FRANCIS LEMIEUX & CO

Polaris Inspections

2012-03-02T18:40:00.002-08:00

Francis Lemieux is licensed to provide the service of home and property inspections. Home Inspectors in British Columbia are required to be licensed by Consumer Protection BC. For more information about Polaris Inspections visit the website Polaris Inspections.com.

END OF THE WORLD SALE

2012-01-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Frank Smith is having an "End of the World" sale.
All designs are discounted by up to 50%!
Don't wait! Sale ends December 21 2012!

We aim to please

2011-12-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

I had a request from a customer today for just two of the Frank Smith nesting tables, the two middle sized ones. What did I do? I accommodated her by breaking up a set. What does this mean? A happy customer and one big table and one little table. It there is someone else out there looking for either or both of these, give me a call.

Happiness

2011-10-22T13:37:00.001-07:00

Happiness is making things.
Greater happiness is making other people happy by making things.
Even greater happiness is working with other people making things to make other people happy.

YALETOWN KITCHEN AND BATHROOM RENOVATION

2011-07-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a project we recently completed as part of a Yaletown renovation. The two bedroom apartment is about sixteen years old.
We worked very closely with Interior Designer Negar Reihani of Space Harmony Design. Negar had a hand in every detail down to the width of the rails and stiles of the doors.
There were a lot of custom details only achievable by working with a cabinetmaker. Some of those included the wine rack beside the refrigerator. Not only does it provide wine storage but it also conceals framing and plumbing. The pantry to the right of the dishwasher took advantage of a cavity concealed in the wall. The steel stud framing was concealed with a custom detail finished in the same colour as the cabinets.
The bathroom vanities have full width drawers custom made to fit around all of the plumbing and cabinet structure.
All in all, this is a beautiful transformation of a dark and dreary suite and a great example of what can be achieved when talented designers and skilled trades put their hands and heads together.

My Presentation at Pecha Kucha

2011-05-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to make a presentation on my work and creativity at Pecha Kucha. Here is the presentation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIoXQY-9i_8

OUR WORK IS NOW REPRESENTED IN A LOCAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

2011-04-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

We make everything from scratch, locally. Now we are showing our work in a local retail environment. Creative Home Furnishings
is a furniture retailer with a large showroom in Coquitlam. Most of their products are sourced locally. Currently, we are showing a number of pieces from the Frank Smith collection. These pieces are being offered at prices reduced by about 35%.
Now is a excellent time to realize significant savings on our coffee tables and nestings tables as well as some new pieces

LARGE FRAMES FOR JEFF WALL PHOTOGRAPHS

2011-01-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

One of the more challenging projects we have had is making large wood picture frames for black and white photographs by Vancouver artist Jeff Wall. We recently made several of these in sizes up to 9 X 13 feet (396.24 X 274.32 cm).

These frames had to be very sturdy as the photos are mounted onto 1/2" (12mm) thick honeycomb aluminum panels with 5/8" (15mm) glass in front. They also needed to be almost perfectly square. When measured on the diagonal they were accurate to within 1mm.

In order to tie the whole thing together and provide addition strength a grid stretcher in installed in the back. The photo shows several of these stretchers hanging in the shop.

Coal Harbour bookcase / cabinet

2011-01-12T22:51:00.000-08:00

This is a project we recently completed for a Coal Harbour townhouse.

Two of the most important things that made this project a great success are the same things that make every project a success; communication and co-operation. The client was very patient and took the time to make sure that his money would be well invested and that his choices with respect to design and materials would be educated decisions. In fact his desire to understand the advantages of one material over another led to an earlier post on the choice between veneer and solid wood.

This project is a great example of the value realized by custom "bespoke" furniture and architectural woodwork as opposed to off-the-shelf or "customized" options. Maximum use was made of the space. The unit is floor to ceiling in a nine foot ceiling height room. Accommodations were made for the electrical to the left of the unit. There is no back in the bookcase section in order not to close off venting in the wall. Everything was considered in terms of what items would be displayed on the shelving and what items would be stored below. Several material / finish samples were provided in order to allow the client to review them in context.

This project also benefited by our ability to produce everything "in house". For example, if a shelf looks better and performs better
at a thickness of 1.25 inches over 1", we make is 1.25". We are not constrained by material manufacturers standards.

