hands over your eyes, recalling your size 
is it the right time for the game we play 
in all kinds of weather if not now 
not ever this is the right time for a holiday. 

Happy two-thousand and fourteen. Cherish the important things in life: dear friends, family, loved ones, and health.  This was a year when I thought for a moment I would lose someone very important to me, and I am ecstatic to report it was not the case.  The moment I heard, it felt as if someone had turned on the faucet inside my stomach, and water poured out.  Tonight, I remember the moments of silence, and the moments of music of the past year. I remember the sight of the early morning light (as I found myself awaking at dawn more often), and the gentle escape into darkness. Thank you for this journey that we are on together, and for those that casually reach out. Onwards into fourteen.- David John 

above lyrics by beach house

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Memoryhouse.  "It com­pletely is. For me, music is a branch of story telling. It’s writ­ing, and I think that the grammar—the way a thing inter­acts and the dynamic of a piece and of a record, or even indi­vid­ual pieces— is incred­i­bly impor­tant, and the way that things butt up against one another and con­text and mean­ing can be cre­ated. 

When peo­ple are talk­ing about a piece of music, they’re really talk­ing about them­selves, they’re really talk­ing about how it con­nects to them and what it makes them feel. I don’t like the idea of music being like a lec­ture, I want it to be more like a conversation."  - an interview with composer Max Richter

Entering into a year of unknown conversations. 2014.

1.Untitled 2011. Oscar Murillo’s large-scale paintings imply action, performance, and chaos, but are in fact methodically composed of rough-hewn, stitched canvases that often incorporate fragments of text as well as studio debris such as dirt and dust. His paintings, video works, and performances are tied to a notion of community stemming from the artist’s cross-cultural ties to London, where he currently lives and works, and Colombia, where he was born in 1986. - via David Zwirner

2. A bedroom, source unknown. Wall color unknown.  Floorboards original. Painting unknown. Furniture by owner.

3. The music playing for the last couple weeks. "Memoryhouse" by Max Richter

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Lighting by Nicole Hollis  

"The brass sconces are inspired by traditional candle fixtures often found in old farmhouses. The lines are simplified and honed to reveal their modern essence. The brass bell pendants take their inspiration from the cow bells used on prized livestock, then given contemporary scale and sexy leather trim." - Nicole Hollis

Nicole Hollis interior design studio recently sent some images of a few custom lights she completed for a restaurant in Northern California.  These forms a reduced to pure classic geometry, a meditation on the capability of light.  The custom lights were a collaboration with Phoenix Day, a family owned business in San Francisco creating hand-crafted lighting fixtures for interior designers.  Phoenix Day is the 6th oldest operating business in San Francisco!  - David John


"This lighting was designed for the restaurant Farmer + Fox at the new Cairdean Vineyards in St Helena, California, opening later this spring. For the winery, located in the heart of wine country, I worked with a lexicon of rural and agricultural motifs. The brass sconces are inspired by traditional candle fixtures often found in old farmhouses.

The lines are simplified and honed to reveal their modern essence. The brass bell pendants take their inspiration from the cow bells used on prized livestock, then given contemporary scale and sexy leather trim. Cow bells also serve as beacons for the animals so it made sense that these lights would add warmth and welcome to the restaurant. The design references an agriculture lifestyle while at the same time creating a refined and glamorous interior. "

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 DISC Interiors on Domaine Home : Home Tour: Hand-Crafted Modern in LA  
"A trio of like-minded designer friends combine forces 
to bring out the best in this LA-area Spanish Revival.

One of our projects was featured on Domaine Home this month! Take the full tour of the Los Feliz Residence, and read about how we collaborated on the design with Glenn Lawson.

"Lawson-Fenning, a pair of carefully curated showrooms showcasing both original and vintage furniture as well as global finds, is a design destination for tastemakers. So when Glen Lawson, co-founder of the line and a furniture designer himself, needed assistance renovating his own abode, he turned to friends David John and Krista Schrock of DISC Interiors." -Domaine

Read full article here...

Read full article here...

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"Never having read about (Agnes) Martin’s work prior, her paintings shattered my thoughts of what a painting needed to do, and introduced me to the idea of what art could do."

DISC Interiors is featured on Design Milk talking about what inspires our work. 
Read the full article here.


