Fun on a Friday: Log Bowls

Using only reclaimed trees, designer Doha Chebib from the Loyal Loot Collective creates these innovative and colorful pieces. The handmade bowls are finished with a water-based and furniture grade acrylic paint finish in a variety of bright and cheerful hues. Grouped together in varying sizes, shapes and colors, the bowls make for a unique style statement!

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MODERN DESIGN: PROVIDE HOME

Where to start ... with my recent relocation to the gastown neighborhood, it is the community of creative individuals that have drawn me in and helped me find my new love for Vancouver. Immediately from street scape PROVIDE HOME caught my eye. A sophisticated white interior complimented with local fir paneling and a unique custom line of fir furniture. A modern interior that features unique home accessories from some of my favorites: beautiful modern pottery from Rina Menardi to hand blown glass light fixtures from Niche Modern, to glass candle holders from Laurence Brabant, Paris, or the glass collection from Anna Torfs or Lawrence. For those who appreciate the art of Pottery, each of the pieces produced by Rina Menardi are sculptural pieces, seeing them in context with modern furniture will give you a good sense of how they compliment modern interiors, even the family at Inform Interiors showcases them in their B&B Italia room settings. I first came across the beautiful hand blown light fixtures in New York when I attended ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) and was in awe of their modern translation of the traditional exposed bulb, what a pleasant surprise to see that Provide Home introduced this New York design company to Vancouver by providing a couple of my favorite restaurants Chambar & Medina Cafe with their accent lighting.

In contrast to a previous negative comment about this retail space being "pretentious?" - it does take a sophisticated eye to appreciate good design. There are no knock offs or cheap representations here, only fine investment pieces that are all about quality. What I love about this neighborhood boutique is that the Owners Robert Quinnell and David Keeler feature a number of local designers and artists as well. Too often our local talents are missed, Provide Home provides a platform to showcase the local creative community. Check out the jewelry designed by Shereen de Rousseau or the resin vases of Martha Sturdy or the stationary designs of The Pink Door Company.

As an interior designer constantly sourcing unique product for clients, what a pleasant surprise to see this lovely modern interior become my lifestyle specialty boutique right here in Vancouver.

Provide Home carries a selection of unique home accessories that exclusive to their showroom - some of my favorites to add to my list above ADONDE, TICHELARR ceramics, DAFF FELT, CALEB SIEMEN, MAISON ET OBJET to EX VETO, ENO, MUUTO to JUDY ROSS textiles.

To learn more about exciting new products from Provide Home, Robert  recently joins the blogging world through Provide's blog where he shares with readers his favorite modern design sources.

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The Power of Attraction

Creating product desire through the power of attraction using color, shape and texture continues to be a key focus for many designers. A handmade favorite of ours is thelittlestitch - visit her blog to find out where you can buy her designs and what she will be working on next. Some "attractive" samples of her work:

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MODERN TRANSITIONAL - KELLY HOPPEN

Feature Interior Design Firm: KELLY HOPPEN
Location: London, Britain and Paris, France
Specialty: high-end residential, commissions including hotel, restaurant, office, aircraft
Project Highlights: Private Residences, British Airways, Royal Mougins Golf Club, Cartier
Photography by: Thomas Stewart, Vincent Knapp

I am inspired by world-renowned British designer KELLY HOPPEN, whose work over the years has motivated me to pursue my love of interior design as a profession. I admire Kelly as an excellent role model for her ability as a talented designer and creative stylist to turn her passion of design into a successful business. The Kelly Hoppen signature style has transformed the art of consulting into a brand of it's own. Recently, the firm has re-launched the KH website to feature the KELLY HOPPEN HOME line with BHS. Kelly now leads a team of 30 with offices based out of London and, more recently, Paris. I am excited to see her signature line of product accessible to a client market that has long admired her sophisticated sensibilities and approach to design. Kelly has been highly-influential in my career as a source of inspiration and as a professional leader.

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Atelier Abigail Ahern

Abigail Ahern is a stylist and an interior designer who has spent years travelling around the globe for different jobs and assignments. Her store, Atelier Abigail Ahern in Islington, London is a direct reflection of her diversity of experience and eclectic taste.



I really like this type of earthy modern style, where coarse textures and rough finishes are balanced with contemporary clean edges and curves.




The textile collection is stunning selection of beautiful shades of mossy green, mustard and grey. Read More..

