Flower Power!

Barbara and I recently attended Bouquets to Art at San Francisco’s DeYoung Museum. The event, which was the 27^th annual lasted for five days (March 15-19) and was formerly held at the Legion of Honor.

The event showcases local floral designers and garden clubs interpretations of the museum’s most cherished works using flowers.

Bouquets to Art is organized and produced by the volunteer members of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Auxiliary, and is the largest fundraiser the museums hold for the entire year. The money raised helps fund special acquisitions and educational programs.

Here are some of the photos we snapped while touring the exhibit…

After Diebenkorn...

A Classical interpretation...

After Mark Rothko...

By City College of San Francisco...

Inspired by the upcoming Balenciaga exhibit...

A nude inspiration...

David Hansen

*All photos by Barbara Ashfield and David Hansen for Ashfield Hansen Design inc.

A New Resource From an Old Friend!

Creativity Explored, our wonderful local art program has become like an old friend. My involvement with them has escalated to a position on their Board of Directors, of which I am honored to serve.For those of you who don't know about Creativity Explored, they are a local organization where people with developmental disabilities make, display and sell their art. I was even moved to write a blog post about them back in 2009 here.

In the past few years they have joined forces with the likes of Recchiuti Confections and the retailer CB2 (the off-shoot of Crate & Barrel) to use some of the artists works as powerful images on rugs, pillows and chocolates. This is all done through a licensing program, which has become an essential component of CE's art sales.

Another program which has gained momentum over time is CE's Art Services Program. This program allows clients to commission, rent, exhibit or consult about art from CE artists. This program, although available to anyone has been geared toward design professionals. There has been a significant interest in CE art by designers of commercial interiors, in fact our Board President Amy Eliot of Tom Eliot Fisch discovered CE through working on a project for her firm. My mission has been to bring the message of Creativity Explored's Art Services program to professionals working primarily on residential interiors. To that end, we have organized a reception for designers and architects on February 9th (this coming Wednesday) from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. If your in San Francisco, please come and experience this program first hand. More information can be found here.

David Hansen

Photos from top:

1) Artwork by Diane Scaccalosi in Avalon Mission Bay III lobby. 
Interior Design: Tom Eliot Fisch, Building Architect: Arquitectonica, Photography: Tom Seawell.

2) Lobby at Avalon Bay. Artwork by various artists. Interior Design: Tom Eliot Fisch. Photography: David Wakley.

Bieder-Merry Christmas!

The spirit of Christmas was ever-present in San Francisco last Thursday night when the “Jingle & Mingle” event took place at the Presidio Officers Club, an event known for beautiful and creative wreaths designed by some of San Francisco’s best and brightest creative minds. The premise was simple: Design a non-perishable wreath to be sold to the highestbidder …a la silent auction. The event is sponsored by Children of Shelters, who donate all proceeds to assist the City’s children living in transitional shelters by providing for both their basic and in-depth needs. The organization has been around since 1995, and was founded by Lois Pavlow.

Early sketches on a Starbucks napkin.

The creative process for our wreath started over a cup of coffee and a sample of veneer; a beautiful piece of birds-eye maple. What followed was a lively conversation about the Biedermeier period and restrained classicism. Ultimately, we decided on a starburst design, further reinforcing the idea with the star edged in black. Crowning our star was a very wide vintage stripe ribbon in black and cream from The Ribbonerie. As for the wreath construction itself, Barbara and I knew we didn’t want anything too “out-there” or trendy. After many sketches, we finalized our star, seeking the advice and direction of an expert wood shop. We enlisted the help and support of an old friend, Segale Bros. Wood Products, a local custom cabinet shop with whom I have been designing for years. They were kind enough to keep with the spirit of giving by making the donation of product and labor to further the cause. The wreath was cut out using a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine. The expertly crafted star matched our vision perfectly. It was indeed a Bieder-Merry wreath, evoking in our minds, a classic holiday symbol.

The star shape in the birds eye maple after being cut out on the CNC machine.

The Jingle & Mingle event was beautiful, one to be remembered and to participate in again.