"It was at a show nearly 20 years ago, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, that I first discovered the paintings of Agnes Martin. The show, called “Negotiating Rapture: The Power of Art to Transform Lives,” included works by Joseph Beuys, James Lee Byars, and Lucio Fontana. Never having read about Martin’s work prior, her paintings shattered my thoughts of what a painting needed to do, and introduced me to the idea of what art could do. There is a great line in one of her early letters, she says, "I have only one worry in the world! It is that my paintings will show downtown and fail there. They will fail because they are non-aggressive – they are not even outgoing – in a competitive environment, with big displays of aggressive artwork.” Her work is a testament that quieter works do have an impact. I’ve continued to be captivated by the way her works celebrate light and space, and the strange calm I feel just gazing into her ethereal grids and painted boxes. "– David John



DISC Interiors: The dynamic duo behind DISC Interiors is Krista Schrock and David John, a Los Angeles-based pair that offers clients full service interior design. Established in 2011, the firm quickly gained a reputation for warm, modern spaces, while exuding that effortless California feel. The combined synergy brought forth from their diverse backgrounds and working with various artisans, furniture and textile designers, equals the perfect combination of eclectic modernity. For this week’s Friday Five, the twosome shares their motley mix of inspirations.

More on Design Milk here..

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First rays of light are coming through 
Been several months since I saw that much blue 
Water a-rushing in the banks Freed from the ice it has the...  

We've got the sun, the sun to thank... 
Matches inside your golden hair 
Catch all the light I'd fight to the death I swear (listen.....)

A beautiful lamp arrived via an email this week. It reminded me of the winter sun, and later in the day, a phone call with a friend reminded me of my roots in Ohio. A congratulations is long overdue. I'll see you soon! Take a deep breath, look into the sun, and rejoice! It's all beginning. - David John


"Vilt aan Zee tries to produce the lamps as sustainable and social as possible. Besides the use of ecological materials they will start in 2014 with their own garden to grow plants to use for dying the wool. There are also plans for keeping some sheep with a shepherd nearby so they can use the wool to make the felt products. People who are not able to participate in a normal working environment can come and help at the atelier, in the garden and for example dye and comb the wool.  In the nearby future the customer knows exactly from which sheep we used the wool, by what plant the wool has been dyed and which person made his or her lamp."

more info here.
lyrics by Laura Veirs" Sun Song"

A look into the upcoming book "Inspiring Interiors" 
by Piet Swimberghe and Jan Verlinde, published by Lannoo

"The creation of this house was a good exercise for me," says architect Nathalie Vervenne. "Here nothing is smooth or even, but everything is a little rough and hence decidedly rural..."  

"Inspiring Interiors depicts European interiors of collectors, 

antique dealers, designers, and architects."

 "Inspiring Interiors is a compendium of the most inspirational, astonishing and personal interiors found by authors Piet Swimberghe and Jan Verlinde. The authors of Living Rooms, Interiors Country & City and Quiet Living have certainly seen their fair share of interiors, having traveled around Europe in search of unique and innovative examples, and are therefore excellently placed to choose among the very best for this stunning volume. Their choices are eclectic: contemporary, country style, artistic - each one illustrated with beautiful photographs. Art historian Piet Swimberghe and photographer Jan Verlinde work for numerous magazines such as Elle Living, Coté Ouest, MTC and Weekend Knack. They have produced books on architecture, design and interiors and written many articles for European interior magazines."

more info here...

Thank you to Lannoo for the peak inside the upcoming book.....
All photography credited to: Inspiring Interiors. Lannoo Publishers. 2013. ISBN 9789401409858 



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DISC Interiors in House and Home Magazine
January 2014 "The Midas Touch" 

We are so thrilled to be included in the January Edition of House and Home Magazine, with so many amazing interior designers. Our master bathroom from our Los Feliz project is featured, noting our mixture of brass, marble, and white oak. Three timeless materials.  Thanks House and Home! - David John

Take a look at this project here on the DISC Interiors site.

More here...

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Tàpies in the 1960s - Scars of the Real @ Axel Vervoordt Gallery

I liked to imagine artistic activity being a task as intense as possible, 
in the service of knowledge, influencing our life, 
making us see the falsity of what surrounds us, 
and permitting us to accept authentic reality. -Antoni Tàpies 

It is a beautiful accident how works (books, music, paintings, sculptures, and even conversations with strangers) seem to find you when you need them the most. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.  And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” ― Albert Camus, The Stranger.  Axel's work, and his gallery continues investigating the soul, the artist, in a way that very few are able to achieve. A chance to learn, or to remember, it's all the same when we return to the source. - David John


"Tàpies. A Catalan name derived from the word tàpia, meaning wall. Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies (Barcelona, 1923-2012) could not have been born with a name that suited him any better. Growing up during the Spanish Civil War under the Franco regime, Tàpies has always been surrounded by walls on which people inscribed their fears and doubts, their desires and frustrations. The walls of Tàpies’ youth bore witness to the horrors of the inhuman turn Spain and the entire world was taking at that time. They were charged with emotions, marked by violence, grief and by the desperate longing for another world.

