Hotel Le Germain_VICTOR 5

The permit drawings have been completed and demolition is poised to begin.  Luckily the plate glass survived G20 and is now ready to receive the hoarding paper, which has been designed and is being printed at this very moment!

Haisai

I had the pleasure of having another breathtaking dinner prepared by chef Michael Stadtlander and hosted by his wife Nobuyo, this time at his restaurant Haisai in Singhampton.  The first had been a few years ago at the magical Eigensinn Farm, setting the bar for all meals to follow.

The seasonal tasting menu last night included spring lamb, a divine smoked pork, trout from the Eigensinn pond, suckling pig, trout terrine, oysters, and just-picked asparagus.  Their flavors were enhanced with masterful control (the lobster sauce caused a hush across the dining room) and were served with baby vegetables, mushrooms and herbs picked just hours beforehand, as well as their own breads and a few delicious Ontario wines.  Bliss.

An intriguing component of the Haisai experience is the eccentric dining environment that they have created, with handmade wood furniture, a mad profusion of shells, antlers and illuminated glass bottles embedded in the ceilings and walls, and handmade dishware that no doubt all bear Michael's fingerprints as they frame the ingredients to tell this story about local food and sense of place.  It has a childlike innocence that is completely disarming.  The rustic building was a charming destination after a winding drive from the cottage through hilly farmland and the town of Creemore - a perfect way to leave the city behind and marvel at how beautiful Ontario really is.  We felt as though we were guests at a dinner party conjured up by someone who had somehow found a way to create a complete physical manifestation of a deeply personal inner world, and we were able to share in that wonder. 

The meal spoke volumes about how passion can create something truly exceptional and transcendent, through sheer force of will, talent, and personality.

JF

Lawrence Park House 1

For a beautiful home in Lawrence Park the furnishing selections are coming together.  Pieces being considered include the Fritz Hansen PK22, the Foscarini Twiggy in bone, the e15 stool, a Paola Lenti ottoman, a gorgeous wood wall sculpture, a Platner coffee table and Christophe Delcourte's table lamp.

Hotel Le Germain_VICTOR 4

The VICTOR project is humming along - the final details are being tweaked in the design drawings, the construction crew is in place, and the graphics for the identity, menu and custom wallpaper are in progress.  Can't wait for construction to begin!

Light Boxes

[NUIT BLANCHE, 2008]

We are pleased to be reissuing a limited series of artworks into production for inclusion in a new design project, including the translucent photographs first used in the illuminated bench at the Gladstone Hotel's Canadiana Room 404 (below) and the diptych installation piece exhibited at Nuit Blanche 2008 (above).  These large high-resolution works are printed with translucent inks directly onto thick acrylic and are crisp and luminous even without backlighting. 

[GLADSTONE 'CANADIANA ROOM 404', 2003]

A Great Season

This gorgeous spring has been a whirlwind!  The ongoing designs for the offices, residential projects and VICTOR at Hotel Le Germain are all moving forward quickly.  We have just finished designing a custom wallpaper and new furniture pieces for VICTOR, and can't wait to have them fabricated.  The latest trip to New York has provided a great deal of energy to each project with fresh sources and references.

A personal pre-opening tour of the Thompson Hotel with Judith Tatar was exciting - it is great to see a luxurious new hotel opening in the city with an attuned curatorial eye to the art direction.

A weekend at a gorgeously restored 19th century schoolhouse near Belleville (thank you C + B!!) provided a much needed escape from the city. Their blue clay pond was a cool antidote to the afternoon heat - hello sunburn.  We certainly had a few Hamptons moments.  The golf cart rides through the clover fields to reach the water were quite hilarious.  By the way, 3 clangs of the wine glasses while on the cart means TOO FAST.

Last night's much anticipated launch party of the new showroom for AVENUE ROAD was fantastic - an amazing space, and an abundance of exquisite furnishings.  Toronto's design, art and media community was well represented - and well dressed.  We love Dennis Lin and Scott Eunson's work and it was a pleasure to see them both there.

All in all, it has been a very enjoyable season, with more to come.