Bloggers cover DDB Spring Market

Here's what some of the bloggers participating in today's Spring Market at the DDB have been saying in anticipation of the big day.
Here in this House
Nest by Tamara
Carrie's Design Musings
Quintessence
Don't forget to follow along on twitter (hashtag #DDBMarket), since it's impossible to make it to all of the happenings! Check back soon and we'll share our bloggers market recaps.

Deborah Needleman on the Luxury of Imperfection

Deborah Needleman, editor in chief of WSJ Magazine, kicked off Spring Market and its theme of internationalism. She addressed key trends as seen in the worlds of food, fashion, photography, and of course interiors -- united by high luxury merged with imperfections.
"For us at the magazine, trends are a distillation of a mood, something that just feels right for now. We're always looking for who's taking a risk, in any field."

Her keynote speech took us through three areas:
1) Fashion photography- it's a celebration of culture and craftsmanship. Needleman highlighted a story in WSJ on couture as modeled by Stella Tenant. "She's a strong model with aristocratic blood but we photographed her in a blank, quite sterile environment. It creates a tension--she's not in a rich environment. It's not rich on rich on rich." She pointed to an image of a living room at Chatsworth (pictured above), with its fluffy rug and slipcovered chairs - not what's expected in a grand English country home. With the example of a pub story in the English countryside, decorated by Robert Kime, Needleman made the transition to how trends in the food world related to interiors. "It's all about lightening up luxurious decorating, making it feel homey and casual. Like ticking stripes, which are humble and tone down a nice piece of furniture, or antique and vintage fabrics, particularly those from other cultures- using them signals that you're literally letting people in." Examples: using "ethnic" fabrics on lampshades, something she calls "charming" and piling on "loads of pillows and even leaving supplies out, which gives a sign of life, like a coat rack."
2) Food - with movements like farm to table, gastropubs, and hyper specialization (the Meatball shop) and even local and organic ingredients, "the restaurants are creating a sense of place, story-telling and underscoring simplicity." As seen in a slide of Yves Saint-Laurent's home in Tangiers with one light chintz pattern covering all chairs, in a simple white room. Try dragging your fancy stuff outside. And the example of legendary antique dealer Amy Perlin, whose niece is running an antiques business dedicated to just tables made of reclaimed woods
3) Fashion- "It's easier to see trends in fashion, since the shows are condensed into four weeks. In decoration we don't refresh that often. There's something so frivolous about this blouse paired with tapered, clean pants (pictured below left), like Pauline de Rothschild's living room, with its cooky furniture arrangement and no art (pictured below right). It's a virginal innocence combined with a richness. Something so wrong it's right."


To close, Needleman remarked "this moment is about how we really live. It's about lifting the spirit of whatever inspires you and figuring out how to apply it to your work, your home."

Design impresario Murray Moss to talk at Spring Market

We can't wait for DDB's Spring Market, one week from today!
One of the many highlights: a Design Loves Art Talk with Murray Moss and Susan de Menil. Longtime friends, Moss and de Menil, are each renowned in their respective fields, design and art. Moss oversees Moss Bureau, and was the founder of the innovative though now shuttered SoHo boutique, Moss. De Menil has been a fixture in the art and art history world for over three decades, including with the Menil art center in Houston. Moss and de Menil will have numerous stories to share. At Fortuny, Suite 1632, 12:00-12:45pm, Wednesday, May 16. For a complete list of all the events of the day click here.

Meet the blogger: Julieta Alvarez

Meet Julieta Alvarez, who will be joining us in the Bloggers Lounge during Spring market.



How long have you been blogging? I’ve been blogging at Design Intake for the past 2 years,

Where are you from? I am from Argentina and been in NYC for the past 13 years.



What in your background prepared you for blogging? I graduated as an interior designer from NYSID and I assisted interior designers like Alex Papachristidis and Jeff Lincoln. I started blogging as a means to record and share my ideas about interior design, photography, fashion, art, architecture and anything else that sparks her curiosity.



