IFDA New England Summer 2015 News

I N T E R N AT I O N A L F U R N I S H I N G S A N D D E S I G N A S S O C I AT I O N

NEW ENGLAND Quarter 3 | 2015

The Start of a New England Tradition New Frontiers for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

IFDA International Platinum Sponsors

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear IFDA Colleagues, I can’t think of a more exciting time to be president of IFDA New England!

Thanks to all the support from our members, board members, our chair designers, and the greater New England design community for the success of IFDA New England’s first annual Take A Seat series of events! We also thank the other IFDA chapters that have been participating since the first year of the event, which was in 2013, for offering their expertise and advice! And we are already planning for next year’s event….

We are so happy to report that we raised $16,100 in our TAS chair auction, which was donated to the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development (WIHED), our amazing affordable housing non-profit partner.

Please see Jacqui Becker’s article in this newsletter on our next collaboration with WIHED. As we move into August and September, we are looking forward to our next events. We welcome Louis Postel back for a second year of writing workshops in August and September, and are excited about our “End of Summer Soiree – Builders and Designs Play Nice in the Sandbox,” hosted by the Designer Bath Showroom in Beverly. Come join us for these events to help you transition from summer into fall.

And with fall approaching, we start thinking of back to school. IFDA New England would like to start a mentoring program for students, spear-headed by Sean Reynolds for students at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Sean is a Wentworth alum and our current VP of Future Directions. Our VP of Education, Gloria Robertson, is reaching out to a number of different local design programs to promote IFDA and what we can offer students, to expand our student membership and IFDA student involvement. If you are interested in learning more about either effort, please contact Sean, Gloria or me.

Best,

Karen Dzendolet

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Professional Membership: New Members who

join this October will receive Oct-Dec, 2015 free with their 2016 annual membership!

(15 months total)

$350.00

Associate Membership:

$150

Student Membership:

$45 for Sept. 2015 through the following year (16 months total)

Get IFDA Benefits Today

Contact Rob Henry | VP of Membership | rhenry@avdesigns.com Learn more about IFDA New England: www.ifda.com/new-england-chapter

Board of Directors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President Karen Dzendolet

Twitter Teaser

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Upcoming Events

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Treasurer Gary Rousseau Recording Secretary Laurie Gorelick Industry Liaison Robert Grossman

Mentoring Program

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Grinnell Mansion

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The Start of a New England Tradition

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VP of Hospitality Dianne Ramponi

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VP of Communications Christopher Saad

Member Profile: Rosemary Porto

Set Sail

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New Frontiers

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Dover Rug & Home Presents Haider Ali

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VP of Membership Robert Henry VP of Programming Jennifer Driscoll

VP of Sponsorship John Trifone VP Member Retention Vivian Robins VP of Education and Educational Foundation Gloria Robertson VP Community Service Jacqueline Becker VP Awards Arnold H. Lagueux VP of Future Directions Sean Reynolds

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IFDA-NE ANNUAL SPONSORS Make It Happen!

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSORS

Noteworthy

IFDA-NE Communications: Twitter Teaser Chris Saad of Audio Concepts and VP of Communications for IFDA-NE presented a Twitter review for our membership on April 29th at Wolfers Lighting Inc. Attendees were shown how to get started with this social media tool. The presentation covered lingo, best practices, and posting times. Examples were used from industry leaders who have effective twitter accounts for guidance and inspiration. Participants were given an extensive list of online resources to use in setting up their own accounts. We asked Chris to provide his Top Three Tips for our readers. Here’s his response: Tip #1: Set up your profile! Take the time to tell people about you and your business. People are more likely to follow you if they know you’re a real person or business. Use an appropriate photo of yourself or company logo. Make time to size it correctly.

Tip #2: Third-party tools. Take advantage hundreds of third-party online tools and services that enhance your Twitter experience. Below is a link to a great blog by Kevan Lee who lists and reviews 91 different free tools. https://blog.bufferapp.com/free-twitter-tools Tip #3: Respond to everyone and everything. - When someone retweets, likes, or direct messages you - they are showing direct interest in you. That’s the point! To get noticed. A response from you will lead towards better engagement and better follower retention.

Join us in the fall for more social media workshops that are hosted one hour prior to our monthly events. Details should arrive in your inbox within a few weeks.

