peTer FaLLico shares his latest RESTORATION

In the
kitchen with
slug here
Jennifer
Bain
perfected
past
Peter Fallico shares his latest
restoration
Finishing
Touches
Make All the
Difference
DISTINCTIVE
CEILINGS
how to make
a statement
Glen Peloso
recaps the NYC
International
Contemporary
Furniture Fair
product showcases: Furnishings, Lighting, Storage, Moulding & Trim
p001_R_AS13_NoUPC.indd 1
2013-07-08 10:23 AM
FROM THE EDITOR
Appreciating
There is something pretty spectacular about
summertime in Ontario. Having watched spring
do its thing and witnessing the flowers grow into
amazing blooms, we can’t help but have a greater
appreciation for how things are made.
Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure
of touring several manufacturing facilities. As I
observed the production process, it got me thinking
about how each product actually represents a great
deal of design, engineering, raw materials, machine
hours and labour, not to mention the financial
investment, packaging and transportation, all of
which take place well before it arrives at your home.
With that in mind, you begin to realize that
everyday items – such as a countertop, light fixture
or sofa, for example – represent so much more than
just the function they serve.
It’s important to us as designers that we understand how these individual pieces are made and
how they will perform in your home. As a result, we
can better appreciate a well-designed space. Similar
to sourcing and combining the components that go
into creating a specific product, designers curate
various materials and products for your living space
to create a personal and cohesive look.
This issue is full of ideas and inspiration to help
you with your own renovation or design process
and, as part of that, I encourage you to take the
opportunity to learn more about what goes into
creating each piece you select for your own home.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Save the Date!
FALL HOME SHOW
OCTOBER 3 - 6
Many of us will be on hand to help
you with your design dilemmas!
8 :: August/September 2013 renoanddecor.com
A dining chair’s
manufacturing
journey starts in the
frame shop….and
typically takes four
to six weeks to make
it to your table.
Glen Peloso
editor
I look forward to hearing from you and welcome your
feedback. Do you have a reno or decor question for our
team of experts? Email [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHY: Brandon Barré (portrait); Andres Rodriguez, bigstock.com (FACTORY FLOOR)
the process
worldly INSPIRATIONS
So authenticlooking, I had to
touch it to be
convinced it was
a wallcovering!
A visit to the International
Contemporary Furniture Fair
educates, informs and inspires
LIGHTING
I loved many of the lighting fixtures on
display – far too numerous to list here.
A highlight was from Roll & Hill out of
Brooklyn (rollandhill.com). They
showcased some organic pieces with
a mid-century modern flair.
I was also drawn to a porcelain
fixture from Jeremy Cole (jeremycole.
net), with whom I got to chat. Each fin
of the fixture, called White Flax, is
hung on a central metal structure to
create the final fixture, shown here.
And, I couldn’t leave out the doll
house-size chandelier, a light bulbshaped hanging lamp (like a ship in a
bottle) from Mineheart, based in
England (mineheartstore.com). I was
busy looking at the wallpapers this
company had on display and was
delighted when I saw this light bulb
fixture and discovered its contents.
The perfect tiny
King Edison
Pendant
Lamp by
Mineheart.
Each fin of the White Flax
porcelain fixture is suspended
from a central metal structure.
Roll & Hill’s wood-andmetal combination
creates some pretty
compelling shapes.
Bath fixtures as
art make a great
addition to any
bathroom suite.
GLEN PELOSO EDITOR
t
his is no small show to take in but it’s
a delight for the senses. Designers
from Europe, Japan, Australia, North
America, and the UK attended The
International Contemporary Furniture
Fair (ICFF) in May, held at the Javits
Center, New York City.
WALLCOVERINGS
Many countries brought wallcoverings to the show
this year, supporting the fact that they’re still a big
trend. A couple of my favourites are innovations I
had not previously seen.
1 :: August/September 2013 renoanddecor.com
One company showcased a wallcovering product
that featured an LED light embedded in the paper.
It was a non-woven-backed paper (which is the
ideal, to ensure you don’t have issues when you
remove it). It was brought to the show by a company out of the UK called Meystyle (meystyle.com) –
their first introduction to the North American
market. It’s a fantastic idea, although I’m not sure
the product will have a long shelf-life.
A New York-based company called NLXL (nlxl.
com) showcased a covering that had no repeat and,
as a result, creates a unique wall that looks like it’s
made of tin, concrete or reclaimed wood slates.
BATHROOMS
Canada was also represented at the fair. I was
impressed by Blu Bathworks (blubathworks.com)
a Vancouver-based company founded by
Canadian designer Michael Gottschalk. They
displayed a carved, black pedestal sink, which is
part of a collection that also includes a carved,
black freestanding tub. The sink is a piece of
sculpture for the bathroom, and has all of the
function of a typical sink. The plumbing is
well-hidden so as not to interrupt the lines of
this beautiful piece.
Another fantastic structural sink, called the
Modex, was showcased by Blanco (blancocanada.com). It sits above the kitchen countertop,
features a built-in drain board and is available in
a series of silgranit colours.
August/September 2013 :: 2
This sexy sink would add an
architectural element to any kitchen.
Part of the job of a good
designer is to continue to further their
education by attending trade shows around
the globe. It is actually included in the fee
that you would pay a design professional and
perhaps why the fees are structured the way
they are. The purpose of these shows is to
introduce designers to new products on the
market, some of which may find their way into
designs for clients. They also help designers
get a sense of where trends are headed.
FURNISHINGS
I was also happy to discover a booth by Pelle (pelledesigns.com), a company
that has not only created some interesting lighting but some unusual furniture.
Their unique bedside tables and entrance tables have a slightly unbalanced
look. They also offer plenty of storage too.
Pelle also showcased a few coffee tables where the glass didn’t quite cover
the entire top; a puddle-shaped piece of glass could be moved about the top to
suit the user. Another great combination of visual interest and function.
TECHNOLOGY
Form Labs (formlabs.com) brought a 3D printer to the show. Normally it
wouldn’t be particularly interesting; however, this one was a personal home
printer model priced at $3,200 USD(!).Observing the detail on the chess piece
that had just been printed, the quality was impressive. It made me think about
the changes this may cause in the world – no longer would you need to buy a
replacement part for the vacuum, you’d print it!
After two days of walking, the show took its toll on my feet, but it was worth
it. I am excited to be able to integrate some of these new elements into my
clients’ projects.
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