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From Meriah: Salone

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Hello and Happy Summer!

I recently returned from Inform’s first trip to Europe since the beginning of the pandemic and boy, was it exciting!

The Salone del Mobile, usually held in April, was pushed back two and a half years and re-emerged in full force this past June. I admit I was unsure what to expect after all this time; I was nervous it wouldn’t live up to two years of expectations. It turned out to be worth the wait.

Now that I have been home for a few weeks and have had time to reflect on what we saw, my biggest takeaway was how fundamental the human element is in design. Design is all about people; it is for people — this is, literally, why it exists. People make it for other people to sit on, look at, use, hold, and enjoy. (Perhaps I am way off. I’m not up to speed on my Philosophy of Beauty these days, but it feels right to me!) People.

And so, after two years of looking at everything through a digital lens, it was a joy to be able to see, touch, and try products IRL. And to mingle with colleagues, friends, and partners whom we had not seen in such a long time. Our favourite experiences had the most relatable stories and most approachable products. Here is Part One of our Milan highlights:

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2021 Gift Guide

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Marquina Oil Cruet

This oil cruet solves the problem of dripping and spilling with so much ingenuity that it has found its way into almost every home. The Marquina oil cruet is an example that big problems require simple solutions.  A transparent, stable, and precise product, that offers the essence of true design.

View on our online shop.

 
 

Aalto Vase

Design pioneer Alvar Aalto combined simple design with a craftsman’s expertise to create iconic home design pieces that are functional and sculptural. Taking inspiration from the many lakes in his native Finland, Aalto’s asymmetrical, soft waves (“aalto” in Finnish) have become his creative signature from architecture to glass.

Each precious vase is at first mouth-blown, then hand cut and polished at the Iittala Glass Factory. The legendary Aalto glass vases make a striking addition to any interior. The wider size showcases fuller flower arrangements and the tall vase best displays long-stemmed bouquets.

View on our online shop.

 
 

Salt Cellar

Salt Cellar combines a container and a plateau. The container holds the salt and serves as a handle. Salt is poured onto the plateau so that it can be picked up from the black surface. Filling the container works the other way around: salt is put on the plateau and then poured into the handle.

View on our online shop.

 
 

Stoff Candle Holder

The chrome candle holder is the very first and original colour of the Stoff Nagel design. Today it is still considered a collectors item in homes around the world – a personal statement and a malleable sculpture ready to assume the shape of its owner’s unique creativity. Create and combine it with other Stoff Nagel designs and use it with taper candles, or leave it merely as a decorative sculpture.

View on our online shop.

 
 

Moka Espresso Maker

A coffee maker with a familiar and at the same time innovative form. Designed by architect David Chipperfield, Moka is an artist’s interpretation of a timeless icon of the Italian culture. Chipperfield introduces a series of details that make the Moka design new and even more functional, such as the flat lid on which to place the cups to be heated – allowing optimum enjoyment of the aroma and flavour of the drink. For those who don’t want to compromise on the unmistakable taste of coffee prepared with an espresso coffee maker..

View on our online shop.

 
 

From Nancy

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When choosing any large investment piece for your home, the normal rule is to keep it simple with a neutral palette. Think of your wardrobe choices: when purchasing a suit, probably we’d be conservative… Navy? Grey? Brown? And let crazy stockings or ties jazz it up.

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The same thing with a sofa, pick a beautiful Neutral base and then let the toss cushions or that single comfy chair sing. A wonderful patterned fabric, texture and/or colour to add spark. Like a jewel. If it’s a Knoll Womb Chair in mohair velvet even better!  (By the way, Knoll and Herman Miller are on promotion at the moment; contact us for more details.) 

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Remembering Peter Cardew

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It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of one of our friends, and one of Vancouver’s great architects — Peter Cardew.

Peter worked in and around Vancouver since 1980 and was the recipient of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada’s Gold medal. Known for his deceivingly simple design, he worked on a wide range of projects from schools, galleries, libraries, residences, and commercial buildings.

His architecture blends form with place seamlessly and he always collaborated with skilled tradespeople to produce clean, pared-back buildings, interiors, and furniture which then allow the function of each space or object to be fully realized without interruption.

Peter’s friendly face and calm demeanour will be missed by all of us at Inform.

Image by Ian Lanterman ; courtesy of Neighbour.

We’re Still Here!

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Dear Friends and Clients,

We are extending our thoughts to everyone and hope you are all well.

We would like to take the opportunity in this challenging and unprecedented time to let you know that Inform Interiors will be doing our part to slow the Covid-19 virus. As such, our showrooms remain closed to the public and we have reduced our in-showroom staff, with the remaining staff working remotely. We are available from Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm for all inquiries.

Our online shop is open and running, along with a new live chat option!

The warehouse is fully functional, but there will be no in-home or curbside deliveries at this time. Pick-ups are available from all locations. Please contact your sales rep to coordinate.

Take care and be safe,

Inform Interiors

Ingo Maurer (1932-2019)

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Few people working in the rather serious industry of industrial design have the ability to weave magic through every one of their pieces the way Ingo did. According to his Wikipedia page, he was nicknamed the “poet of light” — a title he certainly lived up to.



 

Rather than working to conceal the light source as most traditional lighting designers do, Ingo’s work has always exposed and underscored the beauty of the basic architecture and technology of lighting itself. His first piece, called Bulb, is a large crystal globe encompassing a smaller one; created in 1966, Bulb is now included in the MoMA permanent collection.

 
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Holiday Gifts

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We invite you to come to our 50 Water Street showroom in Vancouver to see the many beautiful items we have on display for the holiday season. Find the perfect gifts for those on your list and take advantage of our complimentary gift wrapping service which features this year’s limited edition Inform Interiors’ holiday sticker by the renown graphic designer Marian Bantjes.



 
 

E.R. Butler & Co. Candlestick Holders

Intrigued by the classic but delicate shape of a Biedermeier candlestick found at a flea market, and impressed by the precision of nineteenth-century lathe work, Ted Muehling tried to capture these qualities using traditional spinning and casting techniques. Daunted, however, by the cost and labour required to realize them, the pieces remained as prototypes.

Ten years after seeing Ted’s pieces, Rhett Butler of E.R. Butler & Co. suggested that Muehling try a technology which he used to produce his exquisite hardware. Butler’s computerized lathes have given life to the designs. This process allows for precise control of the beautiful curves that make these pieces so elegant.
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Oh my Gaudi!

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Spain is a country that is home to a wealth of design talent — currently and historically. As someone who works within the design industry, I had to visit Gaudi’s masterpieces when I found myself in Barcelona this summer. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have visited a very special building — Casa Batlló — multiple times. Each visit felt like a new experience as they have been at different points in my life — high school, university, and now adulthood.

For those who are not familiar with Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), he was a Spanish architect based in Barcelona in the province of Catalonia. His artistry was one of a kind. Gaudi was strongly influenced by his passions: his work (architecture), nature, and religion. Seven of his works have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and Cripta Güell. All of these are located in Barcelona.
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