This week we're putting two design titans in the ring for our Random Feature - Designer Head to Head:  Kelly Wearstler vs Thom Filicia.

Both American designers have a long list of accomplishments including TV appearances, eponymous furniture lines , fabric, trim and rug collections, design & style books and a list of prestigious projects a mile long.

Both stack up quite evenly when it comes to credentials...we'll give you the details...you be the judge!

Kelly Wearstler's Fabric and Trim Collection for Lee Jofa

Thom Filicia's Fabric & Trim Collection for Kravet.

Kelly Wearstler has designed carpet collections for The Rug Company and Schumacher.

Thom Filicia has designed a collection of carpets for Safavieh.

Thom vs Kelly...

Thom Filicia describes his style as Modern Classicism.

Kelly Wearstler's style is often described as Modern Glamour.

 Custom furnishings can be found in almost every Atmosphere design, not because we don't enjoy the hunt, but because we're constantly hunting.  Staying on top of what's out there, and what isn't, is an important part of what we do.  When we can't find the perfect piece for a client, we love being able to give them the option to have it made.  The perfectly finished room is always within reach.

The 2012 Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome is chock-a-block with custom furniture, really great pieces that just needed tweaking to be absolutely perfect for the space.

Taking a classic design like this Slipper Chair by Vogel and bringing it to the next level by doing something completely unexpected with the fabrics is all part of the fun.  Trevor & Curtis had the body and frame of this chair upholstered in a Chocolate-Brown Snakeskin vinyl and chose a contrasting Kravet fabric for the seat cushion and back pillow.  The result is a totally unique custom chair perfectly suited to the style of the room.

See the finished product below.

2012 Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome - Great Room

For the Den, the guys wanted comfortable chairs with sophisticated details.  They loved the club chair (on the left) with the rolled arms and great nail head details but felt it was missing something.  Button tufting the back rest was the solution they were looking for and a soft, dove grey vinyl finished the look.  The result - comfortable chairs with sophisticated details.

See the result below.

2012 Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome - Den

The Ginger Sectional above was the inspiration for the Family Room sectional at the 2012 Hospital Home Lottery Showhome.  We tweaked the proportions by extending the length and adding an extra seat.  We kept the contrast piping and swapped the beige fabric for a brilliant blue velvet.  The result is a large and comfortable sectional in a colour that pulls the room together.

See the result below.

2012 Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome - Basement Family Room

ATMOSPHERE ASKS is one of our favourite features.  Every month (or so) we invite an exciting new guest to give us their take on a topic.  It's our nosey way of getting to know the people who inspire us a little better.  

We have come to enjoy the varied answers we get to the question: WHAT IS THE ONE THING IN YOUR HOME THAT MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?  So we're sticking with it.

Enjoy!

IVAN MEADE of MEAD DESIGN GROUP - Victoria, BC

Ivan Meade founded Meade Design Group in 2002 and the company has not stopped growing since.  Their scope of services now encompasses a wide range of creative offerings including: Interior Design, Graphic Design, Marketing & Branding and Event Planning & Design.

 Approaching their 10th year in business in Victoria, BC, Meade Design Group has had the opportunity to work internationally on graphic and interior design projects throughout Canada, the United States of America, Mexico, Europe and beyond.

We are honoured to welcome Ivan Meade to be our guest for this instalment of ATMOSPHERE ASKS. 

WHAT IS THE ONE THING IN YOUR HOME THAT MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?

IVAN MEADE:  What really makes me happy at home is having people over for dinner or brunch, spending quality time with friends and family.  My favourite piece at home is an over-scaled image of La Velata by Raphael that I have in my living room.  

(The piece is visible in the  left background of Ivan's beautiful table setting above).

It is a warm sepia version.  I love the grand proportions of the piece and how the vintage feel of it creates a juxtaposition with the modern pieces in my space.  I found this piece in a second hand store and I was told that it was originally in a hotel that had caught fire up island.  In order to bring the piece to my condo I had to cut 24 inches from the bottom and reframe it (ssssssshhhhhhhh! don't tell anybody!)

