After weeks of sneak peeks and teases on Instagram and Twitter, I am so excited to finally share photos of the room vignette I designed for Housing Works’ Ninth annual Design on a Dime benefit! I was so proud to have the opportunity to donate my time and energy for such a wonderful cause and the event was a tremendous success, raising a record breaking $1.1 millon to help support thousands of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS in New York City. I could not have done it without the help of some very generous partners who donated products and services to help furnish my room vignette! Let’s take a closer look inside the room and we’ll start with a before photo showing what the space looked like before I worked my magic:

The rooms are really just a 10′x12′ white box with temporary walls and zero character. Us designers had less then two days to set up our spaces and work down to the wire until we had every detail perfect. It’s almost like our own little HGTV Design Star challenge!

Seeing this photo it’s hard to believe it’s the same white box in the picture above! I knew I wanted to add elements to the room that would give those boring temporary walls some dimension and architecture so I added added chair rail moulding along the lower third of the walls which were painted in Valspar’s Rose Buff and I covered the top 2/3 of the wall in a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth which added a lot of texture.  Those choices really made a huge impact in this tiny little space. The wallpaper and chair rail was installed by my generous contractor Martin who graciously donated his services for the event. He is an expert in wallpaper installation and his company, Martin Construction handles a multitude of other services from plumbing and electrical to tile and millwork.

Now for the furnishings. The sofa was generously donated by Restoration Hardware and is a very deep and plush down filled, belgian linen slipcovered sofa with a sophisticated slope arm silhouette. The color is called charcoal but it was had a rich chocolate-y brown color. It really popped against all of the lighter colors in the room. Another major piece is the large abstract artwork by my talented friend Nicole Cohen of Sketch 42 blog. (Here are some great photos of us in Nicole’s studio collaborating as she was working on the piece!) Nicole created this piece specifically for my Design on a Dime room and it couldn’t have turned out more perfectly. If you’re interested in seeing more of Nicole’s works for sale, here’s the link to her fine art site. The framing was done by J. Pocker, a custom framing company that prides itself on offering high level of artisanship and personal service. They are one of the best in the city and a go-to resource for all of my decorator friends.

This pair of vintage 60s club chairs were down-filled and in perfect condition so for Design I recovered them in a colorful pink ethnic printed fabric called Fez that was generously donated by Lee Jofa. My wonderful upholsterer Oswaldo Astudilo reupholstered them for me. These were a highly coveted item and before\ the sale started at 6:30pm there were several people interested in purchasing the chairs who kept coming back to check them out. Lara Spencer from Good Morning America ended up snagging them and I was so happy to see them in such good hands! Another decorative trick I used to help bring texture into the space is layering of the rugs shown here in the photos. On the bottom is a braided jute rug from Pottery Barn and on top is a cotton dhurrie carpet from Madeline Weinrib in a lively green print. Either of these alone would have felt a bit bare in this room but layered together is much more interesting! The cute little ceramic elephant is the Ellie side table from Serena and Lily.

On the end table is a peridot green “Capri” lamp from Mottega which is one of my favorite sources for customizable lighting. You can choose your silhouette, your base, finial and shade and mix and match options to create your own custom lamp. Each lamp is hand crafted by artisans and the lead time is approximately 2 weeks. Such a great resource!

Another coveted item in my room were these “Capri Beach” series of prints by the talented Patrick Cline who co-founded Lonny magazine and is now working on a cool new photography app called Uplo which is a print and framing service that enables you to organize and share your photos as well as buy or sell your photography as printed art. The prints were originally taken with a Polaroid camera in Capri and are signed and numbered as part of a limited edition run of only 20 in this size. You can contact Patrick directly if you’re interested in purchasing a set from the series for yourself!

The bar cart in this space was also a huge hit. It was generously donated by Society Social who makes fabulous furniture, accessories and, of course, bar carts! I received a ton of comments and inquiries about this item via social media. This is the Hayworth bar cart which you can purchase here.  I styled up Ms. Hayworth using stylish glassware and a champagne bucket from Pottery barn, ombre wine glasses and bowls from West Elm, a decorative bowl and vase from Canvas which I filled with pink roses and of course, plenty of liquor, mixers and garnishes for the perfect cocktail!

The end tables on either side of the sofa are actually a set of three from Serena and Lily. The lamp shown here is the Shirley Fintz table lamp from West Elm which is hand painted and features three stacked elephants. (Can you tell I have a thing for elephants?!) I loved this lamp and it added such a fun touch of whimsy to the room. The green herringbone throw draped over the sofa is also from Serena & Lily. In the foreground is a lacquered grasscloth covered Parsons coffee table from Bungalow 5 which is another favorite resource for stylish furniture and accessories.