"Tàpies’ works are eruptions of the Real that are silenced in a condensed, material message. When he makes a painting, Tàpies engages in a respectful, yet sometimes violent dialogue with the pure nature of matter. He lets his unconscious take over and creates the work in a permanent, open exchange with the true qualities of the rough and humble materials he is working with, without imposing any lies on them. For Tàpies, making a painting means diving into matter and going on a journey into its deepest, darkest and most obscure recesses. The critical moment when he feels that the essence of matter converges with the essence of his own being, is experienced by the artist as a mystic touching of the Real and results in a creative act. His paintings thus bare the traces of the impact of an encounter with the Real, in all its beauty and cruelty." 

text taken from here.

 Axel Vervoordt Gallery 
Vlaeykensgang - Oude Koornmarkt 16 2000 Antwerp Belgium tel +32-477 88 80 60 info@axelvervoordtgallery.com Gallery: Open Wed-Sat: 14:00-18:00 or by appointment

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Editions @ Christopher Farr

"To some extent I follow my hand. 
Though I have a general idea where it may lead to." - Albers

Maybe you'd write me a letter 
And tell me why I never met you 
Our rendezvous just ended in sorrow 
Without you there's no tomorrow" - Mr. Disco, New Order

Editions from good friends at Christopher Farr. 
Read a previous interview with Christopher Farr here.
More info on Editions here.

"I find any self definition limiting so no I'm not a colorist as such. I try to stay as open as possible when I'm drawing as if I'm a kid playing with a cardboard box." - Christopher Farr

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William Stevens Bridge, North Carolina

"The best thing a human can do in life is to get rid of his separateness or selfness and hand himself over to the nature of things—to this mysterious thing called the Universal Order, that any artist must sense...In human nature we are consciously trying to achieve an order. And we are distressed by it, by the task of patterning it on an Order that is not personal or human—that is what I call spiritual." - Will Stevens

photos by David John

While driving through the mountains of Western North Carolina last week, I discovered this incredible modernist bridge structure that lead to a pottery store.  On the front of the bridge, a large sign read, Will Henry Stevens Bridge. The sun's afternoon intensity cast incredible geometric shadows on the interior of the bridge floor.  The bridge was originally built in 1807 in New Hampshire, and then later brought to North Carolina where it was restored.  This bridge has no metal supports, and is a testament to craft, natural materials, and vision. Named after Will Henry Stevens, a modernist painter and naturalist, who was influenced by the works of  Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman. - David John

 

If he tells me all he knows 'bout the way his river flows
And all night shows 
In summertime. 

Gonna see the river man 
Gonna tell him all I can 'bout the ban 
On feeling free.- Nick Drake

now listening to, Recondite here.

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A conversation with Edition Modern : Pierre Chareau

.....
"Pierre Chareau followed his idea of strict lines and pure design from his architectural knowledge to design his lamps & furniture, as well as using the material that was involved in the structure."  - Denis de la Mesiere of Edition Modern

"NO house in France better reflects the magical promise of 20th-century architecture 

than the Maison de Verre." - Nicolai Ouroussoff, New York Times (here)

"NUN table lamp with the black base"
 photos by David John

Maison de Verre is a place I've heard many reference, but honestly I've very little knowledge about the 20th century designer, Pierre Chareau, or the modernist home he created for the Dalsace family in the early 30's.  Last summer, on a chance meeting, I ended up having a discussion with Maryanne, who works with Edition Modern, a L.A. company producing re-edition works of iconic French designer Pierre Chareau.  I immediately asked her if I could pay the studio a visit.  After many emails and weeks later, we made arrangements to meet in the fashion district of downtown on the 3rd floor of an industrial building. She introduced me to Denis de la Mesiere, the owner and creative force behind the company.  His desk was surrounded by dusty paintings, towering sculptures from other eras, and lamps in different stages of completion. We spoke for a couple hours about why he decided to start producing the Chareau lamps, the production methods, the difficulties of working with alabaster, and his personal history as a furniture dealer.

Pierre Chareau is known for creating theParisian avant-garde home, Maison de Verre, aka the House of Glass, out of industrial materials, towering glass blocks and genius mechanisms.  It was, and still is an exercise in light, shadow, function, and a new approach to living.  Edition Modern's lamps are created in downtown L.A. by different skilled artisans in the style of Pierre Chareau.  Utilizing the unforgiving material of steel and wood, and combining it with ephemeral alabaster stone creates a sense of unparalleled energy when illuminated.  The collection consists of wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, and ceiling mounted lighting.  Works from the collection can be customized, whether in scale, or colors, or wood selection. Currently, Edition Modern's lighting can be seen at Alexandre Ferucci's new space on Beverly and Martel, and J.F. Chen houses some of the works at his Highland location.  

