In Conversation with Johan Lenaerts

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

When I first saw Johan Lenaerts’ 14 page spread in Interiors Magazine I was amazed at the space he had created. It is crisp and tasteful, with an eclectic mix of styles and art, a beautiful yet masculine feel and surprising selections that kept the space feeling interesting. Coming from 3 previous generations of furniture and interior design (hence the G4 moniker), naturally Johan has a beautiful eye for furniture and luxurious designs. I had to learn more about Johan and his company, G4AGENCY and went straight to his website (http://g4.be/) to request an interview.

Thankfully, Johan accepted and I was thrilled to get more insight about his personal style and his company, which carries a wide range of beautiful furnishings from designers such as Emma Torfs, Kate Hume, Vladimir Kagan and many others.

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Johan Lenaerts – For my 7th birthday - I received a Verner Panton chair for my desk ! So there you are - still at elementary school - and already that !!

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Giorgio Possenti

 

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Johan Lenaerts – I think  all the 1970-ies - my father had a design shop at that time, selling already early Cassina and B&B italia ( at that time together : B&C italia : Busnelli and Cassina ) - the ambience of the '70-ies, the Modernistic architecture of the houses and interiors - they left their marks ! It was the time of textures, colours and patterns, new materials 

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

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

Johan Lenaerts – Designers of the past : Frank Lloyd Wright, Adolf Loos for their holistic approach to architecture and space; later : Eero Saarinen and Richard Neutra : for me : the fathers of Modernism; Vladimir Kagan : still alive and kicking ! my favourite for furniture design of the second part of the 20°th Century    Designers of the present : Ron Arad, Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid : again : for their holistic approach in all the things they design and create ! And please come back in 10 years to ask this same question : than we can see who is leaving marks to remember for the future !

 

Johan Leanerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

Johan Lenaerts – Eclectic & holistic ! Eclectic : since I like to mix textures, colours, materials / Holistic : in planning rooms and spaces - I try hard to take in consideration, all surrounding circumstances and to involve them into my designing and creating-process - in order to obtain a maximum of solutions out of a certain situation

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

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

Johan Lenaerts – Greatest strength : feeling for colour and materials / Greatest weakness : I'm still learning, every day ...

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

Iván Meade – What do you look for in a furniture piece?

Johan Lenaerts – First of all I try to find out about the background of the designer - and see how this influenced him/her in it's designing of this furniture piece / than I look how they used the materials, textures, colours !

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

Iván Meade – What is your favourite furniture piece?

Johan Lenaerts – On this very moment : the SERPENTINE sofa - designed by VLADIMIR KAGAN - still my absolute favourite !

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

Iván Meade – Your Antwerp residence project is simply stunning. The space is wonderfully eclectic but remains very well put-together, how do you achieve this successfully?

Johan Lenaerts – The building has a nice - modernistic concrete structure from 1969 - the scheme is very straight up - so let's say - the setting is peaceful, quite but strong - but to achieve this - we had to break out a lot of smaller rooms / afterwords you have a the space to play with beautiful stuff !

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

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

Johan Lenaerts – Yes - painting all dark chocolate brown - including the ceiling ! But the effect is stunning ! All attention goes no to the windows and the daylight !

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Giorgio Possenti

 

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

Johan Lenaerts – I'm not a big reader - I'm a very visual type of person - so : Tom of Finland on the bedside table  ( Joke ) / on the coffee table : a book on one of my favourite Belgian artists : Jan De Cock ( in Tate Modern / London - 2005 ) ( www.jandecock.net )

 

Johan Lenaerts - Photograph by Bieke Claessens

 

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

Johan Lenaerts – I think - in this period of world-wide crisis -  that design ( good and well-thought design of course ! ) is one of the exits - out of the crisis ! With new designs / new ideas - we can create new opportunities ! I'm thinking especially of green-design ( environment-friendly, green etc ) !

 

Johan Lenaerts - © copyrights b.claessens 2009

 

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Johan Lenaerts – I'm designing my new house and showroom in the centre of Antwerp - 

 

Johan Lenaerts - © copyright b.claessens 2009

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?

