Thursday 29 November 2012

IN CONVERSATION WITH JEFF SMITH

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Jeff Smith

 

Jeff Smith is the owner of Smith Designs, a reputable and innovative architectural and interior design firm in Victoria BC. I admire Jeff’s attention to detail and his ability to tackle any style of project while continuing to find new solutions that are both functional and beautiful. Smith Designs has also not only worked on a range of styles, but also project types (residential to commercial) and locations (local and international).

 

In business since 1987 and the recipient of multiple CHBA CARE Awards, and Georgie nominations, Smith Designs is known for the words that Jeff lives by “Clean, focused and finished”. The company is also renowned for the customer service and personal attention given to each project.

 

I can’t wait to get Jeff’s input on design (locally and globally), please read on to get in on the conversation…


 
Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?


Jeff Smith -My mother loved wallpapering, so I had to learn to survive.... my childhood daydreaming was renovation.

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith

 

Iván Meade - What is your favorite local find? Where did you get this item?


Jeff Smith – A teachers 'learning' to read book with Janet and Jack and Lucky the dog and Puff the kitten from the 30's, It makes me smile and think of innocence and unbridled joy. I bought it in a thrift store twenty odd years ago. I thought I'd use it in a child's room one day but have yet been able to give it up. 

 

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Interiors by Jeff Smith

 

Iván Meade – Why is important to you? How does this item reflect upon your personal design philosophy?

 

Jeff Smith – To embrace new technology, be open to discovery and never be afraid to try something new. Design is an organic process that sometimes can take you by the hand and lead you to something innovative and fresh.

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


 
Iván Meade – What is unique to contemporary west coast design?  I believe you are breaking the mold and showcasing your work in a new and more up to date interpretation of west coast design – how do you achieve this?


Jeff Smith - I think we have come to a point in time that we no longer have to apologize for our love affair with nature and our more laid back west coast lifestyle. That doesn't have to mean driftwood railings and beer can art, it simply means we've found the balance where contemporary living incorporates a new sensitivity to nature and quality of life style. Our homes and offices should support our personalities and not cause us to stumble throughout the day. I try to be honest to the space and incorporate new elements that reflect light and offer up a fresh attitude.

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


 
Iván Meade – I noticed that in your projects you like to use chrome, I actually should say a custom use of chrome; which definitely adds a sense of uniqueness to each of your projects.  How do you sell the idea of custom to your clients?


Jeff Smith - Custom work is like a fingerprint , uniquely yours. It expresses an individuality that I feel is important in almost every project...and it often is the only way to resolve design issues when they come up. We always have said there are no problems, only solutions. Not all solutions are in a tidy box at your local supply store. So if custom is where you end up, just make it beautiful . 

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


 
Iván Meade - Space nowadays is at a premium – As a designer, it is clear that the adequate use of space is really important to you, but how do you incorporate these principles into your personal home?


Jeff Smith -For me, the truth in design lays in the act of reduction. Its easy to fill a space with a lot of beautiful objects but that doesn't make the room beautiful. Again, balance is the operative word. finding that place where anything less isn't enough and anything more is, well, too much. Let the space breathe, give it light and let the elements have their 15 minutes of fame...and all that other stuff, get rid of it. Enjoy what you have.

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


 
Iván Meade - What is the most practical thing that you own and what is the most rare?


Jeff Smith - My sense of humour is a practical aspect in my work. This industry involves a lot of on the spot decision making, mix in some handholding of nervous (never renovated before) clients, trades people, and shipping and handling of products and equipment, neither of which tend to show up when you really, really want them  and you better have a healthy sense of humour. The most rare is a tough question. I love art, each one different and each with something that makes me love it everyday. I find I don't covet one over the next, a piece from 300 years ago can hold the same value to me as something I picked up yesterday. Put them close in the same environment, and see the dialogue they have have together, its that juxtaposition, that playful contrast, that is rare.

 

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Interiors by Jeff Smith


 
Iván Meade - If you could design a home for anyone, who would it be?


Jeff Smith – I loved this question. We all have our heroes. In history and in contemporary life. If I had to pick one, Marcel Duchamp.  I think as a client, he'd be amazing and his input would be engaging and challenging. I'd get to explore all aspects of positive and negative space, review preconceptions and journey down a new path of discovery. My design wouldn't necessarily involve a uninal in the living room.

