Eye Candy of the Week – Duck Feet Lamp by Porta Romana

 

 

PRODUCT
Duck Feet Lamp

DISTRIBUTOR

Porta Romana

MATERIAL

Decayed Gold
Smoke Blue Satin Shade

DESCRIPTION

I love this lamp – I think it is fun, yet elegant.  It definitely has a surrealistic quality, but  also has a very contemporary and I have to say timeless presence. 

 

I know this is not the cup of tea for everybody, but there is something that really attracts me to this piece.  The simple smoke blue stain shade against the golden duck legs is a very unique juxtaposition and a very elegant colour choice.  As a designer I think it will add a sense of sophistication to any space.

 

Not too long ago, I posted a very interesting and probably one of my best interviews with Sebastián Errázuriz.  Mr. Errázuriz is one of the most avant-garde designers in our current times and he also has designed a very controversial duck lamp.  His take on the lamp is quite the opposite to this lamp, but what is surprising to me is that this table lamp by Porta Romana and Mr.Errázuriz approach at the end captures that same unique quality that remains in my eyes.

YUMMY FACTOR
C'est Fantastique !

DO YOU LIKE THIS TABLE LAMP?

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Meade Design Group Welcomes Tobi Fairley

Some of our readers may remember an interview I was lucky to have with Arkansas design talent, Tobi Fairley. Since the interview Tobi and I have been corresponding via our blogs, facebook, twitter and e-mail and have formed a modern pen-pal style friendship.

Tobi Fairley, Iván Meade, Patricia Gray

When Tobi mentioned that she was visiting Vancouver and Canada for the first time with her husband, Carter, I knew we would have to take the opportunity to meet face-to-face. I invited Tobi to be the guest of honour at a brunch held at my home away from home, The Voya restaurant at The Loden Hotel.

Echito setting the final touches on the table.

It was a fun day and the conversation was phenomenal, it was such a pleasure to be able to meet Tobi in person. Tobi is a true southern belle.

The Voya Restaurant did a great job with the food and the service – they even coordinated the menus with the theme of the invitations and place cards – thank you to Alexis Prince for all of her help.

The finished table ready for guests.

Tobi’s seat with a special present (Rogers Chocolates) and orchid corsage.

A customized favour to celebrate Tobi’s love for tea

(Inside were three specially selected teas from Silk Road)

Amie de Toro, Echito & Michelle Morelan chatting up a storm.

Echito and Tobi Fairley

Photograph via Brillante Home Decor - Albarosa Simonetti

We wish we were able to take more photographs, but we were a little distracted.

IN CONVERSATION WITH TOBI FAIRLEY

TOBI FAIRLEY

TOBI FAIRLEY BLOG

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Eye Candy of the Week – Arial Area Rug Collection by Creative Matters

French Wire Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

Nova Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

Pepe Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

Rory Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

Scratch Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

Polarize Cooper – Creative Matters Area Rug

Vibrato Platinum – Creative Matters Area Rug

PRODUCT
Creative Matters Area Rugs

DISTRIBUTOR

Salari

COLLECTION

Aerial Collection

MATERIAL

Wool, Silk

DESCRIPTION

Creative Matters Inc. is a Canadian company based in Toronto and has been in the carpet production business since 1988.

With a strong history of custom-designed carpets for the hospitality and residential markets, Creative Matters has launched the Aerial Collection, a set of eight spectacular designs.

Each design is available in either two or three different colourways. Designed by Creative Matters in Canada, each piece is meticulously hand-crafted in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal, employing only hand-spun and hand-carded Himalayan highland wool and high-quality silks for each design.

In addition to the beautiful graphic quality of the designs, Creative Matters have perfected a subtle and interesting gradation of the background in their carpets, ranging from dark at each end to a lighter colouration in the center.

Creative Matters is also an active supporter of RugMark, the non-profit society dedicated to eliminating child-labour in the carpet industry in Southeast Asia. This ensures that all carpets from Creative Matters are knotted only by adult-weavers.