Johan Lenaerts – My happy clients !

 

Johan Lenaerts  - Photograph by Jan Verlinde

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Happy Easter!!!

Iván Meade – circa 1978

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Running with Scissors Studio Amazing Gift

Yesterday Running with Scissors Studio was our last appointment of the day and I have to say that it became a wonderful surprise when we received beautiful thank you gifts from Delores and Andrew, our clients. We received a stunning pillow and a box of Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Truffles that I don’t want to share!

Delores is an amazing artist and she custom-made and designed a very sophisticated pillow for us with Black Kravet Couture Crushed Velvet and Pewter Silk complete with beautiful embellishments such as Silk Shibori Ribbon, a beautiful Kravet Trim, and an image of my favourite photograph in the studio printed on cotton and framed with two layers of Silk Piping. Even the sides of the pillow are perfectly detailed with Pewter Silk and Silver clasps with silk ribbon.

Of course we had to place the pillow in the best seat in the studio Greg’s Barcelona Chair. All the details in the pillow blend perfectly with the studio.

I honestly got goose bumps – I was not expecting a present at all – but I am glad I did! We have been working with Andrew & Delores to develop the branding and the design for their new business Running with Scissors Studio – Art Quilting Supplies. This project was comprised of logo adjustments, a stationary package and promotional materials as well as our first e-commerce site.

All of Running with Scissors Studio printing materials were printed on 100% Post consumer waste fibre as part of their commitment to incorporate environmentally responsible and sustainable practices into their business processes.

Stationary Package

Business Card

Bookmark

Package Label

I invite you to visit their new website and to spread the word about their new business.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO

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Affordable Design – The Trollsta Tray Table by IKEA

Good design doesn't need to be expensive, good design can be affordable. I am a firm believer that the best design is always a compromise in the choices that are made. It is the refined eye who sees what you can use as an inexpensive alternative. Of course expensive things are beautiful - one of the reasons is the time, materials and effort spent in the creation of these pieces. We try to highlight these pieces in our Eye Candy of the Week section, but being current with the times we also would like to feature some affordable alternatives that are unique, elegant and cost effective.

Trollsta Tray Table

For all of those fans of Moooi, Marcel Wanders, Jaime Hayon or Marteen Baas for instance - IKEA has this piece that will echo the designs of these great talents.

PRODUCT
Trollsta – Tray Table [ Black ]

WHERE TO GET IT?
IKEA

DESIGNER
Wiebke Braasch

MATERIAL
Table top: Steel, Pigmented powder coating
Underframe: Solid birch, Tinted nitrocellulose lacquer
Axle: Steel, Galvanized

KEY FEATURES

• Removable tray.
• The tray has an extra wide edge and high sides; prevents spills and makes it easy to carry.
• Easy to fold up, easy to move

PRICE
$ 79.00 Canadian Dollars

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with Kimberly Williams

Kimberly Williams

As seen in SNAP magazine [ April 2009 ]

Kimberly Williams is among Vancouver Island’s top designers. With great projects like Dockside Green, Long Beach Lodge Resort, features in many publications and a multitude of awards under her belt, Kimberly and the team at her company, Kimberly Williams Interiors is renowned for their beautiful and timeless yet innovative and fresh interior design projects while maintaining their commitment to reducing their impact on the planet.

I met Kimberly last year when she approached Meade Design Group for her graphic design needs. I was so excited to create a new graphic identity and website for one of Canada’s top interior designers. Now that it is nearly complete I am so pleased with her finished product. I think it really evokes Kimberly’s design philosophy.

Iván Meade – "What is your favourite design find?

Kimberly Williams – My greatest design find was the piece of property on which I built my design studio in Brentwood Bay.

Kimberly Williams Studio

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

Kimberly Williams – This piece of property was originally developed by my grandfather in the 1960's and came full-circle when I bought it six year ago. Buying that property represented a huge step in the growth of my company and allowed me to expand into other avenues of design.

