Interiors

Design on a Dime 2011 Highlights

Tilton Fenwick for Traditional Home

This past weekend Housing Works hosted it’s annual Design on a Dime charity fundraiser which supports homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV & AIDS. Each year top interior designers create fabulous room vignettes for the event and all of the products used are sold at deep discounts to benefit Housing Works. This was the biggest year yet with 56 participating designers and a star studded roster of event chairs that included Nate Berkus, supermodel Iman, Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer and interior designers Charlotte Moss and James Huniford (who is a founding chair of the event). I attended the opening night to do a little shopping (of course!) and there was so much inspiration and creativity abound! Below are a few highlights…


Designers Suysel dePedro-Cunningham (L) and Anne Maxwell-Foster (R)

One of the featured vignettes of the event was a space designed by Tilton Fenwick for Traditional Home. This young design firm has been receiving a lot of buzz since being named one of Trad Home’s top 20 New Traditionals. And aside from having one of the most beautifully designed spaces at Design on a Dime, I think Tilton Fenwick’s Suysel dePedro-Cunningham and Anne Maxwell-Foster should also win the award for most stylish design duo! (Can you believe Suysel’s chic dress is H&M?!)


The inspiration for their vignette was a design blogger’s dream office space! The star of the space was definitely the wall covering which is a Brunschwig & Fils fabric called Seychelles which is based on a classic French motif from the 19th century.

Designer Daniel Pafford also had a standout vignette. His bedroom was an homage to Elizabeth Taylor.

The regal blue color on the walls paired with all of the gold accents is the perfect combination for a space fit for Hollywood royalty.

I had an opportunity to chat with Elaine Griffin who is so fun to be around – she’s always full of energy! She designed two spaces for HomeGoods who was also a major Design on a Dime sponsor (& they’re finally opening up shop in NYC very soon!) Her first space that you can see a glimpse of above is an outdoor terrace belonging to a chic NYC fashionista.


Elaine’s second space was this bright pink living room designed with the quintessential New York City it girl in mind. Think Holly Golightly, Carrie Bradshaw and Blair Waldorf.


Shawn Henderson designed this stylish living room which I absolutely loved. The space has a masculine edge although the pink accents in the artwork and flowers definitely add a feminine touch. I thought the large scale painting above the sofa was stunning.


I was excited to see Katie Ridder added to the roster of participating designers this year. She created a vibrant orange room with an eclectic mix of furnishings that showcased her signature ethnic inspired fabrics.


Jessie Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company designed a cool dining space that featured a show-stopping art installation by NYC street artists A.S.V.P. I chatted a bit with Jesse who told me that he and Mara gave A.S.V.P. free reign to go crazy on the walls and they just worked with it! The result is fun and totally un-stuffy. I also loved the Sphinx…another fun, kitchy touch. This space perfectly illustrates the idea that decorating doesn’t always have to be so serious and buttoned up!


British born, New York based designer Katie Lydon designed this living room that was full of natural touches. I had my eye on those Paule Marrot prints above the sofa but some other lucky guest snagged them before I had the chance!


Miles Redd’s whimsical room was full of pattern and packed a colorful punch…

Interior designer Robert Passal always looks so dapper so I had to snap a photo of him! He was kind enough to walk me through his vignette…a masculine study for an overworked Wall Streeter with a passion for horses. You can see a glimpse of the fictitious homeowner’s equine passion in the large wall art and the racing papers tacked to the bulletin board above. Robert did a great job of creating this character and really bringing him to life through his vignette.

My friend Robert Verdi worked with supermodel Iman to design a stylish bedroom that showcased her eclectic home fabric collection. The pair definitely added a bit of glam factor to the event!


And last but not least, I thought Bradley Stephens designed an exceptionally creative space. The inspiration was an old-school New York City tenement apartment. I loved the red velvet sofa and the gallery wall of art.  And while the space doesn’t necessarily feature the shelter mag worthy decor that we’re used to seeing at these events, I thought the space was beautiful and it reflects how so many people in New York actually live. I really appreciate the fact that Bradley chose to step outside of the box and keep it real!

Tilton Fenwick vignette photos by Joe Standart

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11 Comments

  2. Mandy of Kini Style

    Wow! Love this post for so many reasons. First of all, that dress is seriously H&M!?! Obsessed with it. I will be making a trip there pronto to check it out. Also obsessed with the royal blue and gold room. It’s one of my most recent fav color combos. Looks like quite a fun event.

  3. Tonia

    Let me just say that I can’t even pick a favorite space. I love them all. Now this is an event I wish I had the opportunity of attend. Robert Verdi and Iman that’s enough right there. Thanks for sharing lovely event to help those that are less fortunate.

  6. Maury

    Omg, I am so happy you went. I wish I had gone, maybe next year. I did go on Saturday to go shopping and found some really cool little finds, I wish I had gone earlier as there was great furniture priced reasonably. Thanks so much for posting!!!!!

    xoxo

  8. Ruth Olbrych

    Nicole,
    Found your blog on the Tilton Fenwick website and have enjoyed this posting. Tilton Fenwick and Elaine Griffin are both long time customers of mine and although I knew Tilton Fenwick participated in this event (I donated the Chinese etage.) I wasn’t aware that Elaine also did…although not suprised.

    A great event and thank you for sharing with us by way of your blog.
    Ruth

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