Carrie's Design Musings: April 2016

Another successful Design on a Dime wrapped up this past weekend. There is nothing more fun that watching (or participating in) designers, tastemakers and others, after a few drinks, wrestle each other to be the first to gain access to an item marked 50% to 70% off. Everything is for sale! The pandemonium that ensues when the countdown reaches 0 is hysterical! For the most part it is all in good fun and everyone leaves happy, or so I assume!

Design on a Dime, now in its 12th year, raises funds for people affected by HIV/AIDS through Housingworks. Their mission is to provide lifesaving services and entrepreneurial advocacy for those in need.

Getting in a little early is key to really being able to peruse the vignettes the almost 70 designers have created. The level of creativity is no less stunning in a 10 x 10 foot booth. The raw space each is provided with is given the same amount of attention to detail that you would expect from these creative souls.

Weitzman Halpern Interior Deign with Crosby Street Studios

Studio 882 Furniture + Interior Design. I gravitated to the fish!

Lilli Bunn Inc. Sponsored by Bunny Williams Home. The BW furniture was a real steal in this booth appropriately called Pucker Up!

Donald Hill Interiors

Yetta Banks for Viacom designed a Lady Boss' lair that I loved

Elle Decor has become synonymous with hunky shirtless men at this fundraiser. Don't know why, don't care ~ It just works!

Andrew Suvalsky

Benjamin Moore was one of the sponsors. Each room featured a different paint color and was noted.

Alessandra Branca's gingham garden party

I always look forward to James Huniford's space. He is a founding chair of this fabulous event.

Nicole Gibbon's for Lowes

Robert Stilin ~ I seriously debated the marble coffee table but it weighted a ton!

Tyler Wisler's art studio where Bowie loomed large

Tyler, myself, Justin Shaulis and Melissa Mittag

Jenny Dina Kirschner collaborated with Iris Apfel, everyone's favorite "geriatric starlet" who graciously donated some things from her vast vault of noteworthy collectables. Jenny told me Iris was reluctant to part with them in case she bought another home one day. That's adorable!

My dear friend Jonathan Legate"hanging around" his Mirror, Mirror off the Wall space

Do you think Ron Marvin is rooting for Hilary in his feminine oval office ?

Patrick Hamilton was feeling nautical with his "Hey Sailor" vignette

Susan Jamieson of Bridget Beari Designs showed off her paint and paper collection in an architecturally strong space

Drake /Anderson gave us a beautifully curated moment

The pattern clash called to me by Anthony George Home

Decor Aid

Willey Design

photos * Rio Hamilton , all others CLI

While in Miami recently I was excited to visit The Kampong in the Coconut Grove section of Miami. I knew there was a show house being staged there benefitting the Jr. League of Miami. Far be it from me to miss an opportunity to check out a show house. I love this area. It feels so tropical and wild. See my story about the area here. On walks around the grove, I had passed by those red attention grabbing Asian gates many times, always intrigued by what must lay beyond. It was the home and personal garden of famed plant exporter Dr. David Fairchild and his wife Marian (she was the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell). They purchased the property in 1916 and later it belonged to philanthropist Catherine Sweeney. If you have not visited The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, I urge you to do so. Kampong means village in Javanese, which makes sense since the property is made up of several "cottages" with a Mission/Spanish Revival look and includes intricate architectural detailing, carvings, stone work and a stair tower that is influenced by this ornately carved Indonesian aesthetic.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The garden is renowned for its irreplaceable collection of rare varieties of tropical fruits, palms, shrubs and vines. Many a new species was introduced here.

Charlotte Dunagan Design Group created my favorite space. It was serene and sophisticated, relaxed yet elegant!

The powder room looked very New York City with its green venetian plaster walls and Art Deco inspired tile design,created by Kim Hernandez and Lois Holbrook Russo of The Gallery Interiors

Library/Den by the girls of The Gallery Interiors as well

Many of the designers created multiple spaces, maybe that's why it was so uniform in feel?

There are 3 cottages on the property; The Fairchild Sweeney House, The Sausage Tree Cottage and The Barbour Cottage. All quaint and unique, but with a similar voice.