HOME THEATRE

2011-01-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

This is a home theatre we recently completed for a Coquitlam residence.
Again, my apologies for the poor quality photo.

As with all of the custom architectural woodwork we do, this project was designed to meet the specific needs of the client and built from scratch.

The cabinets were made of maple and stained almost black. This was done for two reasons. One was to match some of the existing millwork and the other was so that the cabinets would virtually disappear when watching the screen.

The cabinets on either side of the screen provided space for the electronic equipment and storage. Drawers at the bottom provided storage for media. Space was also provided in the cabinets for speakers with removable fabric covered front panels.

A special challenge with this project was the crown molding. The room was finished before they started planning the theatre. The owners were not sure what to do with the large crown molding as they wanted the cabinets to come to the ceiling. This problem was solved with an additional matching molding at the front of the cabinets, essentially, in appearance moving the back wall forward to the front of the cabinets for a seamless built-in effect.

WALNUT BED

2010-12-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is a bed we recently completed for a Vancouver interior design company.
Unfortunately I have not been able to get a better photo. This is often the case with custom work. It is not always possible to get good photos due to logistical concerns, poor lighting or other factors.
This bed was made of quarter cut walnut veneers and solid wood. It was finished with a dark charcoal stain. The outside corners were mitred. The bedside tables had a single drawer each with the fronts mitred.

One of the things I like about this design was the proportioning. The side and end pieces were thick enough at three inches to provide a substantial ledge surface.

I also like the symmetry. The foot board was divided in the centre by a vertical inlay.
To support the mattress we used a system of curved laminated wood slats.
The large upholstered part of the headboard was supplied by the designer.

HEIRLOOM REPRODUCTIONS

2010-12-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

Sometime in the early 1990’s I was asked to make twelve reproductions of an antique chair. The owner of this chair had inherited it from her mother who had owned it for many years.
Although the history of the origin of this chair was lost, it had high value to the owner as a family heirloom.
The chair had no markings and nothing to indicate who had made it or where. The owners brought it to Vancouver from England.
It is not known when the chair was made, but it had been in the family since the early part of the 2oth century.
The owner loved the chair for its design and for its place in their family story. They wanted a set of twelve for their dining room.

From a woodworking perspective this was an interesting and challenging project. There were no drawings or patterns; I had to work off the original piece. The original chair had become somewhat distorted and contorted over the years so angles had to be measured then an average taken. Patterns for curves were taken directly from the original.
Making the reproductions involved the full array of hand and power tools.
The original chair was made from mahogany as were the reproductions.
I have included a number of photos of the process of reproducing this piece.

OUR CLIENTS

2010-12-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is a partial list of our clients. Most of the clients listed here are businesses. Our client list also includes many private residences. The range of projects varies from small furniture pieces and larger architectural woodwork projects to specialized conceptual art pieces.
Each project is equally valued and appreciated for the opportunity to get to know some great people and the experience gained by working with them.

