Tell us about your background and how it led to “Coast Modern.” I work as a freelance art director, music producer, and more recently, a filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. I’ve made numerous records and singles for Nordic Trax Records available on vinyl and in the iTunes Store.

I got a little burned out from the club scene around 2005 and embarked on making a film to cleanse my palette and try something new. I was becoming more and more obsessed with mid-century design and architecture and wanted to get to the bottom of it. After working five years part time with my co-director Mike Bernard, we released “Coast Modern” in May 2012 to a receptive worldwide audience. The film has taken us to festivals in Italy, New York, Toronto, Boston, Montreal, Portland, and New Zealand, to name a few. We play LA this June 4 at the Hammer Museum and we’re designing a DVD package with some great bonus materials and a booklet for a June 2013 release. The film is also on its way to the iTunes Store this July. Big shouts to our producer Leah Mallen at Twofold Films and editor Peter Roeck. We haven’t screened in Michigan yet, so maybe Herman Miller could put on an event in Zeeland…

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I’m inspired by my family, nature, music, and food. I like when technology reaches a point where it can facilitate creativity on a large scale. In the early 90s, MIDI technology, affordable computers, and discarded 80′s drum machines came together in a way that made making records at home possibility. Kids around the world pushed electronic music to new levels and I got involved with that and still continue to explore it.

More recently, the DSLR video/high-speed Internet combo and platforms like Vimeo and WordPress have given aspiring filmmakers the ability to produce incredible-looking work independently. I love the Internet and the possibilities that it creates, but I also believe in turning it off. Kids need to learn how to build a raft after a two-day hike into the mountains.

Describe your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike about it? We just moved into a great old Post & Beam in West Vancouver that we’re renovating. It’s classic open plan with an incredible connection to the outside. In the office, we’ve done simple plywood built-ins for records and a long shared table for everyone to work around. My wife Jody should actually be featured here — she has a great aesthetic and the ability to bring ideas to life. We’re soon building a detached music “shed” in the garden out of some renovation scraps, which is very exciting — modernism at its best, intended to connect people to one other and to nature. We’re just building on that 95-year-old idea. One thing I would love is a sunken living room. Why did those go out of style? Bring back sunken living rooms!

You have a few pieces by Charles and Ray Eames in your space. Why did you choose them? We bought our first Herman Miller piece (an Eames Sofa Compact) about 14 years ago while living in Boston. We’ve since added a few other classic Herman Miller pieces both new and used. Every time we add another piece it’s a considered decision that will be with us for life.

The thing about buying authentic Herman Miller is you only have to buy it once. Cheap knock-offs are an insult to everyone — the designers, the manufacturers, the craftspeople that build them, and the landfills they ultimately occupy. Authentic furniture can be expensive, but every piece we buy will serve our entire lives, my daughter’s life, and if we decide to sell it, someone else’s life. Buy something once and get on with living.

Photos: Tina Kulic

Your living and working spaces shouldn’t be a stranger to variety either. Each has its own purpose, needs, and style. Here’s six great options for adding that Herman Miller touch everywhere you live and work.

*Don’t forget to play ”Everywhere in Your Day.” You could win great prizes, including a chance at the grand prize, an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman!

1. Stool_One, Konstantin Grcic - In your kitchen, space can be a premium. Keep seating stylish and compact at your breakfast bar with Kostantin Grcic’s Stool_One. Sold conveniently in sets of two, the stools come in two heights and in all-black anodized aluminum, or finished aluminum in red or white. Get a couple at Herman Miller.

*No breakfast bar? Pair two Stool_One stools with the Everywhere Standing Height Table for a simple, standalone dining solution.

2. Aeron Chair, Bill Stumpf - The Aeron is the ergonomic support superstar of the office chair world. Create the perfect workspace for mind and body with its breathable mesh upholstery. The Pellicle suspension conforms to your shape while keeping you cool and collected throughout your day. Find all the Aeron options at Herman Miller.

*Need to bring in a collaborator for a bit? Sit them beside you on a Nelson Pedestal Stool, ideal for a quick brainstorm.

3. Eames Sofa Compact, Charles and Ray Eames - Despite its modern, minimalist profile, the innovative Eames Sofa Compact conserves office space without sparing any comfort. Sit three colleagues across from you and pitch your ideas in a comfy, casual review meeting. Add in a Nelson Platform Bench as a showcase surface ideal for layouts, foldouts, or whatever your working on. Configure the perfect Eames Sofa Compact here.

*After the review meeting, celebrate your victory or regain your momentum with a spin in the Spun Chair.

4. Everywhere Flip-Top Table, Dan Grabowski - Of course, not every workspace has the real estate for a dedicated conference room. Enter the Everywhere Flip-Top Table, which enters on wheels naturally, and folds down to create the perfect mobile meeting space. When the meeting is done, fold it back up and roll it on to its next big pitch down the hall. Get yours at Herman Miller.

