Wrapping up earlier this month, IDS West presented a slew of events and exhibitors from near and far. Azure was there; here are some of our top picks from this year’s showcase.
1. Christian Woo’s bespoke kitchen incorporated robust, hand-worked materials, including Corian and solid wood, to create a space that will age well and retain a modern feel.
2. Edmonton’s IZM presented Hypnotizm, a narrow seating line to fit into any space, inspired by George Nelson’s Slat bench. Also on hand: the Eyeful coffee table, whose smoked or clear glass top is inset and bevelled to create a perfect seam with the solid trestle frame.
3. From Norway, Solveig Hisdal’s blankets for Oleana weave fine merino wool onto a warp of cotton, and are available in full- and half-sizes.
4. Ladies & Gentlemen Studio of Seattle excels at blurring the line between vintage appeal and modern sensibility. Its Alphabrass line upcycles modules from old lamps, putting them to use in handsome made-to-order side tables, while the stainless steel Superior Servers kick traditional flatware up a notch with a dash of colourful polymer.
5. Iacoli & McAllister’s collection includes the Spica pendant, available in a variety of finishes and configurations, including a version in brass, and another in white wrapped in colourful thread. The Seattle duo also exhibited Canvas, a simple table of powder-coated steel and washed oak.
6. Design collective Grain‘s members are jewellery-makers, printmakers, and furniture and product designers; everything they do has a sculptural quality. Take Spool, sold as a set of custom chipboard connectors and thread spools reclaimed from L.A.’s garment industry; together they can be reconfigured into an endless range of pedestals or partitions.
7. Works incorporating large pieces of solid wood are Brent Comber’s specialty. The Vancouver artist exhibited a massive one-of-a-kind table with a top in distressed metal, supported on one end by a sphere of solid Western Maple.
8. From Designers at Large, Kevin Wharton’s Listen Closely pendant is made using fabric from the iconic “sails” adorning Vancouver’s Canada Place. Limited to a run of only 75, the proceeds will benefit the HomeStart Foundation.
9. Michael Thomas Host and Tanja Hinder of mth woodworks draw their inspiration from British Columbia’s temperate rainforests, embedding salvaged stumps and branches into eco-friendly resin surfaces. For the bloomX collection, birch branches add organic lines to the clean beech frames of coffee and side tables.
10. Vancouver’s Dina Gonzalez Mascaro has created a diverse collection of jewellery, including rings, bracelets and necklaces that feature expressly architectural forms. The Frank Lloyd Wright ring from the “Sorry I’m not an Architect” line displays the understated horizontal slabs found in its namesake’s houses, while Untitled Rubble 1 evokes the kineticism of a constructivist sculpture.
11. At the centre of it all, Tom Dixon’s pop-up bar brought some zest to the showroom floor. Hosted by Inform Interiors, the bar served fluoro cocktail in Dixon’s signature colour, and had some new designs on display, including Step Lights and Fan Chairs.