MODERN INTERIORS - WHITE CORIAN

During a recent sourcing visit to New York, I came across BUTTER & EGGS in Tribeca. They carry some amazing home accessories in crisp white corian solid surfacing. I did some reading to find out more about the product line and learned that the designers behind these amazing objects are a talented husband & wife team. The extensive styling/editorial background of Roseann Repetti complements the modern architectural process of her husband, architect West Chin. They formed FTF DESIGN STUDIO to produce a line of home accessories. Through the website for their architecture & interior design firm, WEST CHIN ARCHITECTS, I share with you their portfolio of amazing interiors which has evolved into a product line of home accessories, furniture & uniquely designed freestanding tubs. I admire how they have taken the opportunity to brand their work into a line of products and, even better, are using one of my favorite materials - CORIAN.

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Muji

One of my favourite discoveries in Dublin, since moving here from Canada, is a store called Muji. The Muji chain is originally from Japan, and is full of well designed household and office accessories.

The overall design concept is very clean and simple, with neutral colours and high quality production. They are also committed to selling recycled and environmentally friendly products.



There are many handy objects that integrate well with different interior styles.

A small but tasteful collection of tableware, place mats, bedding and clothing, is combined with a cornucopia of stationary and storage items. For someone who is organizationally obsessed like myself, it is heaven!




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Arcade Avec

Arcade Avec is an incredible group of artists and designers based in Bolzano, Italy who collectively make furniture and accessories for the home.






These beautiful amber vases caught my eye as they glowed on their respective display shelves. They were created by Ivan Baj and are hand blown, hand engraved and each one is signed from a limited edition.


Paulo Haubert designed these beautiful hand woven textiles. The basket (left) is 100% wool and the pillows and throws (below) are 100% silk. I like how Paulo combines rich materials and rough knit.




The texture is raw, but it is also soft and luxurious. These accessories would be perfect in a minimalist setting to provide an earthy comfort and balance sharp clean edges.




He also designed these black and white throws throws (left), which are made from hand knitted merino wool.







This chaise, chair and ottoman were designed by Kazuhiko Tomitaya. They are constructed from a yamathar core on a metal frame. Read More..

Hering Berlin

I came across this beautiful porcelain collection by Hering Berlin at Maison & Objet and the photographs really do not do it justice. Most of the work is very delicate with soft edges and curves.


Every piece in the collection is unique. Each is hand made or moulded on the wheel, and the surface decoration washed out manually. They also offer a bespoke service.



Hering Berlin was created in 1999 by Stefanie Hering together with her husband, the architect Götz Esslinger, and ceramics specialist Wiebke Lehmann.


They also make some lovely free standing lamps.

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Livingstones

Livingstones by Samarin are another great example of design that you can interact with.







These wonderful cushions, made to resemble oversized pebbles, can be rearranged and moved about from room to room. They come in a range of neutral colours and one bright red accent colour.
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MODERN LUXURY - ACCESSORIES

SALVIATI - bolla vase from salviati is one of many beautiful center peices. SALVIATI provides limited editions of work in collaboration with world renowned artisans and architects such as Romano Chirivi. Luxury accessories for homes where furniture is carefully chosen from high end modern retailers such as LIVINGSPACE or SPENCER INTERIORS ... it's simply a design "NONO" to add just any typical accessory. Just as picking that perfect set of Prada shoes to compliment a classic Armani suite ... dare to even think to add just any pair of regular shoes? ... Having the opportunity to design dressing rooms full of amazing wardrobes, I often refer to interiors as a reflection of how one dresses and presents themselves. When one shops at Holt Renfrew to purchase Gucci - the same thought process should reflect in their choosing the right retailer for the perfect piece of furniture. Quality and finishing of details make all the difference.

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MODERN ORGANIC ACCESSORIES - VANCOUVER

MARTHA STURDY (Canadian business leader in home accessories) closed shop on South Granville ... and soon after followed by the closing of CABAN (Club Monaco's "one stop shop" lifestyle store) - leaves Vancouver interior designers with few options for modern home accessories. Unfortunately, with the conservative local market ... such product specific stores are hard to come by ... even small retailers like Bottega Roost in Yaletown closed down. Accessories in the form of artwork, sculpture, pottery or glassware to name a few, are the special details that transform a space into your own. Accessories are the jewels in our interiors, objects that bring in the personality of one's personal aesthetic and appreciation for quality in detail. Items that move us or bring a part of the world we admire and remind us of moments in time ...

Taking over Martha's location on south Granville, 18KARAT opens their first retail store. Initially a wholesaler to the design community, they now offer a great opportunity for the local community to have access to limited editions of modern organic accessories. Traveling to New York to source product, it is refreshing to see a local retail concept like 18KARAT to represent themselves in the market similar in caliber to high-end showrooms in Manhattan. Excellent value for unique statement pieces to compliment an interior. Where presentation is carefully thought out right through from the details of products, to the "statement" merchandising and of course - amazing personable service. I am truly impressed by this great new addition to the South Granville design shop ... NEXT REQUEST - when will we have a a retailer that specializes in international modern minimal accessories?

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