Making Spirits Bright

All the very best of the season to the many friends of Robert Bailey Interiors, with great appreciation to our remarkable clients, who have accompanied us on design adventures this year (and years past).  On behalf of you, a donation has been made to A Loving Spoonful, who truly make spirits bright!  May the new year be filled with joy and enable your dreams to become real.  

With peace, love + respect for all.  Robert  

 photo; WTT plaza NYC 12. 2000 / Bailey       

Modern Art Family

Recently added to our web site is the project portfolio for Silver Sea. It's the Vancouver home of an international art dealer and her family. Photographs are by Josh Dunford.
'Art does not reproduce the visible; rather it makes visible.' Paul Klee.

Plan for Silver Sea Project

We've also made some modifications to our web site, employing the talents of BB&co Strategic Storytelling to expand the depth of understanding of who we are and the work that we do.  Bill Baker is the author of a very informative blog, A Storied Perspective, that uncovers the value of storytelling to our daily lives,  and how it can engage us with its meaning, for our journey of discovery.  It's been an enlightening experience working with Bill Baker and Cookie Boyle (writer).  Our web site design is by Burnkit.

Project descriptions have been added to the RBI site

Gray Magazine

GRAY is a bimonthly print + digital magazine.  GRAY is for and about design connoisseurs who have a specific interest in the Pacific Northwest as a creative region.  Through a uniquely Northwest perspective, GRAY spotlights the very best in residential and commercial design throughout Washington, Oregon + British Columbia.  Each issue is filled with engaging features and interviews covering architecture, landscape, interior design, decor and entertaining - all things that are imagined, made or available right here.

We're delighted to have our Kinghorne project included in the premiere issue, of this great new regional publication. You can see the editorial, written by Rachel Gallaher here.  Much success to the team at Gray with their new + exciting venture!

Subscribe to GRAY MAGAZINE

Signature Look

The venerable fashion house of Missoni, has translated their signature patterns and fabrics into spectacular home decor elements; via Missoni Home.  Founded by Ottavio + Rosita Missoni in 1953, their unique vision and iconic look is entrenched in the story of fashion.  The (joyful) home collection brings their inimitable flair with colourful pattern mix to everything  from bath towels to candles. I love the way a little, (or a lot) of Missoni turns up the style volume. It's great to have this premium brand represented in Vancouver at Provide.     

Distinctive patterning and sophisticated colour palettes define Missoni.

Misson Home at Provide

Desert Chic

We just added our Rancho Mirage project portfolio to the RBI web site.

Photography is by Rick Szczechowski.  Special thanks to our fabulous client + collaborator JS.

'Within the total meaning of function is included the purpose to please.' Milo Baughman.

Entertaining

One of the best ways to celebrate your home and style is by sharing the experience with others.  This table setting at our Rancho Mirage project, certainly gets the party started.  We used our client's favourite table ware, Balcon du Guadaliquivir by Hermes to compliment the predominate blues of the upholstery.  An added a hit of acid green in the napkins by Trina Turk.  The Indian silver beaded place mats and whimsical napkin rings keep the conversation informal + lighthearted. 

Many of ones happiest hours are spent making memories around a table set with care, for family and friends.  Cheers!

F T

Many thanks to Glen Baxter and his team at Fashion TV for their World of Design segment, featuring our Fairmont penthouse project. See it here.

ARTRAVEL

Our penthouse project located in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver, has been featured in the current issue of Artravel magazine.  The bilingual publication focuses on premium contemporary architecture, design + decoration, from around the world. 
Much gratitude to Fabienne Dupuis for a very well crafted piece.  Merci Beaucoup!

Tropical Punch

Earlier this month I was in Punta Mita Mexico to install the principle rooms in our clients tropical resort home.  We had designed the beautiful exterior living spaces a couple of years ago.  The architectural style of the home is Balinese , with the main living space open on two sides and covered by a generous palapa roof.  Furnishing this gathering space, we elected to use a mix of outdoor lounge furniture facilitating a very casual lifestyle, that does not distinguish between indoor and out.  All of the fabrics, materials and even the floor lamps are 'weather + water resistant'.  The various furniture styles, art and artifacts give the space a sophisticated curated feel, belying it's practicality. 

Patricia Urquiola Crinoline chairs recall the design of classic rattan peacock chairs, and provide a delicate screen against the adjacent garden room, defining the sitting area.

