Recent travels have taken me to Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands in Washington State.  Not too far from Victoria, it’s a 1 hour trip from Sidney by Washington State Ferries to Friday Harbour on San Juan Island.  After a short wait, I catch the inter-island ferry to Orcas Island.  Unfortunately I’ve discovered since that the Washington State Ferry System changes their schedule on June 19th and it becomes a 5 hour trip.  Sydney to Anacortes where there is a 2 hour wait and then another hour on the inter-island ferry.  That’s not so great but it’s a beautiful island and well worth the trip especially if you can spend a few days there.  There are lots of cyclists and motorcyclists that make the trip to the San Juan Islands when the weather gets warm and sunny.   The landscape is similar to parts of Vancouver Island with pastoral landscape scenes and beautiful drives along the water.  Several public beaches provide great spots for picnic or beach-combing.

A typical scene driving on the main road on Orcas Island.

Sunset on West Sound

The people are friendly and laid back.  In Eastsound, the downturn in the economy is evident with many “for rent” signs in the shop windows.  That might change as summer approaches.  What has impressed me  is the presence of so many talented musicians on the island.  Live music is offered in many of the pubs and restaurants and for the most part, it’s very good music performed by accomplished musicians.  They have “open mike” regularly in the tavern at East Sound and the restaurant in Doe Bay.  Here the standard can vary a lot!  But it’s all entertaining.

I was lucky enough to have a private flight over to Bellingham in a Piper Cherokee 4 seater aircraft on a beautiful day.  The islands from the air are spectacular and a trip that would be several hours by ferry is a short 10 minute hop from the Orcas Airport to the Bellingham Airport.

After a short stay on Orcas I headed to eastern Washington by car to attend the Blues Festival in Sunbanks Lake Resort Washington.

The landscape of Eastern Washington is distinctly different from the west.  Separated by the Cascade Mountains, surprisingly there was still a lot of snow on the ground as we drove through the pass.

I couldn't believe the amount of snow left on the ground beside the highway in May!

Once on the eastern side the landscape is more arid with red rock hills and beautiful big sky.  We stopped for a break at a lovely resort on the river where they have organized river rafting trips and there were quite a few folks waiting for the next adventure rafting trip to commence.

People wait by the river for the next scheduled rafting expedition.

The dramatic change in the landscape and the weather provides a welcome change at the end of the 6 hour drive

Approaching the Sun Banks Resort the surrounding landscape is spectacular.

The Blues music event starts on Thursday and runs through Sunday twice each year in May and September.    It’s very well organized and a whole lot of fun.  Sunbanks is a vacation resort property with good facilities for trailers, campers and tents right beside the lake.  There are also small cabins and larger houses for rent.  The entire property is taken over for the Blues Festival.   Adults only.  It’s a bit like I imagine that Woodstock might have been but on a much smaller scale and much better organized and controlled by very tight security.  The music was great.  17 bands playing continuously from one stage with an hour performance and 1/2 hour break to set up the next band.  There’s a dance floor in front of the stage which sits at the edge of the lake and a large area of grass for guests to set up their arm chairs to view the concerts.  Once your chair is placed, it’s yours for the entire event.  No one moves them and no one uses them.  They’re always waiting for you.  What a great system!  We were very lucky with the weather.  Only a few sprinkles of rain but not when the musicians were performing.  Then it was sunshine and good times enjoyed by all.

Comfortable seats near front row to watch the concerts. The event is entirely outdoors so good weather is welcome!

Dance floor in front of stage at the edge of the lake.

Dancin' and Groovin'

This guy had the hardware! Switched between several guitars for his performance.

So that was Orcas and Sunbanks Lake Resort in Washington State, May 2011.

Next scheduled trip is to Paris, France for special birthday celebration in June!

wishing you happy days of summer!

Robyn Meredith Bryson – Interior Designer, Traveling……

Often my work as a designer involves color consultations.  Color plays a very important part of design.  Certainly also light.  The simplest way to alter an interior environment and possibly the least expensive is with paint.  Change the color and change the mood to modernize or simply refresh.  Choosing the right color isn’t a simple process though we often want it to be.  It requires research and it requires time.  The time to make the right selection or selections.  Making the investment and the effort to purchase enough of the paint to make good sized samples on the wall before diving into painting a whole room or rooms. Important to see the selected color samples in all lights, morning, mid-day, evening.  They change dramatically with natural light or artificial light.  The harsh bright sunlight can cause an unpredictable changes in a paint color bringing out red you didn’t know would be there for example.  So the change to the selected color is not always to the good.  Better to know so if your sample doesn’t have the desired effect then you can go back to the selection process and start again.  In the end, the effort will produce the very best results without having to repaint the entire room.  Trust me on this.  Also remember when you’re choosing a color that it intensifies with volume so if you’re painting all the walls consider taking a lighter version of the same color to start begin your sample process.

