Blogfest 2013 was simply AMAZING! Starting out last Sunday morning, we headed to NYC to be blown away by bright colors, interesting texture, contemporary furniture, light fixtures and textiles, not to mention the Designers who create and inspire the industry!
The Three Day BlogFest was a wirl wind of shows, the 25th.ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), cocktails at Jonathan Adler’s on Madison Ave NYC, The Kips Bay Showhouse, a luncheon at the Hearst Towers sponsored by HGTV and another cocktail party, with Alexa Hampton, Tony Barratta, Johnathan Adler, to name a few of the influential people and design Icons that we were able to rub elbows with, at Newel Antiquities. Here are the DESIGNING WOMEN! As Denise Maurer of Maurer Interiors, calls us at Grand Central Station the beginning of our journey:
Grand Central Station, Starting Out for Blogfest 2013
Kickoff Blogfest 2013 at Jonathan Adler’s
Jennifer Powell was the coordinator of this incredible conference, packed with three days of unbelievable events, star-studded luncheons and events that exhilarated and inspired us.
Jennifer Powell, Communications Manager and truly the star of this event!
Tufted Headboard, and fabulous bedding!!!
Just one of the inspirations from Johnathan Adler on Madison at the kickoff party for Blogfest 2013!
Javits Center For ICFF
African Rug company Nanimarquina
To be sure, when more than 500 exhibitors from around the world put on a show, as they did at ICFF, you can expect diversity. But you should also be able to pick out coherent strains of form, material or style. This rug of Shakespeare Head from Milton Glaser Shakespreare in Africa was certainly one of the exhibits that caught my eye.
Inspiring furnishings from ICFF
Kips Bay Showhouse 161 E 64th St. New York, New York
Tuesday morning started at Kips Bay Showhouse 2013 this event was exhilarating, and something that I have wanted to be part of as a designer, being able to visit this showhouse was a check off the bucket list of life for us. This 5 story upper east side town home, built-in 1899, has about 5,640 sq ft, 4 bedrooms 4.5 baths, a 2 story atrium, front and rear terraces, a garden and an elevator. Every year, celebrated interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art, and technology.
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Coutney Price and Christy Davis
Courtney and Christy were taking photos for this event, I had the pleasure of meeting both of these talented women and enjoying their company on this trip.
Marla Millar and me!
Doodle Home graciously sponsored breakfast, for the Blogfest group, as we sipped champagne in this $16 million space it was easy to get the feeling of how it would be to live in luxury. Marla introduced herself to me and we chatted about Doodle home and what they do for the professional interior designer. Doodle Home helps manage the tasks that interrupt the creative process and leaves us to do what we do best “Create and Inspire beautiful interiors”! We quickly became good friends I’ll look forward to working with her and hopefully spending some time together! The kitchen was designed by Christopher Peacock, but we will save the showhouse rooms for another post!!
Hearst Towers where HGTV sponsored Lunch with Kravet!
This was the beginning of Blogfest 2013, this social engagement was incredible! I spent last Monday afternoon at Blogfest 2013 at Hearst Tower, enjoying lunch, with lots of great sponsors, like HGTV, Kravet, Neutrogena and Valspar. Also giveaways from HGTV magazine’s editor in chief Sara Peterson who was so cute and welcoming. The designers Thom Filicia and Alexa Hampton were informative and incredible. Candice Olsen was suppose to be the guest speaker with Thom Filicia, but she misplaced her passport and was not able to board the plane. We were disappointed to hear that she was not present, but things quickly turned around when Alexa Hampton was announced as her replacement! Replacement hardly fit the bill, I would say our “Treat”! The room was on the 44th floor, the view, well it was the exquisite ! The decor was colorful with pink and green tables, valspar painted pots filled with pink Hydrangeas for an eye-catching table scape.
Pink and Green Delight
Beth Greene, warmed up the room opening our program!