*Don’t forget to offer cooling comfort and support to your clients and coworkers around the table with a quartet of Setu Chairs.

5. Nelson X-Leg Table, George Nelson - Subtle and uncomplicated, the X-Leg Table is the epitome of elegance through simplicity and function. Choose from multiple depths, heights, and leg finishes, as well as veneer and laminate tops. Its clean design pairs easily with everything – try a white laminate top and surround it with pops of colors from Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs. Configure your X-Leg Table here, and don’t forget the Eames Chairs.

6. Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Charles & Ray Eames - With the goal of designing a “special refuge from the strains of modern living,” Charles and Ray Eames created the enduring symbol of lounging comfort. The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman symbolize the union of design with innovation and style with pure comfort. Make it your own with a selection of five striking veneers and a wide array of upholstery materials. You’ll forget all about those modern living strains. Get one at Herman Miller.

* You might need to set down some refreshments nearby – try pairing the Eames Lounge Chair with another iconic design, the Noguchi Table.

Photos linked within text.

1. Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair with Upholstery, Charles & Ray Eames - Adding upholstery to the already soft curves of Charles and Ray’s Plywood Lounge Chair creates a doubly delightful sitting scenario. Choose from a multitude of colors including red. From Herman Miller.

2. Alvin Spin-O-Tray - Does your beloved have a lot of office implements? Organize them in the round with the twirling Spin-O-Tray. Everything becomes easy-reach on this office organizer. Find one at Hand Eye Supply.

3. Chair_One Stacking (Set of 2), Konstantin Grcic - Highly sculptural, the Chair_One combines openly spaced design with perfect comfort for a distinctive seating experience. Available in red and sold in a set of two, perfect for a couple of Valentines. Find yours at Herman Miller.

4. Les Perles Candleholder, Y’a Pas Le Feu Au Lac and FX Balléry - “Y’a pas le feu au lac” loosely translates to “no need to hurry.” The individual hornbeam wood “pearls” of this innovative design can be arranged and rearranged on a whim, creating an ever-changing candleholder. Available in single or three-piece holders, in three colors including red. Get one at A+R Store.

5. Eames Sofa Compact, Charles & Ray Eames - Consider the eye-catching contrast of the iconic Eames Sofa upholstered in rich Divinia Fabric. The sleek and minimalist lines are dramatically enhanced in vibrant color, creating a striking centerpiece to any contemporary space. Find this combination and many more at Herman Miller.

6. Faribault Soho Throw - Producing wool blankets and throws for nearly 150 years, the Faribault Woolen Mill Co. lets you cuddle up with quality beneath its Soho Throw. Measuring 50″ x 72″, in whipstitched 100% wool. Get yours at Vetted.

Photos linked within text.

Last spring, while the original contents of Charles and Ray Eameses’ living room were on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Herman Miller Collection team had the rare opportunity to hold a photo shoot in the husband-and-wife team’s landmark home. The capper? They were also invited to explore Ray’s extensive, well-curated personal collection of objects to use as props. In celebration of Ray’s upcoming 100th birthday, we asked Jennie Maneri, Art Director, Collection and Retail, to walk us through a few of the shots and explain how the details Ray was know for helped bring the Collection to life.

“We knew going into the project that many of the photos would draw from Charles and Ray’s own photos — not shot for shot, but as inspiration. This image [above] is a re-imagining of a picture they’d taken [below] using all the same furniture pieces in the same location, except their lounge and ottoman had black leather and the old Rosewood shell. We wanted to do the updated version in white ash and pearl MCL leather. We included one of Ray’s baskets and her jade plant, which we brought in from the outside. This photo really moved me, as I felt that it was the shot that shows what the Collection is all about: a lived-in quality, a feeling of warmth, beautiful architecture, timeless design.” Pictured above: Eames Lounge and Ottoman, White Ash and Eames Sofa Compact

“We, of course, wanted to shoot the Ray-inspired Select Eames LTR in the home. The bowls on the tables are hers, as is the unique cat sculpture sitting on top of the grouped tables.” Pictured above: Select Eames Wire Base Low Tables and Eames Molded Plywood Chairs

“The inspiration for this shot was ‘Ray getting ready for a party.’ We used her china, her champagne glasses, and some amazing gold flatware. We even went into her garden and picked Aster flowers for her bud jar.” Pictured above: Eames Table and Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs

“We shot this photo in the Eames Studio, which is adjacent to the house. The whale sculpture was hers. According to old photos, it was once hanging in the house. It had also been in the original Herman Miller showroom in Los Angeles, which Ray and Charles had designed and styled. We found Ray’s rug folded into a tiny cube within a big stack of textiles. We didn’t even know it was a rug until we opened it up. There were a lot of wonderful surprises like that throughout the day of the shoot.” Pictured above: Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Eames Storage Unit

