A small note to say…

 

 

Dear Blogger Friends, Colleagues, Clients and Friends,

 

On behalf of all of us at Meade Design Group, I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who in the past few days have supported us with your phone calls, emails, facebook messages, twitter messages and comments in our blog.

 

We are very pleased how well our first TV appearance on HGTV went.  We were number 6 on the HGTV TOP 10  for the games rooms series “Everyone’s a Winner”.  Being in the show  is definitely making us feel like a real winners! 

 

Marla Brown & David Rockwell the critics of the space were phenomenal. I also have to say that the space looked amazing thanks to the camera work of Austin and Jim - the editing of our segment  was brilliant.  Special thanks to Janice for coordinate the shoot and for the opportunity to be part of the show.  No words can describe the fact that you included our past friend Greg Young in the Thanks section!

 

Once again thank you very much to all of you for taking the time to watch the show - Your support means the world to all of us.

 

Gracias!

 

Yours truly, 

Iván Meade-Treviño

 

.

HGTV TOP TEN – Everyone’s a Winner

We invite you to look for MEADE DESIGN GROUP on HGTV Top Ten  show “Everyone’s a Winner” tonight!

May 26th 2009 at 8:00 pm EST.

 

 

 

Rack ‘em up.  HGTV’s Top Ten cues up 10 of the best games rooms on the continent.   From classic to contemporary these rooms go way beyond green felt and tiffany lamps.

HGTV’s Top Ten discovers the best-designed rooms in North America.

From the Hamptons to Malibu, Vancouver to Miami, the program showcases the work of the most important designers and architects from across the continent. Designers who made the show Top Ten lists include Jamie Drake, Vicente Wolf, Larry Laslo, Charlotte Moss, Geoffrey Bradfield and Connie Braemer.  The work of architects David Hertz, Stephen Kanner, Lacina Heitler and Andrew Skurman are also featured throughout the series.

Commentators include Editor-in-Chief of Elle Décor Margaret Russell, design guru Jonathan Adler, architect Matthew Berman, designers Brian Gluckstein and Anna Simone, Editor-in-Chief of Metropolitan Home Donna Warner, industrial designer Karim Rashid and real estate expert Barbara Corcoran.

[ HGTV - Home & Garden Television Canada ]

 

If you want to learn more about the project you can read this entry.

HGTV – Here we come!

 

To see more of the Maple Bay Project please visit our website at:

www.themeadegroup.com

 

Thanks for your support!!!

The Loden Hotel - My home away from home.

If you are wondering why I have not been blogging lately is because I have been in Vancouver the last couple of days enjoying the wonderful weather and reconnecting with friends and colleagues and I have to say… practicing some retail therapy. Vancouver is definitely one of my favourite cities in North America, every street is open to magnificent views and one only has to look around to be inspired in this cosmopolitan and vibrant city.

Spectacular mountain and ocean views rub shoulders with innovative urban high-rises, stunning architecture intermingle with a vibrant cosmopolitan centre and its people embrace each other. Not surprisingly then, Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the best cities in the world. Plus as bonus extra to make my visit even more enjoyable I stayed in what I now consider my home away from home in Vancouver – The Loden Hotel.

Lobby

This boutique hotel is poised at the edge of Coal Harbour, downtown Vancouver's premiere luxury neighborhood. The service has been always immaculate, the staff have always had the courtesy to greet me by name and the attention to detail is definitely a trade mark of what the Kor Hotel Group has to offer. Also Loden Vancouver is adjacent to many of Vancouver's most popular attractions-from museums and galleries to world-class shopping and numerous restaurants and even some of my favourite fellow blogger friends are close neighbors.

Loden Vancouver

The rooms have in mind a current earthly palette of caramel, coral and chocolate brown. Loden's meticulously appointed and well planned guestrooms provide stylish repose and premium amenities including floor to ceiling windows and any gadget you can imagine for business nomads and leisure seekers.

Guest Room

The bathroom is very spa like with a deep soaker bath tub taking center stage, flanked to the left by individually frosted glass enclosed toilet and a large Emperador marble shower. A long vanity will welcome you fully stocked with Molton Brown products – my newest addiction.