 

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Interiors by Jeff Smith

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


Jeff Smith – New technology integrating into environment. I love the idea of seamless living where all the bells and whistles are there but not visible. Remember those ginormous speakers you had in University, or the television to had to get up to turn a knob to change channels?

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


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

 

Jeff Smith - I've been blessed with amazing projects and clients who have been open to wonder and change. I couldn't possibly compare one from the next because each one is different and special. Having said that, the projects that have spanned a couple decades, where we staged out the renovations in five year increments, and I've watched their families grow up, and their homes evolve, fulfilling  their wish lists...they are my warm cuppa on a chilly windy day.

 

imageInteriors by Jeff Smith


 
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?


Jeff Smith - That people would say 'He helped us to see more, find a softer, kinder way of living'

 

I invite you visit Jeff Smith’s stunning body of work at:

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Monday 26 November 2012

FAVOURITE PINS

Our Eye Candies of the Week are quickly becoming Pinterest pins – It is really hard to just choose one great thing per week when we have so many things to appreciate on Pinterest every day.

 

Yes, I am a self proclaimed Pinssesed – I just love to be able to see beautiful things everyday and organize them and be able to look them again and again.  As a designer I am a very visual person, and playing with Pinterest has given me a tool to be inspired constantly.  Also Pinterest has allowed me to re-discover what I really like and what really moves me as a designer.  I only pin things and images that fulfill my design needs.  In this way, Pinterest is a true window to my preferences as a designer.

 

Here are some of my favourite pins.  Images that have also become inspiration for the work we are doing at Meade Design Group.

 

From the Board – MEADE STYLE

 

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Holger Lippmann

 

From the Board – DETAILS

 

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Door Detail

 

From the Board – ART

 

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Antoni Tapies

 

From the board – OBJECT D’ART

 

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Takayuki Sakiyama

 

From the board – VIVA MËXICO!

 

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Dolores del Río

 

From the board – BEAUTIFUL TILE

 

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Herringbone

 

From the board -  DREAM MACHINES

 

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Cape Cod Collegiate

 

From the Board – ADVERTS

 

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Hermés 1954

 

From the board – WALLPAPERS

 

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Malaga Schumacher Wallcovering

 

From the board – GETTING GRAPHIC

 

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Helvetica

 

From the board – BEAUTIFUL BITES

 

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I invite you to follow us on PINTEREST and check out our  great lifestyle boards and every day pins.

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Tuesday 13 November 2012

ORIGINAL ART AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

GUEST ENTRY

Not too long ago I received a very kind email from Renee Crawford about the amazing service that the ART Gallery of Greater Victoria offers.  A brilliant service that I have used in the past, it’s a great way to bring original art to any project at an affordable price point while supporting our local ART Gallery and our ART community.

 

My name is Renee Crawford, and I run the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Art Rental and Sales program. What is that, you ask? Well, it’s the city’s largest inventory of rentable and buyable contemporary local art, with hundreds of pieces of original work.

 

With low monthly rental fees (starting at $20 per month) and no commitment to purchase, original art work has never been more accessible! Perfect for decorating and staging homes and businesses, contemporary art work easily transforms a room into an unforgettable experience. Contemporary art can provide colour, ambience, a focal point, and can considerably increase the “cool” quotient. It can help sell a home, increase a business profile, and complete the look and feel of any space.

 

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Who uses the program? A vast array of people, from homeowners and renters to interior designers, home stagers, film companies, offices, corporations; anyone who has wall space could benefit from hanging a piece of amazing local art. For those who decide they can’t live without the work, we offer up to six months of rental fees towards purchase.

 

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What kinds of art do we have to offer? We have the most comprehensive cross-section of local work in the city, with work in almost every genre, and limitless sizes and shapes. From watercolour to oil and acrylic paintings, printmaking pieces, mixed media and more, we have something for everyone. Need to fill a really big space? We have large scale works and can bring in works on demand as well. All of our work is stored here at the Art Rental and Sales office at the Art Gallery (1040 Moss St.), ready to be viewed by appointment.

 

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Not sure what kind of art to hang? No problem! We offer professional consultations, delivery and installation services. We also offer an online archive that you can browse from the comfort of your own home or office.

 

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Make an appointment today to come in and view our inventory, and browse our online archive for inspiration:

 

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For more information call 250. 384. 4171 ext. 222 or email rcrawford@aggv.ca.



MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Thursday 1 November 2012

IN CONVERSATION WITH AMANDA FORREST

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Amanda Forrest

 

Amanda Forrest is a local designer who is making a big name for herself. You may have already seen her work in the book Spectacular Homes of Western Canada, Spa Life Magazine, Y.A.M., or on the Marilyn Denis show as the Westcoast Design Expert on CTV. She was even a speaker at this year’s IDSWest.

 

She and her team have a flair for designs that are fun, and she strives to create spaces that are modern and vibrant, yet classic enough to last a lifetime. Browsing her portfolio, she has a range of styles, palettes and project types to adapt to her client’s unique aesthetics and needs. She even offers e-decorating to clients looking to achieve the designer look on a lower budget, or if they are far from her Victoria studio, or Amanda’s satellite offices in Vancouver, British Columbia or Cambridge, Ontario.

 

Amanda balances it all, a blog, TV appearances, publications, a family and her design business all at once. We’re looking forward to seeing what’s next for this designer. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

 

Iván Meade - What is your first experience with design?

 

Amanda Forrest - I don't recall a time that design, in some aspect was not a part of my life. My parents renovated a historical home when I was a young child, it seemed as though I had years of wallpaper stripping, staining, painting and construction in my blood by the time I was 6 years old. By about 12 years my mother was asking for my decorating advice while planning her new home construction. By 15 years I designed my own room scheme using purple and turquoise.

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade - What is your favorite local find? Where did you get this item?

 

Amanda Forrest - Hands down my pieces of driftwood collected by my son are my favorite. I found it so interesting that he would walk the Vancouver island beaches and pay particular attention to the common shape of the pieces, narrow down the nicest for me. They sit proudly displayed in an oversized glass vase on my open kitchen shelves. They have been used as props many times!

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade - Why is it important to you?

 

Amanda Forrest - It has a story, I love pieces with a soul attached to them.

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

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

 

Amanda Forrest - The driftwood pieces are a simple but effective lesson in design: natural, local, inexpensive, timeless, sentimental.

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade -  What is your design philosophy?

 

Amanda Forrest - To maintain a down to earth demeanor and an upbeat style. To create an exceptional space that reflects my clients character and lifestyle.

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

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

 

Amanda Forrest - My strength is the ability to read people's character. It allows me to navigate through what the client is trying to say even if they don't have the ability to put their feelings about the space in to proper design terms. My weakness is the fact that I work too much, it is common for me to put the kids to bed and go back to returning emails until late at night as I know clients are counting on me, great for work, bad for my health.

 

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IDSWest Booth by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade - Who are your design idols?

 

Amanda Forrest - Kelly Wearstler and Canadian Christiane Lemieux

 

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IDSWest Booth by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade - If you could design a home for anyone, who would it be?

 

Amanda Forrest - Oprah Winfrey, she has so many stories, I would love to help showcase her life experiences in her personal space.

 

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Amanda Forrest interviewing Tommy Smythe

 

Iván Meade - What was it like to be published in SHOWC?

 

Amanda Forrest - It was a great feeling to see how excited my clients where to see their homes shown in the book. The book sits proudly displayed in my office.

 

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Amanda Forrest at IDSWest

 

Iván Meade - MDS and television media..

 

Amanda Forrest - I'm currently the west coast design expert for the Marilyn Denis Show. My role in the show is to showcase new design trends and ideas from the world of design on the coast! Doesn't all have to be interior design, we feature products, hip destinations and trendy fashion. I was fortunate to be awarded this role after participating in a design contest earlier this year. Television media plays an important role in bringing together various design ideas, cultures and artistic values. It allows us all to learn and draw inspiration from each others visions.

 

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Amanda Forrest at the Marilyn Denis Show

 

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

 

Amanda Forrest - Eco products, colour, whimsy. Farmhouse Glam is an interesting concept, rugged barn beams paired with chandeliers..love.

 

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Interiors by Amanda Forrest

 

Iván Meade - What's next for Amanda Forrest?

 

Amanda Forrest - I have several projects on the go, the MDS Show, I am on a colour forecasting panel working on 2014 paint colour trends, a panel to redesign moulding and millwork profiles, styles. I'm trying to enjoy this design moment..if I look ahead it's to a vacation with my family in the new year.

 

I invite you to visit Amanda Forrest’s website at:

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011