Focus on Design 2010

The Northwest Society of Interior Designers' Puget Sound Chapter, the professional design organization of which I'm the current President, is kicking off Design Awareness Month this October by hosting Focus  on Design 2010!
 

Focus on Design 2010 will take place at the Seattle Design Center on October 1st & 2nd.  The event will provide the local and regional design community with opportunities for growth, networking and education.  The 2-day conference features 16 unique, fun, and informative seminars as well as hands-on training sessions.  Attendees will be exposed to one-of-a-kind local artisans, businesses & suppliers at the "Hidden Local Gems Showcase".  Friday evening will end with a cocktail party hosted by The Catherine Person Gallery.  Saturday offers additional seminars as well as exciting architectural tours by The Seattle Architecture Foundation. The tours will be followed in the afternoon with champagne and sweets at SDC.  Mark your calendar now, and subscribe for weekly updates via e-mail at waysandmeans@nwsid.net. You won’t want to miss this exciting event!  Find detailed information on seminars, speakers, sponsors and scheduling visit the NWSID website.  See you there!

Our partners include: Seattle Homes & Lifestyles magazine, AIA Seattle, NKBA Puget Sound Chapter, The Seattle Design Center & The Seattle Architecture Foundation. 

The Northwest Society of Interior Designers, established in 1977, is a non-profit regional organization of interior designers dedicated to promoting excellence in design.

Neighborhood beat: Madrona

One of Seattle's lesser-known, ultimately walkable neighborhoods with a small town vibe hugs the westerly slope adjacent to Lake Washington, between Leschi and Denny Blaine.  (Many Seattleites who are not longtime residents might not know that Denny Blaine is the neighborhood just south of Madison Park/Washington Park....)  It's funky, stylish, artsy, and homey, all at the same time.

For food lovers, there are many delicious choices.  Some of my personal favorites are St Cloud's, where I've had only absolutely mouth-wateringly wonderful food.....

....the recently opened June - French wines and innovative ingredient pairings....

 .....the local institution, Hi Spot Cafe, elegant bistro Dulces Latin Bistro , the newish Bottlehouse Tasting Bar and, of course, amazing cupcakes and espresso at Verite Coffee and Cupcake Royale!

For home furnishings and accessories, I love browsing - and buying! -  at Decor on 34th ....

.....or the Glassybaby  store and hotshop.

One of my favorite jewelry designers, Xenia Callahan, combines vintage chains, stones and baubles in new and wonderful ways, and is featured at Hitchcock, a chic and charming boutique. 

And last, but certainly not least, of my faves is the kitschy, warm, welcoming canine wonderland of Fetch Doggie Daycare and Grooming.  My dog, Samantha, (you can catch a glimpse of her in the window, above) LOVES spending time at Fetch!  When I pick her up, not only is she beautifully groomed but she's happily exhausted from running, jumping, and playing - her favorite activities!   Below is a shot of the check-in area - how fun is that?.....

Madrona has something for just about anyone - check it out!

Neighborhood beat: Georgetown, etc: Cassis Catering launch and Grand Image Block Party

Mid July was a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite!   First the appetite part:

Our friend, John E Fike, (known to his friends and family as "Jef") satisfied a Francophile's dream by producing a bash at the way-cool Georgetown Studios to launch his new (old) enterprise:  Cassis Catering.

When he owned Cassis Bistro, we lived nearby and were fortunate to dine there at least once a month.  We were heartbroken when he closed and, now that he's restarting, so to speak, I'm delighted to announce that Charlie, Cassis' chef, is back, too!

We corralled a few good friends into attending (thank you!) and even our son donated his serving skills!  It was quite the luscious experience:  Coq au vin, Basil/Tomato/Sweet onion salade, specialty cocktails - oh la la!  My next catered event will be feature Cassis Catering, that's for sure!

The night before the Cassis launch, Grand Image organized a Block Party at their studio and all the neighboring businesses joined in:  Urban Hardwoods... 

 3Form Light Art, Resolute Lighting, among others..... 

There was fresh pizza, wine, beer, appetizers, gourmet hot dogs - alongside art and artful furniture & accessories!  And, best of all -  sun!

The Chronicles of Alliance Wellness' fabulous new office - Weeks 11 and 12

It's the next-to-last posting before the completion of Alliance Chiropractic's new office at the Ruby condos on Eastlake!  The move will begin soon - was there ever such an aesthetically-pleasing chiropractic office? It's been an amazing and wonderful pleasure to be involved with this project from the beginning.  What a great and collaborative team:  the supremely appreciative, understanding, calm, wise client; visionary architect/project manager; super construction team.... I have been blessed to be a part of this and am so thankful!

Here's the latest photo of the Reception area..... the fabulous lighting fixtures and window treatments will be installed very soon.....

The view from Dr Viv's office, below........

Stay tuned for final photos soon - with furniture, lighting, and window treatments!  It just gets better and better.....

The Chronicles of Alliance Wellness' fabulous new office - Weeks 9 & 10

It's starting to resemble a bee hive at Alliance Wellness' new office at the Ruby condominiums on Eastlake!  Along with a new office, there's a new logo:

The cork flooring and carpet squares were installed last week....

 ....and the walls that haven't been wallpapered were primed..... and then painted.  The reception area is coming along nicely!  I'll be posting more frequently now that the changes are so dramatic ....

The Art of Textiles

I recently had coffee with Pat Nugent, owner of Patricia Nugent Textiles, in her charming. light-filled cottage/studio.  I was treated to a private trunk show featuring her extensive collection of antique textiles (dating from 1790 to 1970), vintage clothing, and hand-painted design documents.  The design possibilities were endlessly flowing!
(We had a delightful time, and had earlier discovered that we not only had many acquaintances in common, but that our children went to school together - what a small world!)

Garments from mid- 20th century, above, seem like new. 

The metallic and watercolor hand-painted design, above, is one of the first steps in a textile design - and is perfect for my living room just the way it is!

The samples, above, date from the late 18th century to early 19th.  They look so modern, particularly the geometric pattern.

Pat tells me that a certain national clothing retailer has recently purchased cabbage rose designs from her - think Ralph Lauren circa 1980's - and they will likely be used in new and different ways than the original, similar to the one below.....This is such a gorgeous, intricate pattern when viewed up close and like an Impressionist painting, becomes more clear at a distance.

The meticulously cataloged antique textiles are kept away from light and dust to maintain their pristine condition, like the sample below...

Even the bathroom at Pat's studio is filled with vintage books and artifacts......

 I can't help dreaming about the designers, the patrons, the lives involved in the production of all of these wonderful textiles - and how little things really change; they're just ever so slightly tweaked to become "modern".  Thanks for a glimpse into the past, Pat!

The Chronicles of Alliance Wellness' fabulous new office - Week 8

It's week 8 of the project and now the really fun stuff begins!

The ceiling has been painted.....

 .....Pete is efficiently and effortlessly, it seems, applying the wallpaper.....and what wallpaper!  Absolutely stunning stuff.

.....and there are even stairs built to the garage now.  

The interior design is emerging before our very eyes and, though the choices were intentional, seeing it suddenly there, in 3D,  it has an almost retro vibe.  The colors are reminiscent of early Mad Men episodes:  soft aqua, taupe, grass cloth, cork.  What began as inspiration is now becoming reality.....

 

.....it just gets better and better......!