With the beginning of spring comes a burst of new colors everywhere.  In spring fashion collections and interior design we’re seeing new patterns and colors being shown.  I received a great video from a fabric supplier Woeller Group showing 71 new colors for their spring collection.   Check it out on YouTube – Xorel Meteor 71 New Colors.  It’s a really good presentation.

This inspired me to take my camera out to the rhododendron gardens up at the University of Victoria.  They’re open to all visitors with easy parking available and it’s a lovely place to find a bench and spend some quiet reflective time or like me, take some pictures.  Right now it’s early yet for the rhododendrons but I found some beautiful blooms to tell this color story.

Thinking pink.   The delicate shades and textures of the petals of this camellia blossom make me think of layers of fabric, especially silk.  I like the green tones with the pink.  The contrasting  soft green enriches and intensifies the pink to perfection.  But then Mother Nature does have that knack doesn’t she?  Often when clients ask me “but can you put those colors together?”  My reply suggestion is “go for a walk outside and have a look.”  Really.  If you’re using colors from nature, they seem to exist all together in a wonderful harmony.

Of course white, shades of white is always elegant for traditional or contemporary interiors.  The branches in the photo above in soft shades of arbutus bark and a touch of gold in the foreground.  I can see the picture translated into an interior landscape.

Shades of green with the smokey grey in the background.  Even the blue tones of the leaves in upper right seem to work with the garden greens of the leaves.

Delicate shades of lavender, accents of white again mixed with the green and a hint of pale yellow.  For a romantic master bedroom scene.  Little bit French perhaps?

The fresh greens are a little tricky when translating them into the interior with paint.  In small amounts for accent or perhaps in fabric accents with soft grey walls and white trim.

The weathered wood of a bench in the park gives inspiration for shades of grey.  Notice the brown of the leaves beneath.  Interesting.  Grey and Brown is can be a sophisticated or earthy palette especially with a soft white accent for trims.

So food for thought at these very early stages of spring.  Of course there is a riot of color yet to come as the season unfolds.

I am off to Portland Oregon next week for a Street Photography workshop which I am very excited to participate in.  For the photography yes, but also because it has been years since I’ve been to Portland.  We’ll be staying and working in Old Portland and I hear it’s quite interesting.  Lots to see and I’ll be posting my story when I return to Victoria.

until next time,

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer, traveling.

Today as I look out my window I see a thick blanket of white.  Snow.  I hear the sound of snow shovels scraping on the pavement as some hardy souls offer their time to clear a path.  Hard to believe.  Last week I was out in the sunshine with my camera visiting a local landmark for a few hours of “watching the world through the lens”.

Beacon Hill Park.  A little gem in downtown Victoria.  I used to call it “my backyard” when I lived in James Bay.  And when I was a little girl, I often spent hours in the park where I would find secret places beside a stream to read my book.  This was back in the days when children were safer on their own.  In late spring and summer it’s easy to find a sunny niche for reading or resting.  Families picnic and cricket games provide entertainment.  There’s a children’s petting zoo maintained lovingly by the same crew for many years.  Kids play on the swings or you can watch soccer on the adjacent playing field and you’ll always find families with children feeding birdseed to the ducks.  In spite of the signs warning against this practice.  In the summer there is a city-sponsored series of music concerts in the old band shell which is attended by regulars who bring their chairs and their picnic.   Sometimes an umbrella for shade.  It’s a magical place in the heart of the city.

Last week on a day of glorious sunshine I set out with my camera to visit the park.  It was crisp and cold but it felt like spring was on the way with snowdrops and crocuses poking through the cold ground and the promise of more sunshine to come.

When I arrived in the park I was surprised to see the number of families often with 3 generations grandparents, parents and children.   Couples holding hands.  Mom’s walking in pairs with strollers.  Many were armed with a generous supply of the  typical bird seed mix to feed the resident bird population.  Their animation was engaging.  I watched a group surrounded by a large scramble of various ducks, seagulls, crows and peacocks and their happy chatter filled the air.  One mum squealed loudly that a duck was trying to eat her ankle!

If the duck was biting her ankle maybe it was to get her out of the way of the scattered bird seed.

The brilliant colour of the male ducks feathers shimmers in the sunshine.

When there's food wild birds become less wild in the park. Little hands reach out boldly without fear.

The peacock almost helps himself to the food!

A quiet moment watching the ducks instead of chasing them. Why is it that all kids love to chase the ducks? to watch them fly?

My camera with the telephoto lens enables me to take a close-up look at the beauty and the intricacy of the birds.  Each bird is unique.  From this beautiful picture one could create a perfect interior or exterior colour scheme.   See how the black and the white  provides an enriching contrast to the monochromatic colour scheme of this Canada goose.

There are so many different scenes in a small area of Beacon Hill Park.  It’s easy to spend several hours bird watching and people watching.  What a great opportunity to experience a few tranquil hours and the joy of nature.

Fountains, bridges, old growth trees and in a few months a beautiful garden of annuals and perenials will appear.

