IN CONVERSATION WITH KYLA BIDGOOD

As seen in SNAP

Kyla Bidgood

 

You may recognize this name around town – and I believe it will only continue to become more recognized as her career forges ahead – the name is Kyla Bidgood, a registered interior designer right here in Victoria BC. Kyla has been featured in local publications, is very active in the design community (including being a committee member for IDIBC: Vancouver Island Chapter) and has done some guest speaking at design events. You may even recognize her from right here on our blog, we had previouslyinterviewed Inoui Design in 2010, but with change in environment comes change in perspective, and I wanted to follow up with Ms Bidgood for a fresh new interview.

 

She now has her own boutique namesake firm, Kyla Bidgood Interior Design, after years of experience with some of the best designers in the city. I couldn't describe her philosophy better than these words which come straight from her website: "With every project I strive to open my client’s eyes to new possibilities, spatially translating their brand or style into an interior that surpasses their initialvision. I create meaningful and enduring environments that perfectly align with both my client’s budget and needs".

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Taking on projects from various fields – residential, commercial, and hospitality alike – she approaches each one with passion which has had award winning results. With her attention to detail, innovative thinking and approachable attitude, it's not wonder Kyla has a long list of happy clients with beautiful spaces.

 

Ready to find out what Victoria's young design scene is up to right now? Read on to get in on the conversation…

 

Iván Meade – So, what's new since we featured you last?  

 

Kyla Bidgood – Quite a bit! I tested the corporate waters and worked for a large design firm for 6 months, on a range of large-scale projects including a university, a hospital and several airport concessions. I love commercial work, but what I found most valuable from the experience was re- discovering where my heart truly lies: with highly creative, boutique projects. You can really only have complete creative control with projects of a certain size. So I ventured out solo working under my own name, with a focus on out of the box retail, hospitality, office and residential projects.

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

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

 

Kyla Bidgood – No surprise here: I get geek-giddy over colour and pattern. Bold repetition, mixed with the right combination of scales & textures is perfection in my world. Throw in a bright pop of colour in an unexpected place, like hardware or fixtures, and that’s the cherry on the cake. I also love incorporating unexpected historic details into modern spaces, like turned wood spindles or abstract patterns tufted into upholstery. But ask me tomorrow and the list would be completely different. I have commitment issues when it comes to design, everyday I’m excited about doing something new.

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – What is on the horizon for Kyla Bidgood interior Design?

 

Kyla Bidgood – I’ve recently started a magical collaborating with the multi-talented and graphically gifted Sarah McNeil. We’ve pooled our skills and similar aesthetic to seamlessly integrate interior design with window graphics, custom wallpapers & signage for Blenz Coffee in Vancouver. A well-branded company goes beyond a logo, the entire experience from the second you step in their door should communicate a company’s culture, values and vibe. Understanding a companies brand and developing their branded interior is something I thrive at.

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

 

Kyla Bidgood – I am busting at the seams to do a restaurant. Since I’m hopelessly lazy when it comes to cooking I eat out often, and every time I redesign the restaurant space in my mind. I have so many great ideas banked, I would love to give Victorians and Vancouverites a new dining experience, something buzzworthy, totally out of the box different.

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – I find your projects to be consistently fresh, cheerful/playful and sophisticated yet urban. How is this balance achieved?

 

Kyla Bidgood – Why thank you Ivan! My aesthetic is at a constant tug war with itself. On one hand I adore the simplicity, materials and craft of Scandinavian and mid century modern design, and on the other hand I’m a total sucker for over the top pattern, colour and whimsical concepts. I think the method to my madness is interweaving these two extremes into a refined eclecticism. It’s about striking a carefully curated balance without going overboard.

 

Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – Now that you are officially flying solo with your firm, how would you describe your style? Feel free to answer this either personally, or as a company – we also won't complain if we get both!  

 

Kyla Bidgood – Fun, modern & eclectic. I think the same can be said for my personal style. My house is a laboratory where I experiment with ideas that might be too bold for some clients. For example, my living room is painted a dark ink-blue and an artist friend of mine Miguel Afonso da Conceicao created a large scale instillation with hot pink yarn covering all the walls, kind of like a non-repeating geometric wallpaper pattern. I also wallpapered the ceiling in my home office with a small-scale white, gold & black triangle print. Experiments paid off, looks amazing!  

