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. 

Back in the day...

In the days when houses were heated by a centrally located wood stove and the walls had little if any insulation, it could get quite cold sitting next to the radio while darning socks. In the late 20's and early 1930's, electric parabolic heaters became all the rage. These personal space heaters would provide comforting heat wherever it was needed. 

Starting life as a parabolic heater, this vintage piece now casts a reflective warm glow from the Edison  bulb. With the inefficient and outdated heating coil replaced with a new-  vintage look - light fixture and period style, cloth covered wiring , this lamp is certainly unique. When re-purposing this funky piece we carefully preserved the aged patina, especially noticed on the heavy bronze base.

Bronze Based Parabolic Lamp $299

This lamp started out life as a parabolic heater from the art deco period (circa 1930's). With the polished reflector, the vintage look - Edison bulb - casts excellent light.

We carefully removed the antiquated heating element and replaced it with modern, new electrical lighting components that are manufactured to current safety specs, but have a vintage look...such as the cloth covered cord.

Check out the original art deco design on the cast base. it is hard to believe that it has survived intact after 80 years.

As usual, this unique, one of a kind "art deco" lamp is a Puffin Design original.


Art Deco Parabolic Lamp $299

Smoke Stacks Welcome us to Spokane!

Yes, we love Spokane, another jaunt down to our favorite stomping grounds. This time we'll take you to one of our favorite buildings, Steam Plant Square. 

You can see the smoke stacks from the freeway as you approach the exit to downtown -

 you've arrived!

 Steam Plant Square is a landmark in Spokane. We love this building, it's old bones of pipes, gauges, catwalks and broken concrete speak right to our souls.  A building that it would have been easier to completely gut was renovated and restored keeping some of the inner workings of the plant intact as a reminder to it's first life.  Originally exactly that, a steam plant that produced heat and energy for downtown Spokane, Steam Plant Square is now home to a restaurant, microbrewery, pub, shops and offices.  

Gorgeous tile work in the foyer.

Catwalks and ladders galore!

\

How's this for a dining room?

                                  

Our most recent 'inspiration' trip had us touring the building during business hours instead of evening and we saw a lot more this time around. During the day offices are accessible and the stacks are available to view, Alison made sure the door didn't lock behind us so we didn't have to climb out!

                 

Looking up!   Open to the daylight - it'd be a long climb out!

This office is in the coal bin!! The white brick is the bin!

These offices are reached by elevator and catwalk - architect offices of course!

Door covet!

Lit up at night!

It really is worth the visit. Funky, industrial, steam-punk, re-purposed; everything we love, and the food's pretty good too!

For more info on the history of the steam plant in Spokane check out this link!

Transform your life

Perhaps the single most important part of Puffin Design's business is our network of suppliers. These are people in various enterprises who find the raw ingredients for us to create the things we do.

Awhile back, Alison and I pulled up to the shop of one of our favorite sources ....Three Mile Antiques, near Bonners Ferry Idaho, when Mike - the proprietor - came running out to greet us. Barely able to contain himself, he took us to the side of his store and showed us his latest find. It was a gorgeous, old, ...well rusted transformer. Imagine, Mike exclaimed, "the table base that this transformer will make." We couldn't agree more. Mike just doesn't miss with his picks.  

About a year earlier, while schlepping around a junk store in Cranbrook British Columbia, Bart found a large "mill stone". The interesting thing is that the mill stone was never finished. The one side was never faced. When mill stones are quarried, the rock (sandstone) must be free from defects and of sufficient hardness to grind grain without the surface of the wheel breaking down. For whatever reason, this wheel was mostly completed before it was abandoned by the craftsman making it.    

We cleaned up the transformer, being careful to leave the patina, and added the the grinding wheel as the table top - with the spectacular unfinished side up. Voila...one of the most interesting bistro tables in existence.

To set the stage, Bart grabbed a couple of stools that Ali has been working on. Calling Alison at home, Bart asked Ali to bring the cameras as well as some wine and glasses for a photo shoot. Keep in mind that this was well before noon on a Sunday. As luck would have it, a group of six ladies dropped by to view the galleries just as we were finishing the staging. It wasn't until after they left that Alison commented on what the visitors must think about a half finished bottle of wine with full glasses on a Sunday morning.  
 

The best thing about this bistro table is that it will get better with age when exposed to the elements. If it is located in a shady area, the sandstone edge will attract moss which will put this table over the top as a defining piece in outdoor furniture. As with all Puffin Design creations, this table is "one of a kind."
                                                                                                .....$800.

Five Spokane Secrets

Recent road trip to Spokane..... ooooooooooo did we have fun!!  

A romantic getaway morphed into a 'buying trip' that got away on us a bit.... well when you find the good stuff you have to go for it! 

We packed the car full, again.... stuff (weird, useless stuff to most people) that will be transformed into lights, a brass foot rail for the bar we've been planning to build (score!), cigar boxes (just cool for display), another chair, the perfect pieces to finish the chandelier that just wasn't coming together, until now! So much inspiration!

I'm going to give you a few secret spots in Spokane we love... 

don't tell anyone....

Scored BIG at The Vintage Rabbit Antique Mall...(secret #1) - awesome prices on funky junk... vintage clothes that are fantastic if you like that kind of thing, which I do, and mucho selection on everything from vintage tableware to antique furniture with enough flotsam thrown in to make it a worthy search, fun all the way around!

Tasty meal at the "Tomato Street" Italian Restaurant.  Toasted ravioli and wood fired pizza, Caesar salad and yes, Chianti... .yum! Our favorite wood fired pizza place: "The Catacombs" in the Montvale Hotel 

(that's secret #2).     

Hit the arts supply store (Michaels) for some drawing paper, new pencils, articulated man, he's fun - don't be a perv! Michaels is not a secret but it is awesome!  Bought supplies we didn't plan to but always need - 'hey it's on sale!'  Somebody stop me!!!  

Came out wearing glitter - how does that happen?

A stop to buy things packed in a little pink striped bag.... 

wink, wink... 

A comfy hotel room... (sorry, this is staying a secret, nope not the Montvale this time but that is a great hotel! That's secret #3.)

Wine and chocolate.... new Yellow Tail blend 'Big Bold Red' - delish, Toblerone... perfect combo -  

Secret #4 (not a place but the combo is a good one)

   

Stupid, funny movie.... laughing our heads off, drinking wine, eating chocolate, life is good!  Ok we do this all the time, maybe it was just the change of scenery.... 

Here is the big secret... seriously, you already have to stand in line for breakfast here so don't tell anyone.... "Frank's Diner" has the best breakfast in the whole world and Bart know's his breakfast! (Secret #5)

Ok I didn't let you in on everything....  here are a few more of our favorite places in Spokane:

Pink Salvage Gallery 

Antiques at Spencers

The Steelhead Bar and Grille

The Fox Theatre

Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

Royal Upholstery

Aunties Bookstore

REI 

I know I didn't post the links for the secret places... well now that wouldn't be any fun now would it- the hunt is part of the game!