Do You Burgoo?

Randy Orr - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Food for Comfort

It's not everyday that you can say "Our Walls Create Comfort".

Yet, if you dine at Burgoo Bistro, that is what customers say. Of course, we are boasting a little, since the road to a successful restaurant is not only having a fantastic interior, ...it is only one of many key components in running growing a business that is repeatedly building upon it's success - 'food for comfort'.

This is exactly what Burgoo does daily at three of it's locations in Vancouver and soon a new location on West 4th, opening in a couple of weeks.(across from WholeFoods at 4th& Vine)

This is the fourth Burgoo, where Distinct has been commissioned to create and Old World theme to the walls, one of our specialties. All four of the restaurants have Plaster walls, the Main St location and this new location are created in using Tadelakt. One of the unique aspects of this Moroccan Plaster is it traditional origins and rustic appearance. For the 4th Ave. location we created a new finish(Old World in theme) called FarmHouse™ Tadelakt. We actually have coffee grinds in the plaster with other ingredients to help create the true rustic walls.

As I mentioned the owners the other day, I just love the way the restaurant feels, there is no pretentiousness to it, just come as you are, relax and enjoy the warmth.

TeamWork, there is plenty of that on-site, which is refreshing for a change. Not that doesn't occur on other job sites, but the 4 owners, actually all chip in later in their work day to help out where needed. The other trades and GC, love it!

It's a real hands on approach, for 4 gents that don't mind to get there hands dirty!

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" - Steve Jobs

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Via Little Italy in Burnaby

Randy Orr - Thursday, July 14, 2011

Even Grand-mama Loves Lime Plaster Mantels

In one of our recent Mantel projects in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver, we were presented with a 'plain jane' marble surround - it wasn't cutting it for interior of the home, nor for Grand-mama.

But we had the cure, since once I was able to explain the process of how we can re-work the existing surround and build onto it and create a new Mantel with Lime Plaster. Lime Plaster from Italy, ...Grand-mama's home land ....we were in!

We created custom legs, a hearth and used Old World profiles on the Mantel header to give it rustic presence with a little European sophistication. We sourced photos of old mantels and new for inspiration, yet came back to the standard of strong legs and a large Mantel header to help build the presence of this piece.

Custom Works

We like creating the 'new school' in Mantels design, but I think it is important to go back to the Old World roots once and a while.

Ciao!

Coming soon, Clean lines : Tadelakt Back-Splashes

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pompeii & iPad

Randy Orr - Friday, September 24, 2010

What does Fresco and an iPad have in-common?

Plenty apperantly:

Check it out, history is being made with history through the iPad.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/pompeii/

"Pompeii is a partly buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD. The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,600 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1599. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.^[1]

Fresco
The large number of well-preserved frescoes throw a great light on everyday life and have been a major advance in art history of the ancient world, with the innovation of the Pompeian Styles (First/Second/Third Style). Some aspects of the culture were distinctly erotic, including phallic worship. A large collection of erotic votive objects and frescoes were found at Pompeii. Many were removed and kept until recently in a secret collection at the University of Naples." - source Wikipedia

Apple
If you don't have an iPad, not to worry, only once you have one, you realize you need one!
Strange but true.

Share |

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Let's Get Physical

Randy Orr - Friday, September 17, 2010

Let's Get Physical! "Let me hear your body talk . . ." Olivia Newton-John

Do you remember that song, if you do, then you are product of the 80's and remember some really bad videos. But hey, that is what makes memories of the 80's great... we survived & MTV was born.
Ok, I realize that is a little different for an intro heading, yet it's the only thought that keeps coming to my mind as I try to describe our most recent feature wall project. It was very Physical to create, "no pain, no gain"!

Feature Wall
It's a display suite for a local developer.

'Necessity is the Mother of all Creation'
The challenge for this wall was to have the plaster thick enough to carve while wet, yet not heavy or it would fall of the wall! Hmm, well that is when I began testing a variety of additives to thicken the plaster to help it set to a certain state, before it becomes impossible to work with, to hard. Vuala! I found something to allow this to occur, ...wasn't easy discovery especially on the hottest days of the summer, but it seemed to work out really well.

The Finished Product

The Original Reference from the Designer

You design it. Spec it. And we create it.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Old School

Randy Orr - Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Lime Plaster is more than...

Share |

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Plaster Vacation in Mazatlan Mexico

Randy Orr - Friday, May 14, 2010

HOLA 1 Day to GO

Yesterday, we took a bus into town to do some shopping, along the way we came across some interesting exteriors with plenty of worn character from sea air, sun, wear and tear. I also included a picture of a new interior lobby, since the same process is still in place today, cement stucco + paint = decorate.

Share |

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Plaster Vacation in Mazatlan Mexico

Randy Orr - Thursday, May 13, 2010

Buonas Tardes Day 6

HOLA!

As per any vacation, they go by way to f a s t.
There is still some great sun to had - as AC & LP enjoy some, even my kids wanted to play with them.

Walking on beach today came across a great example of a traditional Mexican Plaster Wall. At the core of this facade is brick with mortars and re-bar. Then multiple coats of concrete stucco applied to the exterior of the wall and painted terracotta. Weathering perfectly by the pacific ocean... mother nature, the ultimate 'Old World' artist.

Share |

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Plaster Vacation in Mazatlan Mexico

Randy Orr - Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Feeling at Home in Mexico

Buonas Tardes, after a couple of days by the pool LI (Lime Plaster) and AC (American Clay) are enjoying the new surroundings. Since they have Mexican cousins here in this resort. The entire Hotel's exterior and interior is completely finished with stucco. A typical architectural finish down in this hot and humid climate. The tradition here in Mexico is to use cement based stucco's and paint the surface for completed 'look'.

Share |

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Buildex 2010

Randy Orr - Monday, April 26, 2010

It was worth the wait!

After months of anticipation the Trade show of the design year arrived.
Well run, well staffed and a FANTASTIC venue (Vancouver Convention Center/Olympic Media Center)to launch Organic Lime Plaster Mantles