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Monday, August 31, 2009

In Conversation with JC Scott

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JC Scott


As seen in SNAP Victoria, September 2009

JC Scott is one of the most distinctive designers in Victoria and has been for over twenty-five years. His studio in Fan Tan Alley is home to a range of design concepts from hospitality and commercial design to high-end residential, JC Scott Design Associates tackles them and guides their clients through the entire process. JC Scott’s aesthetics are true to the Vancouver Island look – moments from of all of the best styles throughout history with an emphasis on West-Coast design. His interiors are always warm and comfortable and his exteriors are consistently well-done; embracing their surroundings while maintaining a unique presence in the community. The more I read about JC Scott, I learned how many common interests we share.

Please read on to learn more about this local talent.


Iván Meade - What is your favourite design find?

JC Scott Today it is Eco-Lux, I am seeking and finding sustainable luxury. For me that luxury is stylish raw food restaurants like Pure, in NYC & Grezzo, in Boston. and products like Judson Beaumont’s use of pine beetle lumber which we are now featuring as trim wood for a beach home.


image Bon Rouge Bistro


Iván Meade - Why is it important to you?

JC Scott Beauty and the environment are what matter most. Beauty has the power to transform; the environment is our greatest challenge.


image Pescatores Restaurant


Iván Meade - How does this item reflect upon your personal design philosophy?

JC Scott . I feel designers have a dual responsibility to our clients and to the planet through our manipulations of the built environment.


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image Bon Rouge Bistro [Photograph by Owainski ]


Iván Meade – What was your first experience with design?

JC Scott – I designed my way through university starting with simple crafts and evolving to silver jewellery and graphic design. My brother and I were two of the first hippie craftsmen to sell our work in a public market in Canada. I left university debt free and committed to design with a degree in architectural history.


image The Point


Iván Meade – Who or what has influenced your style?

JC Scott – Everyone who mattered in design influenced me including but not limited to; Pericles, Bernini, Borromini, Vasari, Soane, Webb, MacIntosh, Sullivan, Wright, Corbusier, Lautner, Erickson, Calatrava, Stark, Hadid and Rashid. The Futurists and Surrealists also mattered as did all the Taoists.


image The Marina Restaurant


Iván Meade – How would you describe your style?

JC Scott – My style is totally personal and constantly evolving, the only thread is that I always bring some element from the last project to the next, but only I know what it is. I am a facilitator rather than a didactic; I listen, I process and then I produce works specifically tailored to the site, to my clients and to the required design solution. My only constants are quality, personal comfort, holistic wellness and dedication to the planet.


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The Point – Residence


Iván Meade – What designers of past and present do you admire most?

JC Scott – The designers I admire most are based on my motto “Redefining Tradition” so it includes the classicists; Sir John Soane for being the first classical modernist, Michael Graves for rebranding it as Post Modernism and Renzo Piano and Carlo Scarpa for keeping the knowledge of classical proportion alive. I admire classical form and try to follow it in my own work, however on the West Coast, organic architectural forms have a natural predominance.


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image Cape Santa Maria, Beach House - Bahamas


Iván Meade – What do you consider to be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

JC Scott – My greatest design strength is my ability, learned through focused and determined Zen studies to adopt the discipline of becoming the empty vessel, ready to listen, to experience and to be filled by my clients needs and desires with an absence of self; my greatest weakness is that I like to fill that vessel with champagne and good wine when we are finished.


imageShoal Point Residence


Iván Meade – I read that you began your career in Victoria as an artist and graphic designer. Do you still partake in these types of job opportunities?

JC Scott – I still draw, make collages and encourage the arts whenever I can. I always get involved in the graphics for all our commercial projects and still design the odd sign, logo or graphic. Harmony and design integrity are key to success and I see no difference in fundamental principles when I am designing a ring or a resort, a sign or a spa. Form follows function, needs analysis precedes concept development, good planning makes much better results. Quality rules, details matter and proper finish is the only finish allowed to leave through the doors of my studio.


image The Edge – In Home Spa


Iván Meade – Where can my readers and I see some of your artwork?

JC Scott – At my home if you are invited. It is my poetry, my personal solitude. I also show at my Annual Erotic Art For Fools Exhibition in Chinatown in the spring.


image Painters Lodge


Iván Meade – What is/was your favourite medium to work with?

JC Scott – Graphite on paper, I find it to be a pure, simple and perfect medium.


imageThe Point Residence


Iván Meade – What is/was your favourite subject matter?