Beth Greene, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Branding for Kravet, opened the event, it was a beautiful day, with astonishing views and a Designer cast!
Thom Filicia, enjoying Beth Green speaking!
Thom Filicia was amazing, he moved us with his designs and shared some of his strategies. He was animated and hysterical at times with his comical antidotes about life, his larger than life personality took center stage as he spoke about his own past and present design work.
The giveaways!
There was so much fun going on at the HGTV Blogfest event, but the one that really took top billing for me was the giveaways, Valspar paint, Moen Rain Shower heads and a pair of dyson Vacuums! Well as luck would have it I was busy chatting with Denise Maurer when I heard my name called, I stood up and didn’t even realize I had won the biggest giveaway!! As soon as I receive the vacuums, I’ll figure out how to post a giveaway and some lucky perosn will enjoy a new Dyson vacuum with me. Stay Tuned as always for details!!!
Newel Antiquities
Newel is the most extensive decorative and fine arts gallery in the United States, having been a premiere destination for international collectors and designers for over 70 years. Housed in a six-story building in East Midtown Manhattan, it showcases over 10,000 extraordinary works from around the globe dating from the 17th to the 20th Century, and is also involved in the creation of original pieces and reproductions.
Newel’s story began in 1939 when Meyer Newman founded the company as a prop house for Broadway shows and later assembled an unmatched inventory of works that he hand selected in Europe following World War II. Since the days of the original Broadway production of “My Fair Lady,” Newel has played a significant part in the supply of period furniture, art, and decorative objects to the motion picture and television industries, including such noted features as “The Godfather”, “Sex and the City”, and “Boardwalk Empire”. In addition, fine retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman and Polo Ralph Lauren regularly incorporate Newel pieces into their masterful window displays. The gallery is also proud to have remained a family business and is currently in its fourth generation of ownership.
This was the ultimate place for cocktails with the incredible talented designers who joined us, we hob knobbed with design icons such as:
Alexa Hampton
Alexa Hampton, she is truly as warm and as down to earth as you can get. Her gracious personality made her so approachable. She is as beautiful as her designs, this was the highlight of my trip. I have been in awe of her designs for many years, and wish I could have the chance to work with this talented woman, meeting this auspicious designer was truly an honor!
Kravet
Tuesday Morning: We ended this conference with a trip to Kravet Designs for a great breakfast and where we were privy to some of the newest designs, some that we were not even able to take pictures of, because they had not been released to the public. Beth Greene who was our hostess for the tour took us through through the building, educating us on everything from digital printing of designs on fabric to the development of how ideas originate and how the art work is developed!
Aerin Lauder
Aerin Lauder is as beautiful as Estee Lauder, she shines and her softness comes alive in the fabrics and colors that she introduces to fabric. Many shades are similar to eye shadows, but her favorites she shared were the neutrals especially the brown chevron!
Kravet Fabrics: Aerin Lauder’s new line.
Maurer Interiors, Aerin Lauder, Designs by Michele for Styleland Interiors
Betsy, myself and Denise
Ending our day with dinner at Brazil Brazil, on the famed restaurant row in Manhattan, 328 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036. We ate drank and did a little merry-making!!!!
This was on our way home, we definitely had a wonderful three days, Many thanks to Kravet, HGTV, Valspar, Neutrogena and all of the people who worked so hard to make this event the success it was! On the train ride home it was time to wind down, Good Night Denise! I’m sure she was having spendid dreams!!!
Sleeping beauty!!
As always stay tuned, for pictures of the interior of Kips Bay Showhouse and the Dyson Vacuum Giveaway!!!!
XOXO
M
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Home Bars – This latest home trend raises the bar on what was once considered only for the uber wealthy. Home bars are now becoming the norm. At the end of a tough day at work, coming home and popping open a beer or decanting a glass of wine is a great way to unwind, but there’s just something special about making a cocktail at the bar.
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Adventures In Styleland! 