Vintage Chemistry Stand Desk Lamp

 

At Puffin Design we are always on the look out for outrageous things for interior design. 

This vintage chemistry stand makes the perfect base for a double desk lamp.

The lights themselves, although very retro looking, are completely new. Starting with the highest quality light sockets and complimented by the cloth covered wire and vintage style plugs.  

The funny thing about designers is that we tend to embrace asymmetry. So although identical parts were used, both lamps are different. One is chrome, the other is brass. Even the cloth cords are different colours. Only the shades are the same.

This lamp was just pure fun to design and put together.

As always...this desk lamp is one of a kind.

Yours for only $249.00

Buy the Vintage Chemistry Stand Desk Lamp

Brightened up!

 I like to start with the best part, here is the finished chair. 

This chair came to me for a face lift. The owner uses it as an easel to hold a painting that is very dear to her heart. This is a very clever way to display a painting I think. 

It has been recovered many, many times.The nails holding the webbing on had split the wood and weren't holding anything in place. 

The padding and fabric had seen better days. Occassionally I can reuse stuffing or components when I am reupholstering but in this case there was no benefit. 

The client only asked that the chair have peacock fabric on it, she didn't need to use it as a chair for sitting on but the easiest solution was to just make a wooden seat and cover it.  In the end it made for a very sturdy chair that she certainly can use as a chair for sitting if she desires. 

The chair was very tight, no wobbles or damage. I brightened up the wood with a cleaning product I like to use called "Restore", padded the new wooden seat, and covered it with the fabulous peacock fabric. The fabric is embroidered with gold thread, it's really quite beautiful. 

She was very pleased with the end result, and so am I. 

Master Sergeant

Our quest is finding unique, functional pieces. Every once and awhile we come across something that stops us in our tracks. Imagine the stories this trunk could tell.    

This military travel trunk is so cool. It is in great condition, the clasps work perfectly and it has just enough wear to add that bit of mystery to it's past. 

 

We love the stencilling on the trunk, it makes it so much more interesting. This belonged to a soldier, we don't know his history but he feels like one of the family if his trunk is in your living room. 

Inside is that perfect army green colour with some wear to make it all the more real and loved.

There are two layers, the top lifts out, to allow more storage below. 

This is a good height for a coffee table and would allow for a lot of storage - books, movies, blankets, t.v remotes, whatever you want handy but out of sight for company. 

This piece is on sale at the Social Room Interiors on Baker Street in Nelson, B.C.

If you'd love to have it, we can arrange that.


$250.00

Winner!

Congratulations to the winner fo the Earth Vessel Sink Valued at $1900!

Rosina Ho of WKH Services, an interior design firm in  Hawaii!

Rosina is on the left holding the prize, pictured with Alison Bjorkman of Puffin Design.ca. 

We are so pleased Rosina won the prize! The draw was done at 4:00 pm on Trade Day at IDSWest (the Interior Design Show in Vancouver). Rosina and her daughter came back to the booth the next day to check out who won and we are sure her whoop of surprise and delight was heard throughout the entire show! It was wonderful to meet Rosina she is a terrific lady!

Industrial Chic Bistro Table

One of the hottest genres in current furniture design is "oil punk"... also called "industrial chic", it is my favorite design aesthetic. Starting out life as a very well made washing maching... high tech in the early 1900s, I must admit that all I could see was the perfect base for a bistro table. 

It took quite a bit of cleaning to get over a century of grunge off of the metal parts. In fact, I dismantled the mechanical parts to the smallest piece, then wire brushed and scraped using an organice de-greaser. Once cleaned up and air dried, every part was carefully coated with double boinled linseed oil and wiped dry. 

For the top, I have been working on a new "ultra-white" concrete that, amongst other things, has marble dust in it. Marble dust is a by-product of processing marble slabs for building facades and counter tops. University research in cement rheology indicates that adding 5% marble dust actually makes the end product 7% denser. It also makes it gorgeous. For added visual effect, I added some veins on the surface and a rough rock effect on the inch and a half thick edge. The actual top is only 3/4 inch thick, only the edge is dropped down to the full thickness. 

Enough of the technical stuff... judge for yourself it this isn't the coolest bistro table ever. 

One of a kind $3500

Claire's Coming Out

This chair is for my Mom. She came to the studio one day and saw this chair in it's previous state and really loved the lines of it. She sat in it, and wiggled, "I like this, I want it in red!!" And so it began. I had other, very different plans for this chair but I am happy with the result, even if I would have painted the 'sacred wood' - "Oh, you're not going to paint that?!!" my Mother exclaimed.  "No" I said as I nodded. 

I thought I'd share the process of reviving this chair, give you a glimpse into how much love and attention goes into a project like this, even without having fun painting the wood! 

The chair, let's call her Claire just for fun, at the start.... 

(no that's not my Mom's name.) 

I stripped off the first layer of fabric and found a very nasty second layer... 

skeletons in Claire's closet.

 I don't like to cover over worn fabric, I prefer to strip it off. Some upholsterers just cover over as it does save time, especially if the chair doesn't need any other work, but Claire deserved better!

Stripped down to her skivvies.

Bart helped me retie the springs, they needed to be tightened up, and he's very handy with knots. This photo shows about half way through the retying process. These springs require what is called an eight way tie. It is very stable and strong in the end. 

I oiled the wood to make her shine and covered the springs with burlap to have a base to work from.

Layers of foam and batting of varying density made her cushy but firm. 

Now she's ready to get dressed....

Mom chose a fabric of dark red with gold dots and a diamond pattern. 

It can be challenging when working with pattern to get the pattern on straight. To line up the pattern on the seat with the pattern on the back. It worked out very well this time, very little adjusting. I cut away extra fabric as I folded and tucked it all into place and stapled it securely.

Some things you can't see... I made piping from the same fabric and it rims her back, a dust covering over the springs underneath completely hides all the workings, felts on her feet and she's complete.

 Claire is ready for her date with Mom. Now to get her to Alberta.... road trip!

Close up of Claire's pattern.

Your home will never be the same

Modern Eclectic - What do you get when a talented design consultant and her spouse create a dream boutique using, whenever possible, items for the home that are crafted in the Kootenays?

                                                              You get the "Social Room".

Focusing on the home owner with a desire for beautiful surroundings, Jennifer and Clint recognized that the Kootenays needed a retail outlet that features quality designer  furnishings. Whether building, renovating or simply looking for some pleasing changes...The Social Room is the place to go.




 Partnering with Samurai Hardwood Flooring and the Blindman window treatments - with inhouse displays, The Social Room can coordinate complete design packages for your home.






As a "design consultant" who has the rare training and talent in color combining, Jenn can help homeowners with design and colour choices with new builds, renovations, upgrades, or simply making a room work for you.

    







Jenn and Clint have made a point of not only collecting local craftspeople and artists who supply unique and eclectic items of interest for display (and sale) at the Social Room, but who will also craft custom pieces for Jenn's clients reflecting their unique needs and desires.

At Puffin Design.ca we feel privledged to be part of the Social Room team to help make people's beautiful dreams a reality. Please check out the Social Room on Baker Street in Nelson.