Thursday 30 June 2011

In Conversation with Martha Sturdy

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Martha Sturdy

 

Most Islanders know of the Vancouverite artist, Martha Sturdy and her 30+ years of artistic endeavours. They know of her over scaled artwork and sculptures that are both bold yet minimalist, and her furniture and lighting designs that have taken not only locals, but the world by storm. She has donated large-scale works to public causes such as the Vancouver General Hospital and the Pemberton Sculpture project. Martha's designs are currently distributed by the highly regarded Baker furniture throughout the United States, on showrooms that concurrently house design sensations such as Barbara Barry and Andre Arbus. She's grown to be an international success, but her designs are still created in her Vancouver gallery/studio.

 

Martha works primarily with two types of materials (both independently and combinations thereof), resin and metal. Both mediums are prized for their unique characteristics and limitless design possibilities. Her inspiration and materials come from around the globe from her travels within North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. But her design career begun on a much smaller scale; after completing her schooling at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Martha began designing jewellery. She was an instant hit with the public and fashion magazines alike, and began selling out of high-end department stores in New York.

 

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Martha Sturdy Art

 

Fast forward to the late 1980s when Martha created her first collection of resin tabletop and home accessories, it was this launch that led to connections within industry giants, global clientele, and top designers - she participated in trade shows in Paris, New York and London. A new venture was born and Martha undertook larger projects: furniture pieces, which eventually led to her developing her earlier interest in sculpture in 2000.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Art

 

In recent years, Martha Sturdy has received several honours: an Honorary Doctorate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, an induction into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), and a Golden Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada. She has also graced the pages in many top magazines including NUVO, BCHome, a recent home feature in Architectural Digest, and being named 'one of the top 20 designers/artists to watch for in the next decade' by Metropolitan Home magazine.

 

As my readers know, I love promoting local talent and I couldn't be happier to have this interview with our local art world celebrity, Martha Sturdy. Please read on to get in on the conversation...

 

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

 

Martha Sturdy – As a very young child, around the age of five or six, I loved to spend hours outside creating elaborate structures in the dirt. I would design houses and cityscapes, and sculpt them out of whatever modest materials my yard had to offer.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - How would you describe your style?

 

Martha Sturdy – Clean, minimal and earthy. The latter is imperative; I believe modern design can be very unapproachable without an element of earthiness.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - I believe you have 2 signature materials, one being that wonderful resin that has your trademark name all over it and the other metal - I can already see the metal being a crucial part of your everyday life as a sculptor, but what is the story behind the resin?  What is the story behind that "aha" moment that has given you so much presence around the world?

 

Martha Sturdy – In my second year of sculpture studies at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, I took in invaluable class which covered metals, castings, wood and plastics. During the six weeks of plastic studies, we worked with Plexiglas, acetate and resin. That was extent of my formal training with the material, but I spent the next three decades perfecting my craft.

 

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Martha Sturdy - Art

 

Iván Meade - I also believe that the fusion of these materials is really inspirational and showcases your work as art work, but also allows you to create everyday pieces with a sculptural quality. How was this transition for you? How were you able to create this full circle between being an artist, a jeweller, a product designer and finally becoming a sculptor once again?

 

Martha Sturdy – I have always had a penchant for the big and bold whether I was creating a bangle, a chair, a sculpture or an entire landscape, but as my career has naturally evolved I have been fortunate that my success has allowed me to return to my roots.

 

As I mentioned I studied sculpture in university, but as most young artists know, making a decent living as a contemporary sculptor can prove to be extremely difficult. Jewellery was a marketable transition that allowed me to work with the fundamentals of my education on a much smaller and affordable scale. In the early 90s, I began to experiment with larger designs which included home accessories, furniture and more recently art for art’s sake.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

 

Martha Sturdy – Technology, and how it facilitates communication between the international design communities, is very exciting. Social media is becoming an important tool for artists and designers, and the opportunities for collaboration and promotion have never been more accessible. I have yet to commit to all of these new medias, but interviews like this and my upcoming guest blogs on Baker Furniture’s “The Language of Style” are amazing new ways for me to connect.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - If you could pick one word to describe your work, what would it be?

