Eastern Carolinas chapter members applaud the success of collaboration between Lauren Levant and IronHouse Forge. By Karyn Judd Reilly, CKD, NCIDQ
It’s easy to slip into a rut — or maybe we should call it a routine. It’s the price of experience; you know what works, so you tend to use that method or product frequently. We’ve all experienced it, and there’s little fault in using a successful model.
What happens, though, when you step out from the norm? It’s a scary world of worries and reservations, but it could also give us an extraordinary experience.
In her presentation “Leveraging Artisan Work in Your Designs,” award-winning designer Lauren Levant, of Pittsburgh-based Lauren Levant Interior, opened our eyes to what stepping outside our comfort zones can provide to our work and our clients at our East Carolinas Chapter Meeting.
Lauren’s work is nothing short of inspirational, and I don’t think anyone would disagree. Her objective — designing and planning custom pieces that make her clients’ spaces unique — shows her fearlessness. We all want that experience for our clients.
But it begs the question: She does it well, but can I? Do I have the resourcefulness to reach out to local artisans and put my client’s dreams in their hands? I’m sure you’re thinking similar thoughts. After Lauren’s presentation, we were all feeling inspired. Lauren was wonderful about calming our fears — but all great design choices come with a bit of risk. Yes, it can be a challenge at first, as with any new process, but the rewards are worth the risk.
Lauren discussed how “harnessing the creative power of craftspeople can create a show-stopping project. With the public’s enthusiasm for artisan culture and its increasing appetite for the unique and handcrafted, integrating specialty work into interior design projects is gaining in popularity.” She offered examples, advice and walkthroughs of how to successfully include unique components into a project design.
Thanks to our Chapter Programs chair, Christine Zahuranec, our meeting location provided the perfect fuel for that creative drive. The venue for our chapter meeting was ideal — if far from typical. In the middle of a working forge, the chapter set up a projector and screen, and Lauren’s presentation began.
IronHouse Forge is in downtown Raleigh, N.C., and not exactly the clean and well-designed places in which we usually hold our events. Lauren has a very intriguing exercise on creativity in her presentation, but our meeting opted for another concept: Instead of working out ideas in groups, we had the option — and who could resist? — to put on welding equipment and try it for ourselves. What a lesson in leaving things to the professionals!
The employees of IronHouse were exactly what we needed: they guided us through the processes of their work, from small welding practice to creating a forged steel skewer at the Blacksmith furnace and anvils. The staff was eager and willing to help us discuss possible custom projects and guide us through examples of the work they create — from custom stairs to beautiful custom mixed metal hoods. They had a binder with tons of images of their work, from furniture pieces to lots of kitchen hoods, railings, fireplace screens, and artwork. some examples from their website can be found here: http://www.ironhouseforge.com/new-index/
It was the perfect blend of information, inspiration and fun! Thanks again to Lauren and IronHouse Forge for helping us to get out of those ruts!