What’s your blogging schedule like? I don’t have a schedule per se. I go to showrooms and events almost every day, so I am always inspired! On the weekends, I try to get away from interior design and visit art galleries and museums in search for amazing photographs and art - I love visiting the galleries in Chelsea! They change constantly and they always have the best photographs.



Favorite showroom at the D&D? John Rosselli for their casual print linens, Pierre Frey for their magnificent Opera velvet that comes in many bright colors and Fadini Borghi fabric. Clarence House for unusual patterned fabrics, Lee Jofa because they have almost anything you are looking for, Maharam for their contract and modern fabrics and Donghia for its assortment of fantastic collections.



How do you shop the building? Is there a system? Are you always on a mission? It took me many visits to the DDB to finally know what each showroom specializes in. It’s a lot quicker and I know exactly where to go now. For example, if I am looking for linens, I know I have to go to Rogers & Goffigon and Pindler and Pindler. If I am looking for a killer pattern, then Donghia, Clarence House and Lee Jofa should be the first ones to visit.



All-time favorite designers / designs? If you knew what my dog’s name was you might have guessed who my favorite interior designer is.  My dog’s name is Miles and his last name is Redd and there you have it! Miles Redd is one of my favorite designers because he is so bold when it comes to color. He tends to lacquer walls in ultramarine and other jewel tones like red orange and juxtaposes them with rougher textures like linen, African cloth and horse hair. He also uses a lot of bright color velvets, which I love. Most of his interiors are very traditional but when he decides to go a little wild… that's when I like him the most. He also takes a lot from history without being a slave to it. He upholsters doors in zebra skin in a fairly traditional room, a Suzani patterned sofa in a room with De Gournay wallpaper, lacquered walls and Louis XVI furniture, and I can keep going on and on. He had me at lacquered walls. I just love him.



What’s on your coffee or beside table? Lots and lots of books and magazines, coral, colorful lacquer bowls and a shagreen box.
How do you get your news / favorite source? Editor at Large and godesigngo, of course! They have the latest interior design news and events.



What are five bookmarks you check at least once a day? Coco and Kelley, Emily Henderson’s blog, dustjacket attic, Serena and Lily, Lillian August, Jayson Home and 1st dibs.



What’s the best thing/discovery/source/person you’ve found recently? I discovered this amazing furniture line called Sun Furniture. They make all their furniture in California and they can custom make any of their pieces to your liking. I am in love with their “Monarca” dining and side tables!



Tell us something interesting about yourself.  If I wasn’t an interior designer, I would be a travel photographer. I love to walk around in unknown cities taking pictures and blogging about the design inspiration it gives me. Luxury for me is having spare time and being happy with it--spending that in a beautifully designed space wouldn't hurt either!

Meet the blogger: Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is an NYC-based residential interior designer (who launched her own firm in 1999), writer and lifestyle expert. We know her for her blog, Nest by Tamara, and wanted to know more about her ahead of the DDB's Bloggers Lounge. Here's what we found out:



How long have you been blogging? What's your blogging schedule like?
I started Nest by Tamara in 2008.  I post twice a week, and make a concerted effort to take most of my own photography and write original content.  I report on interior design, home entertaining, tabletop design, cooking and all that encompasses “nesting”. I also write with a slightly philosophical bent about how to create a beautiful home curated over time, with an eye for good quality design while still making a home personal and showing my viewers ways to bring in your own unique flair. When I approach cooking and entertaining I attempt to give my readers sources, inspiration and ideas on how to entertain in a way that is rich and varied, but to approach it with a sense of ease and fun. I'm proud to say that I now have over 170,000 viewers.



