DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB - Art, Furniture & Design Gallery | Calgary - DESIGN

DaDe Inspiration Board - Tangerine

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:25:27 -0800

I think orange should be the official colour of happiness. There is something about it that never fails to make me smile. As Jonathan Adler would say, "Orange looks like you're living the California Dream". When Pantone released their colour of the year, Tangerine Dream, I was ecstatic. It was the perfect time for a burst of red-orange delight! I ordered myself a peach bellini and began to ponder the possibilities of this lovely new trend in design.

1. beacon by Bee Kingdom 2. 17-1463 TCX tangerine tango colour swatch by Pantone 3. Amanda Wakely spring / summer 2012 collection 4. atelier buenos aires carpet by Henzel 5. pandora containers by SANDER MULDER 6. only a life of love by David Brunning 7. carrera sofa by BBB 8. contemporary black & orange kitchen 9. tangerine

- Miranda Young

DaDe Inspiration Board - Miami

Sat, 05 May 2012 16:22:29 -0800

while Darcy and Greg were in Miami, i kept thinking of warm sunshine and ocean waters they are surrounded by. yellow and blue, gold and aquamarine - the colour haunted me from local flower shops to billboards, from spring '12 runways to the new works of our local artists. and even though the weather in Calgary has been mild, it is not quite beach-y just yet.

so here it is, my Miami mood board.

p.s. there is a breeding population of Blue-and-Yellow Macaw in Dade county, Miami. coincidence?

1. mixed media by Darcy Lundgren 2. arm chair by bullfrog Germany 3. interior houzz.com 4. blown glass by Julia Reimer 5. encaustic by Kim Bruce 6. interior houzz.com 7. yellow tulips 8. Blumarine Spring 2012 9. sideboard NOW & then 10. Nicholas Kirkwood Spring 2012 11. blue-and-yellow macaw

- Anastassiya Vassilyeva

Design District | MIAMI day 2

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:36:12 -0800

The Miami Design District is made up primarily of old low-rise warehouses and gallery spaces, that have been reconverted into over 130 retail spaces, art galleries, showrooms, creative services, architecture firms, stores, antiques dealers, restaurants, cafés and bars.

lunch with Jonathan Adler

lunch with Jonathan Adler at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink. Okay well not at the same table, but just one table away.

Jonathan Adler is a designer renowned for his "happy chic" approach to home furnishings and interior design, dedicated to bringing style, craft & joy to your home. Adler launched his eponymous line of furniture and accessories in 1993.

Adler is also a sought-after interior designer for luxury residential projects as well as large-scale commercial projects like the celebrity hot spot Parker Palm Springs Hotel.

cocktails by the pool at the MONDRIAN SOUTH BEACH

The Mondrian is located on newly-fashionable West Avenue, Mondrian is a quiet enclave just minutes from the bustling center of South Beach, offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. The visionary style of designer Marcel Wanders is apparent from the moment you pull into the porte-cochere: guests walk through a grand entryway appointed with custom-designed furniture, lighting and accent pieces, evoking Wanders’ design homage of “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle”. Upon entering the soaring lobby, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of Biscayne Bay. Immediately the eye is drawn to the masterpiece of the room–an iconic, signature “floating staircase.” Black and gold patterned furnishings and oversized brass bell shaped lights add a touch of whimsy and welcome guests to sit and socialize or enjoy the view.

Dinner on Ocean Drive | MIAMI day 1

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:35:46 -0800

We headed off to the beautiful city of Miami for eight days, to be inspired and research art & design in Miami for DaDe.

dinner on OCEAN DRIVE & cocktails at the SETAI

OCEAN DRIVE is known for its Art Deco hotels. Ocean Drive is also the location of the famed Versace mansion, one of the most photographed houses in North America. The street is the center of the Miami Art Deco District, which is home to about 800 preserved buildings.

The Setai is an intimate, serene oceanfront resort in the heart of South Beach. Its design vision artfully combines the rich architectural history of the neighborhood and its cultural diversity with the International Art Deco movement, particularly its influence in Asia.

