Pompeii pomp

I spent a day combing through the ancient ruins of Pompeii a week ago and came away humbled and moved to say the least. The classical Romans had surprisingly contemporary tastes and sensibilities. Either that or everything, and I mean everything, really is retro.

More great floors

OK kids, let me trot out some more vacation photos. I noticed a lot of really interesting majolica patterns in some really old buildings that still looked as great as they must have when they were installed. These are patterns that are still available for the most part, only these babies are the originals --the oldest one here is about 700 years old. Bet you can't guess which one it is. Any of these patterns would look terrific in a house today, despite the bright colors and wild patterns that a lot of people object to for being "too trendy." Pattern and color are your friends and these patterns from an old, old villa in Ravello make that statement pretty eloquently.

Vintage floors from Italy

For part of my recent vacation, some friends and I rented a villa in Sorrento. The villa sat on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Naples and was a glorious structure. It had been built originally by a German baron in the mid-19th century and still had most of its original floors. I specify floors all the time and it was interesting to spend some time living with Italian originals. Most of what was in the Villa Terraza was glazed terra cotta, although the marble herringbone pattern in the living room is one I'll be using in an upcoming project, count on it.

Dwell on Design

The kids over at Dwell magazine are hosting a conference and expo in LA from June 5th through the 8th. The name of the event is Dwell on Design. If you find yourself in LA, check it out. When you register for the event, use the promo code BDODEC for a free ticket to the expo (a $50 value) and use code GRP22SP to get $50 off the cost of the conference. This event is a one-of-kind showcase where modernism and sustainability come together. Even if you can't make it to their event, check out that magazine!

And while I'm praising all things Dwell, check this out:

I'm back

I'm back from my sojourn in Southern Italy. Oh the places I've gone and the things I've seen. I spent a fair amount of time combing through 1st Century Roman ruins in Stabia, Herculaneum and Pompeii. Although I didn't do any actual work while I was gone, I did take a lot of notes that will play heavily into my designs from this point on.

Below is a photo of the kitchen in the Villa San Marco. The Villa San Marco was the home of a wealthy Roman family and it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. At the time of its destruction, the villa is thought to have been 150 years old and there is ample evidence of its periodic renovations over those 150 years. Walking through it is mind bending, let me tell you. Be warned though, the next person who asks me about a "Mediterranean" kitchen is going to end up with something that looks like this. Hah!