12.10.08

In Conversation with Patricia Gray

Meade Design Group - The Blog

The following interview was graciously done by Ivan Meade who is an Interior Designer in Victoria BC.  He writes the 
Blog Meade Design Group.  I was so pleased and surprised when a beautiful orchid arrived by special delivery at my door
following Ivan's posting of his interview with me.  The note on the orchid said "Thank-you so much for the Interview" Ivan Meade. 
I am so honored to be interviewed by Ivan.  He has done interviews with other Designers that I admire.  Some of the interviews
you can read on his Blog are with:
Barbara Barry
Vicente Wolf
Thomas O'Brien
Kenneth Brown


In Conversation with Patricia Gray

Patricia Gray

Patricia Gray is an award winning, highly recognized interior designer from Vancouver, Canada, who finds time in her
busy schedule to update her interior design blog almost daily! and I know how hard this is. Her blog features her inspiration,
including other designers and architects that she admires not to mention sneak peeks of her stunning work. She has been
published in Architectural Digest, House and Home, Style at Home, Western Living along with other notable magazines.

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?
Patricia Gray - When I was 5 years old I remember rearranging the furniture in the Living Room.

Laurel Residence

Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván – A client of mine sent me a link of your blog a couple of days after I launched my own blog last November – I have
to say that I still have a lot to learn . What does it mean for you to blog your ideas in design, your travel experiences and
basically open your personal life to the web?
Patricia – I started Blogging basically as a personal journal to record and catalog my inspirations. I thought it would be a
good forum to express myself outside of my professional practice as an Interior Designer. It has now taken on a life of its own.

Iván - What has been the best experience of being a design blogger?
Patricia – The other bloggers I have met all over the world. It is quite a network. I have made friends in Morocco, Houston,
New York. My readers are from all over the world and are very sophisticated and savvy. They keep me on my toes.
ash street bedSketch by Patricia Gray

Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván – Your interiors definitely celebrate restraint and order. To what/whom do you owe this influence?
Patricia – My Professor, Terry Kutcher ,when I was a student in Design School inspired in me a love for design.
He was meticulous in criticizing all my designs and floor plans. I learn to edit, to be selective, and to create rooms that had
a focal point and were unique.  I was also very influenced in my formative years of study by the fabulous Michael Taylor, who
was at the time creating designs that were new and innovative and were totally suited to the times.

Gastown Project
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván – There is an European influence in your timeless interiors, they are not just beautiful and contemporary, but they are
also very livable. How do you archive that?
Patricia – Part of the European influence I think comes from the time I spent studying Interior Design in Paris. It is very
important for me to create spaces that are comfortable, functional, and beautiful. I make sure that when you enter a room
you feel comfortable, when you sit down you have an experience with the space you are in and that you have beautiful things
to feast your eyes on.  Editing is an important part of the process for me, because if you have too many things in a room, you
don’t appreciate any one thing in particular. Also important in editing is the details. They have to be executed to perfection.

Gastown Project
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván - It’s the big installation day. What could have gone wrong did go wrong. How does Patricia Gray deal with that?
Patricia - You deal with one thing at a time. It is also important to work with a good team that are each experts in their
field.

Gastown Project
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván – The popularity of the design shows on TV has brought interior design into homes all across our country. If you had a
show, how would you educate the viewers about interior design?
Patricia - That’s a big question. Design is a process and involves many steps to get to the end. I think that a lot of the detail
of this process is left out in the current shows. In a 30 minute show a home is completely finished. I think it would be educational
to follow a project week by week to completion.

Laurel Residence
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

IvánA decor fad you hope never to see again?
Patricia – Well, I hoped that I would not see a revival of the 80’s, but it is upon us now. I am now really starting to appreciate
it again in a fresh new way. For example the resurgence we are seeing in the use of wallpaper. I still have clients that cringe
when I say the word wallpaper because they lived through it and the horrors of having to remove it from walls that were not
properly prepared for it.  We go through phases in design and I think we become saturated, so we change and move on, then
a new generation comes along and loves the things of the past and breathes a new life into it.

