Need Some Illumination?

Here is a sampling of some of the lights we have hanging around the studio, they throw off some light for sure but we liken them to lit sculpture.... the warm glow of an Edison bulb is quite romantic.  They are fitted with all new wiring with retro style cloth covered cords and standard sockets and cord switch. The wall brackets are ingeniously designed to allow the cord to slide through but hold the lamp at exactly the height you desire. Take your pick $225 each 

Rusted metal (seal coated so there is no rust residue)

                                                     

       

Press formed vintage aluminum.

                              

Copper, looking better with age all the time.

Stainless steel - simplicity.

Interior Design Show Toronto

Braving wind chill, plane delays and Toronto road construction The Interior Design Show in Toronto was well worth the trip this January. Puffin Design works directly for and with interior designers and we feel it is very important to be out there seeing what designers are seeing, what the industry is doing, what's hot, what people are playing with.  Frankly the Toronto Interior Design Show was very validating.  Industrial components are appearing in areas of the home that were unusual before.  Kitchens and bathroom fixtures and furniture, lighting and storage units, as well as decorative features. Puffin has some awesome industrial stuff in the works, have we got our juices flowing now!

Here are some shots from inside the show... just some things I thought were cool, along our design tastes.... just to give you an idea of what it's all about, just a taste, a sampler... there was sooooo much!

ON THE CENTER STAGE...

Inspiration........

Patrizia Moroso

 The International Guest of Honor this year was Patrizia Moroso. She is the creative director at Moroso, an Italian design house that has pushed the envelop of design for decades. Hearing her speak about design and the process, especially in her beautiful Italian accented English, was an unexpected highlight for me.  The room was packed and as she got more in the groove of speaking English and let her hands talk, the more expressive she became and we were all en rapt.  Among the topics she covered she spoke about the designers that are working at Moroso and how only a fraction of what they design goes into production, but when it does it may stay in production for 20 or more years.  Their philosophy of experimentation and play with materials and space was inspiring.  Moroso is a family business, started by her parents in the late 40's.  They had to decide whether to stay in Italy or be drawn to Canada by their friends to the land of opportunity.  To choose, they flipped a coin, and stayed in Italy.  She had many slides of her parents and the people they designed with over the years.  Looking back it this was the best time spent in Toronto, it has stayed with me, and I think Patrizia's spirit will too (she had the most amazing socks!)    www.moroso.it. 

These are a couple shots of the Moroso booth.... I sat in more chairs than I took photos of, darn.  They're on the website though.

Thought provoking......

Dennis Askins

Another presenter that I gleaned quite a lot from was Dennis Askin who is a the creative director of interior design for Diesel.  He is creating a collection called 'Successful Living' and working with design houses from all over to create it,  Morosso for example for furniture, and Scavolini for kitchen design.  They even designed a Fiat car and a Moto guzzi motorcycle.  Diesel is an Italian design house, and owned by one man who is still after decades of work is intimately involved in the company.  The Italians have 'it' and they likely always will, works for me!  One of the topics that Dennis spoke about that really struck me is that Diesel is a brand, and as a brand it has to be true to itself.  Designers are free to design whatever they choose, changing what they like, make a new collection, but brand has to be true to what it is, and true to it's followers.... interesting food for thought. Is Puffin Design a brand or ...... 

This is in the collection, I took it from the web, it wasn't quite this cool at the show:

The lights over the island in the photo on the right look like they are shiny silver.  Think of them as the same material that aviator sunglasses are made from.... now the light over the table above is the same material, only this time the light is turned on.  I know - cool!  When the light is off it is like mirrored sunglasses, when on it is glowing amber.  Love this! 

Dennis had a lot to say, a lot that was very applicable to business, a lot of marketing guru wisdom, but most of that is still composting in my cranium, I may speak about it intelligently in about a month, maybe.

I listened to a few other presentations but they were not noteworthy so we'll move on.

Wandering .....

I am a bona fide mountain girl, cities have never really been my thing but they are really growing on me the last couple years, as my eyes see different things and my heart leaps at old brick and giant sculpture, Toronto has some gooooood stuff.  I got lost several times but it was worth it.

Saturday morning wasn't as cold so I explored Olde Town and the Distillery District.  I am sure this place is crawling with people in warmer months but this day in January it was virtually deserted and that made it all the better.  I also met the most unpleasant antique dealer to date and that is saying something - wow. 

