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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: historic

Piping Hot Design Trends

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Liz Alton, The Home

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Tags

bathroom, bedframe, bookshelves, country, exposed duct, historic, Industrial, Liz Alton, loft, minimalist, pipes, recycling, shelving, steel pipes, Storage, upcycling, urban, vintage, wine rack

One of the beautiful things about working in a historic mill building is the gorgeous exposed piping and ductwork. Combined with the brick walls and the high ceilings, it’s one of the selling points of the space. When I was coming up with some creative ways to accessorize the space, I found some visually striking examples of designs that integrated pipes along the ceiling or in accent pieces. If you love this look and aren’t currently calling a loft home, there’s some creative designer and DYI pieces on the market that you can use – from shelving to lighting fixtures.

Exposed Duct Works, Redux
Exposed ductwork is a hot look in a lot of urban apartment and office buildings right now, especially the ones that used to be factories, mills, or big commercial facilities.  These lofts go for big bucks, and have tremendous character that you can work with. Lots of natural light, exposed bright, and rich woods permeate the space.

Piping Hot Design Trends

But not all exposed ductwork is urban. This beautiful country example of an exposed duct takes a really practical turn as place to hang pots and pans!
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Trilogy Builds

A colorful paint job makes this design a standout for a fun take on exposed pipes in a kids’ bathroom.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Houzz

Hanging Storage Solutions
Who doesn’t love a creative storage solution? DIY crafters are rock stars at recycling and upcycling, and these pipe shelves are a great way of using steel pipes and even a bellowsflex hose to create unique shelves and bookcases that can adapt to almost any arrangement.

Here pipes double as both the supports and the mechanism for attaching the shelves to the wall.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Interior Result

With pipes’ structural integrity, it’s really possible to combine shelves into ultra-creative configurations.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Yellow Pelow

Hanging bookshelves in particular are a hot item, where shelves can double as both the supports and the bookends. This lighted version is great to illuminate a reading nook.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Gear Culture

Industrial fittings are used in this one to give it even more character.
Piping Hot Design Trends

Pipe Shelves Scaled
If you love the pipe shelf look but need more than just a foot or so of shelf space provided by the hanging shelves, there are some great examples of floor shelves constructed of pipe. The key qualities translate over: a very artistic and modern industrial look with a highly configurable potential design.

Pipe and wood combine to a really unusual shape in this one – this would be a great idea for working with specific display needs or around an oddly shaped wall feature.
Piping Hot Design Trends

The pipes on this corner shelving unit help anchor the whole thing, while allowing it to fit into a tight space between window and door. Look at all the room you get for books, knickknacks and more.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Modern Meals for Two

Funky Furniture
There’s also some really fun pipe and hose furniture. This vintage wheel cart combines pipes and antique box wood.
Piping Hot Design Trends

This pipe and wood wine rack is absolutely to die for.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Manhattan Cleanline

It also makes a sturdy, minimalist bedframe.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Design Fabulous

A lot of these items are commercially available, but they are all very doable as custom commissions or DIY projects. I think it’s time to sign my husband up for a welding class!

Written By Liz Alton

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Darkness

16 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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age, Alcatraz, california, darkness, historic, history, island, jail, light, photography, travel, vacation, worn

When my friend Meg and I took a trip to California I set up sites for us to see and things for us to do while we where. One of them was to take a tour of Alcatraz. How could we not! I was very happy we did and must say the tour was really cool. We mostly got to walk around ourselves and take photos which is what I was hoping for. I had two cameras with me and was ready to shoot.

I captured a lot that day. Alcatraz surely has an interesting and haunting vibe. There was so much character to the place, the stories were gleaming off the walls. I particularly loved the rooms inside. Each step down the hallway was intimidating because you didn’t know what you would see next. The age of the furniture left behind and the patina on the walls added such a nice effect to the structure.

The room below seemed like a small storage space. I was drawn to it because of the way the light was gleaming through the window. You could see the cracks on the walls brilliantly among the shadows and the desperation of the empty air was strangely refreshing. I also loved the texture of the tiled floor. I felt this shot expressed what I felt while being in that room. To be in darkness and watch it slowly get swallowed by light was a really cool experience. It reminds you that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Darkness - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital

14 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

abandoned places, brielle ave, Charles Schmidt, children's hospital, Colonial Revival style, Dr. Edward Robitzek, Dr. Irving Selikoff, graffiti, historic, hospital, laboratory, nature, new york, New York City Farm Colony, photography, sanatorium, sanitorium, Seaview Hospital, Spanish Mission, staten island, Staten Island Greenbelt, tuberculosis

I have been exploring buildings of the past since I was a kid. It all started with my friend Henry the time we went to an old orphanage in Elizabeth, NJ. From then on I was hooked. When I first met Dan, my now husband, I was happy to know we shared a love for abandoned places. In the beginning of our relationship we ventured out to a few. The first one was an old school in Suffolk County, which was interesting. After that I wanted to take him to a place I once visited but really wanted to see again, Seaview Hospital.