YUMMY FACTOR
C'est magnifique !

WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with Phorm Interiors

Phorm is an interior design firm based in Brisbane Australia. Their style is impeccable, they have a great eye for blending modern classics with their own pieces.

Phorm Interiors – Studio

Owners Ian Wrightson and Steven Stewart completely embrace the fact that design is ever-evolving and ever-changing. They work on both residential and commercial interiors as well as maintaining a great blog. Subtle palettes, clean lines, modern conveniences, classic furnishings, dramatic lighting and flawless textile combinations are consistently well executed in Phorm interiors; although their projects convey a broad range of styles and client needs.

Their style is extremely adaptable but always a great representation of their own aesthetic. The Phorm blog – “Phorm Design Life” is a great tool for them to share their project installation photos, favourite designers and architects as well as fun posts like where they stayed and what books they planned to read during their Christmas break. They are also sure to promote awareness for global issues such as their moving post for World AIDS Day.

St.Lucia Residence – Phorm Interiors

All-in-all this design team is definitely worth the time it takes to view their gorgeous portfolio and blog and I highly recommend both to my readers.

Please read on to learn more about this talented team from the land down under…

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Ian Wrightson – Probably The Brady Bunch... mesmerized by timber wall paneling, stained feature glass, teak furniture, shag carpeting and stone walls.

Steven Stewart – Rearranging furniture on family vacations to make the space more livable for the duration of our holiday.

Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Ian Wrightson – Growing up in the 70’s & 80’s I was really influenced (and still am) by the work of great Australian decorators of the time, like Yvan Methot & Babette Hayes. Their work always seemed so glamorous to me.

Steven Stewart – I always found my parents sense of style very inspirational. Growing up we always had the latest wall covering or the newest chair from Italy. I am still influenced by them today - in fact, my mother actually works in our firm.

Red Hill Residence – Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

Ian Wrightson – Ideally I like furniture to have strong lines and rooms that incorporate mood and layering. I also love the juxtaposition of antiques with designer lighting and modern furniture.

Steven Stewart – Paired back maximalism. Neutral and tonal colours featuring old pieces, designer lighting and modern art and sculpture.

Kangaroo Point Penthouse – Phorm Interiors

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

Steven Stewart – David Hicks (past) and Vicente Wolf (present) and Iain Halliday of Australia's Burley Katon Halliday

Ascot Residence – Phorm Interiors

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

Ian Wrightson – Strength – responding to each client brief on an individual basis, without any preconceptions. Weakness – Being a perfectionist...something everyone in this industry can relate to.

Steven Stewart – Strength - listening to and interpreting clients needs and wants. Weakness - Even though I love fabric I tend to leave the choosing to Ian.

New Farm – Penthouse

Iván Meade – What is unique to Australian style?

Ian Wrightson – Definitely the idea of a living space that blurs the indoors and outdoors. We are constantly working with our suppliers on upscale outdoor furniture that is really comfortable.

Steven Stewart – An integration of internal living space, the blend with outdoor areas.

Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – Some styles are a matter of fashion or trends, or a nation’s tradition and history, others are from sheer practicality. Is this a direct result of the Australian culture or the Australian landscape/climate or is it mostly just the visual appeal?

Steven Stewart – As designers we always strive to work within the existing architecture certain design styles seem irrelevant to us as a majority of our architecture is uniquely Australian.

Ascot Residence – Phorm Interiors

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

Ian Wrightson – I am a huge reader and am currently re-reading an old favorite – The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Steven Stewart – I am currently reading The Four Hour Working Week by Timothy Ferriss - just having trouble applying my newly found knowledge.

New Farm Penthouse – Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – You always create great combinations of worldly or antique accessories with modern spaces and furnishings. What is the key to this mix?