This proved to be one of our more dramatic installations.  With hurricane Jova making it's way toward us and reports of severe weather expected; we had to clear the rooms shortly after they were complete.  I took a couple of record photos (here) and hoped for the best as we headed to the airport.  Fortunately Jova did not pack the predicted punch, +  we'll complete our install later this winter; in what will be more typically perfect weather conditions. 

Drift

I've been a fan of Bruce Mau Design (Massive Change) for many years.  The work of his office allies both method and depth of information;  culminating in beauty that is much more than skin deep. His thinking on design is just as thought provoking:

'Allow yourself to wander aimlessly.  Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.'  # 8 Drift.  from Bruce Mau's, Incomplete Manifesto for Growth.  The design statement was written by Mau to outline his process, and serves (me) as a reminder to explore + enjoy the journey, not focusing on end results. 

* Thinking like a designer, study + discourse;

The book Glimmer (written in collaboration with Mau) tackles the big questions of design while the Glimmer site, continues the conversation presenting design thinkers + thinking.

Images here; our schematic concept for a new sushi bar to be located in Opus Hotel Montreal.

Flower Power

Art work, above sofa Vera Lutter

A devotion to flowers is imbedded in my DNA.  As a young boy my grandmother's cutting garden was like a magic world, where I'd be given free reign to gather the perfect bouquet.  She passed on her delight, that every flower was a sublime miracle, with life energy (speaking to her plants, long before it was fashionable). Flowers are filled with so much meaning, they manifest feelings of love, joy, hope, peace ............ sending a message of welcome and caring in every room they grace.

Floral compositions shown here, created by Get Fresh Flowers.

Inside The Box

Having ample well organized storage creates a kind of freedom from chaos, simplifying the acts of living.  In a newer project we optimized the kitchen footprint to include full height pantries, and under counter drawers for maximum functionality.  But what really sets these cabinets apart is how the insides are treated.  We specified quarter cut white oak with a transparent grey wash, for the interiors of the custom chalk lacquer millwork.  The unexpected material lining, speaks of craftsmanship and equal visual consideration for both the closed and open positions. 

"Out of clutter, find simplicity.  From discord find harmony.  In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."  Albert Einstein

Windows On The World

Warren Platner, limited production chair, for Steelcase 1970s

I was in New York last week, it's a trip I make a least once a year to get a fix of pure urbanity.  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic destruction of the World Trade towers, and had me thinking of that time before, NYC (and the world) was forever changed.  Like those halcyon days when Waren Platner's mastery created the iconic Windows on the World restaurant (occupying the entire 107th floor of the north tower).  HIs breakout (1977) design  is forever recorded in my visual memory. The attention to detail was all encompassing, every element had intent and was part of the whole.  Like the towers, it had a tremendous effect on my sense (and the possibilities) of built environments.  

Windows is likely the most know of Platner's interior design projects, and his sensuous series of seating and tables for Knoll, the most celebrated.  We were very fortunate to find one of his (out of production) chairs for Steelcase to incorporate in a Palm Springs residence. The chair (pictured above) is rakishly handsome, and epitomizes many hallmarks of his work.  Boldly modern, yet reminiscent of a beauty we had already known. 

Warren Platner for Knoll 1966

In mermory of life, love and beauty lost.

American artist Robert Indiana's, LOVE 1966 

BC Home

Our Deep Cove project is featured in the Designer Issue of BC Home magazine (Fall 2011).  The article focuses on the bathrooms and is thoughtfully written by Yolanda Brooks.  More of the  residence can be seen on our web site.

It's great to see Jack enjoying his shower.

The project has also been recently presented in Delood, the daily digital design magazine.

Creation Of Experience

The artist Gordon Smith is a consummate west coast painter.  He breaths new life and feeling into his chosen subject, through an intimate experience with nature.  His friend Douglas Coupland described Smith's "ability to make works that are more like portals than mere canvases....... pieces you want to not just view...... but enter"  
In a client/collector's re-freshed living room (above) the large Gordon Smith canvas (2011) dominates and invites.  A new exhibition of Smith's work (Black + White) opens at the Equinox Gallery on September 16th.

Gordon Smith, Special Green 1967 serigraph on paper 

Gordon Smith, Beach Pools at Night 1963 oil on canvas