Meade Design Group - The Blog - Interior Design Victoria BC

Eye Candy of the Week – Screen by Christopher Guy

2012-01-24T16:00:00.001-08:00

PRODUCT

Greek Key Screen

MANUFACTURER

Christopher Guy

COLLECTION

Screens

MEASUREMENT

W94” x D2” x H94"

DESCRIPTION

It looks like the Greek key pattern is going to be all over the place this 2012.

This screen is modern yet classic. The timeless geometric maze screen will definitely add style to any interior. I don’t like to follow many trends, but I can see this piece staying timeless for a long time. I just love the language and the simplicity of its lines.

YUMMY FACTOR

OPA!!!

In Conversation with Philip Mitchell

2012-01-16T16:48:00.001-08:00

Philip Mitchell

I first came across Philip Mitchell and his design work in House & Home Magazine. I was so pleased to see these beautifully designed spaces have helped Philip receive success and praise throughout Canada. I came to learn that Philip and his projects have not only appeared in House & Home (where he was selected as one of Canada’s Top 25 Designers in the magazine's 25th Anniversary issue), but also in the National Post, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and Renovation Style.

Philip does not limit his designs to a particular style, but they always have this one linking element: a sense of calm and beauty. They are spaces that one feels they can walk into and feel right at home. It's also most common to find classic elements throughout his creations, whether it be the furnishings, finishes or architectural details. The result is a series of elegant, timeless and functional spaces.

Philip Mitchell opened his namesake firm over seven years ago after gaining experience working with two of Canada's largest interior design firms. Since its inception, Philip has experienced great success. The firm has had the opportunity to work not only in Canada, but also in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. In addition to the magazine appearances, Philip also has his own line of furniture which has recently been launched: 'The Philip Mitchell Design Furniture Collection', which encapsulates his style to a tea.

I can't wait to see what's next for Philip Mitchell, so to tide us all over, please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Philip Mitchell - I was exposed to great design from a very young age. My mother and her family always had wonderfully decorated homes. Every detail from comfortable upholstery and unique linens to fine bone china and interesting artwork were always considered in these spaces. As a young boy I remember being encouraged to develop my interest in design by her and given the opportunity to participate in the decoration of my own bedroom.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?

Philip Mitchell – I would say it was my mother who was my greatest influence. My mother, who helped decorate her family and friends’ homes, taught me to value the quality associated with antique and custom furnishings and how objects can be displayed or arranged to create a beautiful yet personal reflection of one’s taste.

Also my partner Mark, an ongoing source of inspiration and support, pushes me to create new and innovative designs for our own personal residence as well as my clients.

Finally, all forms of design interest and influence my personal design style. Everything from my library of historical and current design books, to my travels, to new dining experiences, to the environment around me, it all inspires me.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - What is your approach to life style and design?

Philip Mitchell - I think they go hand in hand. It's important to me to create comfortable and personal interiors for my clients that are a stylish and attractive reflection of their everyday lives.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - Your design philosophy is to remain true to the spirit of the structure and location of the project - How do you achieve this?

Philip Mitchell – Before I start a new project, I always research the historical styles, environment and local character of the home that I will be working on. This research inspires the interior architecture, trim details, colour palette, fabric and furniture selection. I utilize local trades/craftsman and source local artists work who represent the spirit of a particular location or region.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - I have noticed that in your interiors you paint the wood paneling with a crisp coat of white paint and this has become one of your signature styles. I definitely agree in painting wood paneling because the change leads to a cleaner, brighter, and more elegant room. However, designer to designer, I just have to ask this question– How do you convince your male clients to paint the wood paneling?

Philip Mitchell - We often encourage our clients to paint existing less superior woods (gumwood or naughty pine) to achieve a lighter more contemporary feel and have always presented it to the husbands very delicately. I present many visual aids from tear sheets with a similar feel to before and after examples of previous homes where we have painted the wood. And sometimes the compromise in the form of some additional AV equipment (usually a larger TV) does the trick!

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - While I was reading your blog, I found out that you have designed a new furniture line - When is coming out and what are you bringing new to table?

Philip Mitchell - It was released in the fall and available at the trade showroom Primavera in Toronto as well as through their reps across Canada. The pieces range from a cleaner contemporary aesthetic to those with a more traditional style, yet they all work together.

I am excited because the entire collection is made in North America.
It's important to me because we have incredible artisans and craftsmen here, I have hands on control of the quality and construction, and we support our local economy.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

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 ?

Philip Mitchell - functionality, scale, material and definitely unique detailing.

Furniture Design by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - Who would you like to design something for?

Philip Mitchell - Anyone at all who appreciates and understands what I bring to the table.

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

Iván Meade - What is your guilty pleasure?

Philip Mitchell - Great food! (because I love all of it). And time! (because there never seems to be enough of it).

Interiors by Philip Mitchell

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

Philip Mitchell - I would love for my legacy to be a design aesthetic and furniture collection that stands the test of time.

I invite you to visit Philip Mitchell’s websites at:

Eye Candy of the Week – The Senz° Original

2012-01-07T15:16:00.001-08:00

PRODUCT

The Senz°

MANUFACTURER

Senz

COLLECTION

The Senz° Original

DESCRIPTION

This winter has been a very rainy one, looking to be as stylish as I can be in these weather conditions; I decided to source a very unique/cool and sophisticated umbrella. Once I found this beauty I though, I had found my perfect match, but also a great eye candy of the week. Brilliant!

Due to its aerodynamic design, the Senz umbrella always finds the best position in the wind, which makes it exceptionally comfortable to use. Which proves that every day objects can always improve. This award-winning asymmetrical wonder can withstand winds up to 100 km per hr. A good fact to take in consideration as we have had very strong gales lately.

I wonder what umbrella Mary Poppins would pick if she was in search of a good one. Now here is the only bummer, I love the umbrella (the sparkling silver is my favourite), but I wonder why we can’t order the queen of the umbrellas in North America yet. What is wrong with you? Don’t you know you will have enough costumers in the west coast of North America!

YUMMY FACTOR

DRY AND CRISP!!!

The salish weave collection

2012-01-01T14:43:00.001-08:00

As seen in SNAP Victoria, January 2012

The Salish Weave Collection is a private collection of contemporary Salish art which has travelled to various museums and galleries throughout the world. Recently, I got invited to a private tour of the collection by George and Christiane Smyth (who are the brains behind this incredible collection), where I learned about Salish Art and how important it is to support this art form in our community. Did you know that all Salish artwork is created with only 3 distinctive shapes? The Oval, Crescent and Trigon.

Salmon Headdress by John Marston

A portion of this collection has been donated in memory of Dr. Morgan Baker, and is on display at the Cornett Building in UVIC, which you can visit in a self-guided walking tour. Another fun piece of trivia that I learned is that the Cornett building houses only Salish art. You can see more pieces on loan at the First People House on campus as well.

The main purpose of the collection is to support the recognition of this art form from the north west coast of North America. The main goal is to promote talented artists like Susan A. Point, Chris Paul, Maynard Johnny Jr., John Marston, LessLIE, and Dylan Thomas who are all featured in this collection, amongst others.

A significant part of this collection will be exhibited during The Victoria Collects exhibition at the Art Gallery of Victoria from January 6 to May 6, 2012. I had a great opportunity to learn more about the Salish culture and I would recommend taking advantage of this rare exhibition to all locals.

Written Into The Earth by Susan A.Point – In loan at Simon Fraser University

Here is my conversation with activist collectors George & Christiane Smyth the brains behind “The Salish Wave Collection” :

Iván Meade - Why is it so important to support Salish artists?

George & Christiane Smyth – Because there is a renaissance of Coast Salish art, a Northwest Coast indigenous art form practiced in the southern part of BC and the northern part of Washington state.

Salmon Spirits by Dylan Thomas

Iván Meade - Why/When did you start The Salish Weave Collection?

George & Christiane Smyth – In 1999, we purchased some prints and a glass top table by Susan Point to decorate our first Victoria condo. Within the next couple of years, we purchased more Coast Salish artworks and realized we were attracted to this lesser known Northwest Coast indigenous art. We then thought we could build a significant collection by focusing on contemporary Coast Salish art.

Ravens & Moon by Susan A. Point

Iván Meade - I know the collection has been around the world - Where has the collection been?

George & Christiane Smyth – Actually, the signature piece that inspired the name of the collection, ‘’Yellow and Red Cedar Weave’’ by Susan Point, was part of the exhibition Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast curated by Ian M. Thom for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection of Ontario. Part of this exhibition travelled to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland where it was on display in the spring of 2010 to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Yellow and Red Cedar Weave by Susan A. Point

Iván Meade - Part of the collection is currently at the Cornett building in UVIC as a self-guided walking tour - What was the reasoning housing the collection at UVIC?

George & Christiane Smyth – Most of the prints on display in the Cornett building were gifted from the Salish Weave Collection after we learned that Peter Keller, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, had agreed to dedicate this building, located next to the First Peoples House, to contemporary Coast Salish art. Other pieces on display are a large multi-media work by Susan Point as well as a large piece by Chris Paul who was the first Coast Salish artist to participate in the artist-in-residence program initiated by Dr. Andrea Walsh, professor of Visual Anthropology. We were grateful for the opportunity to bring awareness of this art form within the walls of an institution of knowledge and learning, as was the Faculty for the ability to honor the First Peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands. As Dean Keller said, the stars aligned, allowing this project to meet common objectives.

Reflections by lessLIE

Iván Meade - Who are your favourite Salish artists and why?

George & Christiane Smyth – It is impossible to answer that question because we like all the artists whose works we collect for different reasons. Artworks from Susan Point constitute the largest part of our collection. Susan is the leader of the renaissance of Coast Salish art. She is known for the versatility and complexity of her designs rendered in a variety of media such as paper, wood, glass, metal and stone. She is an inspiration to young Salish artists.

We like the Marston’s siblings: John, a master wood carver, who experimented with printmaking and glass works; Luke, also a master carver, who recently learned and used the repoussé technique on jewelry; and Angela who applies her carving, painting and weaving abilities to the creation of rattles.

We like lessLIE for his graphic designs and his writing; Maynard Johnny Jr for his imagery and use of colors; Chris Paul for his artistic, technical and business abilities; and young Dylan Thomas for the maturity of his designs and his willingness to explore and push boundaries.

Coast Salish artist Chris Paul shows his artwork "Finding Balance" in the Cornett Building. Photo: UVic Photo Services.

Iván Meade - What is your favourite personal piece?

George & Christiane Smyth – We both very much like the signature piece of the Salish Weave collection, ‘’Yellow and Red Cedar Weave’’ by Susan Point. John Marston’s panel ‘’Ehhwe’p Syuth’’ (To Share History and Culture), our first acquisition of a ‘museum-like piece’, is also very dear to us. It is on permanent display at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. The ‘’Ravens and Moon’’ glass spindle whorl by Susan Point is also a favourite piece of Christiane as is lessLIE’s print ‘’Protecting Posterity’’ for George.

Iván Meade - What is the most popular piece in the collection?

George & Christiane Smyth – Well, that depends on who is looking at the collection. Family and friends are taken by different pieces as are the art connoisseurs and the curators we have encountered or with whom we had the pleasure to work.

Coast Salish artist lessLIE with his artwork "Reflections" on the entrance door of Cornett. Photo: UVic Photo Services

Iván Meade - What has been the biggest achievement of The Salish Weave Collection?

George & Christiane Smyth – Privately, it has been the design and the completion of two box sets, each containing nine limited edition of 50 prints. These prints were commissioned from the artists mentioned previously. We have gifted Box Set I to different galleries and universities with the objective of spreading awareness of contemporary Coast Salish art.

Publicly, the permanent display of contemporary Coast Salish art in UVic’s Cornett building, home to the Faculty of Social Sciences, is the most significant achievement to date. Next, is the exhibition of 19 artworks of the Salish Weave Collection as part of the Victoria Collects exhibition at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Curated by Mary Jo Hughes, this exhibition, which runs from January 6 to May 6, 2012, is an important milestone for the Salish Weave Collection.

