8pkszHLa-xla5ztWjl8hImr471DagpYtkLZTgsE901Web7iOtuSMzp6TIduWkC6w-Xlt8bQIpEtDWy0M2OBPaECWwVuKLc3anKSFgidVd2LPfwlnkCSFPEA/s1600/front+door.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745660238469874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzFp23ao4S-ajM5XIC6fm8pkszHLa-xla5ztWjl8hImr471DagpYtkLZTgsE901Web7iOtuSMzp6TIduWkC6w-Xlt8bQIpEtDWy0M2OBPaECWwVuKLc3anKSFgidVd2LPfwlnkCSFPEA/s400/front+door.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Located behind the main building at 18th and Virginia Avenues, NW, it's hard to imagine anyone living here in noisy tourist central (other than at <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">1600 Pennsylvania Avenue</a> across the street of course!). Remember though, when it was built, the national mall and the monuments mostly did not exist. Instead, a canal, warehouses, random farmhouses and marshland were its' neighbors. It really was the edge of town.<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745649296440562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnNI2k8E9q8xj4Scjeh-sltOM1lKAe5g49HaB1bMtWMtq10InFjyAkGpRcVRspvVsASKesF2PuUFzOsJzeoX52qYRVYN8-NCSQscYEqICgjQ9gcGMjfTZ3UTxr7nt23d0ItYnzCVE6Ok/s400/crest.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />What struck me first about the house were the small porportions. Look at the guard in the front doorway -that is SHORT! This is a <em>private</em> space. Immediately inside is the staircase: graceful but purely residential. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511744784263992690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhJa5uEMp0UUuKevUBK5WV5yUhW8r7AKBsLej18yNGUSVT8idkvVh4WjYkwnUcSRCJdcFxLwv5wmwtJd-jvA6uze8IU4YMZOGQjePb3GVgd2qqnyruWHCXrUdzK6oA2p0OxDCyJvxNXk/s400/staircase.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The house was turned into an art museum for the organization a number of years ago. The exterior loggia on the rear of the house, which faces the Pan American building creating a courtyard, was enclosed to provide security and also extra display and entertaining space.<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745071560806354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbMc8XWSfGWwq1jRa2vnrvjn89qKheaA2RFUVR-a8_j6RlNg7JSYSDV3DRZimI1XK4luUZZjElGaWMmhZsrreJzv0KL0R-tw2kRv2oGQjxRwk3BsqShZ_-E7PU-f83h5QpVqc8Hk_y_U/s400/large+windows.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Imagine this space being open to the lovely courtyard and pool; This is a LOVELY room. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745062148713394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8NZfaFZjRrb0Zzhi14N-3XeEVG4y5r-HjPHEGOYwbaJpUu29h4_x4CbeAYgstIXwQptx0medqJURr5WpEF4LdJRmiJ1-Hmj0JKNXOQ0taAEa5lqn0CTWpWE9KpTuYGYNV32jwGuJVBU/s400/long+hall.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Much like the adjacent Pan American building, Cret and his staff designed all of the tile work and ornament found throughout. In Beaux arts design, the most detail is found in the most important space and the spaces leading up to it become more ornate as you progress. Therefore, the exterior of the house remains very plain out of heirarchy to the main building.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLBoFQWjuPy1ap5iYPTPex1HNRZzEBChAXNqjeCkGUoG4YlibjNAKEuGsyi_2VNJ0aNo_xTwyJicj6g9rMqLQT9VnsFdNwdnL37oguSAJnfd5npnyw_pVobUWorNOYVyWruEGS4_xp8c/s1600/ceiling+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745641116426002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLBoFQWjuPy1ap5iYPTPex1HNRZzEBChAXNqjeCkGUoG4YlibjNAKEuGsyi_2VNJ0aNo_xTwyJicj6g9rMqLQT9VnsFdNwdnL37oguSAJnfd5npnyw_pVobUWorNOYVyWruEGS4_xp8c/s400/ceiling+detail.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>However, within the house itself, this exterior room was treated as a special space: a destination. It makes sense, who wouldn't want to spend time here; breakfast, lunch and dinner!