This photo essay is from last month’s issue of Interior Design magazine. I’m generally in love with all things Moroccan and mid-Asian things these days. Though it’s not residential, there’s still a lot to learn here, in my humble opinion – beginning with the lighting. As you look through the photos, try to imagine how different the space would look without the atmosphere created by the marvelous lighting.

Let’s go!

A pendant globe creates movement on the wall that leads to the locker rooms. Movement in a gym – there’s an idea.

Everything in the reception area is authentically Moroccan. Color is the star here. Deep indigo. And the mix of materials – woods, fabrics, and metals. It has the feel of a seraglio as opposed to a gym. Nice atmosphere.

Above the reception area, the star-sparkled ceiling takes my breath away. Again, this is a total light show. So the next time you think about overhauling your space, think about lighting first.

Again, recycled glass in the spheres create a graphic shape on the walls. It recreates the stained glass shapes of Morocco. Pretty cool, huh? The place to do this at home is a powder room. That’s the place to go over the top with drama.

Hey, this actually is a gym! Funny, this doesn’t look like the YMCA, where I work out (and I think they did a great job on that). Three cheers for designer Sofield’s team.

This is close to one of my favorite parts – the women’s locker room. How cool is this? See what a little rope lighting tucked behind those lockers does to the room? Awesome!This is my second favorite area – the women’s locker room. How cool are those stencils? Very. The colors, the lighting – it all makes you feel so good you won’t care how many pounds you need to lose. Try this look in your bedroom or dining room. These are good rooms for drama.

The spa lounge gets its sense of movement from the different sizes of the colorful lanterns.

Men, how do you feel about the locker room’s entrance here? Masculinely understated, but it maintains the look. I guess men are embarrassed by drama in the lockers?

Here we see the spa area. I really need to be on that table right now. The tables are arranged in a row (next photo). The only I don’t like is the proximity to each other. I want to feel aloooone during my massage.

The look here is fantastic. Love the tents. Love the rugs. Love the tables and candles. It’s perfection. Just whisper. Shhhhh!

Has anyone been here? Make us jealous and speak. I also want to hear reviews on the design. Fire away.

images: eric laignet

Character should come to Detroit and clean up. To see more images, and read the post, follow this link.

The homes and townhouses come furnished. Here’s a sneak peek at the interior designs by Patricia Reid Baquero.

Natural materials were used throughout. Spots of color come from the accessories and plants. I love the arrangement of plants and dishes set atop the hand-carved coffee table in the top-most photo. Not so great are the seashells on the oars. But the burst of blue is a hit with me.

I always like looking at beds for new ideas on how to dress them. I think I like the style on top the most. What do you think of the teal?

I’m a sucker for a beautiful beach sprinkled with palm trees.

Have you been the the Dominican Republic? And, who’s up for buying a beach house?

Most vinyl flooring is made from petrochemicals rather than rubber – the real thing. Dalsouple harvests its rubber from Hevea trees in South America. The trees are highly efficient at extracting carbon monoxide. This off-sets the emissions created in the manufacturing process. And the end result is a natural product with the same durability as synthetic alternatives.

That’s all good. But while you can make the greenest product in the land, if it’s ugly no one will buy it. Designers won’t specify it. What I really like about this green product is the color selection. Along with the standard muted tones, DalNaturel comes in real brights that are wonderfully eye-popping.

Don’t think of this as a commercial product. These would look fantastic in a home. How about a beach house, a basement, kitchen, laundry room or bathroom? They’re easy to install, too. With some careful measuring you can do it yourself.

You can find DalNaturel via Kasthall, their US distributor. Or contact your favorite designer.

PS: Dalsouple is holding a design competition for students and designers. To find out more, click on this link.

History

Built in 1887 by John Frederick Wiessner, a German immigrant, the American Brewery was one of the largest breweries in the state of Maryland. At its peak, the brewery employed 61 workers.

