Solution of the Week: Suzani Throw

Suzani is an embroidered tribal textile, native to Uzbekistan and other central Asian countries. Traditionally, brides in the region make Suzanis as part of their dowry, as a gift for grooms on their wedding day. The intricacy and beauty of Suzanis have universal appeal, and now Suzanis are being made sans wedding.

Here, SRM converted an authentic Suzani from Indigo Traders into a bed throw. We backed the textile with a reinforcing fabric to protect the integrity of the piece.

Visit our vendor: Indigo Traders

Culture Club: Portland's Iron Chef

Portland’s Iron Chef event was a huge success this year, drawing 480 supporters to the Hilton Ballroom, including half of our staff. The event raised over $290,000 for the Children’s Relief Nursery, an organization that works to prevent child abuse and neglect in Portland.

SRM is proud to call the Children’s Relief Nursery a client, and we take every opportunity we can to support their cause. Our graphics department designed the print materials for the event, and it was great to see their work in action!

Learn more about the Children's Relief Nursery and Portland's Iron Chef at www.crn4kids.org

Behind the Scenes: Pratt & Larson Tour
Recently, our neighbors Pratt & Larson, one of the country’s leading tile manufacturers, hosted a walk-through their studio. On the tour, we got to see how they make their beautiful, handcrafted tile, which we have ordered for many of our clients over the years.

Pratt & Larsen opened in 1980. It now distributes its tile all over the U.S. and Canada and has over 100 employees.

Check Out Pratt & Larson's beautiful tiles at www.prattandlarson.com

Hot and (Not) so Local: Moss Studios

We love our local talent and there is certainly plenty to choose from around here, but please forgive us this week as we give a shout out to Breck Armstrong of Moss Studios in Michigan. These mirrors pictured above are made using old tire molds. The pine frames were given a wax finish and both convex and standard mirrors were set inside to give these industrial pieces a more contemporary look and an interior application. They’re functional and lend dimension to the wall, not to mention, they’re really cool to look at, but all of that aside, we just love how unique they are.

Culture Club: Race For The Roses

Several of our staffers were among the 5,000 participants in this year’s Albertina Kerr Race for the Roses. SRM employees participated in all three events – the 5k, 10k, and even the half-marathon.

The annual race raises awareness for Albertina Kerr, an organization that works to create a community where all people with developmental disabilities can lead rich and fulfilling lives. Here, our team is photographed with our friend Jeanne Farr, Senior VP of Developmental Disabilities Services at Albertina Kerr. We met some incredible people at this event, and can’t wait to participate again next year!

Learn more about the race and the cause at www.albertinakerr.org and www.race4theroses.org

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

Superstar Vendor: Hexafoo

Hello Hexafoo! This great workroom is where we go to have fabrics of all sorts changed into pillows, duvet covers, and draperies to name a few. Corby and her team are incredibly talented and have created many a beautiful furnishing for our clients. Our most recent obsession is the knife-edged pillow. Consider our version a reinvention of the bolster.

Not quite as formal and traditional, this is a great way to create the same horizontal statement in a more casual and contemporary environment. Its clean shape and sharp stitching along with its impressive length make it something to drool over.

Solution of the Week: Creative Reuse

This week, we’re all about creative reuse. Instead of allowing this beautiful leftover granite from a different project just sit in a garage for years, Laura had a different idea. She designed a sofa table to proudly show it off. At six feet long, the frame had to be specially engineered to support the stone tiles which were just a tad on the heavy side. Well after a little talk with professional furniture designer, Gregory Miller and a bit of extra support, the carbon tube steel frame is both incredibly solid as well as sleek enough to display in the family room. Not too shabby Laura.

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

Visit to Steelcase

Recently, Michael was asked to join SmithCFI on a trip to visit Steelcase, a giant international company famous for their office furniture. Seven lucky architects and designers were hand selected and sent, mind you on a private jet (!!!) to Grand Rapids, MI, home of Steelcase. During the visit to the headquarters, Michael participated in strategy sessions to look at current furniture trends in the modern office. Above is Michael, along with one of our favorite people to work with at SmithCFI, Shannon Ferrigno.
Michael was also given a sneak peak at Steelcase's new residential furniture line that should be out next year. We heart these exterior patio chairs.

