Informed



  • Prefabricating Good Taste | Preform & AA Robins
    Architecture | Published on July 26, 2010

    We were first introduced to Preform Construction at the IDSwest event held at our showroom last week. Alongside architect AA Robins, Preform is breaking the prefabricated home mold; if you are familiar with prefab homes, it is plain to see that this customizable housing system is far from ordinary.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • Designer Focus | Konstantin Grcic
    Design Information, Designer Focus | Published on July 23, 2010

    _

    Grcic was born in Munich in 1965. He originally intended to become a cabinet maker while studying at Pernham College in England. He later studied design at the Royal College of Art in London where he collaborated with Jasper Morrison. Since then Grcic has designed for such brands as Magis, Vitra, Thomas/Rosenthal, Flos, ClassiCon, Krups, Moroso, Muji, Plank, Driade, and many others.

    _ Read the rest of this entry »


  • Blowing Bubbles | Bocci’s 28 Series
    Design Information | Published on July 16, 2010

    Tuesday, we were welcomed into the Bocci headquarters for a tour and to get a glimpse of how the stunning 28s are produced. Witnessing the craftsmen at work spinning and blowing the glass bubbles was truly incredible. Backed by decades of glass blowing experience, the pieces in progress seemed like extensions of the artists.


    The 28 is a design which lends itself to infinite compositions and gradations of colour.

    _ Read the rest of this entry »


  • IDSwest 2010 Preview
    Design Information, Staff Picks | Published on July 14, 2010

    Interior Design Show West threw a stimulating event on our rooftop Tuesday, giving us a sampling of what we can expect at this years exposition in October.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • Nothing Grows Old Faster than the New | Briccole di Venezia
    Design Information, In Store | Published on July 11, 2010

    We found some interesting pieces at the Milan Furniture fair this year. Among them, Matteo Thun’s Briccole Venezia, a craggily beautiful table made from salvaged Venetian mooring posts. The manufacturer, Riva 1920, has always been open to experimentation when it comes to realizing their designs. Briccole Venezia is no exemption. This table is inspired by the Grand Canal in Venice.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • Designer Focus | Ingo Maurer
    Design Information, Designer Focus | Published on July 8, 2010

    _

    Ingo Maurer was born on the island of Reichenau in the Lake of Constance, Germany. After an apprenticeship as a typesetter, Maurer studied graphic design in Munich then moved to the U.S. as a freelance graphic designer. Only three years past before Ingo returned to Germany and opened his own studio named Design M where he developed and manufactured lighting concepts and systems. In 1973 Design M became and still is Ingo Maurer Lighting GmbH.

    His first design, simply titled “Bulb” can now be seen in the permanent collection at MoMA in New York.

    _

    Besides the design of lamps for serial production, Maurer creates and plans lighting installations for public or private spaces. In Munich, 1998, he created a light installation at Westfriedhof subway station and the renovation and lighting concept for Muenchner Freiheit subway station which opened this last December. In 2006 he created lighting objects and installations for the interior of the Atomium in Brussels.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • George Nelson Clocks | Time & Time Again
    Design Information | Published on June 29, 2010

    George Nelson created some of the most unique and recognizable clocks today. Usually reflecting graphical forms taken from organic inspirations, these clocks echo through history as true design classics.

    Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1908, Nelson studied Architecture at Yale University, where he graduated in 1928 and also received a bachelor degree in fine arts in 1931. George Nelson was part of a generation of architects that found too few projects and turned successfully toward product, graphic and interior design.

    George Nelson Associates created the first clocks for Howard Miller(son of Herman) in 1947. Howard Miller discontinued the line in the 1980’s, Vitra snatched up the rights and put the clocks back into production in the 90’s. The original clock designs were simply given numbers by Howard Miller. Clock 2238 which we know as the Eye Clock was marketed in Howard Miller brochures in diagonal position, not horizontal.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • Millennium Water | B&B Italia & 100 Mile Suites
    Design Information | Published on June 25, 2010

    The Millennium Water development on False Creek is quickly becoming a popular destination for interior design enthusiasts as well as those seeking new and modern residence near downtown Vancouver. The vast property is made up of several low-rise condominiums encircling an expansive courtyard and the refurbished Vancouver Salt Co. building.

    Inform strives to accommodate and enrich anyone’s space with design expertise. Design, art; taste in general is subjective and can vary immensely from person to person and so Nancy and her team set out to show two very different lifestyle choices and what furniture, lighting and accessories might accompany these two equally original and unique flavors.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • MOA Chair | Inspired Seating
    Design Information | Published on June 21, 2010

    The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver recently commissioned Stantec Architecture to oversee the development and execution of a major addition and renovation to Erickson’s beautiful structure at UBC. Stantec’s lead architect on this project, Noel Best, was asked to design a ’signature’ chair to be used throughout the museum.

    Read the rest of this entry »


  • Designer Focus | Charles & Ray Eames
    Design Information, Designer Focus, Staff Picks | Published on June 18, 2010

    Charles Eames was born in 1907 in St. Louis, Missouri and by the time he was 14 years old was working part time at the Laclede Steel Company where he learned about engineering, drawing and architecture and first entertained the idea of one day becoming an architect.

    Read the rest of this entry »