Blog | Michael Hampton, Inc. | Interior Design & Decoration

Michael Hampton

Michael Hampton is a Washington, DC based artist and interior designer. His projects reflect an appreciation for modern classicism and include private residences in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Santa Fe and Aspen.

Blogs that Inspire

Back to School Finds for Little Ones
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-31
Recalling a Lavish Host
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-30
Barmeath
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-28
Daily Hunt: August 26, 2021
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-27
DARING DOWN UNDER
Source: Dpages Published on: 2021-08-25
In Circles
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-25
Daily Hunt: August 24, 2021
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-25
Without Any Debt
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-23
Episode 082: The Side Hustle
Source: Life of an Architect Published on: 2021-08-22
At Home in Montecito with Suzanne Rheinstein
Source: Quintessence Published on: 2021-08-22
Pitching About
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-21
Orchard walk
Source: Belgian Pearls Published on: 2021-08-18
A Big Deel
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-18
Daily Hunt: August 18, 2021
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-18
Art Prints for Kids’ Rooms
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-16
Of Extraordinary Antiquarian Interest.
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-16
Making an Statement
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-14
On Rough Ground
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-14
Welcome to my beloved friends and followers — THE STYLE SALONISTE is back!
Source: The Style Saloniste Published on: 2021-08-12
Gouged Oak Interior with Notes of Straw Marquetry
Source: Atelier Viollet Published on: 2021-08-12
Daily Hunt: August 11, 2021
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-11
Straw Marquetry Bedside Table
Source: Atelier Viollet Published on: 2021-08-11
A Massive Undertaking II
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-11
Straw Marquetry Cabinet
Source: Atelier Viollet Published on: 2021-08-10
Northeast Notebook: Design Inspiration in Seaside Sag Harbor, New York
Source: La Dolce Vita Published on: 2021-08-10
Daily Hunt: Aug 9, 2021
Source: The NeoTrad Published on: 2021-08-09
A Massive Undertaking I
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-09
At Home in Connecticut at River Road Farm
Source: Quintessence Published on: 2021-08-08
Episode 081: Motivation
Source: Life of an Architect Published on: 2021-08-08
Famously Abandoned II
Source: The Irish Aesthete Published on: 2021-08-07

Arresting Interiors

02-18-15

Arresting Interiors

The sober neoclassical facade of the police headquarters in Copenhagen provide little hints to the Art Deco splendor within. The Politigaard was begun in 1920 and completed in 1924. The initial architect was Hack Kampmann, who subsequently died before the laying of the foundation stones. The original design had been altered several times during construction, most notably from the architect, Aage Rafn, who was greatly influenced by the architecture of Classical antiquity and the Renaissance. Throughout the building, stripped Neoclassicism meets Art Deco with repetitions of many decorative art motifs, including the shell, the star, octagons, hexagons and the swastika.

The entrance to one of the conference rooms with green and cream marble pilasters and surmounted by an impressive and highly stylized scallop shell. The fretwork patterned terrazzo floors are interrupted by thumbprint forms.

Views of the internal courtyard with paired Doric columns evokes Charles V’s palace in the Alhambra.

Palace of Charles V – Alhambra de Granada

A simple and elegantly detailed circular staircase illuminated by a round oculus skylight. The top of the stairs terminate gracefully with a half circle detail with stringers lined in marble.

A coffered, barrel vaulted ceiling in one of the endless corridors in the Politigaard building. The octagonal forms of the coffering is one of the many motifs used throughout.

The main square courtyard based on an ancient impluvium with an open ceiling, which is open to the sky and allows rainwater to drain through the center basin. A 4 meter high statue of a naked man, titled, Snake Killer, by Einar Utzon-Frank gives one a sense of the monumentality of the Doric columns. During World War II the Nazi’s took over the Politigaard, while sending some 2000 Danish officers to the concentration camps. Because of the motifs used throughout, most obviously the swastika, the Nazi’s fortunately refrained from damaging the building and its interiors. The only relic from their occupation is a small swastika incised into the tip of the statues genitalia.

Swastika patterned fretwork adorns another curving staircase. The white of the fretwork creates a striking contrast to the green plastered walls.

The octagonal motif is used again for the coffered ceiling in the conference room. A pair of Poul Henningsen chandeliers hang over the massive conference table.

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My Kind of Minimal

02-06-15

My Kind of Minimal

Among my pantheon of favorite designers, the work of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, is near the top of my list. Ive enjoyed following the venerable design firms prolific work over the years, which has evolved from a more classical style to one that is more contemporary. Yet a love and respect for classicism is still rooted in all of their work. For his own New York apartment, Azcuy embraced the modernist shell of the apartment, while creating his own unique architectural foundation and framework for his collection of streamlined furniture and accessories.

The apartment throughout is filled with beautiful compositions, which are one of the many hallmarks of Azcuy’s projects. By designing a simplified, yet luxurious and exquisitely detailed backdrop it allows the sculptural qualities of the furniture and accessories to shine. Its my kind of minimal where warmth, comfort and luxury are not sacrificed for the spareness and austerity of the architecture.

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Beautifully crafted cabinets inspired by Adolf Loos add a graphic statement to the room, while creating the perfect backdrop for displaying an assortment of sculptural accessories, including the Josef Hoffman serpentine coupes

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A marble coffee table by Gae Alenti anchors the Living Room

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Concrete walls create a textural contrast from the white and perfectly smooth walls.

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A perfect composition

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Rolling upholstered screens provide a faceted like architectural element to the Master Bedroom while providing privacy when needed

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Bold Stripes

01-29-15

Bold Stripes

I had mixed impressions about Raf Simon’s Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture Collection. Call me a classicist and a lover of true couture especially when it features extraordinary embroidery work, which the collection did have in small amounts. However, the plastic raincoats and mod, hallucinogenic patterned body suits didn’t quite cut it for me when it comes to beautiful couture. But I tend to be a traditionalist though overall I was intrigued and inspired by the collections modernity and innovativeness. However, the striped dresses really stood out for me. They were the perfect marriage of taking modernist patterns and colors and mixing them with timeless and pretty silhouettes. And the knee and thigh high boots added another unexpected edge. I have always loved stripes and the boldness of these brought to mind a few of my favorite modernist painters such as Kenneth Noland, Wyeth Alexander, Richard Diebenkorn and Josef Albers. Raf Simons is truly brilliant though. He is taking fashion into a new era while respecting and celebrating Haute Couture and simply beautiful clothes. His debut collection for Dior was extraordinary and had me gasping! See here.