Vintage items at the Casey Design Office

October 23, 2015

 

I love antique, vintage and unique objects and I am continually inspired by them which is why you will find them throughout the Casey Design Office.  For me they are important because I love the connection to times past and I love the fun of rummaging through flea markets for hidden gems. Check out these items from my design studio.

These are vintage "Casey Design" printer wood blocks, probably from the turn of the century.

One of the numerous collections of object d'art.

This vintage purse is from 1920.

All types of vintage clocks . . .

A Deco era tea pot set.

This vintage lamp is a rare find and definitely an eye-catcher because of it’s unique form. 

More vintage clocks and a frame. 

Make sure the next time you are in our office to check out the vintage measuring tape - a gift from a special client who found it on her own flea market adventures.  

Sir John Soane’s Museum

October 20, 2015

I absolutely love London and was there a few weeks ago for London Design Week and I always go to Sir John Soane's Museum - the worlds best private home museum of architectural antiquities.

Sir John Soane (1753-1837) was an English architect who specialized in the Neo-Classical style.  He was considered one the most inventive architects of his time and his extraordinary house-museum exemplifies his originality. If you are wondering what a 'house-museum' is, it is exactly that: Sir John, through his passion for architecture, turned his property into a museum, that showcases his vast architectural collection. Developed from three properties, in the London district of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Sir John Soane’s Museum houses his collection of artefacts, plaster casts and also his large collection of more than 7000 books. Tim Knox, author of “Sir Jonn Soane’s Museum, London,” describes the collection as  “extraordinary accumulations and arrangements,” and, "hardly typical for an architect-collector of his era… Most architects, if they could afford it, formed small working collections of drawings, models and casts to assist them with their designs.” Sir John, unlike the typical architect of his time, accumulated large plaster models and antique structures. This blog features some my favourite rooms and collections at the museum. 

See below the different spaces that house the various collection pieces. 

Left: The narrow arch opening looking west through the South Passage. The cast of a bull’s head is the centrepiece of the space.  Right: The Monk’s Yard looking towards Fanny’s tomb. This underwent comprehensive restoration in 2005. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. By Tim Knox, 2008) 

Left: Detail of the octagonal lantern above the domed Breakfast Parlour. These are set with panels of Flemish stained glass.   Right: The Picture Room with the panes half open to reveal the Picture Room Recess. The architectural model at the feet of the statue of the Nymph is Soane’s design for the south front of the Bank of England. Golden light filters down from a lantern glazed with yellow glass. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. By Tim Knox, 2008) 

I love the large plaster models, busts and antique structures. Have a look at some of my favourites below:

Left: A plaster cast of the Apollo Belvedere. This statue was once the property of the famous 3rd, or ‘architect’, Earl of Burlington, and was given to Soane in 1811. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008)                                          Right: A Roman bust of an elaborately coiffed woman catches a beam of sunlight. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008) 

Left: Sir Francis Chantrey’s bust of Sir John Soane surrounded by cinerary urns and sculptural fragments. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008)                                                                                                                                                 Right: A plaster cast of William Sievier’s bust of Sir Thomas Lawrence surveys the Dome area. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008) 

The Students’ Room looking north, showing the extensive collection of casts of Classical architectural ornament. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008) 

Left: An early twentieth-century photograph (1924) showing a new extension to the museum - the Picture Room. New display’s such as this, destroyed Soane’s carefully juxtaposed arrangements of artefacts in his museum. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. By Tim Knox, 2008)                                                                                                                                                              Right: One of many fragments of antique decorations that adorn the walls of Sir John Soane’s Museum. (Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, By Tim Knox, 2008) 

The inspiration of Sir John's museum led me to create a feature wall in a three storey townhouse in midtown Toronto. Our challenge in this project was to add architectural interest in an in-distinguished townhouse. We achieved this by designing classical, custom doors, new door hardware, fireplace mantel and even a new iron railing. But what I loved the most is this small collection featured in their living room. It is a small but significant tribute to the inspiration I draw from Sir John Soane’s Museum.

Check out more images of this three storey townhouse on our online portfolio which can be found on our website! http://www.caseydesignplan.com/contemporary-mid-town/

Kitchen Quartz Countertops

October 9th, 2015

When it comes to countertops my favourite "go to" product for stone is Cosentino's Silestone - a Quartz composite.  Cosentino is the world's leading producer of this type of counter, which is ideal for high-quality kitchens and bathrooms, including countertops and sinks. The quartz countertops have become a leading counter top option because of the easy care and durability. In contrast, marble counters stain easily and require much more maintenance, and granite has a limited palette.  Quartz comes in a large variety of colours and patterns, and Cosentino have been producing it since 1990. They have a comprehensive website which showcases their range of colours and patterns. Check out the different ways to use this versatile product below:

Silestone - Kitchen Applications

When it comes to kitchen colour schemes, the right hue and texture of the countertop is crucial to the over-all look. This is because the countertop is often the anchoring centrepiece, and can tie together the concept of the space. 