ACTON OSTRY ARCHITECTS
AKIYAMA INTERIOR DESIGN
ALEXANDRA HAAS DESIGN - GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ALIKI GLADWIN & ASSOCIATED INC. - INTERIOR DESIGNERS
ALLAN BELL ARCHITECT
ANGELA CHAN DESIGN - GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ANDREW GRUFT AND CLAUDIA BECK - ARCHITECT, EDUCATORS
ANGLES GALLERY
ASHLEY PRYCE INTERIOR DESIGN
BAU-XI GALLERY - ART GALLERY
BBA DESIGN CONSULTANTS INC. – INTERIOR DESIGNERS
BC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
BLACKBERRY BOOKS - RETAIL STORE
BRAD CAMERON ARCHITECT / LEVEL DESIGN
BRICAULT DESIGN / FORMERLY GRANVILLE ISLAND WOODWORK
BRENT COMBER ORIGINALS – WOODWORKER
BRIAN HEMINGWAY - ARCHITECT
BURNS ARCHIVE
CARLO DONETTI
CATRIONA JEFFRIES GALLERY – ART GALLERY
CHANTAL RYAN DESIGN– INTERIOR DESIGNER
CHASTON CONSTRUCTION
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
CHICK RICE - PHOTOGRAPHER
COMOGLIO DESIGN CONSULTANTS
CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
CO-ORDINATED HOTEL INTERIORS – INTERIOR DESIGNER
COAST HOTELS
DIGITOPOLIS – GRAPHIC DESIGNER
DOUGLAS UDELL GALLERY
E. A. FISHER ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORK
E. L. S. CONTRACTING – CONTRACTOR
EQUINOX GALLERY – ART GALLERY
ESSENTIAL CHIROPRACTIC
EUREKA DESIGN – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS LTD.
FRANK ALLEN ARCHITECT
FRANK MERRICK, HANNON CONSTRUCTION
FRASER RIVER HARBOUR COMMISSION
FREDERICK LONGTIN - SHOE DESIGNER / MAKER
FURHMANN CONSTRUCTION GROUP INC. – CONTRACTOR
GALERIE NELSON - FREEMAN
GRIFFITHS UHRYNIUK ARCHITECTURE
GROUP 5 INTERIOR DESIGN
HARPER GREY LLP
HEFFEL BALAGNO INTERIOR DESIGN
HENRY HAWTHORNE ARCHITECTS
HOLLINGSWORTH ARCHITECTURE
IBI GROUP ARCHITECTS
INTRACORP
INTRAWEST MAMMOTH CORPORATION
ITALINTERIORS
JAMES FENSOM ARCHITECTURE
JOEL BERMAN GLASS STUDIOS
JOHN KEITH KING - ARCHITECT
JUDSON BEAUMONT - ARTIST
KARL STITTGEN - JEWELLER
KEETLEY DESIGN CONSULTANTS – INTERIOR DESIGNER
KEITH JAKOBSEN - ARCHITECT
KELLY DECK INTERIOR DESIGN
KEN LUM - ARTIST
KENNETH KING ARCHITECTURE
LEVEL INTERIORS
LINDA CHINFEN - ARTIST
MAGNUM OPUS INTERIOR DESIGN
MALCLOM HASMAN REALTY
MARIAN BANTJES – GRAPHIC DESIGNER, ARTIST
MARK LEWIS - ARTIST
MAISON V GALLERY
McGINN ENGINEERING & PRESERVATION, ARCHITECTURE
MITCHELL FREEDLAND DESIGN – INTERIOR DESIGNER
MONTE CLARK GALLERY – ART GALLERY
NEIL WEDMAN - ARTIST
NOUS DESIGN – INTERIOR DESIGN
ONE POINT SIX DESIGN – INTERIOR DESIGNER
PACIFIC CINEMATHEQUE
PAINE EDMONDS LAWYERS
PATRICK PAINTER GALLERY
PORTFOLIO GALLERY – ART GALLERY
PORTICO DESIGN GROUP – INTERIOR DESIGNER
PRESENTATION HOUSE GALLERY
PROSCENIUM ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS INC.
ROBERT LEDINGHAM INTERIOR DESIGN
ROBERT STUDER - GLASS ARTIST
ROBERT KLYNE - ARCHITECT
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS CREATIVE GROUP INC. – INTERIOR DESIGNER
RODNEY GRAHAM - ARTIST
ROY ARDEN - ARTIST
RUSCO ENTERPRISES – CONTRACTOR
SCOTT MCFARLAND – ARTIST
SEVA HOME
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
SITU DESIGN – INTERIOR DESIGNER
SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
SOREN RASMUSSEN ARCHITECT
SPACE HARMONY – INTERIOR DESIGN
STEPHEN WADDELL – ARTIST
STEVE AND RANDI IZEN
STUDIO BROVHN – INTERIOR DESIGN
SWIMCO - RETAIL STORE
SWISS WATER DE-CAFFEINATED COFFEE INC.
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
URASENKE FOUNDATION OF VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER ART GALLERY
JEFF WALL - ARTIST
ZENON TRYLOWSKY DENTISTRY

HOME OFFICE, DEN IN THE "ERICKSON"

2010-11-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

We recently completed this project in the new Erickson building at the foot of Homer Street in Vancouver.

The project included a home office / den / home theatre just off the living room in this 2200 square foot suite on the 18th floor.

We worked closely with a new interior design firm called Nous Design.

I like the versatility and innovation of this design. It serves several purposes simultaneously. The lower cabinet houses all the AV equipment and provides storage. The left side of the top pivots out to form a desk surface. The other cabinets have two drawers set up for file folders with the rest for storage of small items.
The sliding doors on the shelving unit can be moved to any position to hide some things and allow for display of others.