 Token Church photo (St. James)

CN Tower by day and by night but these are special because they are from my fabulous hotel room at the Fairmont Royal York - best room service!  Those guys are awesome.  And great location 5 minute walk to the design show, it was cold, that was priceless!

By the way, we're set to exhibit at the Interior Design Show West in Vancouver in September, enough of this lollygagging and rubbernecking - we're on!!! Watch out Vancouver we're coming for you!!!

Copper Tub for Wood Storage

Old copper, distressed wood, rusted steel and patinated brass

These are a few of my favorite things

While cruising one of my favorite vintage places, imagine my surprise when what did I espies, but a very early copper tubbed washing machine. Now I suspect that antique collectors view objects for how complete they are, as a designer, I tend to see the parts.

Lately, I have been thinking that Ali and I need some form of container to stack the firewood near the fireplace. I have been sizing up some large cast iron cauldrons which would do the job. However, when I saw the huge copper tub on the antique washing machine, I knew that I found the perfect container.

Enlisting the help of our favorite metal work artist -Andrew Bibby, I had a base made that raises the tub enough to clear the faucet that is silver soldered to the bottom. As always, Andrew came through with the perfect design to get the job done – without compromise…just simple, understated perfection.

I decide to leave the steel base unpainted and let nature provide the finish. This is always a tough decision as it would look better at the moment painted, but given enough time, the natural oxidation will provide a far better look.  

As with all of our products, this piece is for sale. Imagine it next to your fireplace.   

$900.

PS. Watch for it! As you can imagine, we have some pretty spectacular ideas for the remaining parts of the antique washing machine. The mechanical base is currently being readied to become what may be the most incredible “Industrial Chic” bistro table of all time. Many of the internals such as the perforated nickle plated, rinsing tub will be an outrageous light shade – it is also “huge”. The agitator is already well on its way to become a floor lamp, reminiscent of old fashioned street lights. The list just goes on.       

What is an elephant saddle called?

You won't believe what has come through the doors at Puffin Design. A howdah!  Yes, an elephant's saddle.  Well why wouldn't we have one?  It is beautiful, probably from Thailand, spacious and sturdy, yet remarkably light.  Stay tuned for what it looks like 'after'.... we don't know yet!

See, we didn't make this up - here are some in use.  P.S, we love elephants almost as much as puffins!

This looks like fun.... let's go elephant adventuring, be back soon!

IDS West

The Interior Design Show West (IDS West) was held at Canada Place in Vancouver, B.C, Canada in September.  Alison managed to swing by for a couple days and was not disappointed.

 The sails at Canada Place, landmarks of Vancouver for me. I loved how my plane circled over the city before landing. I could pick out the sails from above and get the lay of the land.  

As I walked into the show I was all tingly with anticipation.... true to his intuition Bart text-ed me just as I walked in the door: 'How is the show?' So I snapped a quick photo to send him.  Yes it's out of focus, it's not of anything in particular.... but the black carpet, low lights and people excitedly mingling - it was the first moments.

Here are some of my shots, not necessarily my favorite things, it is  difficult to photograph at a trade show, but it will give you an idea of what I saw.

This booth had mirror images of their furniture hanging from the (very high) ceiling.  Clever. 

Antique truck loaded with reclaimed wood. 

Stump stools and tables - filled with some kind of resin, very smooth. 

James Bond type bar, the center goes up and down to reveal the bar. 

Many versions of fire tables for indoors and out, here are only two.  

 

Love this yellow sliding barn style door!

Low, modular furniture - definitely a trend to watch, small space living - pieces that move, change, and can be indoor / outdoor. 

Azure magazine is a Canadian publication - for more photos of the show and what Azure thought was cool check out their website:

http://www.azuremagazine.com/article/top-picks-from-ids-west/

This was my first solo trip in a while and I thoroughly LOVED Vancouver.  I stayed in 'The Village' near Davy Street and ate sushi and walked to the water taxi to duck over to Granville Island.  It was fantastic.  This was the view from my table on my first evening.

I had a few adventures, wrong turns, wild street people and even witnessed someone getting removed from the bus for being belligerent to the driver - note to self, always say hello and thank you to the transit people.  A reminder that in a city full of busy people, we are all just that - people. Conversations anywhere you like, just start one.  Smile, hold the door, be yourself, awesome city. 

 Sunset over English Bay, just a short walk from my room, sailboats and kayaks and runners go by..... peaceful.

I'll be back Vancouver, I'll be back.