This tree looks like it could talk - like in a Walt Disney movie. When darkness falls in the park might he speak in a throaty whisper?

Snowdrops poking their heads through the bush.

Friends making music.

I wondered if these two friends are among those who find shelter in the park setting up their bedrolls in the underbrush.  I know there are some who do.  During the day their music is soft and gentle.

and he's trying out a new engine in his hobby car operated by remote control.

Zoom, Zoom. He put on a bit of a show for me with his hot car.

Cruising through the park is a favorite ride.

Others are taking pictures and the buddies pose with patience as we shoot.

Another spectacular colour story. The peacock blue/green with the duck and the grass.

and after feeding the birds, it's playtime in the outdoor gym.

Have you ever really looked at the back of the peacock when he is in full regalia? It's also quite beautiful.

There was a friendly competition in progress. I'm wonder if the smaller one is a student-in-training and the trainer was the larger bird. The female they were trying to attract seemed all but interested.

Such pure, intense colour and somehow doesn't the black add the perfect contrast.

So this concludes my Beacon Hill story.  Somehow reassuring that in this mad, mad world there existing this island of tranquility where we can find a quiet respite and reconnect somehow with nature.  It’s powerful stuff.  Simple and real.

Until next time,

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer traveling……

In addition to the DSLR course I had enrolled in a 6 week course also at Luz Gallery in Oak Bay.  The instructor is Mike Andrew McLean, an engaging young man with great knowledge and enthusiasm for photography.  The subject of the workshop is Contemporary Art and Documentary Photography.  It is a course open to all ability levels so I was confident that I could fit in even at my entry level competence.  Well, on the first night when the camera’s were set out on the work tables in front of the participating students, I was intimidated.  There were some fantastic and very sophisticated cameras.  Some students presented more than one camera on the table before them.   I wondered if I was  in  over my head.  Not a comfortable place for me to be but a place that I have found myself often in the past few years as I embarked on this journey to learn French language and photography.  I have discovered that I can still learn and that I have a hunger for new knowledge.  So I swallow my pride and open up to listen to all who are present – teacher and students alike, to learn what I can from the experience.

My self-portrait with my new Leica camera. Reflection in a mirror.

As an introduction to the subject of documentary photography we were sent a link to a story in Fortune Magazine which I found to be compelling.  The writer David Whitford has written the story in the most beautiful way.  It’s a wonderful read.  www.money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005 The Most Famous Story We Never Told.  September 19, 2005.

The assignment for this course is to produce a thoughtful, wel-researched photographic project of your own.  Documentary or directorial.   I chose my subject which presents still-life photos to fit the subject “My Treasures”.  But there is a problem with this in that it lacks a strong narrative which is required.  I have to present 5 of the images in class next week for critic and discussion.  My thought was to write the narrative and make it a short story to accompany the photos but this isn’t part of the assignment.  It will be a personal project for another time.  So I am faced with the problem to present images with more of a narrative and I’m stuck on this one.  Thank goodness the weekend is before the next class to I will attempt to refine the photos – retake them even – with some narrative in the picture.  That’s the challenge.  What I had hoped to convey was the object in a natural setting representing the temporal with the permanent.  The objects that we may treasure in contrast with our natural world.  As we are all becoming more conscious of the need to learn to treasure our natural earth or loose it.  That’s maybe too obscure?

My grandmother's cameo brooch in a tidal pool at a local beach.

Found on the steps down to the beach. A jar of pennies had been smashed and left on the step.

My Mother's feather brooch resting on the lichen covered rocks.

A hand blown glass egg containing a beautiful jellyfish set in the rocks wrapping the small ocean bay.

Italian porcelain nymph set in the seaweed at water's edge.

Fine porcelain figure rests among the snowdrops in the alpine garden in our beautiful Beacon Hill Park.

My grandmother's lace and tortoise-shell fan.

My books. Definite treasures. "She was a student of books. No school or educational institution had taught her like her books."

And finally, not part of the assignment, but a few choice shots along the way.

Last week's sunshine on the sailboats anchored in the bay.

Jonathan livingston seagul perhaps?

I continue to define the subject with immense pleasure and an enthusiasm that surprises me.  The best part is getting outside to explore the local landscape.  It’s slow and easy.  Quiet and reflective.  Completely self-indulgent.  And I am loving it.

until next time,

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer

After several years of carrying the typical pocket size point-and-shoot digital camera I decided to graduate to a DSLR camera.  That’s digital single lens reflex camera.  I discovered one limitation of the point-and-shoot is that it shoots jpeg and there’s a limit to the size of prints that one can make.  Some of the photos that I’ve taken are good and I wanted to explore the possibility of printing larger art prints.  To play around with paper options and giclée which produces a finished picture on canvas more like a painting.  As I was contemplating Christmas gifts this past year I thought it would be a nice option for some of the family as a record of my travels.  I suppose also that I’ve reached the age where I’m concerned with leaving some sort of legacy.  A record that I’ve been here.  Of course because my work as an interior designer has been published many times over the past years in many different publications I have that record but I’m wanting something more personal now.

