Design On A Dime 2015

Pottery Barn 

Design on a Dime is an event I look forward to each year.  The Housing Works fundraiser this year supports The Hull Street Residence.  It is a ground up housing development project for formerly homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.

  This star studded event attracts the glitterati of the design world, and great deals are sure to be had as newly donated items are reduced 50% to 70% off.  More than 50 designers create ingenious vignettes, and considering all the merchandise is donated, that is quite a feat.   

You really only have an hour or so to run around and scope out all the fabulous spaces to see if there is anything that you NEED.  If you do, STAY CLOSE!

Eddie Lee


Robert Passel


Megan Winters


Danielle Colding

Robin Baron's space was the only one that had gently used furniture in it.  She is documenting her work on the small screen with Ryan Serhant of Million Dollar Listing: New York.  If you watch the show you know Ryan just got engaged.  His fiancee Amelia and Robin said bye bye to Ryan's perfect bachelor pad furniture, so it was donated to the cause.









Greek and Handy- Francis Toumbakaris

I began feeling a little parched; what's a girl to do Elle Decor?




James Huniford, one of the founding chairs of this event created a Moroccan marketplace.  There was plenty of opportunity to spend money!









Elissa Grayer


2 Michaels


Dineen



Charlotte Moss used the event as an opportunity to sign her new book, Garden Inspirations.  She had extraordinary photographs, many depicting garden scenes, for sale taken during her travels.




Ron Marvin's space was 3 people deep waiting for a chance to grab one of his goodies.  I couldn't get near it, but his Kelly Wearstler wallpaper had me at hello!





Antonino Buzzeta


Jayson Home
My friend Jonathan walked away with the bubble chandelier.  And when I say walked away I mean, "I don't know how the hell he got it back to Canada?"  You are in charge of the removal of your items at this event.



Tamara Stephenson and her partner Susan Young showcased their original textiles from their new company Root Celler Designs.  Eighteenth century fashion illustrations are printed on original designs with the color and scale manipulated to create something truly unique.  Their Designer's Atelier was pretty in pink .





I loved the cocktail table in Patrick Hamilton's space, but alas, Andy Cohen (of Bravo) needed it more than I.  Patrick also took the opportunity to design on the outer side of his vignette ~ there's money to be made when you think outside your little 10 foot box!








Anthony George


Cory Damen Jenkins




When the announcement is made over the loud speaker, "Everybody Shop" pandemonium brakes loose.



The crowd shopped until the spaces were cleaned out and the shelves were bare!





Funny, my path kept taking me back to this guy ~






Classically Designed for the Times



The girls of Niermann Weeks gave an informative talk recently, discussing the old and new methods of designing, fabricating, and finishing their extraordinary products.  Since NW is one of my favorite companies, I was very interested in meeting the daughters of founder Joe Niermann and hearing about "how the magic happens."  A family business founded in 1978, all the products handmade in Maryland, are classically inspired with their design aesthetic relating equally well to both traditional and contemporary interiors.




The talk began with their most popular chandelier, the Raj, one that I used in a client's home (above).  It was inspired by an antique original seen in Paris.  Nierman Weeks broke it down, piece by piece, and they rebuilt, piece by piece, for today's modern homeowner.

Everything begins with an auto CAD drawing and a cardboard cutout.  It's tweaked and perfected before it goes on to the fabricator to be made in metal.  The girls explained there is a lot of trial and error in mocking up designs this way.  The integrity of the product, performance, practicality, and beauty of something this special is well worth all the aggrevation!  All their pieces are very labor intensive.  The beading takes days, and the gold or silver leafing is done with a deft hand.




The CAD drawing files go to the Rhino 3-D printer to make up a jig, then off to the metal shop.




Neirmann Weeks talked a lot about their collaboration with Amanda Nisbet, celebrating their 1 year anniversary in May.   Vintage inspired metal lighting and furniture feature Amanda's unique viewpoint.  The collection pushes NW out of their comfort zone, but they welcome the challenge.  Amanda is known for her bold use of color and classic designs  juxtaposed with glamorous pieces which reside nicely within the same space.  Nierman Weeks meticulous work ethic makes them perfect partners for creative collaboration; a match made in design heaven!




Amanda found a vintage throne-like metal chair in her travels and loved the idea of  reinterpreting it. Keeping its klismos shape, but making it look mesh-like with the metal cutouts to give it a more of a decorative effect, and finishing it in a white wash, are all crucial design details that make or break the success of a product.





You can never underestimate the smallest of details




The Cielo Chair in leather is as decorative as it is comfortable.







Anything is equal opportunity inspiration, including this pair of little blossom earrings; turns out it makes a beautiful pendant light!




Hello, a palm leaf is a no brainer for a pendant or a floor lamp.  It looks as regal on Park Ave as it does in Palm Beach.








An antique campaign bed and the greek key pattern were married into a new, unique bed with an upholstered headboard and rails built for comfort and strength.  Their pieces are truly as beautiful as much as they are well made!







Nierman Weeks welcomes the opportunity to create custom orders.  Working with designers and serving the needs of the industry along with being able to deliver their products in a timely manner makes this company exceptional in many ways!

One of the inevitable issues with creating a beautiful product is being copied.  When asked how they felt about being knocked off, which they have been MANY times by MANY different companies, Claire and Eleanor said in unison, "Be flattered and be faster!"


To see more on their production process, check out their website here



ph: CLI & Niermann Weeks