tmd inspired home

7/28/2019 TMD Inspired Home

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58 may/june 2013

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2/5 inspiredhomeomaha.com 59

Twigs, bark, moss, treeroots and trunks. In the hands of John G. Martin,

artist and interior designer, humble elements like

these are transformed into stunning furnishings,

structural pieces and accessories that provide

depth, texture and a calming ambience.

Martins journey to interior design was

serendipitous. In the mid-1970s when he was in

his 20s, he worked as a buyer for womens couture

and designer fashions at Brandeis department

store in Omaha. Martin later moved to northern

California because he needed a mental, physical

and spiritual change. Unable to land his hoped-

for job as a visual merchandiser, he fell back

on his high school job as a oral designer. That

brought him into contact with David P. Turner.

Together, they established themselves asTurner

Martin Design.

We found that we had a mutual drive, creativity

and design aesthetic an abundance of talent to

reinvent the oral business, Martin says.

The duo began designing oral atmospheres out

of a warehouse long before it was chic to work in

a warehouse. From the oral business grew the

Turner Martin retail store which opened in Palo

Alto in 1988.

The store was comprised of one-of-a-kind

furniture pieces by artists from around the world,

found objects, photography by Turner and

decorative objects created by Martin. The interior

of the store was designed as if you were in a

residence, Martin says.

The colors were always earth tone

monochromatic and the mood was serene. Our

clients never knew what to expect upon their visit

to the store. One of the best comments I received

from a client was, 'I would love to see through

your eyes for one day, you have a vision unlike no

other.

Omaha native John G. Martin of Turner Martin Design

in California and Arizona shares his vision about natural

forms, odd harmonies and the beauty of the desert.

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60 may/june 2013

Q: Your style is "natural yet elegant, organic yet

urbane." Did your design approach evolve over

the years?

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Q: Using natural materials and organic elements

is a major trend or 2013. Why?

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Q: How do you seamlessly incorporate organic

elements into a home when the interior doesnt

fow to the outdoors 12 months out o the year?

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Q: What does the use o natural materials

achieve in design?

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Q: Can a do-it-yourseler integrate natural

materials into his or her home?

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John Martin, a native

Omahan, and David P.

Turner founded Turner

Martin Design (TMD)

33 years ago in the San

Francisco Bay area. They

recently opened a studio

in Scottsdale, Ariz. Martin(above) talks with us about

his Omaha connections,

his business and one of the

hottest trends the use of

organic elements in design.

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62 may/june 2013

SEE MORE MODE RN ORGANIC INSPIRATION AT WWW.TURNERMARTINDESIGN.COMONLINE

"Our clients tend to be collectors and travelers veryvisually inspired individuals. They dont want theirplace to look like everybody elses." - John G. Martin

"Natural materials bring youcloser to nature and injectan element of surprise."- John G. Martin

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