Bathroom

The intimate Voya (derived from "voyage") restaurant and lounge in Vancouver at Loden, led by locally lauded Executive Chef Marc-André Choquette, will offer sophisticated food, spectacularly chic décor, a private dining room and a street-side lounge. An ice-blue room centre-lit by three sparkling crystal chandeliers evokes the sophisticated eateries of the '40s, rich with chocolate-hued upholstery, stunning inlay floors, boldly patterned screens, oversized mirrors and sleek white lacquered tables.

Voya Restuarant

I really can't say enough about the Loden Hotel – I have stayed there 3 times already and I would recommend this hotel completely without reservation - It has to be one of the most sleek, comfortable, friendly, and accommodating hotels I have ever stayed. Well after all I named this hotel my home away from home in Vancouver.

Loden Vancouver
1177 Melville Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 0A3
+1.877.225.6336
604.669.5060

Website:
lodenvancouver.com

Eye Candy of the Week – Twenty Two Chair

Twenty Two Chair

Today while I was trying to re-discover the ancient lost art of willy nilly I decided to have a peek in one of my favourite sites - Jaime Hayon’s website. What was my surprise when this beauty created with 22 pieces of the finest maple wood welcomed my tender latin eyes to Hayon’s creative laboratory.

A little bit Thonet, a little bit danish and a little bit mid century modern, this new piece by Jaime Hayon definitely wants to be a guest in my living room.

PRODUCT
Twenty Two Chair

DESIGNER
Jaime Hayon

MANUFACTURE
Ceccotti Collezioni

MATERIAL
Solid Maple featuring an upholstered seat and back, and has a leather-covered tray beneath the seat.

DESCRIPTION

Twenty two pieces of the finest wood make up this amazing work of craftmanship. Hayon's first collaboration with Ceccotti has been presented at the Salone el Mobile.

YUMMY FACTOR
Deliciosa !

Jaime Hayon

In Conversation with Darryl Carter

 Darryl Carter

 

Darryl Carter has progressively become a renowned design influence. His work is routinely featured in major shelter publications. Likewise, he is highly active on the lecture circuit and he has appeared on a variety of television networks.

This has not gone unnoticed by the industry, as he continues to make his designs more accessible through a series of branding relationships throughout the home category. This past fall saw the publication of his first book, The New Traditional (Clarkson Potter) and the launch of Darryl Carter for Thomasville(www.thomasville.com/darrylcarter/), his new comprehensive full home collection with Thomasville Furniture, distinguished by the sensibility of having been collected over time and true to the design aesthetic that he has become known for.

 

 

Darryl also has a stunning lighting collection with The Urban Electric Company www.urbanelectricco.com, and this spring Frontgate www.frontgate.com will debut his first outdoor collection.

Carter specializes in calming environments with subtle colour palettes in which textures play off of one another and striking furniture layouts create one of a kind spaces. His mantra is that no two environments should be alike, just as no two individuals are alike. While keeping that in mind his environments exemplify the "New Traditional", incorporating clean design through the use of antiques and unique pieces that give his spaces a sense of grace and comfort. Simple moldings and architectural details painted out in chalky off-whites create a crisp envelope respectful of the architecture and furniture pieces. Spaces are distinguished by personal effects such as antique books, art and artifacts which evoke memories of days past. Patina is shown with pride. Intricate patterns such as herringbone or marquetry with borders are created with tile work alongside a delicately arabesque-shaped railing with a contrasting stain. Ambient lighting is sensitive to the mood of a room and window treatments are the simplest wooden shutters or linen drapery. The goal is that each environment is welcoming, graceful, timeless and foremost reflective of the individual.

Please read on to learn more about Darryl Carter and his work...

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Darryl Carter – I think I have always had a penchant for the aesthetic arts. My mother seems to have a memory of me moving furniture around my small childhood bedroom at age 6.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?

Darryl Carter – I have a very dear friend who is presently an antiques dealer in New York. We go way back. Her mother was very forward in her design. When others were doing circular sofas and shag carpet, she had the most austere 19th century farmhouse with no embellishments, simple American furniture, Pre-Colombian artifacts and the moodiest portraiture, all simply placed. These spaces continue to speak to me.

 

  Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

Iván Meade - What was the career change like from lawyer to designer?