The fact is that interior design is more about facilitating rather than pure creativity. Because of my focus on my career and the time it involves I’ve left behind any hands-on creative endeavors such as painting or the crafty things that I did in the 70′s like so many others at the time.  Off loom weaving, pottery and of course macramé.  Remember macramé?  I remember a summer vacation in a cabin up Indian Arm in North Vancouver when there were 13 of us, Mothers and children, stuck inside because of torrential rain.  All of us got busy making macramé.  Imagine!  We left most of the finished projects behind and our hostess used them all for indoor plants.  Jungle fever.

I chose the Leica camera for my new camera.  It’s really an entry-level DSLR camera but quite well equipped with the latest technology and in digital world the technology of cameras changes very quickly.  It’s also quite light weight and easy to handle.

The course I’m taking is a DSLR starter course taught by Quinton Gordon at the Lúz Gallery not far from my home.  (www.luzgallery.com)  I begin this journey with with a small voice inside my head telling me that everyone my age is doing a similar thing.  “What can I bring to the table that is new?”  Well the answer is “my voice”.  I bring my point of view which is unique from others.  That alone is enough.  Also with digital it’s possible to take a lot of photos without printing anything.  Record the photo, download to the computer, edit on the computer and delete on the computer.  All before printing anything.

Our homework was to take a series of photographs with a shallow depth of field, long depth of field, photos that freeze motion with a quick shutter speed and photographs that use motion through a long shutter speed.  Then we were to explore colour; time and special relationships as significant design elements.  All of this without using the automatic settings which are so good on the new cameras.  Well this was a real challenge.  In fact for me, just reading manuals is a challenge.  I’m creative.  So I can “interpret” instructions to mean almost anything but what they actually mean.  Often this will send me in a maze of experiences before I get to where I’m supposed to be.  Frustrating?  Yes.

I used a photograph taken earlier this month in the Cowichan Valley as an illustration of colour. Red berries in the January landscape on a rainy day.

I took a series of photographs of this sunset as an illustration of time. It's fascinating to watch the changes in the clouds and the colours as the sun sets. The subtle changes occur moment by moment until it all disappears into the grey sky of dusk. Then darkness.

The majestic Mt. Baker shot explores depth of field. At least I think it does. Honestly I'm not that clear on the settings but I got a picture nevertheless!

This shot is my exploration of the action shot without using the automatic setting. I don't think I've quite got it but love the colour backdrop of the SMUS mascot! The problem with taking the photos is that I missed some of the game while I was focusing on the camera!

This one is my favorite. Can you see the basketball as it arc's toward the basket? It's in the center of the huge basketball painted on the wall behind. Oh, and yes it was a perfect free shot. Straight into the basket.

Action plus. You may be wondering why this game. Or you've already guessed. My grandson is a star player and I love to watch his games whenever I can.

This one didn't work but I love the shot anyway! Somehow the blurring just gives it a mood - how blurred the line between the two teams. It was a very close game.

Now this one is the biggest mystery. I have no idea how I set the camera to achieve this result. Hopefully again my teacher can clear this up for me so next time I do it it will be intentionally! Strangely, I love this picture.

So tomorrow I have the next class and will present my homework for critic.  This is when the learning really starts so I’m looking forward to it.  Meanwhile, I bumble along with the pdf manual for the Leica and continue to experiment with the camera and the lens.

Till next time,

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer

So here we are in the year 2011 and the start of a new decade in the second Millenium.  The winds of change are blowing.

This new year I thought it would be fun to look at some of the significant changes appearing in the world of interior design.  For this a good reference is always the Maison & Objet exposition in Paris France this month 21 – 25 January.  The exposition takes place twice each year when France presents leading edge creative inspiration and trends in the world of architecture and interior design bringing them together in the French spirit and style.

Maison et Objet in Paris.

After the days of “every man for himself” we’re moving into a new age putting humanity back into the center of our design.  Different cultures inspire our creativity.  Erasing borders by introducing the trans-cultural esthetic of world objects to enrich home environments  and bring a sense of elsewhere.  To blend the perfect and the imperfect; the old and the new in design and materials.  Sometimes it’s simply changing our way of looking at things that makes them new.

At Maison et Objet with the creation of this house of flax fibre the designer demonstrates the versitility of a material which is very old. Cleoptra wore garments woven from flax. It is a fibre which is strong and yet light in weight.

As we explore the true meaning of self-sustaining communities we are creating new ways of constructing.  Reducing the footprint, erasing borders between indoors and out.  Creating well-meaning objects that work better for everyone.    In many cases people are unplugging, slowing down.  Learning to find pleasure in the present moment.  Designers work to find ways to create practical, nurturing, responsible environments to embrace these changes.    It’s a cross-pollination between the urban, the natural and the technological.

