Posted in Found Objects, tagged Alvar Aalto, Brooklyn, color, pipes, plumbing, restaurant, utilitarian on November 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
This cafe in Brooklyn, NY has done a good job of turning what would usually be considered a highly undesirable feature into what almost might be considered an asset. (Sorry that all I have are quick snap shots with my phone.)
Plumbing waste line painted and wrapped in rope ala Alvar Aalto’s Villa Mairea
Plumbing wasteline continues
more pipes
Cheerful blue pipes
Posted in Found Objects, tagged restaurant on September 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Do you recognize it? Its actually pretty cool from the inside. (Not the greatest photos, I know)
Here it is on the outside:
Posted in Found Objects, tagged Brooklyn, derelict chic, lighting design, metal, New York, restaurant, rustic, tile, wood on September 21, 2010| 2 Comments »
I just ate dinner at this cool restaurant in Brooklyn. It was dark outside the whole time I was there. I am sure the place would feel pretty different for breakfast.
The building is an old diner train car with all the inherent architectural charm that you might imagine….. cozy narrow space, curved ceiling, lots of windows.
Instead of accentuating the 50s style, this restaurant has a different, edgier and classier sort of atmosphere.
It easily could have been overly trendy with its “derelict” finishes (ala Zoolander)
The old tile floor is patched with no attempt to hide that fact that it has been patched.
but some how it just works.
Once again the lighting is key. In this case the general lighting is dimmed, and warm flickery candlelight creates the mood. Mirrors, shiny ceiling and glass tiles add to the sparkle.
Lara Kaufman, who took most of these photos for me, is pictured on the right and Elissa Steglich, the local friend who took us here is on the left
Photo from Lara K showing some artful floor patches
Posted in Found Objects, tagged lighting design, restaurant on August 16, 2010| 2 Comments »
I dined on Friday night at Flour & Water in San Francisco. I took these photos with my phone, but they capture some of the lighting effects. You can go to this website for some photos that explain what you are looking at.
lighted Gem Bock horns, a hefty fir beam with small lights recessed into the bottom, and below the beam is a wall hung wall-washer
The website of part of the design team, Paxton Gate , explains, “Not satisfied with the options for dramatic lighting that worked with this project, the designers decided to make their own. The “chandelier”, constructed from scavenged Gems Bock horns, introduced a unique accent that creates an intriguing and comfortable ambiance to the reception area and host stand.”
This is a collection of old-fashioned type bulbs with delicate metal cages
To the right is the glow of the kitchen, and to the left are hanging down lights with utilitarian warehouse shades over the tables
Here are some more of those old-fashioned bulbs with delicate cages
The food was excellent and the atmosphere is warm and lively…but I couldn’t help feeling a little sad that salvaged old growth VG fir has become so hip.
I wonder what will come next after these stylish melanges of salvaged, rough materials, biological and organic found objects, and some old-timey, “authentic” touches that are radiating out of the Mission District in San Francisco.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind this trend. It fits with my own natural leanings.