Darryl Carter – The career change was freeing and perhaps immanent. But for serendipity, it may not have happened. It’s a complicated tale, but the short version is that I was a weekend warrior and on the side I was exercising my passion by re-doing and flipping real estate. One of the properties I lived in landed on the cover of Metropolitan Home and I received a number of phone calls requesting private commissions. And so, the career change had begun.

 

  Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What designers of past and present do you admire most?

Darryl Carter – Thomas Jefferson, as architect; Jorn Utzon, his biography and work; Van Day Truex, as a visionary; Bill Blass, for his Connecticut Home and so many others.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What do you consider to be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

Darryl Carter – One in the same: my passion for what I do.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What do you look for in a furniture piece, alternatively what do you consider as being important factors when designing a furniture piece ?

Darryl Carter – Purity, grace of line and multi-function.

 

 Darryl Carter for Thomasville

 

Iván Meade - Are there any design rules that you think were meant to be broken?

Darryl Carter – All rules are meant to be broken. This is evolution.

 

 Darryl Carter for Frontgate

 

Iván Meade - What has been your greatest collaboration?

Darryl Carter – I cannot speak to this; I am bound to step on several toes. I have had many.

 

Darryl Carter for The Urban Electric Co

 

Iván Meade - What books are currently on your bedside or coffee table?

Darryl Carter – Avoid Boring People by James D Watson; The Last Campaign, Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days that Inspired America, by Thurston Clarke; Original Story, by Arthur Laurents and Audels Carpenters and Builders Guides #1 – #4, by Frank D. Graham – Chief and Thomas J. Emery – Associate.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

Darryl Carter – I am seeing a more liberated risk-taking consumer that is in search of self-expression in the home, rather than manufactured environments that are formulaic.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What would be your dream project?

Darryl Carter – I am working on my dream project. The renovation of my new office in a pre-civil war building in a very vibrant, emergent part of the District of Columbia.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What project has given you the most satisfaction?

Darryl Carter – My residence which will never be complete, it is my laboratory.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

Darryl Carter – I am working on multiple home license deals and a television show.

 

Photograph courtesy of Darryl Carter

 

Iván Meade - Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles. What would you like your legacy to be?

Darryl Carter – A respect and appreciation for the simple.

 

Tripel Bel Air Bench

 

Check out the June issue of Metropolitan Home Magazine's "Design 100" featuring editor's picks of the top 100 designs of the year. Among their picks is the Triple Bel Air Bench from Darryl Carter's collection for Thomasville.

Eye Candy of the Week – Mistic Candleholder

Back by Popular Demand !

Clear Glass

Silver

Bronze

Which one is your favourite ?

PRODUCT
Mistic Candleholder

SERIES
Vase Collection

DESIGNER
Arik Levy

MANUFACTURE
Gaia & Gino

MATERIAL
Borosilicate Glass

DESCRIPTION
Mistic creates a contemporary vegetal landscape with strong dynamics, like a forest of pyrex tubes. It can be used both as candleholder or a vase.

Available in 3 sizes and 3 colours, clear glass, silver, and bronze.

YUMMY FACTOR
C'est exquis !

In Conversation with Tobi Fairley

Named one of America’s “Top 20 Young Designers” by Traditional Home Magazine, Tobi Fairley is a multi-talented woman from Little Rock, Arkansas who has mastered a traditional style with contemporary accents which has been flawlessly adapted to a multitude of client tastes.

Tobi Fairley

With three degrees under her belt: Interior Design, Accounting and Business, this educated woman is a design force to be reckoned with. Tobi’s style is soft, crisp, understated and refined. She has a brilliant grasp on balance

in all forms (visual weight, colour tones and hues etc.) and has a beautiful way of making her traditional designs look current and fresh. In addition to her interior design studio of ten years, Tobi also maintains an internationally acclaimed blog and is developing several product lines targeted for launch in early 2010.

I highly recommend viewing her portfolio and reading her blog.

Please read on to learn more about this talented designer…

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Tobi Fairley – I recall helping my mom design our home as a young girl of 5 or 6 years old. We would rearrange the furniture and mom would entertain a lot. We also did some really chic Christmas decorating for that time period. I remember our first designer Christmas tree was all shades of pink.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Tobi Fairley – Well obviously my mom did. She is one of those people who was just born with great taste! As far as my design work today, I am really inspired by textiles!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – Did you always want to be an interior designer?

