Colour Harmony Guide – Circa 1965

 

As designers, we work with colour all the time and one of our main tools of the trade is the colour fans.  Each company has there own style and system but it is quite cool to see what was in use many years ago.

 

Last week, I received another great present – yes, from the same aunt who gave me the Cosmopolitan covers not too long ago, which inspired my entry Cosmopolitan Magazine Then and Now. 

 

Sherwin-Williams Colour Harmony Guide

 

 

Centennial Edition

 

A classic exercise in colour - Which of the Greens on the page is darker?

Believe it or not they are the same!

 

Oooooooh! – Beautiful Interiors

 

I had my fair share of this kind of room as before shots in my interior design projects in Victoria BC. I think this was a very popular colour combo back in the day.  Avocado fridges anyone?

 

Would you be comfortable dining in this room?

 

This room totally reminds me of the work by David Hicks – Have you noticed the lack of green fabrics lately – You can find green in fabrics but not solid green fabrics.

 

And this room could totally be done by Jonathan Adler

 

Retro Vibe – Love the use of the 3 cubes and the yellow accent chair

 

The colour catalogue has these cool cut-outs to see the colour trends of 1965.  Colours like Alligator or Casablanca were the big hits.  Not too far from what is going to be trendy in the near future.

 

Alligator Accent 1736

 

Casablanca Accent 553

 

By the way the gift came slightly incomplete there is a little bit of damage including a missing back – Gotta love that aunt with all her wonderful “treasures”.

Victoria’s Design Scene: An Inside Look

Early in the year an article that I wrote filled the pages of YAM Magazine – Today I am posting the complete content of the article with some new additions.

 

I am often asked the same questions – What do you think about the “design scene” in Victoria? Who are the best designers in Victoria? Is Victoria a good market to work in? Is there much competition in Victoria? 

I think “the design scene” in Victoria has drastically changed since I began Meade Design Group in 2002. In seven years I have seen the main group of designers evolving and growing, while constant newcomers are bringing new and fresh design options to the market.  When I started my firm, I kept hearing the same five names over and over again, but as time passed and I became more part of the design community the list has grown.  And this makes sense: Victoria is evolving into a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city considering its relatively small size. A diverse, competent, and celebrated design community is what one would expect in a city that offers such high quality cultural resources and entertainment.  What other city our size has such fantastic Opera, Ballet, Theatres, Museums, and Art Galleries?  Victoria even has commercial districts with distinctive styles and purpose like Antique Row, Lo Jo, and the new Design District.

 

When I was invited to brand and create the image for The Design District I thought it was a great opportunity to evaluate the design scene in Victoria.  I got to learn who are the designers that shop in the area?  Who are the design enthusiasts that go there every weekend?  Which couples do you see looking for bargains or for that perfect piece for the vacant corner in their home? What are the stores in the area that are bringing new customers and educating potential clients? 

I have also witnessed Victoria design clients becoming savvier and more design conscious. They have access to many of the resources that we designers have to inspire us and keep us up-to-date with new methods and materials; the internet, television, magazines and of course local design stores all contribute. Designers have had to raise their game and evolve to stay on top.  However, informed clients are also better clients: they make for better projects by pushing their designers to imagine outside of the box and to introduce new concepts that keep the trends moving. 

 

Interior Design by Meade Design Group

Being a good designer is not just about being able to create a beautiful space; it is also a designer’s responsibility to put their clients’ desires into a functioning design, and to bring the best value possible to the space. Victoria clients may have gained some skills in figuring out what they want their homes to look like but designers are still needed to make it happen. The creative process to find the right solution for a room, producing the best floor plan, sourcing a complimentary set of fabrics, creating a focal point that will make a room memorable or even just finding the right piece of furniture or an accessory in Victoria are all things that designers do and it’s not easy. Victoria is a growing city, but you really need to be creative in this town to find sources; after all, we live on an island. Although the Internet and all the products in the world are only a few clicks a way, it’s still not an easy job to fulfill our client’s shopping lists. 

 

Interior Design by Bruce Wilkin Design

 

Interior Design by Amie De Toro

I think what is critical to a designers success in Victoria is not being fantastically creative or gifted – although those attributes are important – it is to have have great resources, team members and trades people.  A good designer is also organized and can take a project from concept to completion while keeping their client happy and producing a space that will become the next show piece to inspire more people to line up outside their door. 

 

Interior Design by Sandy Nygaard

I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview many of the best international interior designers for my blog like Barbara Barry, Jonathan Adler, Vicente Wolf, Kenneth Brown and many more. I have also been able to interview the best local interior designers and I am proud to say that Victoria has amazing and significant talent that has gained international recognition.

