Local: Blue Pointe Fixture

Rejuvenation's Blue Pointe Fixture:  just another reason we're lucky to live in Portland.  I'm prepping to go fixture shopping this morning and in my research the Blue Pointe stuck out as the most creative reproduction of a classic fixture on the market.  Although pendant fixtures over a center kitchen island are simple and expected, why not take a small leap over to a canopy-like structure and really own that air space?

If you haven't stopped by Rejuvenation's Grand Ave. location lately, you're in for a treat.  They've curated a beautiful mix of home accessories and furnishings perfectly suited to match their fixture and hardware collection.  You can pickup a cup of coffee or tea at Daily Cafe's adjacent location and browse to your heart's content.

Illuminate Color: Aged Copper

Photo via My Vibe My Life

1. Benjamin Moore: Bavarian Forest 2054-10

2. Benjamin Moore: Jojoba AF-460

3. Yolo Colorhouse: Leaf .05

4. Benjamin Moore: Majestic Blue 2051-40

Hunt & Gather: Scenes from The Good Mod

After a stop at Portland Powder Coating to pick out the perfect shade of white for a custom marble and steel dining table, I detoured to the nearby warehouse location of The Good Mod.  Well curated and laid out, the 7,000 sq.ft. showroom has a striking collection of unusual seating, case goods, and decorative accessories.  A friendly staff member greeted me and gave me a primer on a pair of first-edition Eames fiberglass chairs, which sadly had to leave in the showroom.  I'm headed back to the showroom this Sunday the 30th for the MCM League's meeting featuring local legend, Saul Zaik.  Checkout TGM's Facebook page for more info.  See you there?

Happy New Year

Grant Park Kitchen

Recently completed Grant Park Kitchen in Portland, OR

Architect: Giulietti/Schouten Architects

Interior Designer: Fig Studio

Contractor: JDL Development

Custom Art Glass: Batho Studios

    Photo Credit: Josh Partee Architectural Photography

Herringbone laid Italian porcelain adds graphic punch to the galley floorplan

The custom glass backsplash exemplifies the client's affinity for bold focus and rich details

Anigre set on the horizontal gives texture to this storage-focused space

Cover Your Walls

After two weekends of wallpaper hanging for this project, I've got wallcoverings on the brain... and stuck to my hands and painter's jeans.  I'm really loving the graphic qualities in many of the new prints out there, and I particularly admire the collection from Oh Joy! for Hygge & West.  Stone's Throw Away allows the viewer to complete the story, to see beyond the lines and interpret the pattern. As a side bonus, this print may help hide wall imperfections in older homes, where other wallcoverings can actually enhance blemishes.

Fig totes around a journal with a similar print

My other favorite is out of Madison and Grow's Pasadena collection.  I have this spec'd on a current project so I'll have some beautiful installation shots to share by Spring 2012.

Elizabeth : Moonbeam on Cream.   You may have spotted this in your latest West Elm catalog. 

Angles: Erica Wakerly for Hermitage has been around for a while but I'm still waiting to see a smashing installation.  I keep this one tucked into my back pocket for just the right client and space.

 

My favorite spaces to cover in print:  Entryways and powder rooms.  What are yours?

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. 

Salt is the new Sauna

I am lucky to live in a city where I can pretty much walk to everything Downtown and NW pdx have to offer.  We regularly pickup our groceries for the week after a stroll to Stumptown or catch a second-run movie at the Mission Theater.  I even walk to Barre 3 where I get my tri-weekly dose of uber-fitness.  Recently, a new addition to the neighborhood peaked my interest (and frankly, my skepticism): The Salt Grotto. 

 "Salt Grotto is the first artificial salt cave on the West Coast of the United States offering a modern method of health enhancement - the Halotherapy" - thesaltgrotto.com

The design evokes a feeling of warmth (let's face it, that week-long Portland forecast makes you want to by an 8-hour pass) and relaxation.  I am particularly interested to see how the atmosphere affects mood and if visitor really feel like they've escaped the city for the day. 

The website claims that one session at the Salt Grotto is equal to three days at the beach.  If it works, I'm game!

To my readers:  have any of you visited The Salt Grotto of someplace like it?

New Space: Departure Lounge

Skylab's newest contribution to PDX. Part Space Mountain, part Tokyo power lunch.

Featured Portland Interior: Portland Four-Square

Project Designer: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Jessica Helgerson.com "We wanted to create a space that was both glamorous for the Portland hipster couple who live in the house as well as appropriate for the house itself and its period." (I'd like to know how they managed to find a hipster with money, but that's another topic...)

Fresh Cut: Street of Eames

PDX is gearing up for it's annual tour of modern homes, so I thought I'd feature some of Ink and Peat's past floral contributions to the event. Some of these spaces are ultra modern and require a sophisticated floral eye. A spray of roses and Baby's Breath just won't do. (really, that combo should never be an option). Look for Ink and Peat's unique work again this year at the 4th annual fundraiser for after school programs at Chapman Elementary and Beach Elementary in the Portland Public School District.

Click on images to enlarge

Featured Portland Interior: Lattin Residence

Created by Giulietti/Schouten Architects of Portland, OR, the Lattin Residence encompasses all of the sides of Northwest modern design that I love. They've managed to create a minimal interior that still evokes a sense of warmth and remains approachable. I can just imagine curling up with my laptop in that great Corbusier lounge on a rainy PDX day...

Images courtesy of www.giuliettiassoc.com