5 TIPS TO BRING A SUMMER VIBE INTO YOUR HOME

As Seen in SNAP June 2013

Summer officially begins on June 21^st.  After having a not-so-great spring, I believe my fellow Victorians and I are looking to bring some happiness and vibrancy to our homes.  With longer and (hopefully) warmer days we will be inclined to have more people over to enjoy the best that this season has to offer.   Something I have learned is that the summers in Victoria are not the longest. So, we have to maximize the best use of the sunshine-filled time we do get in the upcoming months.

 

Here are a couple of tips that will bring joy to your home every day, and you don’t need to invest much money to get these great results.

 

1. My first tip is to have natural flowers (never artificial or silk) in your home – They can be in the form of a plant, even a bowl of fruit or just a really nice flower arrangement. Don’t wait for a special occasion, every day is a reason to celebrate. I have found that flowers are always eye-catching and they are a small investment that will really improve your everyday life.  For a local florist, I would recommend Tara McHugh Flora, Poppies, Ramsey & Ramsey or Flowers on Top.  These florists offer weekly maintenance/delivery programs, so your place always will look at its best.

 

Flowers by Tara McHugh Flora

 

2. Investing in a couple of bright and happy pillows and a lightweight blanket.  This combo is perfect for a nice siesta in the afternoon.  Nowadays you can even get Sunbrella fabrics which will not fade with the sun and they will last you many seasons to come.  To look at Sunbrella fabric offerings, contact your favourite interior designer.

 

Jonathan Adler Outdoor Fabrics available at MEADE DESIGN GROUP

 

3. A cheerful set of napkins, chargers and a new tablecloth to dine Al Fresco.  Again, you can always find really happy alternatives in places like Target, Canadian Super Store, The Bay and Capital Iron without breaking the bank.  Colourful paper napkins can add also an unexpected touch.

 

Lilly Pulitzer Fabrics available at MEADE DESIGN GROUP

 

4. If you like to go for picnics at the beach or just sun-bathe at your home, why not pick-up really bold and fun beach towels? 

 

 

5. For the adventurous ones, try painting an accent wall in a vibrant colour.  Another way to introduce an accent colour is to just paint some large canvases in solid colours or stripes.  Maybe you have an artist trapped inside, just waiting to get out! Explore you artistic and hidden talents by painting a nice picture to decorate your home.

 

 

In the end, summer is all about finding ways to enjoy and spend time with family and friends. Colour is just a way to showcase that we are happy without saying a thing.  Be bold, be colorful and enjoy your Summer.

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

LIVING WITH FABRICS

As seen in SNAP – May 2013

 

Fabrics can give a room its character as well as reveal as much about your personality as the clothes you wear.  Fabrics can be used in interiors in so many different ways – They can be your drapes, the upholstery in your furniture, pillows, table linens, sheets, blankets and even the towels you use every day are a type of fabric (terrycloth).

 

Iván Meade & Echo Eaton checking fabrics at Meade Design Group Studio

 

As you can see, we are surrounded by fabrics every day.  It seems that using fabrics in interiors should be a very important element in any home, but often this is underestimated.  Aesthetically, fabrics add texture, interest, and beauty; but they can also add functionality to your home.  For instance there are many reasons to dress up a window: Privacy is usually the first need, to keep out sunlight, to disguise the window’s unattractiveness or an unattractive view, and to add more colour and decorative interest to the room.

 

Echo graciously carrying fabrics available at Meade Design Group

 

On the other hand; cushions, pillows and trims come in various styles and can be used to reinforce the lines and style of your upholstered piece.  It is also important to select the right fabric for your lifestyle.  Something that will be durable, yet comfortable to the touch.  People are generally spending more time on their sofas than before, they eat while watching TV, have naps or socialize with friends and pets.  For linens in the 90’s  a 300 thread count was the minimum requirement for a nice set of sheets, nowadays you can find higher thread counts, but take this with a grain of salt because fiber quality, yarn size, finishing and construction can also affect the quality of a pair of sheets regardless of the thread count. After all, we spend around a third of hour lives in our bed.