Ian Wrightson – I think the key to this mix starts with the client. I love to tap into great memories that the client has and find pieces that represent some of these memories and experiences, whether it be a holiday in Morocco or family lunches around a linoleum kitchen table.

Port Office Hotel – Phorm Interiors

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

Ian Wrightson – We are both really excited about the great furniture design that is happening here in Australia. As budgets get tighter and import costs inflate it is good to look at Australian manufacture and see so much great, solid design. These pieces are destined to become the new classics.

Cucina – Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

Steven Stewart – I think that for both of us our dream project would certainly be an inner-city boutique hotel

Port Office Hotel – Phorm Interiors

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

Ian Wrightson – Interestingly, it was our smallest ever budgeted project. Cinco Bistro, a restaurant refurbishment we completed in 6 days (over the Easter holidays) in 2005. We wanted to represent the 'Cinco' idea without looking like a Mexican theme restaurant and after hours of trawling through every fabric collection we could lay our hands on, came across a collection from Australian designer, Florence Broadhurst, with a great 70's-style Aztec motif. This became the basis of our design custom printed in a stunning navy - and appeared as a bold wall paneling throughout the restaurant.

Steven Stewart – Upon completion of a recent river front, inner city penthouse apartment I felt an overwhelming sense of completion. It was one of those wonderful projects where the client really trusted our vision completely absolute synergy.

Cinco – Phorm Interiors

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

Ian Wrightson – The unusual requests usually come from me...and then I have to sell the idea to the client.

Steven Stewart – To design (as part of bespoke custom made joinery) a display space for a small grey river rock with 'I Love You, Daddy' painted in white paint.

Ascot Residence – Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – You appear to have a great eye and attention to detail, from the nail heads and monograms on your upholstered pieces to the seams of a wall treatment or the way you handle the artwork in your projects. These are the things designers notice and clients may not always grasp the importance of – the little things that can easily be lost in translation. What impact has this attention to detail had on your projects?

Ian Wrightson– This is our way of personalizing the project for the client, and you are right, these small touches and details are sometimes undetectable to the client. For us, as designers, we are constantly challenging ourselves with bespoke finishes and get very excited over these small details.

Steven Stewart - We also agonize over our selection of artworks, but for me the most fulfilling thing is finding the perfect match between artist and client.

St.Lucia Residence – Phorm Interiors

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Ian Wrightson – Believe it or not, I am starting work on our own project – a 120 year old inner city cottage. We both want to experiment with working within the homes original footprint – so lots of very small rooms. I must say though, I’m not looking forward to having myself as a client...

Steven Stewart – A Miami-Vice inspired house with a gangster edge.

Port Office Hotel – Phorm Interiors

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?

Steven Stewart – Rooms and interiors of lasting quality that offer our clients useable spaces. One of the best compliments I can receive from a client is that they use every room and each room works as we had originally intended

Port Office Hotel – Phorm Interiors

I invite you to visit Phorm’s stunning body of work:

PHORM INTERIORS

PHORM DESIGN LIFE – BLOG

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Eye Candy of the Week – Beach Towels by Hermés

 

 

PRODUCT
Beach Towels by Hermés

 

MATERIAL

Terrycloth

 

DESCRIPTION

Summer is definitely here. The hot sun and the inviting ocean and beaches demand something really fun to complement your summer outings.  These beach towels will spread colour and fun onto your spot on the sand.

Bring your inner grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr this summer.

 

SIZE

36” x 60”

 

YUMMY FACTOR 
Hot ! Hot! Hot!

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with Sebastián Errázuriz

Sebastián Errázuriz

31 Year old Sebastián Errázuriz is a Chilean native who is making a big splash within the New York design scene. An artist in every sense of the word, Sebastián designs furniture, accessories, objets d’art, clothing, installations, paintings and more; a true innovator. Errázuriz’s portfolio has an immense range of art and one can see while perusing that this man is charming yet cheeky, confident and ballsy and of course, deserving of all of the buzz and accolades surrounding him.