South Granville Project
Project Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván – You recently returned from a design course in Italy, what was that experience like and what is next on your design
journey ?
Patricia – I spent a month in Italy studying Contemporary Italian Architecture. It was an amazing experience. I lived in a dorm
and rode a bicycle to classes in the most Beautiful Medieval walled city. The Italians have an appreciation for Design that is in
their blood. It permeates everything in their lives. For my next experience I want to spend some time in Belgium. Some of the
top design in the world right now is coming from this country.

Laurel Residence
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván - Any words of wisdom?
Patricia – Take your time to make purchase decisions for your home. Buy fewer thing of better quality. Have only things
around you that you love!!

Yaletown Project
Photograph courtesy of Patricia Gray

Iván - Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles, what would you like your
legacy to be?
Patricia – That I created spaces that were memorable, stimulating to be in, and stand the test of time.

To see more work of Patricia Gray please visit:

www.patriciagrayinc.com
www.patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com

Posted by MEADE DESIGN GROUP

19 comments:

  1. Hi Patricia, I did guess something big was going on ( having been so silent lately, works come first after all).
    Now, here you are with a smashing entrée....beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing some lovely reading, Ingela

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  2. What a great interview!

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  3. Wow congrats! I loved reading the interview.

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  4. It's always so interesting to hear other Interior Designer's talk about what influences them. Riding your bike to class in Italy...how exquisite! Thanks for the insight.
    Michelle

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  5. Anonymous12/10/08

    Congratulations Patricia! Love the photos, especially the studded chair in the Laurel Residence. Gorgeous!!!!

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  6. Anonymous13/10/08

    Thank you very much for sharing.
    Through your blog, a lot of people including me of course have a chance to read and learn

    from.
    I have read some of your post and I really enjoyed reading it.
    Thanks again and looking forward for more of your posting soon!

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  7. Hi Patricia, thanks so much for sharing an amazing part of your life with us. You truly are an inspiration to me and I admire your work and enjoy reading about all of your travels Hayley

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  8. Dear Patricia,

    I don't know what to say - I was really honored to have your interview in my blog, but this has exceed all my expectations.

    Once again thank you for all your support. You definitely are an inspiration.

    Your favorite mexican friend,
    Iván Meade

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  9. Anonymous13/10/08

    Hi Patricia,

    I really just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much I love love love your style! I first stumbled upon an article in LA about you and was tickled pink to find out you were from Vancouver, my hometown. Interior design is a hobby for me and I have such great appreciation for those who have such an incredible eye for detail. I loved your Yaletown & Gastown designs so much that you inspired a "white streak" in our apartment. This is quite a change because I had been far more drawn to big colours and patterns Designers Guild (Tricia Guild) style!

    Anyhow, I appreciate your work and love your blog....

    Thanks for all the inspirtations,

    Treena

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  10. You deserve that good interview, many of us who follow your blog and appreciate your works would love to know a thing or two about you. And yes, I admire you deeply for having the time to share your thoughts, tips, and works through your blog. I'm officially a fan.

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  11. Wonderful interview ! Lovely way to know about you and yur fantastic work , style and inspiration

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  12. What friend did you make in Houston, I wonder? hehe!!! Love this - you are the best, my friend!

    Joni

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  13. Wonderful interview & beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us. Amanda

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  14. You do realize of course, that you ARE one of those great interior designers... don't you? :)

    Lovely to read a bit more behind the scenes skinny on you ;)

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  15. Great interview
    Read it at Meade's first.
    you know what I think of your work. Love to look at your pictures and it was just as nice to read your thoughts too

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  16. Anonymous20/10/08

    Hi Patricia.
    I am always captivated by your work. Interesting and soothing all at once!
    Your Gastown project is one of my favorites. I also want to thank you for your blog. Each morning with coffee in hand I look and hope for a brand new entry!
    Regards,
    Sherry
    (I am not a designer; just a lover of good design.)

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  17. GREAT INTERVIEW!! BRAVO!

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  18. Hi!!!
    Great interview, yes!!!!!
    Could you see my craftmade bookshelve?
    http://cavvaomino.blogspot.com/

    Cavva

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  19. As an Italian I take it as a big compliment for you to say "Italians have appreciation for Design in their blood".
    As a Canadian I am proud of knowing you and I greatly appreciate your big contribution to Style in Vancouver.
    Well conducted interview, interesting to know more about you.

    ReplyDelete

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