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Member Profiles

Job Postings

Company Highlights

Intern Positions Upcoming Events

Recent Projects

If it’s newsworthy, it’s worth sharing!

Submit your upcomng events, company highlights, recent projects, and member profiles to be featured in next quarter’s issue. Email submissions to Karen at karen@kdzdesigns.com.

August 14, 2015 | 5:00 - 8:00 pm

August 19 - September 9, 2015

*This event is hosted by an IFDA-NE member.

Learn to express your stories, your passions, your philosophy, or projects and proposals effectively in words:

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TRUCK ARTIST, HAIDER ALI TALK AND EXHIBIT

WRITING FOR RESULTS WORKSHOP WITH LOUIS POSTEL

Dover Rug & Home is pleased to present the internationally acclaimed truck artist Haider Ali, for a special session on “Truck art, peace, and pluralism in Pakistan, India and beyond” Friday, August 14, from 5:00PM to 8:00PM, at the Dover Rug Showroom, 721 Worcester Road (Route 9), Natick, MA.

August 19, 2015 | 9:30-11 am Workshop 1: Writing For Your Communications Plan

Dover Rug & Home 721 Worcester Rd (Rte 9), Natick, MA

August 26, 2015 | 9:30-11 am Workshop 2: Core Story-Telling Techniques

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August 18, 2015 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

BILL BRETT BOOK SIGNING & PRESENTATION

*This event is hosted by an IFDA-NE member.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams will host a book signing and presentation to celebrate photographer Bill Brett’s most personal book yet: Boston, Irish. This event is free and open to the public. All proceeds from the book sales and 10% of any merchandise sales during the evening will benefit ROOM TO GROW, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 142 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA

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Landry & Arcari Showroom 333 Stuart St, Boston, MA

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Babel’s Paint & Decorating 102 Washington St, Canton, MA

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September 2, 2015 | 9:30-11 am Workshop 3: Becoming More Visible through Social Media Ann Sacks Showroom 1 Design Center Place #317, Boston, MA

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September 9, 2015 | 9:30-11 am Workshop 3: Writing Through Challenges Cumar Marble and Granite 69 Norman St #4, Everett, MA

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For more info on these events, visit ww.ifda.com/new-england-chapter

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November 19-22, 2015

EVENTS

BOSTON HOME DÉCOR SHOW

“Builders and Remoders Play Nice in the Sandbox” Goodbye summer, hello new fall projects - join us for a panel discussion with industry experts John Kruse, Steven Favreau, and Michael Collins, who will focus on how to collaborate successfully.

Visit IFDA at the new Boston Home Décor Show, featuring 40 exhibitors with a broad range of historic, modern and contemporary furnishings, fine art and design. The show will kick off with a Gala Preview on Nov. 19 to benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Gala tickets can be purchased at diffaboston.eventbrite.com. For more information about the show or becoming a Sponsor or Exhibitor, please contact Eliza Oumano at Fusco & Four or visit www.BostonHomeDecorShow.com

Designer Bath Showroom 97 River Street, Beverly, MA

The Cyclorama Boston Center for the Arts 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

September 15, 2015 | 5:30 - 8:30 pm

November, 2015

September 2, 2015 | 5:30 - 8:30 pm

END OF SUMMER SOIREE

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DESIGNER SHOW AND TELL

*This event is hosted by IFDA-NE members.

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HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING WITH CHEF BILL

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Come enjoy an entertaining and educational evening with Chef Bill, who will demonstrate personal touches to make your food stand out from conventional offerings this holiday season. In addition, Chef Bill will bring along many more delicious specialties for sampling.

October, 2015

Location & Time To Be Announced

Learn about new designer products from brand ambassadors and showcase your own work too!

Audio Concepts Showroom 870 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA

MEMBER APPRECIATION & VENDOR SHOWCASE DINNER The 14th Annual Interactive Dinner will provide an amazing opportunity to see the most current design product offerings, network with vendors and designers., and honor select members, including Carolyn Meek, who has been an active member of IFDA for 50 years!

Location & Time To Be Announced

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For more info on these events, visit ww.ifda.com/new-england-chapter

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December 3, 2015 | 5:30 - 9:00 pm

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

Our annual holiday party is a chance to celebrate together and lift a glass to our colleagues. During the course of the evening we will honor board members, collect donations for charity, listen to carolers, tour the 25 room estate, take a horse and carriage ride around the estate grounds and greenhouse, and enjoy a delicious spread.

