Trig Modern

Triangle Architects, Artists Raise Funds for Homeless Cats and Kittens

Blueplate PR1 Comment

5 Houses, 1 chair, 4 pieces of art

Modern cat houses and original art are auctioned off to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats

A sleek black cube, a “cannoli” rendered in walnut veneer, a maple cat house/side table… These were among the modern, indoor cat houses that Raleigh-area architects and designers created for The Cat’s Meow 2018, the second annual fundraiser for SAFE Haven for Cats.

Founded in 1994, SAFE Haven is Raleigh’s no-kill shelter and low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Since opening, SAFE Haven has orchestrated the adoptions of more than 9500 cats and kittens and spayed or neutered over 25,000 animals in its clinic.

Five modern, one-of-a-kind indoor cat houses, four original works by Raleigh artists, and an iconic Eames Shell Chair comprised this year’s live auction held in Trig Modern in Raleigh on June 7th. Professional auctioneer Ben Farrell sold every item.

Presented by Trig owner Bob Drake and Ann Marie Baum of Baum Shelter interior design, the event raised nearly $3000.

Safe-Haven-for-Cats-LOGO“All of us in the SAFE Haven family are amazed at the generosity of the designers and artists who created all of these cat-centric works of art for The Cat’s Meow,” Miller said. “We are grateful to our local business sponsors Trig Modern and Baum Shelter for creating and hosting this event. Because of them, we will be able to save the lives of many more stray and abandoned cats and kittens in June and July.”

The 2018 Cat’s Meow auction items were:

Cat Cannoli

1. Cat Cannoli by architect David Cole, founder and principal of Inclusion Studio. Low and cozy, the cannoli features a walnut veneer exterior that brings to mind paneling frequently used in mid-century-modern houses. A real, cat-sized cowhide rug slips inside the bright red interior.

Cat's Loft

2. A Cat’s Loft by Will Alphin, founder and principal of REdesign.build, and his talented team. The sleek black cube features the smooth, satin finish of a fine piece of furniture. The cube sits on a metal frame base, allowing the piece to do double duty as a cat’s modern loft and a side table. The opening lets the resident peek out from this elegant hiding place. A removable lid allows humans to locate their feline friend quickly, vacuum up the accumulated cat hair, and get rid of the occasional fur ball with ease.

CatHouse_ModSideTable

3. Cat House/Modern Side Table by Corey Baughman of Clearscapes. The piece is composed of solid maple and brass with a painted light-blue exterior and wax finish. The inverted form is reminiscent of a traditional concept of “house.” The interior is carved. The exterior is smooth. And elevated on tapered legs, it can serve as both cat house and modern side table. There’s also a cup holder on the surface.

Vertical Modern Cat Tower

4. Vertical Modern Cat Tower by artist and interior designer Clark Hipolito, founder and principal of The Art Co. Created with a cat’s love of climbing in mind, the tall Tower features lots of scratching surfaces and a very “climbable” structure.  A couple of dangling green balls for batting around complete the contemporary composition.

Ca.CliffHanger

5. California Cliff-Hanger…on Casters! by Jamie Smith of Xylem, Inc. cabinetmakers. Utilizing the economy of the “S” shape, this creative cat house offers three levels – internal and external – rendered in white and wood-grain laminates. Today, a real California Cliffhanger might feature a “green,” or vegetated roof. This roof is covered in carpeting, however, that inspires hours of scratching. And napping. And the casters let the owner’s human move it around to find a sunny spot, offer a view out a window, tuck into a dark corner if strangers come in the house…

Eames Chair plus Cat Illus. copy

6 Eames Molded Fiberglass Shell Chair donated by Bob Drake, owner, Trig Modern, and “Smalls on Eames Chair” original illustration by Karen Kluttz. The chair, originally designed in 1950, and Kluttz’s illustration of her own cat, “Smalls,” on two red Eames shell chairs, were auctioned off together.