As always, the images presented by the designers and architects of Maison et Objet are divinely creative.  Artistic and inspiring.

Photo images represent the creative inspiration for this year's premier show.

A collage of images to inspire and intrigue.

The website for the Maison et Objet is a fantastic trip into a new experience of artistic expression.

There are other design expositions in Toronto in January, Vancouver in February, in Milan and Lisbon.  All with merit.  But it is the French creativity and expression that captures my heart!  I find it inspiring and informative.  Looking forward to my next opportunity to attend.

Well, turkey is finally digested after a lovely Christmas Day meal and time with family and friends.  Now moving towards the New Year and more design travels planned already.

This trip was a short excursion by car up to Cowichan Bay and the small town of Duncan which are just north of my home in Victoria.  The drive over the Malahat has often been considered quite hazardous though it is beautiful.  In recent years improvements have been made to insure the safety of drivers but there are still some tragic accidents from time to time.  Armed with my camera I set out before Christmas.  At my first stop, Cowichan Bay, I realized that my camera battery was dead and of course, my spare was at home!  Fortunately I had the camera on my I phone and I took some great photos.  The story continues with the mention of the fact that I have been having some very strange technical glitches with my phone since I first got it a month or so ago.  The last trip in to Sound Advice, where I purchased the phone, the technician “monkeyed” with my phone and when I got home I realized that I had lost all the photos which I was going to use for this blog….couldn’t find them anywhere.  So I had to schedule another trip up Island.  This time armed with two camera, one a new acquisition – a Leica – which I had only just begun to use – and my other trusty Panasonic with the Leica lense.  And spare batteries.  And my I phone.  And my friend Sig just to make it more fun showing her the usual haunts that I love.

On a clear day the view from the Malahat Lookout is spectacular but today offers a typical west coast colour palate of the various shades of grey and the grey greens

The map in the foreround identifies the various points in the distant view across the waterway.

We set out last Tuesday and I knew that my favorite shop in Duncan was open but didn’t check the bakery in Cowichan Bay.  This bakery is the highlight for me of any trip up Vancouver Island from Victoria.  It is a “must” stop.  My habit is to purchase a piece of speciality cheese from next door at Hilary’s Cheese.  They kindly provide a small marble block and knife and allow me to take it next door to the bakery where I purchase one or sometimes two delicious buns and a mug of steamy coffee and settle down to eat.  Today, the bakery was closed!!!  So my lost photos of the interior of the bakery are gone and today so are my mouth-watering treats so eagerly anticipated.

Closed for Christmas this particular Tuesday!

Taken through the window - much to my disappointment!

In addition to selling Hilary's locally handmade cheeses, sandwiches, soup and seating with a view of the marina, they offer a wide variety of condiments and some specially wrapped goodies for Christmas gifts.

Cowichan Bay is a lovely drive off the main Island Highway through picturesque countryside and well worth the detour.  The tiny village of Cowichan Bay is like a step back in time to almost a pseudo hippy world.  The mixture of marina, tiny waterfront cottages, commercial establishments and restaurants present a certain charm and potentially a lot of calories.  It’s not a stop for anyone on a diet unless you can dial up your willpower.  You’ll find homemade ice cream; locally made cheeses; of course the bakery and several restaurants offering naturally, seafood.

A funky little shop that offers imported "fair trade" items of clothing. All with that homespun natural look in wool and other natural fibres.

A fresh fish market offering a huge selection of seafood.

My favorite bakery True Grit Mill where they mill their own flower and create all kinds of unique breads and sweets. Also great coffee always on except today when they were closed after the holidays fell on the weekend.

Today the weather was socked in and raining. On my previous trip there was blue sky and this is one of the prettiest places on the drive up to Duncan when there's a bit of sunshine and the mountains opposite the marina are visible.

Always busy, The Rock Cod cafe is known for it's good food and generous portions!

There is a small business here that produces lighthouses of various designs for garden ornaments.

Countryside, a Corian and solid surface fabricator has opened a retail showroom here in the tiny village of Cowichan Bay. Love the unique door.

After a short stop in Cowichan we drive on the winding road through the countryside where the trumpeter swans are resting.  This is a seasonal migration and it is quite beautiful to stop and watch them for a few moments.  They have a comfortable commune with the Canada geese it seems.

Trumpeter swans rest in the meadow. This is a seasonal migration and quite beautiful to see. Often they rest comfortably with the Canada geese alongside.

We decided to take a short detour on the way into downtown Duncan to visit a winery just north of Duncan.  My friend discovered it and their bakery and restaurant at the winery.  It would be another lovely destination for a weekend drive up Island in the spring or summer.  When we got there we noticed it was only open Saturday and Sunday so again we were out of luck for the bakery treats!

The Saison winnery offers an on-site bakery and restaurant as well as wine tasting but note to self - only on weekends.

The vineyards planted rest for the season.

The drive in to the winery from the highway is beautiful even on this rainy day.  The scenery is captivating and I stopped for more photos.

