blog

Grain Collection 2017/18

6/21/2017



Our 2017/18 collection of furniture and lighting was inspired by a recent residency experience in Northeastern Oregon — think alpine mountains meet prairie. We were so energized by this new, but also familiar landscape. We endeavored to capture some of the quiet drama of that wilderness in our new work.

Above and below is photography by Charlie Schuck styled by Natasha Felker with artist Signe Quitslund wearing Maiden Noir. See our presentation of this work at Sight Unseen OFFSITE as part of NYCxDESIGN.

The Jennings Hotel Residency

11/16/2016



Last month we had the incredible experience of traveling to Joseph, Oregon to attend an artist residency at The Jennings Hotel. We hiked through mountains, along rivers, and through prairies and later used the inspiration from our outings on a series of watercolors. Check out our photos above and below. Huge thanks to Greg Hennes for the invitation!  

Summer Intern: Soren Ferguson

8/4/2016



Summer is almost over, but we've had some great help in the studio with Bainbridge Island-native and Rhode Island School of Design student, Soren Ferguson, as our intern. He is back to Providence at the end of the month, but before he goes, below is a quick interview to get to know him better. 

3 Rooms at King Street Station

8/2/2016



Come check out 3 Rooms at King Street Station in Seattle this weekend, August 4 -7, 2016. We'll be one of the 20 featured local designers in the JOIN market sponsored by Civilization. Designers include: Apartment on Belmont, Blk Pine Workshop, Bremelo Press, Brian Beck, Delgado House, Faris, Five Ply Design, Fruitsuper Design, Gabriel Stromberg, Grain, Jennifer Ament, Mavro/Tawny, Meg Callahan, Piano Nobile, Pine & Boon, Rachel Illingworth, Rachel Ravitch, Small Craft, Turnco Wood Goods and Urbancase. More info here. 

Grain Studio Bainbridge Island

7/28/2016



It's been almost a year since we moved out of our home-based shop into our new studio space off Day Road on Bainbridge Island. We're so happy to have made the move to an industrial space better suited to our needs: design studio, fabrication shop and packing and shipping.

Our neighbors include businesses such as Fstopcafe, Iggy's, Bainbridge Yoga House and we are meeting more each month. Above and below are a few photos taken in early May. If you are local and curious to see more, email us to set up a visit!

Hot Shop With John Hogan

7/7/2016



Above and below is a look into the glass fabrication process of our new Drift lighting and furniture series recently launched at ICFF. For this series, we worked with Seattle glass artist John Hogan (who also makes the diffusers for our Circlet lighting series). 

John helped us develop a series of graphite molds to cast our solid glass shapes. As the shapes cool, you are left with these amazing chill marks, making each piece completely unique. All of our new work can be found on our site now. See more from a previous hot shop visit with John here.

Spring 2016 Launch

6/1/2016



Drift Bump Sconce 

Efficient LED lighting components are neatly hidden behind a thick cast glass diffuser to illuminate without a visible bulb. Precision cut aluminum frame can be custom plated or powder coated, and custom colored glass is also possible.

REFLECT

5/27/2016



During NYCxDESIGN we also had the chance to show at Sight Unseen's OFFSITE with 15 other studios from across the United States in REFLECT curated by JOIN Design. The designs centered around the common theme of reflection and were restricted by size and a single material.

Our contribution was our new Reflect bottle opener cast in solid bronze. Its overall shape is reflected on two planes. Its materiality shimmers warmly with reflected light. And its use as a bar tool aids in the often art of reflective drinking.

The amazing photos above and below were taken by Amanda Ringstad. Read more about the show at Fast Company, Design Milk and Core77 or by checking out the hashtag #reflect_SUO. Huge thanks to JOIN curators fruitsuper and Melanie Abrantes as well as Civilization who created all the graphic design.

Island Headquarters

12/9/2015



We're up and running in our new space! Above and below is a little tour around. We are so happy to be settling in here and have been having so much fun getting to know our new neighbors. Huge thanks to everyone who came out last weekend to celebrate with us! Follow us on Instagram for more scenes from the studio.

Grain Holiday Wish Lists

11/30/2015



We've put together our annual holiday wish list just in time! Above and below are wishes from everyone in the studio. For more info on these and even more items, check out our Pinterest. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed!

