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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011
Monday, 23 July 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
EYE CANDY OF THE WEEK – ARCADE CENTER TABLE BY THOMAS PHEASANT
PRODUCT
MANUFACTURER
DESIGNER
MATERIAL
Mahogany solids
Giorgio Limestone top
DIMENSIONS
Height: 28 3/4 inches
Diameter: 34 inches
DESCRIPTION
This piece is definitely a great lesson in geometry, and rhythm. The arch is not a very common geometric form to be found in furniture, so when it is used properly the arch can create a fantastic piece like the Arcade Table. A piece designed by Thomas Pheasant that combines his preference for traditional lines with clean and contemporary approach.
“From the Colosseum of Rome to Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, the arch is unique among architectural elements in its ability to move us. Its sense of perspective inspired Thomas Pheasant to create the Arcade series of tables. Through the kind of craftsmanship often reserved for a custom shop, a total of 10 sections are simultaneously cut on a radius, from very thick stock, shaped, tapered left, tapered right, tapered vertically, and hand fit to a perfect circle. The result is the kind of perspective sought by a sculptor, luring us to it, evidence that the hand can master and evolve all the mind can imagine. “ – Baker
YUMMY FACTOR
Sweet!!!
MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011
Monday, 2 July 2012
IN CONVERSATION WITH ZECH INKSTER
Zech Inkster
As seen in SNAP – July 2012
Zech Inkster of European Flooring in Victoria BC is always one of our first sources for flooring questions. He’s been in the industry for some time now, and we are always pleased with the flooring knowledge and products he is willing to share with us. We have been working with Zech for several years now and thought he would be a great resource for readers of our ‘In Conversation With’ series. We get a lot of questions about wood flooring, and here we plan to share with you some of the most common questions we get, as well as the ones that aren’t always asked - but should be!
Whether you are looking for new flooring or not, you should definitely stop in to check out their new showroom on the Gorge Waterfront – it looks great and the products really stand out and are easy to peruse. There is a little something for every taste and style and the friendly staff are always eager to help.
In the meantime – get your pen and paper handy because this interview is chocked full of useable, tips and suggestions for your home – including a few reality checks that anyone considering new flooring should know. Please, read on to get in on the conversation…
Iván Meade - How did you get into the flooring industry?
Zech Inkster - It's safe to say that wood has been part of my life since childhood, from grade school woodshop class to a summer job in a sawmill at the North Island community of Sointula. Following graduation I returned to Victoria where a friend's family owned a hardwood flooring store. First working as a wood floor refinisher, then as an installer of new floors, after 10 years I had to choose between continuing in installations – with the associated wear and tear on the knees – and being able to continue playing soccer; as I loved sports as well, I opted to take the knowledge and experience I had gained on the job and move into the sales and marketing side of the industry.
It was at a the IDS West trade show almost 7 years ago that I discovered the products featured at European Flooring and couple years later I was able to help bring the store and their unique, quality hardwood flooring to Vancouver Island.
Cosmopolitan Wengé - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - A floor accounts for approximately 30% of a room. What are the priorities that need to be taken into consideration while choosing a hardwood floor?
Zech Inkster - Flooring is one piece of a bigger puzzle, and as such it needs to fit within the homeowner's overall aesthetic and budget. If the home has a very neutral setting and décor, a more dramatic flooring might be appropriate, but typically the flooring is a complementary component of the design and should work with the style of home, paint colours, etc.
Aesthetics aside, choosing the correct hardwood floor also involves asking certain questions – Will you use area rugs? Is it in a humid area? Do you have pets or children?
L'Amour France Oak "Nantes" - Chevron Herringbone - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - What are the differences between a solid wood floor and an engineered wood floor?
Zech Inkster - A solid wood floor is exactly how it sounds – one piece of wood from top to bottom. An engineered wood floor has a solid wood top layer over a multi-layered plywood core. An engineered wood floor has all the natural beauty of a solid wood floor but with one major benefit: extra stability. This allows us to use longer and wider planks and use wood flooring in areas that solid wood floors are not recommended or cannot be used, such as over radiant in-floor heat, over unheated crawl spaces, below grade and over concrete subfloors to name a few.
L'Amour France Oak "Metz" - Distressed - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - What type of flooring is more popular now a days: hardwood or engineered?
Zech Inkster – Engineered. It's the natural evolution of wood floors, offering more stability, more flexibility and greater environmental benefits. At the same time, people need to know that not all engineered flooring is created equal. The term engineered flooring can cover a broad spectrum of quality and technology, so people need to do their homework.