A perfect scene for Christmas time.

With the rain, there were crystal clear water droplets hanging from the berries.

Next stop the town of Duncan for some shopping and a necessary food/toilet stop.  We ate at a place called Just Jakes on the pub side and it was a warm and comfortable atmosphere after spending time outdoors in the pouring rain.  The food was excellent.

Fabrications is one of my favorite stops in Duncan. They offer a great selection of ladies clothing. Very chic and uptown for this little place.

I get a laugh out of this shop - The Garment District. New York-Hong Kong-Los Angeles-Duncan!!!

My favorite shoe store is in Duncan. Cardino's offers off-the wall styles as well as the more conservative with some great European lines as well as American Michael Kors and others.

It was already dark when we finished out lunch and headed for home. The seasonal lights sparkled in the dusk in downtown Duncan.

Another shop that we found in Duncan was Pots and Paraphernalia located in a lovely new building just outside of downtown Duncan.  It is a huge store full of everything relating to the kitchen and the bedroom.  Some beautiful linens from Italy and elsewhere.  Also, in downtown Duncan we found a lingerie store called Sheer Essentials.  They carry stock of the largest bra sizes I’ve ever seen!  Not that easy to find for those who need it!  (that’s not me by the way) but I managed to find some pretty things on sale at this location as they have opened a new store nearby and are clearing out the original stock at the old store.

Yes, I am an interior designer and this chapter of my blog isn’t all about interior design but it’s about beauty, seeing and recording and of course almost every girl’s favorite hobby  – shopping!

until next time,

wishing you a wonder-filled new year with many blessings….welcome to 2011!

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer

With the Christmas season upon us, my thoughts drift back to my wonderful time in Paris last year.  I see current weather reports with photos of Paris in a blanket of winter white this year and remember my time walking the streets in the brisk air with some days of blue sky.  There was a light dusting of  white but nothing like this year.

Come with me and experience the glamour and the beauty that is Paris at Christmas time.

The magnificent Christmas tree in Galeries Lafayette against the backdrop of the impressive architecture.

Breathtaking architecture.

Paris retailers go all out with the decor and the air is festive and exciting.  Parisians take it all in and the streets are alive with vendors of roasted chestnuts, music, people everywhere as always.

Glamour and elegance in a fantasy world of white.

Elegant Dior designs with divine detail such as I've never seen.

The store windows captured my heart and my imagination.  It’s another world thst captivated my imagination completely.  Everyone stopped to take in the scenes and the children were fascinated with the animated scenes.

Swans and golden shells.

Pheasants in the winter scene present their earthy beauty.

A feast for the eyes!

A new world rocks and gets the attention of children walking by.

Beautiful crystal and layers of detail catch the eye.

The trend to Asian influence in fashion and decor is reflected in this window.

I remembered the store windows in Eaton’s in Victoria when I was a child and what a special outing it was to go into town to watch all the animated characters preparing for a fantasy family Christmas!  Those windows were simple in comparison to the beauty of Paris window designs in 2009.

Even the simplest window designs sparkle.

Parisians turn out for the fresh food markets and vendors are lively with the spirit of Christmas.

A spectacular highlight is the ferris wheel constructed for Christmas in the Tulleries Gardens behind the Louvre. Parisian families and tourist alike line up in the cold and it's worth the wait. Paris sparkles from the view in the sky!

It was a fantastic memory for me and wasn’t I lucky that it was last year when the airports were open for my arrival?  My departure from Paris in early January was a different story when the cold caused airport shutdowns in Paris and London.  It took me 3 days to get back home but honestly, it was worth it!

Monday morning I headed for a 6:05 a.m. rendezvous with clients in the pitch black “Park and Ride” at Beaver Lake. Then off to catch the 7:00 a.m. ferry to Vancouver.  The weather was rainy and cold.

We have been working on this project for 3 years now – a new-build home on Prospect Lake in Saanich-Royal Oak in Victoria. Now we’ve reached the final stages for furnishing and finishing touches. This phase isn’t going any faster. So far we’ve managed to find the warm white leather sofa with a very clever design to convert to chaise seating for watching television and two occasional chairs for the living room along with a spectacular dining table and chairs.   The table is made by Live Edge on Vancouver Island and we found it at Brougham Furniture in North Vancouver.  My clients’ mandate is that in order to buy any furniture, they have to “love” it and they fell in love with the dining table instantly.  When we find something that fits the criteria, it’s pretty exciting. Otherwise, the comment often is “We’re not feeling it Robyn” which means that it doesn’t meet my clients’ approval! and the search continues.  Some of these items are quite expensive and they’ll have them for a long time so I agree that they have to “love” the choices.  As well of course, my job is to make sure they are the best choice for the home and to co-ordinate all the pieces well.  If I don’t think it will work I’m quite clear!