 

Martha Sturdy – Strong.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Art

 

Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique when one sees a piece of yours, it doesn’t matter if it is a furniture piece, a bowl, or an over scaled sculpture, they all evoke emotion.  All these pieces have been created by you.  How do you achieve this emotional resonance with your pieces?

 

Martha Sturdy – Thank you, Ivan! That’s very kind of you to say. Throughout my career, I have had an incessant desire and ability to stay true to myself. My process is visceral and my statements are both personal and honest. I suppose it’s that unwavering authenticity that evokes emotion.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade -Your sculptures are teeming with lavish and inviting textures. Why is texture such an integral component of your work?

 

Martha Sturdy – My designs are minimal so texture is imperative! Texture relaxes my aesthetic and ads and an earthy, soft and even sexy complexity.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Art

 

Iván Meade - Do you think becoming a successful designer has hurt your credibility as an artist?  As we all know, the art community doesn't like commercialism or success via sales. 

 

Martha Sturdy – It’s very possible. Society tends to pigeon hole. I consider myself a renaissance woman with a broad skill set, and I refuse to be limited to the constraints of one medium. I strive to be creative in all aspects of my life - not just art and design, but my garden, cooking, wardrobe and of course, my environment.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - What do you do to keep inviting the inspiration to come - Do you have other passions that recharge your creative juices?

 

Marta Sturdy – I try to divide my time equally between the city and the country. To be honest, it’s the latter - the other half of my life - that keeps me truly inspired. I have no desire to be exclusive to art. Nature, animals, travel and family are endless sources of inspiration.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

 

Martha Sturdy – I’m not quite ready to say.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Home

 

Iván Meade - Lastly, You have already gone through many transformations with your work and found great success, what would you like your legacy to be?

 

Martha Sturdy – Legacy is a difficult thing to predict… but I would love if my example influenced a woman to work hard at her passion and succeed. If I can do it, anyone can.

 

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Martha Sturdy – Art

 

I invite you to visit Martha Sturdy’s website at:

 

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Martha Sturdy art and home products are locally available at:

Emporia on Government St and The Gallery at Mattick’s, in Cordova Bay.

 

Ivan Meade is a local designer and principal of Meade Design Group, a multidisciplinary interior and graphic design studio in the heart of downtown Victoria –www.meadedesigngroup.com



MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Eye Candy of the Week – Jonathan Adler by Lacoste

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Jonathan Adler

 

PRODUCTS

Polo Shirt, Ping Pong Rackets, Bargellos, Tennis-racquet carrier, Pillows and Special Edition Lacoste Ceramic Crocodile.

 

MANUFACTURER

Lacoste

 

DESIGNER

Jonathan Adler

 

MATERIAL

Piqué Knit Cotton, Various

 

DESCRIPTION

Another great collaboration for the House of Adler and French design power house Lacoste.  We may pick up tennis or ping pong just to wear these fun and fresh ensembles!  We will have to wait until November when these beauties are made available to the public.

 

Lacoste has revealed at Paris Fashion Week a partnership with designer Jonathan Adler, a limited-edition run of polo shirts that gives the iconic René Lacoste French brand Adler's distinctive "happy chic" twist.

 

Instead of an applique sewn onto the shirt, the "Limited Edition" polos by Jonathan Adler have an actual needlepoint crocodile sewn onto the shirts by French nuns. Each of those will be sold packaged inside a Bargello  (embroidered) needlepoint tennis-racquet carrier rocking a silhouette of the crocodile against a classic Adler patterned background.

 

PRICE TAG

$ 150.00

$ 250.00

Limited Edition (price still to be determined)

 

YUMMY FACTOR

C’est Formidable!!!



MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Monday 20 June 2011

In Conversation with Alberto Pinto

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Alberto Pinto

 

Alberto Pinto's firm is based in Paris, France and takes on a vast array of projects including homes, corporate offices, jets and yachts on a global scale. His name has become a brand; from his work in interior design he has also launched lines of linens and tableware, decorative taps, furniture and even penned several books - including his latest 'Alberto Pinto Today'.


