4.25.2006

flower

i bet you find this chair amazing. Studiobility from Iceland created this innovative lounge seating option. the sleek line makes it contemporary and the flower design makes it chic. it brings happiness into a room. can be made of different materials such as woodfibres, plastic, metal, or concrete.

emma gardner design

i really designer Emma Gardner's rug collection. Born in Japan, reared in NYC and now living in rural Connecticut, Gardner's muses reflect this journey. she offers 3 different types of rugs: hand-knotted silk wool, hand-knotted wool, and hand-tufted wool. the 2 rugs shown here are both hand-knotted. made from chiense silk on tibetan wool ground. shown above is 'spray' in sea blue and gold; shown below is 'kaleidoscope' in chocolate. you should check out her other rug designs.

variety cabinet






always want to try that dark gothic style but never dare to? check out this cabinet from a Denmark's design firm, Design by Us. just a splash of goth, not too much. its milled-out doors has these retro, happy daisy pattern that matches with the 50's technicolour wallpaper inside the cabinet. the cabinet's on wheels for easy moving.

getsuen

Masanori Umeda's lily armchair for Edra is the result of high technology combined with expert crafting. its elaborative flower shape begins with a steel frame. it's filled with flexible and breathable polyurethane foam and then upholstered in velvet. the chair is equipped with the castors in fluorescent green. it's modern, cute, and comfortable. definitely a focal point in any space.

bourigie

designer Ferruccio Laviani is famous for incorporating bold forms and classical references into his designs. this table lamp designed in 2003 is one great example. the baroque silhouette uniquely executed in polycarbonate - one of the 21st century's most popular modern materials. not only the lamp has a great look, it is also versatile; it can be adjusted to 3 different heights so can be used as a table, desk, or floor light. also features a touch-sensitive dimmer. through Design within Reach @ $287US.

beaker glass bud vase








inspired by borosilicate beaker glass from chemistry lab, this vase is designed for a single stem of flower. who would have thought that something from the lab can be this elegant? if you're interested in this vase, i suggest you buying several of them. i think the look of lining them up is the best. $9.95US @ CB2.

leaf

designer Lievore Altherr Molina created this seat for Arper. the mix of its organic form and modern material is well-balanced. don't be fooled by its material, Arper claims that it's quite a comfortable seating. available in chromed, white lacquer and leaf green finishes.

egg plant

this unglazed ceramic pot looks and feels like an extra large egg. they are great for a windowsill or a sunny desktop. this would make a great gift. to plant: gently tap with a spoon to break open the top of the egg. water the enclosed soil, where the seeds are already embedded, and place the in the sun. $14US each. Branch Home offers a selection of herbs: mint, thyme, basil, and parsley (shown above). Modern Seed offers a selection of flowers: lobelia, chrysanthemum, petunia, and phlox.

american bungalow

feel like there's something missing in your home? try Rosanna's american bungalow. their silhouettes in pure white or vibrant hues may just solve your problem. this retro collection has shapes and shades of mid-century of modern american classics. functional and decorative. use them as vases or just simply display them on your shelves. single's prices range from $18US to $30US. set's prices range from $40US to $55US. while you're there, check out her more feminine collections such as 'all i need,' and 'cupcake.'


4.19.2006

dv urban living expo ~ 3 ~ local designers









i was glad that i had the opportunities to meet with some of the local designers. it was very exciting to see their beautiful pieces. i hope that i'll be able to exhibit mine for Light Couture some time soon. some of the artists i met have not yet set up their websites or have their designs photographed professionally. you know who you are; i left you the url of this blog. send me photos and info so i can show off your work here. i have been trying and will always try to promote local artists work.

kilowatt
the designer Gregory Kenny has several amazing pieces. they all consist the sleek, clean-lined designs and beautiful craftsmanship. the photo here shows a part of a shelving unit. i really want to share his work with you. i'm waiting for Kilowatt to send me some updates on the products and also professional product shots. i'll surely post them as soon as i receive them.







tyler jones how great would it be if i had this coffee table from Tyler Jones for my childhood? i wouldn't get into trouble for drawing all over the walls!




casika modern
Peter Chen's 'Embrace' can be used as coffee table, dining seating, or entry seating. each leg is connected to the top via 2 aluminium rods. no other fasteners are used; friction holds everything together.