Chelsea's wishes (from left to right): Cos Rib-neck Wool Coat $275.00, Portland Apothecary Ritual Mister Set $36.00, Zanbunni Moon Juice Bar $3.00, INNA Shrub Gift Set $30.00, Grain Stitch Round Mirror $1,185.00, See Sun Matter Top $140.00, Alessi La Cintura di Orione Stockpot $275.00, Black Crane Cocoon Dress $156.00 and The Arcs Yours, Dreamily $11.00. 

Grain Open Studio and Holiday Sale

11/18/2015



After seven years of operation from our home-based studio, we are thrilled to announce that Grain has moved into its very own headquarters. Our new studio finally has the room it needs in a three story space within the Island Craft community on Bainbridge Island. To celebrate, we're hosting an open studio and holiday sale on December 5, 10:00 - 4:00 pm, at our new address: 12935 Islandcraft Lane NE, Studio A3, on Bainbridge Island. 

Directions: To get to Islandcraft Lane from the ferry, drive north on Highway 305. Turn left at Day Road. Islandcraft Lane is just past Miller Road on the right. If you enter "7800 Day Road" in your GPS/Google Maps, it will get you pretty close.

Please stop by and celebrate with us! More info here. 

Plank Tray

7/17/2015



Our new Plank tray is a beautifully simple and sturdy tray made in our studio from sustainably sourced ash. We use ours to serve food and drinks or as a low pedestal to display objects. Available in our shop now in natural or black.

Grain Moving Sale!

7/1/2015



We're moving our home and design studio!

Saturday July 11 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday July 12 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Find old stock, prototypes, seconds and materials from our product and furniture design studio as well as good condition housewares from our family moving sale. Will be posting a few previews on our Instagram: @grain_design #grainmovingsale.

Design studio items include: jewelry, textiles, rugs, furniture, mirrors and printed cards. Studio items will be 50% off or more. Family moving sale items include: furniture, kitchen items, textiles, books, clothing, ceramics, frames, pots and art. Family moving sale items will be priced to sell.

More info here. Hope to see you there!

The New Frontier

4/6/2015



The New Frontier: Young Designer-Makers in the Pacific Northwest opens April 16 (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) at the Bellevue Arts Museum and runs through August 16, 2015. Curated by Charlie Schuck and Jennifer Navva Milliken, the show includes the work of 28 local studios. We are so thrilled to be a part of this special time and place.

Participating studios:

Omer Arbel / Bocci, (BC)
Peter Bristol, (WA)
Chadhaus, (WA)
Landon Dix, (BC)
Aleph Geddis, (WA)
Free Time, (WA)
fruitsuper design, (WA)
Gamla Studio, (BC)
Erich Ginder, (WA)
Grain, (WA)
Graypants Studio, (WA)
Caine Heintzman / ANDLIGHT, (BC)
John Hogan, (WA)
Knauf and Brown, (BC)
Iacoli & McAllister, (WA)
Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, (WA)
Greg Papove, (BC)
Lukas Peet / ANDLIGHT, (BC)
Phloem Studio, (OR)
Aleksandra Pollner, (WA)
Rason Jens, (OR)
Joel Sayre, (WA)
Semigood, (WA)
Something Like This Design, (OR)
Standard Socket, (WA)
Studio Gorm, (OR)
urbancase, (WA)
Matthew Philip Williams, (OR)

Fall Studio

9/18/2014



With the first day of fall quickly approaching, Robyn back in the studio and pre-holiday orders ramping up, we are definitely feeling a seasonal change in the air. Above and below are a few photos from our Bainbridge Island studio and garden taken this afternoon.

Road Trip: Tye River

9/11/2014



We had the great fortune to spend last weekend with some of our favorite people in an amazing cabin on Tye River designed by Olson Kundig. Above and below are a few photos. Northwest summer at its absolute best!

Welcome Back Robyn!