Also on our “to-do” for this trip was to drop off the templates for granite tops which we hoped to have fabricated the same day so we could take them back with us on the ferry. We had the templates in the back of the truck along with the rack and clamps necessary to secure the tops for the ferry ride back to Victoria. This granite is for a small condo renovation project which is another project that we’re working on at this time.

Our shopping list included items for their lake front home such as another two chairs for the living room, coffee table, occasional tables, linen for the master bedroom, bar stools for the downstairs bar and kitchen,  a dining room light fixture and drapes for the condo.  It was an early start and we were all quite sleepy when we arrived in the dining room on the B.C. Ferry which offers a beautiful buffet of all kinds of hot and cold items. After coffee things perked up a bit and we began to plan the route for the day in Vancouver. We had a reservation on the 7:00 p.m. ferry to return to Victoria.

Our first stop is Home Max where we dropped off the templates for the granite fabrication. This is a Chinese company who import the stone from China and it is available in pre-cut 8′ lengths for $329 or $379 per 8′ length with edges already finished in square profile. They charge additional for each sink cut-out and other edge finishing or cut-outs but it still ends up at a very reasonable price. Cash and carry.  The Uba Tuba granite we wanted was in stock and they agreed to complete the fabrication so we could pick it up at 4:00 p.m. on the way to the ferry! First one down.

Back in the truck we headed directly for Brougham Furniture in North Vancouver. It’s a fairly long drive but the traffic wasn’t too bad and we made fairly good time but when we got there it was a big disappointment.  My clients were excited to see what might be available as the store is moving to a new location in January and they have advertised the floor merchandise on clearance for “up to 60%”. I never did see anything on for 60% off. Most items were marked down considerably less 60% but the main disappointment was that they had very little different stock on the floor since our previous, very successful shopping trip. Three or four turns around the store while the in-house designer chatted about everything but furniture and we agreed that this was a “bust”. Back in the truck and on the road.  Another couple of stops in North Vancouver including Ginger Jar and they also didn’t seem to have any new merchandise on the floor since our last trip.  I’m wondering if this is because of the time of year?  Year end?  I will have to make some inquiries.

We went into town in the pouring rain and stopped at Yaletown which a few years ago was a very chic design district for Vancouver with several excellent furniture stores including Roche-Bobois and two beautiful kitchen showrooms.    Now only a couple of smaller furniture stores remain in this area.   One is Entre-Nous and once again, they had very little on the floor.  It seems that the area has been taken over by restaurants which dominate the street-scape.

I have eaten at Chioppino's with clients on other shopping trips and they offer great food and great service.

Haven't tried George but the interior looks very chic from what I saw through the window!

Love the multi-coloured trash bins which occupy some of the parking stalls in front of the raised walkway.

Because of our tight time schedule and our extensive list of things to find, we didn’t stop for a relaxed lunch.  Rather Starbuck’s on the run and with the wet and cold weather the hot coffee went down well.  Later, the dinner buffet on the ferry would offer the “fine dining experience” on the return trip to Victoria.  Especially the chocolate dessert buffet!

Altogether we visited 10 furniture stores. Found nothing really. In Richmond at Mobler Furniture we found the bar stools for the downstairs bar and kitchen. One style of chair manufactured by Lee met my clients’ approval but it has to be ordered and the fabric has to selected so we can do this in Victoria at Sager’s Furniture.  Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to find the desk, the coffee table and some of the other items on the list there also!  They carry many of the same lines as Brougham Furniture in Vancouver.

Back to the granite fabricator where we loaded the granite onto the truck and headed for the ferry, in the pouring rain and bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic. We were in good time for the 7:00 p.m. ferry reservation.

The ideal situation for the designer is to have the opportunity to design each piece and have it custom made.  In Victoria we have plenty of excellent craftsmen who produce beautiful work.  The problem is that often the clients are not comfortable with this process.  It is definitely much more expensive.  Often the client wants to see it, sit in it and even have the opportunity to see it in the home before making their final decision.  With custom it is a different process.  One that requires more flexibility and openness to the process. With custom upholstery it is possible to stop the process at a certain point so that clients can visit the workshop to sit in the piece and adjustments can be made but it’s not for everybody so that’s when we “shop till we drop” to find the right piece.  Some days are more successful than others!

After the disappointing day in Vancouver the next morning I was on line and I came across some great furniture pieces on one of my favorite sites that presents pieces from antique dealers all over the world.  Have a look!  They may not suite your taste or style but they’re fun to look at and the history is quite intriguing in some cases.

Silver and Black chair and ottoman anodized with patent leather. From Absolute Fabrics and Home on Amelia Island in Florida.

Zebra chair on a vintage 1950's frame upholstered with new hide upholstery. Also from Absolute Fabrics and Home in Florida.

Glam Hollywood Regency Modern French Baroque Rococo chairs. Gilded ornate frame with intricate shell carving. Black velvet diamond upholstery. 1940's available from Sultan Chic in New Jersey, N.Y.