Materials and finishes include four gloss paint finishes and a natural walnut.

UNICEF, UNITE WITH ART AUCTION

2010-10-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the privilege of being invited to donate a new art work to the Unicef Unite with Art Auction in Vancouver.

IDSwest

2010-09-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

Its back, IDSwest. And we will be exhibiting again this year, in the new venue, the new Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.
This has become the main event for Interior Design in Vancouver and for many people designing and making in wood, this is one of the few opportunities to bring their work to the public and especially to those with a special interest in design.
Its also a great place to network and socialize with colleagues and old friends.
We have a limited number of free passes, if you would like one send us an email info@francislemieux.com

SOLID WOOD OR VENEER? PLYWOOD OR MDF? ETC

2010-05-24T15:46:00.001-07:00

Many people when choosing wood products ask which is better, solid wood or veneer? Plywood or mdf?
There is no simple answer. It’s a little like the question; which is better, aluminum or steel? It depends on the application.

Here are some definitions:

Solid wood – is just that, a tree cut into boards.

Veneer – in this context is solid wood, cut thin and glued to a substrate. The substrate might be plywood, mdf or particleboard.

Plywood – typically, plywood is made of layers of veneer about 1/8” thick glued together, alternating the grain direction of each layer.

Mdf – this definition is taken from the Industry Canada website.

Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is a non-structural panel made of wood fibres bound together with adhesives under heat and pressure. It can be made from a variety of natural fibres, yet wood is by far the most important because of its relative abundance and year-round availability. Mill residues and chips are the common feed stocks in existing fibreboard plants.
Wood is mechanically refined, and the panels are formed through a dry process. This uses less water than the wet process used for high density fibreboard (hardboard), with obvious environmental advantages, and it allows the production of thicker panels, as the wet process is limited to 12.5–mm (½–inch) thick panels.
MDF has a substantially homogeneous consistency resulting from the uniform distribution of the wood fibres throughout the board. Different characteristics can be produced to meet end use requirements. Smooth and solid edges can be easily machined and finished, and the uniform surface provides an excellent substrate for painting or applying decorative overlays.
This advantage has secured MDF's solid position in the furniture market. It has been successfully used in shelves, flush doors, television cabinets, wrapped moldings, cupboards, drawer fronts, table tops, pool tables, office furniture, plaques and shields, game boards, toys, picture frames, mirror surroundings, pedestals for tables, bedroom furniture and bathroom accessories. Thick MDF is penetrating markets for millwork applications such as door frames, window frames, window sills, stiles, casings and turnings, as a substitute for solid wood.

Here are some considerations, advantages and disadvantages of the different materials:

In the Industry Canada definition of mdf it is described as a non-structural panel. I believe this refers to construction and building applications rather than furniture. Mdf is suitable for all manner of cabinets and furniture but its strength as a beam is much less than solid wood or plywood. For example, a plywood or solid wood shelf supported only on its ends can be longer than one of mdf without sagging. Plywood is probably the most rigid material because the laminations increase its strength. Solid wood is more rigid than mdf but its rigidity will vary depending on the species.
The rigidity of the material will affect the design. In order for an mdf shelf to have the same rigidity of solid wood or plywood it will need to be thicker, if it is the same thickness it will need to be shorter.

One of the most significant differences between mdf, particle board and plywood is resistance to moisture. This can be a consideration when choosing material for applications such as lower kitchen cabinets. Typical melamine (particle board with a micro thin layer of melamine plastic laminated to it) is extremely vulnerable to any exposure to water. A leaking dishwasher will destroy this material in short order, whereas plywood is much less vulnerable.

Another important consideration is stability, expansion and contraction. Solid wood is the least stable option. As the relative humidity drops during the winter when the heat is on, solid wood shrinks. When the humidity rises during the summer, solid wood swells.
If wood products, especially doors are not designed and made to accommodate this reality, warping, cracking and other distortions may occur.
A typical example is a frame and panel door. In this case we have a solid wood frame with a raised solid wood panel. The arrows indicate the direction of the grain.

