Keeping it simple, It's hard to do...

I saw this African mask the other day at a consignment shop that I frequent. The identical one on 1st Dibs.com was going for about $500 more. The one in the shop in Portland was definitely a bargain. I just wished that I had a place for it. In my efforts to purge my life from clutter, chaos and craziness. It is the last thing I need to dust. But I really love it.
As I ponder about it for the next few weeks, my friend Heather, the owner of the shop might reduce the price.Then I will think about it more. I bet I could find the perfect place in my living room, Until then I will wait and dream. It is rather large.It is about 30" or more in diameter. maybe i will just dream about it...
It is a part of my inspiration for all the simplistic but detailed things that I am doing in my living room.I can hardly believe that my idea doesn't involve a stripe. I decided the simplicity of black, white, taupe, silver, bronze and of course Deep Peacock blue walls makes a statement in itself.
It is all coming together. I should check the status on my new sofa in the morning.
take care,
CEV, I hope all is well.

john

drawing board

I think it was a Friday night in October when I was meeting some friends for happy hour that I stumbled upon a retro furniture store in NW Portland. I had been there a few years ago with a friend. We often went window shopping for furniture for his mid century modern home. I had forgotten that they existed. The store front is located in the basement of an old apartment building with a separate street level entrance. The store always had odd hours so it was rare that it was opened. The economy must have driven them up from their subterranean establishment to grab the attention of those passing by on the sidewalk.I was early for drinks, so I stopped to look.
I found a set of four 70's style swivel dining chairs covered in the original awful green striped vinyl. They were in mint condition. The tag said $80. The price per chair wasn't bad. I told the dealer that if he could save them for me until the morning. I would pick them up. I wanted to clarify the price. It turned out to be $80 for the entire set of 4. It was the deal of the century. As a single man with a growing teenager I have to be wise on how I spend money. I never know what Plastic Gizmo(IPOD!, GAME BOY!,DVD)that I might have to purchase.
I knew a good deal when I saw it. Took a photo on my cell phone. On Monday, my upholsterer gave me a quote. I ordered the fabric. They were delivered two days before Christmas, Voila, I now have dining chairs.
I still haven't figured out how to download my picture of the newly upholstered chairs. so please bear with me. By the end of this year, I hope to have finally figured out simple 21st century technology. Until then, please bear with me.
I should have lived in the Edwardian Age.

The back side of the chairs are covered in Mark Pollack's vinyl , Fetish colour: cauldron and the front and the seat are in his Sedan Plush colour: asparagus. It is an faux mohair.The blend of the bronze vinyl and soft warm green of the mohair make for an interesting mix.


sincerely, John

news release 2010

It has been quite some time since my last blog. I hope that you all have enjoyed your holiday season. As for myself, I am excited about the many options that the gift of the New Year brings. I am not one for resolutions. but if I was to have one I want to put the past to rest in peace.
All my fond memories, I will delight in the joy of what they have brought. My fears I will lay to rest to begin anew. The Gift of the future is unveiled only a little at a time. I choose to make wise choices and to design a new plan for myself.
If you recall, I got rid of all of my living room furniture. Here is a drawing of the custom sofa and textile choice. I will keep you up to date as the design of my new living room is revealed.
To those whom I have been the closest to and now am the furthest from whether by distance or by some other device. I do care and I will always care. Please do not forget the joy or beauty of what we have shared.

Love, John

let's get WiLd ANd cRaZY OnE MOre TiME

This year has been a time in which i had a lot of time to think about the course in which my life was going and what path I was going to travel. My dear friend, heather, an owner of a consignment shop in Portland was there when i need a good friend to talk to. This year the love of her life, teddy her border collie passed away. (You can read about it in a previous blog that i wrote this autumn.) These events often alter our journey, but we continue. This year i am very grateful to continue. I hope that you enjoy her wonderful space as much as i did.
enjoy,
John











































Good morning, Yesterday I mentioned going to a friend's home over the Memorial Day weekend. I would have loved if you would have been able to go. I hope these pictures will reinterrupt what I saw. I wished it would have worked out if you could have come also. Maybe next time. Just imagine these images but a hundredfold. It was truly an AwESoME Visual ExPERIenCe! It truly waS A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SOMEONE'S LIFE.tHE DOGS were truly gracious. I never felt more comfortable.
Love, John

things to consider by dann baker

The other day,my good friend and lighting expert, Dann Baker sent me an email. i have him asked to use it for my blog today.

Things to consider
..."When selecting new fixtures or lamps for a space one needs to always pay attention to many things, scale being one of the most important aspects. a good rule of thumb when selecting a lamp and shade is one should not over power the other. unless that's the style you're going for, typically a more contemporary look.
Also pay attention to where the fixture is being placed in a room. are the chair or side table to small? is something being visually being overpowered by its shear scale? what are the ceiling heights? is it going to be close to a window or door and what are their sizes?
In a conversational setting, can people converse without trying to peer around a fixture like a kid peeking from behind a tree playing hide-n-seek?
Architectural elements and the size of a room are very important to pay attention to as well. One might even want to consider the time period of the architecture. Select something more toward the period of all the elements of the entire space."...

