Stud Pumpkin

Leave it to Sweet Paul to come up with the most rockin pumpkin I've ever seen.  

Happy Halloween!

Designer + Architects

Fig Studio has a very special partnership with Giulietti/Schouten Architects, and I'm honored to have worked on several projects with the firm.  Not only do I get to work with my husband, but I'm surrounded by talent, experience, and a strictly positive working environment.  Looking on the bright side has been a regular theme over the past year, and I've found this to be especially true for all of my design friends. 

 GS Architects Crane Penthouse received an IIDA Citation Award at this year's design awards

Starting an interior design studio during one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory is crazy.  Let's face it.  I have days when I wonder if this was the right decision, whether I should stop living my dream and "get a real job" at a large firm again.  I have days when I'm so proud of my accomplishments I can't imagine doing anything else.  None of the success I've had in the past year would have been possible without my partnership with the firm, and I feel that our clients see the difference when they choose to work with us.

 Powder Room, Fig Studio Interior Design

Seamless communication, tip-of-the finger resources, and a fluid design synergy are all key elements to our successful partnership.  We see all elements of each project from napkin sketch to final installation.  We are able to easily coordinate finishes to structure, bold design choices with tiny details, and see the vision through to the last nail.  Stop in to our studio on NW Thurman Street, send me a message, or give me a call.  We'll talk through your project details and see how we can help.  No project is too small or too large, and consultations are always complimentary.

Nori Morimoto :: Music Stand

I'd love to see this modern music stand in multiples, perhaps lining the wall of a den, or on an elevated surface.  A true piece of art.

From the Artist, Nori Morimoto

Working in my studio among the roaring sounds of heavy machinery from dawn to dusk, I struggle and search for form amidst the sawdust and cuttings. I scream to the mountains and only hear myself in return as my voice rocks of the night-black wall of trees and petrified sediment that are the brook’s banks. I look at my fingers, cracked, splitting, chipped and bleeding, much like the wood that yields to them. Each piece of wood is unique—like a person—a masterpiece of character. Every day I discover something extraordinary about each piece. Sometimes it leads to disappointment, but this only encourages me to continue searching.

Fig is always looking for objects with soul.  When you learn to look beyond the surface, you'll see how that wood bends, how that joint stays together, and how that piece ended up in your living room. 

Pale Palette :: Powder Room

Once a laminate-laden and wallpaper covered child's bathroom, Fig Studio brought this small space to a new level of sophistication using a restrained palette and environmentally conscious materials.  Refinishing existing well-functioning cabinets and choosing a beautiful limestone remnant from a larger kitchen remodel helped extend the client's modest budget without sacrificing high-level style.  The pale color scheme gave an instant visual boost to the windowless space while the vertically striped cotton shower curtain helped extend the room's limited volume.  We're proud of the finish product on this project and it really goes to show you that a you can get first-class results on a petite budget.

Enjoy!
Fig Studio

Pendleton Luminaire

A few months back, Fig Studio was asked to join over thirty artists and architects in designing a luminaire for the first annual Illumination Auction benefiting the Lions Club International Foundation.  A dozen napkin sketches and a Sketchup model later, the Luminaire was born from a bin of vintage Pendleton Woolen Mills bobbins. 

I've seen these bobbins on a number of occasions (frequent trips to the Pendleton Woolen Mills Store is really part of a Portlander's job description, right?) and purchased a few for home use... candlesticks, basket fillers, and general Northwest modern accessorizing.  A lightbulb went off while working on the cafe project, but I didn't have the time to prototype or get these to a place where they'd be suitable in a commercial environment.  When the Illumination opportunity arose, somehow I managed to veer away from this idea I'd been hanging on to for months.  I conceptualized all of these complicated options, none of which could be handbuilt in a reasonable amount of time. 

Maybe I didn't want to share.  Maybe I wanted to be cutting edge and super clean lined.  Whatever the reason, it took my husband's encouragement to get me in to Hippo Hardware and get cracking.  Eight hours and ten sore fingers later, the Pendleton Luminaire was finished.  I was a little sad to part with it, but I knew it was going to a good cause and would hopefully help give the Lions extra resources in their charitable efforts.  I have a feeling number two in the series will be my next rainy day project. 

Fritz Studio :: Giulietti/Schouten Architects

Last weekend was filled with wonderful design events, including the Portland Center for Architecture's AIA home tour (I was a docent at the King residence), the Lions Club Illumination Auction (more details to follow), and the grand opening party for Kristin Fritz's artist studio designed by Giulietti/Schouten Architects.  I've been watching this project take shape over the course of the last few months and was very excited to see the design come to life. 

Located in what was essentially an unusable area of Kristin's backyard, the studio gently responds to the existing home and landscape.  In fact, the architects designed the footprint to avoid the removal of any trees. 

The large sliding glass doors create a flexible space and were perfect for this party, allowing guests to easily meander in and out. 

I love how flexible this space can be- parties, long-term guests, or simply a gallery.  It's proven to be a huge asset to the existing home and I'm going to tuck this idea away for my future dream house.  One can dream, right?

Bay Area Gallery

Way back in July, Fig Studio visited the Bay Area to check out new offerings at the SFDC and to check a few items off the ol' bucket list.  This gallery of snaps is a quick review of our favorite spots from the trip, including the Red Blossom Tea Company, The Fairmont, Hearst Castle, Filoli Center, and the Charles Schulz Museum -  a must see for all you Charlie Browns out there.   

Fig Studio + ShowPDX 2010

Fig Studio is happy to be a part of ShowPDX 2010 :: Innovative + Functional Furniture Design, alongside some of the Northwest's most talented furniture and lighting designers.  A special preview party is slated for tomorrow evening at the N. Williams gallery @ 6pm.  $10 gets you food, drink, and a heap of beautiful design.  We'd love to see you there!

ShowPDX 2010
2030 N. Williams Ave.
Curated by Jennifer Jako/Fix Studio
50+ designers 

showpdx.com

If you can't make it the preview tomorrow, the show runs (free of charge) through October 30th