blog

Balance / Unblanced

5/21/2018



Our new Walling Rug made its debut in the Balance / Unblanced show at Colony last week. Colony is a community of independent furniture, lighting, textile and objects designers coming together on a New York City stage to celebrate American design with an international audience. The show is up May 17 - 24 at 324 Canal Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013. All photos taken at Colony by Alan Tansey.

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.

Totem Candles for Areaware

8/15/2016



We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Areaware, the Brooklyn-based producer of everyday objects, who will be producing our Totem Candles from here on out.

When Lisa Smith of Areaware first approached us about working together, we were excited about the partnership. Areaware represents many small independent designers like us as well as a few of our design heroes. They create work that is playful and inventive. We live with several of their products in our own home - such as Jonas Damon’s Torch Flashlight (we lose power a lot at our house in the woods) and Pat Kim’s Alphabet Blocks (our daughter Ada’s favorite) - and want to see our candles take on a new life by reaching a larger audience than we have the capability to serve through our in-house production.

Above and below are photos of the new candles, now available in three colors (Forest, Terracotta and Sand), taken by Carson Fisk-Vittori at The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, an experimental green architecture lab located just outside of Austin, TX. The new Areaware Totem Candles are available for purchase on their website here now. 

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. 

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. 

Maison de Luxe

11/7/2015



If you are in Los Angeles, don't miss the Maison de Luxe Designer Showcase at the Doheny Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills November 7 - 22, 2015. We were thrilled to be asked to participate in our dear friend Brit Kleinman's amazing kitchen redesign with our ceramics, candles, textiles, hooks and candle holders. Brit is the founder of AVO and she totally transformed the kitchen with her hand painted leather tiles. Also included in the space is work from Uhuru, Brendan Ravenhill and Heath Ceramics. Get tickets here and see images of the whole mansion in the Los Angeles Times 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.

Guatemala Studio Visit: Part Two

7/7/2015



A few months ago, photographer Kristen Marie Parker visited a few of the Guatemalan artisans that we've been collaborating with since our RISD days. We posted part one, the workshop where our Antigua Towels are woven, a couple weeks ago. For part two, Kristen visited the group of weavers that do all of our natural dye work as well as weave several of our pillows in a small village on Lake Atitlan. Above and below is what she brought back. Thanks so much Kristen!

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!

Circlet Chair

5/15/2015



Our new Circlet Chair combines a steam bent frame with an eight step hand applied finish and the highest quality vegetable tanned leather. Light weight, durable, and comfortable, this chair is perfect for everyday dining and desk work or for use as a side chair in a living space.

Built in the Pacific Northwest from FSC certified solid American ash. The frame is available in a clear, black, or custom stain finish. American made and tanned leather available in black, natural, or custom color.

Our soft leather was selected for its high-oil content which allows it to age beautifully over time. See it in the shop here.

Launch: El Prado, Momostenango and Zacapa

3/18/2015



We are beyond excited to announce the launch of our new rug collection. It is so special to us as it has been a couple years in the making and builds on our artisan work in Guatemala.

The whole collection is handwoven in the Western Highlands using locally sourced raw and custom dyed wool. Each pattern plays with the idea of a grid to become a perfect interior landscape to perch furniture and objects.

We have three patterns: El Prado, Momostenango and Zacapa (all Guatemalan place names) available in two sizes from our site starting today.

If you are in New York, see the whole collection in person at the AD Home Design Show March 19 - 22 at Pier 94.

Huge thanks to Charlie Schuck for the photography.

Cobán Bath Mat

10/27/2014



We are adding a luxurious new addition to our bath line this week. Our Cobán Bath Mat is a thick and absorbent handwoven mat made from unbleached cotton. Each mat is reversible allowing for longer wear. Like all our textiles, these weavings help to support Guatemalan artisan communities through sustainable income opportunities. Photos above and below thanks to Charlie Schuck.

Delores Scarf

10/10/2014



Now that it is officially fall scarf weather, we thought we'd post about our Delores Scarf which has been quite popular in our shop over the past few months.

Delores is a lightweight organic cotton scarf handwoven on a treadle loom in Antigua, Guatemala. Like all our textiles, the muted colors are achieved through a natural dye process using leaves, flowers, seeds, barks, and roots of indigenous plants of the Guatemalan Highlands. Photos above and below thanks to Charlie Schuck.

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!

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!

2014/15 Textile Collection

6/27/2014



Our collaborative design work in Guatemala continues with five new textile designs - all handwoven from Guatemalan cotton. The collection's muted colors are achieved through a natural dye process using leaves, flowers, seeds, barks, and roots of indigenous plants from the Guatemalan Highlands. Double sided and filled with the highest quality America made feather and down inserts, all our pillows are available in two sizes and support sustainable income opportunities for Guatemalan women artisans. Visit the shop to learn more!
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