 

  Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – What is your favorite thing about being a designer?  

 

Kyla Bidgood – Everyday, every project, and every client is so vastly different from the next, no day is ever repeated. I am never bored, always challenged, and constantly being inspired by new things. I heart my job, and I can’t imagine doing anything else for a living.    

 

  Interiors by Kyla Bidgood

 

Iván Meade – What is the best advice you have received – design related or otherwise?  

 

Kyla Bidgood – “Worry is a misuse of your imagination” and “Change is the only constant”. Truer words were never spoken!

 

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

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

IN CONVERSATION WITH LEANNE MCKEACHIE

Leanne McKeachie

 

Leanne McKeachie is a very sweet, eager and personable designer based locally in Victoria BC. She has recently begun her own firm – Leanne McKeachie Design, which specializes in residential design. She takes joy and pride in sharing her passion for design with homeowners – her friendly approach makes the design process with her a very personalized and enjoyable one.

 

Leanne is not a newcomer though, she has over a decade of experience in the design industry and holds a Bachelor of Interior Design Degree from Mount Royal University. Her work has been featured in Homes and Cottages Magazine and has received accolades at Vancouver Island's 'Care Awards'.

 

As a young mom, she truly understands her clients’ needs and that everything needs to be approached with balance. A master of evening out the needs, wants, desires, budget, aesthetic function and timing to deliver her clients the results they deserve.

 

A great asset to the design community, I look forward to sharing her insights with our readers, please read on to get in on the conversation…

 

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

 

Leanne McKeachie - At a lunch & learn in my high school career centre. I had decided I was going to become an orthodontist until that fateful day. Ha! what a disaster that would have been. I always loved the arts and creative exploration but was never fully aware of the interior design profession. I really should have seen the writing on the wall at an early age, as I'm sure I drove my parents crazy with the constant re-arranging of furnishings.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What is your design philosophy?

 

Leanne McKeachie - It's fairly simple. I believe in designing to illicit positive change in peoples lives, positive change in their everyday functions, moods and wellbeing. I design to re-ignite the passion people have for their homes, and to create spaces that people hate to leave.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What is your favourite local find, where did you get it and why is it important to you?

 

Leanne McKeachie - A vintage silver chandelier that I found at a garage sale while living in Calgary.  I don't think I'll ever be able to part with it, firstly because it was a steal of a deal, and I LOVE a good deal. My chandi's been hung in all different rooms in every house I've lived in: my dining room, my daughters nursery and now my kitchen. I'm way too attached :)

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

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

 

Leanne McKeachie - Colour!!! I'm so inspired by the amazing fresh and vibrant tones that we started seeing emerge in Fall 2012 and particularly this spring. My own living room now features a pretty prominent splash of emerald green.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

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

 

Leanne McKeachie - My weakness is answering strength and weakness questions… and I have a truly horrible memory. I write down everything and am an obsessive list maker. As for my greatest strength, I've been told by one of my closest friends that my strength is possessing the combination of enthusiasm and level headedness.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What is your favourite thing about being a designer?

 

Leanne McKeachie - I have two favourites that come to mind. First, I'm addicted to the moment during the design development where a solution all the sudden becomes clear, marrying aesthetic and function seamlessly. Second and most rewarding is the sparkle in a client's eyes as they show off their new space for the first time.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

 

Leanne McKeachie - A working professional (likely female) with a love for simple lines interlaced with feminine details, unafraid to show her energetic personality through her decor. This client would probably be so busy in her career that she craves for her home to be a private retreat; a place to relax, recharge and to enjoy life with family & friends. We would obviously hit it off instantly and she would become a lifelong client, designing many future properties together.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What is the best advice you have received – design related or otherwise?

 

Leanne McKeachie - It's advice my father gave me years ago: "You have to ask yourself, at the end of the day, is it worth it?". Although it was advice at that time given in a relational context I find it often comes to mind through the craziness that life & work bring. It's surprising how a simple piece of advice can help me re-focus on what's really important.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – Where do you see the local design scene going?

 

Leanne McKeachie - The local design scene is swiftly developing an strong inter-connected web of support consisting of: established design firms, independent designers, reps, suppliers, retailers, trades and students. With this growing positive energy and sharing of knowledge I believe there's truly outstanding design in store for our city.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – What's next for Leanne McKeachie Design?

