Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On the Boards: Pigment Salon

 

I'm happy to be a part of this refresh project!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

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Friday, February 19, 2010

Found: Adkinson Chair, Part 2

We completely disassembled the chair, cleaned each bentwood piece, and replaced rusted out hardware.  Most of the screws were close to disintegrating so we couldn't get around these replacements.  The structure of this chair is so beautiful, I wish it was usable without the chair pads!

We chose a beautiful black linen fabric to replace the original tattered green upholstery.  Again, the chair was completely un-sittable with the original fabric so we had to find an alternative.  We felt the subtle texture of the linen and the beautiful strands of charcoal grey would help emphasize the form of the piece, rather than detracting from it. 

 

Handmade piping finishes the piece nicely and matches the designer's original intention.


Drumroll please...

 
One down, three to go!  We are happy to add this piece of history to our collection!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Found: Adkinson Chair, Part 1

We spotted this poor little chair at a local vintage shop and it was love at first sight.  We had to look past the torn edges and the cloud of dust that seemed to be lingering around it's beautiful bentwood frame, but we knew it was the perfect edition to our home.


The shop had four available for purchase but we decided to just take one home to try it on for size.  Two hours of Google time later, we realized we picked up the bargain of the year and went back to get the rest.  As it turns out, this little mid-century gem is somewhat rare and doesn't turn up for sale very often.  We now have Thonet to keep Eames and Starck company in our Portland loft.

 Our chair was originally sold by "Bat Man", which, to us, makes it that much cooler.

We found the design patent using Google's Patent search and discovered our piece was designed in the early 1950s.

Stay tuned for images of the final product!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

You're Invited!

Friday, February 5, 2010

2010 Podiums



Beautifully simple winter Olympics podiums custom-designed by James Lee and the late 
Leo Obstbaum

 via Core 77

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Function Informs Form


I love when structure is celebrated in architecture. The light source reveal in this wall sconce really fits that philosophy with a very simple and elegant form.

The Woodlands Opening Party

Come out and support our friend Sam's most recent incarnation:  The Woodlands.  Formerly known as Hecklewood, this Old Town retail spot has transformed from statement graphic tees to sophisticated logger atelier. 


See you tonight!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Track Your Travels

Travel is a big priority in my life and, as a designer, I see it as an essential tool to help inform my creative journey.  Thank goodness somebody's taken on the task of designing a simple, sleek world map so I can now visually track my travels!  I'll have to settle for pre-order as the creators have quickly sold out!

 

  



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Design Has Value

I really appreciated Business Week's recent article highlighting the value of design in business and thought its relevance to what we do here at Fig Studio was striking.  Though the article focuses mostly on product and brand identity, the fact is that creating and designing an environment must not be an afterthought for you or your business.  Your environment acts as a definition for who you are and what you represent.


Your home, for example, should be a reflection of the person it houses, not merely a host for trends and off-the-shelf bargains.  A well designed space produced by a professionally trained designer has value beyond service fees and contract prices.  A good designer will get to know your personality, habits and will map how you use your space before setting ink to paper.  Design is not just about choosing a great table lamp or digest-worthy area rugs, it's about creating the best solution for an individual's needs and revealing a space that reflects the client's lifestyle and individuality.

Though I often work in concept to exercise my creative skills, my true passion is working directly with clients and acting as a guide toward their greater goals.  There is nothing better than producing a space that elevates your client's spirit and daily outlook!