What in your background prepared you for blogging?
I have a degree in English and a degree in interior design from Parsons, so blogging gives me the opportunity to bring these two skills together. Because I’m a busy one-woman design firm, I often write my blog posts and magazine editorials on Sundays and mid-week after work. I have learned to juggle lots of activities with running a design business, raising two children, writing a weekly column for a magazine, writing a blog and managing a busy social media presence. In addition, I organize a monthly culinary dinner group, and we get together to cook a meal usually focusing on a style of cuisine. We organize the menu ahead of time and each bring a dish to share.  It’s been great fun to add this content to my blog and I photograph our food and table designs, as well as post our recipes with links to sources.  In May, the German cabinetry maker Poggenpohl has invited us to host our French Country Dinner in their newly designed kitchen in their NYC showroom by celebrity chef Eric Ripert.



What do you love about the DDB?
I grew to love this building when I learned about the design industry by walking these floors many years ago. I started simply as a shopper, running from one showroom to the next to pick up samples for various designers I freelanced for (including Barbara Southerland Interior Design).  It does take skill to shop for many other designers at one time, keeping all your schemes in different bags. There is no amount of design classes that can prepare one for the industry in a way that shopping the building can give.  I learned over the years which showrooms have which styles, designs, prices and sources and this is invaluable experience for me. I love the fabrics at Holland & Sherry, especially their wools. I love the sheers at Holly Hunt, and the diversity of fabric at Brunschwig & Fils. Recently, Kravet has become my go-to for good priced quality fabrics from linens, solids and basics. I have recently been buying Duralee fabrics, and enjoy Kathryn Boyd’s collection of bright hues. When I have it in the budget I pick up Manuel Canovas fabrics for their richness in color and textures.  For furniture, my clients like Holly Hunt, Mrs. McDougal (at Hinson), Ralph Lauren. For rugs, I usually head to Patterson, Flynn & Martin. For trims Houles; for wallpaper I am a big fan of the Hinson Madagascar cloths and the textured papers in Cowtan & Tout’s showroom.  The wallpapers at Clarence House are divine. I am a big fan of the lighting at Vaughan.



Any all-time favorite designers?
Billy Baldwin- his color sense was ahead of his time. Albert Hadley for his sense of sophistication with an edited eye. Elsie de Wolfe (the grand dame). And today, I admire Bunny Williams' designs and I am always inspired by her shop, Treillage. And Jack Lenor Larsen's fabrics and gardens are amazing.



What do you read?
Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, New Trad, Hamptons Cottages & Garden,  and a plethora of other design blogs and online magazines weekly. I live for the Thursday Home section of the NY Times. I usually scroll through my google reader a couple of times a week to read my favorite blogs, including Lisa Porter Collection, Apartment Therapy,  Design Milk, Design Sponge, My dog-eared pages, All the Best, Tilton Fenwick. And, finally, although I love to read fiction and historical fiction these days I have limited time so my bedside table has two books patiently waiting: Lone Wolf and The Shoemaker’s Wife.



What's your favorite recent discovery?
I just ordered somethings from Bungalow 5 –  I really like the pricing for a budget client and was pleasantly surprised with the quality as well.  I also just bought Zia Priven lighting and love their lights.  I am always on the look out for good, quality workrooms and just found one upstate.



Tell us an interesting fact about you?
I am a city gal who lived in urban NYC for over twenty years until my family relocated to Vermont to live on a farm when I was a teenager.  I know how to raise chickens, work with cows, ride a horse bareback and garden like nobody’s business….

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Cocktail Party at Pierre Frey

The Pierre Frey showroom was the place to be as the DDB’s Spring Market came to an end. We joined Mr. Pierre Frey and his team for cocktails and photography to celebrate the ethereal work of Photographer Paul Solberg.

Paul's work covered the showroom walls with examples from BLOOM, his first published book which explores Flowers as Object.

"It's very exciting to have my work in Pierre's showroom," said Paul. "It's been a great collaboration and I've been getting lots of great, positive feedback from lots of guests at the showroom today."

Paul was decked out in a suit that made many ask him which Pierre Frey fabric it was made of.

"This suit is not one of Pierre's fabrics actually," Paul said. "Though, many of his patterns would make really great suits!"

