After two and a half days at the furniture market, we had to get out in the city and see some of the permanent design destinations. No, not the Forum Shops at Caesar’s, but The Arts District near Fremont Street and modern-design mecca Unica Home. More on that shortly.
Attending the Vegas market was an eye-opening experience. To the casual observer, the retail experience is just about one store and its product. However, there is so much more that goes on in order to make it possible. The buying process isn’t just about choosing product, it’s also about finding good value, determining trends but staying true to your concept, forging relationships with reps and exhibitors and taking the time to travel to places like the World Market Center. Even more reason to support your local business owners—they put in a lot of work for you!
One of the highlights of the trip, for me, was meeting Bobby Berk of Bobby Berk Home. We were in the same showroom when I glanced at his name tag, and so I had to introduce myself. Berk lives in New York, where his first store opened (he is now in four states), and his company doesn’t seem to be slowing down! He couldn’t be nicer, and I will continue to read his blog and search the new products on his site for inspiration!
On the local front, we ran into Amir Radwan, owner of Couch (1230 Western Ave., 206-633-6108). He was there looking for some accessories to go into his store. We will look forward to those, and meanwhile, go check him out!
Here are some photos from our trip to Unica Home—any modern-design lover would go crazy:
Alessi display
We also sought out the Arts District, and found a fabulous, funky vintage shop called Retro Vegas. Here are some photos:
Orange sofa from a neighborhood model home from the ’50s.
An entirely salvaged pink retro kitchen!
I love the chrome bamboo and lucite-base coffee tables.
Only in Vegas!
Other highlights from the Arts District were The Funk House, The Attic and Brett Wesley gallery.
Well, Vegas was fun, but I’m glad to be back in the Northwest. Although I saw some great places for design, I don’t think it compares to the fabulous talent we have here in the Emerald City!
February 5th, 2010
Far4
We digress from the usual gift guide suggestions today, to encourage you to attend a wonderful event to support the Seattle Art Museum. Porcelain and design boutique, Far4, and its neighbor, stylish living mecca, Watson Kennedy, are offering special shopping days—now through Dec. 6, where 15% of purchases made will be donated to the SAM. Both stores are fabulous places to buy special gifts, so we’re planning to attend the champagne reception that Far4 will be having tonight from 5-7p.m., featuring Theo Chocolate and macaroons from Honore Bakery ((206) 706-4035). Cheers to great gift giving, and to supporting the arts!
Far4
1020 1st. Ave
(206) 621-8831
Watson Kennedy Fine Home
1022 1st. Ave
(206) 652-8350
December 4th, 2009
Over the summer, we attended Ctrl+Alt+Design, put on by JOIN: Design Seattle, and we’d like to share some photos from their latest event, Scrap, held at jewelry boutique, Fancy (1914 2nd Ave., (206) 956-2945).
The event featured work in scrap wood by these local designers:
grain
iacoli & mcallister
ladies & gentleman studio
laura yeats
trey jones and urbancase
fortyfive09 and &c
Also, catering by Guernica ((206) 218-7969)—the maple-glazed bacon doughnut holes were a hit!
Photos courtesy of Chelsea Green from Grain Design, and the JOIN blog. Watch for our upcoming post about Grain’s new TY DIY Shower curtain!
November 30th, 2009
Check out Sur la Table’s new location at the Bravern (11111 NE 8th St., (425) 450-4010)! They have some exciting in-store demonstrations coming up, so mark your calendars for the following dates and times:
Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2pm: Jennifer Shea of Trophy Cupcakes
Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2pm: Trixie Bakes at the Bravern
Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30pm: Tom Douglas
Friday, Oct. 23 at 6:30pm: John Howie of John Howie Steakhouse
Saturday, Oct. 24 at noon: Kids Baking with author Cindy Mushet
Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2pm: Leslie Mackie of Macrina Bakery
Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2pm: Skillet Street Food
They are free to attend, and include a sample of each recipe prepared by the chefs. See you there!
October 5th, 2009
Maude Credenza by Seattle’s Urbancase
Since West Seattle’s Click! (2210 California Ave. SW, (206) 328-9252) opened five years ago, we’ve looked to owners John and Frances Smersh for unique, modern gifts and furnishings that reflect the Northwest contemporary organic style. This Friday, they’re celebrating their fifth year in business with an evening event, this Friday, Oct. 2, from 6-9pm. Along with the bubbly, Splendid Cupcakes will provide tasty treats, and guests will receive a free etched botanical glass with every purchase (while supplies last!).
Also, Oct. 2-4, Frances Smersh jewelry designs will be 25% off!
Drop Triptych Necklace by Frances Smersh
September 30th, 2009
Going on now through July 12, Ctrl+Alt+Design is a design review sponsored by JOIN: Design Seattle, that features 27 designers and collectives–many from our state–exhibiting furniture, home accessories, lighting and jewelry. Here are the local participants:
Seattle, WA
Brite Collective
Heath Bultman
Dreamlets
Forty-Five-09
Grain
graypants, Inc.
Iacoli & McAllister
Jeff LaCoste
LIT Shades
Ladies & Gentleman
Meet Me Here
Paul Piacitelli
Submaterial
UrbanCase
Portland, OR
Hankbuilt
Tricia Martin
We attended the kickoff party last week, and here is what we saw:
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Brite Collective
Frame Lamp by Iacoli & McALlister, and artwork by Knee Shy
Chalk Series and Alphabrass Lamps by Ladies & Gentleman
Still Life with Cans by Jason Neufeld
We saw some extremely fun and creative things, and it got us excited about new design in Seattle!