<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi_SiqYnzpY_r4ZiYaS1hesOZr667XQUGghJFHcI2Zd9FH63bYdjTXQ3h-NyAcZr2YjCE0e6-YRa52ZIJbC2UcDFkmcdnsdnS5Dz3Q-Oy_kHBWFNWpHSoAg2id1nA6JaBOknl3Y6XQYU/s1600/freize.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745079567787298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi_SiqYnzpY_r4ZiYaS1hesOZr667XQUGghJFHcI2Zd9FH63bYdjTXQ3h-NyAcZr2YjCE0e6-YRa52ZIJbC2UcDFkmcdnsdnS5Dz3Q-Oy_kHBWFNWpHSoAg2id1nA6JaBOknl3Y6XQYU/s400/freize.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 325px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I love the contrast between the natural terracotta and the turquoise glazing. All of the figures in the decoration reflect the union of North and South American design.<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f9AbVwCEOR3mNppAz3YkjZvSNjo0x9BNG529YqXrZGKJxlZCXgexXrYNV1R0nHoAIwuhWJuqahvZwaEB-FXhSSOEI_nfuF7AZcR87iCl8KXHx_47Xq_y9N7T3e_-tvlL6g0pa2DONt0/s1600/tile+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745054310273378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f9AbVwCEOR3mNppAz3YkjZvSNjo0x9BNG529YqXrZGKJxlZCXgexXrYNV1R0nHoAIwuhWJuqahvZwaEB-FXhSSOEI_nfuF7AZcR87iCl8KXHx_47Xq_y9N7T3e_-tvlL6g0pa2DONt0/s400/tile+detail.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I love the grillwork on the doors back into the house. These details are where Beaux Arts style thrives in my opinion.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaoGhQv7w3SA4VaXHDgXPujRPBwPOlL_YeBlW6ONUEX9KAGTByhp-5SkzIVSW931xFFGDa4rRUU3mRbRApyKqik4Z2Qn7c2a6sP4IXgJC3jVKbmOqkHZpRI1T6H8GnmTOqzdbXOq6oeM/s1600/turquoise+door.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511745049642824242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaoGhQv7w3SA4VaXHDgXPujRPBwPOlL_YeBlW6ONUEX9KAGTByhp-5SkzIVSW931xFFGDa4rRUU3mRbRApyKqik4Z2Qn7c2a6sP4IXgJC3jVKbmOqkHZpRI1T6H8GnmTOqzdbXOq6oeM/s400/turquoise+door.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>The tilework doesn't stop at the loggia, the guardrail down to the pool off the rear terrace also features some amazing detail.<br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511744794568812802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7bBOU8ZhXolpMaZ1ZqGHzgGbg0AbL0sFc_29MU6vHyS2on049Y0HL2EQTWfYs0oMqrkCUNGvsO84OKlL2nqmT17gPMLDFoekYa_ZW6EDSGP7Vk-AVl-7LFUgZfJ7cDj7ZNwyvunsdkA/s400/railing.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Even the bronze benches designed for the space reflect the Mayan motif's found throughout. Everything is part of an integrated design, no detail was forgotten.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76YVQNeApz8VuOn5_aclihRX5XfJJwm13HOCGOA-xauGHgly-lZDVQoiihCZhxC25u35mKxPjt0Os6mYd47GTPQcUJWRR0inQb8KoauaGOyToR8ye_bh6pvqaWNDpLBToa8o7Df56dhQ/s1600/bench+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511744820631306658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76YVQNeApz8VuOn5_aclihRX5XfJJwm13HOCGOA-xauGHgly-lZDVQoiihCZhxC25u35mKxPjt0Os6mYd47GTPQcUJWRR0inQb8KoauaGOyToR8ye_bh6pvqaWNDpLBToa8o7Df56dhQ/s400/bench+detail.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I will be showing more of my pictures from the main building next week, stay tuned; it will blow your socks off!<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_VY-OYSVoKuw_7ndYcWq2YJx7PqAeZq_hwI-qBU9CtM4jqkdH63H1JQmai8rfckqLMRGR9khmFSXOUEdOuYv7ZNyQh959uec2UiaNFJ-9i6pC0w2dl-ov2xhE9FxYxRaS3dHHTFrm80/s1600/window.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511744770204739202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_VY-OYSVoKuw_7ndYcWq2YJx7PqAeZq_hwI-qBU9CtM4jqkdH63H1JQmai8rfckqLMRGR9khmFSXOUEdOuYv7ZNyQh959uec2UiaNFJ-9i6pC0w2dl-ov2xhE9FxYxRaS3dHHTFrm80/s400/window.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