Behind the Scenes: The Mitchell Wine Group
If you've been to our office before, you may already know that we share the building with a few other companies. But did you know that one of these companies is a wine distributor that houses a large basement filled with European fine wines right below our desks! Last Friday, Mitchell Wine hosted a wonderful party with yummy food and spectacular wine. Valerie, Madeline, and Stacey had a particular taste for the cupcakes.

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

Hot and Local: Karen Friedman
Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! That's the first thought that came to my mind when I saw this oil painting of a Peregrine Falcon by Karen Friedman. It looks so personal, like the falcon is trying to tell me something. Well, apparently, it is. This painting, which was commissioned for a client, is part of a series called "Animals in Controversy". This is a series of grouped paintings, each accompanied by a written narrative. The concept of controversy suggests not only endangerment but also issues of general welfare, human and animal interrelation, and questions of human and organizational responsibility.

For commissions, sales and more samples of her paintings, contact Caplan Art Designs: www.caplanartdesigns.com. For questions on "Animals in Controversy", contact Karen at karenfriedmanstudios
@comcast.net or visit www.karenfriedmanstudios.com.

Superstar Vendor: Castellano Custom Furniture, Inc.

This is a recent project Michael and I finished. The beautiful sofa lounge was fabricated by Castellano, our favorite custom furniture fabricator in town! We love working with them. They can make anything our lovely hearts desire!
The photo to the right is from a visit to their workroom. This custom piece was specially designed for one of our client's. The fabric is by one of Michael's favorite designers, Paul Smith for Maharam. We can't wait to see the finished product!

Solution of the Week: Lighting perspective
I absolutely love this photo! Valerie what are you doing down there?!
In order to get the a more real perspective and distance from the light fixture, Jim, our Cascade Lighting rep, has decided to take the daredevil approach by standing on a table, while Valerie has taken the safer approach by sitting on the floor. Oh, the compromising positions we put ourselves in for our clients and design!

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

Behind the Scenes: Ann Sacks Factory Tour
Recently, Michael, Valerie and I went on a design industry tour of the Ann Sacks tile factory. It's amazing to think that this well known high-end tile manufacturer is in Portland. Oh Portland, you are filled with surprises! The tour was really great and super educational! Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos in the factory, but we could in the showroom! We enjoyed a sneak peek of the new tiles. Gorgeous!

To the right is Cecilia Don, Ann Sack's Portland Showroom Manager, Valerie, and me. Cecilia was very gracious and we learned so much from her! Thank you!

SRM Wins Designer's Choice Award
As we mentioned in our last Details, SRM had the privilege to participate on one of six interior design teams competing at the first-ever Serving Up Style design showcase. The fantasy dining room design event benefited Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus, attracted 5,000 visitors, and brought our team the event's top prize - the Designer's Choice Award!

The Designer's Choice award was the only juried prize at the show chosen by members of Portland's design community, including Randy Gragg, editor of Portland Spaces and Portland Monthly, Bridget Otto of the Oregonian, and Katie McNelis, General Manager of Portland's Crate and Barrel store. Along with our partners from Maison Inc., we caught the judges' eye with our theme "Moor, Please..." a fantasy dining room steeped in the aesthetics of the spice trading routes of the Near East and southern Mediterranean.

If you missed the show, you can still see highlights on Flickr!

Superstar Vendor: Kush Hand-knotted Carpets

Ahhh, Kush...we love Kush! This winsome rug shop is owned by two of our favorite rugmongers, Brian and Rebecca. Not only do we love them and their rugs, we love the service they provide for us and our clients!

Kush brings in rugs from all over the world representing all sorts of styles from modern to tribal to Tibetan to custom. To the right is a gorgeous rug called Hetch by Tamarian. We love how the golden silk creates a warm depth calling attention to the dining room!

Not only does Kush have rugs, they have many gorgeous textiles from all over the world. Check out these patchwork tapestries! They are from Rajastan-- the Northwestern part of India. Each piece is unique and hand-made from colorful sequined and embroidered remnants of saris and ceremonial garments-- the ultimate expression of recycling as art. Kush donates 50% of every sale of South Asian Patchwork Textiles to Progressive Women's Association in Pakistan. The PWA provides shelter, medical care, legal assistance and counseling to women victims of abuse in the region.

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week