Here’s a look at how I styled the coffee table. Books are one of my favorite styling accessories and I used an chic selection of fashion and art books with beautiful covers that were generously donated by Rizzoli to add  layers to the coffee table surface. A couple of decorative boxes from West Elm combined with a gold sea urchin from the Nate Berkus for Target collection, a framed family photo, a gold glazed bowl from Canvas and a tortoise vase filled with my favorite flowers help complete the look. 

Another vital service that was donated to help my space come to life was moving and storage services from Celebrity Moving. They are the go-to movers for some of the top interior designers in New York. They are so wonderful to work with, offering exceptional customer service and a very elevated level of attention to detail. I also want to give a special thanks to Isaiah and Nicole who both gave their time and energy to help set up my space.  I am so appreciative to each of the partners who worked with me on this project and please know your efforts helped a wonderful cause! Stay tuned for another post with photos from some of the other designers’ rooms along with pictures from the opening night party!

 

I’m gearing up for the annual Design on a Dime fundraiser for Housing Works which is right around the corner and if you didn’t know, I am designing a room filled with fabulous items that will all be sold at an amazing discount and all of the proceeds will benefit a new housing development that Housing Works is building as a home for formerly homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. It is such a fantastic cause and a super fun event with INCREDIBLE shopping!!! You can find wonderful, designer merchandise for your home – for a “dime” and it’s all curated by some of the industry’s top interior designers. There is a VIP preview and shopping event this Thursday April 25th which is a star studded party that will allow attendees the first opportunity to shop the rooms and score the best items before the general public. If you’re in the New York area and interested in attending the event, I’m offering you the opportunity to purchase a special, discounted ticket! Click this link and at checkout enter the code “designerspecial.” The event is almost sold out so buy your tickets today! If you can’t attend but would like to make a monetary donation, you can also use the link to make a donation of any amount. Hope to see you at Design on a Dime and above is a little sneak peek of some of the stylish finds available for purchase in my room! I was so lucky to receive donations from some amazing brands including Restoration Hardware, Lee Jofa, Madeline Weinrib, Mottega, Bungalow 5, Serena and Lily, Pottery Barn, Society Social, Rizzoli, Nicole Cohen Art as well as photographer Patrick Cline – the co-founder of Lonny who just launched a new photography app called Uplo!  I also want to give a special thanks to some wonderful partners who were so generous to donate their services for this special event:

Astudillo Design – I’ve worked with my talented upholsterer Oswaldo Astudillo for years and he does amazing work! He is reupholstering the vintage club chair shown above in a beautiful fabric from Lee Jofa!

Celebrity Moving – One of New York’s premier moving and storage services, Celebrity Moving prides itself on a high attention to detail and customer service. In addition to working with individual clients on moving and storage needs, the company handles major installations for some of the city’s top decorators (Bunny Williams, Celerie Kemble and Miles Redd to name a few!).

Martin Construction Wallpaper Experts – The company’s owner Martin is a highly skilled wallpaper expert and will be installing the wallpaper in my room! In addition to wallcovering services, Martin Construction also handles custom millwork, painting, electrical and more.

J. Pocker - A third generation company that provides custom framing with a high level of artisanship and personal service. They are one of the best in the city, with multiple locations including a trade-only shop in the D&D building which is a go-to resource for the city’s top interior designers.

Reserv Concierge – A full-service concierge partner for businesses and corporations that handles an array of business needs with a focus on client entertainment.

PRODUCT LINKS:
Restoration Hardware – 7′ Belgian Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa in Charcoal Belgian Linen | Serena & Lily – Ellie Side Table | Serena & Lily – Herringbone Throw | Serena & Lily – Set of 3 Aqua Melrose Nesting Tables | Mottega - Customized Capri Lamp | Madeline Weinrib Chi Chi Kari Rug | Nicole Cohen Commissioned Painting | Society Social – The Hayworth Bar Cart | Bungalow 5 – Parsons Coffee Table in White Lacquered Grasscloth | Vintage 60s Club Chairs upholstered in linen pattern from Lee Jofa called Fez from the new Karenza collection | Pottery Barn – Brannan Braided Jute Rug | Rizzoli Books: Resort Fashions, Palm Beach Entertaining, Kenzo, The Andy Warhol Show, Dana Schutz, Palaces & Gardens of Persia | Canvas Dauville Glazed Bowls | Patrick Cline Photography via Uplo

 

 

 