The Art Deco landmark building was originally built between 1936 – 1938 as the famed Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel. Next to it is our 40-story glass tower that surpasses all around it in elevation, views and design.

design cubed - Mount Royal University

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:22:29 -0800

I was honoured to be asked to speak at Mount Royal University's second annual design cubed3. The presentation that I put forth to the bright eyed students at Mount Royal University consisted of images of my interior design projects, and my three rather massive coffee table portfolios of the past twenty years of my life. These portfolios consist of hundreds upon hundreds of hand drawings.

The first portfolio consists of high end residential projects that I designed when I was working at the only job I have ever had - McDowell & Associates was the firm that gave me my start and truly put me on the path to where I am now. Al McDowell, owner and lead, of Mcdowell & Associates was my mentor and confidant for thirteen and a half years. I had the blessed opportunity to design and be a part of some of the most amazing high end residential design projects from 1992 to 2005. The result of these years has been compiled into a beautiful portfolio with some of my favourite projects from that time.

The second portfolio consists of some of my favourite projects since 2005. Again a selection of some residential design projects that i have had the opportunity to be a part of with my own company Lundgren Residential.

And the third portfolio of my life consists of hundreds and hundreds of drawings and design that i have created for the community called Mahogany. I have been working on this community with the design team at Hopewell Residential Communities since 2005. This project has been some of the most intensive work to date, consisting of many different styles of homes, ranging in sizes from starter to large estate, multi family and commercial design work.

- Darcy Lundgren

INSPIRING Beijing

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:50:10 -0800

After two remarkable & intensive weeks in Beijing we returned inspired.

Beijing is a city where ancient culture and modern living exist side by side. China's second largest city by urban population, Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world, with over 19.6 million. In this rapidly-changing nation, the pioneering spirit of a new China is manifesting itself in cutting edge design and architecture. Modernist mountain villas to high-rise condominiums, and from artistic retreats in former industrial buildings to refurbished courtyard homes, the array of lifestyle and design options in China is as varied as the country itself. The traditional aesthetic values of elegance, subtlety and proportion are still evident, but modern materials and techniques now form the cornerstones of new design movements.

798 art district

798 is located in the Dashanzi area, to the northeast of central Beijing. It is the site of state-owned factories including Factory 798, which originally produced electronics.

Beginning in 2002, artists and cultural organizations began to divide, rent out, and re-make the factory spaces, gradually developing them into galleries, art centers, artists' studios, design companies, restaurants, and bars.

It became a "Soho-esque" area of international character, replete with "loft living," attracting attention from all around. Bringing together contemporary art, architecture, and culture with a historically interesting location and an urban lifestyle, 798 has evolved into a cultural concept, of interest to experts and normal folk alike.

Ai Weiwei (born 18 May 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, active in sculpture, installation, architecture, curating, photography, film, and social, political and cultural criticism. Ai collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. As a political activist, he has been highly and openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights. He has investigated government corruption and cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following the collapse of so-called "tofu-skin schools" in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2011, following his arrest at Beijing airport on 3 April, he was held for over two months without any official charges being filed; officials alluded to their allegations of "economic crimes" (tax evasion). In October 2011 ArtReview magazine named Ai number one in their annual Power 100 list. The decision was criticised by the Chinese authorities.

the Great Wall of China

Beijing is endowed with rare cultural heritage by its long history. The Great Wall, one of the world wonders and the only piece of man-made architecture that can be seen from the space, meanders through mountains and valleys for hundreds of kilometers in the region of Beijing

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Lake in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. The most comprehensive archaeological survey, has concluded that all the walls measure 8,851.8 km.

National Centre for the Performing Arts

the National Centre for the Performing Arts is described as The Bird's Egg, an opera house in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The Centre, an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, seats 5,452 people in three halls and is almost 12,000 m² in size. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007.

The exterior of the theater is a titanium accented glass dome that is completely surrounded by a man-made lake. It is said to look like an egg floating on water, or a water drop. It was designed as an iconic feature, something that would be immediately recognizable.

The dome measures 212 meters in east-west direction, 144 meters in north-south direction, and is 46 meters high. The main entrance is at the north side. Guests arrive in the building after walking through a hallway that goes underneath the lake. The titanium shell is broken by a glass curtain in north-south direction that gradually widens from top to bottom.

Green Tea House Living and Bathhouse Residence & Spa

Founded by musician, artist, tea-master and trend-setter JinR, GREEN T. HOUSE “Living” is a must visit when you are in Beijing.

