The Art of the Neighborhood with George, Elliot, and Brian

Architecture
October 10, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! This week I had the opportunity to go to The George Gallery for a preview of artist Brian Coleman’s new show, which opens tonight. As a preservationist and a lover of neighborhoods, I cannot do a post on art at The George Gallery without talking about the gallery first. The beautiful sun-lit gallery space is located at 50 Bogard Street, in Elliotborough, in a nineteenth century building that at one time housed a grocery store. The high ceilings, white walls (Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White), and large storefront windows combine to create a brightness in the space that can only be described as perfect for viewing art. And in this case, Brian Coleman’s art, an artist whose pieces truly shine in a space where the light is constantly changing and allows you to appreciate the nuances of color and texture that appear in his work. It was hard to pick a favorite. For a moment I would think I had found one, and then something in the adjacent piece would catch my eye and my fancy for a while, until another piece would beckon me for a closer look. I must have done at least five laps around the space. Another wonderful thing about The George Gallery is its owner, Anne, who is so much fun to be around and enjoy art with. Despite the fact that she is in the business of art, her enthusiasm and excitement over the pieces is contagious, and you feel her learning from and appreciating the pieces alongside you. What a treat. I think my favorite is the one on the right in this picture, titled, “Everything We Had and Did.” Anne was convinced it was because I love and respond to architecture, and this piece probably has more boxes and straight lines than any other in the show. I tend to agree with her. Plus, it is very blue – and we know how I feel about blue … And then there was this piece, “Anywhere But In Between.” The green and the blue, the straight lines, I don’t know but this might be the one too … So come to The George Gallery, TONIGHT, from 5:00-8:00 for the opening of artist Brian Coleman’s new show, “It’s All in the Wander.” What a great title for what promises to be a great show.

Perhaps after you feast your eyes on Coleman’s art, you can feast at another Bogard Street hotspot, Trattoria Lucca. And take a tip from artist Brian Coleman, who believes “It’s All in the Wander,” and stroll around Elliotborough – it’s a pretty special neighborhood.

An Asset to the Abbey

Architecture
October 7, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Today I’m sharing an amazing adaptive reuse project located in France’s Loire Valley. Fontevraud L’Hotel is a restored thousand year old monastery that is a part of the Abbaye de Fontevraud, the largest Abbey in Europe and one of the largest surviving monastic cities from the middle ages. It was founded in 1101 as the ideal city – a place for work, prayer and reflection – and it has evolved over the years from its original mission to both a resting place for Richard the Lionheart and a prison under Napoleon. The Abbey was declared an historic monument in 1840, and a World Hertiage Site in 2000, so it is well worth visiting especially when you can stay at the Fontevraud L’Hotel. Completely re-imagined by architects Jouin Manku, every fixture and every piece of furniture was designed specifically for the hotel. I have often written about my appreciation for the juxtaposition between historic architecture and modern furnishings, or modern additions to historic structures, and Fontevraud L’Hotel is no exception. Not shying away from the modern, the hotel has even gone so far as to put in an iBar, where a huge digital library can be accessed. Oh, and did I mention that upon arrival each guest is provided with an iPad through which they can access hotel services and history about the Abbey? I am not sure which is the bigger draw, a visit to the Abbaye de Fontevraud and the tombs of Henry the 2nd, Richard the Lionheart, and Eleanor of Acquitaine, or a stay at Fontevraud L’Hotel. For more information on the Abbey and the Hotel, visit the Fontevraud website.

Images courtesy of the Fontevraud Hotel via Yellowtrace Blog.

Shedding the Mantel

Architecture
October 6, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Fall is in the air in Charleston, and this morning on the blog I am putting on layers and shedding mantels. These fireplaces all have something surrounding the opening, but none of these fireplaces have a ledge on which to place a cluster of ginger jars or a flower arrangement. They stand alone, accented only by their surround and sometimes a piece of art. While the lack of a mantel immediately makes on think of a modern fireplace, that is not always the case. There are several pictured below that have a distinctly traditional aesthetic. Starting with one of my favorites. This is from Cherryfields, the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross. I actually modeled the fireplace in our study at Church Street on this mantel.
While this fireplace doesn’t even have a surround, the rounded shape of the opening and the herringbone brick pattern inside the fireplace provide detail enough.The arrangement of panels on this wall and the brass detail provide a more than adequate accent for this luxe fireplace.
Despite the fact that this modern fireplace is indoors, it provides a connection to the outside with its glass fire back. Instead of having a mantelpiece that sits in front of the wall, this fireplace surround is set back into the wall, creating a very subtle cove detail.
Photos via House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Dwell, & Domaine Home