XL Collection Oak "Artico" CUSTOM - Herringbone - UV Cured Laquer Finish
Iván Meade - I have to ask these questions as I get them very often – Do wood floors scratch? Is there any wood floor that doesn’t dent?
Zech Inkster - Unfortunately there isn’t a real wood floor that doesn’t scratch or dent. Wood is a natural material and as such is subject to denting and scratching. We are coming out with new finishes and treatments, such as natural oiled floors that can help camouflage mishaps and make repairs for everyday wear and tear easier, but when purchasing and installing new wood floors, homeowners need to understand that denting and scratching is in the nature of wood. Again, asking the right questions about the home environment will help select the right floor and finish.
European Flooring Showroom – Victoria BC
Iván Meade - Does the type of climate affect your flooring selection?
Zech Inkster - Absolutely. Wood is a living material and will move as humidity changes. The lack of humidity will make the wood contract while the addition of humidity will make a floor expand. Engineered wood flooring will help minimized this effect. In addition, different products will have different stability ratings, so knowledge of the home environment can ensure homeowners select from the appropriate woods.
Cosmopolitan Wengé - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - What are the differences in the types of wood flooring – Strip, Plank, Parquet, Engineered?
Zech Inkster - Technically speaking, the term “strip wood flooring” represents wood flooring that is 3” or narrower in width and “plank flooring” represents wood flooring wider then 3”. In North America, “Parquet” stands for wood flooring with a geometrical mosaic and/or angular patterns such as herringbone or the famous Versailles pattern. "Engineered" is the evolution of wood flooring, aesthetically the same as solid wood but more stable and incorporating a better use of natural materials.
XL Collection - CUSTOM colour - Distressed - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - Which type of wood floor is the most popular and why?
Zech Inkster - Wide plank oak is the new classic in wood flooring. Not only does oak perform well, but it's also a very sustainable product. While we have seen a trend toward more exotics in the last 10 years or so, trends fade. Oak has inspired homeowners for generations.
L'Amour France "Nantes" - Wire-brushed - UV Cured Laquer Finish
Iván Meade - What are the most common finishes you can find in wood flooring?
Zech Inkster - The UV cured urethane finish is still the most popular finish but a natural, oil-finished floor has so many advantages that we are seeing a real surge in its popularity. Welcome features include ease of repair, reduced “off-gassing” for improved indoor air quality and a more natural appearance so the floor doesn't appear "plastic."
European Flooring Showroom – Victoria BC
Iván Meade - As an expert, what do you recommend to your clients: unfinished boards or pre-stained ones?
Zech Inkster - Pre-stained. A factory-applied finish is stronger, more consistent and penetrates deeper into the wood, offering a better protectant. In addition, it can shave weeks off the time it takes to complete a project. A common problem we have heard of with site-finished floors is inconsistency in the finish.
XL Collection - European Walnut "CUSTOM" - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - One of the things that sets your company apart from other flooring suppliers on the island is your commitment to sustainability – How can readers find this beneficial to them?
Zech Inkster - When it comes to the environment, the first thing to consider when buying a natural resource-based construction material such as wood flooring is quality – purchase a product that will last a lifetime. It really doesn't matter how many environmental certifications a product has if it has to be torn up and replaced in a few years due to poor quality. When buying a product from European Flooring, strict European environmental laws allow you to be confident you are buying a sustainable product.
L'Amour France "Nimes" - Wire-brushed - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - What is your favourite product from European Flooring?
Zech Inkster - Oak #19 – it's the perfect grey. Taking five steps to complete, the colour extends all the way through the wood top-layer for added depth and durability; it's the perfect blend of form and function.
L'Amour France "Chalk White" - Natural Oil Finish
Iván Meade - What is new in wood flooring? – What are the new trends? - Which type of wood floor is the most popular and why?
Zech Inkster - Super WIDE boards in extra longer lengths and natural finishes, definitely, along with design details like the chevron and herring bone pattern and band sawn effect.
Wide plank oak is the new classic in wood flooring. Not only does oak perform well, but it's also a very sustainable product. While we have seen a trend toward more exotics in the last 10 years or so, trends fade. Oak has inspired homeowners for generations.
L'Amour France "Reimes" - Distressed - Natural Oil Finish
I invite you to visit European Flooring’s website at:
MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011
Monday, 25 June 2012
IN CONVERSATION WITH INES BENAVIDES
Inés Benavides
It’s time for me to spread some love for my talented family once again!
You may recall my previous posts on Benavides y Camino, and not to fret! Their furniture is still available, but my dear cousin Ines has branched off and opened her own, self-titled design studio and I couldn’t be more proud. Ines Benavides is based in Spain and specializes in three main services: Interior Design, Personalized Décor, and Furniture and Accessory Design. Ines and her work have been featured in several publications including features on TVE, and articles in Nuevo Estilo, La Casa, Marie Claire (Spain), Glamour (Spain), Hello (Spain) and Architectural Digest (Spain) amongst others.