“This shot is not in the Collection catalog, but everything here is Ray’s: the plants, the decorative sculptures, the saucers (which were almost like little dessert bowls on pedestals). And then there are pieces from her collections of bowls and salt-and-pepper shakers. . . . There was so much to choose from. Ray didn’t just have one salt bowl; she’d have 40 salt bowls, all different. She’d have 50 different candlesticks and all kinds of plates and bowls. There were cabinets of vases. Drawers of linens. We saw artifacts from different cultures — earthenware, African baskets. But they’d all still be a curated collection. And we found inspiration in the way she could could take very-different objects — a sea pod, a bowl, fresh flowers — and turn that combination into sculpture. Ray made sure her toolbox was abundant, but how she put it together — that’s where the art came from.” Pictured above: Eames Table Outdoor and Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs

See more of the Collection at hermanmiller.com/collection.

Photos: Francois Dischinger for Herman Miller

“Chewbacca prefers the Eames DKR2 chair,” states owner Lori. (We like her taste in her vintage wire chair’s two-piece “bikini” leather padding.) (Photo: stutefish at Flickr)

This cat lays claim on an Eames Sofa Compact. (Photo: carissapod :: fish parade at Flickr)

A white Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair with a wood dowel base paired with a bright throw makes a relaxing naptime spot. (Photo: neko-yanagi at Flickr)

“Charlie” stands tall next to the “Eiffel Tower” base of his owner’s Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair. (Photo: goodiesphoto at Flickr)

Contributor Jamie Latendresse’s Siamese cat “Kitty” takes up residence on his Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair. (Photo: Jamie Latendresse)

Top photo by Peter Stackpole; drawing by cartoonist Saul Steinberg; LIFE Photo Archives, 1950 (hosted by Google)

What do you listen to while you work?
Our tastes are pretty eclectic, from pop to classical to country, and a variety of other stuff.

How do you listen?
We have some crumby old computer speakers we got years ago, but they actually sound pretty decent. Normally we plug in our iPhone or listen through the computer.

Sometimes we use headphones. I have a pair of Peltor hearing protection that I modified with some inexpensive headphones and a microphone jack. The super insulation makes them sound great, I use these in workshop. Wonhee uses a pair of standard apple earbuds in the workshop.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
We listen through several sources. We use Pandora, sometimes Daytrotter, but mostly just our music collection on iTunes.

Does music influence your work?
I don’t know if there is a direct visible influence, but I think sometimes good design is like a well-crafted song.  It has an emotional impact on you, and its impression can stick with you for a long time. As a thing it is self contained and compact and yet influences the environment around it.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I have a good friend who runs the San Francisco-based concert finder called Bandega. He makes mixed CD’s a few times a year and we are fortunate to be one of the people on the receiving end. Mostly indy stuff, but we get a lot of our new music from him. We used to listen to Sounds Eclectic by Nick Harcourt, a radio show that used to run out of LA, unfortunately it is no longer on the air but you can still listen to old shows. They would play a lot of new releases and then bring in bands for in-studio sessions.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
That is a tough one, but I think it would be something simple, comfortable, a little nostalgic but very much present and just a little goofy at times but doesn’t really get old. Maybe Belle and Sebastian would be a good comparison.

“We have a lovely [vintage] green blue Eames molded side chair that we bought for a dollar at a city auction. It probably was in a school or office somewhere, there is still old gum under the seat.”

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Aluminum Group Lounge Chair with Seed Bingo Fabric and an ottoman. It’s a good place to get comfortable and be bit introspective. Or maybe the Eames Sofa Compact, with the grey Divina fabric, so you can share it with someone else.

Studio Gorm’s Playlist:
1. For the Price of a Cup of Tea, Belle and Sebastian
2. Charmed Life, The Divine Comedy
3. Ravel: Jeux D’Eau, Sviatoslav Richter
4. God Made the Automobile, Iron and Wine
5. Knotty Pine, David Byrne and Dirty Projectors
6. Blue Ridge Mountain, Fleet Foxes
7. Haydn: Piano Sonata #60 In C, H 16/50 – 1. Allegro, Sviatoslav Richter
8. Emmylou, First Aid Kit
9. I Wish I Was the Moon, Neko Case
10. So Far Around the Bend, The National
11. Animal, Miike Snow
12. Another Sunny Day, Belle and Sebastian

Photos: John Arndt

Yesterday’s tour of thelab, a media arts company based in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, gave just a taste of the impressive interior design of the space. Take a video tour to get an even better sense of how it incorporates some Herman Miller classics — Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs, an Eames Sofa Compact, Eames Molded Plastic Chairs and Molded Plywood Coffee Tables — as well as contemporary designs like Aeron.

Video: Courtesy of thelab