 

Leanne McKeachie - I'm already so blown away by the amazing experiences I've had over the last two years. I can only imagine what's to come. For now I keep dreaming big and working smart.

 

Interiors by Leanne McKeachie

 

Iván Meade – Lastly, what would you like your legacy to be?

 

Leanne McKeachie - I love the quote by Maya Angelou that says: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". I want people to feel like I made a positive change in their homes. Or that I made them feel understood through the design of their space. If I could positively impact everyone I met, that would be an amazing legacy to leave. 

 

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

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

THE PALAIS LIECHTENSTEIN

The Palais Liechtenstein, one of Vienna’s and Europe’s most beautiful privately owned palaces has been fully restored and will be open for public tours this spring for the first time.  This palace is considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture and was once the residence of the royal family of Liechtenstein. 

 

Garden Palace Delsenbach etching © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

 

In the final days of World War II the palace suffered extensive damage from direct hits in a bombing raid and an aircraft crashing into the roof. The ceiling of the stairway on the second floor was completely destroyed, and there was considerable damage to the adjacent state rooms. In the years immediately following the war work was carried out to secure the fabric and repair the worst damage, but due to the financial losses sustained by the family as a result of and after the war, the palace was not restored until 1974/76.

 

City Palace west facade © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

City Palace west facade destroyed © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

Liechtenstein City Palace facade © Palais Liechtenstein GmbH_Fotomanufaktur Grünwald

 

At a cost of $135 million and four years of hard work by over 500 artisans the palace has restored the place to its pre-war beauty revamping the building for the family’s private apartments, while visitors will finally get a peek at many of its gilded Rococo interiors, not to mention the prince’s neo-classical art and furnishings collection.

 

City Palace mirror detail © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

City Palace Bouquet room before completion © Palais Liechtenstein

© Palais Liechtenstein

SP Prunktreppe mit Teppich © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

Square room © Palais Liechtenstein GmbH_Alexandra Matzner

 

Deeply rooted in Vienna’s history for over 300 years, the palaces of the princely family of Liechtenstein are notable for their superb state of restoration, original interiors and their stunning symbiosis of nature, architecture and masterpieces of art history.

 

The project was overseen by Hans-Adam II, the reigning prince of one of the smallest and richest principalities in the world.

 

HSH Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein

 

“It was very important to us to renovate the CITY PALACE, which has belonged to our family since 1694. I feel that we have a certain obligation to preserve it for posterity. Elaborate detailed work has been carried out to bring the palace up to modern standards, whilst preserving all of its historic charm. Now we are delighted to be able to hire the house out for wonderful events and to bring it back to life with guided tours,” explains the owner, HSH Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu
Liechtenstein.

 

With a dramatic palatial staircase, silk wall hangings, and intricate parquet floors the palace has been restored to its full glory.

 

Garden Palace Prohaska Garden © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

Garden Palace aerial view 2 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

I invite you to visit the website and the video tours of the palace at:

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

BEIGE VS. TAUPE

As seen in SNAP magazine

The other day I had a very interesting question posted on my Facebook page – What is more chic, beige or taupe?

 

My answer was “beige is for contractors, taupe is for designers, but I personally prefer creams –which is a neutral option as well”.  No offense to Contractors, they do great work; but they have overused the same beige palette for so many years that unfortunately, it has become a very standard and boring colour.  On the other hand, beige is a comfortable colour for the majority of people.  It can add warmth to a space, and it usually looks good with other colour combinations and many light conditions, so it is a no-brainer.

 

Taupes & Creams – Interiors by Meade Design Group

 

I don’t want to advertise that beige is a bad colour, as a designer I think any colour can be a great colour - it all depends on how you are using it and the application of the colour itself.  However, many designers prefer taupes & grays as they are more current and sophisticated thanks to their gray/brown/white base.  Grays & taupes are soft and their colour value reads well with our West Coast light conditions as they are usually inspired by nature itself.  Because we are closer to the North Pole, the light in Victoria is whiter than if you were looking at the same colour in Central America where the natural light has an amber tone.  This is one of the reasons bright colours look so good in the exterior of many Mexican homes but not so much here.

