Recently Project: Jade a designer in Vancouver called with a rush for a client, since the move in date was very short and could not afford to wait for the concrete counters to be poured and cured, along with a side bar counter and cantilever shelve to be built.
I'm glad Jade called, since this was a perfect opportunity to show case the versatility of Lime Plaster Concrete in this new Vancouver residence.
Kendall Charcoal Concrete was originally created and designed for our custom fireplace surround we install in homes throughout Vancouver. Recently, the design community in Vancouver has caught on to the idea and we have been doing more surfaces horizontal and vertical with it.
I love the look of concrete when used in settings where you don't expect it. Especially since our Lime Plaster Concrete allows for versatility in decorum, since there is no real weight to the overlay compare to poured concrete pieces.
Kendall Charcoal Concrete: It's the most versatile concrete out there!
Ever gone traveling, when upon returning you felt so compelled by your trip you want a little at home. Well that is exactly what my Vancouver West-side clients did after retuning from Morocco. They loved it! And especially loved the Moroccan bath houses (Ham mams), thus they commissioned Distinct to create an authentic Moroccan Tadelakt plaster bathroom, walls, floor, shower and ....(watch the video)
200 hours later and we were complete! Much tacit knowledge was gained, ready for another.... let your clients know! Be Great & Create.
I presume it's okay, to let a 'little of the cat out of the bag'. Since this project has been under the wraps for some time. But that's what happens when your having a fare, not that kind of 'affair', but an Urban Fare, link. For those of you not in the Vancouver area and have not been to one of their 3 locations. Urban Fare, it's upscale grocery store shopping, top notch in every aspect, design, decor, presentation, selection and atmosphere.
I would love to show you our featured commissions in the store, a complete true fresco/buon fresco, there is an "organic flavor" to the fresco, 18' x 36'. We essentially used the same materials as did Michelangelo back in the day. Painting on wet lime plaster with organic colorants, since the lime plaster is still curing/wet the colorants actually bond into the particulate of the lime plaster surface.
We also used olive oil and coconut oil to help with the sealing of the surface. Thus the "organic flavor" of this massive typography fresco mural. It was a very physical piece to create since the sheer size presented a few challenges with set times and dry times, but in the end, a lot of fun to create a true modern fresco/buon fresco.
This site location is also of recent notability, since this area in Vancouver was home the Athletes Village during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The building where this new Urban Fare is located was home of the 'athletes hospital', where millions of dollars worth of medical gear and staff were during the games.
You would never know it now, the whole space was gutted and the interior is really starting to take shape. Unfortunately, I can't show you a picture of the interior (site rules), but the store will be open in early June, so stop in for lunch/shop and take in the latest up & coming neighborhood in Vancouver.
Last Wednesday in Vancouver, I was invited to attend and donate a couple pieces of my wall art to a gala fund raiser for the Canadian Liver foundation.
The theme was "What A Girl Wants." I donated a couple on my wallART Lime Plaster X & O's.
About 150 quests were there for the live auction and dinner event. There were a couple of speakers for the Canadian Liver Foundation, along with the main event, keynote speaker was Rip Esselstyn, Rip is the author of The Engine #2 Diet. Have you heard about this book?! Link
Before I go any further, ever been to an event or dinner where you meet someone that really has the ability to 'hold the room' and you leave to go home, your left with so much information your head is spinning. Well this was one of those nights.
The night started kind of slow and I was thinking of all of the other things I was to be doing... yet the evening built into an incredibly informative session on eating, eating better for your health - way better!
Rips' story is a interesting one, since he is a firefighter from Austin Texas, where his whole fire-hall tried out a plant based diet for 28 days, to see if there was any difference in weight, cholesterol, appearance and over all well being. This came about since one of his fellow firefighter in the hall had a very dangerous cholesterol reading, "he was a walking heart attack".
Remember, this is in Austin Texas, where BBQ is almost a sport. So his challenge was worthy.
The results were outstanding in all areas of metrics, convincing his fire hall to completely convert to a plant based diet.
What is a plant based diet?
According to Rip, "...if it had eyes, ears, a noise, a mother or fins, don't eat it!"
Everything you need for a clean fuel efficient body is found in Fruits, plants, nuts. In his terms, "The only problem with the Western diet is the diet." - it is full of myths and marketing.
