Juggling, spinning plates!
2 weeks since our last update which is reflective, symptomatic, of what is proving to be, to put it mildly, a manic time. The major kitchen/dining room portfolio project is rushing to conclusion as we focus on those final details that really "maketh" the space.
We're spinning up a new project which will see more bespoke items, some level 5 paint finishes (all credit to
Alexa Hampton for the level <n> paint finish concept), the use of vinegar and wire wool as a decorative agent and re-purposing of a fireplace.
The Great British Interior Designer Bake Off
This time not an overt griping about this program but instead something a bit different... Given our tardiness with our Week <x> of 52 posts this reflects not last week's but the week's before heat. We place our bets now but in the absence of a significant change we'd be surprised if contestant Sarah does not win. Now this brings up an interesting point because although we say that we were not huge fans of the various schemes she came up with this is not all about whether we like the end result.
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| Back to this topic again, but not a moan this time! |
Why we think she's a serious, and really the only one so far, contender is due to the "process" she's demonstrated. From good quality mood boards, well articulated concepts through bold use of colour to "another level" of thinking used in a complex, geometrically challenging space she appears as a real designer. Of course we'll probably be proved wrong and the crazy guy with an obsession for eye level drawers and poorly executed furniture upholstering will win but if we had to pick one to trust it would Sarah.
Grand Designs Australia - Vintage Modernity
Isn't Vintage Modernity a contradiction in terms? Surely an affectation of the knowingly design conscious or trendy architecture obsessive? Well just maybe no... Sure it's a pretentious sounding attribution but once again GD Australia rises to the top of the current crop of home/interior programs with an
episode following a 50's obsessed couple as they build $1(and a bit) million Aus$ homage to the fifties modernist aesthetic whilst gently incorporating right up to date technologies and building techniques.
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| The biggest side-board, like, evah |
We were drawn to the "clients" as they demonstrated a clear understanding of what they wanted and an obsession/eye for detail that can only be commended. Their acceptance of the true value of bespoke craftsmanship was refreshing as this build became focused less on the bottom line and increasingly on beautiful work and finishes.
Did we like the end result? Not entirely but once again this is not necessarily about that; What we liked was clients with a vision, clients and architects not afraid to really run with an idea or press the bespoke button and crafts(people) with an obvious passion for the things they made.
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| Yes that's a collision between a set of pastels and a drunken Mondrian - but for all that this was a great episode |
So back to that Vintage Modernity term - what does it mean? Well on closer thought it does make sense; How would you describe Frank Lloyd Wrights
Fallingwater for example? It's clearly modernist but despite that it's also clearly not from this era so it's both modern and old at the same time. It's an interesting concept that the attribute modernist can be applied to something made today from structural glass and polished resin and also something made 60 years ago.
Linear Task Lighting
This project will deliver near 3m linear task lighting to the kitchen portfolio project and represents the final bespoke work for this (we can hardly believe we've written that). Using the same circular aluminium extrusion from our friends at ecoledlight.co.uk that we used for the ambient kitchen light fixture we're using tiny aluminium blocks to hold the section combined with bespoke sleeve anchor bolts and, again in a reference back to the ambient light, black fittings and braided cable.
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| One of the four mini blocks from which the task lighting will hang. For a sense of scale the circular aluminium extrusion is 24mm in diameter (or just under 1" in ye olde money) |
We've incorporated an adjustment capability that allows the circular section to be rotated to set the preferred angle of lighting and that also allows the lighting to be moved closer or further away from the wall to accommodate the variations inherent in an old building. Keep an eye out for further updates and, of course, a post upon installation completion.
Makers of East London
Passed around the workshop last week was this
Makers of East London. It's an interesting book which focuses on small, independent, makers of things in East London. Whilst the text is, in some cases, frustratingly short and lacking in detail the photography is good and the subject of direct interest to us. There's some real positives in this book; it shows a thriving creative culture that spans multiple generations it highlights craftsmanship and in many cases incredible skills and by implication shows that there are people out there, real people, with the vision (and money) to spend on quality.
