Follow me on Insta @michelealfanodesign

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Picnic by Design 2015 Basket Designs and Winners


Vanessa Deleon Associates Picnic By Design 2015


I love the summer! One of my favorite events to participate in is Picnic by Design. It was an incredibly successful DIFFA event - collecting 40K in the fight against HIV /AIDS. Incredible baskets by uber talented designers to delicious food and drink from top restaurants and brands. The soiree had a nice vibe on a rooftop overlooking the Hudson river. 

photo credits: Erik Bardin

Kristen Ward Guerrero Picnic By Design 2015

Among the buzz, a panel of judges made up of design and hospitality industry taste makers were on hand to select the top three most impressive baskets. The jury includes: Cindy Allen, chairman of DIFFA and editor-in-chief of Interior Design; Louise Vongerichten, head of development at the acclaimed Chef's Club US; Christophe Rammant, president of EGE & Bolon; Stephanie Goto, principal of STEPHANIEGOTO and Barry Richards, principal and studio leader at Rockwell Group. 




And the top baskets were...... ARCHIVES id, Gensler, Nile Johnson and Michele Alfano /MODmade NY. Yes, my basket design tied for first with Gensler. When I heard my name I was in complete shock and glee! Thank you to the judges, I really appreciate the honor. InteriorDesign.net featured my basket design along the other winners!  Below is when Cindy Allen called out my name and congratulated me...I was beyond excited!









Big thanks to Tiago Fonseca, and Keith Karabec of Five Star Millwork who once again brought my idea to life. The picnic basket design transforms into headphones with speakers. Ya gotta vibe a bit at a picnic, right?



 more winners:

ARCHIVES ID

 Gensler

 Nile Johnson 


images from the event:


 Sponsor- STK (grilled octopus)

Sponsor Robert Allen 



Sponsor Poggenpohl



my peeps!


Cetra Ruddy



Hollymount




Bryon C. James-Rodriguez

Carl Lana for Clifton Dry



Cheryl Umbles



 Rixner Wright



Christina May Design


Kristen Ward Guerrero




 Mong: Torodova



Images credit: Erik Bardin.





To get a daily dose of design, find MoD Design Guru on


Sunday, August 9, 2015

MoD Must Haves: SCALES Architectural Tiles


MoD Must Haves
stylish, tactile, novel 
for tile lovers





When I traveled to Spain with Tile of Spain, they took us to the Peronda Tile Factory. I was especially wowed by the Scales tile collection, a collaborative design project between Peronda and Studio MUT Design!  These architectural tiles are beautifully dimensional with a tapered look.  The varied thickness of each tile allows exposure to its neon colored tile edge. The pieces are hand painted on two sides, generating a neon light effect. It reproduces the vibrant movement transmitted by the scales or flakes of a fish. Just brilliant! 






The white body wall tile comes 12 x 12  in 8 different colors such as yellow, green, orange, red, pink, black, red, and blue.







These tiles are available in the United States!

Connect with Peronda on her WEBSITEFACEBOOKTWITTER, INSTAGRAM


To get a daily dose of design, find MoD Design Guru on