objekts Notebook | Issue 08 | Custom Partners

the notebook

custom partners

everything you imagine exists. Yet.

At objekts we are custom design experts, and we have carefully curated partnerships over the years with manufacturers who are continuously perfecting their craft. In this issue of the Notebook, we will introduce you to four of these partners and give you a peek behind the curtain at how we work together to bring our clients’ design visions into reality. Drop us a line.

WA

Rugs

“We expect you to sew how you problem solve you hired.”

SMJ

Sara Johnson, SMJ Studio Principal, has been honing her sewing skills since she was four years old. It started with her sister and step sisters guiding her through the creation of a navy and white gingham dress with puff sleeves, progressed in high school with the completion of 107 costumes for the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and continues to evolve today with objekts partnerships like stadium cushions for T-Mobile’s Headquarters.

sew well. It’s solve that keeps

Studio client

“As objekts grew and diversified, we were able to expand our capabilities along with them.”

Sara Johnson

SMJ Studio has been connected with objekts since before objekts existed. Sara and Doug McKenzie (objekts owner) have been working together for over 20 years. They most recently collaborated on cushions and pillows for NAIOP Finalist Ovation multifamily housing (in process on the left). “It’s always a collaboration with objekts,” says Sara. objekts brings a project to SMJ Studio with as much information up-front as possible, and Sara and her team massage out the details with objekt project managers as the project evolves. The end result may look simplesofas throughout a space accessorized with pillows - but the scale puts the importance of logistics into sharp focus. 350 pillows in a variety of fabrics for a 30,000 square foot space requires a partner who not only excells in their craft but also in communication and planning.

Sara engages her engineering and pattern-making skills to complete complicated cushions with one piece of fabric. “I’m of the belief that the least amount of seams in a commercial project the better because there’s less opportunity for it to fail. It’s like a onepiece puzzle.”

A few objekts + SMJ Studio projects

Bob Price

President and Founder of Level4 Designs, Bob Price, understands the nuance baked into the custom furniture process thanks to decades of experience. Bob was raised in the furniture industry with both parents working for a manufacturer. He began his own career hand-drawing scaled sketches of residential furniture for product engineers to use as a visual reference.

“Growth is finding a way to do something today that you couldn’t do yesterday. That to me is very satisfying.”

The process of bringing a custom piece through the design process collaborators and a vision that probably started on the back of a napkin, nurture a unique design vision through pitfalls like budget, liability,

The process adjusts to the circumstances every time. Bob recalled to the back of a chair to communicate the adjustment they were envisioning. objekts and Level4 was a sofa designed by Gensler (shop drawing the velvet textile all presented hurdles that Level4 was able to overcome.

“There comes a point in every meeting where you know you’ve gained talked through some challenges and it becomes very collaborative. Bob and Level4 strive for transparency and the trust of the designer

Bob Price

“I probably get most excited about answering, ‘How can we work with all the different personalities to come up with a direction we all agree on?’”

process to completion is harrowing. Okay maybe we’re being a tad dramatic, but with many napkin, you can see the potential for miscommunication. objekts and Level4 partner to liability, available production methods, and structural integrity - the not-so-sexy logistics.

recalled a mock up review for T-Mobile Headquarters that involved a designer taking a marker envisioning. One of the most challenging and so most satisfying product completions for drawing to the left, pictured on the next page). The curve, the channeling at differing heights, and overcome.

gained the confidence of the designer. They’ve seen some things they’ve liked. You’ve also collaborative. It’s the greatest feeling collaborating with these talented, creative people.” The fact that designer makes them a valuable partner.

‘How to

A few objekts + Level4 projects

Kush Rugs

Kush started as an importing company and their custom production from 10% of their shift represents a creative leap into the world in the form of a rug. Kush’s team in Portland India using artwork produced in house along to tease out the final details.

and over the last 10 years has increased their business to 80%. Such a significant world of interpreting a design vision Portland works with partners in Nepal and along with color poms and sample cuts

These Buddha statues displayed in Kush’s Portland showroom are gifts from their Nepalese production partner.

“We want you to have that, ‘Hold on. I need to look at this again,’ reaction like you would with a piece of art.”

Sean Antley

On Technique

There’s a gentle oxidation technique, similar to acid washed denim, that takes away the top layer of wool to show off the embossed silk layer. A similar process involves a blow torch - just a tad more difficult to control.

A Few Favorites

For one project, Kush used satellite images translate topographical maps into rugs. For they replicated a 150 year old Chinese rug, that included taking exact measurements vine detailing 6 times to make sure every detail perfectly captured.

images to For another, rug, a process of intricate detail was

Ombre Project Highlight

This custom rug above moved from color selections to sample to production to install. An additional layer of the custom design was color coordination with the Kush rug pictured below in an adjacent space. Clear, concise communication and trust between objekts and Kush means what showed up on install day is what was expected, on time and in perfect condition.

This installation is made up of three rugs - 25’x25’, 25’x29’, and one trapezoid shape. Shipping anything this large is always exciting. Sean and his warehouse team unfolded and steamed creases out of these rugs in a two-day process (knee pads came in handy).

Kush recently expanded into a larger showroom in Portland - more room to collaborate on all the custom possibilities!

“We partnered with objekts to create one of the largest, tufted rugs we’ve ever done to date.”

Sean Antley

Interior

Environments

Bog Oak, the darker wood pictured on the left, is one of George’s favorite materials to work with. The carbon dated wood is harvested after being submerged in a bog for centuries. Bog Oak’s tight grain and smokey color create a richness of character hard to find in other species.

George Zatloukal, project manager at Interior Environments, knows the intricacies of each machine in their warehouse. There’s one that does well with edges, another that cuts straight with consistency and speed, a dowling machine, a joiner, an edge-bander, a sander, and on top of all these efficiencies are the skilled woodworkers responsible for the details too refined for equipment to handle.

George Zatloukal

“You look at Bog Oak and think of time.”

Greenery always packs a punch, but this banquette-planter took it to another level. objekts worked with Interior Environments to develop a solution for seating, biophilia, and a focal point for this high-ceiling atrium. Part of the process included studying the internal structure to determine the height of the planter and ensure the top of the tree was far enough from the ceiling while filling the space.

A few objekts + Interior Environments projects

objekts of desire

The Who: George Zatloukal, Interior Environments Project Manager

The What: Lithic Skis

The Why: The best cure for sunless winter days in the PNW.

The Who: Bob The The Why: Porsche is design and performance. to the safety concerns roll bar - a design challenge the most iconic designs

The Who: Sara Johnson, SMJ Studio Principal

The What: Pink Velvet Glasses by Eyebobs

The Why: You only need one great accessory, especially when it’s velvet!

Price, Level4 President

The What: 1965 Porsche the perfect example of performance. Porsche responded of convertibles with the challenge that became one of designs in automotive history.

Principal Eyebobs accessory,

The Who: Sean Antley, Kush Rugs Designer Liason

The What: Overall by Louis Rubi

The Why: OBSESSED with how comfortable they are and how easy they are to wear and style.

Made with gratitude for the designers who trust us with their vision, and the partners who collaborate to bring the vision to reality.