 

Creams with Mauve/Taupe accents – Interiors by Meade Design Group

 

Light plays a very important role when choosing colour.  Light has colour, and white is a colour. You can live in a room without furniture but you can’t live in a room without colour.  And since a colour can shape a room as much as any furniture arrangement, your choice of colour is crucial.  If you are in the process of selecting a colour scheme, think about the quality of the light and the direction of your window exposure – East facing windows get a lot of light in the morning so the sunlight will be warm and yellowy before noon. West facing windows have a warm orangy-red sunlight after noon, and South facing windows have a warm orangy-yellow light all day. North facing windows have no direct sunlight, resulting in a cool bluish light all day.  Using this knowledge, a beige (for instance) can look great in an East facing window and rather green in a North facing window or under fluorescent light.   Always check a colour in the morning, afternoon and at night before committing to live with it.   A colour will change during the day and will be affected by the light.  

 

Are you a beige or a taupe person?

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

VIC 42–A SPECIAL Feature

Today I was included in a great feature that I would like to share with all our blog readers.  VIC 42 – A local website that celebrates the unique and interesting people in Victoria -  invited me to be part of their collection of personalities.  I feel very honoured to be selected and to share virtual space with some of the most influential people in my own community. 

 

I have always said that Victoria has great talent and that we should embrace it – Now we have an opportunity to discover our locals thanks to VIC 42. 

 

Teresa Lindsay & Al Smith are the geniuses behind the VIC 42 concept.  A very innovative and progressive platform to showcase talent.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Teresa many years ago and thanks to VIC 42, we have rekindled our friendship.   Teresa took the time to learn about me and who I am and I could not be more pleased with her write-up. Al’s photography is outstanding – it can be appreciated not only in my own photo, but in the rest of the pictures you can see on their site. Working with Al was a pleasure.  He made me feel comfortable during the whole process and now I even have a photo of myself that I like – lol -

 

 

I invite you to check this great website and support out amazing local talent in Victoria.

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

IN CONVERSATION WITH JAMES GAUER

As seen in SNAP – August 2012

James Gauer

International Architect/Designer James Gauer’s work was recommended to me by several colleagues, after hearing his name repeatedly I thought to myself ‘I should really look this gentleman up’. Browsing his website, I was impressed with his work, but it was after I read his book ‘The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes’ that I was hooked.

An educated designer with a degree in International Affairs (from Georgetown University) and a Master’s in Architecture (from Columbia University), it’s no wonder he has the experience and talent to make it big. I find James’s work and writing to be inspiring – a new approach to design with rational decisions and stunning results. You may recognize the name from publications like Architectural Record, Elle Décor, The New York Times, or features in books such as ‘Lofts’, ‘Brilliant: White in Design’ or ‘Renovate’.

James is now a local, residing right here in Victoria in an amazing condo. I can’t wait to pick his brain for thoughts on design today, please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

James Gauer - I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, in a simple ranch house of less than two thousand square feet. This was a normative size for suburban houses in the fifties and sixties. When I was about twelve, I was riveted by something in one of my mother’s shelter magazines. Was it a larger house that I might envy? Far from it. The object of my fascination was a tiny but elegantly engineered studio apartment containing little more than a built in daybed and two iconic Wassilly chairs by Marcel Breuer. Our suburban house, modest though it may have been, was certainly more spacious and comfortable, but this one room had something – refinement? modernity? -- that made spaciousness and comfort seem quite beside the point. It made anything more than one perfect room seem dowdy and unnecessary. With all the zealotry of a new convert, I was keen to transform my bedroom into a self-sufficient studio apartment, but my brother, who shared the room, did not share my enthusiasm. And so my first foray into the architecture of small spaces was thwarted.”

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

Iván Meade – Your book "The New American Dream – Living Well in Small Homes" is one of the top interior design books I have read this year. Perfect balance between great images and amazing content. Are you planning to pen another book in the near future?

James Gauer – Thank you, that’s very kind. I hope my book is as much about architecture as interior design, though I freely admit the boundary between those two disciplines is rather fuzzy. I currently have no plans for another book, but it’s always a possibility.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

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

James Gauer – My current home is a condo on Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Its design incorporates all the principles described in my book. Let me give you one example: spatial layering. The suite has 1250 square feet. I’ve lived in places much smaller, so all that square footage initially seemed luxurious, but on closer inspection the developer’s floor plan didn’t use the space to its best advantage. So I used the principle of spatial layering and reworked the plan to create four parallel layers of space, through which the full depth and breadth of the suite, and the harbour beyond, are visible.