The Endicott Estate 656 East Street, Dedham, MA

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#DesignerShowAndTell Tuesday, September 15, 2015 5:30 to 8:30 pm @ Audio Concepts 870 Commonwealth Avenue | Boston

Show and Tell Showcase your designs on a dozen event screens* and learn about new designer products from brand ambassadors Win an interior photoshoot by

Win

Jessica Delaney and a half page ad in New England Home magazine (restrictions apply)

Register

Register at no charge online: http://tinyurl.com/DesignerShowAndTell

MEDIA SPONSOR

*upload three portfolio shots when you register

Jessica Delaney p h o t o g r a p h y THIS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

FURNISHINGS • FINE ART • DESIGN

HISTORIC • MODERN • CONTEMPORARY

November 19-22, 2015 www.BostonHomeDecorShow.com Gala Preview to benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS Join us in supporting DIFFA by becoming a Sponsor or Exhibitor.

Sponsored by:

Contact Eliza Oumano 617-363-0405 info@FuscoFour.com Produced by Fusco & Four/Ventures, LCC

Noteworthy

IFDA NE Pilot Mentoring Progrm Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” This is your chance to give. Sean Reynolds, VP of Future Directions on the IFDA-NE Board, has initiated a chapter-wide mentoring program for students to shadow IFDA-NE participating members.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, all that is required is 3-4 hours each month in the fall and/or spring to allow a student to “shadow” you in an effort to gain an understanding of an IFDA member’s day-to-day dealings such as client meetings, site visits, vendor meetings, etc.

Simply contact Sean Reynolds at sean.reynolds@woodmeister.com or Karen Dzendolet at karen@kdzdesigns.com to learn more.

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NOW ART CAN COEXIST WITH TECHNOLOGY

The world’s first silent, precision electronic sliding lift that uses original art to conceal flat screen televisions.

INTRODUCING THE ART LIFT... very cool concept, indeed!

617.734.1800 | BOSTON 508.699.8819 | N. ATTLEBORO WWW.AUDIOCONCEPTS.COM audio/video | automation & integration | communication systems | furnishings | shades & lighting | wifi & networking

CONCEPTS THAT SIMPLIFY LIFE

Noteworthy

WIHED’s Grinnell Mansion

If you were 184 years old, you’d need a little TLC too.

After IFDA’s Take A Seat fundraiser this spring, we are thrilled to announce the next step in our collaboration with the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development will be addressing the wish list of improvements at an affordable housing project, the Grinnell Mansion in New Bedford, MA. Built in 1831 as the residence of a whaling merchant and congressman, this stately granite building is now 17 apartments for low income seniors and persons with disabilities. While already impressive with its granite pillars, architectural millwork and tall ceilings, it’s in need of some backyard landscaping, kitchen renovation, reorganization of the resident handyman’s closet and a winter storage solution for their outdoor furniture.

Our community service committee is being formed now to begin planning the scope of our work at Grinnell Mansion. If you are interested, please contact Jacqui Becker, VP of Community Service on the IFDA-NE Board, at Jacqui@beckerfinearts.com or 617-513-6856.

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The Start of a New England Tradition

Photographed by Elaine Fredrick Written by Karen Dzendolet

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T

he International Furnishings and Design Association kicked off their worldwide, annual design exhibition titled, ‘Take-A-Seat’ in New York and Boston this spring. TakeA-Seat features up-cycled and newly designed chairs crafted by furnishing and design professionals using unique fabrics and recycled materials. Exhibitions are hosted in Japan, Philadelphia, San Francisco and other metropolitan cities.

While this is the third annual exhibition internationally, this was the first year that New England participated.

Eleven designers and two premiere sponsors contributed their talents to New England’s inaugural event.

IFDA-NE’s chair collection was auctioned off at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum on June 3. Guests enjoyed a private viewing of the designer chairs, presented on

stylish rugs by Dover Rug & Home and paired with antique motorcycles and period apparel

from the Museum’s Beauty and the Beast exhibit. Attendees were invited to take a seat inside an assortment of cars, which included everything from a 2010 Bentley Continental GT Speed to a ’77 vintage Mercedes that was raffled off by European Auto Solutions.

