Design Community ASID NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER MAGAZINE
WINTER 2017 ISSUE 33
Photo: Elaine Fredrick; Designer: Christina Patton
Photo: Š Gavin Ashworth
Featured
04 05 06
................... 2017 ASID NE Awards GALA
....................................President's Letter
..Well-Being: Today's New Status Symbol
07 09 12
....A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
.................................. Community Q + A
............................The Breakers Mansion
12 EDITORIAL STAFF
Designer
Editor
Rousseline Rodene
Ryan Tirrell, Allied ASID Writers Ryan Akers
Helen Principio, ASID
Heather Bourgeois
Ryan Tirrell, Allied ASID
Elaine Fredrick
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR Andrew Cronin Finn, MSc, MBA Email: administrator@ne.asid.org
Eric M. Haydel, Allied ASID
Featured (contiuned)
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Design Community magazine is published quarterly for the ASID New England Chapter of the American .................................. Legislative Update Society of Interior Designers by DSA Publishing & Design, Inc. Editorial content and the Design Community magazine are controlled and owned by the ASID NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER New England Chapter of ASID. Reproduction of this 4 Lan Drive, Suite 310 publication in whole, in part, in any form is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the New Westford, MA 01886 England Chapter of ASID. T: (978) 674-6210 F:(617) 261-7591 administrator@ne.asid.org www.asidne.org
New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
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ASID NE Annual Gala AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS NEW ENGLAND CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO
Annual Awards Gala 2017 FRIDAY, THE THIRTY FIRST OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND SEVENTEEN SIX O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING COCKTAILS | SMALL BITES | AWARDS
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 25 EVANS WAY BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ASID NE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN | BARBARA BRADLEE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN | JEANNE FINNERTY RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN | TANIA KRATT INDUSTRY PARTNER | ROSEMARY PORTO EDUCATOR | NANCY E. HACKETT
VISIT WWW.ASIDNE.ORG FOR DETAILS
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New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
President’s Letter H ello fellow ASID NE members and Happy 2017! I wish you all a very happy and successful year. As we start out a new year, I would like to acknowledge and thank our 2017 Sponsors. Without our generous sponsors, we would not be able to host the events and programs for our members. Many of these sponsors are renewing their commitment to ASID for this upcoming year and we appreciate that continued support! We also welcome some new supporters. It is not too late to become a sponsor. We have opportunities of varying levels to help the organization. • Platinum Sponsor FBN Construction Design New England (Media Sponsor) • Gold Sponsor Landry & Arcari Benjamin Moore New England Home (Education Programming Partner) • Silver Sponsor Moen Marvin at 7 Tide • Supporter PoggenPohl Cumar • Friend Interface Mohawk Gregory Lombardi Design Stibler Associates I would like to introduce two new board members to the team. Please welcome Lani Smith from Moen as our new Communications Director and Jennifer Sarabia, an educator at Wentworth as the Professional Development Director. We are very pleased to have Lani and Jennifer join the Board and look forward to working with them. I would like to thank all of the board members for their continuing efforts: Ryan Tirrell: President-Elect, Jonathan Cahill: Membership Director, Jill Janasiewicz: Finance Director, Ally Maloney: Director at Large, Nicolette Gordon: Emerging Professionals Chair: and our chapter administrator, Andrew Finn.
We are seeking a new Student Representative to the board, so please contact me if you are interested or know of a student that would be interested in this position! We have a lot of exciting things happening in the chapter. This newsletter includes an update on legislative activities. I am extremely encouraged by the new initiatives in this area receiving support on a national level and the efforts on a local level as well. Combined I believe that progress is on the horizon. Planning for the Gala is underway and we are extremely excited about the event, the venue, the honorees and our initiative to award student scholarships. I am looking forward to this event and hope to see many of you there. Please keep an eye out in our weekly emails for upcoming events including some CEUs. I believe the end of 2017 will be the deadline for obtaining the CEU requirements for most. I know that for me at least the year always flies by, so don’t miss out on opportunities to get credits if needed. Lastly, I know that we all just renewed our own memberships to ASID. As we start of this new year, I want to thank all of our members for continuing to be part of this organization! Let’s make it a great year.
Helen
Well-Being: Today’s New Status Symbol
By Ryan Akers | Interface Flooring
F
orget cars and couture, well-being is the new status symbol for the 21st century worker. A recent global survey from Westin Hotels found 62% of respondents consider well-being, more important than professional accomplishment (47%) and a healthy relationship (48%). The average American now spends more than 10 hours per day in front of a screen and 40% of them are reporting their jobs as stressful or extremely stressful. This trend has leading companies leveraging the emerging science of Biophilic Design to attract (and then retain) the most talented, happy, and productive workers. Biophilic Design is a relatively new strategy that incorporates the proven benefits we experience from being in nature into the spaces we work, live, and learn. It’s rooted in a theory called Biophilia, a concept popularized by Edward O. Wilson in 1984. It describes the innate connection humans have for living things and the natural world. That explains why you always feel energized after taking a walk in the park.