Conservation by Chris Paul

Iván Meade - What is next for The Salish Weave Collection?

George & Christiane Smyth – More exhibitions and projects with partners such as the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and UVic and the launch of the Salish Weave Collection website. As always, spreading the awareness of contemporary Coast Salish art further and farther.

To learn more about The Salish Weave Collection please visit:

Victoria Collects: The Salish Weave Collection

Online Guide to Art Displays of the Cornett Building

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

Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-21T15:03:00.001-08:00

Today is our last day at the studio before the Christmas break and we are as you can imagine very, VERY excited.

The decorations are up and the Xmas cards all delivered. We are ready to start enjoying the holiday season. This year we wanted to share a bit more of us in our Xmas Card. So, we decided to share our fondest memories, holiday traditions, favourite jingles and must-have holiday treats of the season.

Once a year the time is here!

A time to light-up and decorate, to wrap and peel, jingle and shout, so get outside and build a snowman – Get creative, then cozy up by the fire, raise your glass of Baileys and wash down those tasty treats.

Makes you wish it was Christmas everyday!…

To decorate the studio we got some Poinsettias to bring the spirit of my culture to Victoria. Did you know that this flower is originally from México?

Ever greens, roses with some pinecones and mercury acorns set the mood of the season.

An addition to our traditional seasonal decor we found these gentleman that great our guests.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU

AND YOURS FROM ALL OF US

AT MEADE DESIGN GROUP!

The Hudson

2011-12-15T10:02:00.001-08:00

Meade Design Group is proud to introduce one of our recent interior design projects at The Hudson Building in Victoria BC.

An international tech company was in need of a suite where their executives could stay in the city without the need to book a hotel. The requirement was to design a home away from home on a short time line.

The executives for this company are mostly men and the inspiration was a masculine lodge blended with mid century modern influences.

Rust oranges, warm wood tones and geometrics add personality to this small space. For accessories we went for a mix of tribal and industrial elements.

One of our favourite features in the space was the use of a Threads wood grain wall paper in creams and taupes to add texture an interest. It was also our start point for achieving the lodge aesthetic. It was accentuated with rough sweater inspired pillows and a warm palate of painted accent walls to offset the building’s standard white interior.

The leather chair brings a bit of the industrial vibe along with the pharmacy inspired lamps.

The space flows seamlessly into the bedroom where a contemporary painting put together the colour scheme and white bedding with embroidered forest keeps the bedroom crisp while maintaining our modern lodge concept.

Eye Candy of the Week – Kasanna Lamp

2011-12-12T16:49:00.001-08:00

PRODUCT

Kasanna Lamp - 01F1018

MANUFACTURER

Kasanna

COLLECTION

Feel the Iron

DIMENTIONS

48 cm x 40 cm

MATERIALS

Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf, Nickel & Gold Plated

DESCRIPTION

Lately I have been looking for lamps that have movement and a sense of style that reflects the past in a contemporary way. Today I am presenting the Kasanna Lamp, a lamp designed in Spain that is very memorable, yet unique. The quality is remarkable and the black drum shade with gold leaf would be the perfect addition to any room.

YUMMY FACTOR

HOT !!!

In Conversation with Ernest de la Torre

2011-11-28T13:22:00.001-08:00

Ernest de la Torre

Ernest de la Torre has turned heads in the design world as of late, appearing in the likes of Elle Décor, House & Garden, features in several books, blogs and charity events.

His style is a blend of classic, soft, and relaxing mixed with unexpected touches that make each space uniquely his. Features such as custom textiles, wall treatments, furniture and hardware make regular appearances in his projects.

Ernest's firm - de la Torre Design Studio, was established in 2001 and has grown to have it's own staff and work on projects throughout the United States. He cites his influences stem from his hometown of Lake Forest, Illinois around the architecture of David Adler and Mies van der Rohe. His design experience however, was obtained from New York's Peter Marino Architects and education from Sotheby's Fine and Decorative Arts in London. He also went on to work in the Ralph Lauren Home Division on designs for furniture, lighting, tabletop and textiles.

I really appreciate the de la Torre aesthetic, and how he concentrates on the finer details in his designs. I cannot wait to get Ernest's input on design, please read on to get in on the conversation...

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Ernest de la Torre – I tackled my family’s hobby farm in Madison, Wisconsin when I was just old enough to drive. It was a wonderful turn of the century all American farm house, and I painted and stencilled every room myself! I think my parents thought I was a little crazy.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

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

Ernest de la Torre – My Blackberry is my most practical; I quite literally can’t function without it! The most rare thing I own would be my sanity during an installation.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

Iván Meade - How has your Cuban heritage influenced your style?

Ernest de la Torre – My parent’s home in Lake Forest was furnished with antiques from France, England and Spain, some of which came from our townhouse on El Prado in Havana. Like Buenos Aires, Havana and its residents were heavily influenced by European Beaux Arts architecture. In our home there, French decorative arts ruled; my great Uncle was a prominent fashion designer in Havana and spent half the year in Paris which skewed my family’s taste towards everything French with the treasures he brought back to Cuba.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

Iván Meade - What makes a tastemaker nowadays?

Ernest de la Torre – Someone willing to take risks in design yet remain elegant.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

Iván Meade - What do you look for in a furniture piece? Or, in other words, you are very selective in what goes into your designs, what makes a piece important enough to be used in your projects? When do you feel that you need to introduce custom-built pieces?

Ernest de la Torre – When selecting an existing piece, I look for unique, well-crafted, or occasionally iconic pieces. I do not like to use pieces that are omnipresent, so most of what I do is custom. Custom pieces always fit my client’s needs best and let me express my creativity.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

Iván Meade - Who would you like to design something for?

Ernest de la Torre - Ideally a client who lets me fulfil my creative aspirations while fulfilling their needs and desires. I have been lucky to have many great clients from all different professions and lifestyles that have let me do just that.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

Iván Meade - What have you found makes a great and memorable room in your experience?

Ernest de la Torre – Balance, in all aspects!

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

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

Ernest de la Torre – Honestly each one of my projects has been very satisfying so I can’t choose one; each project allows me to realise ideas I have that I need to express to be happy.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

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

Ernest de la Torre – There is an explosion of real artisans working in new and rare materials. I love embracing them and creating one off designs for my clients.

Interior Design by Ernest de la Torre

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?

Ernest de la Torre – I would like people to look at my designs and see in them my love of design in all its aspects; and in the fruits of that labor, enjoy the unique and beautiful environments that have made my clients lives better.

I invite you to visit Ernest de la Torre’s website at:

Eye Candy of the Week – Marcel Wanders China

2011-11-07T14:01:00.001-08:00

PRODUCT

Marcel Wanders Collection to M&S

MANUFACTURER

Marks & Spencer

DESIGNER

Marcel Wanders

MATERIAL

Fine China

DESCRIPTION

If you are looking for a special set of china for this coming Christmas – The new collection from Marcel Wanders is exciting, innovative, affordable and fun.

The Marcel Wanders collection is the perfect synthesis of uniqueness and beauty. Inspiring designs capture the imagination and create an atmosphere that 'makes our most exciting dreams come true'.

This beautiful dinner plate is crafted from elegantly fine, creamy china and features delicate gold detailing of the iconic Marcel logo. Ideal for special occasions and adding intensity and style to the dinner table.

- Marks & Spencer

YUMMY FACTOR

Scrumptious!!!

IN CONVERSATION WITH DUANE ENSING

2011-10-26T09:12:00.001-07:00

Duane Ensing

As seen in SNAP November, 2011

I had the pleasure of meeting Duane Ensing earlier this year and knew he would be the perfect candidate for our 'In Conversation With…' series because not only is he a very talented and creative individual, he is also a local!

Duane Ensing Landscape Design is the go-to place for landscaping. They can cover the full gambit of landscaping needs, from consulting, to project management, to a full design/build including outdoor kitchens, lighting, drainage/irrigation, patios, water features and more. Duane is getting noticed for his work on a global scale, with features in Architectural Digest, Boulevard, and Homes & Living in addition to local newspapers. His outdoor spaces seem tranquil, relaxing, current, and of course - beautifully maintained.

I can't wait to hear what's next for Duane, please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with landscape design?

Duane Ensing - One of the greatest memories growing up in Vancouver was spending time downtown looking at and experiencing urban venues like Robson Square and the life that the landscape can bring to the space around you. I saw how the environment was changed by the use of art, architectural and landscape elements. I also loved the changes in gardens from season to season in successful landscapes. Those are some of the things that first piqued my interest and wooed my imagination.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style aside from nature itself?

Duane Ensing - Coming out of University with a BFA in Visual Arts has impacted the way I see the world and has allowed me to challenge and explore the limits of design we see everyday. I love architecture and working with it in the landscape to create a permanence that it can bring. Architects like Tadao Ando and Santiago Calatrava to name a couple, move beyond the traditional, but keep the simplicity and effectiveness of the design to the table. I like that, and aim to develop spaces and sculpt the landscape to work together in a cohesive design.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What attracted you to a career in landscape design?

Duane Ensing - After starting in the landscape industry, I soon decided that a lot of what I saw on landscape plans was really quite generic and mundane to me. I picked up a pen, paper and my arts schooling, and began designing and sculpting landscapes. I found that the transition between creating sculptures at UVIC and creating landscapes were very similar in terms of building three dimensional settings in which to experience life. The time I spent working in a garden centre and installing landscapes aided in the knowledge base of what it takes to make a garden grow and be a successful space, aesthetically and practically.

I love meeting people and the challenge of a new solution to develop. The attraction of landscape design for me is the attraction of art and the creation process. Transitioning a piece of land into a space that inspires, extends your outdoor living environment or engages your senses are all ways to build and cultivate the imagination.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What are gardens for?

Duane Ensing - When I think about gardens, I see engineering, I see architecture, I see nature. They are structured, complex and yet so simple. They are static and ever-changing. I see a garden as window into a room, a sculpture to examine, a book to read and a painting to engage with.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - Your designs are stunningly well balanced, modern yet timeless, spacious but not stark. How do you keep current in the garden design industry?

Duane Ensing - I like to keep up with several digital blogs and magazines, both garden and architectural, but also mix it up with unrelated industries to see if some new seed can be sown as a launching pad for my imagination. I love the surprises that emerge out of the mind.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - One of my favourite characteristics on your landscape design is the use of water as a visual element - Why is water so important in your designs, what are your thoughts behind the use of water?

Duane Ensing - Water is everywhere. Life is everywhere. I like to include water in many of our projects to help bring life into the space and to develop an identity that works with the location, nature and our client. Designed right, and executed well, the inclusion of a water feature can establish an atmosphere and presence in a package that delivers for a long time, and with less maintenance and frustration than many people realize.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - How do you choose and position sculpture/art in the garden?

Duane Ensing - Art is all about relationship, on so many levels. What it evokes, how people react and interact with it. It can create surprise. It can help you speak. I find the best kind of solutions come through time as we build a relationship with our client. The personality of a client reveals to us what we choose and where it is placed.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What kind of things do you have to keep in mind while creating a landscape design that the client might not realize is important for you to know?

Duane Ensing - I love getting to know my clients. Asking questions and keeping up with how they direct conversation reveals a lot about them, but I've found that moving the conversation to a dialogue unrelated to the landscape has led to many interesting and unexpected comments that have greatly impacted the design.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - Does your personality come out in your gardens?

Duane Ensing - Absolutely. Exercising my fine arts degree has helped me develop a style that enables me to express myself through what I do. Is it always the same? No, but there are definite elements which repeat that are expressed in the canvas of each landscape. Do I have one particular style? I'd have to say no again; rather its an expression that permeates each design.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - How do you want people to feel in your gardens?

