Here in the Hills

Monday, March 29, 2010

house of tile - part 4

This looks like a door, and maybe it actually is a door, but I don't think so....The staircase in the foreground makes a hard right turn, right there at that door that isn't a door, and then continues up to the next level....Unfortunately I am not able to do stairs anymore---except one or two, so I have to take all the pictures from the street level.....Below, a somewhat closer look at this amazing group of designs...... This door that isn't a door butts right up against the Garage wall.....and that metal thing in the foreground is part of the front gate at the street level......Incidentally, to the right of the steps are more exquisite designs, which I will show you after I show you more of this very beautiful section.... Getting in a little closer---as always, there is much more detail one can admire....most of which you really don't take in from afar.....Like this closer look at the curve and background tiles below..... I am in awe of all these areas that Mr. Ehling has created so that there is always something more than one thought, upon a closer look....That section going around the curve and then the other section right up against the emblematic area....Stunning....! And above...looking really closely at that amazing center design.....And below....one more look at this particular section....... And if you check out the bottom section, underneath the design...it is different--yet again---from it's counterpart on top! I have this need to show you close-up all the many nuances and subtleties that Mr. Ehling has created---I think because I am so in awe of the creative spirit that he has brought to this incredible work of 'art'----and the thought and time that has gone into every detail...... Above is a rather peculiar angle of the side of the garage and the "door" that isn't a door that you just saw, plus a whole bunch of other designs. I was standing on the second step and was very close to the wall.....Do click on this to make it bigger and you will see an amazing Square Hole that is completely tiled as well...... Closer in on that wall in the picture above....Look at how exacting and even all of the tiles are....Amazing.....And the design of that star figure to the right is just fantastic...! As with all of these pictures do click on this one to make it bigger...then you can see how intricate and detailed all of this work is----it is truly astounding....! Below, we have seen this before, but not from the angle I was able to get it at the other day..... I was very taken with the curve of those beautiful bright green tiles---even wondering where they came from....And from this angle I was able to see them better...And below...a much closer look at the red tiles in this design..... And....you can see the curve of the green tiles even better---plus a glossy quality not found in any of the other tiles here ...Also, I find the red section fascinating because it is not just red tiles...but red and pink and pale lavender and even some orange here and there, etc., etc....But, when you see it from afar, it looks red. This is what is to the right of this staircase....More density of designs....A closer look below of that one section....... And when you look to the right---into the Rock Garden which is right next to this staircase-----there is a rather uneven tiled walkway which leads to a somewhat uneven staircase...... Below....a little closer look at this walkway as well as a partial look at the Rock Garden........ And below...an even closer look at the actual tiles of the walkway...... I love that there are some tiles--here and there--that have a design on them....And it is interesting too, that this is the only area that I could see that has this uneven look. One can only surmise that it is purposeful....Below, a closer look at the steps....... I love that he used all these small roundish stones to form the steps and then some tiles for the top of the step itself....Beyond this area is another amazing construction. It appears to be a Fountain, though it wasn't 'on' when I was there......And here it is below....! Besides these beautiful tiers, there are some lovely 'pictures' in the front on either side of this Fountain area....On the left, behind that plant is this lovely tiled picture below. And below, on the right side, there is another 'picture'......Sweet Birds..... And there are still more areas of this house that you haven't seen yet! I know, it is overwhelming in a way, but oh so very beautiful and thrilling, too.....So, there will be a Part 5, believe it or not....!

More To Come.........

21 Comments:

Kay Dennison had this to say:: This is sooooo magnificent!!! A lot of pain-staking thought and labor went into it and I only hope it was a labor of love. Then again -- it had to be.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 2:34:00 AM PDT
Melody had this to say:: Oh wow - imagine seeing the place with the fountain on! I actually thought the stones on the steps looked like a dry 'creek' bed...maybe?; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 4:05:00 AM PDT
Pat had this to say:: The mind boggles at all the work involved - not just the inspiration, planning and design but choosing and ordering all the different tiles, colours and all the physical work involved. Like may other artists - Henry Moore and Picasso leap to mind - they need to be excellent labourers not just artists in an ivory tower. You have to meet him Naomi.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 4:40:00 AM PDT
debra had this to say:: I am in awe of this amazing work. The intricacies of the patterns and colors are incredible!; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 5:25:00 AM PDT
Anonymous had this to say:: There's a part of me that thinks such a work of art needs to be in the public trust for more people to see and appreciate. But then I realize, a place like this is meant to be functional: a home for a family.