Solid wood expands and contracts across the grain, in this case perpendicular to the direction of the arrows. A log shrinks mostly in diameter rather than length when it dries.
Because the frame of the door is narrow in width, the expansion and contraction (movement) across the grain will be minimized. The panel, which is wider will move more but because it is “floating” within grooves in the frame, it is free to expand and contract without distortion.
A flat panel door made of solid wood, will expand and contract across the grain, depending on the type of wood and the size of the door the movement may be quite significant. And depending on the orientation of the annual rings in the wood to the surface, the door may also warp.

Another consideration is the cost. This can vary widely between these different materials.
For example, a table top 36” x 96” x ¾” made from a high quality ¾” maple faced plywood with 1/8” thick solid edging might cost about 100.00 for materials and about the same in labour, not including finishing.
The same table top made of solid maple might cost 200.00 for material and anywhere from 650.00 to 1000.00 in labour depending on the rates of the shop producing the work.
There are also aestetic considerations. The veneered table top will have a consistant look with one piece of veneer or matched slices of veneer. The solid wood top will be made of various boards probably coming from different trees.

In summary, it is best to approach the choice of materials with an open mind understanding that no one material, solid wood, veneer, plywood, mdf or particle board is inherently better than another. Each has its individual properties and characteristics.
If you are working with the right designer / maker / supplier or salesperson, they will help you make the right choice for your application.

Francis Lemieux www.francislemieux.com

CHAIRS BY FRED THORNTON HOLLINGSWORTH

2010-04-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

These are a pair of armchairs we built for Hollingsworth Architecture in 2003. They were designed by Fred Thornton Hollingsworth in 1998.
Although the original drawings were to scale, there were no dimensions and the drawings we received had been reduced and faxed. It was a bit of a puzzle to determine the dimensions of the chair but once this was done I produced a shop drawing with the original proportions.
From this first set of shop drawings I could see that the proportions of the chair would not work from an ergonomic point of view. I then altered the dimensions and proportions to make the chair functional and comfortable while retaining the original design intention.
Once the client approved the drawings we proceeded to produce the chairs in white oak. The photos show David, a shop assistant doing the final sanding before the chairs are sent to the finisher.
Once finished the chairs were sent to the client’s upholsterer and from there directly to the home of the client who originally commissioned them.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate the photos of the finished product and will probably have to re-shoot them.

It was a joy and a privilege to have had the opportunity to produce an original design by one of the West Coast’s most influential architects.

MARINASIDE APARTMENT 2007

2010-04-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

The new owners were in the process of gutting this approximately 2500 square foot apartment on Marinaside in Vancouver when they contacted us.
Interestingly, the building is on the exact site where not so long ago sat Fyfe Smith, one of the largest wholesalers of furniture grade hardwoods in Vancouver.
The apartment was about ten years old and the previous owners had decorated it in a kind of post modern style. The new owners were after a more contemporary look.
They had done some basic sketches and compiled some photos of things they liked. They also had a number of very specific requirements to accommodate appliances, electronics and personal effects.
Through a process of producing and revising design and shop drawings we arrived at a final design. I also provided a number of samples for materials and finishes in the range they liked. Once the client approved the detailed shop drawings and samples, we moved on to the production stage.
This was a complicated project to build and install as it required a lot of co-ordination with other trades. There were many changes made to the design as we moved through the process. Most of these changes resulted from revisions to specifications for electronic equipment and appliances.

Logistics were also challenging, as they often are with these condo locations. Care has to be taken not to disturb neighbours and parking is always an issue.
Everyone involved, the owner, the contractor and us as designer, manufacturer and installer of architectural woodwork co-operated to make this project a great success and a pleasure to be work on.

INTRODUCTION

2010-04-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of renewing our website www.francislemieux.com. The site was originally designed in 2001. In the mean time I thought it might be a good idea to use this blog to tell people a little more about what we do.

Francis Lemieux & Co was founded by me, Francis Lemieux in Vancouver circa 1982. I am a master cabinetmaker (joiner) designer, and artist. I have been making things, mostly out of wood since I was old enough to pick up a hammer. I received my journeyman certification for the joinery trade in 1979.
Francis Lemieux & Co provides design and-or build services for furniture, architectural woodwork, exhibits, prototypes and works for artists.

I also design for our collection of furniture, accessories and art pieces called Frank Smith www.franksmith.ca .

If you would like to contact us, I can be reached at 604 469 9684, or fl@francislemieux.com

Francis Lemieux