What makes Mr. Errázuriz so intriguing as not only an artist, but a person, is that he is full of paradoxes - even within his upbringing; although his traditional, Chilean family history is laced with aristocrats, archbishops and presidents, Sebastián’s parents went a different route and became starving artists which he has said gave him a solid education rather than privilege. Even Sebastián’s career has been a contradiction, he has been so successful yet he began doing installations and furnishings because he felt that he wasn’t good enough to be considered an artist – this coming from the confident guy that is currently working on a portrait of himself as a saint! These contradictions are carried through to Sebastián’s work where concepts of humour are mixed with death and beauty to create pieces that cause the viewer to take a second look or ask questions, or the placement of a cow that had been rescued from the slaughterhouse atop a Chilean city skyscraper. His mentor, artist Ross Bleckner calls his work “Reserved Surrealism” which is a great description for Errázuriz’s quirky yet beautiful signature.

Please read on to learn more about Mr. Sebastián Errázuriz and his exclusive take on the world of design...

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Sebastián Errázuriz - I think it goes back to a drawing I made when I was 5. The drawing is very detailed and shows a small-multicolored Lego spaceship. The colors appear random and arbitrary in an appropriately childish manner. Nevertheless the shapes, quantities and proportions of each one of the pieces are clearly, and obsessively identified as a small blueprint. Its weird to realize that already as a kid that I would draw what I was about to construct.

Lamps - Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Sebastián Errázuriz – Although I have a huge respect and admiration for many designers, I tend to find them so worried about aesthetics and functionality that they forget to see the bigger picture. I am influenced mostly by artists: I love the intuition and freedom of Marcel Duchamp. The prolific, obsessive talent of Picasso. The manipulative and seductive self-branding of Warhol. The “cheekiness”, and drive of Jeff Koons. The humor and wit of Mauricio Cattelan. The professionalism and power of Damien Hirst. The dedication and ambition of Takashi Murakami. The delicacy and subtleness of Gabriel Orozco.

Pop Series – Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I feel that labeling and describing makes the work and name of an artist or designer more recognizable, nevertheless it also circumscribes them to a single dimension. I would like to think of my style as an “investigative work process”. A way of appropriating, de-contextualizing, and rethinking everyday paradigms which dictate our daily routines. I strive to re-invent these objects so they can invite other people to re-think and be aware of reality. Hopefully some day if my “style” is resumed in a phrase, people will say: “The guy that works both in art and design rethinking everything he can”

Unclassifiable Out - Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – What would you say was your “big break” moment?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I think it hasn’t happened yet, like “The Tipping point” I believe the hundreds or maybe thousands of interviews, links and others information pieces to date are creating a growing wave that will have a big break within the next 2 years. Hopefully creating a strong platform, which will allow me to count with the necessary credibility, support and resources to be able to create more important and substantial contributions.

Lamp - Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – I read in Interview Magazine that to make sure your products are fresh and unique you always Google your concepts to make sure they haven’t been done before, how else has technology influenced your designs?

Sebastián Errázuriz –In both art and design I use everything from 3D renderings and photographic programs to digital presentations and slideshows. Nevertheless in the art world the use of efficient professional communicative tools are still viewed in a suspicious manner; as signs of corporate commercialism. The art world fails to understand that due to technology and communications an artist today must be a multitalented, multitasking pro-active and professional bohemian.

Furniture - Mesa Bowl No.2 – Sebastián Errázuriz

Furniture - Mesa Bowl No.3 - Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – What kind of hobbies do you enjoy?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I am embarrassed to say I don’t have hobbies. All my activities are obsessively intertwined and channeled to help develop my practice. I am interested in marketing, communications and economy as a way of understanding the external practices that play a decisive role in the development of my work. I enjoy social critics, comedians, writers and journalists as a way of keeping my perception informed, sharp and on point. I submerge in a daily dose of blogs, youtubes and facebooks in order to avoid loosing track of the daily minutia’s that re-shapes popular culture. I follow closely the subtleness’s of fashion because I understand the importance of aesthetical appearance’s and the multiple variations and trends in visual dialogues. I am the responsible spokesperson of my own work cannot allow myself the luxury of leaving to chance what can be decided beforehand.