Alberto and his firm pride themselves in their ability to create a beautiful space no matter what the style. His portfolio is filled with everything from modern, classic, traditional, oriental and beyond.

 

Alberto appreciates a challenge which led him to taking on more unique spaces such as private yachts and jets. Regardless of the style, Alberto thoughtfully approaches every surface and every detail with his refined eye. His creations are filled with customized elements; upholstered walls, custom designed broadloom, architectural features and stunning artwork.


Mr. Pinto graduated from 'Ecole de Louvre' in Paris and opened a photography agency in New York specializing in decoration and interior design. It was during this time he developed his passion for interactions within a space. He was also influenced by the travels his career brought him - Mexico, India, and Italy among others. His firm now employs 60 people full-time and has become a media darling, with projects attracting the likes of Elle Décor, Interiors, Architectural Digest, H&G, Veranda magazines, Altitudes (jet magazine), Boat Design to name a few.


I'm very excited to get Alberto's opinion on the world of design, this will be our first interview with someone from France so I am sure it will bring a whole new perspective to our 'in conversation with' series. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

 

Alberto PintoThe turning point in my career took place rather by accident when I was based both in New York and Paris. During this intense working period, I was asked to do interior design for a very prestigious New York socialite. Calls for consultations and design work came so thick and fast that I decided to start this new business and form a new base in Paris.

 

imageInterior Design by Alberto Pinto


Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique in the interior design world; creating a strong, extremely well recognized and beautiful signature style - In this same manner however, your style keeps evolving - How or where do you find your inspiration?


Alberto Pinto – Very young my principal interest was travelling and I have always been curious by nature. I was inspired; eyes wide open, and captured these images like photographs in my mind. All this, plus a bit of Art culture at the « Ecole du Louvre » mixed together with my personality and perception of things makes my signature style. My style keeps evolving because I keep up to date with the times and I always move forward with a great curiosity and an open mind.

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade – What is the story behind your design studio at the Hôtel de la Victoire?

 

Alberto Pinto - We were a team that had grown in need of space when the opportunity arouse to move our office to this beautiful formal private mansion from the 17th century – where apparently Bonaparte spent a night – It was a succession of large spaces which was perfect for the creation of friendly workspaces. We immediately felt the potential to create large open spaces with high ceilings, ideal for setting up offices in a spirit of loft, very open, helpful to work team.

 

In 2011 we are also taking over an extra 1500 m² to allow the agency to accommodate new teams specialized in hotels, to expand our design studio and where we can receive our suppliers to work with them.

 

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Hôtel de la Victoire – Design Studio

 

Iván Meade - What is the inspiration behind your Arts de la Table, Table Linens and Furniture designs?


Alberto Pinto - I have loved Arts de la Table since my childhood and for me it is a hobby. The idea is to always have something refined whether for two or twenty guests, for a familial or a formal lunch or diner. I have neither specific inspiration, nor great theories it comes to me like it comes. I like strong pieces I mixed by color scheme or by contrary following my inspiration and always in a quick way.

 

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Etna Lamp by Alberto Pinto

 

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Recife by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade – You have in my opinion one of the best and most complete portfolios in the word of interior design – Including Castles, Residences, Villas, Hotels, Offices, Yachts and even Private Jets. Which of these was your favourite type of project and why?

 

Alberto Pinto - I am extremely lucky to be in charge of all these projects where there is always a common theme in the knowhow and in the great sense of quality. Every one of these project had something particular which made it interesting. It is impossible to tell you which one I prefer because the place is as important as the client. The good combination of both is ideal.

 

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Boeing 737 BBJ Privé by Alberto Pinto

 

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Yacht Privé by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade – What is the best advice you could give to somebody who is new in the world of design?

 

Alberto Pinto - To keep their eyes wide open, to try to photograph mentally the maximum of images and to keep also in mind to learn something new every day.

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade – How will you describe the value of design?

 

Alberto Pinto – Eclecticism

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade - What is your guilty pleasure?