Ines is a seasoned traveler, living in 7 countries throughout Europe and America. She went to school in Paris for a career in geological engineering, afterwards she worked as a strategist in consulting and business before following her true passion for interior and furniture design. In 2002, she joined forces with her cousin Phil, and created the successful firm, Benavides y Camino. Here is where Ines was launched into the forefront of the design community in Spain, garnering respect from clients, critics and peers alike. She is now known for her stunningly clean furniture pieces with unique features and details, and her ability to propose innovative solutions for interiors. Her passion exudes from her designs – each one captures dramatic feelings yet feel very livable.
I am very excited to interview a family member for the blog, as you know, I’m a strong believer that beauty, brains and design is just in our genes! Please read on to get in on the conversation…
Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?
Inés Benavides – I was born in a family where art and interior design was always present. But you already know that since you are my cousin…
But I started creating design pieces when I was studying mining engineering in Paris (nothing to do with my current career, I know…). At the time I was very fond of jewelry and designed a few pieces for myself.
Iván Meade - How would you describe your style?
Inés Benavides – I am very eclectic, I don´t think there is a unique style. In my work, by using different materials, I combine cold with warm, and there is color but the base is usually neutral.
I like modern spaces with a touch of history and I love antiques, so my pieces have to find their place in very different environments. That´s the challenge…
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?
Inés Benavides – My travels and having lived in very different countries (Guatemala, USA, England, etc.); however I have to say that my years in Paris and Rome have been crucial. Aesthetics are everywhere in those cities!
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade - What are you excited about right now in the world of design? Are there any new materials that you can’t wait to work with?
Inés Benavides – I am starting work on a very special collection, the pieces will not be very big, but they will be very special and there will be limited runs of one per piece.
They will all have a common element, but I am afraid I cannot tell you for now…
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade – What piece has given you the most satisfaction?
Inés Benavides – It is difficult to say because there are a few pieces that are very important to me. One of them is the Rayo table because I spent a lot of days working on it until I thought it was almost perfect (perfection doesn't´t exist). It was presented in Arco, our most important contemporary art show in Spain.
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade - Do you have a signature detail or design mantra that you apply to all of your furniture pieces or interior design projects? If so, what is it?
Inés Benavides - To be honest, no. I love designing and creating very different things. I believe it is a luxury to have the chance to use different materials, working with all kind of shapes and in spaces that have nothing in common.
I think freedom in creativity is very important.
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade - What should every room have in it?
Inés Benavides – Anything that is very personal and important to the owner, a souvenir piece from a trip, a gift from someone special, a drawing from a child. What makes a room unique is the personal touch that you put into it. Art, design and antiques are very important, but not as much as its owner’s history.
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade – What is your favourite interior design project and why?
Inés Benavides - I am working right now on a very exciting project. We have been asked by a communication company to completely change their image. Since their job is based on creativity and fun ideas, our objective is the same: to create a full project by developing very original ideas that will produce an unusual result.
Interiors by Inés Benavides
Iván Meade - Lastly, you have created a stunning body of work in a multitude of mediums – what would you like your legacy to be?
Inés Benavides – I would like people to understand through my work that there are thousands of ways to understand design and interior design. If I had to say something to the persons interested in my work it would be that aesthetics have no limit.
Interiors by Inés Benavides
I invite you to visit Inés Benavides stunning body of work at her website:
MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011
Friday, 8 June 2012
EYE CANDY OF THE WEEK – MAMA VASE BY ILSE CRAWFORD
Ilse Crawford
PRODUCT
MANUFACTURER
DESIGNER
MATERIAL
Mirror Polish Stainless Steel
MEASUREMENTS
335 x 215 x 228 mm
DESCRIPTION
Inspired by the nature of daily rituals. This new line by Ilse Crawford for Georg Jensen brings sensuous forms to every day objects. I love the voluptuousness of the piece and its clean forms. This is definitely an everyday Object d’Art where aesthetics and function are clearly working together.
“Voluptuous yet lean, feminine yet stripped to the essentials of its architecture, the Mama Vase is perfectly proportioned.
London-based designer Ilse Crawford has long been a champion of the clean lines and understated elegance that is associated with Scandinavian design. The magic of Mama is in its duality. Though composed with meticulous constraint, it
has a spirit of pure joy.”- Georg Jensen
YUMMY FACTOR
Succulent!!!
MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011
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