Duane Ensing - I want you to look past the plants, and I want you to look at each leaf. I want you to see the landscape, but I want it to disappear. I want you to see natural beauty and I want you to be intrigued by intentional design. At the end of the day, I want our client to have peace with the creation we leave, and be able to relate well to the design intent.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What’s the most important lesson you have learned about making gardens?

Duane Ensing - That's a great question, and one that will be different for each designer. I believe as a designer, it would be scale and rhythm. These are two elements that are really uniquely key in any landscape space, but from a personal perspective, developing a trust relationship with a client is key by exercising honour and integrity at every turn on the path we are walking together.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What project are you most proud of?

Duane Ensing - I have pride in each project as it is designed and built, even as it continues to evolve into the final product, but I'd have to say my proudest was one of the most fun projects as well. Great clients and an open palate to 'paint' with. It was a complex site, but the design and intent was carried out and completed in a way that allowed it to attain the 'People's choice' award, along with several other awards. It was the success of the completed spaces that satisfied me. I look at each space on it's own and treat each on like a separate project. At this site, the house, the landscape, and its context worked really well together in theory and fully built. I like to challenge myself to develop a broader sense of 'landscape' and 'garden' at each turn of the road, and to maintain an open mind to what lies ahead.

Landscape by Duane Ensing

Iván Meade - What's next for Duane Ensing Landscape Design?

Duane Ensing - I have a strong desire and enthusiasm for design, and I so enjoy landscape design, but I also crave spending time re-establishing my own art and sculpture more. I'd really like to involve my children in this too and have them develop a journey and understanding of their own. Working with plants and working in art. Teaching them and leaving a legacy of what relationships and family mean. I'm currently expanding my own artistic palate to include painting - a medium I haven't worked with at school, but have recently found new passion in.

I invite you to visit Duane Ensing’s website at:

Eye Candy of the Week – Lui5 & Lui6 Arm Chair

2011-10-22T17:50:00.001-07:00

Lui5 by Phillipe Bestenheider

PRODUCT

Lui5 & Lui6 Arm Chair

MANUFACTURER

Fratelli Boffi

DESIGNER

Philippe Bestenheider

MATERIAL

wooden frame with hand-woven caning

DIMENTIONS

103/72/123 cm

DESCRIPTION

I just discovered this beauty! As you well know by now: old world + new world = my favourite combo ever in anything. The use of the pentagon shape makes this chair simple yet, elegant in its complexity. The mix of materials has enough tension to bring the piece to a new place. The Lui5 by Philippe Bestenheider is definitely a statement chair, and I can see that it may not be too comfortable, but I just love so much the lines, the presence and the memorability that has keeping me thinking about the fact that I wish I could design something like this.

To even bring this piece further you have to see the Lui6 – I just want a pair for my country home and a pair for my sleek city pad. But first I need to get my country home and then to make sleek my city pad.

Lui6 by Phillipe Bestenheider

Which one is your favourite and why?

The Lui5 armchair looks back to the early 20th century in Europe. The classic wooden chair with cane seat serves as point of reference. The curved soft forms of the original model, however, are abandoned in favour of simplified lines and crystallised forms that multiply in space. The name is a clear reference to the pentagonal form which becomes the unit of measure of the structure. It is repeated from the cross-section of the legs to the construction of the panels forming the seat, back and armrests. Lui5 is also available in an upholstered version. – Philippe Bestenheider.

YUMMY FACTOR

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

Introducing… Meg de Candia

2011-10-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

This is quite possibly our most fashion forward logo yet.

We were thrilled when international handbag designer Meg de Candia asked Meade Design Group to help her re-brand herself with a new logo, business cards, and an invitation/brochure design.

I also believe we had all the right ingredients for this project. The trust of a talented designer, a gorgeous product to inspire us and a dream come true for any designer – Carte Blanche.

We wanted to create a look that would hold it's own against heavy-weight brands such as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Balenciaga and Kate Spade. Not to toot our own horn, but we think we did with this clean but edgy logo with strong diagonal lines, juxtaposed directions and stacked typography.

The logo also lent itself to a stunning use of repetition with her images and a beautiful custom pattern that was used inside the business cards and layered onto the image at the back of the brochure with a detail shot of the gorgeous hides she uses in her designs

Please visit the identity and print galleries to see the complete project.

Introducing Indochine by Barbara Barry

2011-10-07T16:13:00.001-07:00

Meade Design Group was a little spoiled this fall, we were able to host the launch of Barbara Barry's latest fabric collection, 'Indochine' with a private gathering of clients. We were actually the first showing in Canada so we feel very special to have been given the opportunity!

Many thanks go out to all of our guests in attendance, as well as Barbara Barry herself, who sent us a note with a lovely gift of her own brand of absolutely delicious Citrine tea. Erica Smolders from Rook & Rose did a stunning job with the Asian themed flower arrangements which set the mood perfectly. We couldn't have done it without the support from the team at Kravet Canada: Brian Donovan and Paul Smith, and of course our rep, Brenda Marks - who gave an engaging and fascinating presentation of Barbara's new line.

We took careful consideration when creating the event's ambiance: Asian-themed accessories were placed throughout the space including fans, sculptures, natural elements, catalogues, and items that Barbara cited as being inspiration for the collection. We lit candles from Barbara Barry's own line and played traditional music in the background. We also had Mrs. Barry's official video about the collection playing for guests to hear about the line from the designer herself. While there were punches of rich tones of fig and charcoal, the palette remained soft and muted so as not to stray far from the look we have all grown to know and love from Barbara Barry, it blends in perfectly with her very first books yet is still very new and unique.

There was an abundance of treats and drinks to be had, including our signature cocktail for the event 'Indochampagne'. It was so well received that we thought we should share the recipe for everyone to try at home for their next event:

INDOCHAMPAGNE

1 Cube of Sugar

3 Drops of Angostura

2 Teaspoons Barbara Barry Citrine Tea Syrup

Chilled Champagne

For Barbara Barry Citrine Tea Syrup, you will need 1/4 cup Citrine Tea by Barbara Barry; the zest and juice of 1 lemons. In a small sauce pan, combine tea leaves and lemon zest and juice with 1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil, let the sugar dissolve, and remove the pan from the heat. Let liquid cool; strain through a fine sieve. Use about 2 teaspoons of syrup per flute of champagne.

Everyone seemed to have a great time ogling the eye candy, mingling and coveting the gorgeous door prize - two pillows made with brand new Indochine fabric and trim. It seems like great connections were made and guests left inspired to create with Barbara Barry's new collection.

All in all, we'd say it was a great success!

If you would like to see more images of the event please visit our Indochine gallery on our Facebook page.

For more on Barbara Barry, check out these past posts featuring her and her work:

In Conversation with Barbara Barry

An Evening with Barbara Barry

IN CONVERSATION WITH SAM DICKIE

2011-10-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

Samantha Dickie

I first met Samantha Dickie earlier this year when she approached Meade Design Group about creating a new graphic identity and website for her artwork, after taking a break to raise her young children. I was in awe of her pieces from the moment she showed them to me. They are delicate, organic, textural, sophisticated and primal all at once. I cannot wait to share her artwork and insight with my readers!

" I choose to work with clay because of its incredible tactility – clay is raw, visceral and versatile. It can be used as a medium in conventional as well as unconventional ways: to create textural and abstract forms and surfaces that entice a sensory experience and create an altered spatial awareness. I love the rich history of ceramics from the ancient remnants of utilitarian objects to conceptual modern installations." - Samantha Dickie, excerpt from her Artist Statement

Samantha has been working with her primary medium - clay - since 1996 and has developed a signature style that has become sought after by art collectors and designers alike. She has had the opportunity to exhibit her work, as well as continually educate herself in her craft throughout Western Canada. I am so excited for Samantha and her return to her beautiful artwork, please read on to find out what Samantha Dickie has in store for her fans…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with Sculpture?

Samantha Dickie – Studying Inuit sculpture during my undergrad in the artist cooperatives in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, particularly on Baffin Island. But the sculpture that has really struck me has been that which I have sought out over the last 15 years in catalogues and galleries across the world. Sculptural ceramic work by Hans Coper, Peter Voulkos, Rudy Audio, and Marea Gazzard were early inspirations for working with clay in an unconventional way. The installation work of Dale Chihuly, Ernesto Neto, Anish Kapoor, and Antony Gormley, has blown my mind with the quality of material and intention. Interacting with their work and the space it envelops is overwhelming when considering and absorbing its scale, its detail, and its ingenuity. I love how sculpture and installation can create such a demonstrative experience for the viewer.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - How would you describe your style?

Samantha Dickie – Contemporary ceramic sculpture and installation using multiple components to illustrate a narrative with an aesthetic that highlights the raw, visceral and tactile nature of clay.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - If you could pick one word to describe your work, what would it be?

Samantha Dickie – Organic

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - What made you choose ceramic as your primary medium?

Samantha Dickie – It’s tactility. I think that’s what makes every ceramic artist fall in love with the medium. Working with clay is like playing in the dirt. It’s grounding, and expansive; physical and intuitive. It’s an amazing material to work with.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - Why is texture such an integral component of your work?

Samantha Dickie – Imprinting texture into the work, or using textural glazes keeps that same earthy, organic quality to the finished piece that is so seductive in working with raw clay and it’s amazing malleability.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique when one sees a piece of yours, it doesn’t matter if it is a single piece, an installation, they all evoke emotion. All these pieces have been created by you. How do you achieve this emotional resonance with your pieces?

Samantha Dickie – Working with simple forms and organic surfaces often evokes a memory, a reminder of a place, a space, experience or feeling that people resonate with. Perhaps it is a reflection of the process of working with clay, which as I said, can be grounding, and expansive.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - What do you do to keep inviting the inspiration to come - Do you have other passions that recharge your creative juices?

Samantha Dickie – Travel is a huge source or inspiration for me. It recharges me and stokes me up to be in life, to create, and to observe. Details of urban spaces, coastal rhythms and natural landscapes all come out in my work. My list is long for the next places to experience.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - As a successful artist, are there any words of advice or lessons learned that you can share with working artists ready to take their art to the next level?

Samantha Dickie – Keep inspired, pay lots of attention to detail, and professionally document your work so that you can always present it well.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - What are your thoughts about the art scene in Victoria, specifically the ceramic sculpture scene?

Samantha Dickie - I haven’t seen a lot of ceramic sculpture, although there are extraordinary internationally exhibiting ceramic artists in and around Victoria (such as Robin Hopper, Meira Matthison, Cathi Jefferson, Wayne Ngan, Gordon Hutchens, and others). I’m always interested to see ceramic work that is unconventional, and I think that Victoria would greatly benefit from exhibiting more contemporary sculpture, of all media including ceramic, particularly as public installation.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - What are you currently working on, what is the new and exciting with your work?

Samantha Dickie – I’m excited to be working on a new body of work that is just starting to unfold which will include a new installation, as well as individual sculptures, likely some of it intended to be installed outside. And I’ll be focusing my attention this year to new glazes, textures, and photo transfer while I work in a new large reduction kiln that I’ve installed in my studio.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

Iván Meade - You have already gone through many transformations with your work and found great success, what would you like your legacy to be?

Samantha Dickie – To work with clay in an unconventional way as a part of an exciting direction and community in ceramics that focuses on the creation of contemporary sculpture and installation.

Sculpture by Samantha Dickie

I invite you to visit Samantha Dickie’s website at:

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.meadedesigngroup.com

Introducing… Edge Architecture

2011-09-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

We cannot wait to share our most recent stationery and website package with you – EDGE architecture.

Founder of EDGE architecture Gastón Castaño [maibc] came to Meade Design Group for an identity that would appeal to his design-conscious clientele. His company mantra? "The name edge recognizes the firm’s goal to provide a competitive edge to design practices that want to add value to their project deliverables".

We went for it, with a bold typography style and bleed that is most certainly eye-catching. The stationery was printed in four colours to maximize the punchiness of the edge brand, and even features a die-cut to enhance the unique feature of the offset lettering within the logo.