Paul is currently working on a new book with Christopher Makos, together as the art duo, The Hilton Brothers, due to be published in October 2011. Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more about Paul and his work.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Alexander Gorlin’s Newest Book

New York-based Architect Alexander Gorlin joined the DDB's Spring Market festivities at an event with Moura Starr and Potterton Books for the release of his latest book Tomorrow's Houses.

Tomorrow's Houses is a photo-rich presentation of modernist houses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, built during the early twentieth century through the 1960s. Alexander places these beautiful houses in their proper historical context as examples of the best of early and mid-20th-century American modernist architecture.

We asked Alexander about his writing process for Tomorrow's Houses.

"I write for the parties!" Alexander said. "Honestly, though, I really enjoy the research that goes into putting together a book. There's also nothing better than holding the published book in my hands once everything is finally finished."

Alexander told us he thought Eliot Noyes' house in New Canaan, CT, was one of the projects in the book that best defined the theme of the book. “His house is modern and earthy, so it really combined the best of shelter as well as nature," he said.

Tomorrow's Houses is now available through Potterton Books online and in the DDB and PDC showrooms.

Spring Market Buzz: David Netto's WSJ Window Display

Interior Designer David Netto was the mastermind designer behind the DDB's Spring Market window display for WSJ Magazine. The window paid tribute to Spring Market Keynote What's Next in Decorating? moderated by WSJ Magazine Editor in Chief Deborah Needleman.

"I'm very excited to see the response that the window display gets," David said. "It was a lot of fun to make and I really think that the Agostino Antiques chair is a perfect fit!"

Chris Bacchus and Stephen Warner of Agostino Antiques helped Netto install the display. Tell us what you think if you've already gotten to see it. If you haven't, make your way to the DDB lobby and check it out.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Chatting with Philip Gorrivan at Duralee

We had the chance to chat with designer Philip Gorrivan at the Duralee showroom and ask about Philip Gorrivan II, his newest collection for Highland Court.

"I really had the best time creating this collection," said Philip. "It differs from my first collection with Highland Court, which was about luxury. Philip Gorrivan II is all about luxuriously simple!"

We asked Philip what the direction was for this collection and if he had any particular favorite fabrics.

"The direction was pretty clear. I wanted versatility in the fabrics with the intention of making a collection that could be used in any kind of atmosphere, in any kind of region, and at any type of year. I have several international clients who I kept in mind, but I didn't forget about my fashionable city clients either."

"I really can't choose just one fabric to call my favorite, but my kids can! They picked their favorites based on which fabrics were named after them!"

Visit the Highland Court and Duralee websites, or one of their showrooms to check out Philip Gorrivan II and find your favorite.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Stark Showcases Scenic Murals

The Stark showroom buzzed all day with Spring Market events at the DDB. We particularly loved the Scenic Murals presentation on the elements of 'couture' and modern product with historic origins.

Jay Hupp, Director of Scenic Murals, presented highlights from Stark's new hand painted Chinese and European scenic collections and discussed the origins of the historic designs that inspired them. The sources of inspiration ranged from European homes to several collections at the Winterthur Museum in Delaware.

"We are so very proud to offer our clients such a wide variety of product lines at Stark," said Sylvana Carlucci, Creative Director for Stark Wallcovering and Paint. "Our hand-painted scenic murals are truly a personal masterpiece. We're thrilled for each client who has chosen these murals to enjoy in their surroundings and personal spaces for many years to come."

"Jay has worked with these unique products for over 13 years," said a Stark sales associate. "Each order often becomes a truly handmade or 'couture' addition to a client’s interior and home, so we're very proud to be presenting this with Jay during Spring Market."

Check back with GoDesignGo this week for more DDB Spring Market Buzz.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Zimmer + Rohde New Fabric Introductions

If you made it to the DDB's Spring Market last week, you had the chance to preview tons of new fabric collections and product launches. We made our rounds to see as many as possible, and were particularly impressed by the newest fabrics at Zimmer + Rohde.

The newest introductions included fabrics from Ardecora, Hodsoll McKenzie, and Zimmer + Rohde.