SofaSnoozer_KK copy

7. “Sofa Snoozer” and “Fish Market,” original illustrations by Karen Kluttz. A Visual Arts Exchange artist, Karen Kluttz donated three cat-related pieces to The Cat’s Meow 2018.

Louis St. Lewiis 2018

8. Untitled by Louis St. Louis. To borrow some words from critic D. Eric Bookhardt, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans, the artist created this piece especially for The Cat’s Meow as one of his series of “smallish collages…a mix of pop and classical images cut up and sandwiched between sheets of glass. Touched up with paint and displayed in ornate frames…”

2018 HEADER

About The Cat’s Meow:  The Cat’s Meow is an annual party and auction of modern, professionally designed indoor houses for cats to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, sponsored by Trig Modern and Baum Shelter, both of Raleigh.  For more information, visit this year’s Facebook page.

For more information on SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh: www.safehavenforcats.org.

DATE CHANGE: The Cat’s Meow Charitable Auction Postponed to June 7th

Blueplate PRLeave a comment

2018 HEADER

May 11, 2018 (Raleigh, NC) – Due to scheduling conflicts, Trig Modern, Baum Shelter, and SAFE Haven for Cats have postponed The Cat’s Meow charity auction and party to Thursday, June 7th. The event will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at Trig Modern, 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh, NC.

Featuring entertaining auctioneer Ben Farrell, The Cat’s Meow is an annual auction of cool, modern, indoor “houses” for cats created by architects, artisans, interior designers, and other professionals. All proceeds go to SAFE Haven for Cats, a non-profit, no-kill shelter and low-cost clinic in Raleigh dedicated to caring for and finding homes for thousands of homeless cats and kittens, many of which have been abandoned and need veterinary help as well as permanent homes.

Hosts for The Cat’s Meow are Bob Drake, owner of Trig Modern furniture showroom and design center, Ann Marie Baum of Baum Shelter, a new interior design firm in Raleigh, and Pam Miller, founder, president, and CEO of SAFE Haven for Cats.

Completed cat houses should now be delivered to Trig Modern by June 6th. Anyone interested in designing a cat house, donating another item for auction, or providing in-kind donations should contact Ann Marie Baum as soon as possible either by phone (919.971.5450) or email: annmariebaum7@gmail.com.

Follow The Cat’s Meow 2018 on Facebook.

Safe Have Logo_1About SAFE Haven for Cats:

SAFE Haven’s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. The shelter receives no government funds and relies solely on private donations for 84 percent of its budget.

Visit safehavenforcats.org for more information.

 

Trig Modern Announces…

Blueplate PRLeave a comment

catsmeowheader_large

Architects and designers create cool, modern cat houses for an auction to benefit SAFE Haven For Cats.

Trig Modern design center and showroom in Raleigh announces “The Cat’s Meow,” an auction of modern, professionally designed houses for cats to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats, a non-profit, no-kill shelter in Raleigh dedicated to finding homes for homeless cats and kittens.

The auction will be held Wednesday, May 10th, from 6-8 p.m., during a Cocktail Party in Trig Modern’s showroom in Dock 1053, 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road. Raleigh. The Auction and Party are free and open to the public. Professional auctioneer Ben Ferrell is donating his services.

Ann Marie Baum, Trig Modern’s lead interior designer and a SAFE Haven volunteer, has issued Invitations to architects and designers throughout the Triangle area to create “cool, modern cat houses that people who love cats will be delighted to have in their homes. So we’re encouraging participating designers to think of their contributions as furniture or accessories that will contribute to, rather than detract from, someone’s décor.”

Modern design and quality construction are also imperative, she stressed, “so that the houses will fetch substantial prices. This is a fundraiser after all!”

Baum and Trig Modern’s owner, Bob Drake, were inspired to organize and present “The Cat’s Meow” after seeing the results of a similar event that architects in Los Angeles. “How cool can a cat house be? Just take a look at these,” she said, referencing Los Angeles Architects For Animals fundraiser for a local nonprofit.

