Posts by Laurie Harquail
Hi there!
My name is Laurie Harquail, but for
blogging purposes I go by the ‘nom de plume’ of Scout.
Ten years ago, I relocated from San
Francisco to Portland, and much to my surprise, never looked back. I think one reason
is that I was fortunate enough to land a job with Rejuvenation, where I’ve worked
since September 2001. I spend LOTS of time working on our catalogues, which is
how I fell sideways into location scouting (hence the pen name). Scouting is a
fun part of the job, and has allowed me to visit many lovely homes and creative
businesses – and meet many cool people. More often than not, interesting stories fall
out of these sessions, which is what I intend to share via this blog.
Two truths and one lie:
- I hate bad pens.
- I am in search of the perfect wind
chime.
- I churn my own butter.
If you’ve ever fulfilled a craving for a burger, shake, and fries, you may have done so at the restaurant Johnny Rockets. The chain, which has locations in 30 states and 16 countries, celebrates good food and old-fashioned Americana with its 1940s diner atmosphere.
Three Galaxy chandeliers shine in an updated Johnny Rockets location
(photo credit: restaurant development + design magazine)
Recently, the successful 26-year-old chain decided it was time to spruce up its look. It entrusted the makeover to Morris Nathanson Design, who then appealed to Rejuvenation’s expert and experienced trade team. The designers needed lighting that complemented the restaurant’s new look – a late ’60s/early ’70s style defined by chrome details, warm wood paneling, and accents of Johnny Rockets’ signature red. Given our broad assortment of period-authentic styles, we had just the thing to evoke a mid-century mood: the Galaxy.
As with all our reproduction lighting, the Galaxy is based on a period original: the Stockholm series, manufactured by EJS lighting in 1959. This sleek chandelier features Atomic Age details, including a streamlined hourglass profile and perforated aluminum shades that create a lovely starlight effect. Because we make the Galaxy with two to five arms, the design team could select the largest version to suit the proportions of the restaurant.
But there was more beyond the Galaxy. Plans for the new interior also called for lights over the dining counter to match the chandeliers. Happily, Rejuvenation could supply the perfect fixtures…but first we had to design them.
In our 36 years of helping trade customers, we’ve learned that no two projects are ever the same (nor would we want them to be!). That’s why we offer customization options like finish, shade, length, and arm choices, and we also craft special order pieces–lighting that’s not on our regular menu, if you will. For Johnny Rockets, we knew we needed to come up with a unique solution, so we set to work creating it.
And so the Rokot was launched – a single pendant version of the Galaxy chandelier. We liked the finished piece so much that we later added it to our Mid-Century Modern Collection.
The Rokot – Mid-Century Modern pendant
In the end, it was a match made in burger heaven. Not only did we get to create a fun new fixture, we helped out a brand that shares our love for classic American design.
It’s well known that Portland is blessed with loads of creative talent. Over the years, Rejuvenation’s appreciation for handcraft has allowed us to forge connections with several local artists. We’re excited and proud to to present the work of four of our favorites, which will be on display and available for purchase at Rejuvenation’s Portland store from now through January.
Rachel Austin
Rachel’s hand-framed paintings, note cards, and prints depict the overlap between the natural and urban landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. She begins with found city maps, and overlays them with bucolic images of canoes, birds, and trees using acrylic medium, oil paint, and ink. Rachel also creates custom map paintings, so clients can personalize their own piece.
See Rachel’s work on display at Rejuvenation beginning December 10.
Beth Kerschen
A multi-disciplinary artist, Beth uses a unique blend of photography and printmaking to create her images of architecture, urban details, and fleeting moments. Beth’s compelling montage-like works of Portland’s urban landscape and skyline convey a strong sense of place. Each is unique, and she limits her print runs to under 100.
View Beth’s images on Rejuvenation’s second floor beginning December 14.
Steve Kelly
Steve believes that the vessels we use in our everyday life should feel as alive as our surroundings – and his handcrafted pieces reflect that ideal. Well-versed in several ceramic traditions, Steve creates utilitarian pottery designed to nurture us aesthetically and physically. From dramatic vases to countertop composters, his pieces look lovely, work well, and feel good to the touch.
See Steve’s ceramics at Rejuvenation beginning December 14.
Appetite
Megan Oser and Erin Albin are the sister duo behind Appetite, a local shop where they design, cut, sew, and hand-print stylish, utilitarian pieces for the home. Created out of organic, scrap, and repurposed material, many of the designs’ color, textures, and shapes are inspired by the natural world, giving the pieces a harmonious feel.
See Appetite’s homewares at Rejuvenation beginning December 19.
Rejuvenation’s roots are in salvage – plain and simple. Long before “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” became a mainstream mantra, our founder Jim Kelly helped pioneer the concept of taking old things, restoring them to their former glory, and actively reintegrating them into people’s homes and businesses.
Today we continue this tradition in our stores, where we buy, restore, and sell salvage. We love saving these pieces of history and seeing the ingenious ways our customers repurpose old treasures.
Vintage Star Lanterns
Take these vintage punched-steel star lanterns, originally from a vaudeville theater. For the creative holiday decorator, there’s still time to work these bright red stars into an industrial-inspired Christmas display.
