GERRIT RIETVELD

Gerrit Rietveld (1884-1964) was best known as an architect and designer belonging to the influential De Stijl movement known for its simple forms and rectangular shapes.

It is his marvelous chairs that I have always admired. Although he began designing and fabricating them them as early as 1917 they continue to strike me as cutting edge and very contemporary. Some of my favorites follow.

ROME INSPIRATION

A recent visit to ROME  provided me with  much needed inspiration to post again.
It was the ancient Roman architecture and sculpture that inspired me the most. Though of course there are beautiful examples of the Renaissance and Baroque as well. My first post will be of he Roman Forum and will follow with the Castle Saint Angelo, the Capitolene Museum and so on.

NYC FLOWER DISTRICT

The focus of my visit to New York  last week was the FLOWER DISTRICT on West 28th between 6th and 7th Avenues . I needed a strong dose of visual inspiration for myself and the shop.  Even though this area has been shrinking  over the years it continues to be an oasis in a city dominated by vast expanses of  cement and stone. The visual contrast between the rather harsh surfaces and angles of the high-rise architecture with the extraordinary natural beauty of the flowers is quite powerful. After taking hundreds of photos of  flowers and greenery I decided to use them along with architectural images (that I did not take but selected from Pinterest) to demonstrate the rather obvious differences between the man-made and the natural world.

LA MAISON DE VERRE

The Maison de Verre  (House of Glass) was designed in the late 1920's in Paris by Pierre Chareau.
Behind the translucent glass-block facade hides an interior  like no other. The photography by Francois Halard  that illustrates the book La Maison de Verre (published by Thames & Hudson) captures the genius and beauty of the structure and it's contents as it must have been intended by Chareau. I will let the photographs speak for themselves.

DUMBARTON OAKS

Washington DC's Secret Garden

Dumbarton Oaks is located in the Georgetown section of Washington DC. It is only a few blocks from our shop and I have the pleasure of walking by it everyday. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. It's not only the plantings that captivate but also the garden ornament and architectural embellishments. Every area rewards you with something beautiful and unexpected. It is difficult to express the uniqueness of Dumbarton through photographs though I have been trying for years. Following are a few photos just to try to give you an idea of how special this garden is. If you are planning to visit Washington DC you must see it. I will follow with posts in the future that elaborate on its history and more interesting details. It is located at 703 32nd Street and you can access more information at www.doaks.org.

TERRAIN

Not long ago myself and  a friend took a long anticipated trip to Terrain in Glenn Mills Pennsylvania. As most everyone knows Terrain is owned by the same clever people who brought us Anthropologie. Terrain's focus is on the outdoors and gardening along with a healthy dose of homewares beautifully displayed inside. It is a creative interpretation of a garden center. Rather than a single store it is a collection of several structures with each one providing a unique visual viewpoint. A visit to Terrain will not disappoint.

Architectural detail of outdoor display

Garden Cafe facade

Colorful spiky succulent

Amazing zinc top garden table

Beautifully displayed box of succulents

Planter made especially for Terrain

Vertical planting in rows on building facade

LONGWOOD GARDENS

A few weeks ago I was in the Brandywine Valley which is an incredibly beautiful area in Pennsylvania. Just by chance the friend I was with suggested we visit Longwood Gardens. I had no idea how enchanting it would be. I felt like I was in Europe.
Apparently Pierre du Pont who created the gardens was greatly influenced by the French and Italian styles. Although the landscaping and plantings made quite an impression on me it was the architectural details that had the greatest impact as you will note from the photographs. It was du Pont's  aesthetic sense along with his obvious love of the landscape that has left the world a more beautiful place. 

Detail of original Fountain Garden (under renovation)

Topiary Garden

Italian Water Garden

Waterlily Pool

Dolphin  detail on lead cistern

'Field of Light' Installation by Bruce  Munro

Detail of Italian Water Garden with urn

Waterlily Tendrils

Main Water Garden