On the Boards: BLOCK 90

Fig Studio has been blessed with a full-load of great projects to kick off 2012.  I decided it would be fun to do an "on the boards" series highlighting the beginning phases of each project and let you know what we're up to here in our corner of the world.  We anticipate growth and many changes this year so look out for news here and on our portfolio site.

I'm kicking off the series with our Block 90 condo project.  Fig's clients and their two adorable Dachshunds are fairly recent transplants from Kansas and found their way to the bustling Pearl District about a year ago.  Their unit was formerly on show for the 2009 Street of Dreams showcase (the first and only year the show went urban) and is situated at the Penthouse level of the Block 90 development.  The building's architects, Vallaster Corl, emphasized the connection between indoor and outdoor space, access to large terraces, and preserving the urban view.  Once an industrial warehouse, Block 90 now wears a mixed-use hat with residential space, the Aveda Institute, restaurant space, retail and office space all under one roof.

For my part, I am helping my clients make connections to the surrounding architecture, create functional layouts, specify long-term furnishings solutions, and design custom millwork and cabinetry.  I always say the most sustainable decisions are the ones you only make once--  committing to a dining table that will gracefully outlive all of us is more green than just looking for the type of finish applied to the wood.  We are starting with a blank slate, with just the floorplan and a growing art collection to guide us.  The design is leaning toward a spare plan with contemporary lines.  A few injections of artistic accent in the lighting and custom upholstery design give the space balance.  We are lucky to be working such great Portland vendors for this project-  Hive, Inform Interiors, and Kai Fuhrmann to name a few.  You can follow our concepts for the project over on our Block 90 board at Pinterest.

Block 90 is slated for completion late Summer 2012.  Italian leather sofas bow to no one. 

FIG. STUDIO Happenings

 PHOTO BY FIG - Travel Tip: an underwater camera in Hawaii is priceless!

Turtle sightings, sandy toes, and Plumerias were just a few elements that made my Maui trip both restful and exhilarating.  I spent plenty of time absorbing the sun, reading Bossypants, and perfecting my standup paddleboard technique.  I am thankful to have had the opportunity to travel, and even more thankful that Fig is starting out the month of May with a few new projects on the boards:  Furnishing a high-rise Pearl apartment for a young Seattleite turned Portlander, designing a mid-century inspired entertainment room in Portland's Montclair neighborhood, and helping a young couple adjust their home's surroundings to accommodate their growing family.

Next to design, travel is my most prized passion in life.  Everytime I explore a new place, swim with some creature of the deep, or taste a local specialty, I gather infinite inspiration for my life and work back home.  The photo above is the perfect example of how to find color inspiration in everyday life or in a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Textures, flavors, colors, patterns.  It's all there. 

Until next time,
Fig.

On the Boards: Sisters Coffee Company

This project has been a secret for so long that I forgot to share the news with you all until now!  Fig Studio completed the design for Sisters Coffee Company's second location way back in September.  We're now under construction in the Pearl District- next time you stroll past the Wyatt @ 12th and Marshall, take a peek at the progress. You'll soon have a place to call home when you visit their Pearl location.  We've stayed true to the rustic aesthetic and the brand you've come to know and love in Sisters.  Enjoy your pour-over cup near the fireplace or up in the mezzanine, stocked with books and periodicals.

We are so happy to have this family-run business join our neighborhood.  It is truly the best cup of coffee you'll find:  small batch, mountain-roasted in Sisters, OR by master roaster Winfield Durham.  Welcome to Portland!

The Team
Client: Sisters Coffee Company
Interior Designer: Fig Studio
Lighting Designer: Biella Lighting
Construction Administration: Giulietti/Schouten Architects / Fig Studio
Contractor: R&H Construction

On the Boards: Laurelhurst Living Room

Fig Studio was tasked to create a functional, stylish, and simple living environment for a young family living in a turn-of-the-century Craftsman in Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood.  The space serves as a graceful welcome to the house and occasionally supports parties and family gatherings.  Highly durable materials and low-maintenance finishes are key in this space, as dogs and children regularly play in the room.

