FAVORITE SOURCES: LUTYENS FURNITURE & LIGHTING

Dining set Paul Wiseman chose for his own home in Belvedere, recently featured in the monthly newsletter of Lutyens Furniture & Lighting

Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) had a prolific career as an architect. He is responsible for the design of numerous English country houses, fine commercial buildings, and monuments. Testament to his talents as an architect, Lutyens was tapped to design and build (circa 1911-1927) a section of the city of Delhi, eventually known as New Delhi, which would later serve as the seat of the Government of India. The jewel in the crown of his career is the Viceroy's House, the architectural centerpiece of New Delhi.

Perspective view of the south elevation of the Viceroy's House (now known as Rashtrapati Bhavan), New Delhi, India  Photo: The Wolfsonian

In his early professional life Lutyens was influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement in England. He later produced designs with classical elements, but his time spent in India clearly had a profound influence on what evolved as his own, very distinctive style.

Lutyens garden bench with Indian design influence in evidence

Lutyens was an excellent designer of fine interior furniture which he produced in small quantities. Apparently few of the interiors he created survive intact and many pieces of his original furniture have been lost. Thankfully for those who appreciate fine design and craftsmanship, Candia Lutyens and her husband, architect Paul Peterson, formed Lutyens Furniture & Lighting with the specific aim of promoting the work of her grandfather. Since 1988 the company has been making high quality reproductions available to the trade. LFL also adapts original designs and conceives new pieces which apply the Lutyens design aesthetic and are suitable for 21st Century living. All the company's products are handmade to order.

Circleback chair

The Wiseman Group recently completed an extensive residential project in Hawaii using Lutyens-inspired designs fabricated by LFL. Numerous custom pieces made of walnut grace the home's interior while teak interpretations of Lutyens' iconic designs elegantly furnish the outdoor living spaces. If one is familiar with the history of the Hawaiian Islands, the use of Lutyens furniture contributes to the "suchness" of this home's lovely atmosphere. Given that the Hawaiian Islands were once the British Sandwich Islands gives historical authenticity to TWG's use of Lutyens' colonial designs.

New Delhi occasional table

OUT AND ABOUT: GERAS TOUSIGNANT GALLERY

"Vortex 48" Oil, graphite powder , mineral spirits Painting size 2.5” x 2.5” Frame size 6” x 6”

James Hunter, Design Principal, recently attended a reception for artist Monika Steiner at Geras Tousignant Gallery in San Francisco. The gallery primarily features the work of photographer James Scott Geras and painter Daniel Tousignant, but in addition to their revolving show of contemporary works, the gallery features one artist or group approximately every six weeks.

James Hunter, Design Principal at The Wiseman Group,  with artist Monika Steiner and gallery owner and photographer James Scott Geras (R)

Monika Steiner's featured show of new works will run through August 4, 2013. This new series of small paintings references the energy of a swirling vortex. According to Steiner, "The innate properties of mineral spirits, oil paint and graphite interact to produce unexpected visual effects that take on a life of their own. I was intrigued by the process of binding together the unexpected and unique areas with washes of paint and graphite drawings. The colors and layers are subtle yet powerful like the energies that can be felt within a Vortex."

James couldn't resist four of Moinika's new works, now hanging in his SF apartment

Born in Switzerland, Monika Steiner currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where she received her BFA degree from Sonoma State University in 2005. Since then she has had twenty solo shows and over thirty group exhibitions in the US and abroad. She has lectured at Stanford University’s TEDx conference as well as Sonoma State University and in 2010 she held an artist residency in Greece. Her work is also part of a dozen notable collections such as the Trump and Marriot Hotels and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

"Vortex 34" Oil, graphite powder , mineral spirits Painting size 2.5” x 2.5” Frame size 6” x 6”

FIELD TRIP: ROBERT OGATA AND DAL HENDERSON STUDIOS

Robert Ogata painting hangs in an SF apartment designed by The Wiseman Group Architectural Digest (April 2010) Photo - Matthew Millman

Kevin Peters, CEO and CFO of The Wiseman Group, was recently in Fresno, California. Kevin's sister, Valerie Chase, was in town on business, and Kirsten Honeyman, TWG : Design Journal blog writer, was having a garden party. Two good reasons to venture into the Central Valley!

Kevin Peters, CEO and CFO of The Wiseman Group, and Valerie Chase listen to Robert Ogata discuss his art Photos - Kirsten Honeyman

Kirsten arranged visits to two local artists' studios to help her out-of-town guests get a feel for the cultural landscape.  First stop was Robert Ogata's studio in downtown Fresno. Kevin already had some familiarity with Robert's work as there is a piece hanging in a San Francisco apartment designed by TWG. Robert's work has been available in the Bay Area at both Chandler Gallery and SFMOMA's Artists Gallery.