For more information, visit www.humanspaces.com and how incorporating nature (or not) impacts key organizational outcomes like well-being, productivity, and creativity. There are several eye popping revelations from the global Human Spaces Report covering 7,600 employees from 16 countries, representing 3 billion people. Those who work in environments with natural elements like greenery, water features, and natural sunlight report a:
• 15% higher level of well-being than those who work in environments devoid of nature • 6% higher level of productivity than those who do not have the same connection to nature within their workspace • 15% higher level of creativity than those with no connecting to natural elements in the workplace Across the world, 33% of all respondents say the design of an office would affect their decision to work for that organization To put that into perspective a 6% increase in productivity at the company I work for (Interface) amounts to $60 million increase to the bottom line. These results will turn even the most skeptical CFO, Human Resource Manager, and Facility Director into a believer. So the next project you begin, remember the people you’re designing it for and consider the natural elements that will bring value. They may appreciate plants in the office or an operable window more than a pay raise.
www.interface.com
Recent science based research like Terrapin Bright Green’s The Economics of Biophilia and The Human Spaces Report shines light on what workers want most
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New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
By Elaine Fredrick
F
or most prospective clients, the first impression of a designer’s work will be the photographs they see on a website. The quality of these images can determine whether the viewer stays on the site, considers hiring that designer, or quickly moves on. With a background in interior design and photography, having earned certificates in both disciplines from Rhode Island School of Design, I provide architects and interior designers high quality images that showcase their work. Photographing projects is a collaboration between designer and photographer. Ideally, photographing a project begins with a scouting visit in order to prepare everyone involved for the actual day of the shoot. Then, we work together to translate the designer’s three dimensional design into a two dimensional illustration. Images are later finely tuned in postprocessing. I am forever grateful for the support I’ve received from the ASID community. At the advice of a RISD interior design instructor, I joined as a student member. During ASID’s Real World Design Week I was able to follow two designers, Christina Oliver and Christina Patton. Little did I know at that time that I would go on to pursue the certificate in Digital Photography at RISD, followed by studies in architectural and interior design photography at New England School of Photography. A few years later, it was such a pleasure to photograph one of Christina Patton’s beautiful kitchen projects for her online portfolio!
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New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
The creation of the ASID Rhode Island Design Community has provided a fantastic opportunity to network with industry partners and talented designers in the Ocean State. I’ve also worked with ASID member, Janelle Blakely Photopoulus of Blakely Interior Design, photographing several projects ranging from an inviting family room to a waterfront renovation. Whether you wish to document full room scenes, architectural details, or convey a lifestyle, it is important to have quality images that will impress your target audience. Hiring the right photographer can make all the difference.
We Don’t Build Them Like They Used to… Call Us to Find Out How and Why Photo: Greg Premru; Designer: Leslie Fine Interiors
Community Q+A By Heather Bourgeois
P
lease explain how why you decided to do gallery night? How does it add to your business? Where is your passion for art and including that in your business derived from? In 2015 we renovated an 1875 storefront building in Jamestown to create a new home for taste. The orientation of the building on the street, storefront windows on the front and large windows along the back side of the building has dramatically increased the natural light in our workspace. Additionally, the storefront space provided the opportunity to create a small gallery with furnishing vignettes where clients can view finished groupings, sit in proposed pieces from the various lines we represent and evaluate the quality of the furnishings we provide. It only made sense to finish these vignettes with accessories, lighting and artwork from local artists I’ve known and introduced to my clients over the years, so the gallery at taste was born. Gallery nights started in August, 2015 as a way to celebrate our new space and welcome members of the community, clients and friends to learn more about what we do while promoting the local artists we’ve come to represent. Gallery nights are also a way to continue the traditions of Jamestown Designs — the beloved local gallery and shop that occupied our building for the past thirty years. The owners warmly 9
welcomed the community into their shop several times a year, so I’m proud to carry on their tradition of community and hospitality. How has being an ASID member impacted your business? What does ASID mean to you? ASID is an important credential to me and helps to further communicate my intent as the leader of a professional service firm. A high standard of professionalism has always been at the bedrock of my design business, and now it is part of the taste culture. Being an ASID member underscores that professional commitment to my design practice. What was your education background? Years in business? I formed taste in 2004, so we’re starting our 13th year in business. I have a degree in management and began my career in corporate marketing, which took me all over the world managing large projects in the 90’s. When I left the corporate field I was the marketing director for a branding company, which provided me with valuable experience in a professional service firm. The principal of the branding company had successfully combined his industrial design degree from RISD with marketing, which inspired me to enter the interior design program at RISD. I did so knowing I wanted to lead my own firm one day. After completing the program and then gaining practical experience working for a hospitality design firm, I founded taste.
New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
with Patti Watson, Allied ASID
What has been your favorite or most challenging project to work on? Most unique? One of my most favorite projects was actually one of my very first major commissions. My clients lived in Minneapolis and were moving to Providence, so hired me to renovate their entire loft in time for their move a few months later. We worked remotely, with only one face to face meeting prior to the move. I knew they had an art collection, and designed the space with that in mind, but had no idea how vast or significant the collection was until the moving truck arrived. Upon finishing the unpacking and helping to install the artwork, I realized my clients regularly invested in emerging artists in support of the arts. I believe they invested in me, just as they do fine artists, as a way to support my emerging design career. I’m forever grateful.