 

Barbara Barry Fabrics at Meade Design Group

 

If you have kids or pets at home are you choosing the right fabric for your needs? If you have a window facing east or west where the sun hits the strongest – Have you selected the right fabric for your window treatments? – Do you have the softest sheets in your bed?  A fabric is defined by four qualities: its hand, which is the way it feels – rough, smooth, thick, or thin; its textural quality – tufts, nubs, bumps, and reliefs, it’s fibres – natural, synthetic, or blends;  and its pattering – interwoven or imprinted designs.  As a broad generalization, rough, nubby fibers and bold geometrical patterns tend to be more contemporary and masculine in style; smooth, glossy cottons, silks, and pictorial patterns tend to be more traditional and feminine in style.

 

Window Treatments at Meade Design Group

 

Fabrics definitely make our life more comfortable and enjoyable.  We often forget we are surrounded by them so why not give them the attention they deserve and choose fabrics that are really going to improve our lifestyle?

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

In Conversation with Michelle Morelan

As Seen in SNAP Victoria – June 2009

Michelle Morelan

Michelle Morelan is a native of Ucluelet, BC with an eye for brilliant West Coast design. She lives and works between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Aside from being a great and talented interior designer she is also an amazing artist and her project renderings are totally worth framing. Michelle has one of the best interior design blogs I follow "A Schematic Life". I had the pleasure of meeting her at a blogger party in Vancouver and I have to say that she has a great sense of humour and a very warm personality. Everybody wants to be friends with Michelle!

Iván Meade - What is your favourite design find?

Michelle Morelan - We travel quite a bit, and I am enamored with the flea markets of Paris and Amsterdam, but I love natural curiosities like sticks, stones, old bird’s nests, driftwood and seashells. For example, when I installed the show suite at the Moorage in Ucluelet, I created a driftwood sculpture on a cedar plinth with drill, a dowel, wood glue and a cedar block.

Rendering by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade - Why is it important to you?

Michelle Morelan - It’s my one of my favorite design finds because it was almost free; proof, and a reminder, that you don’t have to spend lots of money on design. With clients on smaller budgets, I have often looked to nature to fill the gap by using shells, stones and moss, mixing them with something like the client’s crystal vase, or wooden boxes from their workshop. With my first apartment, I created birch tree wall art, and I would use salal or ferns in vases; it curbed my need to spend on expensive flowers, and I learned to love all of those shades of green. Now, even know I can afford flowers; I look forward to spring, so I can force branches inside.

Interior Design by Michelle Morelan

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

Michelle Morelan - I believe strongly in the interior/exterior relationship and looking to nature for inspiration. This is when I think you can create a space that is calming and seamless. Maybe it’s not obvious, like a piece of driftwood; maybe you look to nature for the perfect colour of blue. I once specified colours from a dozen brown eggs. I think one of the reasons we find some colour choices in rooms jarring is that they are unnatural colours; nature is the best designer. Designers often translate nature’s principles of scale, proportion, colour, line and emphasis, and bring them inside, even if you don’t want to live with sticks and stones. You may not even know why you feel so comfortable in that space; it just feels good.

Rendering of Meade Design Group Studio by Michelle Morelan

Special Gift for Albarosa from Brillante Home Decor by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

Michelle Morelan - I think the first one is difficult to establish. My Aunt in Cape Breton had an amazing farmhouse and lake house not too far away from each other that we used to visit in the summer as children. I remember being in awe of both homes. She had exquisite taste.

At about 13 years old, I remember designing a Japanese tea garden (on paper, in plan) for my family’s rocky backyard. A couple of years later, I bought my first issue of AD. It was the Exotic Homes around the World issue and a home in Mexico was featured- there was a seamless transition from indoors to out; so different than homes in my neighborhood. I would go to bed dreaming of walking though that space; how I would come in the front door, which room would be mine, what I would be wearing and doing in each room, at each time of the day.

When I was 15, my family commissioned a local builder to build us a new home, and I was the sweeper onsite. All of these things got me thinking about the build environment.

Aunt Glenna’s Cabin in Cape Breton

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

Michelle Morelan - Yes, as long as I can remember, but I got a later start in life; I had my sons at 21 and 23 and really wanted to spend time with them as they were growing up. I opted to start at Kwantlen at 36, and graduated with an Applied Design Degree right before my 40^th birthday. Albeit difficult, it was one of the best moves I have ever made. I’ve been in business for myself almost 2 years now!

Michelle’s drafting and drawing tools

Iván Meade – Your interiors are not just beautiful and have the west coast contemporary feeling, but they are also very livable. How do you achieve that?