The event raised over $16,000 for

Eric Haydel and Rosemary Porto

the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development, a national award-winning affordable housing development organization.

To learn more about exhibitions in other areas of the world, visit IFDA TAKE A SEAT on Facebook.

If you would like to participate in IFDANew England’s 2016 Take A Seat event, send an email to Jennifer Driscoll at jennifer@broadviewmarketing.com.

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Designed By

Sponsored By

Before

Edwina Drummond Boose

Southie Space Saver This solid maple, ladder back upholstered chair was used as a space saver in S. Boston during the city’s epic winter. New to “Southie”, Edwina was fascinated and amused by this seasonal custom and the chair inspired her choice for Take A Seat. She left a note asking to have the chair for a fundraiser and it true “pay it forward” fashion, the owner agreed.

Edwina Drummond Boose is an award winning, full service, residential designer who has been working in the New England area for over 25 years. Edwina enjoys working in a collaborative relationship with her clients. Because individual attention is paid to every detail, the results are one of a kind. Edwina worked with Kostas Custom Upholstery of Needham, MA to up-cycle her chair.

Stefco Builders is a full service construction company of fine residential and commercial projects. Our leading team has over eighty years of combined experience in the industry.

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Designed By

Sponsored By

Before

Connie Kolman

Allison Iantosca

Blue Ghost The iconic Ghost chair – a magnificent reinvention of the classic Louis XVI armchair was our inspiration. We took a centuries old medium one step further to change this chair into a contemporary beauty in blue. Ravished with innovative techniques developed by artist Connie Kolman, this chair transformed from a transparent piece into a tapestry. The applications of papers from the world over along with paints resins, leaf and custom glues, this chair is a jubilation of classic and contemporary style.

Kolman Artisan Glass offers a new and dramatic form of handcrafted oneof-a-kind decorative glass from artist, Connie Kolman. Through the use of exotic papers, paints and resins Ms. Kolman and her artisans transform this centuries old medium into a contemporary and unique finish. Various design applications include wall panels, fine furnishings, and limited edition fine art. Connie’s installations can be found in residential, hospitality, corporate, and healthcare settings. Her clients include Benihana in Times Square and the Schraffts building in Charlestown. You can find her work on display at various art galleries throughout the Greater Boston area.

In 2008 Allison purchased F.H. Perry Builder with her business partner Bill Cosman and has proudly carried on the tradition of building well and doing the right thing - the philosophy taught to her by her father and F.H. Perry’s founder, Finley Perry.

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Against the Grain The name was derived from the definition ‘to do something that is in the opposite direction’, such as the act of cutting wood against the grain. A beautiful slab of eucalyptus burl was the inspiration for the saw blade. Maple was used for the bench seat and saw handle. The entire bench was finished in a clear coat to highlight the natural wood.

Woodmeister Master Builders Design Team: David Harelson and John Stelmach; Demon Defender Build Team: Craig Griffith, Todd Hebert, Mike Fish, JP Nieto, Joe Melanson & Nato Phongsavanh

Cherry Pi The idea for this unique chair design came from a Technocrat, a techie, geeky, and nerdy IT person at Woodmeister Master Builders. The chair is a silly and fun expression of a piece of furniture tied to a STEAM lifestyle. As defined in the name, Cherry Pi is a combination of warm, rich cherry wood contrasting with painted black material and the Greek letter Pi. The idea was easy but creating a functional piece required the collaboration of many to exorcize the devil in some of the details.

Woodmeister Master Builders Design Team: Nelson Gomez & Ed Paquette; Build Team: Craig Griffith, Todd Hebert, Mike Fish and Nato Phongsavanh

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Designed By Dave Thompson

Dave Thompson

Little Tree Inspired by the landscape in the small town where Dave Thompson lives, Little Tree is a whimsical Adirondack chair designed for a pint-sized person. An accomplished woodworker, Dave handcrafts one-of-a-kind furniture pieces and woodenware in his home workshop. He carefully selects unusual pieces of wood with distinctive figure and grain patterns as part of his designs. This chair with its cut out pine tree and house shapes is unique to Dave’s signature style. He made this chair using weather-resistant sapele wood and finished it with a natural oil finish.