Cheers.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 5:35:00 AM PDT
Arkansas Patti had this to say:: He hadn't called the cops on you yet? I am so glad. I can not believe what a fertile mind this man has. He sure doesn't repeat much but manages to make it all blend beautifully.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 5:59:00 AM PDT
Pearl had this to say:: love the riverstone steps and cascading river of tile. fantastic!; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:34:00 AM PDT
tweetey30 had this to say:: this is so amazing.. like i said before i like the 3D look of the bricks.. it makes them look like they are sticking out like if they werent 3D... cool...; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 11:21:00 AM PDT
Bobkat had this to say:: Well, after seeing this post I just had to go back and catch up on what I have missed. What an amazing house! It is so reminiscent of Gaudi. I love how something looks like a certain colour and yet when you zoom in and look at it closely it is made of different colours and shades like an Impressionist painting.

I particularly like the walkway which reminds me of a dry stream bed. It has a nice flow of energy about it.

Beautiful photos as ever Naomi and as ever it is lovely to share this through your eyes :); Monday, March 29, 2010 at 3:20:00 PM PDT
LL Cool Joe had this to say:: Did one person do this all themselves? It must have taken years and years! Amazing.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 3:24:00 PM PDT
kenju had this to say:: I just HAVE to see that house in person someday!! The number and style of all the different designs is amazing!; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 4:54:00 PM PDT
VV had this to say:: The stairs and pathway look like a waterfall to me. It's just mind boggling all the work that must have gone into this property.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 4:54:00 PM PDT
Shionge had this to say:: Hey Naomi, I was wondering on this day when you snapped all the wonderful photos, is the owner at home? Did you manage to find out who lives there? Would be fun to know who they are :)

Hope Seemah is well...we missed her :D; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 10:05:00 PM PDT
Lucy Stern had this to say:: Oh my!! I sure have missed a lot while I took a blog rest.... Beautiful... Hope you are doing well, Naomi..; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 10:31:00 PM PDT
Lilly had this to say:: Naomi, imagine what the inside of his house looks like. Did he know you were taking pictures I wonder? I have really enjoyed your photos.; Monday, March 29, 2010 at 11:37:00 PM PDT
colleen had this to say:: His life is his art. I love the incorporation of the rocks and wonder if he shouldn't open the grounds to visitors. It's quite a wonder!; Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 6:42:00 AM PDT
Holland had this to say:: What a beautiful work of art and a lot of patience.
Thank you for sharing this.; Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 6:00:00 PM PDT
Diane J Standiford had this to say:: This must be motivated by love, passion beyond pure art work. Just amazing.; Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 8:57:00 PM PDT
MaR had this to say:: It's an amazing house, so full of wonderful details!!

Happy rabbit, rabbit day to you and happy Easter too!; Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 12:09:00 AM PDT
Rachel had this to say:: Wow! What can I say?? I'm speechless by all this beauty!!; Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 9:54:00 AM PDT
Gledwood had this to say:: O wow! This is amazing!!
Reminds me of the summer I moved to London, all I could hear, nearly every afternoon, was the continual smashing of crockery from our next door neighbour's back garden... you'd think some long protracted Greek wedding was going on or something.
However this had nothing to do with weddings: next doors were making a mosaic. They said ~ when I finally got to talk to them about it ~ that they spent ages and ages looking for certain colours like red... whereas blue is easy to come across and white is everywhere anyhow... anyway their thing looked pretty cool when it was finished, but nothing compared to this.... wow!

PS Long time no see ~ I saw your familiar pool-playing self at a friend of a friend's blog and had to drop by...; Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 3:33:00 PM PDT