Design, Food and Charity all rolled up at DIFFA Picnic by Design 2017

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design and Tiago Fonseca

Last Wednesday DIFFA -DesignIndustries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted a fun filled Picnic By Design event celebrating creative expression while raising funds and engaging designers in DIFFA’s mission to further the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year $50,000 was raised to support DIFFA’s grants to HIV/AIDS direct service organizations and programs in New York City and across the country. Nearly 250 people filled the Stage 48 rooftop, to come see 22 leading designers who created and donated vibrant, themed picnic baskets filled with picnic treats and essentials for attendees to bid on and win in the Picnic By Design auction.

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design and Tiago Fonseca

Credit Images: Erik Bardin

This year I entered the HYGGE Modern Basket, inspired by the Danish philosophy of Hygge, translating the elements of my DXV space into my Picnic by Design basket. Tiago Fonseca of course was my partner in crime again building with beautiful craftsmanship. 

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design

Hygge is a feeling of happiness and well-being. To achieve a sense of Nordic coziness, I balanced light colored materials with geometric pattern,  a pop of color and nature.  To depict the landscape of Copenhagen, the angled lines of the basket works in concert with a customized wood coastline Pangea map of Copenhagen - which was customized specifically for the basket. Thank you Pangea maps!

All the senses are touched with elements representing earth, water, and fire. So, whether you are sipping wine, eating good food or enjoying yourself with good friends, the key to this sensorial picnic design is to elevate your picnic experience and heighten the simple pleasures of life. That is Hygge!

Thankyou to HORNE for the gorgeous flatware, and Robert Allen for the beautiful fabrics Artworld Indigo, Tessa Techtonic and Tessa Stitch blue.

Thankyou to Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief Interior Design Magazine who purchased my basket design!

Michele Alfano, Tiago Fonseca and Cindy Allen

Thanks to my friends and supporters of DIFFA Picnic by Design:

Having a blast with Lori Dolnick, Deborah Von Donop, Michele Alfano, 
Kristen Sawyer , Cory Berwanger, Tiago Fonseca, Tyler Wisler, Leanne Wood Newman

Michele Alfano and Michelle Radley of JM Lifestyles

Michele Alfano, Tiago Fonseca, Deborah Von Donop, Guy Tunnicliffe

Here are some of my fave baskets from the 2017 designers:

jesGORDON/properFUN x Dirt Cobain

NPZ Style & Décor

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

“DragCon Basket” styled by Tyler Wisler 

Vanessa Deleon Associates

Stillwell Events NYC with Elegant Affairs NYC

Scott Brogan Group

Antoinette Loupé, Canard Inc

Stacy Garcia Inc.

Ted Moudis Associates

Credit Images: Erik Bardin

Thank you to the sponsors: Blanco, Bolon, Design Lab @ Bell Works, DXV, DRS Associates, EGE, Flaneur, Innomark, Maya Romanoff, NTT Industries, New York Design Center, StudioTK, Robert Allen Duralee Group and The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.

White Kitchens With A Retro Pop

White kitchens have been on trend for a while now. I think they are timeless and will probably never go out of style, kinda like a classic pair of blue jeans. Let's be honest though, basic white kitchens can get boring. To pump up the personality of a white kitchen, you need to put some thought into the other choices going into the space like the appliances, cabinet door styles, backsplash and counter selections that can take the blah out and deliver some needed pizazz. 

Via Houzz

So I'm thinking, why not go from the ordinary to the extraordinary with retro appliances that add a little zhush and confidence to an all white kitchen? I'm talking about appliances that call attention to themselves as soon as guests enter the room –  unique options like those from Elmira Stove Works that recall the automobiles of the 1950s with big tail fins and elongated chrome. 

Via Houzz

The 1939 Hambly house interior showcases a clean, minimalist millwork where your eye goes directly to the appliances. 

Hambly house. Credit:Elmira Stove works 

The turquoise Northstar stove and fridge from the owners former home was actually the starting point for the kitchen design. 

Hambly house. Credit:Elmira Stove works   

The Northstar ranges not only look retro but seriously perform up to modern standards with 15,000 BTU gas burners, 2500-watt high speed radiant elements, standard self-cleaning ovens, programmable delayed bake capability, true convection ovens and a two-cubic foot warmer. The control elements under the ceramic top model provide quick, precise cooking and easy clean up too. I love the timeless styling with state-of-the-art convenience and performance features. 

Via Houzz

White-on-white is the theme in the kitchen above. With their retro styling and hardware, the white Northstar appliances nicely complement the black and white checkerboard floors and natural stone countertops.