Kimberly Williams Studio

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

Kimberly Williams – The team and I designed the entire building form the ground up so it definitely reflects my personal style and design philosophy. Because this is where we all work every day, it is a constant source of inspiration - holding all the keys to our design success!

Kimberly Williams Studio

Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

Kimberly Williams – When I was 13 my mother told me that I could do whatever I wanted with my bedroom. That set the stage for where my career was headed.

Bear Mountain Residence

Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

Kimberly Williams – I love the work of Arthur Erikson. It’s contemporary and modern and he really uses light to emphasize space. He makes design look so easy. A lot of my personal inspiration comes from living on Vancouver Island. I’ve lived here all my life and I love it! I really try to bring the beauty of nature into my work.

Shoal Point Penthouse

Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

Kimberly Williams – West Coast elegance meets casual contemporary.

Bear Mountain Residence

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

Kimberly Williams – I think my greatest strength is my ability to really listen to our clients and determine their design needs. I also draw a lot of strength from my experiences as a mother to my two amazing daughters.

My greatest weakness is that I find it hard to say no, but I’m getting better at it.

Shoal Point Penthouse

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

Kimberly Williams – Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth & When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate and my faithful journal.

Bear Mountain Residence

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

Kimberly Williams – Practicality. Working with clients to create appropriate spaces that meet their needs and budget. It’s also great to be able to provide our commercial and residential clients with Green design options that are no longer the priciest things out there.

Bear Mountain Residence

Iván Meade – Do you think Victoria is ready for a change? Where do you see design going in the next 10 years?

Kimberly Williams – Victoria is a stylish community with vibrant people. I think that design will move increasingly toward functional design without the excess of times past.

Oak Bay Residence

Iván Meade – You seem very passionate about the green movement that is happening in the design world, in what ways are you and your company reducing your impact on the environment?

Kimberly Williams – In our office we have really tried ot make environmental design a priority. After getting on board with Dockside green we dove right in and we’ve learned so much! In our office we now only use 100% recycled paper, we’ve installed a water filtration system rather than bringing in bottles and we’ve set up a composting program. We also make a conscious effort to print less and subscribe to the sample recycling programs offered by most of our suppliers. Not only does it help the environment but it keeps our office tidy too!

Dockside Green

Iván Meade – How do you find that technology has impacted design?

Kimberly Williams – It’s a real time saver. We’re able to communicate with clients so quickly and easily now, near or far. We’re also seeing a lot of Smart technology in homes related to environmental control that helps home-owners monitor their energy consumption and increase their comfort. Homes aren’t just shelter anymore they’re an extension of the user.

Bear Mountain Residence

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

Kimberly Williams – Without a doubt it’s the Long Beach Lodge in Tofino – not only because it was an amazing project to be a part of but because I love visiting there – it’s so peaceful. When you’re designing a space you know that it’s going to look good – but when I walked into the great room for the first time it was so much more than furniture and finishes. I thought: “This turned out way better that I ever could have imagined.”

Long Beach Lodge

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

Kimberly Williams – I had a client ask to have a bronze statue of her son made and designed as a fountain to be placed in front of their home.

Bear Mountain Residence

Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

Kimberly Williams – I’d love to work with the Breast Cancer Foundation to create a place where women receiving treatment from out of town can stay and feel at home. Going through cancer treatment myself, I know how hard it can be and I can’t imagine having to be away from my home. It would be so rewarding to know that these women could enjoy a bit of comfort during such a trying time in their lives.

Bear Mountain Residence

Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

Kimberly Williams – My “dream project” and possibly starting a furniture line.

Campbell Construction

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?

Kimberly Williams – To know that I made a difference in people’s lives. That I helped people to achieve that feeling of “being at home” in their space. It could be an office, a hotel room, a private home or a treatment center, if people feel the ease of the space then I’ve done my job.

I invite you to discover Kimberly Williams stunning body of work at her website:

www.kimberlywilliams.ca

Iván 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