Sales Associate, Luis C. Camarena showed us the collections and explained the variations between the three. We learned that Natural Elegance, from Zimmer + Rohde, orchestrates the elegant harmony of nature, while Boticelli from Ardecora reflects the Italian Renaissance and the era of renewal and re-evaluation in all spheres of culture. Hodsoll McKenzie's Oasis, on the other hand, reflects a commitment to fine craftsmanship and quality.

"Our Oasis fabrics have been enormously well received in the hospitality industry as our 'hotel collection' for Zimmer + Rohde," said Luis. "Collectively, though, the three are doing really well. There's been a great response to these new interpretations. Because we're an international company, our fabrics are used all over the world and the textures and palettes that we have used most recently have had a terrific international response!"

There's lots happening at Zimmer + Rohde, so get yourself to their showroom to see their new fabrics.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Dorothy Cosonas Presented Knoll Luxe's Spring Upholstery Collection

The Knoll Luxe showroom was packed with visitors excited to see the newest Spring colors and fabrics, especially because Dorothy Cosonas was presenting them.

"I've always loved reading about Dorothy and what she does at Knoll Luxe," said an excited Spring Market attendee. "I just had the chance to get her input on the color tones for one of my clients, and it was just wonderful to hear what she had to say. She really understands color and the new collection's saturated and vibrant hues show that!"

Dorothy pointed out a few samples from the collection that have been getting extra attention, including one from the archives.

"One of our orange-y colors here was only ever shown in a showroom in Mexico City!" Dorothy said. "So the circumstances of it making it back to this collection are wild! This color along with the pinks and yellows have been really popular as well. I think people are in need of bright colors after such a long winter—and these are inspiring!"

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more DDB Spring Market Buzz, and make your way to Knoll Luxe to see the Spring Upholstery collection in person.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: The Fine Art of Bed-Making

If the bed we make is the bed we lie in, why not gain experience in the fine art of bed-making? The Lorin Marsh Spring Market event had the experts on hand teach us everything we needed to know about making an exquisite bed.

Lorin Marsh and New York's Little Elves, designer cleaning and maintenance company, asked three top interior designers to demonstrate their vision for beautiful bed-making. Laura Bohn, Campion Platt and Ronald Bricke gave us their tips and top choices for an irresistible bed.

Campion told the audience what he personally never likes on a bed and what he loves to do before leaving his bedroom for a longer trip.

"I hate squares on beds, because a bed isn't square, it's rectangular," Campion said. "I love king-sized, rectangular pillows that are stacked up together because it adds an extra comfy and luxurious look to a bed. I think pillows are great, too, because they add a fancy and done up look to a bed that isn't high-maintenance to do everyday. For me, something like a coverlet is not an everyday thing."

"What I always try to do before I leave my house for a longer trip is make my bed up really beautifully and more fancy than usual. That way, when I get home from my trip, my bed looks perfect and similar to the hotel beds I'm in during my trip."

Campion made sure to tell us before ending that he is not a 'tucker,' and that just because you may not tuck your sheets in, doesn't mean you're a messy bed-maker. We're grateful for that!

"The designers had such interesting ways of looking at beds and bedding," said a Spring Market-goer. "I loved the way that Laura Bohn explained the differences between sheets and blankets and how simple folding can make a bed not only look more lovely in a room, but actually be more comfortable once you're in it!"

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Environmentally-Savvy Shopping Techniques

Environmentally sound, eco-friendly, green—after a while, they can all sound the same, or like nothing at all. Pollack's Spring Market event at the DDB helped clear the semantic confusion with their discussion, Demystifying Environmentally Responsible Fabric Decisions.

Kristie Strasen, Founder and Creative Director of Place Textiles, led the talk and gave her common sense approach to sorting through the best choices for specifying environmentally responsible fabrics from the rest.

In a time when everyone is aiming to do the right thing, Kristie explained that there is more than one way to address such a complicated issue of being an environmentally savvy shopper. With over 30 years experience, Kristie has been developing a comprehensive range of high-end fabrics, which the audience got to see first hand during the talk.