Tobi Fairley – Yes and no. I always loved interior design, but when I began college in the early 90’s, I didn’t really see design as a career option. But just a few years later, I couldn’t resist the calling and I went back to school and got my degree.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What made you decide to earn your three degrees? Did you experience careers in all three or was it a conscious decision to help you in your design career?

Tobi Fairley – I wish I could say that I was just so ultra intelligent and that I planned this whole extraordinary educational path to my career. But it would be a fib! I never worked as an accountant (thank God!). I got that degree because I was undecided about what my career would be and I knew that an accounting degree would support any path I chose. As I mentioned above, I gave into my calling for design after getting in the business school, in about year 3 to be exact. So I completed my accounting degree first and then went right back to school in design. When I got to design school, I have a marvellous faculty advisor who had gotten a finance degree and then one in design, and he said if there was anything he regretted, it was not getting an MBA. Well, I had never thought of such a thing…but it was brilliant! And since I had about a million hours already of basics and electives from business school that counted towards my design degree, I used the extra time in my schedule to get an MBA while finishing my design degree simultaneously. The only thing about this path that was crazy was trying to excel in both design and a masters in business at the same time. This was not an easy task!!! But I made it and I am better for it! In fact, I am being named by the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, as their Entrepreneur of the Year in just a few weeks!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What designers of past and present do you admire most?

Tobi Fairley –

Past, I love Dorothy Draper, David Hicks.

Present day designer that I admire: Jamie Drake

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What do you consider to be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

Tobi Fairley – I think I definitely have a competitive advantage in my career because of my strong business sense. Few designers seem to have this. As far as design goes, I am really gifted with color and I have a great understanding of scale. Both of these talents are inherited from my mother. I also have a lot of confidence which helps in dealing with clients and in going after what I want in my career. I am not risk averse! And I am a really quick study which is great since designers are always challenged with knowing what is the latest and greatest at any given time but also having a vast knowledge of design and art history.

My weaknesses include taking on too many things at one time, so I lack balance in my life. I am not very patient. I am really intense. This can be good and bad. In one sense I am extremely passionate about things, but on the flip side I take myself and my job too seriously sometimes and this can add undue stress in my life.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What does it feel like to be announced as one of Top 20 Young Designers in America by Traditional Home?

Tobi Fairley – Fantastic! Fabulous! Surreal! We all work so hard as designers and we do that because we care about our clients and we are trying to make the built environment a better place. Most of us who are passionate about design would do it for no pay and no credit! But when your hard work and years of education and efforts are validated in this way, it sort of puts the icing on the cake.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – Browsing through your portfolio one can see that you are not afraid of colour. What is your favourite colour to design with right now?

Tobi Fairley – I am really loving shades of pink right now…blush tones. But not a lot of my clients (the males ones anyway) will go for it. So I am painting the walls of my new office pink. I’ll have photos of it this summer when we move in. I also love navy and am still fond of grey tones. With me no color is off limits. So to keep things fresh, I am constantly experimenting with quirky color combinations that push the envelope! I have some fun ones on the horizon for both design schemes and products that I am working on.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What books are currently on your bedside or coffee table?

Tobi Fairley – I am a voracious reader but also a collector of books. So at any given time there are literally 20 books lined up to read and I often am reading several at one time. Plus I just got a new Kindle Reader which I am mad about so Right now I have in fiction Eat, Pray, Love( I am ¾ way complete) and Eclipse, the third twilight series both going. I am also reading Paintings in Proust. And stacked up on my bedside or loaded on my Kindle waiting in line are many more including Bringing Home the Birkin which I just can’t wait to start!!!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – You seem to have a strong passion for fashion; what design cues do you take from the runway to incorporate into your interiors?

Tobi Fairley – Thank you, I do! I especially love shoes and I have a pretty stunning collection of them. My shoes definitely translate into my designs because like in my interiors, my shoes are often in extreme colors! I keep my clothing tailored and classic and I have a ton of black. I have a couture designer in New York who makes a good deal of my clothing because her style is reminiscent of many of my style icons and she fits me perfectly. But my shoes, well they are my accessories, and there are no holds barred with the amount of color. My favourite shoe designers… Valentino, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Leboutin, Yves St. Laurent, Manolo Blanik…and the list goes on.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