A very colorful space

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring the Organization of American States original headquarters with the ICA . Now, I've had ...

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The Most Wonderful Tile Ever!

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIlTbcNmI/AAAAAAAACjo/CjU_bpDOtIw/s1600-h/Picture+10.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810685084153442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIlTbcNmI/AAAAAAAACjo/CjU_bpDOtIw/s800/Picture+10.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 287px;" /></a><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIlx_SyyI/AAAAAAAACjw/kG4KD30d99s/s1600-h/Picture+11.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810693287594786" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIlx_SyyI/AAAAAAAACjw/kG4KD30d99s/s800/Picture+11.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 477px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIl8_H7UI/AAAAAAAACj4/PmoMb2VSq78/s1600-h/Picture+37.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810696239672642" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXIl8_H7UI/AAAAAAAACj4/PmoMb2VSq78/s800/Picture+37.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXImLxWIdI/AAAAAAAACkA/b7io4Xof6Dc/s1600-h/Picture+40.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810700208415186" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXImLxWIdI/AAAAAAAACkA/b7io4Xof6Dc/s800/Picture+40.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXImdKBiaI/AAAAAAAACkI/DvMxITUGcdw/s1600-h/Picture+41.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810704875325858" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SKXImdKBiaI/AAAAAAAACkI/DvMxITUGcdw/s800/Picture+41.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Besides dealing with flooring when on a design job, I used to sell flooring exclusively. After spending so much time around tile, carpet, wood planks...etc. I'm a bit of a flooring addict. I really feel it can make or break a room, and I can be rather snobby about it. Well, I think I may have found my favorite tile ever,(or at least for now). The object of my affection is from <a href="http://www.pophamdesign.com/home.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Popham Design</span></a>. They are handmade Moroccan cement tiles. The patterns and colors are a real visual treat. In the U.S. you can purchase these tiles through <a href="http://www.annsacks.com/home.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ann Sacks</span></a> or <a href="http://www.walkerzanger.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Walker Zanger.</span></a><br />How could anyone not love these amazing and free-spirited looks? I also love that this tile has its own video! First time I have ever seen that. Check it out, you'll fall in love with it...Maybe I'm just some sort of flooring nerd, I don't know.<br /><object height="300" width="400"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1296639&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"> <embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1296639&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/1296639?pg=embed&sec=1296639">popham design</a> from <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/user587777?pg=embed&sec=1296639">popham design</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&sec=1296639">Vimeo</a>.<br /></div>

The Most Wonderful Tile Ever!

Besides dealing with flooring when on a design job, I used to sell flooring exclusively. After spending so much time around tile, carpet, wo...

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Eye Catching.

<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SBfbyZ5bAfI/AAAAAAAABn4/kgytiuhoRP4/s1600-h/Picture+12.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194862354186830322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SBfbyZ5bAfI/AAAAAAAABn4/kgytiuhoRP4/s800/Picture+12.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SBfby55bAgI/AAAAAAAABoA/nqb_rWlrccw/s1600-h/Picture+16.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194862362776764930" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gt7eA_0QKPA/SBfby55bAgI/AAAAAAAABoA/nqb_rWlrccw/s800/Picture+16.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 696px;" /></a><br />Now I keep noticing patterned tile wall treatments, after seeing the kitchen blacksplash in "My Dream Home". I think the look is so exciting! I guess you could call me a design nerd. Oh well, what can I say. The top picture is from a blog I just found called <a href="http://decorfellow.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html#6227697161849234013"><span style="font-style: italic;">Decor Fellow</span></a>. It is a restaurant in Santa Barbara designed by <a href="http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/j/i/19520/HomePage.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Michael S. Smith.</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The second picture is not actually tile, but a wallpaper. This is a great idea for a quick change or a less expensive option. Now, I don't know how long it would hold up as a backsplash. I would consider looking for a nice pattern in a commercial grade paper. They are a little better suited for a kitchen. I found this on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninainvorm/2378114946/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ninainvorm's flickr </span></a>site.<br /></div>

Eye Catching.

Now I keep noticing patterned tile wall treatments, after seeing the kitchen blacksplash in "My Dream Home". I think the look is s...

Read more »