HAND PAINTED HORSE - by BC Artist, John Wolf

At the studio - my second home, if you know what I mean - it makes me happy to work with my great team and amazing clients every day.  That beign said, if I have to select a piece I love, I would have to say that it is the hand-painted horse I commissioned local artist, John Wolf, to create in our work space.

(Visit the Meade Design Group Blog to see images of John Wolf at work on the painting, and the process from concept sketch through to completion).

Please also visit the Meade Design Group online at http://www.meadedesigngroup.com/ to learn more about the firm and to see images of their amazing work.

Thank you Ivan!

Getting ready to launch a NEW WEBSITE means we need new photos to go with the new look.  Elaine of D&M Images is the photographer responsible for making our portfolio photos look so good, so we called her up to work the same magic on the Atmosphere Team. 

Before Elaine's arrival, ripping the office apart to was deemed necessary to create a space suitable for shooting, so, our nervous energy was spent hauling fabric books and tile samples from one side of the office to a much less attractive pile on the other.

After tinkering with our office, wardrobe, posture and smiles, we each had our turn in front of the camera.  Elaine had her hands full and her work cut out for her shooting in a busy office but managed to get some really good shots for the new site.

Stay tuned for our NEW WEBSITE launch announcement in the next few weeks!

In the mean time here's a little behind the scenes look at The Atmosphere Photo Shoot:

Elaine from D&M Images sets up her equipment and some much needed extra light.

Trevor strikes a laid back pose. Finally.

Heather tries to avoid looking too "shouldery". 

Curtis is definitely the most comfortable in front of the camera.

Maybe the HHL media interviews are paying off with a new skill...modeling?  

Trevor & Curtis recently posted on Facebook:  "A client introduced us to fashion designer Tory Burch years ago, and on a recent trip to Palm Springs, we couldn't stop thinking of ways we could inject her look into an interior palette..."

So, how many ways are there to inject the beautiful coral, tangerine and gold hues that are everywhere in fashion right now...the possibilities are endless!

CORAL & TANGERINE DELIGHTS

Clockwise from top left:

1) Tangerine Tango - Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2012

2) Graffiti Vestibule - Kelly Wearstler

3) Artichoke Lamp in Pumpkin Blush - Stray Dog Designs

4) Tangerine Paint Blob

5) Templeton Sofa in Tangerine - Jonathan Adler

6) Urban Trends Red Ceramic Garden Stool -  Wayfair.com

1) Another beautiful room by Kelly Wearstler - from her colour inspired book HUE

2) Trina Turk - Pisces Print in Punch from Schumacher (bottom image)

3) Chinois in Coral - Schumacher

4) Brentwood Sofa in Watermelon

5) A really cute coral chair I found on a French website...wish I could tell you more!

If you were going to inject some tangerine or coral into your decor...how would you do it?

With accent fabrics, bits of decor, paint, furnishings, or wallpaper?

Visit our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

This week we're putting Martha Stewart in the ring with Canadian designer and House & Home Media maven, Lynda Reeves.  We'll provide some comparisons, you let us know who comes out on top!

Comparing Lynda Reeves to Martha Stewart, the woman who is often credited with single handedly igniting the booming home improvement industry, might seem like a stretch, but Lynda Reeves has a few noteworthy achievments under her belt:  

After working as an interior designer for 20 years, Lynda dove into publishing in 1986 when she took over House & Home Magazine.  Today she is the President of House & Home Media, Publisher of House & Home Magazine, and Host and Executive Producer of House & Home TV.  

Lynda and Martha both have serious cred in the media world.  But what about design?  Who wins that showdown?

You be the judge!  Read on then visit our Facebook page to share your opinion.