60 grit design

can't get enough of that laminated plywood look? check out designer Amy Stein's 'Square Peg' bench. she used computer-aided design to minimize waste and maximize material. it's good to know that designers care about environment.









vurv
designer Glenn Ross has many wonderful creations for interior/exterior furniture and pet products. shown here are from his Wowo line - the 'Dog Pod,''Pet Bed,'and 'Feeding Stations.' the feeding station has 4 different sizes with many different finishes. prices range from $98CDN to $227CDN.







derek young
Derek Young specializes in ultra-laminated baltic birch furniture. the rounded corners and curves differentiate his designs from other laminated plywood furniture. i look forward to seeing his '3-floavoured shelving' (as shown in rendered picture) in the near furture.









straight line design
i see craftsmanship, i see innocence, i see humour. designer Judson Beaumont always comes up with unusual and whimsical designs. check out his 'Bad Table' and limited-edition 'Pet Camper.'




nickbe table & art
designer Alex Nickbe's tables incorporate the notion of biomimetics concentrating on the processes of self-renewal, diversity and change. the results are bold and beautiful. they enhance any creative interior where art merges with utility.


maude decor
designer Patricia Baun created these beautiful hand-painted canvas rugs. these stylish rugs are fade and water resistant and easy to clean. her designs are very uplifting; i guareentee you that any of these rugs can brighten your day.


in element designs
designer Seiji and Himali Kuwabara specialize in Japanese-influenced modern furniture and interior design. their designs bring tranquility in a very stylish way. i like this '45-degree' candle holder alot.


the joint
no mdfs, no particleboards, staples or melamine. you'll only find handcrafted furniture made of 'real' wood at the Joint. the sideboard shown here is made of black walnut with curly maple details.


industrial artifacts
designer Ross MacMillan specializes in eco-friendly furniture and decor. here's an example. now most of the traffic lights have been replaced by more efficient LED based lights; the old incandescent ones has become obsolete. he uses the lexan lenses to create this pendant light and many other home decor item.

dv urban living expo ~ 2 ~ classic furniture









if you don't like modern style, (then why are you checking out my blog anyway? heehee.. j/k) this is the section that will help you plan decorating your home.



thomson page
Thomson & Page carries unique heriloom quality products such as furniture from Stickley, Hickory Chair, Hurtado from Spain, and West Bros furniture. it also provides upholstery & restoration service. recently they added Janus et Cie line that features more modern pieces (as shown).


william switzer
i wasn't going to write about trade-only companies because that information won't benefit my blog readers. but i guess i'll make an exception here because William Switzer will have a floor sample sale from 04.22 to 04.30. a portion of the proceeds of the sale will benefit the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. classic furniture lovers, go take a look!










axis decorative arts
Vancouver's Averill and Eastman began collecting French furniture and decorative items from the 1920's through the 1940's a dozen years ago. having amassed one of the largest private decorative rts collections in the country, they turned their passion for collecting into a business named Axis Decorative Arts. i love how they say, 'nothing is classical today which, at its beginning, was not modern..."

dv urban living expo ~ 1 ~ modern furniture & concepts









jw and i really look foward to this show; unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to talk to all the exhibitors. with Vancouver's blooming furniture & interior design industry, this year's show had alot more to offer. it featured many Vancouver's top furniture and decor companies, innovative design concepts, stylish and smart lifestyle, and, most importantly, West Coast Canadian designers' talent. i hope dv will get bigger and better every year and i hope all designers get to show off their beautiful work! let me tell you all about the ones which caught my attention at the show....