Extraordinarily Beautiful, Exceptional Craftsmanship, Legendary… for over thirty five years, these words have been used to describe the oneof-a-kind work of Woodmeister Master Builders. From Boston to New York, Nantucket to Stowe, VT, Woodmeister’s distinctive homes and interior details are crafted to delight and endure for generations. Through inspired collaboration, Woodmeister handles any size project in any setting—from remote island hideaways to chic urban high rises.

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Designed By Marilyn MacLeod

Before

Marilyn MacLeod

Fab Fortuny Faux “Our concept was to give new life to a depressing and dowdy contemporary club chair. We transformed it into a casually comfortable yet elegant chair that would work well for any style room and that any woman would love!

The original chair was covered in a plain, aqua-velvet, solid fabric and selfwelted with ebonized feet.� - Marilyn MacLeod Marilyn creates environments that people love to be in. With her knowledge of fine painted finishes, custom furnishings, textiles and art, she blends all the elements beautifully to reflect your aesthetic. All good design solves a problem and Marilyn listens carefully to understand you - whether you simply want a fresh coat of paint, to recover a chair or you want to reimagine your whole house interior, bring your design challenge to Marilyn and she’ll create your design plan wtih an artistic view.

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Designed By Lee Webster

Before

Koi Chair “If this chair was standing in line at Studio 54, it would jump to the front, vault over the velvet rope and party like a rock star.�

- Chairity Shop Chairity Shop has restyled and donated chairs to local causes since 2012. The designers behind Koi are dedicated to creating extraordinary experiences through a variety of found objects and materials.

Designers Lee Webster and Jasemine

Lipman of Chairty Shop attended the Take

A Seat Gala. Webster wore a custom made trench coat fabricated from the same koi

print used to upholster her designer chair.

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Designed By Mally Skok

Before

Mally Skok

Mally’s Still Ikat Crazy Fortunately for the Mally Skok Design team, junk stores are Mally’s happy place! Mally knew she was looking for a cool, mid-century chair, not too beat up, but something that would be a good juxtaposition for one of her colourful hand screened fabrics. We were planning to paint the legs, but when we found our little beauty in a dusty antique co-op just outside Lowell, we decided that they looked perfect as they were.

The Mally Skok Design team is in love with the new trims from Lee Jofa.

Mally Skok is a South African born designer who runs a residential and small commercial interior design firm in Lincoln, MA. In addition to her projects, Mally’s love of fabric, colour and pattern led her to launch her fabric and wallpaper line in 2008. Her first collection, the India Collection, was inspired by a trip she took with her sister to India. Mally’s fabric line has grown to include close to 100 fabric patterns and 30 coordinating wallpapers.

All of Mally Skok Design fabrics and wallcovering are hand-screened locally in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Mally Skok Design fabrics and wallcoverings are represented in many prestigious showrooms throughout the US. Mally’s fabrics have been featured in numerous high end shelter publications, including: Milieu, House Beautiful, Coastal Home, Traditional Home, and both Design New England and New England Home Magazine.

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Designed By Karen Brown

Before

Karen Brown

Natural Selection This chair is composed entirely of natural materials: wood, mohair, leather and Wild Silk. Crafted in the rainforests of Madagascar, Wild Silk is a nonspun textile produced using the abandoned cocoons of the silkworm, a no-kill method that conserves vital rainforests without harming silkworms or other native species. Through the guidance of the not-for-profit organization CPALI, Malagasy farmers raise and harvest the silkworms themselves, then refine and stitch the final product. 100% of all Wild Silk profits are returned directly to Malagasy farmers, helping to alleviate poverty in the area.

KBDG provides a full range of personalized Architectural and Interior Design services. We specialize in distinctive custom homes and small commercial projects. Our clients benefit from the personal involvement of the Principal, Karen F Brown, AIA throughout the design, construction and interior finishing process. From planning and design through construction and custom furnishings installation, Karen and her staff deliver a flawlessly integrated product where both the interior and exterior elements fully complement one another.

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Designed By Jill Gobeille

Before

Jill Gobeille

Olivia “I feel as though I may have been watching one too many episodes of Mad Men as of late. While searching for a chair for this event, many things looked large, overstuffed, and ornate. What drew me to this chair was it’s clean lines and simplistic nature of the design.” - Jill Gobeille Studio North is a husband and wife team whose individual backgrounds have seamlessly melded together in an effort to produce designs focused on the function for the client without sacrificing the form. Jillian has a degree in furniture design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She has spent the past eight years as the sole interior designer for Fly By Night Furniture in Northampton, MA. Michael is a registered architect and has a degree from Roger Williams University. He has spent the past fourteen years working on numerous projects throughout the New England area.