June 18th, 2009
Last Thursday, we attended the launch party of Semaphore, a new furniture and lighting collection by local designers Piano Nobile. The event was hosted by local wallapaper boutique, Hermitage ((206) 328-5550), and Lit Shades ((206) 818-4101) lighting designed by local designer, Dawn Bassett, at their shared space on Capitol Hill (1906 East Prospect).
It was a great event, and we were happy to see all of the fabulous, new offerings from three talented local entrepreneurs!
Semaphore event at Hermitage
New wallpaper panels at Hermitage, with Semaphore floor lamps
Semaphore coffee table
New shades by Lit for the Semaphore event (patterns designed by Piano Nobile)
Wallpaper by Julia Rothman: colored markers were provided for coloring in a custom pattern!
May 27th, 2009
On Wednesday, we attended the 6th annual IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Toast event held at Capitol Hill’s beautiful Pravda Studios (1406 10th Avenue). The Chapter celebrated their achievments over the past year, and welcomed the new board for the year ahead. The new president of IIDA’s Pacific Northwest Chapter, Phil Logsden (Knoll, Seattle), expressed his excitement for the future of the organization and it’s contributions to the local design community. We had a great time, and we wish them the best in the coming year! Here are some photos from the event:
May 22nd, 2009
Vern Yip with our Market Editor, Stacy Kendall
Imagine three different clients who are in different stages of their lives: What would your advice be to a young couple buying their first house? They still have furniture from college, not enough of it, and they’re combining styles. Where do you begin?
I think when you’re first starting out and combining, you need to make the best use of what’s existing. Identify what you have and combine it in the best way possible. Paint is your best friend because it’s a unifying factor—it can pull together a disparate collection, or supplant art. If you don’t have great art, you should go for a bold paint color, because it can act as a focal point and distract from an empty wall. As you begin to acquire more art and greater things, you want your eye to be less distracted from your walls you want them to become more neutral. Save up to buy one thing at a time. The biggest mistake young couples make is trying to evenly distribute their resources, and not one thing is especially good quality, and down the road, you have to buy everything again. It’s wasteful and costly. You don’t have to buy everything at once.
What would you say to someone with young children, perhaps some dogs or cats, who is afraid of buying anything "nice?"
You can have an incredible, sophisticated room, and have kids and dogs. Just plan accordingly. It needs to be a marriage of function and aesthetics. There are great materials out there now like indoor/outdoor fabrics that I use for upholstery all the time. Ultrasuede is also practical. Look for furniture that has plenty of closed storage—an ottoman that will supplant your coffee table. Set aside designated areas for your kids to be free. Growing up, I had to learn to live with nice things, and I learned to be respectful of them.
How about for an older couple who may be downsizing, or they want to update their existing space.
If you have the ability and the money, change the light fixtures. It makes a huge difference and it doesn’t doesn’t take up any space. Another great refresher is artwork. It has the ability to enrich your life, it doesn’t take up square footage and you can take it from one house to another. If you buy things that speak to you emotionally, and have investment potential, it’s a great place to park your money. Photography is the last accessible part of the art market. Make a good investment in a wonderful piece that speaks to you.
Can you give an example of a particular client’s design problem that you think was solved especially well on your show? What is your latest design triumph?
The last episode on Deserving Design, Joe Cook was a River Keeper—he cleaned up the river in his backyard. He was also really into photography and he was using his living room and dining room as a gallery, so people were coming into his house and buying pieces off the wall. That left holes in the collection, as well as holes in the wall. We did a picture rail in his dining room, so now as he sells his art, he can easily replace them. That is a small example of a solution to suit a client’s specific needs. People think a designer is supposed to create a “signature stamp” so you know right away who designed something. That’s not how I define a useful and successful designer.
Catch Deserving Design, Saturdays at 4:30/3:30c
April 30th, 2009
Here is a chance to enjoy an evening of good times in West Seattle, while also supporting a great local cause for the arts.
Pratt Fine Arts Center teams up with Click! Design that Fits (2210 California Ave SW, (206) 328-9252) and Mission Latin Restaurant (2325 California Ave SW, (206) 937-8220) to present a special West Seattle preview of artwork featured in Pratt’s upcoming 27th Annual Fine Art Auction. Work by talented West Seattle artists will be on display at both businesses on Tuesday, April 21 from 6 - 9pm. Ten percent of all sales during the event will be donated to Pratt.
Featured artists include Gabe Feenan, Kate Fluckinger, Stephanie Hargrave, Kristin Keough, Karen Kerr, Sabrina Knowles, Lizabeth Kelly Lyles, Mary Molyneaux, Marc Mullin, Sarah Musser, Theresa Neinas, Jenny Pohlman, Janet Ramble, John Sager, Frances Smersh, Brad Smith and Lara Swimmer.
Morula 7, Stephanie Hargrave
Pratt Fine Arts Center’s 27th Annual Fine Art Auction will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Tickets start at $200. For information about these tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Events Manager Brandi Clark at bclark@pratt.org, or call (206) 328-2200 x267. Reservations may be made online or by phone while tickets remain.
April 20th, 2009
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