Michelle Morelan - Programming is key- a space can look magazine worthy, but not function for the family who uses it on a daily basis. I believe that good designers ask the right questions, understand and filter the answers, then compose a comfortable formula of form and function. The fact is, most clients bring stuff with them you wouldn’t choose, and budgets run out; that’s the challenge.

I love having the opportunity to watch clients use the spaces; the way they interact with friends at parties or play with their kids after dinner. I want my clients to praise the design after I am gone, and they start living their lives- instead of cursing it.

Contemporary West Coast is a favorite look of mine, and I love the work of Vancouver architects Brian Hemingway, Battersby/Howat and the Patkau’s. It’s about being quiet in nature, and appropriate to site. I believe the same is true with interiors.

Interior Design by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade - I believe one of your strengths as a designer is your renderings - all your hand sketches are always exquisitely well done – Where do you get your inspiration from?

Michelle Morelan - Thank you. I really think it’s becoming a lost art, with the precise computer renderings available at such a low prices.

I have been influenced by nature first, but then the sketches in AD, of Albert Hadley, Mark Hampton and a great instructor at Kwantlen- Tony O’Regan.

My very first clients showed such excitement when I walked them through a SketchUp model of their unframed space; I will remember it forever. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I feel that it’s a skill that nicely compliments interior design. Even know renderings are not in the budget for most clients, I typically include one either of the finished space, as a gift after project completion, or of the schematic space early in the process.

I really do think we can all draw. There are fundamentals and techniques, and you have to practice without fear, but it’s not that difficult. It’s one of those things you just have to DO and enjoy.

Digital Renderings by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade – Do you have other strengths or weaknesses that we don’t know?

Michelle Morelan - I have a very strong sense of fairness, and have little tolerance for those who do not.

Interior Design by Patricia Gray & Rendering by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade - What does it mean for you to blog your ideas about design, the story behind your renderings and basically open your personal life to the web?

Michelle Morelan - If I thought about it too much, I may not do it. I guess I have a level of voyeurism, and am interested in other’s lives, so I’m open to sharing mine in return. I think it’s nice to know we are human, and more like each other than not. Besides, my studio is right in the middle of my home, so there is no separating the two (or should I say three) areas of my life. There are blogs that stick to design, which I love, but I like sharing family milestones and my disappointments. You never know what you are going to get when you come to visit; it’s A Schematic Life!

Iván Meade – What has been the best experience of being a design blogger?

Michelle Morelan - Meeting people like you Ivan! Honestly, meeting design bloggers face to face has been one of the greatest benefits of blogging. I have also received a few rendering commissions from posting my work. It’s done something for me I can’t explain; maybe validation, maybe discipline, a kinship with design enthusiasts or new friendships. I just know it feels good.

Rendering by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade - I know that one of your favorite activities is to visit art exhibitions and explore antique markets – I have also noticed that you always use real art and the quality of your pieces is exceptional in all your projects. Do you select your art pieces to work with the room or does the room work around the art pieces?

Michelle Morelan - With a recent new build project, the client had some amazing original watercolour pieces that suited their seaside home and just needed reframing, so I was lucky. The longer I practice design, the more I see the importance of original art and sculpture in a space. Like classic furniture pieces, they will work with your changing interior over the years. Concentrate on the shell of the space first; add a few classic furniture pieces and art- then bring in some element of nature as garnish. That’s a perfect recipe to me.

I have also taken a few classes when travelling- oil in Amsterdam, watercolor with artist Marla Thirsk in Ucluelet and a sculpture class in Key West. I would suggest taking a mixed media class, and learning to paint your own canvas or do your own sculpture. They will always be special to you. When my son was 18, we painted a large canvas together, and met in the middle; I will always cherish it. I’m taking a class with Patricia Gray at Emily Carr starting in a couple of weeks.

Art is personal, and if it makes you smile, then bring it into your life. It doesn’t have to match your interior palette, but does have to work with the style or concept of the space. In saying that, it would be amazing to use a classically painted and framed piece in a stark modern space, or vice versa. Tension is good too.

Joni’s [Cote de Texas] Living Room – Rendering by Michelle Morelan

Iván Meade – I also know from reading your blog that you are a big fan of Danish/Dutch design – Why is it so appealing to you?

Michelle Morelan - Yes, I love to travel; my husband is a commercial pilot, so I have lots of opportunities. He spends quite a bit of time in Belgium and Amsterdam.