The group captivated by Robert sharing his ideas

The studio is housed in a vintage brick building previously used as a bus barn. The interior is quite spacious, and Robert has created a pristine, peaceful setting in which to do his art.

Fred Hunter of Dreamscape Santa Barbara and Kevin with Robert

Robert graciously explained his approach to his work, his creative process in doing his painting series, and his artistic methods. It was a delight to listen to his sophisticated discussion of the importance of following one's vision and staying true to oneself, especially in our present world of stimulus overload. He is a natural educator and an inspiration.

Robert in front of some of his newer pieces tagged to head up to SFMOMA's Artist's Gallery

Though he is 79 years of age, Robert is a prolific artist and still works five-and-a-half days a week. As a result his studio is a treasure trove of amazing works. Ready to buy a piece? Good luck narrowing it down to the one thing you want!

"Draw Partner" -- a work on paper in the dining area of Dal Henderson's home

After a nice mediterranean lunch at Meze House in the Tower District, the group headed to Dal Henderson's residence in Old Fig Garden. Dal and his wife Suzanne toured everyone around their studio/gallery/art camp home. Suzanne is a children's art teacher and runs summer art camps in their back yard. Dal is multi-talented, able to do both fine art and custom construction. As a result, they live in a jewel-box house of colorful artwork and creative design.

Praying mantis sketched in chalk on the door of the bathroom used by summer camp kids

"Specks", an acrylic piece reverse-painted on plexiglass, lighting up the master bedroom

Spencer Honeyman of ReVive Holistic Design Collective under a large acrylic entitled "62"

Kevin in the guest room next to one of Dal's large acrylics, "Flap"

Dal talked at length about his approach to his art and his unwillingness to be constrained by conventional ideas about what art is. For example, he has a series of works on paper which are digital prints created with PhotoShop. He views the computer as a legitimate art tool and sees working with it as part of the historical progression from the use of pigment, to oil paint, to acrylic, to digital color.

Dal explaining his use of the computer to make colorful works on paper

Among Dal's paintings and three-dimentional pieces, many in the group were drawn to his renditions of a simple cardboard box. Dal chose to work with the box image as a familiar cross-cultural motif. The various representations play with the notion of convention and constraint on the one hand and "thinking outside the box" on the other. He has created paintings of boxes, has cast small cardboard boxes in bronze, and uses the box motif in several of his prints. Dal will be showing at the 1821 Gallery in Fresno for the months of October and November.

"Red Flap" --  work on paper

"New Box" -- cast bronze

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OUT AND ABOUT: ATELIER VIERKANT

Photo - Atelier Vierkant

The Wiseman Group is excited to welcome a new vendor to the neighborhood. Atelier Vierkant has been a favorite TWG source for artful ceramic pots used in both outdoor landscaping and interior design. The company's pots are substantial in weight and scale and manage to be both organic and highly sophisticated at the same time. Each handmade piece is uniquely beautiful.

The company's workshop in Beernem, Belgium Photo - Atelier Vierkant

Until recently, TWG had been ordering the Belgian-made containers directly from the studio near Bruges. Clients can now see a selection of styles and finishes in the showroom at 111 Rhode Island Street in the San Francisco Design Center. Customization is available. Minimum orders are no longer necessary as shipping will be consolidated with regular deliveries to California.

The timing could not be more perfect: TWG is ready to place an order with Atelier Vierkant for a lovely home in Hillsborough. The landscape architect for that project is Todd Cole of Strata Landscape Architecture, the design center neighbor to Atelier Vierkant.

James Hunter of TWG attends the opening of Atelier Vierkant's showroom in SF

James attended the showroom opening and was pleased to meet H.R.H. Prince Philip of Belgium, who was in California to promote Belgian design companies on the West Coast. A VIP reception was held for design industry leaders, and TWG was well represented. The Princes' entourage included the Belgian Ambassodor to the United States and his private security.

H.R.H. Prince Phillipe of Belgium (R) speaks with guests at the SF opening Photo - California Home + Design

Photo - Atelier Vierkant

FAVORITE SOURCES: P.E. GUERIN

Paul inspecting the first casting of a client's custom hardware at P E Guerin

When it comes to luxury hardware and fittings, it's hard to imagine a resource more wonderful than P.E. Guerin in New York. Started in 1857 by French immigrant Pierre Emmanuel Guerin, the company is the oldest decorative hardware firm in the United States. It has been in its original four-story factory and foundry in Greenwich Village since 1892. Four generations later, the company remains a family business, now owned and directed by Pierre Emmanuel’s great grandnephew, Andrew F. Ward.

Paul in P E Guerin's NYC factory

Over the 156 years since they opened their doors, demand for P. E. Guerin's superb craftsmanship has grown, resulting in an expansion of production to Europe.  In addition to having the only metal foundry in NYC,  the company has opened foundries in Valencia, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal.  P. E. Guerin can be visited at six showrooms across the U.S.  

Custom faucets fabricated by P E Guerin for a client's powder room