To learn more about Gastón Castaño and his firm, please check out his website at:

http://www.edge-arch.com/

Eye Candy of the Week - AUREOLE CHANDELIER by Holly Hunt

2011-09-16T12:03:00.001-07:00

PRODUCT

Aureole Chandelier

MANUFACTURER

Holly Hunt

DESIGNER

Solis Betancourt

MATERIAL

Chrome

DESCRIPTION

I like the attention to detail in this light fixture – It is delicate but has a strong presence. It is the perfect blend of masculine and feminine characteristics and it has that transitional quality I love in any fixture. It can look fantastic in a contemporary place or traditional setting.

Solis Betancourt lighting strikes a balance between contemporary and classic design, showcasing tailored details in metal and form, framing the collection of pendants and sconces. Finish details such as sandblasted and etched glass and patinated bronze lend depth and interest to intricately crafted design. – Holly Hunt Site

YUMMY FACTOR

Scrumptious!!!

Lilly Pulitzer Fabrics

2011-09-12T12:28:00.001-07:00

Lee Jofa has recently launched a new fabric collection designed by New York socialite and prominent fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer. A licensed collection of home interior fabric and trimmings featuring the immediately recognizable prints and patterns that Lilly Lovers have adored for decades.

Lilly Pulitzer fabrics bring a new sense of fresh with her vibrant colours and elegant patterns.

If you are not colour shy. This is a collection for you to see.

LILLY LACE – DANDELION

TAIL LIGHTS - ISLAND CORAL

SHELL WE - SHORELY BLUE

IN A TWIST – LIFEGUARD

I invite you to visit Lee Jofa’s website for a complete look at the collection:

Antique Hunting In Victoria BC

2011-09-03T11:23:00.001-07:00

One of my favourite activities to do during summer weekends is to explore the great selection of antique shops and auction houses we have here in Victoria, BC. I am always amazed at the quality of furnishings and antiques that you can find at affordable prices. Pieces that had a good life many years ago can tell a new story now. I also believe that antiquing can be something that reflects the current state of our economy; not everything needs to be new, or come with flashy packaging to be beautiful, or even to work in a sleek interior.

French Bronze Cherub

I love the thrill of the hunt, the experience in which you can identify a piece that is unique and can tell it's individual story. Victoria is also a world renowned location for great antique finds, and there are often incredible state sales. As a designer, you need to have an appreciation for the style periods, and all the decorative arts. It doesn't matter if you prefer contemporary design, you should still know the origin of many of our design elements and principals, as well the styles that led to the evolvement of what is now known as contemporary design.

Jade Foo Dogs

I know that sometimes it is a hard sell to bring an old piece full of patina to my clients homes; but to me, it is like inviting an old friend - someone who can tell a great story and bring that unique and memorable factor to the space. Nobody else has it. It is uniquely yours, you are special and your space is special to have it. We are often bombarded by the media to buy more, buy cheap and buy the best deal. A vicious circle that you can break by supporting our local antique stores and auction houses. Sometimes you don't even need to leave your home to go antique shopping, you can find something really special in your grandpa's attic for something that has been a part of your family history.

Chinese Antique Cabinet

I have been very fortunate to find amazing treasures on my antique hunting trips like a pair of Foo Dogs in jade, a 1740's antique etching with Ann of Cleve, a French bronze Cherub. an antique Chinese cabinet, a couple of paintings, including an over scale daguerreotype,and my all time favourite a 1950'S Gio Ponti tea set. All these pieces have become part of my everyday life, bringing that juxtaposition factor that as designer I love between new and old.

Tea Set -Gio Ponti

I encourage all my readers to go antique hunting their own treasures, and support our local Antique Road and see what our great town has to offer!

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.meadedesigngroup.com

YAM magazine – Living Large in a Small Space

2011-08-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

This has been a great month for us, great projects on the go and some sweet yummy media. This time by our favourite local magazine, YAM [ You and Me :: Living Smart ]

Their Fall Style Issue is full of great articles, particularly special is a very well thought-out article by David Lennam.

We feel very privileged that YAM magazine included my insight in their article "Living Large in a Small Space" by David Lennam. It is great to see the thoughts of some of my favourite peers in the city like Katherine Roberts and Patricia Stafford from Acacia ID Studio, Lana Lounsbury, Ben Brannen and Heather Draper, and Donna Riddell of Artistry Design Group all together in one article alongside my own input on design.

Go get your copy today!

BC HOME–FRESH WHITES

2011-08-26T14:21:00.001-07:00

Today you must rush out to buy the latest issue of BC Home out on newsstands. We are excited to announce that Ivan Meade has been interviewed in the recent instalment about using the colour white in interiors. Yaaaaaay!

You can find the article “Fresh Whites” on page 109. We are delighted to share our input alongside esteemed designers, Patricia Gray and Valerie Edwards.

As always, we were very pleased to have our input featured in this great magazine. The text by Catherine Tse was a pleasure to read and the layout and photography is stunning as always.

For photographs of projects where we have used white in our designs, check out our website under Interior Design and take a look at Spring Bay and Persimmon Drive in particular.

We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

Eye Candy of the Week - Papyri Cocktail Table

2011-08-12T16:02:00.001-07:00

Top Detail in Polished Bone

PRODUCT

Papyri Octagonal Cocktail Table

MANUFACTURER

Ironies

MATERIAL

Base - Available in standard and premium brass finishes.

Top - Polished pieced bone.

DIMENTIONS

39.75"W x 39.75"D x 17"

DESCRIPTION

The Papyri Octagonal Cocktail has all the qualities that make a piece of furniture memorable. First of all, I love furniture that is transitional –The Papayri Cocktail table can look as good in a contemporary setting as it can in a traditional one, the quality of the materials are exceptional, and overall has a distinctive design that will bring a quite but profound conversation to any room.

The shape of this table is so unconventional and is one of my favourite parts of this piece. Lately, I have been tiring of round and square tables, so finding a shape as simple as an octagon makes a world of difference. I love the scale of the table and the subtle design on the top that really draws your eye to its center. The legs are like fine stilettos carrying the weight of the design.

Can you tell that I want one! just a little ;)

YUMMY FACTOR

HOT!!!

IN CONVERSATION WITH CAMERON MACNEIL

2011-08-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

Cameron MacNeil

I am inspired by Cameron's warm personality and approach to design that he makes look so effortless. His spaces are eclectic, warm, and totally liveable. His new website and his blog certainly makes his design aesthetic clear; Cameron embraces rustic, worn elements that bring so much personality and patina to a space. And he seems to take great pride in finding that perfect, affordable work of art, accessory or furniture piece that he plans to give new life with a new coat of paint, an unusual purpose, or an updated fabric. He uses his blog to share his excitement in not only his recent finds, but videos showcasing one of his newly designed spaces, inspiring links, locations or images, and personal anecdotes relating to the latest trends. I clearly remember when he was first published in Canadian House & Home, a beautiful bachelor suite in blues and browns - Back then I thought 'that is exactly the space I would love to live in'.

Vignette by Cameron MacNeil

Cameron has been blogging since 2008, but his design career started much earlier. He knew he wanted a career in design from an early age, and after graduating from the Interior Design Program at Sheridan College, earned himself a position at Canadian House & Home Magazine in 2000 as an editorial assistant. He now focuses his time on freelance design work and his blog, but is still a design editor with CH&H, where you will see his name pop up amongst various features, including the monthly 'Ask a Designer' column.

I am ready to get Cameron's input on the design industry, and I am sure he has piqued the interest of my readers as well, so please read on to get in on the conversation…

Ivan Meade - What was your first experience by design?

Cameron MacNeil - I'm the youngest of five children by about 13 years, I have two sist ers and 2 brothers and they're a creative bunch including my parents. When I was four or five, I remember my sisters would always be making their own clothes, and my brothers would be painting model cars. So I followed a lot of what they did. Like most designers I played with a lot of lego too! When I was eleven I decorated my own room. It had hunter green wall paper, and the wallpaper border (of course) had ducks - it was all the rage back then. I made the bedding and curtains myself, my sisters and mother had taught me how to sew.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - Do you consider being young in the business as advantage or a disadvantage ? Even when we know you have been in the business for a long time.

Cameron MacNeil - I've never seen it as being as a disadvantage. At first people may not take you seriously but when they start to year you talk, they realize I know what I'm talking about. ha!! My clients are typically older than me, but lately I can tell i'm getting old when my clients are in their twenties and I'm not anymore!

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

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

Cameron MacNeil - My iPhone and a wool blanket that I permanently borrowed from my mother. It's gray with a blue stripe and it must be over forty years old. It seems to work everywhere, on the back of a sofa or at the end of a bed, it looks great.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - What should every room have in it?

Cameron MacNeil - A place to sit (and if it's comfortable - even better), even if it's a little bench in a vestibule or a bench at the end of a bed.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - You have become a very familiar face thanks to Canadian House & Home - What has been the best lesson you have learned as editor of the magazine?

Cameron MacNeil - Great design never has to have a large price tag attached to it. Contrary to some design TV shows of the past, you also can't design a living room for under $1000. One of the House & Home signature looks is a mix of styles, with high and low priced pieces that are new and vintage. A space with all brand new stuff can be soulless.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - What do you think Canadian homes are missing?

Cameron MacNeil - Humm, where do I start? I don't think their missing much, a lot of homes I go into have way too much stuff!

I find a lot of possessions people have can hold them back on bringing out their true style. I was helping a client who's husband had purchased some expensive and ugly sofas before they were married. They felt they had to work with them because they were so expensive. I told them they might have been expensive but they were not worth spending money on entire room of furniture just to make them work. Luckily the next time I went buy they were sitting on the curb. Ha! If you have purchased something that doesn't work anymore, sell it on craigslist, take a loss and learn from your mistakes.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - As the editor of a very popular design magazine, you must have seen several interior design trends come in and out of fashion. Do you have any that you miss? Or, any that you are very glad have not returned?

Cameron MacNeil - I miss the popular bar code stripe of the the early 2000s. It sounds funny, but I don't think you really see much of that any more. I saw that in a lot rooms and I loved the graphic quality and colour it added. It was usually on a pillow, or wall treatment. It's been about 10 years, perhaps I'll bring it back!

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade – You seem to really enjoy blogging, which is part of what makes your blog so much fun to read. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Cameron MacNeil - I do like to blog, but I find it can be really hard to come up with an interesting topic which is why I don't do it as much as I should. A lot of bloggers will use a bunch of images from magazine articles or other blogs to fill a blog post but lately I tend to shy away from that on my own blog. My favourite thing about blogging is receiving comments about a post.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade – It’s great that you share some of your personal life with your bloggers as well, such as your own personal projects. What has that process been like?

Cameron MacNeil - As I mentioned receiving comments on the blog are nice to see and they are always quite positive. It's fun to see that someone from across the globe has been reading your blog.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - What is the best advice (design related or otherwise) that you have ever received?

Cameron MacNeil - As cliché as it sounds - to trust your instincts. I've learned to offer a client edited options of what I know will work in the space. I'm best when I tell them what I think, not what I think what they want to hear. Sounds obvious but it took me a few years to figure that out. ha!!

Interior Deign by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade – What is next for Cameron MacNeil?

We are most likely going to sell our house in September and move - not sure where but It's time to work on a new project for myself.

Interior Design by Cameron MacNeil

Iván Meade - Lastly, you have created a stunning body of work in a multitude of mediums – what would you like your legacy to be?

Cameron MacNeil - That sounds so serious! I'm not sure if I fully know what I'd like that to be just yet - in a few years I may be able to elaborate on that. For now, I'd like to be known as a designer who offers a contemporary style with an appreciation of classic elements and materials.

I invite you to visit Cameron MacNeil’s website and blog at:

Potography by Michael Graydon, Kim Jeffery & Angus Fergusson

Design Collective

2011-08-01T10:32:00.001-07:00

We have recently learned of yet another great resource for our design community, and this time it is not limited to interior designers alone.