 

Alberto Pinto - We can always do better. 

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade - What is the most practical thing you own and what is the most rare?

 

Alberto Pinto - A 40 year old library collection on decoration and architecture.

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade - What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

 

Alberto Pinto - I am less excited today than during the last decade, but I would say today I find fantastic on one side design is available to everyone even if the quality is not necessarily there and on the other side top quality is more expensive than ever . But I have the feeling design is less interesting today, easier to understand or appreciate.

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade - What is your next design venture?

Alberto Pinto – Two projects very different in style and type of intervention

  • Odeon Tower in Monaco : a very ambitious project : a unique address in Monaco. An exclusive residential offering that combines space and comfort, detail and quality finishes along with breathtaking views and upscale services. Impressive figures (surface area, number of floors).
  • The Parisian “Hôtel Particulier” from the 17th and 18th centuries: very delicate programs of restauration for these historical places. Lambert, Soyecourt, Kinsky.

 

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Hôtel Particulier Paris by Alberto Pinto

 

Iván Meade - Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles. What would you like your legacy to be?


Alberto Pinto – One characteristic aspect of my work is the complete refusal of monotony and boredom of formulaic compositions. I like to juxtapose different shapes and eras.

About colors, I like strong, honest hues and do not hesitate to play with powerful contrast to give my interiors as much energy as possible.

 

Last but not least, the high quality of finishing is made possible because of the privileged partnership with French and European craftsmen and artisans d’art.

 

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Interior Design by Alberto Pinto

 

I invite you to visit Alberto Pinto’s incredible websites at:

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Eye Candy of the Week – Silver Smooth plate

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PRODUCT

Silver Smooth – Center Piece

 

MANUFACTURER

Christofle

 

COLLECTION

Haute Orfèvrerie

 

DESIGNER

Karim Rashid

 

MATERIAL

Christofle Silver - Dorure Partielle

 

DIMENSIONS

  • D. 50 CM
  • H. 7 CM

LIMITED EDITION

20 pieces

 

DESCRIPTION

Christofle’s  new line of Haute Orfèvrerie designed by Canadian designer Karim Rashid is a collection that proves that forward thinking and respect for the use of old materials combined  with cutting-edge techniques like Clivetage (engraved metal), and Dorure Partielle (gold-plating).

 

Either surface of the The Silver Smooth center piece can be used or it can be left empty, as an exquisite Object d’Art.

 

PRICE TAG

$ 26,760.00

 

AVAILABLE AT:

(832) 230-1015
customer.service@christofle.com


YUMMY FACTOR

C’est Magnifique!!!



MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Monday 6 June 2011

IN CONVERSATION WITH JEFF ANDREWS

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Jeff Andrews

 

Jeff Andrews works flawlessly with an amazing balance of rustic, modern and classic elements to create spaces that embrace his client's personality and style. His spaces are warm and comfortable with layers of textures, forms and patterns that create an incredible and completely liveable ambiance.

 

On top of being featured in an endless list of press (including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Better Homes and Gardens to name a few), he has received high praise from A-Listers such as the Kardashian family, Ryan Seacrest and Michael C. Hall, all raving about how well Jeff had interpreted their style and how personable he is. He has worked on projects internationally as well as locally, near his L.A. based firm.

 

Andrews began his career as a dancer, than choreographer and eventually was involved in everything to do with a production, including set-design. This foray piqued his interest and after he decorated his own 1920's duplex, he was hooked on interiors. It is his past as a dancer that influences his primary focus when it comes to designing a space: movement. I think this is a brilliant word for an element of a room. It's that sort of seen but unseen layer that really connects a space. From the path your eye takes while taking in a space, to the physical ability to move, to the life a room takes on, it's all 'movement'. It is Jeff's own philosophy that a room should never really be considered 'finished' or 'complete'; it should be in continual motion, little tweaks here and there when the mood strikes, or subtle updates as time goes on. It should move and live with you.

 

A unique perspective on design indeed, and I cannot wait to learn more about it. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

 

Jeff Andrews - First let me thank you for the amazing introduction! I am beyond flattered.