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Designed By Vani Sayeed

Before

Vani Sayeed

Papillon “The ‘before’ chair was generously donated and re-upholstered by Partners in Design, a custom upholstery workroom located in Newton.

The Donghia showroom at the Boston Design Center provided the stunning Rubelli silk fabric, and Jens Painting of Ashland completed the transformation with glossy black paint.” - Vani Sayeed Vani Sayeed Studios provide turnkey services for a full range of interior design projects. With an extensive base of knowledge and resources, we create environments synergistic with client personalities. We approach each project with these core values – client focus, collaboration and attention to detail.

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Event Highlights

Chris Magliozzi

Ed Owen and Karen Dzendolet

Meaghan Flaherty

Amy Fischer, Glen Kelly, Janelle Driscoll

Laurie Gorelick, Vani Sayeed, Ana Bonilla, Deborah Berger

Mahmud and Hasan Jafri

Brooke Goodnow

Loni Willey, Dana Mead, Maura Camosse and Tyler Campbell of WIHED.

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Chris Elliot, Karen Gill, Judy Ghanem, Chair Designer Edwina Drummond Boose, Robert Boose

Top Row: Nelson Gomez, Ed Paquette, Sean Reynolds, Chris Komenda Bottom Row: Ted Goodnow, Paul Guitard, Brooke Goodnow

Maureen Klein and Jennifer Gear

Donna and Steve Venegas

Fab Fortuny Faux by Marilyn Macleod

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Member Profile

Design New England Magazine Features Rosemary Porto Rosemary Porto, an active IFDA member and Senior Designer and Showroom Manager of Poggenpohl Boston (IFDA-NE’s Platinum Sponsor), is featured in Design New England Magazine. In this instance, it’s not her client’s beautiful Poggenpohl kitchen, but her own practical and stylish dream home that is front and center.

According to the article, after working with the German Poggenpohl brand for so long, Porto now describes herself as an interior designer who specializes in kitchens and “a specialist in all things metric.” She proves that a contemporary kitchen can correlate with a style that includes beloved antiques and classic furniture.

See the entire article in the July/August 2015 issue of Design New England, or on designnewengland.com.

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Set Sail Photography by Elaine Fredrick

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We were lucky to have a beautiful evening when we cast off for a sunset sail along the Boston Harbor with the Charles Riverboat Company! This relaxing cruise was a joint event with IFDANE and BRAGB and Captain Jim did not steer us wrong!

Left Page: (clockwise) The Lexington waits for guests to board; Jon Barnes and Wendy Bradley of Wellesley Bank, Roy Melnik of Antonio’s Home Exteriors; Chuck Shelinowski, Bob Boose, Edwina Drummond Boose, and Bobbie Shelinowski; Donna Hicks, Laura Sudbey, and Saeed Kobiakov of Landry & Arcari, Anthony Miklaszewski of New Dimension Cleaning & Restoration.

Right Page: (left to right, top to bottom) Max Shapiro of Bank of New England, Bridget Kelly of Nickerson PR, Lorraine DeVaux of BRAGB, Michael Kim of Michael Kim Associates; John Nicholas and Nancy Mullen of Oasis Shower Doors; Eric McLeod of Partners Tehcnology, Charlotte Debye, Pat Taylor, and Liberato DiStefano of Monitor Realty; Tatyana Janes, Jaime Ferris, and Leslie Francis of Discover Tile; Kathy Rovnak and Pat King of Finelines, Roldo Cesaroni and Karen Cesaroni of Mr. Sandless Boston.

New Frontiers for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Photography by Michael Lee In an industry with ever evolving new frontiers, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams have uncovered the key to coming out on top. The secret to their success goes beyond their eye for being the home fashion frontrunners every season, and into the bigger picture—location. With a discerning aptitude for foresight, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams have unearthed the greater Boston area’s newest hot spots in the home decor industry and capitalized on this potential, bringing their suave and comfortable style to two more locations outside the city. Their newest signature store in Natick opened this spring and the soon –to-beopened Burlington store is set to launch early September.