If you’re looking for your perfect kitchen, Elmira has an easy way to help you achieve it. Their interactive online kitchen configurator tool lets you “create your dream kitchen” so you can get an idea of how Elmira’s vintage inspired kitchen appliances can be applied in your space. Click here to try it out! 

Connect with Elmira Stove Works on their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST

All Images courtesy of Elmira Stove Works  

Thanks in part to Elmira Stove Works for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine.

What does a TOTO toilet have to do with Chef Bouley?

Vertical Window Gardens at Bouley Botanical, NYC

Last weekend I participated as one of Veronika Miller's Designhounds, an exclusive group of designers and bloggers who hunted down their fave finds from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and Wanted Design in New York City.  TOTO, one of our wonderful sponsors at the show invited us to dinner at Bouley Botanical after a full day of design. This was not just any dinner, it was an experience. 

Image above: Chef David Bouley speaking to the Designhounds at Bouley Botanical.
Credit: Photographer Dominick Mastrangelo

Image above: Bouley Botanical- herbs in the window gardens are used to prepare exquisite meals. 
Credit: Photographer Dominick Mastrangelo

Forager's Treasure of Wild Mushrooms - combines mushrooms, black truffle, almond milk and coconut foam.

This was a special evening with TOTO and Chef Bouley where innovation, good design and food was celebrated. Even a heated TOTO toilet in the downstairs restroom was a big attraction; but be there no mistake, the washlet fit right into the healthy living theme of the evening.  

TOTO Neorest Dual Flush washlet - showing washlet and programming at ICFF

At TOTO, they study the mega trends such as sustainability, smart technology, health and wellness. The intelligent toilet in the restaurant had all the bells and whistles- its integrated personal cleansing system blew our minds. Our table giggled a bit about our own experience with this smart toilet. It responds to users by opening, closing and flushing automatically.  It's integrated washlet personal cleansing system offers warm-aerated water to clean and warm air to dry, significantly reducing the consumption of toilet tissue. Bill Strang, TOTO's President of US operations said "this is good design and good business."  

TOTO NEOREST 750

TOTO sets the market trends in energy efficiency, water conservation and material health and is the leader in products that contribute to healthy, environmentally responsible design. TOTO's eWater + technology is the essence of this smart technology. Using the incoming water supply, a pre-mist wets the bowl surface preventing waste from adhering to the bowl. Also after each flush, TOTO's e Water+ automatically mists the bowl with electrolyzed water which has a slightly acidic ph value, keeping the bowl fresh and clean longer.

 Bill Strang, TOTO's President of US operations

Credit images: Photographer Dominick Mastrangelo

Bouley Botanical created by Chef David Bouley is a "living events space" designed to excite all five senses. As guests, we were all enveloped in pure ingredients. Four hundred edible species of plants are growing in vertical window gardens. Pretty incredible!

Farm to table is fashionable now and Chef Bouley believes there is a connection between food and wellness where food is the cure to disease. Bouley talked passionately about biodyanamics, a holistic approach to growing food and alternative oils to olive oil like coconut and ginger we can all create ourselves. We all wait for his inventive cookbook. I only hope he makes it easy for the home chef to prepare. Stay tuned...about 2 years out. 

All in all, my New York City experience was awesome.Thank you TOTO! Thank you Veronika!  TOTO innovates to make the bathroom experience personally meaningful and Chef David Bouley innovates to make ingredients healthier. All keys to a better life. 

Credit: Photographer Dominick Mastrangelo

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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: BOBBY BERK OF BOBBY BERK HOME

If you love hip and urban luxury, then you will love Bobby Berk's design aesthetic. Moving to NYC with only a dream and a $100 in his pocket, Bobby Berk now has an extensive online shop called Bobby Berk Home. Bobby believes in fun, affordable luxury design to the masses. His mantra is everyone can have a fun well designed home with quality pieces and not feel like they broke the bank. He uses bright colors, fun designs and unique prints so your home is a happy livable place. 

I met Bobby in Vegas on BlogTourKBIS and he is personable and fun to chat with. I am thrilled to share this interview with him where he talks about his design inspiration, wallpaper designs for Tempaper and beautiful interiors for the Responsive Homes  built by Pardee Homes.  

Me and Bobby Berk

YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?

I am definitely more of a mid-century modern inspired designer with a penchant for a minimalist and clean aesthetic, but with a dash of cheeky youthful pop fun. 

