The LSW Engineers Arizona Tenant Improvement project that started in 2023 is complete. In a previous post I mentioned that the exterior of the building was 1970 Arizona of heavy textured tortilla chip colored stucco and terra cotta clay roof tiles; and heavy bronze window frames.
Existing bronze frames
Ego steps in and tempts you to leave your designer mark. It takes self control to go in the opposite direction and actually work with what is there; like John Ruskin’s idea of being true to existing architecture.
Restroom Before Remodel
” …the love and the thoughts of the workman more than his work: his work must always be imperfect, but his thoughts and affections may be true and deep.” – John Ruskin, Stones of Venice I
Jeffrey and I had to look in the dark corners of many tile showrooms in Arizona to find light ivory floor and wall tile among a sea of gray and yellow tiles. The field tile for both walls and floors is a 12″x24″ glazed porcelain called Porto II Jute Ivory found at Emser Tile in Arizona. The original accent tile to go above the sink didn’t work out since we failed to provide enough float space for the tile. The result was a toothy smile with no grout to speak of. The entire wall had to be removed and Jeffrey and I had to shop for a new tile and come up with a new design! We found the perfect solution at Floor & Decor. Floor & Decor has nifty high tables to set tile samples and play with arrangement. I just grabbed a brochure and saw the glass tiles arranged in a herringbone design and it made sense.
LSW Restroom Remodel
The existing brick pavers right outside the bathroom is herringbone.
The bronze Arcadia door came out nice and it blends with the existing door and window frames of the building.
I enjoy the hunt for matching the fabric of an existing building detail.
Specifying a bronze window frame rather than a modern window frame is being loyal to the existing building style. Some areas of the design should be a literal match and others can have a matching color. I don’t think everything has to match. You must have priorities in the overall picture.
LSW Engineers Tenant Improvement
The construction credit for the project goes to Stevens-Leinweber Construction, Inc.