JC Scott – Landscape and dreamscape; both are my solace.


image The Point Residence


Iván Meade – What aspects of graphic design do/did you take part in? (Stationery design, signage, websites, branding, packaging etc. or strictly logo work)

JC Scott – Every graphic form has caught my attention; my most famous work was the second Greenpeace poster ‘Stop the Slaughter’ depicting a seal pup in a blue circle with that text below the image. Brigitte Bardot wore the graphic on a T shirt, Paul Watson wore the graphic as a protest button and celebrity environmentalism was born.


image Pescatores Restaurant


Iván Meade – What books are currently on your bedside or coffee table?

JC Scott – I am featured in Spectacular Homes of the West Coast but I am reading Good to Great by Jim Collins and The Presence Process by Michael Brown.


image Shoal Point Residence


Iván Meade – What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

JC Scott – Transforming furnishings excite me, I have just researched the latest available furniture that moves with you. It is what I will feature in our new showroom. As a society I feel that we all have too much stuff so anything that can perform more than one task or aid in our ergonomics gets my attention.


image Shoal Point Residence


Iván Meade – I saw on your website that you are involved in Arte de Loreto which appears to be a retailer of original Mexican furniture and art. As you may know, I am from Mexico myself; could you tell me more about Arte de Loreto and your involvement?

JC Scott – Loreto Bay on the shore of the Baja Peninsula is planned as the world’s largest eco resort community, and I was honoured to be a founding designer and we are building a vacation home and gallery there for myself and my partner, the artist Anita Rydygier. It has been stalled by the recent economic downturn but remains close to my heart as a model project. We promote and sell environmental furnishings and fine art on line plus offering custom vacation home design services. We are very pleased with our most recent completed vacation home at Loreto with a swimming pool shaped like a whale and funky furnishings by Straight Line Designs which have no straight lines at all!


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Arte de Loreto - México


Iván Meade – What project has given you the most satisfaction?

JC Scott – The Point, an all glass house at Ten Mile Point for the well remembered Michael Williams’ and Painter’s Lodge, a total retooling and rebuild of a venerable lodge for Bob Wright in Campbell River are tied as being two great projects for stimulating and challenging clients, located in fabulous settings. This is where I find the most satisfaction, by taking on seemingly impossible mandates, like “I want you to design for me an all glass house, with no visible structure, in a seismic zone, which is able to withstand hurricane force winds, which will be ultra modern in style and where I want to furnish the home with only my antiques.” Working with challenges like this at fabulous sites and producing results which meet the demands and result in personal comfort give me great satisfaction. I also enjoy the challenge of creating successful restaurants because 4 of 5 do not last past five years, yet we have a perfect track record which I intend to maintain.


image Shoal Point Residence


Iván Meade – What would be your dream project?

JC Scott – An entertainment complex at the space station, because I retired from nightclub design after doing both the Commodore Ballroom, Western Canada’s largest club and the Sticky Wicket, Canada’s most successful pub but one can always dream of new frontiers. Short of the weightless atmosphere of the space station I would love to do a Euro-style hospitality complex here in Canada if the laws allowed me. This would be a facility which would run 24 hours a day; first as a small artists’ café, then from noon to midnight as a pub, bistro and restaurant, then from six to two as an adult lounge and finally from midnight to closing as a full-on dance club. I have experienced these places in Italy and Germany, and people of all ages and financial means attend them so why are we so hung-up that we will welcome the world to our Olympics with all the fun of Puritans at a witch burning? It is often frustrating for me to compare my imagination with what we are actually allowed to do as designers here in North America. I don’t want to hurt anyone, I simply want to have fun!


image Shoal Point Residence


Iván Meade – What is your next design venture?

JC Scott – We have just begun planning a heritage Oak Bay coach house renovation and swimming pool complex addition for a famous mansion with fabulous views for delightful clients, for the public we are opening a new Fan Tan Alley Design Gallery showroom and a webstore.


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Shoal Point


Iván Meade – Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work in your own signature style. What would you like your legacy to be?

JC Scott – Happy, satisfied clients, living in comfort on a healthy planet.

I invite you to discover JC Scott work at his website


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JC SCOTT BLOG


Ivan Meade is a local designer and principal of Meade Design Group, a multidisciplinary interior and graphic design studio in the heart of downtown Victoria – www.themeadegroup.com


Love Life.

Simplify your life
Live one day at a time
Less is more
Slow down and take it all in...

Quality over quantity
Forget about the mess sometimes & be happy there's someone there to make it.
Don't worry
Paring down makes you feel free...


Take pleasure in the day to day
Appreciate the little things in life


Find beauty in every day things...
Don't click away the time

You never regret taking the time to do something nice for someone

They grow up before you know it



Keep your goals in mind but don't forget to appreciate what you already have...

Each day is such a gift to us and we should treasure its beauties: nature, our homes, our friends, our families...
Take nothing for granted. You will be happier, I promise.

