abo design co. » Art

Organic Art

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:18:38 +0000

Continuing on my art tangent…I would like to introduce you to the works of Chihuly (if you haven’t already been enlightened by his magic). If you google Dale Chihuly, you will find an awe-inspiring collection of images of glass sculptures that blurs the line between real and magical…that and a very thorough biography on his own website. So instead of exhausting you with a lengthy who, what, when, where, why, and how, here’s my very short & sweet version: an inspiring glassblower from which countless complex, multi-part, large-scale sculptures portraying nature’s beauty were borne. Interesting fact: he was a student of interior design and architecture in the early 60s (not surprising when you observe his use of space and dimensions with each installation). So there’s my quick sypnosis of the man, now please read the extensive biography here: chihuly.com/intro. If it appears at bit too lengthy for the time you have right now then simply allow the following images to enlighten your mind:

Note: must be enjoyed with some music (I recommend classical or Pink Floyd) and a glass of wine or whatever your poison is…

You can see this one in person at 1200 Georgia St

Bellagio， Las Vegas

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

For the ultimate experience, please watch this brief must see video: Chihuly & the Making of the Bellagio Lobby Ceiling

Selecting Art

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:12:58 +0000

Over the years, one of the last requests many of my clients often make has to with selecting art to finish off their new space. For many, after going through a renovation and having to select so many different finishes, when it comes down to art pieces, they are baffled. What colours will go with the rest of the room? How big should it be? What would be considered too big? Should it be a painting, photograph, or print? Where should I look for art? If only there was just one place where you can find the perfect piece of art! Well if this was the case, there wouldn’t be anything unique or interesting about your home would there?

If you often visit galleries and museums, then you probably have a good idea of what kind of art appeals to you. If you haven’t, now is a great time to start exploring all those local talents in our city. Art is very personal so take your time to find something that you can live with. Personally, your first thought in purchasing should not be whether or not it will be suitable for the room you have in mind. Rather, find something you absolutely love and then find a place to put it. If you see something you just cannot part with, this is absolutely the way to go. However, if you are not particular about the art itself and is simply looking for something that’s just right for the room, size and colour should be considered during your search. Art that is too big in size will overwhelm and anything too small will look out of place and incomplete. The nature of the art should also be considered. If it is for a room where guests will frequent, I would personally stay away from anything too intimate, inappropriate or offensive…save those for your boudoir.

A general rule in hanging art is to keep the center of the painting at eye level. Sculptural pieces may sit on the floor, a table or pedestal. However, I prefer to keep these rules as guidelines, as with anything personal preference should be considering. After all, you probably spent an exorbitant amount of money to purchase it, you might as well have it somewhere that’s in view and can be enjoyed daily.

As for colours, choose one or two of the boldest colours in your room and look for art that has those colours in it. It doesn’t have to be an exact match; a shade or two off would work just as well. Just picking up some of these colours will unify the art and the room. For rooms that are already bold in colours, select art that is a bit muted…black and white art provides the perfect balance to a brightly coloured room.

Style is the next thing to consider, although as this is a personal preference, it may not be in your best interest to consider it. Consider the style of the room. Do you see more traditional details than modern or the other way around? Allow this to be your guide: modern for modern antique for antique, etc. But as I said, your preference should be considered. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of eclecticism.

When visiting galleries or museums, observe how the art is displayed. From wall colour to placement on walls, you can take away many hints to help you not only select art but also find the perfect place to hang/place it.

Some examples of excellent art display:

Canadian, eh?

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:03:38 +0000

My previous post featured a local tile manufacturer, and I thought it would be interesting to continue telling you about the resources available to us here in Canada.

Omer Arbel is a Canadian designer architect. Graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in 2000, and apprenticed with notable architects like Enric Miralles, John & Patricia Patkau, and Peter Busby. In 2003, he began working as a freelance designer, focusing on conceptually motivated & materially explorative furniture and objects. Eventually, he opened two companies. The first, Omer Arbel Office (OAO), a small, experimental, Vancouver-based design practice that blends the traditionally defined fields of architecture, industrial design, and materials research. It is known for its commitment to the creative potential of intuition and this is one the reasons I am a fan. Design that transcends time often relies on intuition and taking a risk on something different; something you have not been taught in school.

Bocci, a contemporary design & manufacturing house, also located in Vancouver, carries an eclectic collection that includes custom chandeliers, furniture & cutting edge electrical components. These works of art can been found in showrooms around the globe (in fact you may have already seen some of them).

I am truly inspired by Arbel’s works of art & hope that you too are inspired to explore the more cutting edge & risky side of interior design.

An Artistic Makeover: Sinks

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:46:14 +0000

When you think of a bathroom or kitchen sink, you tend to picture white porcelain or stainless steel. It’s never been the conversation piece or focal point of a room. I don’t usually get excited about selecting a sink! It’s there for function and as long as it’s not obnoxiously ugly, it doesn’t usually get the attention that I would give to the selection of a hood or a fireplace. Linkasink certainly changes this, however. And it’s very exciting to see manufacturers, across the spectrum, merging beauty and function when producing new product lines.

