☞ BESPOKE: Mosaic Tiles

The really amazing thing about Harlem is that many of the lobbies did not go through severely modern renovations like their downtown brethren, and original late 19th century details, such as the mosaic tiles in the foyer, are well preserved. Ranging from simple Greek key border trims to intricate carpet-like patterns, the mosaic surface provides color, pattern and function to the common areas of a building. What is also really nice, when still intact, are the different types of marble used for the walls and baseboards as can be seen on the right side of the photo. This particular floor is typical of the style found in the Morningside Heights neighborhood where many well-preserved lobbies can be found.