"So what does 'green' or 'environmentally responsible' fabric even mean?" Kristie asked the audience. "The truth of the matter is, 'green' in the context of environmentally-responsible fabric means different things to different people. Some people are looking for fabrics made from recycled fiber, while others are interested in fabric produced from rapidly renewable resources. Many people think organic fabric is the best route to take while many others seek a fabric that is truly sustainable. So, what does it all mean?"

Kristie explained the differences between the many terms people use when they are aiming to be 'green,' and helped to demystify the concerns behind responsible fabrics. Ultimately, the best advice Kristie wanted to share was making the effort to know where your fabrics and fibers came from.

"When people take these different terms into consideration, they are attempting to make intelligent decisions and this helps the big picture," Kristie said. "Unfortunately, there is no one right answer, but there are ways to avoid being unknowledgeable about how you shop for your interiors. There are many ridiculous ways to claim that something is eco-friendly or green, but if you know where stuff comes from—such as cotton, wool, banana leaf—you're making the first and best step towards deciding on a fabric that is more natural and organic, less harmful to the environment as well as renewable."

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Gracie Teaches Chinese Painting Techniques

Veteran Gracie artist, Yen Ming Tsai was the center of attention at Gracie's Spring Market event, where he taught designers the technique of hand painting 18th-century-style Chinese flowers and birds. Designers had the opportunity to try their hand at painting such beautiful images and even took home their watercolor paintings to show off.

"This was just so much fun and so different from any event I've gone to!" said a Spring Market-goer. "Yen Ming Tsai is so talented and seeing him paint in the showroom just brought a whole new level to the way I look at Gracie's showroom. It makes me love and respect it even more!"

"Typically exposed to so much product at Market, one could become a little jaded, or less impressed because everything is beautiful," said Bobby Contini, VP Marketing of Cohen Design Centers. "Experiencing an artisan sharing his craft is a reminder of the incredible talent and creativity that surrounds us."

“Yen Ming is a senior Gracie artist who has been with us for many years," said Mike Gracie, President of Gracie. "He’s been enjoying some celebrity status recently after being mentioned in the New York Times for his work on the Gracie wallpaper in Jeff Lincoln’s Kips Bay Showhouse room. He also is very cheery and fun to be with so I know our visitors are having a great time while showing some excellent painting talent of their own!”

Be sure to check back with GoDesignGo for more Spring Market Buzz at the DDB, and please send us your work if you painted with Yen Ming Tsai.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Designs on Film with Schumacher & Cathy Whitlock (2 of 2)

Following Schumacher’s Spring Market discussion Designs on Film, we chatted with Cathy Whitlock about her new book Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction. We asked Cathy about some of her favorite parts of writing the book.

"You know, it's hard to say. The interviewing of various notables of the industry had to be one of my very favorite parts of the process. I absolutely loved interviewing Robert F. Boyle, who unfortunately died recently. Hearing his stories of being a production designer for Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest and The Birds were positively incredible. Spending an afternoon at his home, listening to all of it while looking through a lifetime of images was an experience I'll never forget."

She continued, “I loved digging up the research but it's so tough to pick one film over another when you love them both. It’s sad to say, but because certain films weren’t even an option helped me in a huge way. Some of the best examples of what I wanted to convey were films that simply had no photographs available. Had I had every film at my disposal, this book may have taken several years longer.”

Before letting Cathy get back to her book signing, we had to ask which film set she would live in given the chance.

"Oh that's a good question! It would probably be a tie between the townhouse in The Thomas Crown Affair, and the penthouse in A Perfect Murder. I will add, though, that Gone with the Wind was probably the film that best exemplified many of the points in my book. The epic, old South-new South feel with the war was just exquisite. They pulled off everything perfectly in that movie!"

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Designs on Film with Schumacher & Cathy Whitlock (1 of 2)

Schumacher hosted a discussion on the influence and inspiration of interior design in film and television during Spring Market at the DDB. The panelists' abundance of experience and prestige in the design and production industry had the packed showroom enthralled.