Are you a fan of Lynda Reeves' Transitional Kitchen?  A blend of traditional features and contemporary details (and a big hit of Glamour with oversize Moooi pendants!)

 - OR - 

Do you prefer the clean, functional, farmhouse style of Martha Stewart's unfussy Cantitoe Corners kitchen?  

Lynda Reeves and the House & Home Editors weigh in with their favorite paint colours and combinations.

Do their bold choices speak to you?

- OR -

Do you prefer Martha's palette?

Martha Stewart shares her favorite paint colours from the Martha Stewart Paint Collection at the Home Depot and provides some playful combinations of her own.

Both House & Home Magazine and Martha Stewart Living Magazine share the latest design trends, and keep us up to date as far as colour, fabric, wallpaper and furnishings are concerned.  Martha Stewart Living has definite "DIY" leanings, while House & Home is a great source for design inspiration.

Which way do you lean?  Are you Team Martha or Team Lynda?

Head to our Facebook page and share your opinion on our Designer Head to Head Survey!

If you've been following along on Facebook or Twitter, you may know that Trevor & Curtis have been hard at work finding inspiration in California Design Mecca's Palm Springs and LA.  

They plan to visit the shops of  favorite designers (ie. Kelly Wearstler, Kenneth Brown, Jeffrey Alan Marks) as well as the incredible Pacific Design Centre.  As if the amazing architecture wasn't enough to keep them distracted, my concern is that they may go into one of these shops...and decide not come back.  (Well, until spring anyway).

Kelly Wearstler's New Flagship Store.

8440 Melrose Ave.  West Hollywood, CA  90069

323.895.7880

www.kellywearstler.com

https://twitter.com/#!/kellywearstler

Kenneth Brown Home

5619 W. 4th Street (right off S. La Brea Ave), Los Angeles, CA 90036

323.525.0204

www.kennethbrowndesign.com

https://twitter.com/#!/kbrowndesign

The PDC is a 1,200,000 SF multi-use facility for the design community located in West Hollywood, CA.  The PDC houses the West Coast's top decorating and furniture market, with showrooms, public and private spaces, a branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art and two restaurants operated by chef and restauranteur, Wolfgang Puck.  The Centre has 130 showrooms which display and sell 2,100 interior product lines to professional interior designers, architects, decorators, and dealers. 

Pacific Design Centre

8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.657.0800

www.pacificdesigncentre.com

Admiring some of the local architecture will definItely be on the intInerary.  The "Brosmith Residence" in Beverly Hills, CA embodies the spirit of contemporary design. 

I can't say who this house belongs to but, you may recognize it.   You may also find Trevor and Curtis hiding in the bushes on the front lawn...once they're finished with the shops and design centre, of course.

Enjoy a personally guided video tour of the Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Show Home.  

The video below, hosted by Brent Loucks, is an exclusive behind the scenes look at the $1.4 Million Dollar Showhome, with insights into the design and details provided by Curtis Elmy of Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

Take the tour, then purchase your ticket(s)!  Visit www.hospitalhomelottery.org for more information.

HOSPITAL HOME LOTTERY- TAKE THE TOUR! from Chuckla Productions on Vimeo.

Take a peek at this great "Before & After" vignette of the Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome.

Visit the SHHL Website to view a Virtual Tour of the Showhome and then be sure to get your TICKET TO WIN!

BEFORE AND AFTER-HOSPITAL HOME LOTTERY from Chuckla Productions on Vimeo.

Now that the Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery Grand Prize Showhome is officially open be sure to visit the Hospital Home Lottery Website for more information on Showhome Hours, a Virtual Tour, Full List of PRIZES, Ticket Information, or to PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

This Hospital Home Lottery always sells out quickly so be sure to get your tickets early!

Proceeds from the Lottery support Royal University Hospital Foundation, St. Paul's Hospital Foundation and Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation in their efforts to raise much needed funds for health care priorities in the Saskatoon Health Region.