Into the gentle light, and deeper into the shadows, my friends! 
Thanks again you Denis and Maryanne for the coffee and conversation.  - David John 

 

 The "Potence Table Lamp"

Tell me about Edition Modern and the re- editions of Pierre Chareau lighting? When and how did the company begin?  

Denis: It began 12 years ago when I decided to open a showroom on Beverly Blvd, and I began representing French furniture brand like Hugues Chevalier, and other brands inspired by the Deco period. When we opened the showroom, we quickly realized that we would need accessories, but also more specialty lighting. So, we started to browse in Europe for lamps that would fit the standard of our couture lines of furniture. Quickly we fell in love for a company that re-editioned Pierre Chareau lighting. After few years of working with them, we decided to produce the line in the States for many reasons. The Euro started to get higher and higher, and the impossibility to have the lamps wired with UL listed, shipping cost, etc… We also really wanted to adapt 1920’s Chareau ‘ s work to the US market and also to new lighting technologies (LED, etc…).  The success came quick with client like Joel Chen, Waldo Fernandez, and more. 


Are the lamps made in Los Angeles?  What materials are they made from, and how many people work on a single light?  

All parts are made in LA except for the stone. The only place to find the white alabaster is in Europe. Very few countries are still producing the stone. Not a big market because the fragility, the softness and the sensibility to heat. Alabaster is also made of 80% of water.  We can guess that there is a dozen artisans working to make a single lamp: the metal fabrication, wood carving and finish, metal powder coating, metal oxidization or plating, wiring, mounting, etc...   


Why did you become interested in the works of Pierre Chareau? Is there a connection to the family?   

As an all time aficionado of the Deco period (1920-1940), I went little by little to the Modernism side of this era. Starting with the German Bauhaus to the French Modernists like Frank, Sornay, Le Corbusier, Mallet-Stevens and off course Chareau. So much to learn about…….  


Alabaster.  Is this the original material Chareau used, and what is the nature of this material? Where is the alabaster sourced?  

The alabaster we used for our lamps is white alabaster the same that Chareau used for his lamps. As I said earlier, there is still a small production in Europe.  


I've read the one of Chareau's last projects was the studio of the painter Robert Motherwell in East Hampton. Do you know anything about this work, or have any photos?

DenisL Chareau was Jewish and he was forced to live Europe during WW2. He came to NY with his English wife. He did some work there, sometime with in coordination with other designers and architects.  

On the worktable, sits the book written about Pierre Chareau's masterpiece,  La Maison de Verre Hardcover by Dominique Vellay (Author) , Francois Halard (Photographer)

another book on Pierre Chareau by Brian Brace Taylor, here

Catching the sunlight....
The Alabaster shades used for the "Block Sconces"

the wood base of the "Nun Floor Lamp"

In the corner of the Edition Modern studio, 

an old chair with geometric alabaster shapes on a torn chair

Visit Edition Modern's site here.

For more information on Pierre Chareau, watch this video here on Maison du Verre

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(new) Textiles & (old) Paintings

Separate or combine 
I ask you one last time 
Did I hold you too tight?
Did I not let enough light in? (here)

1. "A new collection of fabrics inspired by the mystery of Istanbul and Anatolia was unveiled by New York-based Zak+Fox at the start of October. Simply entitled Haz, the Turkish word for ‘enchantment’, the latest collection examines Ottoman-era embroidery, Central Asian carpet patterns, and renders tradition through a modernist’s lens. 

The collection includes four new patterns, that will be available in a variety of colorways: ‘Khotan’ adopts its name from the style of rug that inspired it, creating a stunning rendition that exemplifies the look, and spirit, of an exquisite antique rug. To accompany the structured composition of ‘Khotan’ is ‘Pom’, a small-scale print that revels in its simplicity. Its dancing pomegranate motif was discovered on a century-old carpet, though its real beauty rests in its minimalistic form. ‘Pom’ is Zak+Fox’s first print to ever feature a border, which runs on both sides down the length of the fabric, making it an ideal match for drapery."

"Fiene was known primarily for his varied printed works, including lithographs and etchings. 

His notable work includes cityscapes, views of New York City 

in particular, landscapes and other figural art."

2. Ernest Fiene (American, 1894-1965) 

Untitled, 1923 Oil on canvas (framed) 

Signed and dated 24" x 20" ,Provenance: Private Collection, New York  

Auction Date: Sat, November 16, 10:00AM  Estimate: $800 - $1,200  (via RAGO here)

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