The confidence to expand stems from the outstanding success of their flagship store located in Boston’s Back Bay. Humble beginnings through a licensing agreement in 2004 gave way to the doubling of their original showroom size, adding a new floor to the space in 2012. Extraordinary success in this location gave way to expanding to the Metrowest area. Route 9 in Natick was slowly becoming the design district west of the city. A store was opened in Natick, and proved to be just what this budding suburban hotspot needed.

This second location took off and it soon became clear the demand for luxury furnishings and accessories outside of Boston was just as strong. In April of this year, MG+BW moved a mile up the road to a new and expanded 10,000 square foot showroom. Since opening the expanded Natick location has been a hit to a new wave urban community craving the quality that MG+BW delivers.

This recently opened Natick showroom immediately envelopes you in the essence of the MG+BW design experience. The entrance warmly welcomes you as you progress through the particularly crafted space aimed at giving you an authentic feel for how the furniture would look in your home. Custom-created furniture settings and accessories are the focal points of the signature stores, housed by the classic MG+BW warm lighting and soft white walls. Livability is projected from every nook and cranny of the store, fending off the stereotype that a high-end home conveys the vibe that pieces are to be looked at and not touched. Luxury becomes a right, not a privilege. With the early success of the new store, Mitchell Gold notes, “it feels like such an evolution for us as a company.

We’re getting bigger and better.”The space caters to every level of design expertise and is outfitted with kind and professional staff whose premier duty is to aid every kind of customer towards finding the products and answers they need.

Twice the size of the space it replaced, the showroom is fitted with a more residential feel, featuring 8’ sheetrock ceilings and a combination of tile and hardwood floors, reminiscent of a customer’s own home. As with all MG+BW showrooms, this location is “pooch friendly”, equipped with treats for furry friends.

New Showrooms – New Fall Line The much anticipated Fall Look Book features a MGBW line poised to bring a fresh and clean new look to all their signature showrooms for autumn. This upcoming season has been marked by MGBW as ‘the social season’, with pieces targeted at what makes a host stand out. Homes beautifully and comfortably outfitted for entertaining begin as soon as you walk in the door, and should overall remain effortless. Through dining and living, from seating to serving, even the supposed less glamorous storage areas should be fit and ready to entertain. With great richness doesn’t necessarily come ornate, staunch pieces; a home built to entertain should, according the MG+BW, be fit for everything from special occasions to spontaneous fun with friends and loved ones. Inspiration for this season includes colors that come to life in a sophisticated social gathering. Sink into pieces outfitted in rich whiskey and deep wine, featuring leathers in shades from silky caramel to saddle, burgundy, and merlot. When one thinks entertaining, the mind often wanders to the dining room. Visualize crescent-back Turner chains in deep green velvet.

Mina floor lamps and accent pieces in brass, bronze, and gold add a glow to the room ideal for an intimate gathering on a crisp fall evening. Not to be forgotten is a wellaccented bar and clever cocktail tables.

What’s Next?

Burlington has become a local shopping destination, rivaling Boston and Cambridge for the number of big companies calling it home. 3rd Avenue is the area’s latest retail and hospitality venture and it will also be the new home to the next MG+BW 9,000 square foot Signature Store. This location featuring a wide boulevard filled with restaurants, cafes, retail boutiques, and other service facilities, will be the ideal space for the company’s award-winning products, quintessentially American design, and uncompromising customer service.

Also on the social horizon this fall—slipcovers. The MG+BW team has always embraced change and now they combine their love of transition and high-end appeal with luxury slipcovers.

Trim tailored looks with modern French seams ornament clean-lined pieces. Available in luxe fabrics from Belgian linen to lavish velvets and chenilles, mix them with leather chairs for a rich, large-scale setting catered to upscale gatherings.

Of course moving forward is often propelled by the past, bringing hot ‘70s style with cool Italian flare to the fashion forefront this fall. The era itself was the peak of living and entertaining and dovetails effortlessly with the existing MG+BW way of life. Featured is a rich mix of pieces from the era paired with the classics. Saturated colors- navy, burgundy, and spruce stand out.

Dark wood contrasts with metals, both vintage and bright, highlighting the contrast between radical 70’s and classic Italian. Old becomes re-inspired with traditional velvets and paisleys re-imagined through timeless silhouettes.

