KBIS Design Studios | Today's Tomorrows


I am headed to the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, more commonly referred to as KBIS.  It is the trade show of all trade shows for the Kitchen and Bath Industry.
Having worked in the kitchen and bath industry for what seems like forever I still remember the first time I attended KBIS.  I never imagined all those years ago that I would be asked to present one of my designs on the show floor.  

I am one of eight designers, from across the country, invited to participate in KBIS Design StudiosPowered by QueX Technology we will be demonstrating QueX's new concept called the QueX Experimential Showroom.  It is sort of like Today's Tomorrow.....where we are and where we are going...a way to change the engagement of design professionals, their clients and the products they design, specify and sell.
Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Corey Klassen, Carmen Christensen, Andie Day, Lori Gilder, Meredith Heron, Tyler Wisler, Susan Serra

The eight of us were asked to design a space based on our interpretation to meet the generational lifestyle of Baby Boomers, Generation X and the Millennials.  I was given the challenge to create and design an Outdoor Living space based on my interpretation of the Generation X lifestyle.   

We were each given the freedom to design our perspective spaces how we choose, to include our choice of products and materials.  We will each present our design at the KBIS Design Studios, using QueX's advanced technology that will allow us to show how we can interact with our clients in more engaging ways.

Technology is evolving the way we design and how we do business with our clients.  This is a great opportunity to experience first hand a new and exciting way to evolve my business.  How are you evolving?
The presentations will take place at the KBIS Design Studios Space 3352 Friday April 19th and Saturday April 20th.  I am scheduled to present my GenX Outdoor Living space on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ~ See you at the Show!

The Kick Off Event – Beignets and Bubbly
The KBIS Design Studio space will host a Beignets & Bubbly Tweet Up, to introduce the designers and the demonstrations to bloggers and general media on day one of the show.
10:30am-12:00 noon
April 19
KBIS Design Studio Space 3352

“QueX’s patented technology allows designers to create interactive client profiles tailored specifically to the client’s product needs and requests,” says Mark Lenhart, managing partner of QueX, based in Chicago.  “the KBIS Design Studio powered by QueX will enable collaboration among clients, designers, architects, builders, and others to take place in real time allowing for a more productive project management experience. It will also allow designers to see their designs come to life in full scale before they are actually constructed.”
 

My Eye on Design ~ Hanging Chair


This hanging chair caught my eye and I just had to share...a fun, modern, very stylish hanging chair by Spanish designer Alberto Sanchez of MUT design studio & atelier.  What a great place to sit and read a book.  I hope to see it in person when I attend Dwell on Design in L.A. in a few months.
photo credit www.mutdesign.com

Friday Kitchen Find | Easy Open Cabinets


As a designer, a homeowner and a lover of all things kitchen I am always on the lookout for ways to make a kitchen the most efficient and functional space.  Even though everyone uses their kitchen in a way that suits their personal needs, some simple things can make easy work of simple tasks.  Blum's Servo-Drive system does exactly that.  It makes opening and closing of cabinet doors and drawers easy and effortless with a simple light touch.  The silent opening and closing action allows for ease of movement and function.  
Check out this great video and see for yourself... 





















photo credits blum.com

DESIGN | INSPIRATION | NATURE

It is hard not to be inspired by the beauty of nature.  I took this photo because the variation of color in the leaves contrasted against the tree trunks captured my attention.  It is in moments like this that give pause to a day and remind me how blessed I am to have seen it and how excited I am to have captured it so that I can share it with you.  What inspires you? 

(photo credit ~ Carmen Christensen)

Wallpaper Wednesday | Given Campbell


In March 2011, I connected with Given Campbell on twitter, and it was there I discovered that Given is a custom wallpaper designer.  So I, via twitter and email, asked Given if I could do a post about her wallpaper.  She graciously agreed and I did a Wallpaper Wednesday post in March of 2011, about a commemorative wallpaper design she had recently completed --> click here to read


OK, so long story slightly shorter, I recently attended an industry event in Tampa and started a conversation with another attendee, Given Campbell....conversation - "what do you do?" "what do I do?" "are you in the design business?" "I'm a designer" "Oh I am a wallpaper designer" "Nice to meet you, oh hey I have a design blog and I do a wallpaper wednesday piece maybe I could get your card and do a post about you and your company?" "Sure yeah, that would be great" Exchange of cards... blah blah blah....Then the program event began.  I then looked at her business card and all of a sudden...ding ding ding...(conversation in my head...."I think I know this name, it seems familar, let me check, oh hey is this the) I took out my phone did a quick search on my website and there it was, Given Campbell Wallpaper Wednesday Post that I had done in March of 2011.  How cool to finally meet in person, and so funny we didn't put the pieces together right away....when the event presenation ended we were able to speak again, have a good laugh and comment "what a small world". 
I know this a long intro but when there is a story to the story I think it is fun to share.   

