Posted by bethany on Jan 27, 2010 in
Projects + Ramblings,
Writing While planning for a local commercial renovation, we’ve been exploring some alternatives for flooring. For the type of application we’re using it for, it needs to be extremely durable but also professional looking. Marmoleum, as efficient as it is for commercial use, isn’t exactly the most beautiful product available. Tile looks great, but it’s very hard on joints when working on it all day.
Here are two alternative products we’ve considered during the design process. I can imagine these products in a commercial setting, but also in a sleek residential one.
#1. Premier Garage – Floor Coatings
These floors are made from a hybrid polymer. The product has been specially designed to withstand typical wear and tear in a garage. This product has a 10-year warranty against peeling, and a 10-year warranty against staining*. One of the best parts in my opinion, is the fast turn-around in installment – typically it takes only 48 hours finish. It is available in a high-gloss finish or a speckled “granite” look. I’m imagining the high-gloss flooring in a modern setting… stunning!
#2 StoneCraft
StoneCraft offers another great solution for floor coatings. This product is a cement and plastic combination that can be applied in a variety of ways. It can be applied as a smooth surface, or can be created to have the look and texture of tile. This product is pretty dynamic, and can be applied vertically up a wall – in fact, StoneCraft has been used on climbing gyms. This product also installs in approximately 48 hours.
As with any new product on the market, make sure to do thorough research before buying. If you are considering purchasing a product like this, perhaps ask the business for a few references from satisfied customers. If using it for commercial applications, it’s a good idea to compare the product’s durability with any heavy-duty cleaners that are used in the building.
Photos:
Top – Premier Garage
Bottom – StoneCraft
Local Contacts:
Cory at Premier Garage (Parksville) : 250-228-7768
Melanie at StoneCraft (Nanaimo) : 250-716-9294
Please note: this is not an advertisment. I just think this stuff is great!
*always confirm full details of warranties with the company.
Posted by bethany on Nov 23, 2009 in
Writing It seems I’m on a bit of an “Art Kick” these days…
Let’s continue with the theme, shall we?
Step 1: Fall in love with a great piece of art.
Step 2: Buy the piece of art. (Or in my case, make manageable installment payments every month so I can afford it. An art addicts gotta do what an art addicts gotta do…)
Step 3: Bring it home and HANG IT. But how?
Hanging your art can be most difficult part…
Here are a few ideas:
GROUP your art. Try to aim for symmetry and even spacing between pieces. Also, the centre of the grouping should be about eye level. Centre your artwork on your gaze, not on the wall.
via: YoungHouseLove.com
BIG taste in art? No Big Deal. Artwork does not need to be hung the way it is in large galleries – with lots of vacant space between it and anything else in the room. It’s perfectly fine to allow the piece to become part of the rest of the decor by layering. The picture below is a great example of this:
via: SimplySuductive.Blogspot.com
design by: Scott Laslie and Associates
Here’s an idea for art display that I’ve been keen on lately. Simply placing your art on a shelf and leaning it on the wall creates a casual, less formal look. I love this look because the artwork seems so much more interactive. Plus, no holes in the walls.
via: Apartment Therapy
My NUMBER ONE TIP for displaying art is: Rotate, Rotate, Rotate!
Artwork, especially original artwork, is interactive with it’s environment. Colours in your room will alter the colours you see in the painting. Lighting will allow for new layers in the piece to be discovered - even dim lighting can reveal shapes you never noticed before. Therefore, change the location of your art from time to time. WARNING – this could result in the whole room being rearranged – this happens to me all the time!
A perfect example of this is a painting a have by Mark Lindstrom. The painting is of Mount Rundle in Banff. My husband Joe and I spent much of our time in the little town cultivating romance and friendship within view of this majestic mountain. I love to change the location of this painting because each area of my house seems to alter the piece in a way that brings a new memory of the landscape (and love) to mind.
Any other tips or ideas out there?
~b
Posted by bethany on Nov 17, 2009 in
Writing I first spied Lucy Schappy’s work a couple of years ago at the Atlas Cafe. I kept taking breaks from conversation around the table to walk around so I could gaze at them a little longer.