there is a time for everything

The signs of the change of seasons do not come without a warning. The skies begin to darken earlier.Our lungs take
in the frosty air. . Leaves fall. The rains come. The mighty East winds blow out the old dead leaves getting ready for a new season. Often we say "the dead of winter". many look at this time with dread and regret. the stress of
maneuvering those crowded shopping malls. Despair and sadness often becomes a stronghold with many during this time.
i recall last year when my holiday shopping was halted because i was to sick to be out in the public. I recall the best part of the season

as I continued with my post surgery chemo therapy, I lay in bed observing the Oregon Juncos and English Sparrows eating the purple berries off of some bush in my side yard. Eric, my son and I spent a couple of hours watching them feast on their winter dessert.
I have fond memories of my recovery from my long road of surviving cancer.Although there was much pain and sadness. i kept my spirits
high. My friends were in awe of the wonderful attitude i had during the bleakest time of my life. The joy of the creatures living around me gave me hope to reach for the goal of my own future. those simple things can bring us joy.
With everything there is a season,Interior design has a season as well. I have found so many clients wanting
the latest look. however I love the idea of reinventing the past and putting an eclectic look together that is more to my client's lifestyle.
We take from our past, blend it together. Old becomes new again. i have found that the best gift is the present that we open right now. Make the most of the season. Smile at the simple things. Aim to make the best of what you have.
During the darkest hour, hold fast,A new day is here. Look forward with delight. remember this season with fond memories. It isn't what you buy for someone that matters. It is what you give from your heart...

The following blog was apart of a cherished part of my life. I will always remember it gladly.
take care,

john

A mid century modern house was the perfect back drop to blend an eclectic mix of styles such as Asian cabinets,modern furniture, ethnic and Art Deco silk area rugs, Roseville(Arts and Crafts period) and Jonathan Adler pottery.

Last summer, Chase and I scoured many different stores throughout the Portland area. We usually frequented http://www.consignmentgalleryportland.com/ . We found an iron and glass top coffee table from the recently closed Urbino Home. This was a good thing. the last coffee table was eaten by his English Mastiff, Mr. Magoo. The 50's style lounge chairs were in mint condition in the original peacock blue fabric. The Greek key motif pillows are a cut velvet from http://www.clarencehouse.com/ .


The colourful large area rug was a wonderful find from http://www.ebay.com/. Chase redid the floors through out his house in a warm cork tile. It truly looks outstanding. The Parson style solid teak dining table and chairs were also found at the consignment store. The chairs were originally covered in a yellow and red rooster toile. It didn't take long before we had them reupholstered in Moccasin stripe colour: parrot from http://www.pollackassociates.com/ . The kidney pillows were remade in Mod a blue-green pattern with the backside in Accolade colour pimiento(cotton velvet) also from Pollack.

The pillows on the sofa are Velours Klee from Clarence House made from remnants from another design project that I had completed a couple of years ago. The sofa was one of the only new pieces that was purchased. The collection of boxes came from various retail stores such as http://www.shopcielo.com/ and http://www.saintmaine.com/



Having a good eye for design, buying at the right time, watching till the price is right is very important when shopping at consignment stores.

This was a fun project.Shopping for old or used was a great way to test my hand at being more sustainable. Maybe one day I will remember to recycle my plastic.As long as someone else takes it to the curb. ha! ha! ha!


wishing you the best,

John

review: the strength of a mentor

I have been reviewing my blog and decided that I would repeat the ones that have meant a lot to me. I am actually re posting them for the benefit to those who are new to reading my blog here and also on my face book page.
Have a wonderful holiday season,
BE Blessed,
john
P.S. I know that the next year holds promise and many new projects for all who have been hit by the lack of design projects.

I fondly recall the late Wayne Martin would often say" Your home can be filled with beautiful furniture, unique accessories and surrounded with exquisite art, but if you weren't compassionate toward others then all of this luxury meant nothing".

Wayne founded Wayne Martin Inc. over 35 years ago. He brought the world of fine designer textiles in the trunk of his car to Portland. He did presentations to a few decorators building up a business. Today there are two locations of his wholesale design showroom in Portland and Seattle. Wayne also opened the doors of the world of interior design to myself . Over the next 20 years I would get more than an education. I gained a valuable friendship.

Enclosed is a photo of Wayne's residence. A condo in the heart of downtown Portland. He had a timeless eclectic contemporary style. The neutral walls or "pond scum grey" as he referred it was his favourite colour. The walls were actually painted grass cloth. The perfect backdrop for all of his contemporary art. He also collected fine ethnic antiques such as the Siamese horse and rider which was mixed with other Asian vessels( pottery and woven baskets). My favourite not pictured was the marionette horse puppet mounted on a block of ebonized wood. It was displayed on a steel console table with an opaque glass top in the entryway.

A few years ago Wayne and I had his sofa recovered in Mark Pollack's " Lumina", a woven boucle from their mill in De Pleog @ http://www.pollackassociates.com/. We also hired a contractor and metal artist to reface his 70's smoky mirror fireplace. It was transformed in a chic brushed stainless steel facade with honed black slate fire surround and hearth. Two African ceremonial wedding masks flanked either side. They stood on acrylic bases with metal stems. His drapery which always remained opened to capture the majestic view of Mt. Hood were made of copper lurex striped sheers lined with the same "pond scum grey" lining.

In his bedroom which had an amazing view of the same mountains and downtown Portland, he had side panel made of Jack Lenor Larsen's' "Magnum" it was woven metallic squares such as the large pillow on his sofa.

He mixed a few antiques such as the French Empire dining chairs which he recovered in Gary Glant's very modern "Liquid Leather" @ www.glant.com

His style, his home are no longer. They are forever etched in my mind. The true nature of his kindness and nurturing spirit endure. the value of having a mentor to inspire, to teach, to advise to develope your taste as an interior designer is almost more valuable than a formal education which will never teach you about quality of character. You either have design style or you don't. To have it shaped by a mentor is as valauble as the friendship that will develope. This can be one the most valuable design experiences a young designer can ever have.

In Memory of my dear friend and mentor

D. Wayne Martin

1935-2007