September 1, 2008, we took the drive to Staten Island during the day so we could get some good time in to see the property. There are various buildings that lie within the gates of the hospital and when its dark it’s totally creepy. That was my mistake the first time. So once we got there and crawled through the hole in the fence, our journey began.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital

The complex, built between 1913 and 1938 and was created to treat tuberculosis. With a beginning budget of 1 million, it was the largest facility in the country at the time, ending at about 4 million in contributing funds. Back then they thought the best cure was fresh air, rest, sunshine and a healthy diet. Because the center was somewhat rural, this was a perfect place. It was built on the former estate of Charles Schmidt along the East side of Brielle Avenue and most of the 37 contributing buildings are of Spanish Mission and Colonial Revival style.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

 

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

In 1915 it was expanded to another 2.5 acres and the sanatorium was completed in 1917. Eleven years later, the chapel was constructed as well as a new laboratory and in 1938 they added the children’s hospital.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

 

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Thanks to the contributing work and trials of Dr. Edward Robitzek and Dr. Irving Selikoff at the hospital, a cure was found about 39 years later. However, the facility was pretty much shut down and just left there. It was named part of the Staten Island Greenbelt as well as part of the historic district. Today, a new Seaview still stands using some of the functioning buildings as well as new buildings that were created in 1973. These replaced some of the original structures.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

 

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Behind the historic Seaview is the histortic New York City Farm Colony which was founded in 1829 to house the poor. They were asked to work on the farm as payment. It had numerous dormitories, a dining hall and kitchen, laundry building, nurses’ residence, an insane pavilion and morgue. These buildings were built between 1829 and the 1930s. The farm was very successful in bringing fresh food to the area. In 1912, it is reported that $22,887 was the value of its crops.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

This time around I really enjoyed my visit to this place of the past. There are a number of abandoned structures so we were plenty busy exploring the grounds. We didn’t see the functioning buildings because losing light was not an option. I wanted to get as many photos as I could. Although covered in graffiti and wreckage, Seaview Hospital is definitely a place to check out.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

 

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

It wasn’t that creepy being there during the day but there is surely a haunting feeling that resonates throughout the grounds. Especially when you enter underground and explore the basements. It’s very damp and cold. I always wonder what it would be like to have lived there when it was up and running. It is said to be one of the greatest treatment centers in the area. I think its great the doctors and staff were able to help thousands of people.

Historic Series: Seaview Hospital - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Maybe these buildings will stand forever, even know most are crumbling down. It seems as though they are just left to depreciate and age and with so much land just going to waste, why not explore Seaview while you can. I would recommend you wear the proper clothing and bring a small bag of items like water, flashlights and even a first aid kit. You can seriously get hurt out there so be prepared. Other than that, have fun exploring!

Historic Series: Reverend Prime House

05 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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Tags

american revolution, Ebenezer Prime, england, historic, history, huntington, long island, new york, religion, Reverend Prime House

Still standing at 18 Spring Road in Huntington, Reverend Ebenezer Prime’s second home was his sanctuary during the later years of his life. Originally, the house faced the south but after several generations, new owners turned the main entrance facing west.

Historic Series: Reverend Prime House - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

The home has the usual colonial style clapboard structure of that time. Its geometric design somewhat resembles the Prime House down the street with the placement of its windows. The main entrance also features two vintage porch lights that seem to be true to the house. Although, the home looks updated, there is a clear history to the structure that one cannot miss.

Historic Series: Reverend Prime House - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Historic Series: Reverend Prime House - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Ebenezer Prime was born in 1700 in Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College when he was 18, came to Huntington in 1719, and was ordained on June 5, 1723. He was an understanding minister and allowed even non-Christians to receive the sacraments.  Prime baptized every child born during that time within three days of birth.

His home fell victim to the British during the American Revolution with the house seized and the library destroyed. This library was of great importance because the town commissioned him in 1759 to purchase books and keep them as a collection. There were imports from England as well as Greek and Latin versions of text.

Historic Series: Reverend Prime House - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

The townspeople were allowed to borrow the books for a certain amount of time but had to pay fines when they were late or damaged. Eventually all 155 books in the collection were of religious text and none were fiction. Known as the Library Keeper, Prime led the way for the library’s 39 members until 1768 when it ended.

The Rev. Prime married three times, all within a 13 year-period, with each marriage ending in the death of his wife. His only son to live up to adulthood was Benjamin Youngs Prime, who later became a doctor in New York City and also practiced in Huntington where he met his future wife, Mary Wheelwright Greaton.  They had five children.

Although the Rev. Prime died in 1779, his memories are clearly noticed throughout his home and the town church. He had a number of published texts that are well preserved.

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