“We are so excited about ‘The Cat’s Meow’ auction to help formerly stray cats find their home-sweet-home’ literally,” said Pam Miller, founder and president of SAFE Haven for Cats. “This is a creative, fun, and practical way to help abandoned cats and kittens find the first real home they have ever known. We’re so grateful to Trig Modern for hosting this event.”

Completed cat houses will be delivered to Trig Modern May 4-6 and remain on display in the showroom until the night of the Cocktail Party and Auction. Those interested in bidding may stop in the showroom anytime during business hours (Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to take a close look at the little houses prior to the auction.

Anyone interested in participating in “The Cat’s Meow” – by designing a cathouse, providing in-kind donations, etc. – should contact Ann Marie Baum as soon as possible either by phone at Trig Modern, 919.516.8744 or by emailing her: annmariebaum7@gmail.com.

For more information on Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com.

About Trig Modern:

Founded in December 2012, Trig Modern is owned and operated by furniture and lighting designer Bob Drake. Through its combination of modern and mid-century-inspired furniture, lighting, wall and floor coverings, and accessories, as well as Modern kitchen and bath remodeling services, Trig Modern’s mission is to present a realistic portrait of sensible living and offer an antidote to excess, formality, and convention. For more information visit www.trigmodern.com, call 919.516.8744 and find Trig Modern on Facebook. The showroom is located at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

About SAFE Haven for Cats:

SAFE Haven’s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. The shelter receives no government funds and relies solely on private donations for 84p percent of its budget. Visit safehavenforcats.org for more information.

 

Trig Modern Expands Textiles Offerings with Two Custom, Couture Rug Lines

Blueplate PRLeave a comment

Customer demand for modern floor coverings makes

high-end options a viable alternative.

Emma Gardner Designs area rug. (Photo from EGD gallery)
Emma Gardner Design area rug. (Photo from EGD gallery)

Trig Modern in Raleigh, the design center and showroom in Dock 1053 on East Whitaker Mill Road, has announced that it is now offering two new high-end modern, custom area rug collections from California: Emma Gardner Design, LLC, of Petaluma and Savnik & Co. of San Francisco.

“We’re always in search of fresh, unique products,” said Trig Modern owner Bob Drake. “Emma Gardner and Savnik are not widely distributed and they are on the high end, price-wise. But both companies offer such beautiful, unique options that we felt compelled to make them available to our showroom customers and interior design clients.”

Established in 2002 by Emma Gardner of Kyoto, Japan, Emma Gardner Design’s primary products are couture area rugs that are hand-made and GoodWeave-certified* in Nepal. Based on original copyrighted designs, the rugs are hand-knotted using hand-carded, hand-spun, pot-dyed Tibetan wool, and fine Chinese silk. Each one is made to order. Categories include Floral/Asian, Geometric, Organic Natural, and Signature, among others.

Savnik & Co. pure wool rug. (Photo from Houzz)
Savnik & Co. pure wool rug. (Photo from Houzz)

Savnik & Company is a family-owned business founded over 50 years ago. Its rugs and carpets are made of 100 percent wool that is skein-dyed for pure, even color. Its extensive line of textures can be augmented by custom treatments including shapes, sizes, over-tufted patterns, borders, and fringe. In addition to its 80 standard color palette, Savnik can also custom-match yarns to paint samples, fabric swatches, etc.

“There’s something wonderful about having a gorgeous rug customized to your specific design vision,” Drake said, “whether that means colors, motif, or a unique size. We’re confident that Trig Modern customers and clients are going to find these lines very exciting.”

For more information on Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com or call 919. 516.8755.