Laying out the vintage ribbon.

Have a Bieder-Merry Christmas!

David Hansen

Top Photo:

The finished wreath on a festive Red door.

All photos by David Hansen for Ashfield Hansen Design Inc.

Build It And They Will Come

I have found my work with the Steering committee for San Francisco’s Dining by Design to be quite rewarding. The two-day event benefits The Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital which provides on-demand treatment to those living with HIV and AIDS.

Our committee is always looking for ways to promote the event, so I was happy to have been able to collaborate with Mr. Robert Van De Weile, the newly appointed showroom manager at Lee Jofa on a table setting in his showroom to promote Dining by Design’s “Table Hop & Taste”.

A special thanks must be given to Christie McRae, one of our event’s co-chairs and the owner of the McRae & Co. showroom and MC2. She provided the china and stemware from her personal collection.

The tablecloth is one that Barbara and I used on our first table at Dining by Design in 2005. The new line of fabrics from Oscar De La Renta was used to accent the table with memo samples as napkins. The setting is finished off with leaves from the Liquid Amber tree in front of my home.

Our hope is that this will inspire ticket sales, and if you are in San Francisco this coming week (Wednesday) please attend this wonderful, creative event for a great cause! Tickets can be purchased here.

David Hansen

Photos by David Hansen for Ashfield Hansen Design Inc.

Chinoiserie Redux

Now that our SF Giants have won the World Series title and the mid-term election is over, let’s re-cap some recent design news…

On Wednesday, October 27th we attended the opening night gala of the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show with this year's theme being Chinoiserie. The venue at Fort Mason has never looked so festive, especially with the entry bedecked in red pagodas and requisite sit and chat tables. Gourmet tidbits abounded with the wait staff offering the ubiquitous glass of bubbly around every corner.

This year’s theme of Chinoiserie was well chosen, and is defined by the Antiques Show web site as “Western art that incorporates or imitates Eastern design elements and techniques”. Using chinoiserie elements has long been a standard for classic interiors and has been gaining in popularity as a more contemporary interest is heightened. There is even a wonderful blog entitled “Chinoiserie Chic”.

This year’s event welcomed the return of many of last year’s exhibitors as well as many new faces. There seemed to be a particularly large presence of art this year with a stronger focus on modern pieces, which made for an interesting mix. Particular favorites among exhibitors were Montgomery Gallery with it’s amazing mix of California paintings, Finnegan Gallery from Chicago showing late 19^th century/early 20^th century garden antiques, arresting in their stark beauty and dark charm. We also enjoyed an informative time conversing with the likes of Peter Pap of Peter Pap Oriental Rugs and Kathleen Taylor of The Lotus Collection, who is considered “the” procurer of antique textiles anywhere. We also spotted an amazing commode by one of our local favorites Therien and Co.

On Saturday we attended the lecture by noted interior design author Adam Lewis who spoke on his latest book, Billy Baldwin The Great American Decorator. Mr. Lewis gave an interesting talk that had us hanging on every word. After the talk we mingled about a bit more, ran into friends, then headed over to Greens restaurant where we enjoyed a rainy afternoon lunch with friends which rounded the week of antiques and Chinoiserie beautifully.

Barbara Ashfield & David Hansen

Photos from Top:

1) SFFAS Entry by David Hansen for Ashfield Hansen Design Inc.

2) 19th Century English bust from Finnegan Gallery in Chicago.

3) 18th Century French Chinoiserie needlepoint valence from Kathleen Taylor- The Lotus Collection.

4) 18th Century German Rococo Commode from Therien & Co.

* All photos used by permission.

Eat Slow For a Good Cause!

I’ve started a new tradition. For the second year in a row I've chosen to be an ambassador for an event here in San Francisco called Dining Out For Life. The concept is simple: Eat at a participating restaurant and 25% of the proceeds are donated to the Stop AIDS Project in San Francisco.

This year I’ve chosen to be an ambassador at Slow Club, which is one of my favorite places to eat in San Francisco. It’s hip, low key and the food is always amazing!