Moderated by Linda Sherbert, Features Editor of Veranda, the panel included Academy Award winner Tony Walton, Cathy Whitlock, Stephen Hendrickson and Andrew Baseman.

"Schumacher really put together the most amazing group of film designers for the panel," said Jason Lowe, Design Professional. "It was incredible to be able to hear from designers who had designed and assembled some of the most iconic rooms ever to appear on film!"

Cathy Whitlock's newest book, Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction was one of the major topics of conversation during the discussion. A perfect fit for the discussion, Cathy's book covers the evolving story of art direction from silent film to present day. We spoke with Cathy after the discussion, amidst her conversations with fans, to talk to her further about the book.

"I really gave my heart and soul to this massive project for the past several years," Cathy said. "Not to mention, too many wondrous hours in the Oscar library and film studio archives. The hardest part for me was paring down which movies to use from a century of unbelievable movies. Unfortunately, many films lacked photographs of the production and there were also several films from the 60s and 70s whose pictures were just thrown out!"

Stay tuned later today for more of our conversation with Cathy on the topic of design in film.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Rose Tarlow Smells Like Roses

It seemed only fitting that the Rose Tarlow showroom's Spring Market event, Authenticity in Design: A Series on Living and Entertaining, included heaps of roses and other flowers. Van Wyck & Van Wyck, a family-owned event design and production firm, hosted the event teaching showroom visitors how to pair flowers together with tasteful design. We even got our own bouquet to take home!

"We wanted to have an event that was more casual in nature, where the atmosphere was less structured and more relaxed," said Showroom Manager Stacy Sinclair. "Bronson Van Wyck, President of Van Wyck, was here to give one on advice and answer any questions that our guests had."

The questions for Bronson ranged in topic matter and included tabletop, lighting, food, music and, of course, flowers. Van Wyck had a team of three floral designers on hand to arrange nosegays with guests as takeaway's, which made visitors positively delighted.

"I love my flower arrangement!" said a Spring Market-goer. "I can't believe I get to keep these! I loved learning the best combinations for my flowers and understanding how to better compose a bouquet. It was so much fun!"

"I loved everything that was going on at the DDB for Spring Market!" Stacey told us. She got a chance to wander around throughout the day and stop into other showrooms for their events. "It was such a wonderful way to welcome in Spring. At Rose Tarlow, the Van Wyck team was just amazing! Bronson and Mary Lynn Van Wyck are so charming; it was such a pleasure to have them here for our first Spring Market."

"The flowers were spectacular. Having such a wide variety of color and species under one roof was so wonderful! We had a great crowd with visitors throughout the day and into the early evening who heard about the Van Wyck flowers. They were all hoping that we had one last nosegay for them!"

Check back with GoDesignGo next week for more DDB Spring Market Buzz, including watercolor painting at Gracie and Campion Platt at Lorin Marsh.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Andrew Martin Kick-Off Party (cont.)

Martin Waller, Managing Director of Andrew Martin got the DDB Spring Market started on the right foot, discussing how the showroom translates crafts and cultural traditions found on Martin's world travels into stylish and contemporary creations.

Marketing Associate Millie Massa and Design Professional Jason Lowe chatted with us after the speech and gave us their thoughts on Martin's wild takes.

"Martin Waller is the explorer, the world traveler, the treasure hunter and the designer," said Millie. "He is very Indiana Jones, except the dig is for a fabulous couch instead of the fountain of youth!"

"If you ever have the opportunity to see Martin Waller speak about his extensive world travels, do not miss it," Jason said. "He has been to every faraway place that any of us have ever wanted to visit, and his stories give you direct insight into the aesthetic direction he has taken his company."

Following Martin's speech, the music was turned up and guests relaxed amongst the Andrew Martin collections with a clearer vision of the stories behind them. Martin didn't finish his speech, however, without ensuring us, "exotic lands aren't the only places to shop and find product, but they do define our Company and the source of our inspiration."