There is, however, a negative thread weaving it's way through. Sometimes it appears as subtle comment othertimes it's directly mentioned; the creeping "gentrification" of this part of London. Now the problem here is that whilst this is positive in terms of bringing in those with the inclination and financial "clout" to indulge in the world of bespoke craftsmanship it's also attracting the attention of property developers.
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| Interesting and thought provoking... |
The very thing that makes the area attractive; an eclectic mix of uses from spectacle frame makes through Cafes and to residential is at threat of becoming diluted by increasing residential development until, like some kind of homeopathy, the very thing that made the area attractive has been reduced to negligible dose. This is very much a challenge of our time in large urban areas where not only is residential property a shortage but, and especially in London, it's a highly attractive asset class appealing to short and long term investors.
Would this book be possible in 20 years time? Maybe although one can't help but think it would be considerably thinner and probably only warrant, at best, a paperback edition.
Books!
Broadly in tune with the passage above we're experiencing a bit of a renaissance with books. Many of us were early adopters of technology that foretold the death of the printed book, the end to the simple pleasure of the tactility of leafing through a volume or that odour that only a new book has. We've become increasingly disenfranchised with the one dimensional iPad, Kindle, Surface experience though; awkward pagination, variable quality images, poorly scaling visuals and the simple inability to share a cherished volume among friends.
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| Recent(ish) additions to the growing library - these are books, a retro concept. We looking for uses for 1st generation iPads and old Android tablets... |
Along with the Makers of East London we've also added books by/about Anouska Hempel, Kelly Hoppen, Alexa Hamptom and John-Louis Deniot to our library. Not only is it infinitely easier to examine, evaluate and appreciate the various schemes and thought processes the physical nature of the book provides something upon which to make notes or from which to source images/concepts for clients.
You don't have to like it
There's an underlying theme running through some of our musings in this post and it's around the concept of appreciating quality, result, process, skill even if, personally, you do not like the end result. As we said above, none of us particularly liked the schemes Sarah developed for the The Great Interior Challenge but all of us agree that she was a "proper" designer.
We were split on the vintage modern fifties house on Grand Designs Australia but again all, unanimously, agree that it was a fabulous example of what happens when clients, architects and "makers" all operate on the same wavelength and come together to create a shared vision.
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| Not our "thing" but there's no doubting the mastery at work here in a John-Louis Denoit interior scheme |
Our last example would be the work John-Louis Deniot - almost all of us were not in anyway fans of the finished results but again all appreciated his clarity of vision and consistent delivery of a defined "look".
The message here is around understanding that it's absolutely fine to detest the finished result and yet appreciate the journey, or indeed the reverse, there's nothing wrong with loving the finished result but hating the journey. It's very easy to dismiss the entirety of a thing just because you feel strongly about an individual component; John-Louis Denoit is not for us but we admire and appreciate the skill, Kelly Hoppen's love of taupe is not for us but her ability to deliver a specific look and a commitment to quality is admirable.
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| Got taupe? Kelly Hoppen MBE does her thing with consummate skill and an eye for detail |
This Week's (and last Week's) Obsession: XVLP
We very rarely broach the subject of tools, we've mentioned the workshop, every now and then you see a glimpse of a lathe in the background or the our rather special, ex Rolls-Royce, milling machine but that's about it. This week, however, we're breaking the rule and showing the latest obsession, soon to be latest acquisition: Wagner Finish Control XVLP 5000 - like all manly, man tools it has a long name with a big number at the end (bigger is better right?). We spend much more time worrying about and applying finishes than we allude to in this blog; this new tooling will add to our workshop some key capabilities and an opportunity to branch out into some highly specialised finishes.
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| XVLP 5000 Manly, man tool! |
p.s. Yes we did see Ugly House to Lovely House but we're waiting for the next one to air. Initial thought is some one has capped Gawjus George to at most one power gaze per 60 minutes!
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- Week What of What? You What? I mean, pardon?
- These posts give us a chance to recap on the last week at Bokoshoko and give you a glimpse of what's happening. Many of our projects take time to come to fruition or our customers would prefer we did not share so these posts also show we're not just sitting around!
