Dream World Forest \u00a0beds <\/strong>(Above)<\/p>\n

Skwach\u00e0ys Lodge<\/strong>, pronounced squatch eyes, a downtown residence and gallery administered by the Vancouver Native Housing Society<\/a> is updating 18 of its suites with First Nations themes. Thematic hotel rooms aren\u2019t new \u2013 look at New York, London and Berlin – but, in Vancouver at least, teaming up an aboriginal artist with a commercial design house is breaking new ground. \u201cIt\u2019s given us more practice with really true collaboration,\u201d says Judy Henderson<\/strong> of Inside Design Studio.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about \u2018give us a design and we\u2019ll take it from there.\u2019\u201d says Lou-Ann Neel<\/strong>, one of seven First Nations artists involved in the project. Lou-Ann is an accomplished carver and graphic artist, a member of the Kwaqiulth clan from Alert Bay BC and presently enrolled at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. \u201cIt was very much about collaborating and I really liked that,\u201d<\/p>\n

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View of the Dream World Forest from the entrance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Neel\u2019s partner, Judy Henderson excels in commercial and hospitality interiors. At first, neither participant knew what to expect and the collaboration was as much a social experiment as it was a design consultation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI contributed the image, the story that goes with the image,\u201d says Neel. \u201cThey told me what they typically do \u2013 such as we like to do this for lighting purposes \u2013 and based on that I bounced back with questions. Would it work to have this colour scheme? This side instead of that side? It was a really great open discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bed Throws<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started to develop some imagery and some textural components,\u201d adds Henderson. With Dream World Forest, one of two rooms she helped create, Neel started the process by taking a forest photograph and layering various design forms on top of it. \u201cI\u2019m aiming to find this neutral ground between our traditional style and our currently evolving contemporary style. I\u2019m pushing it to the outermost limit that I can while still maintaining the integrity of the original form,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Together, they turned the concept into a headboard mural. Henderson tied the room together with colour and balance. Neel hand crafted the throws that lie across each bed. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a lot of projects but nothing will look like this one and that\u2019s the outside influence,\u201d says Henderson, referring to Lou-Ann\u2019s Kwaqiulth voice.<\/p>\n

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Headboard wall Mural with a\u00a0Forest Theme<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mural Details<\/strong> (Above & Below)<\/p>\n

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Dream World Forest<\/strong> is based upon an ancient legend – the wild witch of the forest – but transferring First Nations stories to a wall isn\u2019t as simple as it sounds. \u201cThe legends belong to the family or a clan group and it\u2019s part of their origin stories. There are protocols in our designs that have to be considered\u201d says Neel. Lou-Ann says she has permission to use the witch legend; that\u2019s why she suggested it.<\/p>\n

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Now that the rooms are almost finished, Dream World Forest, and all the other rooms too, will soon be accepting guests.<\/p>\n

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Tree\u00a0stumps as bedside tables<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Neel wants to pursue a career in interior design and says the Skwachays project was a tremendous learning experience…and more. She says guests will be\u00a0pleased with the First Nations theme. \u201cThere\u2019s something about it. There\u2019s something that draws them to it. They can\u2019t explain it, I can\u2019t explain it but I want to open the dialogue. They\u2019re going to learn more, they\u2019re going to appreciate [First Nations stories<\/a>]<\/strong> as a high art form.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Exterior of Skwach\u00e0ys Lodge<\/strong><\/p>\n

+\u00a0Skwach\u00e0ys Lodge<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

+ Judy Henderson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dream World Forest \u00a0beds (Above) Skwach\u00e0ys Lodge, pronounced squatch eyes, a downtown residence and gallery administered by the Vancouver Native Housing Society is updating 18 of its suites with First Nations themes. Thematic hotel rooms aren\u2019t new \u2013 look at New York, London and Berlin – but, in Vancouver at least, teaming up an aboriginal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":41884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4706,20],"tags":[6930,7170,7305,6954,7303,7304,7301,7302],"yoast_head":"\n