A white stone with grey accents goes beautifully with the dark cabinetry of this kitchen for my clients. 

How fun are these colours? I used this dark green stone with dark speckles to contrast with bright red cabinetry. 

Prefer neutral, warm tones? I love this off-white stone with creme and light grey veins to create a bright, but neutral setting. 

Clean white surfaces for any kitchen, works beautifully. See how I have utilized this in the island countertop above.

I love the use of this dark stone with brown accents and undertones in this bright white kitchen. The island countertop is a strong contrast to the rest of the room and provides a distinctive focal point.

Bathroom Quartz Countertops

October 9th, 2015

Silestone - Bathroom Applications

For bathroom applications, I am drawn to creme and off-white for a traditional look. However for a more adventurous and modern look, I love to go with a dark stone. Although I have showcased only a few colours here, Silestone has available over 60 colours, the combinations of these colours are endless. This means the artistic and functional possibilities are endless. 

This vanity with dark countertop goes beautifully with the warm tones of this master ensuite.  

This space achieves a traditional feel with this lovely off-white stone. 

Want a more unique look? Try this fabulous steel-grey option. 

For more colours, check the silestone website! http://ca.silestone.com/en/colors/

Design Exchange 3D Exhibition

June 12th, 2015

Last week Principal, Theresa Casey and I attended the exciting new show by the Design Exchange highlighting the advances in 3D printing.  We were very excited to see the sculptures and objects created from 3D printing technology. 

Above are some of the sculptures created from 3D printers on display at the 3D-XL Printing Exhibition.  

The 3DXL –  (3D Printing Exhibition) is a testament to what is trending not only in design schools but the architecture industry at large. From small scale 3D printed figurines to larger-than-life detailed sculptures, the exhibition opens your eyes to what technology can achieve today.  Congratulations to curator Sara Nickelson for bringing this inspired show to life. 

 The first display features a robot-like 3D printing machine by Gilles Retsin, Manuel Jimenez-Garcia, Vicente Soler and their students from the Bartlett school of architecture. The machine simulates how each layer is printed. With the many circular shapes of this design, you can see the high accuracy printed by the robot. For many artists, it is easy to be left wandering if this 3D technology will lose the touch of the hand that good design requires. 

The display of the maker-bot printers was next on display. It showcases 3D printed objects but at a smaller scale. Check out this quick video of the maker-bot printing a small-scale skull object.   

Unlike the objects from the maker-bots and the large robot printer, these 3D sandstone panels by the students at University of Toronto appear to have more of a hand-made touch.  Under the guidance of Benjamin Dillenburger, professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, the students create panels inspired by Frank Loyd Wright’s textile blocks. These panels are made to appear and feel like sandstone, unlike the printing produced by the robot above. The organic shapes and soft edges, is for us, reminiscent of Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia Walls, by Antoni Gaudi                                         3D Sandstone Print

 3D Sandstone Print                                                                        Sagrada Familia central apse

Among the most impressive 3D printed sculptures of the exhibition was the “Salty Gloo,” by Emerging Objects.  An igloo-like structure made from 3D-printed salt tiles. The tiles are lightweight and translucent and against the natural sunlight from the window creates beautiful dapple shade on the exhibition ground. The colour of the natural mineral; salt and the unique shape of the tiles is the perfect combination to emit light and shade that feels organic and natural, as if sitting under a tree. This could perhaps not be achieved with conventional building materials. Have a look at the video of the Salty Gloo from the blog of the creators, “Emerging Object.”  http://www.emergingobjects.com/projects/saltygloo/

Salty Gloo - Internal View                                                                 Salty Gloo - Detail of an individual panel

Stepping around the corner of the last room in the exhibition, we were greeted by a larger sculpture, the “Arbesque wall,” by Benjamin Killenburger and Michaels Hansmeyer. When we saw the Arbesque wall, we decided that the technology today CAN still retain the feel of the hand-made touch needed in good design. In contrast to the smaller 3D printed objects and the designs produced by the robot printer, this sculpture is organic with undulating forms and details that are soft. The Arbesque wall is printed with the same sandstone feel and texture as the detail panels inspired by the Frank Loyd Wright textile blocks. The sandstone effect with the organic shapes of the sculpture is what sets it apart from the static 3D-printed plastic objects of the maker-bots and it also gives it the organic appearance. We were truly taken a back by its Gaudi-esk features . 

An article in www.designboom.com describes the arabesque wall as, “a highly differentiated and spatially complex piece of architecture, whereby ornament and formal expression cease to be a luxury, focusing on a more unique, one-of-a-kind architecture. Pushing the boundaries of human perception, ‘arabesque wall’ offers up the tallest, entirely 3D-printed building component in stone realized to date.” The opportunities to mass produce cost effectively and quickly will soon allow 3D printing not to be the trend, but the norm. Imagine a time when both housing and monuments alike can articulate Gaudi-esk features. Perhaps this is an idea whose time has come and it won't be too far into the future before the everyday home can have the luxury of sandstone detailed walls.  We cannot wait to see where this leads to and are eager to bring it into our design practice.