 BARS wallpaper

WHAT IN DESIGN FIRES YOU UP?

I get excited about new and innovative products and materials, but the cornerstone of any good design is still classic, tailored modern upholstery and case goods. So when I see a company that produces a great piece that is beautiful in its simplicity and really celebrates form and quality construction, that can get me equally excited as something new or techy.  

Transit Bench - Thermoscad Grey Tempaper

TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES OF YOUR RESPONSIVE HOME DESIGN: THE DESIGN PROCESS, INSPIRATION AND ANY CHALLENGES?

Designing these homes was a lot of fun. I liked that there was a set demographic which was a great place to jump off and formulate concepts for both homes. I really connected with the millennial demographic that these show homes were being geared towards, because I’m a millennial too! Even though I’m on the back end of the age range, I’m still very pop culture-centric and am rooted in tech culture which connects me to this demographic in so many ways, and yet my experience has lent me the wisdom to distill the needs and priorities of millennials from my own perspective and translate those values to the greater builder market.  

Larger Contemporary Responsive Home, Vegas

The smaller of the homes was a contemporary farmhouse, designed for first time home ownership, and the larger a gallery-style modern dessert oasis which was geared toward the millennial professional buying at a slightly higher price point, perhaps a second home ownership situation. For the contemporary farm house, I wanted all of the selections and materials to be accessible for real first time home owners and fit a modern farm house aesthetic, so I felt that West Elm was a good fit for a lot of the furnishings. It comes in at a great mid-level price point and the brand has embraced mid-century modern furniture with a bit of rustic sensibility that I think was a great complement to the concept. 

Smaller Farmhouse Responsive Home, Vegas

We chose in both homes to carry a very cohesive material palette throughout all of the wet spaces, and the we ran the same flooring throughout the homes, even into the showers and outdoor spaces, which really made the homes feel quite expansive, connecting indoors and outdoors. For the large home, I wanted very neutral flooring and walls to serve as the perfect backdrop for an art collector’s gallery space, with fun pops of vibrant color in the art and accessories that gave the space a fun sophistication that didn’t take itself too seriously. Despite it’s playful aesthetic, the home still had the perfect layout for entertaining, and we utilized huge pocket sliding doors that tucked away into the walls and completely doubled the living space to the fabulous backyard entertaining area. The landscaping and pool alone made the home a really fantastic party pad that anyone would be thrilled to host from.

Responsive Home, Vegas

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TEMPAPER?

My partnership with Tempaper started ten years ago when I was one of their first retailers. I love working with everyone at Tempaper, and they've always been really good to me so it made sense to expand the partnership into a licensing deal. Now Bobby Berk for Tempaper is available on Target.com and their collection was one of the top ten sellers in home goods last month, so it's really exciting to see this partnership expand and be well received. My prints have been featured on the Today show and Good Morning America as well as Wall Street Journal.  

JAMES LOUNGE -GREY LOVE WALLPAPER

FAVORITE DESIGN MATERIALS? HAVE YOU USED IT IN ONE OF YOUR HOME DESIGNS?

One of my favorite materials right now that I'm obsessed with is Calcatta gold marble. It has beautiful veining with grey and gold warm hues that really make it look so luxurious and distinct. I used it throughout a model I just finished in Las Vegas and would be very happy to use it again, because it can be worked into any aesthetic as a beautiful complement. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY ARE YOU LOVING FOR HOME DESIGN?

The Crestron home automation system from Audiovisions is a really cool way to put everything you want to control in your home at your fingertips and makes your entire home feel like a "smart home" that you can interface with via an iPad, or on your phone. You can do everything from regulate different temperatures in different rooms to turn on the television to a certain channel with all of your pre-specified controls saved just the way you like them. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO FIND COOL LIGHTING IN FURNITURE IN NYC?

While living in New York I always had my own store that I curated with all of the things that I love, so I honestly never really needed to do a lot of furniture or lighting shopping. I still maintain a strong online retail presence and I do a lot of shopping online for projects. I frequent high point and Las Vegas markets and so I typically know what lines speak to me and constantly get to see new product in the flesh, so I know what I'm getting when I place an order. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

I have no regrets. Everything that I've been through in life has shaped me into the person I am today and I wouldn't trade any of those experiences. I feel like there is a reason and a purpose for everything that life hands you, and even the failures are moments that offer you perspective, causing you to take pause and appreciate the things in your life that you can be grateful for. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

Thank you Bobby Berk for the enjoyable interview! 
Image Credits: Bobby Berk Home

You can connect with Bobby on his WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER

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