Tobi Fairley – I am very excited about breaking into product design. And one reason I am so excited about it is that I am working on designing all the things that I can never find! I am obviously also excited about new media… blogging, twitter, facebook. I really have an amazing grasp of branding, most likely because of my business background. And what better place to self-promote and promote products and other things you love than on a blog! From a more purest interpretation of your question with regard to the industry, I am always excited about new things happening with fabrics and textiles. I am seeing more and more people doing great things with color. And this makes my job easier. There used to be just a few people feeding my color habit, like Tricia Guild of Designers Guild and Osborne and Little. But now there are beautiful choices in dramatic patterns and color ways! I love it!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

Tobi Fairley – This is a hard question for me! There are so many things I would love to do and yet I already feel so satisfied. I guess I would have to say a project in one of my favourite cities that I have not yet worked in like New York City, London, Paris, Florence, or the California Wine Country. Those also answer the question, where would I like to own additional residences…I’ll take one of each please!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What project has given you the most satisfaction?

Tobi Fairley – Probably doing my own home. It really is harder than doing client homes. It is so easy for me to sell clients on a design scheme. I can confidently say we are making choices that fit their styles and their needs. Designing for myself means narrowing down all the many things I love into a look that is cohesive. And that is not an easy task because as designers we get the pleasure of knowing All the options, where the client typically has a much smaller breadth of knowledge about what is available.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Tobi Fairley - As I mentioned above, I am embarking on my new facility which is a 4000 square design firm and a 2500 square foot art and furniture gallery. The building is sheet rocked and so now the fun is just beginning! We are planning to move in late this summer and I will be sure and post photos as soon as possible.

Among my many current projects Right now, one that stands out in particular is phase 2 of a large remodel (the project is over 8000 feet total). We have completed the living and dining and 3 upstairs bedrooms and are now moving into the kitchen, family room, media room, office and master suite. This project is truly a transformation and I can’t wait to get to show you the results.

Towards the end of the year I am going to be starting a condo in Dallas which should be exciting and I have a client who just bought a New Condo in LA so that will likely start late summer or early Fall!

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

Iván Meade – Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles. What would you like your legacy to be?

Tobi Fairley – Thank you for the compliment on my work!! I hope that my legacy is one of logic. It is my goal in every project, for the client to truly use and enjoy ALL their spaces. I would say I only have one or two clients who are interested in “preserving” their design and don’t get as much enjoyment out of their investment as I would if it were my home. I am of the philosophy “life’s too short not to use the good china”. For the most part, I am successful in helping my clients identify their needs and making their spaces accommodate them. It is frustrating to me when clients have rooms they never even go in. I have even been known to talk clients out of large additions (that would have been profitable for me) because they are not even using the spaces they have. I guess there is even a green or sustainable element to this concept. Now don’t get me wrong, I by no means think that some of the huge houses that I work on are in line with the tenets of LEED design, if for no other reason, because of their size. But I do think that there is something environmentally responsible about helping clients to make the most out of their square footage and not building more than they will really use. So in an ironic sort of way, my legacy could be one of practical or logical luxury living. It is champagne tastes meets mother knows best! Can’t you just see me in my classic 50’s style A-line dress and pearls with by Fushia Leboutins designing these practical mansions??…I can.

Photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

I invite you to visit Tobi Fairley’s website and blog to learn more about this talented woman.

TOBI FAIRLEY WEBSITE

TOBI FAIRLEY BLOG

The 10 Best Contemporary Salt & Pepper Shakers

I have this personal theory that the Salt & Pepper Shakers you have in your home reveals your personal style. Every time I am invited to a house for dinner I look at the Salt & Pepper Shakers and they often match the host's personality better than any other object in their homes.

Today, Salt and Pepper Shakers can be found in nearly every conceivable shape and size. They are made in a variety of materials including wood, metal, ceramics, glass, and plastics and the best designers have left their imprint in some of them.

Here are my 10 favourite Salt and Pepper Shakers – Which one is your favourite?

