“Buy Local” is a lifestyle we are wholeheartedly behind, however, certain industries are definitely more accessible than others. While farm-fresh fare lines our markets and Instagram-based clothing companies are only a tap away, furniture suppliers make us dig a little deeper. Canadian company EQ3 is the exception, with most of its home offerings made right here in the Great White North. Recently, the company partnered with Shawn Place—a designer based in Prince George, B.C.—on an exclusive dining collection, aptly named “Place”. We sat down with Shawn to chat about the partnership and inspiration behind the collection. —Rachel Johnston
Hi Shawn! Tell us a little bit more about yourself and your history as a designer?
I’ve been designing furniture since 2000. I originally came out West from Ontario and was riding my bike around Gastown when I stumbled into Inform Interiors. I didn’t really know anything about modern or high-end furniture. And I went into that store and was just amazed by this beautiful old Danish wooden furniture. Probably Carl Hansen or PP Møbler. And I thought to myself, "I’m gonna be a furniture designer—that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of my life!" So I designed some chairs, made some prototypes and brought them back to Inform and got some really great feedback from Nancy and Niels Bendtsen, the founders. They became my first dealer shortly after that and I’ve been making furniture ever since!
What sort of furniture do you specialize in now?
Chairs and tables are sort of what I do, mostly. My stuff is fairly Scandinavian and Japanese style. Very minimal, wood furnishings. That’s where I’ve been directing my focus lately.
How did you end up partnering with EQ3?
A number of years ago EQ3 contacted me about doing some furniture for them. I knew a few people there through the design team. Shortly after we started working together, they decided to do the Assembly Collection—a collective of Canadian designers from all across the country. Its aim was to come up with a sense of what design means in Canada. So they put out a collection featuring about 12 designers and the table I contributed did quite well so they since decided to put it into the permanent collection. We did a few revisions on it. Changed some dimensions and did some refinements and also added a dinette table with square- and round-top options. I was getting emails from Vancouver all the time with people saying, "Love your table but can’t fit it in my condo." So EQ3 listened and came up with a few more options.
What else makes the collection unique and what inspired it?
When I was first asked to do the Assembly Collection, being that it was designers from across the country, I wanted to have something from the West Coast vernacular to represent where I’m from. So the influence for my table is a lot of West Coast modern architecture. Similar to Arthur Erikson’s early homes—that post-and-beams-style construction, like Smith House and the Grand House—like that. Even Haida longhouses—a similar style of construction. The whole collection is available right now in white oak and ash, and I believe walnut will be available in the fall. So having the glass-top table allowed me to do something very sculptural and architectural. Instead of having the top be the focus, it’s the base. So, it allowed me to do something similar to some of those early houses that I love so much.
Why do you think it’s important for Canadian companies to partner with Canadian designers?
Well, for me it means work, so there’s that! What I really find tough in the industry for Canadian designers is that there are not many outlets for work. Most of what I do is for corporate people or European companies. So it’s much harder because you’re travelling to shows in Europe all the time, spending tens of thousands of dollars, just to build relationships. So it’s nice building a relationship with someone close to home—someone local.
Anything else you want to highlight about the collection?
Well, they are really nice pieces! Its sculptural and fun and thanks to EQ3 it’s incredibly affordable as well. I mean, the glass-top table is only $1,000 retail. Good luck finding that with any other company! I just did a rocking chair with another company and we’re probably looking at $3,500. So a $1,000 dining table this beautiful and interesting, for that price is amazing.
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