 

Interior Design by Kimberly Williams

 

Interior Design by Robyn Meredith Bryson

Kimberly Williams and Robyn Meredith Bryson have both been featured in Architectural Digest, one of the top achievements you can receive as a designer; Bruce Wilkin and Bruce Wilson made the top 100 list of the best designers by Canadian House and Home as well as having their projects featured regularly in the magazine; I have been fortunate to have one of Meade Design Group’s projects appear on HGTV’s TOP TEN as the 6th best games room in the continent  for our project in Maple Bay, and Robyn Meredith Bryson will be in a future episode of the same show for the award winning home, “The Radius Residence”. Sandy Nygaard, JC Scott and Teresa Ryback are all featured in Spectacular Homes of Western Canada by Panache.  Amie de Toro is a new Victoria addition with amazing international exposure, her work and home accessory line has been published in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Metropolitan Home and many more, and she is part of the wave of designers new in town.

Yes, the Victoria “design scene” is very rich and vibrant indeed.  Most Victorians probably are not aware of all of these local accolades because most of the aforementioned designers are also quite humble (what’s any design community without a diva or two?)  However, all of them have earned their status as being among Victoria’s best through their designs evident in Victoria’s finest homes.  

 

Interior Design by TD Swansburg

 

Interior Design by JC Scott

 

Interior Design by Gillian Ley Interiors 

 

But one may ask who these designers are? And, what makes them so good? Furthermore, who am I to give the answer?  Well, I am a designer myself and being an insider gives me the opportunity - from the professional and personal point of view - to share my thoughts about a great group of colleagues.

Victoria is a city of 300,000 and there are 75 designers within the yellow pages so you have an amazing designer for every 4000 people, not bad! The design community in Victoria is very supportive, as I mentioned earlier, we consider each other as colleagues rather than competitors; we have annual get-togethers and commend each other on achievements and often collaborate. Because of this, I have been able to enjoy the company of most of the designers in town and have found the role that each plays within the “design scene”.

Each designer has an immediately recognizable style and they really know how to merge creativity and business acumen.  This great group of local designers has attained success, as they continue to experiment with new approaches and take risks. 

There is also a group of superb independent designers who bring a sense of sophistication to Victoria:  Sushan Egoyan, Pauline Van Blokland, Pat Wickware-Tweten, Gillian Ley, Colleen Buker, Eleanor V.Smith, Susan Hargraves, Design One-Stevens, Barbara Gergel, Beth Krupa, Monika Kurc, María Leupelt, Ines Hanl, Danielle Campagne, Denise Hamalainen, Diane Kennedy, Wendy Wilson and Arlene Hart have all become established names in the Victoria design market.

 

Interior Design by Susan Hargraves

 

Interior Design by Colleen Buker

I also would like to mention Citta Construction, Christopher Developments and Zebra Design, who are better known for their refined architectural design work, and InSpace and Axis Design for their excellent commercial designs.

 

Exterior Design by Christopher Developments

 

Interior Design by Zebra Design

But who are the new faces?  The new kids on the block?  The ones to watch?  The new generation of designers in Victoria is energetic; they are not just stylish they embrace technology and are savvy in social marketing tools like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Technorati - each of which are becoming important  parts of their business lexicon.  Names like Lana Lansboury, Tonia Di Introno, Leah Rourke, Jenny Martin, Tamara Radick, Heather Draper, Ben Brannen, Acacia Interior Design, Danisha Rice, Amanda Forrest, Inoui Design and many more that I have not met yet.

 

Interior Design by Tonia Di Introno Design

 

Interior Design by Inoui Design Collective 

 

Interior Design by Inhabit Design

 

Interior Design by Jenny Martin

As you can see Victoria there is no shortage of great designers.  You may be wondering how one goes about choosing a designer.  The majority of these designers have websites and you can surf in the comfort of your home and browse their portfolios. Some of these designers also have blogs so you can have a peek into their everyday life and maybe even learn more than you want to know.  Ultimately the designer will be a person who will match your personality and style.  Some designers offer free meet and greets to review their portfolios giving their perspective clients an opportunity to see if they are a good match for them and their home. 

A decade ago the sophisticated residents of Victoria had few options to consider when looking for a designer to transform their homes. Now, there is a wealth of options. The designers of Victoria are not just talented individuals; they are a diverse community that shares the goals of making this city a better place – even if it is just one room at a time.   I hope with this article, to recognize the inimitable talent and creativity of these designers and salute my colleagues with respect.  

 

 

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

Francis M. Rattenbury

Francis Mawson Rattenbury

1867-1935

 

If you ask anybody who visits the city of Victoria in British Columbia what they liked most during their visit they will answer: Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel, the Legislative Buildings, the Wax Museum and of course the infamous Butchart Gardens. 