1.  Supportive yet relaxed sofa is enhanced with beautifully tufted details
2.  A pair of sophisticated yet affordable upholstered ottomans provide flexibility
3.  Beautifully detailed and well-scaled side chairs are detailed with antique nailheads
4.  Who doesn't need a whale pillow?
5.  Flor tiles are a must in this dog-loving home
6.  Kazu root provides instant texture.  Sourced here.
7.  Mirrors flank the existing fireplace to provide a second and third light-source.

We are lucky enough to have an adjacent sunroom on this project.  The perfect place to collect plants, create a small seating area, and allow the owners to relax on sunny days.

8.  A small-scaled replica of a couturier's chair
9.  A sheepskin provides warmth on the tiled floor
10.  This pedestal table will allow us to display a collection of succulants
11.  Natural leather Moroccan Pouf is a must-have footstool
12.  Rope Cloche as terrarium.  Sourced here.

This project will be curated over time, so I'll be sure to post the final installation when it's finished.  Need help sourcing furniture and accessories for your space?  Send me a message and we'll create a plan for your family.

Hunt & Gather: Ofuro Inspired Tubs

 Space planning a compact room is almost always challenging, particularly when you're designing a new space for an older home with little opportunity to expand.  Fig Studio is currently working on rehabbing an existing bathroom in a 1920's bungalow situated on Grant Park in NE Portland.  Floor space is at a premium, but it is important for the client to have the option to bathe and soak.  The solution?  A Japanese Ofuro inspired soaking tub.  It offers the bather full immersion, without requiring the floor space of a traditional tub.  This style of bathing, in fact, will allow the user to comfortably sit and read while relaxing the muscles in the back and shoulders and releasing the traditional pressure points experienced when bathing in a standard tub.

Employing creative solutions is the key to success on a challenging project.  We strive to abandon standard school of thought when faced with an unusual space, complex programming, or small footprints.  One-size-fits all doesn't apply to interior design, it's all about adapting new solutions for individual clients.

L to R: Caruso Round, Julien by Troy Adams, and William Garvey teak

On the Boards: Pigment Salon

 

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

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!

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!

West Linn Residence: Master Bath

Some simple elevation drawings we produced as a take home for our client out in West Linn.  These serve as great descriptive tool for remodel and new construction projects.  Our drawings are out to bid right now and construction should start next month.

West Linn Residence

This master bedroom/bath concept is coming along nicely and we thought we'd share the piece that's driving our design direction.  Knowing the client's affinity for Chinese motifs, we looked toward Kohler's Imperial Blue artists edition to set the tone for the client's vanity space.

The combination of a modern porcelain vessel and traditional Ming Dynasty decoration perfectly describes our design direction.  This may, in fact, be the only decoration in the space, allowing it to shine among surrounding simple textures and functional details.

Digital Renderings

Fig Studio-designed palette for a Portland kitchen remodel

We will often create a simple digital rendering to help convey the material applications in an easily understood format.  Many clients have never been through the design process and conceptualizing how materials will look in their space is a difficult task.  For a small space, a simple rendering (see above) may only take an hour or two...well worth the effort to help aid the decision-making process!  For more complex projects, a three-dimensional model can be built to help a client relate to the two-dimensional construction drawings.  These models may also be used in the first phases of a project to describe detailed design elements and spatial relationships. 

On the Boards: Portland Dental Office

Fig Studio is helping one of our local dental offices spruce up a hand-me-down space.  The client bought the practice from another dentist and with it came a quintessential early '90s palette of teal and pink.  Our goal is to create a budget-minded strategy that requires only a 3-day weekend of down time.  It is critical for office operations to go on as usual and to use materials with low/no toxicity and odor. 

Stay tuned for the results!

On the Boards: Russell Residence

I'm really looking forward to Fig Studio's latest project, furnishing this amazing Surf Pines beach house near Gearhart, Oregon. Nestled behind a beautiful tall grass buffer, this modern ocean retreat is surely a welcome oasis for it's busy owners. The Great Room, which encompasses a chef's kitchen, a large dining space, and roomy lounge, will be furnished with modern yet comfortable pieces. Stay tuned for finished photos in September!

On the Boards: Aurora Colony Museum

Fig Studio is helping devise ways to safely house historical artifacts for the Aurora Colony Museum located in Aurora, OR. Known for their large collection of intricate quilts and antique tools, the museum is ready to expand and improve their storage of these precious objects.