*About GoodWeave Certification:

The handmade carpet industry exploits nearly 250,000 children. GoodWeave is helping to combat this problem and transform the rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs and by providing education and other opportunities to rescued- and at-risk children. GoodWeave certification assures that no children were involved in the making of a rug.

logo_smAbout Trig Modern:

Founded in December 2012, Trig Modern is owned and operated by furniture and lighting designer Bob Drake. Through its combination of modern and mid-century-inspired furniture, lighting, wall and floor coverings, and accessories, as well as Modern kitchen and bath remodeling services, Trig Modern’s mission is to present a realistic portrait of sensible living and offer an antidote to excess, formality, and convention. For more information visit www.trigmodern.com, call 919.516.8744, and find Trig Modern on Facebook. The showroom is located at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Trig Modern’s Ann Marie Baum To Moderate Furniture Makers’ Panel Discussion

Blueplate PRLeave a comment
Trig Modern
Trig Modern interior designer Ann Marie Baum

“Craft and Furniture Makers for the 21st Century” is part of summer-long exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Raleigh.

On Sunday, July 24, from 4-6 p.m., interior designer Ann Marie Baum of Trig Modern design center and showroom in Raleigh will moderate an informal conversation among area furniture makers at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in downtown Raleigh entitled “Craft and Furniture Makers for the 21st Century.”

Free and open to the public, the event is part of CAM’s summer exhibition “20 Years of Horse & Buggy Press,” an award-winning printing shop and book production studio in Durham. The exhibition will run through August 7.

Baum’s conversation will include Al Frega, Scott Howell, Ben Galata, Jessica Ullom from Hawks & Doves, and Anthony Ulinski of Dovetail Woodworks — five of the furniture makers who created custom works for a “living room-esque” space in CAM where the conversation will take place. Each of the five will talk about their work. Dave Wofford of Horse & Buggy Press will briefly discuss books as original artifacts. And Baum will lead a question-and-answer session following the individual presentations.

Originally from Hopewell, Virginia, Ann Marie Baum co-founded Cherry Modern Design in Raleigh in 2004. During her years at Cherry Modern Design, she collaborated with Clearscapes Architecture on the interiors of The Hudson condo building in downtown Raleigh and worked closely with architect Thomas Pheiffer and the NC Museum of Art staff to furnish the museum’s new wing and Iris Cafe. She joined Trig Modern in 2014, where she serves as lead interior designer.

Baum and Trig Modern’s owner, Bob Drake, frequently work with local and regional furniture and casework designers for their interior design projects. They also carry local designers’ work in their showroom.

“It’s going to be a fascinating discussion,” Baum predicted. “I admire the work of each of these artists.”
For more information on this and other events associated with the exhibition “20 Years of Horse & Buggy Press,” go to camraleigh.org/exhibitions/. Even though the event is free, anyone interested in attending should RSVP to Melissa Roth at melissa.roth@camraleigh.org.

For more information on Ann Marie Baum and Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com.

logo_smAbout Trig Modern:

Founded in December 2012, Trig Modern is owned and operated by furniture and lighting designer Bob Drake. Through its combination of modern and mid-century-inspired furniture, lighting, wall and floor coverings, and accessories, as well as Modern kitchen and bath remodeling services, Trig Modern’s mission is to present a realistic portrait of sensible living and offer an antidote to excess, formality, and convention. For more information visit www.trigmodern.com, call 919.516.8744, and find Trig Modern on Facebook. The showroom is located at 1053 East Whitaker Mil Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Grand Entrance: Trig Modern To Update The Quorum’s Lobby, Corridors

Blueplate PRLeave a comment
Trig Modern
Trig Modern interior designer Ann Marie Baum

Trig Modern, the only showroom and design service in downtown Raleigh that specializes in modern decor, has been hired to upgrade the lobby and the eight residential corridors in The Residents at Quorum Center, a luxury condominium building also in downtown Raleigh.

“An inviting lobby is the condo version of curb appeal and your first impression of a building,” said Trig Modern interior designer Ann Marie Baum. ”That’s especially important in high-end buildings. The Quorum’s lobby harkens back to a time of elegance and sophistication, and our design speaks to that. We want to emphasize the beauty of the Quorum’s tile floors and Venetian plaster walls by adding layers of texture and color.”