9/9/2014



We have some great news over here on Bainbridge. As of last week, our former intern Robyn Luk has returned to the studio full time. She just graduated from RISD, and will be joining us as our our Design, Production, and Studio Assistant. We are thrilled to have her back! Check our some of school her work here and read below to get to know her a bit more:

SHOWCASE14

9/4/2014



The Seattle Design Festival starts tomorrow with a series of design related events across the city. As part of the festivities, we will be participating in an experimental marketplace featuring Northwest design called SHOWCASE14 from September 7th - 12th at 220 South Jackson Street in Pioneer Square. We'll be at the closing party on September 12th, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am, and hope to see you there!

NY NOW Recap

8/28/2014



Trade shows are hard, but they can also be fun if you show with a good group. Above and below is an Instagram round-up from the JOIN booth at NY NOW last week. It is good to be back in the studio, but I miss these guys!

Above is work from: Aleksandra Pollner, byAMT, Grain, Piano Nobile, History + Industry, Cofield, Nell & Mary, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Mister McGinnis, Pat Kim Design, fruitsuper, Sarah Loertscher, Caravan Pacific and fleet objects. For more Instagram's from the booth search: #joindesign, #nynow and #nynow14, #3871.

Grain at NY NOW

8/14/2014



We're back in New York this week for NY NOW. Find us in the JOIN Booth 3871 along with 14 independent American design studios including: Aleksandra Pollner (first image below), byAMT (third image below), Grain (image above and fourth image below), Piano Nobile, History + Industry, Cofield, Nell & Mary, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Mister McGinnis, Pat Kim Design (second image below), fruitsuper, Sarah Loertscher, Caravan Pacific and fleet objects!

Accent on Design is open August 17 - 19, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, and August 20, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. And, yes, our Totem Candles are now available for wholesale and will be at the show ready for holiday orders. We hope to see you there!

Electric Love is in the Air

7/31/2014



Over the years we have rushed several Electric Love rings to be used for proposals. This week we received the first photo of our rings in action at a marriage ceremony in Seattle. We just had to share it here and wish the new couple well. Congratulations!

1% For The Planet

7/17/2014



As part of our annual commitment, we made our 1% For The Planet donation a few weeks ago. This year we supported The Nature Conservancy, Save Bristol Bay, and Burn Design Lab. We have donated to The Nature Conservancy and Save Bristol Bay in years past, but Burn Design Lab was new for us.

When we read about the Vashon Island non-profit, we were inspired and knew that we wanted to contribute. Their studio is on a mission to reduce global warming and respiratory illness by creating designs for efficient stoves to replace open-fire cooking. Their stoves save lives, forests, and time and money for impoverished families in East Africa and Central America (including Guatemala). We are excited to have our contributions help the missions of all three of these organizations!

Photo: Rodney Rascana.

Sneak Peek: Grain Studio

7/11/2014



A couple weeks ago we spent a few days with our friend and photographer, Ben Blood, shooting our home and studio here on Bainbridge Island.

Above and below is a tiny sneak peek. Many more to share soon!

Island Life: Wildlife Edition

7/3/2014



For those of you following our wildlife adventures on Instagram, we have an update for you on the raccoon cubs nesting in our willow tree. James found the first one (see below) when she fell from her nest. Her brother (seen above with his sister) was a surprise addition James found when putting the first cub back.

At any rate, they are growing well, and have been spending more time peaking out and panting in all this hot weather. Follow along on Instagram for more.

Oh, and we are accepting ideas for names!

Circlet Lighting Collection

6/19/2014



Our new Circlet lighting collection, which includes pendants, sconces, and a chandelier, paris minimal solid wood canopies with hand blown glass diffusors. Efficient LED lighting components are neatly hidden in each canopy allowing the diffusors to illuminate without a visible bulb. Making the series all about glass allowed us to work with Northwest glass artist, John Hogan, to come up with a collection of diffusors that explore glass blowing and finishing techniques such as cold-cutting and sandblasting. As each reflector is hand blown and finished, each fixture is one of a kind. Shop the whole collection here!

Dish Table Collection

6/13/2014



Taking inspiration from hand carved African stools, our Dish table collection expanded this spring with our new Dish Desk. Built in the Pacific Northwest from FSC certified solid American ash, the desk is available in a clear oil or black stain finish and can be special ordered in custom sizes. Designed to be used a desk, conference, or dining table. Above and below are new photos from Charlie Schuck of the whole collection. Visit the shop to learn more!
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