The lovely and talented ladies at Inoui Design Collective, Amber Kingsnorth and Kyla Bidgood, are now taking their studio to the next level. They are renting studio space to small firms that are currently working from home or cannot afford the overhead of a full studio.

It's an affordable way to have a professional, and well-designed space to work and meet with clients. Inoui is hoping to lease the space to an array of creative professionals - graphic designers, architectural designers, interior designers, web designers and the like - to create an environment that encourages one another's creativity and allows tenants to add a social aspect to their work day.

INOUI – Design Collective

The studio is bright and fresh while maintaining a completely functional workspace, and the location is terrific; right on 2002 Fernwood Rd, Victoria, BC, with plenty of exposure. Amber and Kyla are also open to the tenants adding signage to the existing space, as well as an addition to the Inoui website where tenants will be listed as part of the "our collective" page (coming soon).

I can't wait to see where this new venture takes them - congratulations ladies!

INOUI – Design Collective

I invite you to discover Design Collective at their website at:

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.meadedesigngroup.com

Eye Candy of the Week – Allegra Hicks for West Elm

2011-07-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

ARC CHAIR

OLIVER CHAIR

CHAUNCEY CHAIR

PRODUCTS

Arc Chair - Oliver Chair – Chauncey Chair

MANUFACTURER

West Elm

DESIGNER

Allegra Hicks

MATERIAL

• Solid wood frame.

• Upholstered seat and back.

• Slightly angled and curved silhouette.

DIMENTIONS

Arc Chair 27"w x 28.4"d x 29.9"h
Oliver Chair 24"w x 28"d x 27.5"h
Chauncey Chair 27.75"w x 28.4"d x 32.5"h

DESCRIPTION

These chairs are proof that good design doesn’t need to be expensive but it needs to be designed by a keen eye like Allegra Hicks who is bringing her sophisticated and relaxed designs to West Elm in a collaboration that speaks to her casual and eclectic design aesthetic.

PRICE TAG

$399.00 – $499 + Shipping

YUMMY FACTOR

Complimenti al Cuoco!

IN CONVERSATION WITH GREGORY VAN SICKLE

2011-07-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Gregory Van Sickle

I had the pleasure of meeting Gregory Van Sickle while attending a brunch in honour of Barclay Butera in Vancouver last year. He is a very talented designer based in Vancouver with his namesake firm, 'Van Sickle Design Consultants Inc.' which was formed in 2000. Van Sickle specializes in "providing unique 'individual interiors' tailored to the client's own personal style", and filled a void that Gregory found within the Vancouver design market: a smaller, more customer-focused, residential interior design firm.

Gregory is a firm believer in the benefits and guidelines of the organizations in which he is involved, including the NCIDQ and IDIBC. Mr. Van Sickle began his education at the University of Manitoba, where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design in 1986. He then went on to gain experience with prestigious design firms in Toronto and Vancouver for 14 years before opening his own business. Throughout his design career he has earned several accolades from IDIBC, Street of Dreams, and the Georgie Awards.

The Van Sickle aesthetic is clean and simple with nods to styles past in a fresh, modern approach - one can see the possibility of several influences, such as Mackintosh detailing, Asian elements, and of course - the world around him, with the West Coast style. That's not to say that Gregory is not able to completely adapt to a client's needs however; there is a beautifully executed, very traditional home in his portfolio as well which is proof that he does not impose his own style on his client's homes. He has also created a custom line of products including case goods, upholstered furnishings, and custom lighting to help complete the desired look in his interiors.

I am greatly looking forward to getting to know Gregory better, please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Gregory Van Sickle - When I was in high school I was on a family trip to Baja, Mexico with a stop over in Los Angeles for New Years. We were traveling with a friend of the family who happened to be the interior designer and sculpture Gene Adcock. We were invited to stay at Genes. I was fascinated! The penthouse was so exciting in its approach to design. I loved the way the space felt, the depth of texture and the light. Until that point I was on the path to archaeology but after the few days in LA I knew that interior design was my true calling.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - You always respect the traditional with a fusion of contemporary, I believe this is what makes your style. How do you achieve this?

Gregory Van Sickle - I feel it very important to respect a clients past and to create a continuity between the past and present. Also very important to have the depth of a layered interior but not to create a period space. We are in the 21st century and our life style are so diverged from the 19th and early 20th century way of living. The counter balance of a regency piece of furniture with the contemporary painting or a African sculpture on a clean stone top- I love the contrast and complexity of the subtle colours and textures.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - You have a very distinctive colour palette - What are your influences when selecting colour?

Gregory Van Sickle - The colours I gravitate todays tend to be deeper neutrals. I like think it is the subtle, ingrained Belgian genetics but I suspect it is more a nature of the Pacific Northwest climate. The warm neutral bounce the light and help to create the glow of sunlight so often lacking here on the coast.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - What is your approach to west coast lifestyle and design?

Gregory Van Sickle - Foremost it is a relaxed elegance! Filling the homes with warm textures and very liveable finishes and furniture but with out using anything too precious. The west coast life style is so relaxed that clients need to be comfortable in even the most formal areas of their home. It really is a jeans and shorts or as I heard it referred to " country club" lifestyle and the interiors reflect that. One additional element that is so important here is the lighting which always take a very important role in the final project.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - What would be your dream project?

Gregory Van Sickle - I have several- One would be a classic Arthur Erickson home. When ever I have been in his projects there is just such a beauty to the architecture. I would also love to do another country house in Italy. I designed the interior for a country house in Umbria and I loved the process. I only wish I could have spent more time in Italy during the process!

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - Who would you like to design something for?

Gregory Van Sickle - Adrian Zecha founder of the Aman Group. He has such a perfect sense of warm contemporary architecture combined with regional Asian accessories.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - What is the best advice (design related or otherwise) that you have ever received?

Gregory Van Sickle - "God is in the details" Mies Van der Rohe. I did not get that advise from Mies but his spirit pervaded the School of Architecture at the University of Manitoba. It is classic and always applicable where for a contemporary space or a more transitional space.

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

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

Gregory Van Sickle - Never mix black and blue- I never understood why that was a problem! That s the only rule that ever comes into my head!

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

Iván Meade - What are 5 things you can’t live without?

Gregory Van Sickle - My jack russell terriers, a large painting by Peter Aspell (when I purchased It I finally felt like I had adult art!), an French Art Deco Mexican rosewood cabinet I bought at a time when I really could not afford it but I had to have it, my garden- I spend as much time as possible there, and a collection of 11th century Khmer mirrors (I love the simplicity end elegance of the oxidized bronze and the sculptural quality they have in groupings)

Interior Design by Gregory Van Sickle

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

Gregory Van Sickle - The best legacy would to be simply to be remembered after I have gone. I work to keeping my projects classic and timeless but time shall tell if that is the reality. There seems to be a swing to branded products and designs and perhaps less appreciation of the custom, bench made types of project. Lets hope that Mies van der Rohe's advise rings true through time!

I invite you to visit Gregory Van Sickle’s website at:

Eye Candy of the Week–Illusion End Table

2011-07-18T11:31:00.001-07:00

PRODUCTS

Illusion End Table

MANUFACTURER

Anthropologie

MATERIAL

Lucite, rope, metal

DIMENTIONS

18"H, 18" square

DESCRIPTION

Nautical rope handles are the only giveaway as to the location of this sleek cube of crystal-clear Lucite. – Anthropologie

I like the rustic feel of the handles with the contemporary edge of the clean translucent Lucite. This piece will be a great way to add something unexpected to any space. The Nautical look is classic and is always on trend in different incarnations.

PRICE TAG

$998.00 + Shipping

YUMMY FACTOR

Nauticalicious!!!

In Conversation with Bruce Wilson – In Memoriam

2011-07-13T17:12:00.001-07:00

Ce qui embellit le désert, dit le petit prince, c'est qu'il cache un puits quelque part...

Antoine de Saint Exupéry

Bruce Wilson

Obituary.-

WILSON, Bruce Cameron May 21st,1958 June 19th, 2011 Passed away unexpectedly and too soon. Bruce was born in Vancouver and resided at 8049 Angus Drive with his loving family. He graduated from Magee High School before studying further in France, California and back to UBC.

He established his own interior design business in Vancouver and eventually moved his office to Victoria. Bruce was a creative and energetic entrepreneur. His ideas and designs were especially popular with executive home owners and small business, and had been published in trade magazines over time.

Bruce is pre-deceased by his mother (Peggy) father (Bob), and is survived by his brothers Rob and Tom (Sharon), nephews Stuart, Trevor and Kevin; nieces Jennifer, Meagan and Shannon. Friends and associates should join for a celebration of life at 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 14th at the Swans Suite Hotel, 506 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, B.C.

IN CONVERSATION WITH BRUCE WILSON – IN MEMORIAM

January 30, 2009

The passing of Bruce Wilson is a lost for the Victoria Architecture and Design Community. I believe that his work really represented him and I encourage you to explore this interview I made with Bruce 2 years ago.

Bruce Wilson is one of “Canada’s 100 most talented designers” according to House and Home, and his work has been recognized internationally. His company, Bruce Wilson Canada, specializes in creating exterior and interior concepts for new homes. Bruce’s attention to detail and ability to create custom pieces for each of his elegantly refined spaces always results in a stunning building – inside and out, residential or commercial, in a style all his own.

Iván Meade – "What is your favourite design find? Where did you get this item – how long have you had it?"

Bruce Wilson - My 2 Arne Jacobsen Egg Chairs. I bought them at an auction in Denmark about a year ago.

Iván Meade – "Why is it important/inspirational to you?"

Bruce Wilson -These chairs were designed in 1958 for the Radisson SAS Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958. What I like about this designer ~ and so many others like him at the time ~ is that he took a total design approach to the project that he worked on. In design spaces for his clients, he attended to every aspect of the project ensuring that everything turned out perfectly.

He not only designed the interior and exterior of the hotel, but created a harmonious line of furniture, lighting, carpets and other related furnishings. We take a similar approach in our projects. Typically when we are hired to design a house for a client, we create the landscape and garden plan, the architecture, a fully detailed interior including all the finished and materials, including the fireplaces, banisters, mouldings and other trim appointments, kitchen and other cabinetry. We are also asked to do the interior furnishing and decorating, providing a comprehensive and personalized interior.

Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair

Photograph by Iván Meade

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

Bruce Wilson – One of the biggest challenges facing a designer is to breathe soul into a project. These chairs are well used and the leather is worn in all the right places. They look like a couple of old friends and have history that new store-bought purchases cannot be expected to have. They add that element of ‘quirky’ that personalizes a room.

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Bruce Wilson – My father was an appliance wholesaler and would bring me home refrigerator boxes out of which I would make houses. I would fashion doors, windows and window boxes and fill them with flowers from the garden. By the time I was 11 or 12, mother entrusted me to decorating the house choosing carpet, wall colours, furniture & fabric art and accessories.

Midland Residence

Midland Residence - Dining Room

Iván Meade- Who or what has influenced your style?

Bruce Wilson – That’s always a tough question. It’s like asking about one’s favourite authour. Joe D’urso, Thomas Pheasant, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Michael Graves, Christian Liaigre & Issey Miyake.
It would be an understatement to say that my travels have influenced my work. I went to school in the south of France when I was 18 and lived in Rome when I was 22. Certainly my experience in architecture school in Los Angeles during the 80’s has shaped my approach to design. It was the hotbed of new design with the likes of Gehry & Morphosis leading the pack.

Moo Manor

Iván Meade - What is your design process?

Bruce Wilson – I am not a designer who imposes my preconceptions on a client. If fact, my role in any project is to listen and interpret, provide supporting information and to make the process as pleasant as possible. I don’t take pen to paper until I have established a budget, a programme and wish list from the client. My only desire as a designer is to do my best work and to delight the client. I work hard to cultivate a good working relationship with my clients and most often we become friends. I take a very holistic approach to design, typically starting with a landscape plan, house design both inside and out and often I am retained to do the furnishing and decorating.

