Dutchtubs

By Amanda Rickenbach

How do you feel about bathing outdoors? The Dutchtub is an award-winning hot tub that’s inner workings are incredibly simple: wood fired and with natural circulation. Simple luxury.

With this smart fiber glass polyester construction and the sturdy, long-lasting materials you can use the Dutchtub where ever you want, any time you want. Choose from a variety of colors: Dutchtub Orange, Ocean Green, Light Blue, Pigeon Blue, Reed Green, and Dark Grey.  I'd put my tub on a bluff in the Columbia Gorge or in a secret wooded area on the Oregon coast.  Our long winters would feel extra warm with one of these cozy accessories hanging around.

View their inspiring video above - now you can't say no. 


photos: Weltevree

Corner of the World

By Jenny Guggenheim

So it turns out we like Instagram.  We really like Instagram.  It's an excellent tool to chronicle our day-to-day and now acts as a visual catalogue of progress here at Fig.  As you may have noticed, we've made some changes to our website, added a new partner (did we tell you that?) and have expanded to offer architectural services.  Ok, so we're officially and architecture and interiors firm.  Consider yourself in the know.  Follow our camera roll as we document our evolution and project progress- we promise to give you a little visual treat each day...and we promise to make a more formal announcement and throw a party for our new name, Fig. Studio Architecture + Interiors.

Cheers for now,
Jenny and Jeff

Living Roofs

By Amanda Rickenbach

Chances are that you have either seen a green roof or have been inside a building that has one. They are growing in popularity both in residential and commercial design for a number of reasons, but I thought I would list just a few of the best ones.

-Living roofs help to lower urban air temperatures and combat the heat island effect.

-Living roofs help keep the interior of your home at a stable temperature. Plants and soil are really great insulators, which means you’ll save money on your heating and cooling costs.

-Living roofs filter rainwater. When the water falls on a typical roof, it’s often funneled off into storm water drains, collecting pollution along the way. When rain falls on a living roof, however, it’s filtered naturally just as it is in the wild. This means you can reuse this clean water in your home or garden.

-Living roofs attract native wildlife to your yard. And depending on what you plant, it can also be a food source for you, or your furry friends.

-Living roofs filter noise, keeping your home quiet.

Besides all the great stuff they do for the planet - they look fantastic.


photos: first - feldman architecture, second-fourth - ecoroofs everywhere

Illuminate Color: Summer Sangria

By Amanda Rickenbach

Wednesday marked the first day of summer! That means it's time to start thinking about garden parties, BBQ's, and of course yummy sangria recipes. These colors are perfect for creating a rejuvenating and energizing space just in time for long, warm days.

1. Caliente - Benjamin Moore
2. Stone .01 - Yolo Colorhouse
3. Powder Blush - Benjamin Moore
4. Arbor Day - Mythic Paint

photo: treehugger 

Hunt and Gather: Huddleson Linens

By Amanda Rickenbach

Established in Los Angeles in 2011 Huddleson Linens creates tablecloths, table runners, placemats and napkins that are printed with artistic and timeless designs. Their prints are designed specifically for the table and are brought to life by using hand painted art work. Looking at the images one can sense that handmade quality and see the original brush strokes.

Much of their linen comes from Italy, where textile weaving has been an art and a science handed down through generations. The fabric is resilient, beautiful and can easily become a piece that you hand down to future generations

The founder, Tim Gledhill, very sweetly wrote this about the dining table:

"The dining table holds a special place in our lives – a place to come together; to meet, nourish, converse, celebrate and console.  A place for first dates and last suppers.  Throughout the ages table linens have been a central part of everyday life as well as the greatest celebrations.  From biblical dinners and Roman banquets; through the Renaissance paintings of the Dutch masters, with groaning tables and fine tablecloths; to Dick Whittington, who began an epic rags-to-riches journey with nothing but a few belongings bundled into a napkin.
Sometimes, in the present day, we forget that every meal can – and should – be a special occasion.  We should remember."

Doesn't that inspire you to create wonderful meals and start using beautiful table linen at every meal? Even a simple cloth napkin?

GRAY MAGAZINE: Issue No. 4

Fig. Studio is happy to be featured in the article "Mission: Colorful" (pg. 43) in Gray Magazine's Issue No. 4.  Check out the project in more detail at our Portfolio site.

Gray Magazine offers a fresh take on the Pacific Northwest's design scene, and features a cross section of lifestyle, product, fashion and built environment stories.  You can pickup a print edition at your local Powells or New Seasons.

Salone Luxe: Missoni Home

The Missoni Home booth (take the word booth with a grain of salt) was certainly a stand out and immediately caught out attention.  The lighting was elegant, soft, and inviting.  Every surface begged to be touched, and touch we did.

We particularly enjoyed their decorative lighting concepts, which highlight the use of open weave craft and their ubiquitous patterns originating from their fashion house.

Missoni is never afraid of color, and we like it that way!