 

Three of these Victoria’s signature icons: the Empress Hotel, the Legislative Buildings and the Wax Museum are remarkable pieces of architectural work by British architect Francis M. Rattenbury. 

 

Rattenbury’s first opportunity came when Premier Theodore Davie approved a competition to design a new set of Parliament Buildings in Victoria. Rattenbury’s designs for the new Parliament Buildings were first shortlisted and then selected from 67 designs submitted for the competition.

 

Rattenbury used the name “A B.C. Architect” for his design, believing that the judges would favor a local architect. When he arrived in Victoria on March 14, 1893, to great fanfare, nobody questioned whether a 25-year-old architect was qualified for such a large project. The 1898 Romanesque British Columbia Legislature is a beautiful building that has stood overlooking the Inner Harbor for over 110 years, and is the defining structure  of the landscape.

 

The Legislature Building

 

Rattenbury arrived in British Columbia with little experience but lots of charm and self-confidence.  His commission to design the parliament buildings was a great coup, and Rattenbury went on to establish a flourishing practice designing such notable buildings as the Vancouver Court House (now the Vancouver Art Gallery) the Crystal Gardens in Victoria, and several banks and high end residences throughout the province.

 

Vancouver Art Gallery

 

Throughout his career Rattenbury worked on all types of buildings in Victoria, Rossland, Nelson, and New Westminster; courthouses in Nanaimo, Nelson, Vancouver and his most well-known work for the Canadian Pacific Railway the world-famous Empress Hotel, which was named in honour of the Empress of India, Queen Victoria.

 

The Empress Hotel, an Edwardian Chateau-Style hotel was built in 1904–1908 and since then this wonderful piece of architecture has played hostess to kings, queens, movie stars and many famous people.  Also known as the Jewel of the Pacific this 460-room hotel was recently restored to its original grandeur, with antique furniture and luxurious décor.

 

The Empress Hotel

 

Another great building is The Royal London Wax Museum located in the original Canadian Pacific Steamship ticket office, where ocean liners once arrived from destinations around the world. Its noteworthy the classical lines of architecture. Today the historical past is fitting, since the museum now displays more than 300 wax reproductions.

 

The London Wax Museum

 

Rattenbury’s career was dramatic and although Rattenbury was included in the local high society, his private life was very normal. Things changed however, when he met musician Alma Pakenham starting an open affair with no concern for public opinion or for his wife Florence’s feelings.  Rattenbury divorced his wife at the age of 58, and married his mistress, Alma, who was 26 years his junior. His behavior during this period of his life was not well regarded by the citizens of Victoria, and Rattenbury soon found himself to be a social outcast and decided to move back to England.

 

Alma Rattenbury

 

In 1934 Alma initiated an affair with George Stoner who was hired as a chauffer for the couple. On March 23, 1935, Rattenbury was found badly beaten in his study.  Francis Rattenbury died a few days later on March 28th.   Both Alma and George Stoner were initially charged with his murder.   The trial was a major news story in Britain, giving everything it could have wanted: sex, drugs, celebrity and, in the end, tragedy. When the verdict was announced, Alma was found not guilty but Stoner was sentenced to death. Feeling responsible for both the murder of Francis Rattenbury and the impending execution of George Stoner, Alma committed suicide.

 

Francis Rattenbury was in British Columbia for only 38 years but during that time he was the most prominent architect and remains till this day one of British Columbia’s most famous.

 

Today while I was having an affogato date with talented local designer Gillian Ley at the Rogers Soda Shop I decided to write this entry and to honor the work of Victoria’s legend Francis M. Rattenbury. 

 

The architectural work of Rattenbury is majestic without being excessively busy.  As you can see in the images each building that he designed for the Victoria Inner harbor has a different architectural style, but they all work together harmoniously creating a sense of history; if you take in consideration that all these building were designed and built in a spam of 30 years.  Victoria’s inner harbor is an example of fantastic urban planning by the architect himself.

 

The architectural detailing in the Rattenbury’s interior spaces are as notable as the exteriors.  The woodwork in the dining room at the Empress Room is a master lesson in symmetry and craftsmanship.  The Bengal Lounge, other than have the best Lemon Drop Martinis in the city, clearly reflects the atmosphere of the British colonial times with the coolest motion fans I have ever seen.  The Dome at the British Legislature is another clear reflection of Rattenbury’s innate talent.

 

The Empress Room

 

The Bengal Lounge

 

Interior of BC Legislature  [Photo by Moatway ]

 

Researching and writing this article made me realize how important it is to honor and remember those who have made our city one of the the best places to live.  Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are to have such great and elegant architecture in our city.  