Prohibition forced the facility to shut down in 1920. The brewery was sold to the American Malt Company in 1931, who modernized the interior equipment and operated the brewery until 1973. The building was listed that year in the National Registry of Historic Sites and has been vacant ever since.

Humanim hires Struever Brothers, Eccles & Rouse

Humanim, a non-profit organization, is restoring the building and is planning to house employment programs and clinical support services for the residents of this poverty stricken community.

Baltimore Architects, Cho Benn Holback & Assoc. were hired to plan the restoration. Because the building is historic, restoration (as opposed to renovation) is required. In short, that means lots of “do’s and don’ts regarding exactly what changes can be made to the building. Its historic integrity had to be maintained.
Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse (the company Steve works for) was, in turn, hired to redevelop the building. If, like me, you have a passion for historic architecture, I know you’ll enjoy this photographic essay.

Restoring A Baltimore Jewel: A Photo Essay

The asymmetrical nature of the building is what makes it so singular. The assortment of windows, combined with the brickwork and wooden buttresses work together in such a perfect way…

It’s like looking at a piece of music transcribed into bricks and mortar.

The Mansard roofs! I’m speechless.

The back end has a new addition. Strict rules had to be followed to maintain the historic nature of the property.

These buttresses are made entirely of wood. The pitch of the roof, and the fact that the roof shielded the buttresses underneath, spared the building, and the extraordinary architectural details like these, from collapse.

This is a shot of the interior Mansard roof. The huge beams were steamed to form the curve of the roof. The windows lie underneath. This room will become a conference area.

I can’t wait to see The American Brewery once the interiors are completed. Much of the brewery’s machinery has been saved in order to incorporate the metalwork into walls and furniture.

I’m homesick now!

Are you from Baltimore? Sadly, here in Detroit, much of our history has been torn down. What’s your opinion of the importance of historic preservation?

CEO of the iconic Dorothy Draper Company, Carleton Varney, has put his unique touch on Union Prime, a soon to be opened “steak house for ladies” located in New York City.

As he says, “The design takes all the hallmarks of Draper‚Äôs historic work, with its scrolling cartouches and blooming ‚ÄúPrincess Grace‚Äù rose motif and magnifies them to grandiose proportions,¬†evoking¬†a chic sensuality in a glorious and fashionable backdrop.”

Phew! I need a T-Bone after reading such a long sentence. Make mine rare. Hold your horses! There’s more…

“The femininity of the space compliments the ‚Äústeakhouse for ladies‚Äù feel with a Contemporary American menu fused of steak and sushi.” Hmmm. Reminds me of Jeff Goldblum in The Fly. Or, does that mean I can get a Teriyaki Sirloin Roll with Texas Toast on the side? As long as it comes with a six-pack of lady beer, I’m there.

Truthfully, I don’t get it. This just looks silly. It feels like a saloon at a theme park. Where’s Minnie? I just hope the vittles are palette pleasin’.

What’s your opinion?

Welcome to The Splice Bar, designed by the Greek design firm, Nobraincellz.

Nobraincellz are smart! They take a multimedia approach to design by using interior design, architecture, 3-D animation, etc., to create awesome environments.

Their approach to The Splice Bar was to start with bold, grafitti images repeated throughtout the space. Then, they lit it to perfection.

The daylight version is wonderfully graphic. But at night, Splice comes out to play.

Have some fun and take a good look at the various ways Nobraincellz thought of lighting the space. A table lamp on the floor? All the vibrant colors that emphasize the graphic nature of the daytime themes.

The space was designed by Tony Chi Architects. I like the way they used Moroso’s Newtone sofa as an alternative to a banquette. The curved lines create the suggestion of the old classic style of restaurant seating. The sofa sort of hugs the customer – making the space more private than it would otherwise feel if the seating were more open.

There’s no reason why this look couldn’t be recreated in a residential space where the sofa backs up to a wall. Or, the sofa could act as a room divider.

How would you use this idea?