The Temple Restaurant

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

Bruce Wilson – I have always struggled with paint colours. One time early in my career, I specified a paint colour for a 10,000 square foot office. The colour was fleshy and looked to be the colour of ‘bad nylons’. The electric blue trim colour I chose didn’t help. I walked in for the first time to meet with the client and I tried desperately to hide my alarm. The truth was, they liked it, but I don’t think I ever recovered from that design blunder.

Barclay Penthouse

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

Bruce Wilson – That I would be available to read bedtime stories to the client. I’m not sure that his intentions were entirely noble.

Duncan Residence

Duncan Residence - Dining Room

Iván Meade - What project are you most proud of?

Bruce Wilson – The Vancouver AIDS Memorial. I won the commission in an open competition to sculptors, artists and designers around the province. Arthur Erickson ~ my lifelong hero~ chaired the jury and voted for my entry. It was an unpopular project at the time ~ fuelled mainly by homophobia ~ and it was a struggle that required tireless commitment by all those involved. My proudest moment was at the unveiling where I was asked to speak about my experience in completing the project.

Vancouver Aids Memorial

Iván Meade - I have to say that your “Aids Memorial Installation” in Vancouver I believe it is one of your most beautiful works. It was really interesting to see something modern, minimal and clean looking depicting a message of hope. How did you arrive at the design that became your end result?

Bruce Wilson – It was a strange and wonderful process ~ the brief was simply that it had to be a names memorial and there was no site chosen. Feeling under pressure to address such an important task, I looked to a playwright friend who had passed away from the disease. He spoke to me in a dream. He told me that it had to be about the names, removed. I knew it had to be indestructible and would be subject to vandalism and graffiti. For this, I chose a bridge-building material called Cor-ten ™ steel, which develops a protective coating of rust. Graffiti could be pressured-washed away and I design the panels and footings to withstand extraordinary forces. The names were water-jet through the steel, giving the otherwise opaque material a diaphanous quality, and creating an interesting light play.

Baynes-Channel Residence

Iván Meade - Speaking of Vancouver, you have recently opened a second studio in Yaletown. How do you find the market in Vancouver different from Victoria?

Bruce Wilson – Vancouver has proved to be a difficult market to break back into, even though it’s my hometown. I have enjoyed the phenomenon of being a medium-size fish in the small pond of Victoria. I have done mainly retail design in Vancouver for the Boboli-MaxMara group. I recently completed a sweet boutique for them downtown called Blubird, a brand new store concept for them. Having said all that, we have a couple of houses under construction in West Point Grey for a developer-friend. With luck, they should open up some possibilities for us.

Donington Farm

Tuscan Villa

View Royal

Iván Meade - You are extremely well know for your residential spaces in Victoria, but what some may not know is that you have created some of the most beautiful retail spaces in Vancouver as well. When you are designing retail spaces you often have to follow the requirements of the brand, how have you achieved cohesiveness between your style and creativity and the clients needs?

Bruce Wilson – Certainly retail and office spaces are the most design-intensive because there is an overriding need for function. These are working spaces in every sense of the word. Such projects really separate the men from the mice. Only a Master can find harmony in the requirements you have outlined. I love doing them, because they are always novel and challenging.

Suburbia Studios

Iván Meade - How do you help your budget conscious clients achieve an expensive look without breaking the bank?

Bruce Wilson – I started out in design during the recession of the early 80’s, working with shoestring budgets. Once such project was for my employer at the time ~ KARO ~ for whom I designed their 10,000 square foot offices. We built the entire project for $20 per square foot at the time, which barely gets you paint and carpet in today’s market. I created a simple floor plan which reversed the normal layouts for office at the time. The offices were centered in the middle of the space while the open workstations lined the perimeter, by the windows. I spent a lot of time in lumber yards and hardware stores seeking humble construction materials and industrial fixtures and fittings. That same year, I won the best in show from the IDIBC, a new category they created for my entry.

Nyren-Russell Residence

Iván Meade - What do you think most Victoria homes will have in the future?

Bruce Wilson – Sustainability and energy efficiency. I plan to be a certified LEEDS consultant this year. I think the era of concept-driven architectural expression is drawings to a close. It will take a backseat to greener buildings. Here is a link to TED that everyone should see:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/william_mcdonough_on_cradle_to_cradle_design.html

Iván Meade - What would be your dream project if you were given carte blanche?(Would it be a whole home or just one room? Would it be commercial or residential? And what would you do with it and in what style?)

Bruce Wilson – I have always dreamed of designing a public building, in particular, an art gallery, a performance art hall or a museum.

Nyren-Russell Residence

I invite you to discover Bruce Wilson’s stunning body of work at his website:

IN CONVERSATION WITH TILTON FENWICK

2011-07-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Tilton Fenwick

Tilton Fenwick co-owners Suysel dePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster have recently had their New York based firm named as one of Traditional Home's "20 New Traditionals". The team expertly blends whimsical elements, recurring motifs, layered patterns, contemporary, vintage, and traditional pieces with bold art and colour selections. The pair met through a mutual friend and couldn't believe their shared love of both Boston, and interior design. It was inevitable that they would become business partners and dear friends.

Suysel was born in Puerto Rico and was brought up immersed in culture and design (she is the daughter of a fashion designer and architect). She graduated from Tufts University and in 2001 began working with well-known decorator Markham Roberts. Roberts opened up a whole new world of design for Suysel with a range of influences and styles, as well as echoing the words of her father that 'life is infinitely more beautiful when you pay attention to detail'. Four years later she found Anne, and the rest is history.

Tilton Fenwick – Curators of Chic

Anne's design career began after her time at Boston College, where she graduated with a degree in Art History. She climbed the ladder of design opportunities all the way to New York where she gained experience at two renowned firms: Ashley Whittaker Design and Brockshmidt & Coleman. Here is where she fully cultivated her style and passion. She then went on to graduate architecture coursework at Pratt Institute and subsequently formed Tilton Fenwick with Suysel.

Suysel dePedro Cunningham & Anne Maxwell Foster

I am delighted to have the opportunity to interview both Suysel and Anne for our blog, read on to get in on the conversation...

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Suysel dePedro Cunningham – I was born into a world of art & design. My late father was an architect and a fashion designer in Puerto Rico. I grew up amidst blueprints, pageant gowns and carnival costumes. My father taught me that beauty in design is in the details.

Anne Maxwell Foster – While I didn’t know it at the time, insisting upon a black and white styled bedroom at age 7 (complete with black – not white- painted walls) was one of the more concrete indications of my future career as an interior designer. My parents could not have been more supportive of my creative instincts and unique “taste” and allowed me to forge ahead with a truly black and white schemed bedroom. They did, however, negotiate for just one black accent wall and the little designer in me was thrilled!

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

We are constantly looking through our collection of design books for inspiration and love a wide array of designer from past to present ranging from – Dorothy Draper, Madeleine Castaing & Billy Baldwin to Kelly Wearstler, Celerie Kemble and the Novogratz.

Living in Manhattan has also hugely influenced the Tilton Fenwick style – walking around the streets of this incredible city, we are always soaking up our surroundings, brainstorming about projects and merging the two!

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

Iván Meade - How would you describe your style?

We hope our style is both a reflection of our interior design backgrounds but also clearly our specific point of view. We are grateful for an extremely educational experience at three prestigious design firms where we learned formal design principles in space, color, proportion and lighting. From this starting block, we inject our own flair for color & pattern.

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

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

Thrilling! We are still pinching ourselves. We are really the “new kids on the block” being in our infancy as a company. We had been in business together a mere 7 months when we were chosen. The honour gives us the confidence to continue to follow our instincts and take joy in all milestones – no matter how small!

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

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

When asked what his favourite color was, Marcel Proust brilliantly answered “Beauty lies not in colors but in their harmony.” As decorators it is our job to uncover those hidden harmonies; to put together things that may not (at first glance) go together. Merging, blending, and layering unexpected colors and patterns is where we start the design process.

We are currently loving Pierre Frey wallpapers - their patterns can be both bold and intricate. We actually chose one of their wallpapers to decorate our own office in a pink color way! While we typically don’t decorate with a lot of pink, we love it in our office paired with a beautiful Prussian blue that is always a favourite.

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

Iván Meade - I believe one of your strengths is styling; your vignettes are always exquisitely well done –Any words of styling wisdom? Where do you get your inspiration?

Such a compliment – thank you! We are certainly detail oriented and just plain have fun when it comes to accessorizing and styling a room! Without this final layer an interior, however beautiful its bones, can look unfinished and bare. Our best advice is to have fun with this part of decorating your home and not get tied to the predictable! We certainly use plenty of “expected” home accessories which can be beautiful – books, trays, candles – but we love infusing personal items that feel unexpected (a statement necklace hung on the corner of a stack of books, a kitchy painting of a squirrel hung on the front shelf of a bookcase, a glass container filled with wine corks as a bookend!)

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

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

In purely the sharing of information, the internet has really changed our business. From reading blogs and online magazines to making connections with people (like yourself!) via Twitter (@tiltonfenwick) to discovering new products and sources, much of our day is spent researching, reading and connecting on the web. Our first real exposure and design project publication was through the new online magazine, TradHome, so we are especially grateful and connected to this new medium growing so rapidly for shelter magazines. We are also always trying to maintain an awareness of new eco-friendly products available in the home category. For our own office, we used Venetian plaster finishes on the walls and water based stain for our floors.

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

Iván Meade – As a blogger myself, I was very excited to find your blog and to see the personal side of your knowledge and opinions in interior design. How has the creation of your blog benefitted you?

Our own blog is just another source of expression that we take very seriously and very much enjoy. Our premise for the blog content is simply to share what’s going on in our everyday as NY designers: from new (or timeless) sources we can’t get enough of, to design work we’re loving, to events. It’s a forum to quickly share what’s going on behind the doors of Tilton Fenwick. We truly enjoy sharing what’s going on for us and reading each day what’s happening in the global design blog community! The connections and relationships created through blogging is such a valuable forum for us. We have connected with bloggers from all over the US and Canada, to places as far as Israel and Singapore.

Interior Design by Tilton Fenwick

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Right now we’re working on designing a room in this summer’s Hampton Designer Show house (www.hamptondesignershowhouse.com) sponsored by Traditional Home to benefit Southampton Hospital. We’re creating a family lounge (formally named the “Rec Room” in the basement) that’s comfortable, lounge-y and (of course!) bright and colourful for a Hamptons beach house! We are so honoured to be considered peers with incredible designers also participating in this year’s show house, including Katie Ridder, Haus Interiors, Tobi Fairley, and Meg Braff.

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?

Our website says “there’s nothing we’d rather be doing” and it’s entirely true! We love what we do each day and hope that joy and gratefulness will always be reflect through into our design work and for our clients. To be known for not only aesthetically beautiful but joyous and fun interiors would be an incredible legacy to create for Tilton Fenwick.

I invite you to visit Tilton Fenwick’s – Curators of Chic website at:

Mexican Divas

2011-07-07T11:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, one of my very good friends asked me if México had any Divas.

His comment inspired this entry. There are 3 Mexican Divas that come to mind. Women that were strong, independent, talented and overall beautiful in a time where this particular combo was unheard of. These women are now considered legends.

María Félix – La Doña

FACTS

Given Name - María de los Ángeles Félix Güereña.
1914 – 2002.
Career – Film Actress (47 movies).

INTERESTING FACTS

The Houses of Cartier and Hérmes collaborated with her to design her own jewellery collection.
Félix was dressed by designers like Christian Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Balenciaga.
Félix was painted by many artists, including Diego Rivera, Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington, Bridget Tichenor and Antoine Tzapoff.
Hobbies – Horse Racing.
3 songs where composed to honour her.

Dolores Del Río

FACTS

Given Name - María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete.
1905 –1983.
Career – Film Actress (54 movies).