Whimsical… Alive… Dreamy… Magical…
I met with Lucy at her home a few weeks ago. She showed me around her studio and we chatted about her work . It was apparent to me that each one of Lucy’s paintings is the building of a relationship – complete with ups and downs, breakthroughs and disappointments.
These relationships began as humble exploration into oil painting after Lucy attended a local art workshop. At that point, Lucy was a dentist – practicing locally and enjoying a rewarding career. But after a 3 year leave she came to a crossroads where she had to decide between art and dentistry. During a coffee-date with a good friend she came to vivid epiphany - what she wanted to do, despite of the all the challenges, was paint. Lucy followed her love and left her profession as a dentist behind.
The career of an artist is not an easy one. As an artist, one has to shed stresses and distractions in order to bare their own souls to their creative hands on a daily basis. And with all that soul-deep emotion being poured into each piece, I often wonder how it must feel to let go of the creations when someone purchases it for their own home.
Before I was a family-gal living in the Comox Valley, I worked at a well-known art gallery. I spent 2 years there, helping everyday people make connections with original art. Naturally, most of my interaction was with the customer. It never ceased to amaze me how unique each client/art connection was. I never really had much of a chance to talk one-on-one with the artist, and frankly, I’m not sure I would have had the insight to start a decent conversation anyway. But now that I’ve had time to ponder it all, I find myself increasingly curious about how artists feel when it comes to letting go of their art so that other’s may hang it in their own homes.
What happens to the relationship between the artist and the piece of art when it is purchased?
What kind of relationship forms between the purchaser and their new art?
Lucy and I discussed these questions….
The relationship that an artist builds with a painting isn’t tangible. It is part emotional, part spiritual perhaps - it cannot me measured. The relationship exists without end, even when the product of that relationship (the painting) ventures on to become the property of another. Each painting represents a deep relationship with the artist. Complex and meaningful on so many personal levels, these works of art will start a new relationship when they become part of someones home but will never loose intimacy with the artist.
For the purchaser, the relationship is different. In my experience, there are few people who desire to connect with a new painting on the same level the artist did when creating it. Art speaks to us all individually. There is no magical equation for understanding art – and there is no requirement to understand the “deeper meaning” before falling in love and making it a part of your home. As I pondered how the new relationship between the purchaser and the painting could be described, the word “JOY” was resounding my my head. This is the appropriate word to use for myself as a collector of original art. I purchase pieces for my home that become a visible emotion.
Original art is a beautiful way to infuse your home with extra energy and emotion. We are so lucky to have many talented artists, such as Lucy Schappy, living and working here in the Comox Valley.
If you want to see more of Lucy’s art visit Magnolia Gallery in Cumberland. Current works are available for viewing and purchasing.
Lucy’s Website is: www.LucySchappy.com
“Joyfully cheering you on, Lucy!”
~ b
Posted by bethany on Oct 26, 2009 in
Writing It can be hard to identify what your personal style is when it comes to the home. This lack of certainty is often the first hurdle to overcome before re-decorating, or even purchasing a single piece of furniture. Hiring an Interior Designer is a great solution for people who would rather have someone else help them through the process of re-design.
However, some enjoy tackling this task on their own without the help of a professional. If you choose this route, here is a simple method that can help you along.
Step One. Gather as many magazines as you can get your hands on.
Step Two. Go through the magazines and mark any images that jump out at you.
Step Three. Scan and print the images.
Step Four. Arrange all the images together on a table or on the floor.
Step Five. Observe. Make notes about common themes you see. Are there common textures present? Perhaps there are a few special colours that stand out consistently? You may spy a little detail that you never noticed before! (When doing this with a friend of mine, we noticed that all the pictures she selected had coloured trim – there wasn’t a single picture with white trim!)
Step Six. Make a plan of action. Look around your home and determine what will stay and what will go based on the style cues you received from the previous step – sometimes what you get rid of is half the battle. Make a list of to-do’s based on a time-line or an overall budget. Knowing what needs to be done and when means you can take on each task step by step.
Step Seven. Make a mini style-inspiration-card and keep it by the door. When you go out shopping use it as a guide for your purchases.
Step Eight. The main rule for creating your own look in the home is:
Go With What You Love.
Images:
Better Homes and Gardens April/May ‘09
Better Homes and Gardens Winter ‘08
Better Homes and Gardens Winter ‘09
Country Living – March ‘09