 

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

 

Jeff Andrews – The idea of “the big picture” has always fascinated and interested me so in that respect design has always been a part of my life. My first professional interior design experience was with my now good friend Eleanor Mondale. She hired me to “style” a recently purchased home and I ended up designing the entire house. It was an a-ha moment for me for sure. Through the process with her, and her encouragement and trust, I found the courage to trust my design sense and aesthetic and pursue it as a career. We have since worked on homes in New York, South Hampton and Minnesota. Not bad for a rookie!

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - Who or what has influenced your style?

 

Jeff Andrews – I have been (and continue to be) influenced by so many things. Amazing master designers like Billy Haines, David Hicks and Andre Putman have definitely inspired me. More contemporary designers like Barbara Barry, Kerry Joyce and Roy McMakin have continued to influence me on different levels. I would have to say that I am most influenced by people of talent and taste that have lived a life of style that we most of us can only dream of and learn from…Yves Saint Laurent, Rudolph Nureyev and Coco Chanel to name a few. It is all about pulling bits that inspire you most and making them your own in design that make it a personally rewarding experience.

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - You have accomplished something very unique in the interior design world; creating a strong, extremely well recognized and beautiful signature style - In this same manner however, your style keeps evolving - How or where do you find your inspiration?

 

Jeff Andrews – Well first of all thank you! that is quite a compliment. I am majorly inspired by life in general. The lives of my clients, their needs and dreams of the perfect home keep me at the top of my problem solving, people pleasing, creative best. I feel that my personal style is a constantly evolving process that is fuelled by approaching each project with new eyes. If you trust yourself, your true creative eye will never let you down.

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - You have had the opportunity to work with many well-known clients such as Kardashian family, Ryan Seacrest and Michael C. Hall; is there anyone that you haven't worked with, but would like to?

 

Jeff Andrews – I have had some amazing clients! Celebrity does not make them better though. The advantage is that people get to see the work. The process is really quite the same in that there is a client/designer trust that has to be developed early in the relationship. The collaborative process has always been a big part of work for me. I think there is some divine path that leads me to the people I am supposed to work with and learn from. I can’t say that there is a particular person I am dying to work with. I love the journey I am on and time will tell….

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - Do you ever get star-struck when meeting these clients for the first time?

 

Jeff Andrews – Not really star struck. Sometimes it is difficult at first to separate the public persona or character from the real person. That fades fast. It is a very personal process when you are working on and in someone’s home. The process and progress quickly becomes the main priority. And as I said before the trust is key.

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - What is the most practical thing you own and what is the most rare?

 

Jeff Andrews – The most practical has to be a tape measure. Proportion is so important to me and at times my most challenging detail. I have worked with a few basketball players and let me tell you that design is a challenge on a completely different level with very tall people! The most rare.

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - Browsing through your portfolio one can see that you have worked in Italy as well. How was your experience working in Europe?

 

Jeff Andrews - Amazing! For furnishing the home we shopped at vintage stores in Milan, London and Rome…I mean what could be better?

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - What are you excited about right now in the world of design?

 

Jeff Andrews – I am excited about the possibilities. The economic restraints have made people more creative and more responsible about design. It is not really about how much money you have but what you do with it. Sometimes with large budgets people get lazy and predictable. I am most excited about what the future will hold for me in design. I have never been more motivated!

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - What does it feel like to be announced as one of Top 20 Young Designers in America by Traditional Home?

 

Jeff Andrews – The fact that you said “young” designers makes me feel amazing! Seriously, to be at the top of any designer list is such an honour for me. Traditional home is a great platform for designers and the new Tradhome is the future of on line design inspiration. It embraces the New Traditional design style that is rooted in tradition yet entirely void of rules and open to interpretation based creativity and lifestyle. I am proud to be a part of it!

 

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Interior Design by Jeff Andrews

 

Iván Meade - Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles, what would you like your legacy to be?

 

Jeff Andrews – Interiors that have movement, a voice and will last the test of time.

 

I invite you to visit Jeff Andrew’s website and social media at:

 

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FACEBOOK - TWITTER



MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011