709 viewsHousingWorks will host its annual Design on A Dime benefit this Thursday, April 25, 2024 where acclaimed interior designers will present shoppable vignettes featuring an assortment of luxury home decor, furnishings and art at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea.
As part of Brown Harris Stevens’ ongoing Interior Design Series and partnership with Lisa Ben Isvy of LBI Connext, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Housing Works. This Thursday, some of the firm's top brokers will have the pleasure of interviewing many of the designers featured in this year’s Design on a Dime event to support and bring awareness to the wonderful work Housing Works does.
"It is hard to even explain the energy on opening night as 60 world-renowned designers curate vignettes, all of which are donated from luxury design brands to raise money for Housing Works which provides healthcare, housing, and other crucial services throughout New York City. Every piece in the vignette is sold at a large discount, it is an opportunity for brands and top design talent to work together for a crucial cause to change lives.” - Lisa Ben Isvy of LBI Connext
Learn about the featured designers who will be interviewed by Brown Harris Stevens Agents.
Anjali Pollack Design
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This will be Anjali Pollack Design’s third year participating in Design on a Dime. It is our favorite event as it is completely unique in the way it harnesses the creativity of designers and creates a collegial way for our community to give back to the city we love and live in. Housing Works’ efforts especially towards homelessness are especially critical at this time. We are honored to be included.
As a firm, we strive to challenge ourselves and create vignettes that are different each year. Considering our vignette last year was ethereal and soft, we were inspired to go for a highly contrasted look that is graphic and bold. This year, our vignette can be described as striking, dramatic, and energetic. We focused on a black, white, and red color palette to accentuate the graphic shapes and angles throughout.
D’Aquino Monaco
D’Aquino Monaco’s inspiration happened organically. Like last year, we reached out to vendors that are near and dear to help in this endeavor. We did not set out to create a specific room or place, just wanted to evoke a “moody” feeling, perhaps it was the tail end of winter getting to us. We waited to see what was being offered and let the items speak to us. This is not dissimilar to how the firm creates a room for a client who is bringing their own items to the table. Step one: establish the mood, or vibe, and then let the items talk.
Melanie Roy of Melanie Roy Design
We wanted to celebrate the arrival of summer with soft blues, whites, natural wood and pottery in our vignetter to create a relaxed, soothing vibe. Some of the items donated to our space are a white wool rug, chandelier with wavy glass, pottery, chaise lounge, bar cart and many more items which set the tone for our soothing space! Time to sit back, have a cocktail, relax and enjoy summer!
Mimi and Hill – Miriam Silver and Hillary Kaplan
We were inspired by Hillary's new house in Upstate NY. Both of our parents started their life stories there. The area has a romantic draw for us. We were drawn to natural materials that invoke a sense of earth, materiality, and warmth. When it comes to Design on a Dime, we love Nicki, who runs it. We love the designer friends we have made along the way. The actual event is one of the most exhilarating events of the year as a shopper.
Philip Gorrivan –Philip Gorrivan Design
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As a proud New Yorker and passionate designer, I strongly believe in the significance of giving back to our community. Being part of Housing Works' mission holds immense meaning for me. Housing Works is not just a foundation; it's a beacon of hope that has touched the lives of both the homeless and LGBTQ+ communities in our city. Contributing to their cause isn't about charity; it is about investing in the betterment of our city and fostering a sense of unity and support for those in need.
My sources of inspiration are from the cover of my recently released book “Authentic Interiors: Rooms that Tell Stories "And also sharing the inner workings of my design studio. Instead of doing a vignette of a sitting room or dining room, we wanted to go behind the scenes and share what it is like to be in an actual design studio, filled with treasures like bolts of fabric and wallcovering, a multitude of pillows, and objects, all things that we use in our projects and for inspiration
Melanie Calder Russo- Calder Design Group
This is my first year participating in Design on a Dime. When I was presented with the task, I started producing my concept - what kind of room I wanted to create. The colors, the pieces. However, I quickly learned that designing a vignette for Design on a Dime is not how you typically design a space for a client. My original concept was a lounge space, which then evolved into an office, a bedroom and then a dining room! I realized that until we secured our first donation, I could not even fathom what I was creating. So, the search began. The first donation where we heard the angels and had our lightbulb/AHA moment was when I was able to secure 2 dark burgundy mohair & brass bar stools from Artistic Frame. They are gorgeous. The color and fabric are rich and really draw you in. From there I remembered that I was offered a bar table from A. Rudin and my original concept of lounge was back in play! We added a settee, a bar cabinet, and a shelving piece to round out the furniture. The burgundy hue really spoke to me, and I knew that the best pow for the vignette would be to saturate the space in as much of that color as possible. So, we added a textured wallcovering from Arte courtesy of Koroseal and a tone-on-tone area rug in shades of burgundy from Exceptional Flooring Concepts. We got accessories with some eclectic pieces from Made Goods, bronze panels from Philips Collection and a vintage mirror from Venfield. Truth be told, I may have a few more goodies up my sleeve……but I absolutely cannot wait to see the final product all put together!
I am so honored and humbled to be participating in Design on Dime this year. I love being able to give back to such a worthy cause and ignite the creative juices while doing so. My high school growing up on the Upper East Side was just a few doors down from Housing Works. For community service, my friends and I would volunteer there. It is a wonderful feeling that 25 years later I can donate again to this community. Not only was the process super fun, but it also forced us to bend outside the typical box of what it is to create a room