And that brings me to my Question and Answer interview with Given to tell you more about who she is and what a really unique and amazing wallpaper company she has...

 Q&A ~ Given Campbell 

How long have you been in business?

"I opened my business Given Campbell in 2005"
 
Who is your typical customer?
 
"Usually I deal with Interior Designers but I do work directly with the homeowner from time to time"

Can you give me a short bio about you, your experience and what
brought you to become a wallpaper designer?

 
"In 1999 I decided to pull up stakes and move to Florida. It was really a spur of the moment decision. I wanted a career as an artist and I didn't think it would happen if I didn't shake things up a bit. I needed a total life reboot. Three months later I was working for The Walt Disney Company. But, as much as I loved Disney, I realized that I wanted and needed something that was totally my own. I felt that if I didn't just go for it, I might never get things off the ground. The timing was more of a gut feeling, so in 2002 I left the company and struck out on my own."


"I realized that wallpaper was making a dramatic comeback and I began exploring the idea of creating my own line of wallpaper. An ardent fan of Interior Design, I fell in love with the creativity and unlimited design options that wallpaper offers, and I quickly became hooked on the idea of designing my own line. There aren’t a lot of books that tell you how to break into the wallpaper business so I just followed my gut and figured it out as I went along."

What do you consider to be your style?

"I don’t really have a name for my style but if I had to choose one, I would call my style Kaleidoscopic. My style is bold and bright and daring but not so out-there that it can’t go in any room in the house. I once heard designer Connie Dirvin describe it as “the night club meets the country club” and I love that. I think it is the perfect description. I also design conceptually, by taking an idea, however abstract, and creating a group of patterns around it that relate to that specific concept. I am always challenging myself to come up with something new and different that has yet to be seen."

"My specialty is custom work, which means exactly what it says. I am always surprised by some companies’ idea of “custom”. They give you 5 things to choose from before they even know what you want and tell you it is custom. I let the client tell me what they want first and then I do it. I hope to create patterns that you never tire of looking at."

What influences your wallpaper designs?

"I am often asked about influences and I find it to be one of the hardest questions to answer. I get inspiration from any and everything. I am inspired by other artists, the sunlight, a drop of dew shimmering on a spider web, a sunrise, travel, food, animals, literature, the planets...the list is endless so it is very difficult to attribute that to any one thing."

I also learned that Given has some pretty impressive accolades since she began her Wallpaper companyShe has been featured in the New York Times, House and Garden Tastemaster and on the Today show.  You might have also seen her work featured in InStyle, Metropolitan Home, Domino, Cottage Living and Spaces.  And if you happen to have a copy of the coffee-table book by renouwned photographer Catherine Ledner, Glamour Dogs your will find one of her prints from her Studio Printworks line, Love American Style.  Not to mention being featured on the Target Club Wedd 2010 catalogGiven has even licensed some of her designs to Studio Printworks, and Astek Wallcovering and she has sold a collection of patterns to worldwide commercial wallpaper giant Wolf Gordon, one of which won the 2007 Best of Year Award for Contract Wallcovering. She is also discussing a deal for additional patterns.  
In addition to this, Given won an award from Microsoft: first place in the search for the best small business in America. Her wallpaper has been used in a project, which recently won the AIA Austin Honor Award for a Scout Island Residence for a new build.  And her client list includes MTV, ABC Television, as well as the Wine Inns chain of pubs and wine shops in Belfast and the UK - not to mention a host of other clients are in Belgium, Germany, and London.





Given Campbell
813.417.5393
Twitter -@givencampbell

I want to personally thank Given for taking the time to share with me and my readers a little about herself and her company.  I am so glad we have connected in real life and I look forward to working with you on some up coming projects!   

wallpaper pictures - photo credit givencampbell.com

DESIGN | INSPIRATION | BEDROOM


As an interior designer, and an artist, I walk thru life and am constantly inspired by what I see.  I find inspiration from objects, buildings and often times nature.  Textural pattern is something that I am drawn too.  This is a picture I took while traveling in North Carolina.  The multiple textures against the sharp contrast from the blue sky and the red barn, combined with the natural movement of the tree and the crisp fresh green of the grass are to me an abundance of inspiration.  I immediately visualize how I can interpret this into design inspiration and how I can apply it to interior design....maybe in a bedroom like this... 


What do you think?