Rip was full of insight in all areas of nutrition and the effects of foods on our body. He is not just firefighter, he is encyclopedia of health information, he comes by this naturally, since his father is Caldwell B Esselstyn, Jr., MD(President Clinton's Dr. & chairman of the Cleveland Clinic), whom is the son of the great doctor Caldwell Esselstyn Sr., founder of the Rip Van Winkle Clinic in upstate New York. Thus his upbringing has been surrounded by clinical information which came organically. Rip was a professional triathlete for 7 years, prior to becoming a firefighter. He is also good friends with Lance Armstrong since they were 16, Lance has actually engaged Rip help him with his diet and training for this years Iron man in Hawaii.
"the fast food President" no more!
I'm just about finished the Engine #2 Diet book and have been talking it over with my wife about giving it a try. This is why I decided to write a post about it, since if you don't put something out there, it doesn't happen.
I also can share my experience, since I'm not involved with the book or any of the organization behind Rip's fast growing popularity. Hopefully I can provide some information that can help someone with the same inquiring questions about better energy, sustained energy, feeling leaner, looking better and more importantly feeling better!
Everyone has unique experiences with what they eat, and it is alway interesting to see how it affects different lives, thus I will share my results in the weeks ahead.
I'm in my mid 40's, work in a physical occupation(decorative artist) where sustained energy is necessary throughout the day and spend to much time commuting, more than I would like, thus sitting for longer periods and getting 'road zone' rather than feeling always alert.
Best part if Rips presentation, only one hook?
Eat Plant Strong & live healthier.
No monthly drink subscription, no diet pills or branded foods to pruchase from him. Just his book.
You buy the plants, nuts, fruits where you like and follow the plan.
As he said, "it's your health, the data is out there, now Own it!"
Better health through nutrition, that is prevention.
It just may be, this is our latest commercial commission. We are installing over 500sqf to 600sqf of lime plaster and pure organic pigments to this commercial project opening very soon, May/June here in Vancouver, BC. This install is a complete true fresco/buon fresco, there is an organic flavour to this site...
Once the project is complete, we will share some images of the install, ...of course you can always visit this newly historic commercial location when it's ready business too.
When complete, this could be Canada's largest true fresco... if you know of one bigger please let us know, love to see it!
I have been so busy with work and taking care of business, I have completely for got about blogging. So little time :)
It's been an incredible 6 months of working with Tadelakt for many projects with more to come. Recent completed a bathroom/shower with this incredible plaster. I have spent over 200 hrs installing the Tadelakt in this Vancouver bathroom. There is a very compelling relationship when you work with Tadelakt, since the process of following the Moroccan installation takes T-I-M-E.
Of course operating a business in the Western World presents a paradox since everything we do is measured with time. If your not getting faster, better, more efficient than your not operating a business properly. Welllll, yes but if you adopt this philosophy when building a Tadelakt shower, than you will more than likely have even more stress!
When I'm ready to post more on the install you can see the finished product.
Until then check out the focus and craftsmanship here of a dying trade....
Just finished a project in Burnaby, a complete face lift to 8 year old Mantel that just wasn't working for the clients.
There were a couple of options to get concrete mantels created to fit this custom design, yet proved to be cost prohibitive. Fortunately they discovered Distinct Lime Plaster Mantel's and KCC 2011 to help resolve the design challenge and the expense of a completely custom fit, since this is a corner mantel with an odd mantel cap.
One of perks for this design, the clients wanted a 'complete' install, meaning the mantel was to look as one, no seams or grout lines. Perfect for Lime Plaster Mantels!
Black is a great grounding colour and looks super sharp in this design.
Last week & weekend I was in Toronto for the IDS 12, in Canada this is the largest Interior Design show located right downtown in the convention center on Front St, over 50 000 attendees. It’s very well put together from Thursday’s Opening Night to wrap up Sunday Night, with a good mix of international brands and national firms bringing out their best for the year ahead Interior Designing.
Of course a show of this size it is easy to lose site of the Entrepreneur, but I was able to spot a few. I was fortunate to be ask and have my wallART piece make there national debut, in the juried section called Studio North. Just over 50 artisan based businesses making a little dent in the design community. It was really inspiring to be surround by the variety of artist in Studio North from all over the country.
The surprising part was the really warm reception we all received from most of the retuning designers and general public. I heard several times during the day’s , “This is my favorite section of the whole show, this where the creativity and inspirations is”.
I
concur since I did meet fellow artist's with incredible passion for
creating something original. And that is what it's all about.
The Toronto Star - Feb 3, 2012
Since I am a
West-coast base artist it was exhilarating to share some of what makes
my art just a little different, reclaimed cedar, cedar lathe and a little lime plaster, that is
so common in our designs here today.
Most of my works are commissioned projects, thus if you
have a project requiring a splash of colour, texture and something
distinct. Please do contact me to discuss the possibilities,
brainstorming is half the fun of creativity!