Baum proposed three different color palettes – teal, orange, and gray — that will ensure the modern elements she introduces are warm and inviting.  The Quorum’s board will select one of them.

Each color “story,” as Baum calls them, involves replacing the wood-framed, Regency-style arm chairs in the lobby with either a pair of armless slipper chairs or a sleek, modern sofa in jewel-toned, patterned upholstery. She’ll complete the vignette with modern accent tables.

Each scheme also will replace the current console tables, lamps, and mirrors at the elevators – “which aren’t necessary,” Baum noted — with upholstered benches. She’ll upgrade the wall-to-wall carpet in the corridors with new striated carpet tiles that can be replaced easily if one of them is damaged or stained.

“And on every floor, above each bench, as well as in the lobby, I’ve recommended installing original works of art,” Baum said. “These pieces can be rotated among the floors and eventually rotated out of the Quorum so that new pieces can be brought in.” She will work with Kelly McChessney of Flanders Gallery in downtown Raleigh for the art rotation.

Baum also intends to remove all the artificial plants in the building and upgrade the lighting in the residents’ mail room.

For more information on Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com.

TRIG Modern Celebrates Mid-Century Designers During “Thirst4Architecture”

Blueplate PRLeave a comment
Trig Modern
Dutch designer Hella Jongerius’ reinterpretation of Alvar Aalto’s 400 and 401 Armchair for Artek.

April’s networking event for Modernist design enthusiasts

TRIG Modern, Raleigh’s premiere Modern furniture showroom at 328 West Jones Street, will present “An Evening with Alvar, Adrian, Milo and Vladimir” when the store hosts North Carolina Modernist Houses’ (NCMH’s) “Thirst4Architecture” networking happy hour on Thursday, April 16, from 6-8 p.m. A celebration of mid-century designers, the event is free and open to the public.

Emilie Huin of Coldwell Banker, a specialist in Modernist real estate throughout the Triangle, is the series sponsor for all 2014-2015 T4A happy hours, which provide opportunities for modern design enthusiasts to mix, mingle, and make strategic connections. The host business provides refreshments and other entertainment while attendees build relationships, create strategic alliances, and make new contacts.

For the April T4A, TRIG Modern’s owner, Bob Drake, will spotlight iconic mid-20th-century modern chairs designed by Finnish architect, sculptor and painter Alvar Aalto; American architect and furniture designer Adrian Pearsall; American furniture designer and 2009 Interior Design Hall of Fame inductee Vladimir Kagan; and North Carolina-based Thayer Coggins’ premiere designer Milo Baughman. Examples of each designer’s chairs will be on display in the showroom.

In keeping with the evening’s Mid-Century theme, Drake’s sister will cater the event, serving up classic 1950s and ‘60s dishes.

“The best thing about hosting a T4A event,” Drake said, “is being surrounded by a bunch of like-minded folks who appreciate Modern design.”

Opened in 2012, TRIG Modern is the only showroom and design service in downtown Raleigh that specializes in modern furniture and lighting in tandem with an eclectic blend of compatible furnishings and accessories, including Mid-20th Century items and a throw pillow collection that Drake designed himself.

“TRIG is a very different kind of showroom,” Drake said. “We combine both new and vintage furniture, kitchen and bath, lighting, original art and objects.”

Drake noted that the store’s new line of modern kitchen systems will also be on display that night. For more information on TRIG Modern, visit http://trigmodern.com.

NCMH is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential design across the state. For the dates and locations of future T4A events, go to www.ncmodernist.org/t4a.

redchair smAbout NC Modernist Houses:

North Carolina Modernist Houses (NCMH) is an award-winning, 501C3 nonprofit organizations established in 2007 and dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential design. The website is now the largest open digital archive for Modernist residential design in America. NCMH also hosts popular architecture events every month and frequent home tours, giving the public access to the most exciting residential architecture, past and present. These tours and events raise awareness and help preserve these “livable works of art” for future generations. For more information: www.ncmodernist.org.