If you happen to be in San Francisco this Thursday, stop in from 6:30 -10:00 pm and help a good cause! If you cant make it, please consider making a donation here.

David Hansen

SF’s DINING BY DESIGN 2009: Two Perspectives

Barbara’s take:
It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since the last Dining By Design. It’s an event that I really enjoy, both as a participant and as a guest.

Patrice Cowan Bevan's table in the McRae showroom.

Given that we most probably would post on this event, David and I made the decision beforehand that we would each look for trends among tables. David, being more of a modernist, and I, more of the traditionalist, surveyed the environs and came up with our own conclusions. My mood was more somber this year and I decided to focus on the overall ambience. Right off the bat, I thought this year’s event was quieter than in the past, perhaps because we as a society have become quieter; more humble, more thoughtful, more grateful for what we have. This is not to say that it was less in pizzazz than years past; truth be told I thought it was a tad more elegant.

The table done by designer GIl Mendez with Murray's Ironworks and Anthem.

There were 30 tables rather than 50, and with that, I felt that I had more emotional space to take in and appreciate each designer’s vision and message. There were enough tables to captivate me but not so many as to suffocate and overwhelm my senses. There was more room to mingle, the hors d’oeuvres were more plentiful, and the crowd more mellow. I actually had enough personal space to engage in conversation with friends and colleagues who had designed tables I admired. Given that, my rave reviews go to Gil Mendez, Patrice Cowan-Bevans, Joel Robare and The Art & Antiques Exchange. Each designer’s table was entirely different, ranging in scope with themes heralded from India to Santa Fe, from merry old England to Indochine.

A simply elegant Asian themed table by Antiques and Art Exchange.

An environment evoking Armistead Maupin's "Tales of The City" designed by Joel Robare with Hartle Media.

In essence, I had a wonderful evening, fully engaged in the design, among friends and colleagues, all of us absorbed in the creativity that we share.

Barbara Ashfield

Pink peonies atop a Circus themed table by the San Francisco Design Center.

Colorful plastic buckets used as lighting in the national table by Kravet.

David’s take:
Our work for Dining by Design this year had been done mostly behind the scenes. We worked closely with the steering committee on producing gift bags worthy of praise and a silent auction which, for the first time would last two nights rather than one. Not having much exposure to the creative side of DBD, when the event was finally upon us, we were able to see all the creativity, drama and exuberance for the first time.

Detail of the table done by Patrice Cowan Bevans in the McRae showroom.

Obviously, the economy has not been as favorable as in years past, resulting in a few less tables; however this did not seem to diminish the quality of the table environments in the least, which I think were stronger than ever. I do think economic factors may have consciously or unconsciously affected many of the table’s themes. This is not a bad thing. I am happy to think that the design industry, and we as a society might be moving back toward a more gracious and formal time where design is not disposable and instantaneous. Having said this, I think two trends which were evident at this year’s event were Restraint and Optimism.

A subdued table done by Jute.

Table detail done by Karmen Ng of Cantilever Design with flowers in PVC pipe.

I noted that at many of the tables there was a return to a simple elegance, rather than relying on “over the top” devices. I read this as restraint, which speaking as a designer isn’t always easy when you are designing for an event like Dining by Design. Many tables traditionally are designed to say ”LOOK AT ME!” These tables exhibited muted rather than vibrant tones and incorporated traditional details which will always be beautiful and chic. Sometimes you don’t need to be knocked over you just want something really beautiful to look at. This is especially apropos considering they are ultimately dining environments.

Urban Picnic by RJF International, The Puccini Group and Evans and Brown Murals and wall coverings.

A study in Fuschia designed by Robert Fung for Hartmann Studios.

Many tables had an amazing and vibrant use of color, which I read as optimism. It’s hard to feel down when you’re looking at a beautiful tableau full of color. I noticed that tones of Fuchsia and Hot Pink were particularly in evidence. I felt these colorful bastions were saying “it’s all going to be all right!”

Gensler's installation which used words to express Dining by Design's cause.

Some optimism came through in the form of empowering words, as in the table by Gensler which celebrated the cause Dining by Design was created for.

David Hansen