Linkasink offers your traditional, funtional sinks the beauty makeover it desperately needs. For those clients who are looking for something a bit more special, Linkasink provides a bedazzling update to the everyday sink. From onyx to bronze to mosaics, the possibilities are endless! These artistic pieces make me rethink the way I design and inspire new designs. Here’s a sampling of some of my favourites:

Stainless steel mosaic kitchen sink

Porcelain Swarovski Pearl Stripes (Cantu has one in their Vancouver showroom)

Tumbled Onyx Farm House Kitchen Sink

Mother of Pearl Mosaics (in dusk)

New York: Art by Design

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:10:04 +0000

New York is famous for many things. One being design. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has done a spectacular job of gathering designs from all decades and places. From fully furnished 19th century rooms to individual furniture pieces, I felt like I was walking back into time. Rather than exhausting you with my take on each item, I just want to give you a photo summary of some of my favourite pieces and rooms. Some of them truly represent their time & age and placing them in new and modern settings would just be odd but of course if that’s your style, you can make it work. On the other hand some of these pieces are so classic that they can still be seen in homes to this day.

If you ever get a chance to visit New York, I highly recommend visiting the Metropolitan. But make sure you leave plenty of time for it as you will not be able to see everything it has to offer in one, two, even three days! We visited the museum three times and still haven’t seen everything.

: My favourite room & my hubby fading into it

: Love this blue and the details at the edge of the seat

: A perfect Fleur De Lis

: Note how the legs of table mimic the chair

: Almost too perfect to sit on

: In love with this sideboard & decorative bowl

: Perfect balance demonstrated with choice of colours & size of objects

: The mirror is the perfect topping for this pair

: Really appreciate the details

: A must have for every boudoir

: I love the bookshelf

: For ladies who must converse

: A very princely writing desk

Welcome!

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:08:13 +0000

If you have been following, then you know we have moved! Yep brand new website and blog all united. I have also moved and have been swamped with a few new renovation projects, unpacking, and of course designing my own space. It’s all very exciting and I am happy to say I can finally settle down to BLOG! It’s been so long. But I have been busy collecting blog material, travelling, and designing. Stay tuned as the following posts will be on my wonderful adventure with the Hubby to the Big Apple! Here’s a photo sneak peak:

The Metropolitan Museum - Great Hall ceiling detail

S. Guggenheim Museum - Interior ceiling

St. Patricks Cathedral

The Perfect Home for Book Lovers

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:19 +0000

Are libraries too boring? Do you crave adventure & intrique inside & outside of your many books? For those of us who need an interesting, unique abode where we can sit back & enjoy our favourite novels, Point Design Studio in Tokyo, has created the perfect solution…an igloo style room to store books. Bookshelves are designed to allow you to grab your books from inside or outside this hut style creation. The design is whimsical, fun, creative and makes me want to spend hours in bed reading, while surrounded by books!

Image courtesy of point-tokyo.jp

Image courtesy of Inhabitots.com

Bejewel Me Fabric

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:53:08 +0000

Jim Thompson has partnered with designer Hutton Wilkinson, owner & creative director of Tony Duquette Inc., to create an exclusive collection of woven & printed textiles for decorative home & commercial installations. Duquette, in his early days, designed costumes & sets for Fred Astair musicals. He also designed costumes for various theatre productions. The new Jim Thompson/Tony Duquett collection is reminiscent of the spell-binding bejewelled stages. Here’s a sampling of some of my favourites.

Octavian

Fireworks

Asia Minor

Feu D'Artifices

ThinkGlass…Think Green

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:48:31 +0000

We’ve covered concrete countertops and now glass! ThinkGlass countertops are sustainable. They are 100% fully recyclable. No sealants or harsh chemicals are used to produce them. There are no emissions released and no negative impact on air quality. They are radon free (compared to granite) and safe for use as a food preparation surface (Certified NSF). For homes they would gain you 10 LEED points and 23 points for NAHB Model Green Home.

Aside from their green characteristics they are stunning (especially against light) and a unique option for kitchen or bathroom countertops. Combining function & art, they are practically maintenance free and extremely durable. They are non-porous, which means they are perfect for Kosher kitchens.

All images courtesy of ThinkGlass.com

They are the most hygienic countertop on the market. You don’t have to worry about cross-contamination and they are pretty much impossible to stain as well. And the kicker, if you hate the way fingerprints are left on glass, a textured finish underneath will mask just about any fingerprint as well as common wear & scratches. You can place hot cookware directly on them but it is recommended that you use hotplates whenever possible.

They average about $200-$300 US per square foot, including cutouts. And like anything else, custom cuts are extra.

Lushpad – Modern furniture at a bargain

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:04:50 +0000

If you are in the market for some great modern furniture but don’t want to pay an arm & a leg, check out Lushpad. It is a meeting place for collectors & sellers of secondhand modern furniture. You can browse furniture by manufacturer, designer, artist, and item type. On the educational side, you can also learn about the designers by reading their biographies. As for product knowledge, they provide articles on topics such as how to spot a knockoff. They are also planning to provide professional assessments of what items might be worth. So if you have a great piece that just doesn’t work for you anymore, send in a picture and they will give you a rough idea of what it’s worth after their panel of experts have evaluated it.

Many items listed would be considered “pricey” but there are also great bargains for contemporary and mid-century modern furniture. And if you are already in the market for great furniture, you already know that you should spend a bit more for quality pieces.

Secondhand is not for everyone. But for some of you, I know this will be a treasure trove so enjoy!

For an extra dose of exploration, also visit Fullhouse Consigments for some great finds!

Finn Juhl Danish Teak Sideboard

Eames lounge wood chairs

Vintage Rocking Chair

1940s French Moderne Inspired Cocktail table