Limited Edition – La Repisa No.5

Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – Being a Latin man myself, I know there are cultural differences in style, interactions and beauty in general that can be hard to communicate and hard for the American and European market to grasp. How has your background influenced your success in New York?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I agree; Latin design naturally cannot be disassociated with the Latin culture. Never the less within the confinements of contemporary global competitive markets, I have found that a Latin designer, doctor or lawyer, will develop his work with the same professionalism of any international colleague. We have much to learn from other cultures; nevertheless we have two main advantages up our sleeves. -The first is that we make decisions strongly influenced by emotive elements, therefore we are more sensitive to feel and understand the subtle humane aspects of a problematic. -Secondly I believe our work and investigations are developed in a more integrated manner to the rest of our other daily activities; thus hopefully producing integral emotionally intelligent solutions.

Furniture - El Santo - Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – You are a very confident man without being pretentious, which is often lacking in this industry. It’s important to be sure of yourself and your work so others can put their trust in you, however too much can be off-putting. What has helped you develop your strong confidence and how has it helped you in your career?

Sebastián Errázuriz –Most of the confident people I know have learnt to use euphemisms and incorporate crutches like: “I think” or “Maybe…” to present their opinions in a more flexible and inclusive manner. Even confident people don’t want to be rejected for being pretentious. “I think” the more confident a person becomes, the harder they must work to avoid overpowering others. My personal confidence is based on the idea that almost anything is possible. If we are realistic and intelligent enough to understand, visualize and break down a dream into achievable ordered steps; then we have made half of the work. If we have the determination and endurance to carry out each of those steps, then anything is possible.

Belt

Fashion - Coat No.2

Fashion – Dress No.4

Fashion - Special Edition - Sebastián Errázuriz

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

Sebastián Errázuriz – My greatest strength is my obsession to pursue what would be most difficult. My greatest weakness is to arrogantly tend to believe I have already understood many of the apparently more simple challenges.

Commissions – House No.2 - Sebastián Errázurriz

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

Sebastián Errázuriz - I am excited about the new creative design solutions and ideology platforms that could try to answer the challenges Obama and his administration have placed on the energetic and ecological problems we are facing.

Pop Series – Sebastián Errázurriz

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

Sebastián Errázuriz - Like others have said before; "The best project is always the one you are currently working on".

The Cow – Urban Art by Sebastián Errázuriz

The Tree – Urban Art by Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – You have created so many wonderful works of art from your installations to accessories, fashion design, and furniture design. What is your favorite facet of design and why?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I love the layering of information on a single, apparently simple symbol, object or situation. Nothing fascinates me more than being able to create a piece that can partially mirror the simplicity and complexity of reality. That’s when you manage to capture mystery and meaning. I think the facet of design I like most is definitely the period of uncertainty and nervous intuition that tends to precede a solid new idea.

Desk – Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Sebastián Errázuriz - I would rather not say, I wouldn't want to jinx them…

Death – Sebastián Errázuriz

Iván Meade – Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work in your own signature style with a multitude of mediums. What would you like your legacy to be?

Sebastián Errázuriz – I would like to look back and know that I contributed to tear down the boundaries that have historically separated art and design. I would like to have helped create more profound and existential designs solutions. I would like to create art that can assume a responsible public dialogue inviting, provoking and inspiring people to look again, be aware and take responsibility of their actions.

Lounge by Sebastián Errázuriz

I invite you to visit Sebastián Errázuriz’s webiste and discover more of his amazing work.

SEBASTIÁN ERRÁZURRIZ

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011