One of my favorite charity events of the year is the annual Design on a Dime fundraiser for Housing works where more than 50 of the world’s top interior designers come together to create beautiful room vignettes full of donated merchandise which is all sold at  50 to 70 percent off retail pricing to benefit Housing Works’ wonderful programs that support people in NYC living with HIV/AIDS.  I’ve written about Design on a Dime each year since I started this blog 5 years ago and this year is extra special because for the first time I am participating as a designer and will be designing a room vignette!!! I will be joining a group of incredibly talented designers and I couldn’t be more excited! I also can not wait to share all of the details on my room with you! The event is free and open to the public April 26-27 however, the opening night benefit party is on April 25th and that is the absolute best time to come and shop because you’ll get first dibs on all the best pieces! The opening party also makes for great people watching as it attracts a fun, star-studded crowd plus all of the designers will be in attendance as well. It is well worth the ticket price and proceeds for this year’s event will benefit Housing Works’ newest development called the Hull Street Residence which is being built from the ground up as a beautiful and safe housing residence for 30 formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS. Support this wonderful cause by purchasing your opening night ticket here. For the full list of participating designers and additional details on this year’s event, click here. All of the designers recently got together for a fun kick-off party for Design at Decor NYC - a fabulous consignment gallery here in New York. Below are a few snaps from the night! Can’t wait to share more details on Design on a Dime soon!

 _{Decor NYC founder Bruce Tilley chats with Design on a Dime co-Chair Evette Rios and publicist Carla Nikitaidis}

_{Guests mingling}

_{Design on a Dime 2013 co-chairs Evette Rios and Yetta Banks}

_{Design on a Dime founding chair James Huniford}

Design on a Dime 2013
Free Public Sale
April 26-27, 2013
10:00am – 6:00pm
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues
NYC 10011

One of the best parts about working on the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala was having the opportunity to witness the creativity on display by all of the other incredibly talented designers involved. It was fun to see how everyone else interpreted the High Society theme and approached their table design. I had so many favorites but highlights included designer Lindsay Coral Harper’s Beverly Hills Hotel inspired table complete with the iconic pink stripes and palm leaf printed fabric and Andrea Stark who collaborated with LMD Floral on a table design  inspired by Diana Vreeland’s apartment complete with a cheeky cardboard cutout of Diana herself. In addition to all of the fabulous tables there was also a fabulous party! (Let’s just say the night wrapped with me on the dance floor doing the Harlem Shake with antiques dealer David Duncan!) Click through to see a slideshow featuring photos of all of the amazing tables as well as a few party pictures and boldfaced names from the night. Thanks again to the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and Veranda for the opportunity to be a part of such a special event!

Photos by Marco Ricca

The March issue of House Beautiful is all about “Color Combinations” and in celebration, the magazine is headed to Hollywood for it’s fourth annual Chair Scavenger Hunt, which will pay tribute to the most timeless and iconic color combination of all: Black & White. In homage to the glory days of cinema, House Beautiful editor in chief Newell Turner will launch the “Beautiful in Black & White” campaign in LA on March 6, when 20 stylish black and white chairs will be placed in well-known locations around the city and I’m inviting you to be a part of the fun! Follow the instructions below to lear how you can win this beautiful Kravet Oberlin Chair which offers a modern take on a classic wingback silhouette with tapered legs and is covered in a lovely black and white paisley fabric from Ralph Lauren available through Kravet:

Here’s how you can win:

1. Follow @housebeautiful on Twitter for clues about where to find  and win this Kravet chair in LA between March 6 – 7.
2. Follow @sohaute on Twitter and on March 5th I’ll share more exclusive hints on where to find this chair using the hashtag #hbchairs
3. * Finally – if you’re not in LA, there’s still a chance to win one of the fabulous Beautiful in Black and White chairs through a fun  Pinterest contest that HB is launching! Starting March 11, 2013, repin three or more of your favorite pins from House Beautiful’s Beautiful Black and White Pinterest board and at least one pin from one of HB’s favorite bloggers (Including me!) and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of five chairs from Room & Board, Room Service, Target, Grandin Road, or Frontgate. Be sure to follow House Beautiful on Pinterest here as well as So Haute on Pinterest so you can participate!

As part of this fun contest, The House Beautiful team team asked me to come up with an iconic black and white movie to relate to the Kravet Oberlin chair and I immediately thought of the impeccably decorated sets in Alfred Hitchcock’s popular murder mystery movies which my grandfather was a huge fan of. Wing chairs often found their way into many of Hitchcock’s movie sets so it was hard to choose just one! Here are a few:

Strangers on a Train (1951)

Suspicion (1941)

And although not black & white, here are stills from the Hitchcock film, Rope (1948).

Don’t forget to follow me and House Beautiful on Twitter for your chance to win a fab wing chair of your own from Kravet! Good luck!