 

I hope that the planners of Victoria realize how important it is to have real beauty around us and that there is a fine line between diversity and trash.  Perhaps they will consider replacing some of the sculptures, or should I call them “visual pollution” that have been commissioned in recent years. They seem disrespectful and pale in comparison to the greatness of the city’s architectural heritage.

 

_________________________________

 

 

“ I suppose you got the sketches for the proposed Hotel at Victoria.
It is going to be a whopper if it goes on, and I think it will go on alright.

 

It will make a decided attraction to Victoria, as we really have wanted a first-class hotel”

Francis Rattenbury letter to his mother, 1903

 

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Sources: Wikipedia, Robert Fulford column, Mini Doc Youtube, GVLP, Canadian Museum of Civilization, The Canadian Enciclopedia

Eye Candy of the Week – Jolle Chair by Piet Boon

 

PRODUCT

Jolle Chair

 

COLLECTION

Piet Boon Zone

 

DESIGNER

Piet Boon

 

COLOURS

Black, Dark Brown, Chestnut, Cognac, Natural

 

MATERIALS

Laser cut frame painted black, interior-sprung (webbing) and cold foam seat cushion, and cold foam filled back cushion covered with Dacron.  The chair is entirely upholstered in thick, luxurious  saddle leather.

 

DIMENSIONS

Width: 105 cm
Depth: 85 cm
Height: 75 cm

 

WEIGHT

24.2 Kg

 

DESCRIPTION

Meticulous attention to the finer details of style characterizes this
elegant, light armchair. JOLLE has a solid steel frame and is upholstered in chic leather.

 

YUMMY FACTOR

Quietly Satisfying!!!

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Eye Candy of the Week – Arcos Vase by Asprey

 

 

PRODUCT

Arcos Vase

 

MANUFACTURE

Asprey

 

DESIGNER

Damián Garrido

 

MATERIALS

Sterling Silver

 

DIMENTIONS

39.5 cm wide by 41.5 cm high

 

DESCRIPTION

I just love the volume of this piece and the fact is made of sterling silver.  As you well know I am a big fan of sterling silver – It is my favourite material.  I also like the fact that they are two great pieces in one piece.  I am not so much fan of motion pieces but this is an extraordinary exception.

With a tag of £17,000 I guess this piece is a real eye candy, as much as I would like to have it. It is only ever for me to gaze upon.

 

YUMMY FACTOR

Unattainably Delicious  !!!

 

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Ivan Meade in “Question Period”

 

Today I was feature on “Question Period” – I feel very honoured to be interviewed by Efrén Quiroz – One of the best Art Critics and supports of the Art Scene in Victoria BC. 

 

Efren’s blog Exhibit-V provides an extensive monthly calendar of openings, ongoing art exhibitions and the most reliable list of art galleries in Victoria B.C. Canada. Video clips of exhibitions and the people attending the events, as well as interviews with artists.

 

I invite you to read the interview here:

http://exhibit-v.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

You can also see here the video that  Efrén Quiroz director of Exhibit- V made on my opening night at PS Gallery back in the summer.

 

This way you can have a pick of my art pieces – Enjoy!

 

 

 

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The Olympic Torch in Victoria BC

 

Today the Olympic Torch started the rally around Canada in preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.  Victoria, British Columbia was the starting point and all the community has come together to prepare for this very special day. 

 

We were very fortunate that the Olympic Torch passed by our studio earlier today.  

 

The city placed these cool banners all around and we are lucky to see them every day from our window.

 

 

After a long wait and some delay, finally the torch passed by the studio.

 

 

 

 

 

Torch Design

Inspired by Canada; Made for Canadians

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A little bit of history…

 

The 2010 Olympic Torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier in collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), is a symbol of the 2010 Winter Games, and will carry the Olympic Flame across Canada on its 45,000-kilometre journey. Twelve-thousand torchbearers will hold an Olympic Torch as they move through 1,037 communities across Canada.  Over 90 per cent of the Canadian population will have an opportunity to see the beauty of the Olympic Torch and experience the warmth of the Olympic Flame.

 

Designer/Manufacturer: Bombardier/VANOC

Inspiration: Canada’s open land, vast potential and smooth, fluid lines left in the snow and ice from winter sports

Height: 37.125 inches / 94.5 centimetres

Weight: 3.5 pounds / 1.6 kilograms

Materials used: Stainless steel, aluminum and sheet moulding compound

Burn time: At least 12 to 15 minutes

Fuel used: Blend of Propane, Isobutane and Hydrocarbons

 

“Vancouver 2010 – Official Olympic Site”

 

 

“When they hold it in their hands, I want them to be proud.”  - Leo Obstbaum, director, Design

For Leo Obstbaum and the design team that developed the 2010 Olympic Torch concept, the project was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

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