Twist Salt & Pepper Mills by Philip Bro Ludvigsen

Georg Jensen

Otto Family Pepper Mills by Karim Rashid

Gia & Gino

Tumblers by Henriette Melchiorsen

Questo Design

Cilinda Salt & Pepper by Arne Jacobsen

Ravine Salt & Pepper by Lou Henry

Nambé

Relief Salt and Pepper by Karim Rashid

Nambé

Pebbles Salt & Pepper

Cb2

Soap Bubble Salt & Pepper by Daan Brouwer

Menu Salt & Pepper Shakers

Home & Couture

Cube Salt & Pepper by Ercuis

Birks

In Conversation with Stephen Knollenberg

Stephen Knollenberg introduced his firm to the world in 2002 (the same year as Meade Design Group!). Stephen’s specialty is spaces that are comfortable yet elegant, classic yet contemporary, urban yet casual, and always timeless with a balance of the old and the new.

Stephen Knollenberg

You have most likely seen Mr. Knollenberg’s work in publications such as Architectural Digest, Metropolitan Home or The New York Times. I particularly enjoy his architectural detailing and his ability to adapt his style to work in concert with a multitude of homes, varying from classic, metropolitan and even rustic-chic.

Please read on to learn more about this talented designer…

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Stephen Knollenberg – Like a lot of interior designers, I 'practiced' in my parents home growing up. This was initially an irritation for my mother, but when her house received accolades from her friends she started getting out of my way. We lived in an interesting, somewhat mid-century house and she collected primitive and early American antiques. I think the disparity between the two challenged me in many ways.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Stephen Knollenberg – I traveled quite a bit growing up. Occasionally it was glamorous and most of the time it was not, but it seemed there was always a family trip somewhere happening. For a kid with his antennae up for design, this was a wonderful thing. I then went to college in Boston and spent a year living in London as well. I couldn't see enough fast enough, and I know that these exposures influenced me a great deal. Later in my twenties, I got my first job in the field with interior designer Brian Killian. He thought big and had great style. I think I grew my wings working for him. In addition to his mentoring, he also taught me about the field of interior design as a business. I learned that it takes more than just the ability to design to keep the lights on!

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

Stephen Knollenberg -- Generally, collected and edited. I think the best rooms, contemporary or traditional, incorporate a variety of furnishings not all of which can simply be found in a catalog. Since I enjoy 'the hunt', I always try to find unique and interesting pieces to make my clients' spaces feel individual.......acquired. For me, paring things down is the next step. I think there's a sweet spot in every room where a certain balance is struck. In my work, this balance probably reads fairly minimal.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What designers of past and present do you admire most?

Stephen Knollenberg – Present day, I admire the work of Lee Mindel, John Saladino, Axel Vervoordt and Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Looking back, the work of Eliel Saarinen, David Adler, The Shakers and Robert Adam.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What do you consider to be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

Stephen Knollenberg – Strength: I have a strong inclination to try and always to do things differently.....to be innovative. Weakness: Not everything needs to be re-thought! I catch myself going in circles with this at times. They say your greatest strength is often also your weakness.......

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What books are currently on your bedside or coffee table?

Stephen Knollenberg – Bedside: DV, Diana Vreeland's amazing autobiographical book ( I just re-read it...), and a John Steinbeck novel. Coffee table: books by Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund and Hugh Newell Jacobsen.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

Stephen Knollenberg – That everyone today seems to be genuinely interested in design. I went to an Ikea store for the first time a few months ago and was struck. Prior to, I had always thought that the catalog was sufficient. The giant store was like a theme park with hundreds of people walking through it. There was something there for everyone at every level. I walked out with a great set of glass bar tumblers next to a college student who was buying things for her dorm room. I thought that was really fantastic.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

Stephen Knollenberg – Something in the ballpark of adding a steel and glass box onto an 18th century castle. I love the excitement and tension that is created in juxtaposing opposites. Often for me that means placing something new next to something old.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What project has given you the most satisfaction?

Stephen Knollenberg – I recently completed a project in Key West, Florida. The original 1950's beach house was saved, but almost everything throughout it was altered in some way. There was no formal architect involved and I became the go-to guy for every square inch of the place. My fingerprints are on everything from the structure itself, the landscaping, the furniture......right down to the little silver box on the coffee table. It was a very rewarding experience. I was also fortunate to be working with the greatest clients imaginable.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What has been your favourite design find?