A little girl drowned in the ocean this week while we were at the beach. I can't imagine how horrible it must be for her family right now & I'm heartbroken for them. Please say a little prayer & remember what's really important in your life. Don't take even one day for granted.

xoxo,

lauren
*images- 1. Real Simple, 2. Baby Christian 3.Atlanta bartlett 4. Atlanta bartlett 5.Real Simple, 6. real Simple 7.Mine-FL Rocking Chair 8.Atlanta Bartlett 9.Mine- wild chickory 10. mine- Froggy 11.real Simple 12. Mine- Ashby 13.Atlanta Bartlett 14-16. Mine - family

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Modern minimalist beach house as the new trend Modern Architecture

modern-beach-house-designs
Modern minimalist beach house captures the essence of new-age construction with its spacious and well-lit interiors, lavish swimming pool on the outdoors and an atmosphere that speaks with silent eloquence. Modern minimalist architecture with minimalist design to capture elegance and understated class. Modern beach house is a house on or near a beautiful beach, here we can see beautiful beach. Sometimes used as secondary house on weekends or during vacation time. This is a luxury house with 3-level front row views of the ocean. The furniture that adorns your house needs fit in well with the theme and style of the beach house.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Eye Candy of the Week – Gisele & Lamar Feeders

 

imageGisele Feeder

 

image Lamar Feeder

 

 

PRODUCT
Gisele Feeder & Lamar Feeder

 

DISTRIBUTOR

KevyK Designs

 

DESIGNER

KevyK Designs

 

MATERIAL

+ Red Travertine

+ Honey Onyx

+ Mystical Marble

+ Carrara Marble [ Our Favourite ]

+ Black Rock

 

SIZE

Gisele Feeder

X-Small - 8" D x 3" H; holds 2½ cups
Small - 9" D x 4" H; holds 5 cups
Medium - 9" D x 7" H; holds 5 cups
Large - 12" D x 12" H; holds 10 cups

 

Lamar Feeder

Small - 7" W x 7" L x 4" H; holds 2 ½ cups

 

DESCRIPTION

Everyday the power of Twitter surprises me more.  A couple of days ago KevyK Designs started following me and I had to check them out.  To  my surprise I found cool, stylish and unique products.  Thanks to the TP – Twitter Power.

 

“Each stone feeder is exquisitely hand carved and polished to a smooth and seamless finish by highly skilled craftsman. Each feeder has its own unique characteristics, warmth and rich colors which no two are alike.

The end result is a collection of the most exclusive and artistic pet dinnerware available.

A removable stainless steel water/ food bowl finished in satin is used to compliment the beautiful marble, onyx and travertine. Durable 0.7mm thick stainless bowls are dishwasher safe and easy to clean.”  - KevyK Designs

 

YUMMY FACTOR
Your dog will say they are as good as a T-Bone!

 

WHO WILL ENJOY THESE DISHES AT YOUR HOME?  TELL US ABOUT YOUR PETS.

 

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Pear Tree Cottage Design Seminars!!


For any DC area readers, I wanted to let you know about Pear Tree Cottage's Design Seminar Series. (For non-DC area readers, just enjoy the pretty eye candy ;) The super-sweet & creative owner, Frances Brayshaw has gotten together a group of local designers to do a month-long series of design seminars on every Sunday in September. I'm so excited to be a part of the series & am the first one up on Sunday, September 6th at 4:00 pm at the shop in Vienna. Spots are limited, so if you'd like to attend, email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com

Pear Tree Cottage
130 Maple Avenue
Vienna, VA 22180
RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com



I'm doing a workshop on arranging your accessories and will be starting with empty surfaces & demonstrating step-by-step how to create artful tablespaces, bookshelves & mantle arrangements.


Here's the schedule of Seminars:




Sunday, September 6 @ 4:00- Lauren Liess: Arranging Your Accessories



Sunday, September 13 @ 4:00- Toni Principe Korby: Defining the Look of Luxury



Sunday, September 20 @ 4:00- Kimberly Stein: From Photo to Finish



Sunday, September 27 @4:00- Rebecca Ilgenfritz: First Impressions: The Foyer






Everything in the shop is displayed so beautifully & they carry antiques & one-of-a-kind items as well as new items. The merchandise is always changing and it's one of those places you'll want to go to often to see what's new. (Not to mention you'll want everything in there!!!) Check out The Washington Spaces Blog for much more detailed description. (image below from Washington Spaces Blog)




It's going to be so much fun & I'd love to see some of you there!!! (It's my first time speaking in public since college so wish me luck!!- eeeeeek! ;) Again, spaces are limited & are booking up quickly, so email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com to reserve your spot!!

Hope to see you there!!

xoxo,

lauren