INTERESTING FACTS

Most Popular Silent Movie Star in Hollywood.
Female version of Rudolph Valentino.
Principal Art Deco symbols of beauty.
Orson Wells was her partner.
A strong friendship with Frida Kahlo and was also painted by Diego Rivera.

Miroslava Stern

FACTS

Given Name - Miroslava Šternová (1926 – 1955)
Career – Film Actress (32 movies)

INTERESTING FACTS

Miroslava born in Checoeslovakia but move to México as a child with her adopted parents in the late 30’s.
Stern committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.Her body was found lying outstretched over her bed, she had a portrait of bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín in one hand. Her friends stated her suicide was due to unrequited love for Dominguín, who had recently married Italian actress Lucia Bosé.

In Conversation with Martha Sturdy

2011-06-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Martha Sturdy

Most Islanders know of the Vancouverite artist, Martha Sturdy and her 30+ years of artistic endeavours. They know of her over scaled artwork and sculptures that are both bold yet minimalist, and her furniture and lighting designs that have taken not only locals, but the world by storm. She has donated large-scale works to public causes such as the Vancouver General Hospital and the Pemberton Sculpture project. Martha's designs are currently distributed by the highly regarded Baker furniture throughout the United States, on showrooms that concurrently house design sensations such as Barbara Barry and Andre Arbus. She's grown to be an international success, but her designs are still created in her Vancouver gallery/studio.

Martha works primarily with two types of materials (both independently and combinations thereof), resin and metal. Both mediums are prized for their unique characteristics and limitless design possibilities. Her inspiration and materials come from around the globe from her travels within North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. But her design career begun on a much smaller scale; after completing her schooling at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Martha began designing jewellery. She was an instant hit with the public and fashion magazines alike, and began selling out of high-end department stores in New York.

Martha Sturdy Art

Fast forward to the late 1980s when Martha created her first collection of resin tabletop and home accessories, it was this launch that led to connections within industry giants, global clientele, and top designers - she participated in trade shows in Paris, New York and London. A new venture was born and Martha undertook larger projects: furniture pieces, which eventually led to her developing her earlier interest in sculpture in 2000.

Martha Sturdy – Art

In recent years, Martha Sturdy has received several honours: an Honorary Doctorate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, an induction into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), and a Golden Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada. She has also graced the pages in many top magazines including NUVO, BCHome, a recent home feature in Architectural Digest, and being named 'one of the top 20 designers/artists to watch for in the next decade' by Metropolitan Home magazine.

As my readers know, I love promoting local talent and I couldn't be happier to have this interview with our local art world celebrity, Martha Sturdy. Please read on to get in on the conversation...

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Martha Sturdy – As a very young child, around the age of five or six, I loved to spend hours outside creating elaborate structures in the dirt. I would design houses and cityscapes, and sculpt them out of whatever modest materials my yard had to offer.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - How would you describe your style?

Martha Sturdy – Clean, minimal and earthy. The latter is imperative; I believe modern design can be very unapproachable without an element of earthiness.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - I believe you have 2 signature materials, one being that wonderful resin that has your trademark name all over it and the other metal - I can already see the metal being a crucial part of your everyday life as a sculptor, but what is the story behind the resin? What is the story behind that "aha" moment that has given you so much presence around the world?

Martha Sturdy – In my second year of sculpture studies at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, I took in invaluable class which covered metals, castings, wood and plastics. During the six weeks of plastic studies, we worked with Plexiglas, acetate and resin. That was extent of my formal training with the material, but I spent the next three decades perfecting my craft.

Martha Sturdy - Art

Iván Meade - I also believe that the fusion of these materials is really inspirational and showcases your work as art work, but also allows you to create everyday pieces with a sculptural quality. How was this transition for you? How were you able to create this full circle between being an artist, a jeweller, a product designer and finally becoming a sculptor once again?

Martha Sturdy – I have always had a penchant for the big and bold whether I was creating a bangle, a chair, a sculpture or an entire landscape, but as my career has naturally evolved I have been fortunate that my success has allowed me to return to my roots.

As I mentioned I studied sculpture in university, but as most young artists know, making a decent living as a contemporary sculptor can prove to be extremely difficult. Jewellery was a marketable transition that allowed me to work with the fundamentals of my education on a much smaller and affordable scale. In the early 90s, I began to experiment with larger designs which included home accessories, furniture and more recently art for art’s sake.

Martha Sturdy – Home

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

Martha Sturdy – Technology, and how it facilitates communication between the international design communities, is very exciting. Social media is becoming an important tool for artists and designers, and the opportunities for collaboration and promotion have never been more accessible. I have yet to commit to all of these new medias, but interviews like this and my upcoming guest blogs on Baker Furniture’s “The Language of Style” are amazing new ways for me to connect.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - If you could pick one word to describe your work, what would it be?

Martha Sturdy – Strong.

Martha Sturdy – Art

Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique when one sees a piece of yours, it doesn’t matter if it is a furniture piece, a bowl, or an over scaled sculpture, they all evoke emotion. All these pieces have been created by you. How do you achieve this emotional resonance with your pieces?

Martha Sturdy – Thank you, Ivan! That’s very kind of you to say. Throughout my career, I have had an incessant desire and ability to stay true to myself. My process is visceral and my statements are both personal and honest. I suppose it’s that unwavering authenticity that evokes emotion.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade -Your sculptures are teeming with lavish and inviting textures. Why is texture such an integral component of your work?

Martha Sturdy – My designs are minimal so texture is imperative! Texture relaxes my aesthetic and ads and an earthy, soft and even sexy complexity.

Martha Sturdy – Art

Iván Meade - Do you think becoming a successful designer has hurt your credibility as an artist? As we all know, the art community doesn't like commercialism or success via sales.

Martha Sturdy – It’s very possible. Society tends to pigeon hole. I consider myself a renaissance woman with a broad skill set, and I refuse to be limited to the constraints of one medium. I strive to be creative in all aspects of my life - not just art and design, but my garden, cooking, wardrobe and of course, my environment.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - What do you do to keep inviting the inspiration to come - Do you have other passions that recharge your creative juices?

Marta Sturdy – I try to divide my time equally between the city and the country. To be honest, it’s the latter - the other half of my life - that keeps me truly inspired. I have no desire to be exclusive to art. Nature, animals, travel and family are endless sources of inspiration.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

Martha Sturdy – I’m not quite ready to say.

Martha Sturdy – Home

Iván Meade - Lastly, You have already gone through many transformations with your work and found great success, what would you like your legacy to be?

Martha Sturdy – Legacy is a difficult thing to predict… but I would love if my example influenced a woman to work hard at her passion and succeed. If I can do it, anyone can.

Martha Sturdy – Art

I invite you to visit Martha Sturdy’s website at:

Martha Sturdy art and home products are locally available at:

Emporia on Government St and The Gallery at Mattick’s, in Cordova Bay.

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.meadedesigngroup.com

Eye Candy of the Week – Jonathan Adler by Lacoste

2011-06-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Jonathan Adler

PRODUCTS

Polo Shirt, Ping Pong Rackets, Bargellos, Tennis-racquet carrier, Pillows and Special Edition Lacoste Ceramic Crocodile.

MANUFACTURER

Lacoste

DESIGNER

Jonathan Adler

MATERIAL

Piqué Knit Cotton, Various

DESCRIPTION

Another great collaboration for the House of Adler and French design power house Lacoste. We may pick up tennis or ping pong just to wear these fun and fresh ensembles! We will have to wait until November when these beauties are made available to the public.

Lacoste has revealed at Paris Fashion Week a partnership with designer Jonathan Adler, a limited-edition run of polo shirts that gives the iconic René Lacoste French brand Adler's distinctive "happy chic" twist.

Instead of an applique sewn onto the shirt, the "Limited Edition" polos by Jonathan Adler have an actual needlepoint crocodile sewn onto the shirts by French nuns. Each of those will be sold packaged inside a Bargello (embroidered) needlepoint tennis-racquet carrier rocking a silhouette of the crocodile against a classic Adler patterned background.

PRICE TAG

$ 150.00

$ 250.00

Limited Edition (price still to be determined)

YUMMY FACTOR

C’est Formidable!!!

In Conversation with Alberto Pinto

2011-06-20T11:59:00.001-07:00

Alberto Pinto

Alberto Pinto's firm is based in Paris, France and takes on a vast array of projects including homes, corporate offices, jets and yachts on a global scale. His name has become a brand; from his work in interior design he has also launched lines of linens and tableware, decorative taps, furniture and even penned several books - including his latest 'Alberto Pinto Today'.

Alberto and his firm pride themselves in their ability to create a beautiful space no matter what the style. His portfolio is filled with everything from modern, classic, traditional, oriental and beyond.

Alberto appreciates a challenge which led him to taking on more unique spaces such as private yachts and jets. Regardless of the style, Alberto thoughtfully approaches every surface and every detail with his refined eye. His creations are filled with customized elements; upholstered walls, custom designed broadloom, architectural features and stunning artwork.

Mr. Pinto graduated from 'Ecole de Louvre' in Paris and opened a photography agency in New York specializing in decoration and interior design. It was during this time he developed his passion for interactions within a space. He was also influenced by the travels his career brought him - Mexico, India, and Italy among others. His firm now employs 60 people full-time and has become a media darling, with projects attracting the likes of Elle Décor, Interiors, Architectural Digest, H&G, Veranda magazines, Altitudes (jet magazine), Boat Design to name a few.

I'm very excited to get Alberto's opinion on the world of design, this will be our first interview with someone from France so I am sure it will bring a whole new perspective to our 'in conversation with' series. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Alberto Pinto – The turning point in my career took place rather by accident when I was based both in New York and Paris. During this intense working period, I was asked to do interior design for a very prestigious New York socialite. Calls for consultations and design work came so thick and fast that I decided to start this new business and form a new base in Paris.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique in the interior design world; creating a strong, extremely well recognized and beautiful signature style - In this same manner however, your style keeps evolving - How or where do you find your inspiration?

Alberto Pinto – Very young my principal interest was travelling and I have always been curious by nature. I was inspired; eyes wide open, and captured these images like photographs in my mind. All this, plus a bit of Art culture at the « Ecole du Louvre » mixed together with my personality and perception of things makes my signature style. My style keeps evolving because I keep up to date with the times and I always move forward with a great curiosity and an open mind.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade – What is the story behind your design studio at the Hôtel de la Victoire?

Alberto Pinto - We were a team that had grown in need of space when the opportunity arouse to move our office to this beautiful formal private mansion from the 17th century – where apparently Bonaparte spent a night – It was a succession of large spaces which was perfect for the creation of friendly workspaces. We immediately felt the potential to create large open spaces with high ceilings, ideal for setting up offices in a spirit of loft, very open, helpful to work team.

In 2011 we are also taking over an extra 1500 m² to allow the agency to accommodate new teams specialized in hotels, to expand our design studio and where we can receive our suppliers to work with them.

Hôtel de la Victoire – Design Studio

Iván Meade - What is the inspiration behind your Arts de la Table, Table Linens and Furniture designs?

Alberto Pinto - I have loved Arts de la Table since my childhood and for me it is a hobby. The idea is to always have something refined whether for two or twenty guests, for a familial or a formal lunch or diner. I have neither specific inspiration, nor great theories it comes to me like it comes. I like strong pieces I mixed by color scheme or by contrary following my inspiration and always in a quick way.

Etna Lamp by Alberto Pinto

Recife by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade – You have in my opinion one of the best and most complete portfolios in the word of interior design – Including Castles, Residences, Villas, Hotels, Offices, Yachts and even Private Jets. Which of these was your favourite type of project and why?

Alberto Pinto - I am extremely lucky to be in charge of all these projects where there is always a common theme in the knowhow and in the great sense of quality. Every one of these project had something particular which made it interesting. It is impossible to tell you which one I prefer because the place is as important as the client. The good combination of both is ideal.

