Sunday, April 14, 2013

Design on a Dime by Interieurs



Inspiration board for our vignette


Team Interieurs Design Studio is working on our vignette for Design on a Dime. 
Our story is the life of a Bohemian Chic "Dandy."

Our vendors have been wonderful support to us, Window mode, Rug and Kilims, BDDW, Innergaze, Limited Editions, Newday Woodwork, Plycon and of course Interieurs filled in all the blanks.

The opening night on April 25th is the event of the season. Tickets are still available :
click here : tickets for the event 

On April 25, Housing works will present New York City's most popular interior design benefit event at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea. Design on a Dime features more than 50 of the world's top interior designers, who creates unforgettable room vignettes with new merchandise which is donated and then sold for 50 to 70 percent off retail pricing.

Attracting a star-studded crowd, the Opening night reception is celebrated with hundreds of VIP's, designers, and friends of Housing works. A-list design enthusiasts mingle with top designers, including event chairs. Guests will get the first public look at the room vignettes and enjoy exclusive preview shopping, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live entertainment


Hope you can join us!

A Bientôt,

Francine


If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The Leaders of Design ..Berlin


Berlin wall Graffitis

The Leaders of Design Council is an exclusive membership of the top architects and designers in the US, which was formed to respond to these industry challenges and opportunities. Keith Granet and Meg Touborg are the charismatic founders.
For this year summit, we flew to Berlin. Keith, Meg and Dana took us on a whirlwind of extraordinary dinners in magical settings, motivating and enriching seminars. This was a learning experience, fabulous venue to meet other architects and designers and discuss everything from life, travel, design and take a break from the daily stress of running a design business. Promises were made to stay in touch which will solidify this bond among all of us in our sometimes fickle, demanding, exiting industry.
On our last gala, Patti Austin sang for us, her performance of the song "lean on me " had quite a few of us in tears. I went to her, hugged her and thanked her for reminding us to cherish life and friends.


One of the theme is to tell a story through our work, our creativity. During these 3 days, I took a long solitary walk along sections of the Berlin wall, walked the old Jewish quarter, now the center for modern art galleries and studios, and reflected on the deep dark history of this city. I felt a heaviness as there is no escape from history. Berlin is showing atonement for its past by celebrating the lifes of the lost ones though memorials, museums, plaques.


You may follow me on my contemplative walk....


Jewish Memorial




Art as a cry for freedom (detail of the Berlin wall)



External basement wall of the Corner House at Willemstrasse. For several months in 1936, the house was the headquarter of the Inspectorate of Concentration camps. Then the department of gestapo moved in

Check point Charlie: Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin

Meaningful sculpture in the Jewish quarter

The old  Jewish quarter is now the scene for contemporary art galleries

The architecture of Berlin will be a topic on its own, as the world's top architects have left their footprint on this vibrant city.

Our large group of 140 was separated in intimate sub groups. This was the setting of my first dinner in Berlin. We dined in the top Rotunda...magical

The ultimate Berlin venue: the courtyard of the Deutsches Historisches Museum

My table...great fun sitting next to Celerie Kemble


The Amazing Patti Austin

In parting,. please listen to the inspirational Singing for Change video. This video was actually part of the presentation on new trends in our industry... we are finding our way to a simpler, closer yet nomadic life






A Bientôt,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Life is a challenge...




En route to visit with our Orangutan friends in Kalimatan, Borneo.Magnificent gift of nature.

Marsha, of Splenderosa, our coach of sorts, and inspirational motivator, challenges us every month with topics for discussion.

This month's Bio is: "Our greater challenge, and how it changes us for the better"

Well Marsha, you did pick a timely and on point subject, appropriate during this spiritual and religious time.

One of my favorite Hollywood movies is Forrest Gump and his powerful line: "Life is a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get."

Life in itself is a series of challenges, our path is to accept the challenges, have faith in God and ourselves, and embrace the changes ahead. In itself, this is a formidable challenge. I fear change, heights, unknown territories, meeting new people,  and because I suffer those fears I deliberately  throw myself into situations where I am compelled to face those fears, embrace the moment and emerge enriched by the experience. 

However, looking back at my life, my one greatest challenge was acceptance. Acceptance that there is more to this world and life than its obvious physicality and that we must believe in our spiritual being and God's love, would it be the wisdom of Buddha or any religion. In a flash, my life, my small world was shattered in front of my eyes on a crisp pure blue morning on September 11th. Writing these words, I can still hear the screams, the sounds of destruction, breath in the dust, stand in disbelief and horror as the towers crumbled before my eyes, not even thinking of running for cover. My perfect small world was over, friends gone forever, children without fathers or mothers. Instinctively,we all walked in silence... walked away until we reached the train station, and went to find refuge in my church. The core of my being so exposed and raw that the only solace I would accept was from God.

Then, I understood. I understood the meaning of life, the magical moments of life, the gift of being alive and I have never ever taken any day for granted. Every night, I look at the sky and every morning I thank God for his loving gift of life.



A Bientôt,

Francine


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