I walked into an artist’s co-operative in Amsterdam on one of my first days in Holland a few years back, and so immediately appreciated the support for the arts. Maybe it’s the long history of artists, the quirkiness of Amsterdamers’ or the ability and desire to look forward. You can’t help but notice the way the Dutch mix old and new architecture and design; they do it so well. They also hold back and live with water in much different ways than us; so interesting and innovative.

Of course, having Belgium, Sweden and Germany as neighbors, and the availability of European goods, like Italian furniture adds to that yummy design recipe. Our history is such a short one in comparison, and I sometimes feel removed from all the excitement.

Interior Design by Michelle Morelan

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

Michelle Morelan - Something I have been contemplating since my graduation is to apply to UBC’s school of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, so I am applying next year. For me, it starts with the site and context.

Interior Design & Rendering by Michelle Morelan

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?

Michelle Morelan - HHmmm…that I created spaces and lifestyles for people that worked for them and their families; happy clients and a balanced life for my own family would be a great legacy.

I invite you to discover Michelle Morelan’s work

WEBSITE

BLOG

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

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with Colleen Buker

Colleen Buker

As seen in SNAP - November 2008 - " Design Feature "

Colleen Buker is a very talented local designer. I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago when I started my career in design here in Victoria. I do remember a very valuable lesson she taught me back then, when she noticed that my measurements for a window treatment were backwards. Coming from México and adopting myself to the imperial system was a real challenge, and I was so appreciative of her taking the time to help me. Since then we have shared a great friendship.

From residential to hospitality design, Colleen’s award-winning designs are matched only by her passion for people and overall great taste. One of Colleens many strengths is custom furniture design. Colleen’s furniture pieces have always been characterized by the elegance and the understanding of their lines, scale and proportion bringing a sense of uniqueness to each space that she designs. Her interiors are often transitional with a perfect blend of classic and modern characteristics. Colleen Buker is one of the best keep secrets in Victoria.

I have always found what my design colleagues treasure very intriguing, so I had to ask Colleen what her favorite design find was and the story behind it.

Iván - What is your favorite local find? Where did you get this item – how long have you had it?

Colleen - My print of "The Chinese Girl" by Vladmir Tretchikoff. I was wandering through an antique emporium and saw the print from far away. It just captured my attention and I knew it was important. It was in a kitschy 60's frame. I have had it since 2003.

" The Chinese Girl " by Vladimir Tretchikoff

Iván - Why is it important/inspirational to you?

Colleen – Reading about and discovering [the artist] life was so interesting...it is about perseverance and following your passion.

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

Colleen - "Express your passion - do what you love - no matter what" Quote from Vladmir Tretchikoff Says it all, don't you think?

Iván Meade – What is the best moment of your day?

Colleen Buker – The first sip of coffee ....... The brand: Kicking Horse Coffee. The blend - Hoo Doo Jo

The Highlander - Victoria

Iván - What was your first experience with design?

Colleen - When I threw my red stuffed horse out of my crib.... I was space planning.

The Highlander - Victoria

Iván – Your interiors are not just beautiful and contemporary, but they are also very livable. How do you archive that?

Colleen – I believe you must be able to live in your space.....the elements which bely comfort are paramount.

Private Residence - Duncan

Iván - Is there any designer and/or architect from the past, you appreciate a lot?

Colleen – Tommi Parzinger - designer & Alberto Giacometti - modern sculpter - painter Iván - and those still working? Colleen – Tom Stringer - Helene Aumount - Katherine Newman

The Highlander - Victoria

Iván – I believe one of your strengths is in furniture design all your pieces are always exquisitely well done – Where do you get your inspiration?

Colleen – Sometimes my inspiration is based on a reinterpretation of an existing piece ….. sometimes it is modeled from a beautiful line or piece of wood. I like to create pieces which marry elegance and comfort, blending the masculine and feminine. In this I hope to create pieces which have a lasting appeal.

Marina Bay - Victoria

Iván - I know that one of your favorite activities is to visit art exhibitions – I also noticed that you always use real art in your projects. Do you select your art pieces to work with the room or the room works around the art pieces?

Colleen - In most cases the art has been selected after the room has been designed. The clients are in regeneration.....they have expanded to a new scope and so does the art collection. In other cases I have client's art collection which is the consideration point to centre the design.

Marina Bay - Victoria

Iván - It’s the big installation day. What could have gone wrong did go wrong. How does Colleen Buker deal with that?