Boeing 737 BBJ Privé by Alberto Pinto

Yacht Privé by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade – What is the best advice you could give to somebody who is new in the world of design?

Alberto Pinto - To keep their eyes wide open, to try to photograph mentally the maximum of images and to keep also in mind to learn something new every day.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade – How will you describe the value of design?

Alberto Pinto – Eclecticism

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade - What is your guilty pleasure?

Alberto Pinto - We can always do better.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

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

Alberto Pinto - A 40 year old library collection on decoration and architecture.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

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

Alberto Pinto - I am less excited today than during the last decade, but I would say today I find fantastic on one side design is available to everyone even if the quality is not necessarily there and on the other side top quality is more expensive than ever . But I have the feeling design is less interesting today, easier to understand or appreciate.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

Alberto Pinto – Two projects very different in style and type of intervention

Odeon Tower in Monaco : a very ambitious project : a unique address in Monaco. An exclusive residential offering that combines space and comfort, detail and quality finishes along with breathtaking views and upscale services. Impressive figures (surface area, number of floors).

The Parisian “Hôtel Particulier” from the 17^th and 18^th centuries: very delicate programs of restauration for these historical places. Lambert, Soyecourt, Kinsky.

Hôtel Particulier Paris by Alberto Pinto

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?

Alberto Pinto – One characteristic aspect of my work is the complete refusal of monotony and boredom of formulaic compositions. I like to juxtapose different shapes and eras.

About colors, I like strong, honest hues and do not hesitate to play with powerful contrast to give my interiors as much energy as possible.

Last but not least, the high quality of finishing is made possible because of the privileged partnership with French and European craftsmen and artisans d’art.

Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

I invite you to visit Alberto Pinto’s incredible websites at:

Eye Candy of the Week – Silver Smooth plate

2011-06-14T10:18:00.001-07:00

PRODUCT

Silver Smooth – Center Piece

MANUFACTURER

Christofle

COLLECTION

Haute Orfèvrerie

DESIGNER

Karim Rashid

MATERIAL

Christofle Silver - Dorure Partielle

DIMENSIONS

D. 50 CM
H. 7 CM

LIMITED EDITION

20 pieces

DESCRIPTION

Christofle’s new line of Haute Orfèvrerie designed by Canadian designer Karim Rashid is a collection that proves that forward thinking and respect for the use of old materials combined with cutting-edge techniques like Clivetage (engraved metal), and Dorure Partielle (gold-plating).

Either surface of the The Silver Smooth center piece can be used or it can be left empty, as an exquisite Object d’Art.

PRICE TAG

$ 26,760.00

AVAILABLE AT:

(832) 230-1015
customer.service@christofle.com

YUMMY FACTOR

C’est Magnifique!!!

IN CONVERSATION WITH JEFF ANDREWS

2011-06-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

Jeff Andrews

Jeff Andrews works flawlessly with an amazing balance of rustic, modern and classic elements to create spaces that embrace his client's personality and style. His spaces are warm and comfortable with layers of textures, forms and patterns that create an incredible and completely liveable ambiance.

On top of being featured in an endless list of press (including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Better Homes and Gardens to name a few), he has received high praise from A-Listers such as the Kardashian family, Ryan Seacrest and Michael C. Hall, all raving about how well Jeff had interpreted their style and how personable he is. He has worked on projects internationally as well as locally, near his L.A. based firm.

Andrews began his career as a dancer, than choreographer and eventually was involved in everything to do with a production, including set-design. This foray piqued his interest and after he decorated his own 1920's duplex, he was hooked on interiors. It is his past as a dancer that influences his primary focus when it comes to designing a space: movement. I think this is a brilliant word for an element of a room. It's that sort of seen but unseen layer that really connects a space. From the path your eye takes while taking in a space, to the physical ability to move, to the life a room takes on, it's all 'movement'. It is Jeff's own philosophy that a room should never really be considered 'finished' or 'complete'; it should be in continual motion, little tweaks here and there when the mood strikes, or subtle updates as time goes on. It should move and live with you.

A unique perspective on design indeed, and I cannot wait to learn more about it. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

Jeff Andrews - First let me thank you for the amazing introduction! I am beyond flattered.

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Jeff Andrews – The idea of “the big picture” has always fascinated and interested me so in that respect design has always been a part of my life. My first professional interior design experience was with my now good friend Eleanor Mondale. She hired me to “style” a recently purchased home and I ended up designing the entire house. It was an a-ha moment for me for sure. Through the process with her, and her encouragement and trust, I found the courage to trust my design sense and aesthetic and pursue it as a career. We have since worked on homes in New York, South Hampton and Minnesota. Not bad for a rookie!

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?

Jeff Andrews – I have been (and continue to be) influenced by so many things. Amazing master designers like Billy Haines, David Hicks and Andre Putman have definitely inspired me. More contemporary designers like Barbara Barry, Kerry Joyce and Roy McMakin have continued to influence me on different levels. I would have to say that I am most influenced by people of talent and taste that have lived a life of style that we most of us can only dream of and learn from…Yves Saint Laurent, Rudolph Nureyev and Coco Chanel to name a few. It is all about pulling bits that inspire you most and making them your own in design that make it a personally rewarding experience.

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

Jeff Andrews – Well first of all thank you! that is quite a compliment. I am majorly inspired by life in general. The lives of my clients, their needs and dreams of the perfect home keep me at the top of my problem solving, people pleasing, creative best. I feel that my personal style is a constantly evolving process that is fuelled by approaching each project with new eyes. If you trust yourself, your true creative eye will never let you down.

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

Iván Meade - You have had the opportunity to work with many well-known clients such as Kardashian family, Ryan Seacrest and Michael C. Hall; is there anyone that you haven't worked with, but would like to?

Jeff Andrews – I have had some amazing clients! Celebrity does not make them better though. The advantage is that people get to see the work. The process is really quite the same in that there is a client/designer trust that has to be developed early in the relationship. The collaborative process has always been a big part of work for me. I think there is some divine path that leads me to the people I am supposed to work with and learn from. I can’t say that there is a particular person I am dying to work with. I love the journey I am on and time will tell….

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

Iván Meade - Do you ever get star-struck when meeting these clients for the first time?

Jeff Andrews – Not really star struck. Sometimes it is difficult at first to separate the public persona or character from the real person. That fades fast. It is a very personal process when you are working on and in someone’s home. The process and progress quickly becomes the main priority. And as I said before the trust is key.

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

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

Jeff Andrews – The most practical has to be a tape measure. Proportion is so important to me and at times my most challenging detail. I have worked with a few basketball players and let me tell you that design is a challenge on a completely different level with very tall people! The most rare.

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

Iván Meade - Browsing through your portfolio one can see that you have worked in Italy as well. How was your experience working in Europe?

Jeff Andrews - Amazing! For furnishing the home we shopped at vintage stores in Milan, London and Rome…I mean what could be better?

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

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

Jeff Andrews – I am excited about the possibilities. The economic restraints have made people more creative and more responsible about design. It is not really about how much money you have but what you do with it. Sometimes with large budgets people get lazy and predictable. I am most excited about what the future will hold for me in design. I have never been more motivated!

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

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

Jeff Andrews – The fact that you said “young” designers makes me feel amazing! Seriously, to be at the top of any designer list is such an honour for me. Traditional home is a great platform for designers and the new Tradhome is the future of on line design inspiration. It embraces the New Traditional design style that is rooted in tradition yet entirely void of rules and open to interpretation based creativity and lifestyle. I am proud to be a part of it!

Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

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 Andrews – Interiors that have movement, a voice and will last the test of time.

I invite you to visit Jeff Andrew’s website and social media at:

FACEBOOK - TWITTER

Design for the Designers

2011-05-31T16:08:00.001-07:00

The latest design find for local designers, architects and stagers is the much buzzed about Design District Studio (or DDS as it is affectionately known within Victoria's design scene). A flexible, economical, and practical solution for many consultants in town that do not have their own studio space or sample library.

Members receive a multitude of benefits including the use of the space for client meetings, use of the extensive samples available for sourcing and presentations, as well as access to all of the DDS accounts for ordering fabrics, furniture, wallpaper, fixtures and more. The Design District Studio also offers very helpful advice including trade and installer references, assistance with sourcing and use of the space for private functions.

What's more, Design District studio also offers weekly updates and regular design events to keep members connected and informed. They also allow any business mail or shipments to be delivered to the studio if a member does not want to give out their home address to clients and suppliers.

We've heard nothing but positive feedback from Design District Studio members and affiliates. Kudos are certainly in order to Danisha Drury and Donna Morrison for making this wonderful resource available, thank you ladies!

Danisha Dury

The Design District Studio is located at 1826 Government St, Victoria, BC V8T 4N5 - PH (250) 590-8598

www.designdistrictstudioinc.com

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.meadedesigngroup.com

Eye Candy of the Week – Philippe I by Casamania

2011-05-30T11:31:00.001-07:00

PRODUCT

Philippe I – Cafe Tables

DESIGNER

Sam Baron

MANUFACTURER

Casamania

COLLECTION

Philippe I is a mini-collection of ‘gueridon’ or small tables and café tables.

MATERIALS

Lime-wood, MDF, walnut

COLOURS

black/mirrored glass; white/extra-clear transparent glass

DIMENSIONS

low side table: L/W 42 P/D 42 H 42
tall side table: L/W 39 P/D 39 H 52

DESCRIPTION

With references to the 18th century French cabinetry tradition coupled with an attention to detail, these collection of ‘gueridon’ tables are that type of pieces that I love, as they work seamless with traditional or contemporary styles.

Sam Baron, created these tables that in my personal opinion share the same design aesthetic of Philippe Starck or Jaime Hayon pieces. Pieces that have their own language, but a clear inspiration from the past.

I would love to use groups of these pieces in different sizes and finishes. How would you use these tables?

YUMMY FACTOR

Nectarous!!!

IN CONVERSATION WITH GRANT K. GIBSON

2011-05-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Grant K. Gibson

Grant K. Gibson doesn't necessarily fit into a box when it comes to design style. But that is by no means a drawback! He masterfully executes designs that are traditional, modern, youthful, eclectic, or rustic - but they are always immaculately well done. And wouldn't you know, he's a witty blogger too?

Grant founded Grant K. Gibson Interior Design in 2002 and now works across the continent with offices in San Francisco and New York. The firm strives to create spaces that are direct representations of his clients, without any imposed nuances or elements that are not befitting of their personalities. 'No project is too large or two small in our eyes" says the company profile, as well as a firm stance on attention to detail and customer service and satisfaction.

Our readers have most likely heard of Grant before, he has had numerous features in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, and Better Homes & Gardens. He has also received prestigious positioning within these pages, including being names as one of "The 10 Designers to Watch" in Domino, and the "5 Designers to Watch" in Elle Décor.

His blog has also been well-received, Grant's focus is typically design-related, but he certainly touches on other elements of his life including his love of fashion, food and travel.

He is a true design star and we are thrilled to get his input for our 'In Conversation With' series, read on to get in on the conversation…

Ivan Meade - What was your first experience by design?

Grant K. Gibson - I would have to say that my first design experience was designing my childhood bedroom. Even at a really young age, I was always changing things around and moving things, painting the walls and taking up carpet to show the hardwood floors hidden under.

My path to design really started when I was in college studying for a degree in psychology (which has totally come in very handy in interior design) I was on the path to become a psychologist when a good friend told me about an art history class that she thought that I should sit in on. Before the end of the lecture, I had already made up my mind that I was going to switch majors. That really started my love of art and architecture and design. In New York, I then interned and worked a few antique stores and then started to do my own apartment as well as friends who liked the way that I did my apartment.

I then thought, why not try to do my own thing and start my own company in interior design. The dream was then born and then I ended up moving to San Francisco, where I really started to get serious about my design company. New York always holds a spot in my heart, so I am happy that I can have the best of both words and work between both cities with offices in both New York and San Francisco.