With the seasons tidings embraced, there is room yet for the tried and true styles that have become a timeless staple for MG+BW. With their love of urban spirit in any locale, the essence is captured in their upcoming collection with a subtle palette of black & white, cool grays, and warm woods. Clean, modern lined furniture give a space of any size a collected feel.

Incorporating your personal style is simple with the addition of elements such as catching barware, elegant photography, stacks of books—opportunity is limitless.

The Exclusive MG+BW DESIGNER TRADE Program The team at MG+BW is committed to providing the ultimate in service to the interior design professional. The MG+BW exclusive TRADE PROGRAM is a two-tier program with incentives unmatched in the industry. The program offers a 10% discount/commission on all regularly prices stock, special orders and now sale merchandise. In addition, when cumulative sales exceed $50,000, partnered designers receive a 15% discount on the aforementioned items for the remainder of the given calendar year. The discount/commission is tailored to personal preference offering the markdown per transaction, or as a quarterly, semiannually, or annual commission. With the mantra at MG+BW that comfort should be a right, not a privilege, other highlights of the program include a swatch service delivered right to your office, complimentary lunch for long client meetings, and a new clearance area in Natick to service immediate needs. So as the customer is not lost in consideration of this service, you can expect a MG+BW presence on large order deliveries, call ahead shopping support- we’ll work with your customer if they can’t be there and send comprehensive follow up— delivery on all designer orders with pre-inspection items as they arrive in our warehouse, and more. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams collections, their programs, and their showrooms are consistent with the comfort meets luxury style that customers have come to love. What the future holds for these innovators is a story untold—but a guarantee to gratify can be wholeheartedly expected.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Locations: 142 Berkeley St. Boston, MA 02116 617-266-0075

625 Worcester Rd. (Rte. 9) Natick, MA 01760 508-650-1400

Coming Fall 2015 3rd Avenue Burlington, MA

2015 IFDA-NE

New Members PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS: Marion Beaulieu of Benjamin Moore Steven Favreau of Favreau Design Elaine Fredrick of Elaine Fredrick Photography Marianne Logan of Luminous Floorcloths Nancy Dayian of California Closets Edwina Drummond Boose of Edwina Drummond Interiors Shannon Gilmour of Grace Interiors Connie Kolman of Kolman Artisan Glass Tony Miklaszewski of New Dimension Fabric Protectors & Cleaners - New Gold Sponsor!

Brittany Shellington of Allstate Glass - New Silver Sponsor!

John Speridakos of Cosmos Painting Company, Inc. John Trifone of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams - New Board Member – VP of Sponsorship!

Heather Vaughn of Heather Vaughn Design Jean Verbridge of Siemasko & Verbridge Inc. Lee Webster of Qilin

STUDENT MEMBERS: Karen Connors Myriam Jacopille Elina Passou

Noteworthy

Dover Rug & Home Presents Internationally Acclaimed Truck Artist, Haider Ali Dover Rug & Home is pleased to present the internationally acclaimed truck artist Haider Ali for a special session on “Truck art, peace, and pluralism in Pakistan, India and beyond.” World renowned for his expertise in ‘truck art’, the distinctive folk art form unique to Pakistan, Haider Ali and his students have started a company they named Phool Patti, which translates to ‘flowers leaves’ in Urdu/Hindi.

On August 14th at Dover Rug & Home in Natick, Haider Ali will talk about his work, life, and views on truck art, peace, and pluralism in Pakistan, India and the region. Haider Ali will present some of his artwork for sale during the event.

Join Dover Rug & Home for Haider Ali’s presentation on August 14 at their showroom at 721 Worcester Rd. (Rte. 9), Natick, MA from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

For more information, visit www.doverrug.com.

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May 2016 Kickoff Cocktail Party IFDA-NE will host the press and design community for a simulcast celebration which will showcase select designer chairs with other metropolitan chapters.

April 29, 2016 Call For Chairs Area design professionals and students are invited to use their talents to up-cycle an existing chair or craft a one-of-kind work of art from different materials. Each submission will need to provide a headshot; a 100-word company description; a company logo; and a “before� shot of the chair or materials.

Traveling Exhibit Select designer chairs will be displayed in various locations for public exhibitions leading up to the June Gala.

June 2016 Gala & Auction A Gala will be held in honor of the chair designers, where the chairs will be auctioned off to benefit a chaitable partner.

Save the Dates

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