The first layer is a foyer, a powder room and two offices, which double as guest rooms. The second layer is storage, bathrooms and a hall open to the kitchen. The third layer is the living room and master bedroom. In the original plan, neither was especially large or gracious, so I combined them into one space as big as the building’s structure allowed. Now they share 45 linear feet of floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbour. All that separates them is a partition containing pocket doors of aluminum and white glass. The fourth layer is the terrace. The implied fifth layer is water and sky.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

Iván Meade – One of my favourite things in your book is that you have included multiple floor plans so the reader can understand and learn from the space itself. What is your process when you are designing a space?

James Gauer - Every project is different, but I have to start with the floor plan, which is the most basic component of good architecture. The floor plan provides a two dimensional footprint, which informs – sometimes determines – what the three dimensional space will be. If you don’t have a good plan, you won’t have good space.

A good plan establishes a spatial hierarchy. The differences between spaces, whether functional or symbolic, should determine their relative importance in the plan’s composition. These differences are expressed in size, shape and location.
For example, in a small home, the most important space is usually the living room. It should be located to express its primacy and to take the best advantage of light and views. And it should be given the largest share of the home’s limited square footage. This sounds like common sense, but you’d be amazed at how often developers give first dibs to kitchens, bathrooms and master suites, and the poor living room is a mean vestigial space assigned whatever meager square footage is left.

Architecture by James Gauer

Iván Meade – One of my favorite projects is your own Gauer-Goldsmith House in Connecticut. I believe it really showcases your understanding of classical proportions – What was your favourite memory while designing this property? Or your favourite element you incorporated?

James Gauer – For such a small house, its design has a rather long back story. At least a decade before building the house, my partner and I went to Seaside, the prototypical New Urbanist village in Florida. We were fortunate to stay in the house that architect Leon Krier - a committed classicist - had designed for himself. It was three stories high and had a very small footprint. Its plan, organized as a nine square grid, was extremely compact and elegant, and the rooms were beautifully proportioned. I became obsessed with designing variations on it. One of those variations became, eventually, our house.

My favorite element in the house I designed is something the Krier house didn’t have – an entry courtyard. I love the way the house and its various appendages – porch, garage and fencing – define a formal outdoor room.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

Iván Meade – In your book you are a big promoter of the basic principles in design - Are there any design rules that you think were meant to be broken?

James Gauer – I think all rules can – and occasionally should – be broken. But breaking rules is a privilege that can only be earned by learning them. Picasso was able to move on to cubism only after he had mastered classical drawing.

Architecture by James Gauer

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

James Gauer – Oh, that’s a tough one. I have a rather short memory and so it’s often the most recent project that seems most satisfying. I recently completed a small house in Santa Barbara CA, and it was a joy to work on. Much of the credit for that goes to the clients, who are lovely people with great taste who really believe in the power of architecture to enhance life. I believe it was Edwin Lutyens who said “There will never be great architects or great architecture without great patrons.” He was right.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

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

James Gauer – I suppose it’s as much an economic and cultural trend as it is a design trend, but I find the growing interest in smaller homes in dense, walkable neighbourhoods very encouraging. The McMansion era seems to be officially over, and the suburban sprawl era seems to be following close behind.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

James Gauer - Retirement or at least semi-retirement. Really, work is great, but there is so much more to life. I can easily fill my days with rowing, cycling, reading and a bit of travel. But I wouldn’t mind keeping my hand in by designing a few more houses. I confess I have notebooks filled with graph paper sketches of theoretical house plans on small urban lots.

Architecture/Interior Design by James Gauer

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?

James Gauer – That’s very kind. Thank you. Legacy is perhaps too grand a word for my modest body of work, but I do admit I’m proud of it. “A poor thing but mine own” as Shakespeare would have it. I think the best legacy is clients who enjoy living in the places I’ve designed for them. And if, in the future, some young architect or designer comes across my work and says “that’s not bad”, that would be nice too.

I invite you to visit James Gauer’s stunning body of work at his webiste:

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011