Colleen - At the moment of discovery - I first register disbelief, second I am in denial and third I am disappointed. Once I have worked through the initial --------- I quickly assess the level of issue or issues at hand and move to correct what needs to be done.

The Highlander - Victoria

Iván – The popularity of the design shows on TV has brought interior design into homes all across our country. If you had a show, how would you educate the viewers about interior design?

Colleen - It is difficult in a half hour time frame to show the amount of time & effort required to plan, develop and execute a project, but I feel this would be very important to present to viewers in setting reasonable expectations for their own projects. I would include budget costs for rooms developed as well.

Shoal Point - Victoria

Iván – A decor fad you hope never to see again?

Colleen – The do it yourself paint technique called "smooshing"

Oak Bay Residence - Victoria

Iván – What is next on your design journey?

Colleen – I am currently designing a custom sectional for a clients media room in their French inspired home. I am very excited about this project.....

Marina Bay - Victoria

Iván - Any words of wisdom?

Colleen - It is in life's spontaneous out cast moments when the door opens gifting us laughter, love and creativity. Take time for those moments!

The Highlander - Victoria

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

Colleen – You have lived a good life Charlie Brown.

To see more of Colleen Buker stunning work please visit:

http://www.cbdesigns.ca/

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

SNAP - October 2008

We are really excited to introduce our new section called " Design-Feature " in SNAP - Victoria. Every month we will interview local designer celebrities and we will share with you their favorite pieces.

Here is our first article...

Last November I discovered a great little shop in Fan Tan Alley filled with funky and unique design pieces called Onlyhuman. The discovery quickly turned into a valuable resource for projects and I developed great friendships with the owners.

Partners in business and pleasure, Chris Rothery and Christina Stack created Onlyhuman 4 years ago, feeling that Victoria deserved an infusion of some fresh design.

Newly located at 533 Pandora Avenue in Market Square, Onlyhuman offers a varied range of furniture, lighting and ceramics from the groundbreaking Dutch companies Moooi and Droog, local lighting giants Bocci, and the playful menagerie of Jonathan as well as custom furniture designs and services.

Only Human Store

Iván -You recently became the first retailer to bring the Moooi brand to Victoria; could you please give us a little background on the company and their products?

Chris & Christina - Moooi is a Dutch design collection of furniture & lighting founded by design superstar Marcel Wanders. Moooi combines classical extravagance with modern minimalism to create unusual and stunning furniture and lighting.

Iván - You have a great light fixture featured in your store right now, the “Random Light” by Moooi. After looking at the light online I read that it is made in a very interesting way, making each one unique, could you explain the process that goes into creating one of these lights?

Chris & Christina - Hugely dramatic, light as a feather and distinctly Dutch, the Random Light (2002) by Bertjan Pot began as a modernist craft project of sorts. After attempts at knitting fibreglass as a means of creating structure, Pot turned to coiling epoxy-dipped fibreglass around a large balloon in varying patterns. Once the balloon was popped, the dramatic globe shape remained, becoming a buoyant pendant lamp for an entryway, dining room or lounge area. The light bulb is visible at the center of the globe, and when lit, creates an all over glow with minimal glare.

racy...

Iván - Your store is a great resource for custom furniture and distinctive accessories. What makes a product worthy of being sold at Onlyhuman?

Chris & Christina - Because we design as well as produce furniture, Onlyhuman strives to sell products that have a connection not only to the designer, but also the maker. Christina has written an ethnography on textile workers in Vietnam with UVic, it was this experience combined with Chris' everyday furniture making that spurred the concept of Onlyhuman. We also feel strongly about new and postmodern design, and are proud to bring these items to Victoria.

Iván - What is your store’s best selling item?, Do you have a favourite?

Chris & Christina - The "Sun Jar" (Tobias Wong, 2002) -is a solar powered mason jar lamp that has been covered in a frosted finish, contains a solar cell, rechargeable battery and LED lights. The result is a lamp that collects and stores sunshine for night-time! Cute, green, and gift priced at $45. Our favourite? Chris and I are both in love with the Smoke series - burnt chairs covered in an epoxy, iconic black furniture that rises out of the ashes of modernism.

MOOOI UNVEILING

SNAP OCTOBER

Only Human

533 Pandora Avenue.
Market Square

250.383.only (6659)

[ click here about additional stories about ONLY HUMAN ]

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011