Tag Archives: Advice

The Bath: Towels

November 27, 2012

Cumulus towels are soft and thick, and garment dyed. The palette is deep and rich. There are linen shower curtains to coordinate with some of the color in s beautiful linen.Slideshow

You would think it would be easy to select towels for the bath from the countless options available. But, it is not. I thought I would share my favorites and why they work for me.  My thoughts might give you some parameters the next time you shop for new towels.

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Back to Brass by Sarah Watson

November 25, 2012

Nopi restaurant in London. The flower shaped hanging lamp in the top right, is from Alfies Antique Market.Slideshow

The newspaper holders are actually old carpet rods that Karl repurposed. When he spotted them he thought they were a great size and weight, so he had a key cutter drill holes at each end of rod – adding a round ring to hang them and some elastic band to hold the newspaper in place.
Some antiques rack and brass items spotted at Clingancourt market in Paris a few weeks ago.
Ignoring the terrible photo from my phone. This swan neck spout is from the The Water Monopoly in London. Gorgeous!

This week, guest blogger Sarah Watson shares an interesting post on the resurgence of brass. Let us know your thoughts and feel free to share your own finds!  -Barbara Brass finishes seem to be popping up more and more these days. There is something about the warmth and the way it ages that reminds me of old world glamour and elegant European hotels. I love seeing its resurgence and use in more contemporary spaces – take London’s innovative Nopi restaurant for example.

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Books: The Classicist

November 25, 2012

Many of you know that I am on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. The  national headquarters is located in New York and  the organization supports 15  local chapters across the US. The mission of the ICAA is dedicated to making the built environment  more beautiful, sustainable and humane. It accomplishes this through education, publications and advocacy with lectures, salons, classes and travel programs for students, design professionals and the general public.

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Care of Fittings

November 23, 2012

Three textures of soft Elements cleaning cloths should be part of your cleaning ritual for your fitting. Wiping them down after every use will stop hard water from damaging the finish. Slideshow

The expectation is that the original lustrous finish on beautifully crafted fittings will last at least 20 years. This is essentially true unless the finish meets with some calamity such as an ammonia based or abrasive cleaner or poor air quality.  In fact, the fitting should be treated with the same care as one would devote to the finish of a fine piece of furniture or a well-loved car. Improper cleaning can damage the surface of the fitting and careless upkeep is a sure way to allow air, water and harsh chemicals to ravage the plating.

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