Stephen Knollenberg – I'm a bit of a collector, so that's a tough one. I have a weekend house in the woods a couple of blocks from Lake Michigan. Very little changes inside of it as many of the 'finds' are special to me, but occasionally something will be added. One acquisition is a large 19th century, French gold scale that I found in a tiny shop in Amsterdam. It's black iron, has ivory plaques for measuring the weight increments and stands about five feet tall. If I ever wanted to part with it, it's so heavy I think I'd need a crane.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Stephen Knollenberg – I enjoy designing homes for people very much and I really have yet to be seduced into what comes next. I think designing a product for the mass market would be interesting. I would be most excited about tackling something that hasn't been done before. We have many good designer lines of furniture, fabrics, tabletop and towels already. I'd like to identify and contribute to what could be next on the horizon.

Photograph courtesy of Stephen Knollenberg

Iván Meade – Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles. What would you like your legacy to be?

Stephen Knollenberg – I just turned 42 so I haven't given a lot of thought to the legacy yet! I think it would be great however to be remembered for 'stepping out of the box' in some way(s). Someone once said, "There are no original ideas....". I don't believe this at all.

I invite you to visit Stephen Knollenberg’s website to learn more about him and his work.

STHEPEN KNOLLENBERG

Affordable Design – Wire Spheres

If you are looking for sculptural elements or room accents to add interest to those corners that always feel lonely, these spheres made of iron will look instantly sophisticated. 

 

 

They have movement and they have personality and the price is really affordable. 

I love the visual weight of these pieces and the fact that you can use them indoor or outdoor.

What do you think?  Do you like them?

 

PRODUCT
Wire Spheres

WHERE TO GET IT?
West Elm

MATERIAL
Iron

SIZE

extra small: 5"diam
small: 7"diam
oversized: 18"diam

PRICE
$ 9.00 – $ 54.00 US Dollars

In Conversation with Trish Puckett

Trish Puckett

 

As seen in SNAP VICTORIA - May 2009 - "Design Feature"

 

Trish Puckett is the principal designer for Puckett Design and Construction and the owner of Place function+design, one of the best modern furniture and accessory stores in town.  Her sleek design sensibility and her store’s unique solutions such as clean shelving units, modern and functional closet organizers, sliding door systems, and  amazing furnishings makes Place the place to source all of your home needs.  Place also has a very deep appreciation for the arts, the store houses their own art gallery, P.S. Gallery which currently features talented local artist and designer Iván Meade – another great excuse to stop into Place and P.S. Gallery at 3690 Shelbourne Street.

 

Iván Meade - What is your favourite design find?

 

Trish Puckett - I love the old cameras of my dad's.  Especially the Minox sub-mini camera.  Not really a design find I suppose, but very cool.

 

Minox sub-mini camera

 

Iván Meade - Why is it important/inspirational to you?

Trish Puckett - I like the unique design of the camera.  it's very small and very simple.  It's meant to be concealed in the palm of your hand for taking spy photos.  it has a slick modern look, but was made mid-century and like so many of the great designs from that period, it has a timeless appeal.  And of course, it was my dad's.

It inspires me to take more photographs - a favourite hobby besides designing houses. I hope to do a series of images taken with this camera - not necessarily spy photos though - don't worry!

Iván Meade - How does this item reflect upon your personal design philosophy?

Trish Puckett - Well, it's simple and well made, and still useful today.  I like how objects like this connect us to ourselves and our past.  We feel best when we have some connection and personal investment in our surroundings.   I think it's important to express personal choices, and consider the methods of living in the design of the spaces we create.  It makes them so much more interesting and fulfilling.  And isn't that what design is about?  making spaces that are great to be in, that are beautiful, well made, and affect us personally.

 

Blomus available at Place

 

Iván Meade - Can you tell me what is your next design venture?

 

Trish Puckett - We are working on a variety of projects from interiors to complete structural design. These projects give us the opportunity to combine the personal with the functional.  it's always an interesting discovery.

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Trish Puckett - I was about 12 and my parents were designing a house. It was to be on a rolling and rocky property outside of Edmonton. I remember how exciting it was to study the blueprints and imagine the finished spaces and how the house would sit on the land.  I was always sketching imaginary house plans.
When I finished design school, Rick and I designed an built a duplex to live in. it was beautiful, with complicated roof lines and many jigs and jogs. I worked with Rick framing that house. Luckily he’s a patient builder.

That was a great learning opportunity and we won a CARE award for it.

Place function+ design

 

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?

