Design Days 2011

“Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant.

There is a fire in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.”

~J. G. Von Herder

This past week the Boston Design Center  hosted Design Boston 2011, a 3-day market for the professional design community.  New collections, new products and upcoming trends were highlighted during this year’s version of the annual event. Taking in such a wide variety of inspiration  is certainly the way to light a fire in my soul for the Fall season and the year ahead!

I attended several seminars and was treated to many wonderful speakers including: Design Trends 2012 with Julie Rokowski, Color Forecasts 2012 with Jackie Jordan, Taking Original Art to Final Product with Ken Wampler, Custom Tailored Spaces with Juan Montoya, Candice Olson on Design with none other than Candice Olson from HGTV and Martyn Lawrence Bullard of Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, who introduced his new, delicious fabric line with Schumacher to name only a few.

I find this is the most exciting time of the year at the Boston Design Center. It is a time for inspiration, for renewal and to set new directions for my designs. My mind is overflowing with creativity and I am looking forward to translating new trends and ideas into finished spaces. If you are considering a project, this is the perfect time to contact me!

Here is a re-cap of an outstanding week and  photos of some amazingly talented people (who are great charmers as well).

Ken Wampler, from the Alpha Workshops, Toni Galeno and Maria Howe from the Ailanthus Showroom 

 Thibeault wallcoverings by the artists at Alpha Workshops

An original block used to print wallcovering

Me with Juan Montonya in the Century Showroom,  surrounded by his custom furniture pieces

 Candice Olson ~ does she need any introduction? Of HGTV fame, Candice has created an elegant fabric line with Kravet

The Secret to Artful Rooms by Mitchell Owens from Architectural Digest.  He  presented slides illustrating some new and creative ways to display art ~ notice the sunburst mirror positioned with the art?

 This is Donny Duetsch’s home and his eclectic collection of graphic art that fills this large hallway.  Note the fabulous curved viewing sofa.

 Martyn Lawrence Bullard  introduced his new book Live, Love and Decorate as well as his new fabric line with Schumacher

 Some of Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s new fabrics

Martyn drew inspiration from the patterns in Turkish tile work

From the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection at Schumacher

I attended a panel discussion on The Restoration of the Royal Opera House of Versailles featuring Antoine and Catherine Tisserant of Tisserant Art & Style and Charles Spada.  Recently re-opened after being closed for the last 20 years, Tisserant Art & Style was awarded the important contract of restoring the Opera House’s chandeliers, lanterns and wall lights. This was particularly fascinating to me after having visited Paris just last month.

A photo of a chandelier undergoing a renovation from the Royal Opera House of Versailles

 Notice the height is matched to the men carrying it but the width is much more~

After much painstaking work,  the installation

I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of the wonders I was able to see at Design Boston. With such an incredible month of design inspiration under my belt I would love to share my experiences more intimately and extensively.  If you are interested in a Design Presentation highlighting my experiences and photos of Paris and Design Days 2011, do contact me!

Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the loss of a very creative man last week, I can only ponder what else he may have given us had he had the gift of time~

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

~Steve Jobs

xo,

Pamela

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