10 Louis XVI style dining chairs. Linen handpainted with Roman numerals. Bronze legs. France 1930-1940 available from Silvie Petroccia Antiques in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

19th century Italian sofa with carved wood and gilded. Re-upholstered in canvas with hand painted Desing of Putino.

Now that’s some fun shopping!

Next time I’ll post some photos of my Christmas in Paris last year.  As Christmas draws near, my mind drifts back to Paris!

until next time,

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer

I finished the project last Thursday night at 5:45 p.m. just 15 minutes before the first guests were scheduled to arrive for a launch party for the Abstract built home.  During the day in the middle of my set-up with still a few sub-trades working to complete their tasks, Mike Miller the developer of the project arrived with cameraman and a writer from the local newspaper.  A short time later another cameraman arrived  to film a story for broadcast on A-TV News.  Mike likes to brag about his latest accomplishments and manages to get a lot of press, at least locally.

No matter how many times I have been through similar seemingly impossible deadlines over the 30 plus years in the business, I can’t get used to the chaos.  This time wasn’t any different.  I didn’t believe that the crew could finish all that remained to be done a week and a half ago when I took the photos for my blog “Countdown to Move-in”.   Now that doesn’t mean it was finished for the arrival of my client’s furniture on the Friday as scheduled.   Far from it.    The furniture was moved in to a chaotic mess in the interior and even worse outside in the garden as workmen poured concrete and moved soil to build and landscape the huge water feature in the garden.  I worked the rest of the week including the weekend to find additional pieces of furniture, art and accessories to complete the vision that I had for the interior.  The general theme with all the finishes is walnut, ebony stained oak, stainless steel with grey, brown, black granite, tile and carpet.  I am pleased with the result.  Sort of classic modern chic.

When my client and I went shopping for the additional pieces of furniture needed to fill out the new space, we both couldn’t resist the red leather sectional for the living room.  It seemed the “spice” required to heat up the theme and when it arrived I knew it was right.

The light fixtures chosen for the dining room and foyer are perfect.  The dining room piece is called “The artichoke” because it has a similar style of overlapping “petals”.  The size is large but with the high ceilings it is right and a real stylistic focus in the volume of the space.  Unfortunately, it won’t show up well in these photos because of the “burn out”.

Fireplace with black/grey slate bricks and surround of ebony-stained oak. The drapes are two stories high with a subtle horizontal stripe on the grey-toned sheer. A subtle way to emphasis the height while warming the room in a modern way.

Two oversize black and white vases on the dining room table filled with dozens of long-stemmed red roses.

Looking down from the second floor into the living room. There is a television mounted on the wall above the fireplace and sound equipment rests in a cabinet built-in to the left of the fireplace. There are stereo speakers throughout the house tied into this system.

On the day of the launch party, there were cabinet installers who showed up to finish the last outstanding items on their “to do” list.  Finish carpenter was installing the bathroom mirror.  The missing rainhead shower was discovered in a box in the garage.  Mirrors were installed in the master bathroom with tape to be removed at the last minute with no guarantee that they wouldn’t fall off the wall because of the short time left for the glue to set up.  I was busy ironing all the bedding that had been installed on three beds the day before.  Ironing towels and setting the scene in all the rooms.  It was a day of “lost and found”.  Sub-trades who had been lost, were found and tasked with finishing their various jobs inside.  The last plants were being dug into the landscape.  The water feature outside is beautiful and I wouldn’t have believed it possible to have it finished in time.  The painter was taking down paintings that I had just finished hanging to do his re-paint of those walls in need of touch-up.  Holes were being patched in the drywall and one of the labourers was up on a very tall ladder with a hair dryer to dry the drywall mud in time to have it painted.

At 5:30 p.m. the caterers arrived to set up in the new kitchen and the garage.  The valets showed up ready to park the cars of the guests.  I finished my chores as it got dark outside and I decided to go home, pour myself a glass of my favorite red wine and relax.  No party tonight for this gal.  I’m not in the mood.  But I heard it was a great success.

Upper hall with bedrooms off to the left and the media room ahead.

Media Room with comfortable seating and really big television for the teenage kids in the family to hang out.

The red/black and grey colour scheme is repeated in the master bedroom and bathroom.  Having the master bedroom on the main floor is a great feature.

In this photo the red coverlet is missing from the foot of the bed. It helps to "ground" the bed and I liked pulling in more red. Sorry I didn't get a photo.

All the previously missing shower fittings are now installed and the bathroom is finished.

The young carpenter who helps me with the picture hanging and the set-up is also an aspiring photographer so he showed up at 4:30 p.m. to take some photos.  I’m excited to see the results of the photo shoot.    He has some wicked equipment so they’re bound to be better than the ones I’ve posted in this blog.  When I get them I’ll be posting them on my web site.

It was a beautiful evening for the launch party and we were lucky as this week, it’s snowing and the wind is howling!  Winter has arrived…

Cheers,

till next time.

Robyn Meredith Bryson, Interior Designer