Trish Puckett- My parents were pretty stylish, in a very relaxed and comfortable way. I didn't realize until I was older that they had such great taste! They knew what they liked and they appreciated quality, comfort and simple designs. The first thing you noticed in their house was that you felt truly welcome. Then you noticed how nice everything was, not individually, but as a whole. I think that is what made it so welcoming. Nothing was there to impress, just to enjoy.

A family of 6 girls kept the house pretty active so there were no areas of the house reserved for special company. It was all used.
I think how we live in our houses should really affect the design of it, and not the other way around.

 

Place function + design

 
Iván Meade - What is the story behind Place, how did the company begin?

Trish Puckett - I have been a designer for about 16 years, and my husband Rick has been a builder for about the same length of time. We have been thinking about opening a store for a while. We wanted an opportunity to move our offices out of our home and at the same time to have a place to offer some of the wonderful designs we have found over the years. So many things are available in larger areas, but can be harder to find in Victoria. Both of us come from large families, and we have 2 kids of our own, so we really appreciate the value of having furniture that is well made, functional, comfortable and yet still feeds our creative sides. We wanted to offer these same things to others here.

 

Bourgie Lamp – Kartell

Available at Place function+design

Iván Meade - Are you bringing any new lines to Place?

Trish Puckett - We are always looking. We want to continually grow and change. Some of our greatest finds have been as a result of searching for something for a customer, or following up on a request. We hope to add some wonderful linens, rugs and more lighting this coming year. Laura Skagfeld and I are also working on our own furniture ideas that combine art and design. We are very excited about that. We just need the time to focus on it!

 

 
Iván Meade - What kind of things might customers find at Place that they won’t find anywhere else on the island?

Trish Puckett - We have some really unique storage systems from the US and beautiful german-engineered sliding doors, as well as Molo from Vancouver and Iannone furniture and ceramic bird feeders from New York. I think it is the combination of products we have that is unique. We really try to make it an inviting place to shop.

Molo – Soft Walls and stools available at Place function+design

 

Iván Meade - One of the main features of your stores is the fact that you also are sharing space with The Gallery – a modern art gallery, How has the partnership enhance your business?

 
Trish Puckett - p.s. gallery at place has been a wonderful surprise. It started as a small venue to display some of our own work and has turned into the most amazing space. We are now booking well into next year and all the up coming shows are very exciting. It has been a great opportunity to present original artwork in an interesting setting. The design, furnishings and art are all related, and the mix works well. It offers an opportunity for people to see both things together, and in a relaxed way. Although the gallery space is somewhat separate, the connections are there. Through the gallery we have met so many wonderful people and been able to show beautiful, original artwork. It really has been a privilege.

It has also given us opportunities as designers, builders and artists to look beyond the usual form for art, and explore some interesting crossovers between art, design, and business.

 

PS Gallery at Place

Watch for a really interesting participatory community show next year. We have something very cool in the works...

 

X-Exhibition at PS Gallery at Place

Iván Meade - What kind of artists do you promote at The Gallery?

Trish Puckett - Local emerging and established contemporary art. That’s a pretty broad range from photography, landscape, abstract, and sculpture to traditional illustration. We have been fortunate to have fabulous artists and great, thought-provoking shows.

 

Place function+design

 

Iván Meade - Furthermore, do you feel that Victoria is ready for a change?

Trish Puckett  - We have been very well received - by those who can find us!

 

Iván Meade - Where do you see design going in the next 10 years?

Trish Puckett - I think people will want to have a lot more say in it. I see more participation and an insistence on quality construction and materials for the sake of comfort, creative fulfilment and for the environment. Quality and timelessness are good environmental strategies.

 

Molo – Letter Light available at Place function+ design

Iván Meade - What do you think all furniture will have in the future?

Trish Puckett - Personality! and the ability to do more than one thing. For some things. Sometimes simple is good too.

 

Raumplus Sliding Door Systems available at Place

Iván Meade - What is the most unusual request that you have ever received from a client?

Trish Puckett - Hmmm... A designer never tells.

 

I invite you to discover Trish Pucket, Place function+design & P.S. Gallery at http://www.placemodernliving.com/

 

And don’t forget to check out my X – Exhibition at PS Gallery :)

 

Ivan Meade is a local designer and principal of Meade Design Group, a multidisciplinary interior and graphic design studio in the heart of downtown Victoria – www.themeadegroup.com