Authentic WPA Lodge Table
And here’s an item that really knocked our socks off. This incredible c.1937 hexagonal lodge table was built in a Works Progress Administration (WPA) wood shop – the very same shop that built much of the furniture for Timberline Lodge, a jewel in the WPA crown. This particular table was originally built to be on display in the Oregon WPA office, located in Portland, Oregon. It is marked and authenticated, and is truly a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Vintage Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit
And lastly, here’s an item whose origins are a mystery. We don’t know the story behind this first aid kit, which dates back to the ’20s or ’30s. When we asked our salvage gurus why they bought it, they said they were attracted to its lovely patina and that it clearly had been actively used. We love thinking about how this kit helped someone, decades ago, feel a little better. Sometimes with salvage, not knowing the story can be just as compelling as knowing the facts!
To discover more intriguing items like the ones above, visit our stores. And if you’re looking for a daily dose of salvage, follow our popular Salvage Pick of the Day Pinterest board.
Everyone deserves a home. We all know that, and yet trying to figure out how to help overcome the problem of homelessness is daunting. That’s why we are so thankful for organizations in our communities whose mission is to help people find a way out of homelessness and into homes of their very own. To support their work, and to be good neighbors and community members ourselves, we give 1% of net sales from our L.A. and Berkeley stores to charitable partners working to solve these issues: People Assisting the Homeless (Path) in L.A., and the Berkeley Food and Housing Project (BFHP) in Berkeley.
So far this year, that 1% has translated into almost $17,000 for PATH. And since its grand opening in July, our Berkeley store has contributed $6,000 to BFHP so far.
Berkeley Food and Housing Project
Founded in 1970, Berkeley Food and Housing Project has worked to ease and end the crisis of homelessness for men, women, and children in the Berkeley community for over 40 years. With programs ranging from free meal service to permanent supportive housing, BFHP provides a continuum of care to accommodate a broad spectrum of specialized needs, and helps over 2,000 people each year.
Berkeley Food and Housing Project always welcomes donations and support through its volunteer opportunities With the holidays approaching, one great way to show support is by giving to their food, toy and gift drives. They will also be in need of volunteer groups to help decorate sites, sort donations, and serve at major holiday meals. To find out more about how you can help BFHP this holiday season, call or email Whitney at 510.809.8585 or whubbard@bfhp.org.
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PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)
PATH is a family of agencies working together to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities throughout southern California. They strive to do this by prioritizing housing while providing customized supportive services for people in need. Their agencies each address homelessness in a different way—through supportive services, permanent housing development, support for homeless families, and community engagement—all of which ultimately help the people they serve find a home. Using its multi-faceted approach, PATH helped provide housing for 1,608 people last year.
PATH offers a variety of ways to volunteer, donate, and get involved. One easy way to participate is to attend their “imaginary feast.” What, exactly, is an imaginary feast? It’s PATH’s alternative to a black tie fundraiser. In their own words: “Events are expensive. During the holidays, when need is felt the strongest, it’s especially important to put every penny where it will do the most good: Helping people in need. We’re asking you to skip the black tie fundraiser and donate what you would have spent on tickets, clothing, and dinner directly to PATH instead. This way, your contribution can start moving people off the streets and into homes right away.” Donate at www.imaginaryfeast.org, and find out more about PATH at www.path.org.
In addition to thanking these incredible organizations for all their work, we’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you, our customer, for helping us help them.
It’s early December, and if you’re like many of us, your calendar is filling up with people to see and places to be.
And speaking of places to be … we salute the hosts and hostesses of the holiday season – those generous souls who invite us into their homes for food, drink, and all-around merriment.To thank them, we think it’s only appropriate to give them a little something to show how much we appreciate the hospitality.
For starters, may we recommend a Reindeer Antler Bottle Opener? Besides being just plain cool looking, these openers have a story. Naturally shed by the reindeer, the antlers are collected by the Sami, semi-nomadic reindeer herders of the northernmost regions of Europe. The antlers are then used to create decorative (and functional) objects, like this striking opener. Pair it with a six-pack of craft-brewed winter ale, and any party will reach a new level of festive when you arrive.
Reindeer Antler Bottle Opener
Another can’t-go-wrong option: a lovely scented candle. Because not all scented candles are created equal, we put several though a rigorous sniff test to decide which are gift-worthy. The Voyage de Mer candle made the final cut. Its clean, sea-inspired scent is a great way to freshen up a room, plus it burns for 85 hours.
Voyage de Mer Scented Candle
You will certainly win a repeat invitation if you show up bearing exclusive handcrafted stoneware cups. Made by a Portland ceramicist, the cups are crafted in the Japanese style of yunomi (cups used for informal tea drinking), and are designed to fit comfortably in one’s hand. What better way for a host or hostess to relax after the big gathering than with a soothing hot drink warming their palms?
Stoneware Cup
For more host and hostess-friendly items, visit our gift boutiques, and Pinterest gift boards:
Gifts for Under $100: Jadite and Glassware
Gifts for Under $100: Handy, Helpful and Fun
Cheers!