It takes the brand further with a unique and spacious lifestyle destination that includes fine dining, art and a cultural events space as well as The Bath House Residence, a new bath and residence component which takes the GREEN T. HOUSE brand for the first time beyond tea houses and restaurants into the wider arena of spa and hospitality.

Situated on the outskirts of Beijing GREEN T. HOUSE Living occupies a bold, pavilion rising gracefully from expansive, terraced courtyards of white stone set in a vast 15,000 square metre complex in the high-end Wen Yu River quarter . The chic dining destination is famed for “T-cuisine” and embraces cutting-edge music performances, art exhibits, tea presentations and ceremonies, and creative events.

- Greg Fraser

B&W

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:23:06 -0800

Black & white are not considered colours on Colour Theory, and maybe for that reason they have the power to transcend time. Whether in fashion, photography, interior design or architecture, black & white elements intrigue us, & stick in our memory.

Most of us recognize the name Karl Lagerfeld. The world-famous fashion designer happens to also be a very talented photographer. When asked why he does most of his photos in black & white, the designer replies: "This choice is clearly linked to my fashion creations. Black & white has become emblematic of my style; it expresses my vision of modernity. In fashion, as in photography only perfection will do. Working in black & white is a demanding, but fascinating choice." *

* from interview "Karl Lagerfeld at the Salon de la Photo in Paris" on chanel.com

Scandinavian-born EVS jewelry designer Ellinor Stenroos refers to black & white as "classic & timeless, the absolute. Either colour can be the perfect backdrop, whether it is a wall, a dress, or a piece of furniture. In jewelry, white symbolizes purity, innocence, new life; black stands for maturity, wisdom, coming into full essense".

Designing with black & white instantly creates a stunning and dramatic effect. Black anchors, grounds, adds definition to a space; white expands, brightens, simplifies. Together black & white compose unforgettable interiors.

Two hues, endless combinations, always in style - black & white.

- Anastassiya Vassilyeva

Hopewell | MAHOGANY Lakeside Living - commercial

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:11:12 -0800

After working on the community of Mahogany for the past 5 years, I had the experience of working on prototype elevations for the first phase of commercial and retail in the community. This is an example of what a grocery store or market would hopefully look like in this community.

The eight prototype elevations above are based on the Voysey Arts & Crafts, Shingle Style, Coastal, and a French Country. These retail elevations are again, just prototypes for the community, but are definitely great examples as to what can be expected in the community of Mahogany.

- Darcy Lundgren

Incorporating Eastern Elements into a Western Home

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:32:07 -0800

for one reason or another an object inspires you, your heart jumps and it's love at first sight. it happens to be the most beautiful Chinese antique cabinet, and your home is decorated in a formal traditional western style - rolled arm sofa in the living room, crystal chandelier in the dining room, and a claw-foot tub in the master en-suite. your first reaction might be "it just won't work". but just like the yin energy complements the yang, eastern elements can work with most western interiors.

Kelly Hoppen, an interior designer from the uk, is known for her signature timeless look - simple, sophisticated, yet invitingly luxurious. drawing inspiration from all parts of the world, she brings global flavour to a home in subtle ways. "i try not to overdo it - a little can go a long way", says Kelly in her book Kelly Hoppen Style The Golden Rules of Design.

an interior designer based in New York, Vicente Wolf is famous for his modern and elegant style. an avid voyager, Vincent travels to immense himself in the cultures of distant lands. "i like to use pieces from different countries and periods so they comment on each other visually and culturally".

our local calgarian designer Nam-Dang Mitchell, who's works we see in such publications as canadian house and home, and canada's style at home, has created stunning interiors for the mission stonepine showhome integrating a whisper of mystery by mixing modern with traditional, light with dark, industrial with organic, and east with west.

at the end of the day, the word "style" implies originality - do not be afraid to introduce an unexpected element to your space, and let your personality shine through the objects you surround yourself with.

- Anastassiya Vassilyeva

Hopewell | MAHOGANY Lakeside Living - multi family

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:03:02 -0800

Above are some great examples of attached homes. These elevations are five and six units, attached, with garages off of the lanes at the rear. The first four are Arts & Crafts and show what the ends of the units may look like with access to terraces and outdoor spaces. Next would be French Country, followed by the Shingle Style and Coastal. These examples also show the potential for third floor lofts built into the roof-lines.

- Darcy Lundgren