rooms with a different view - cause + affect
Cause + Affect design and emotion in RWDV. this featured a home is a creative strategy and design company specializing in idea generation, brand design and architectural environments. it launched an exhibit to explore the interconnected relationship between that contained 6 separate rooms that showcased some of the West Coast's top designers and retailers. as shown in the photos, Brent Comber provided the dining table for 'the Ritual' and Inform Interiors provided the pendant from Bocci for 'the Parlour.'




chaise interiors
located in Gastown, this store/gallery has always been supporting and promoting Canadian talent. partnered with Global TV and the Vancouver Sun, Chaise Interiors bought a collection of multi-discipline BC design professionals; the whole section was called 'designers on the block.' it featured artists such as 60 Grit Design, Anna Gelbert, Arnt Arntzen, Casika Modern, Craigdallie Enterprises, Derek young, Eformia Design, John Fry, Lindsay Staiforth Design, Metal to Measure, OUNO Design, Rainier Design Studio, Scott D. Neves, Sheila Neufeld, Terence AG, and Visser Design. check out some of these designers in my later post.


inform interiors










one of the sponsors. it was awesome that inform interiors also provided opportunities for some independent local furniture designers to show off their works. yay for promoting Vancouver talents! Inform Interiors features contemporary furniture and imports high- quality furniture from brand names all over the world. its own booth in the show featured some cool items such as 'up' armchair from B&B Italia and 'textile softwall + softsurface' from Molo (shown in photos). you remember Molo; i had a post about its 'float glassware.'





living space
this high-end modern furniture boutique carries furniture lines such as Edra (first photo), MDF Italia, and Minotti. this year, Living Space's booth mainly featured Minotti's furniture. any Vancouverite who hasn't had a chance to visit their showroom should really pay them a visit. the industrial, modern, bright, and spacious showroom really showcases their furniture well.





emily carr
this is the second year that dv invited Emily Carr students to exhibit. Elise Beneteau, Francisco Jubilo, James Lee, and adam Sharkey created everything from re-used and recyclable materials such as carboard and foam. they are amazing!





liberty
this well-known, 13,500-ft^2 furniture shop features timeless and glamorous high-quality furniture. Liberty started as a small furniture boutique in 1993 and has now grown into one of the hottest home-decor shops in Vancouver. it recently introduced funiture by popular Canadian interior designer Sarah Richardson. shown in the photo is her chaise 'annie."


eq3
Canada's pride, Palliser Furniture, initiated the EQ3 concept in 2001. they wanted to offer consumer hip AND affordable furniture. their designers' goal is to create flexible fashion-forward look with many possibilities to personalize the furniture you want. i like their' Matt rocker.' comfortable and chic. i want one for my nursery in the future.


cocoon home designs
Coccon offers 3 methods to help you decorate your home: selecting from their existing designs, customizing their designs, or creating your own with their assistance.


tgh
they import products from several popular italian companies such as Meson's, Rossana, and SanGiacomo. the photo here shown is a kitchen system from Rossana. no website available but you can contact them at tecnocominc@shaw.ca










jorg&olif
inspired by individuality, imagination, good living, and style, Jorg & Olif's attactive bike makes people smile.







modernkid
this booth caught my attention by showing off Nurseryworks' 'Aerial Crib that i want to feature on this blog in the near future. nursery should be cute and warm and could be modern and stylish as well. there are so many options that you can customize the crib that suits your nursery. i'm showing you another option here in pink and white. i forgot to ask ModernKid how much it costs here in Vancouver but i know it should cost around $920US.






spice of life
this chair caught my eye. the booth showcased pink and orange ones. however, i found myself liking the red one on the catalogue the most. Spice of Life imported them from Thailand. priced @ $300CDN.


the following designers and items in the show have already been featured in my blog already:
Brent Comber - i featured his famous 'Alder' collection. besides his own booth, he also provided the dining table for 'the Ritual' in the 'Rooms with a Different View' section.
Spot Inc - this booth featured mostly products from Wowbow
Montauk - the irresistable sofas