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What has been your most proud moment in business so far? Restoring the building we’re in, as well as moving into it—which was an enormous task to move a team of nine and all our samples and supplies—and improving the working environment for my team has created proud moments every day since the summer of 2015. It's a constant reminder to me that your interior environment has an enormous impact on your happiness, productivity and ability to connect with others. What are your goals for the next few years? I want to continue to provide exceptional designs, be a value to our clients and work with fellow design and build professionals who practice our caliber of excellence. We are working with some top notch architects and builders now, each of whom make us stand a little taller and produce even better work. I so appreciate the benefits of working with exceptional people, and enjoy watching the positive effects it has on my team, too. What advice would you give your younger self? Keep doing more work and accepting more projects that provide experience and learning opportunities. I’ve done several hundred projects since starting my business, and everyone has taught me more about design, working with clients and working with the people charged with building my designs. Doing more has always taught me more. Favorite season of the year, and why? It may sound sacrilege here in coastal Rhode Island, but I love the winter. We’re especially busy right now, so I’m appreciative that we live and work in a coastal community that’s a bit sleepy in the winter, when we’re at our busiest. The quiet allows us to put our heads down and be highly productive. Then, we have the absolute pleasure of welcoming back clients when they return in the spring and get the chance to catch our breath while enjoying all that Rhode Island has to offer in the summertime. If you could have lunch with any fictional/non fictional person dead or alive who would it be? I think it would be Queen Elizabeth. We’re watching The Crown right now as a family, and learning about her strength as a newly minted Queen surrounded by men threatened with breaking tradition is fascinating to me. She’s an inspiration to strong women everywhere. Why Rhode Island? (choose to live/work?) I came to Rhode Island for college never expecting to stay, but then never © Taste Design Inc. Photo Credits: Kyle Caldwell, left. Our proximity to Boston and New York, our seasons and our coastRobyn Ivy, Lefebvre Photo, Nat Rea line is such a treasure and I have to admit that I’m glad it is still a bit of a well-kept secret. New England Chapter | Winter | 2017 10
JOEL BENJAMIN
Celebrating 10 Years of Great Design March/April 2017 issue out now.
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The Breakers Mansion
By Ryan Tirrell
D
riving down East Maine Street on Aquidneck Island, smelling the cut grass, farms, and sweet fragrance of blooming trees always brings me back to my childhood. My mother’s family is from Newport, Rhode Island and we visited many times a year when I was young. Walking down Thames street, and always being told “Hey, there’s your arcade! (Ryan’s Family Amusements), eating at the White Horse Tavern, and watching Snails in my grandfather’s childhood garden will always remind me of my childhood in Newport, a truly magical and beautiful place. Newport, Rhode Island is located on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. Newport is 23 miles south of Providence and 61 miles south of Boston, its unique location, south of Cape Cod and North of Nantucket, gives Newport a secluded ‘New England / port town’ atmosphere that is home to the one of the highest concentrations of colonial architecture in the nation. Newport has been known as “Eden of America’, and one of the adult playgrounds of the United States, it became the summer cottage location for the wealthy. Aristocratic, political, and industrial families, such as the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Bouviers (Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis) all called Newport home during the summer. Social, and economic influence from these families, and many others, changed the landscape of Newport; Ocean Drive became a mecca for ostentatious displays of money and social influence. The myriad of economic prowess in Newport through the centuries has enabled the city to see varying socio-economic classes and their impact on the island. From the 1600-present day Newport has been one of the top port / trade towns in the country, naval location, tycoon playground, blue-collar wharf town, regional watering hole, and flourishing tourist destination. This vast history of residents, visitors, and industry has given Newport an eclectic architectural landscape that were inspired by many different things. Through all these changes, Newport’s architecture evolved and became a mirror for its history.
It was during the 17th century in which Newport’s architectural history was firmly laid, the Mansions along Ocean Drive, and Bellevue Avenue were cornerstones of inspiration that led to colonial design found in the Old Stone Mill, the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, and the White Horse Tavern; all local establishments that stand today. Newport’s architectural style is largely colonial, Newport’s position during the 18th and 19th century as one of the top five trade ports had a lot to do with its development, style, and economic growth. A lot of what made Newport, was trade. The global trade of sugar, molasses, spices, rum, candles, furniture, gold, silver, seafood, agriculture, and other profitable goods exposed port towns to the world. Global influences have direct impact on structural design and landscape of towns and cities. Not only does a flourishing and successful trade business bring money to cities, it also brings culture and wealthy residents. In the mid-19th century Wealthy families began to flock to Newport to build second, and summer holiday homes. Newport became a perfect getaway for some of the wealthiest families from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. During this Gilded age of prosperity social and political events shaped the aristocratic scene of Newport. One of the most prominent families in the Newport social scene were the Vanderbilts. At one time Cornelius Vanderbilt was the wealthiest man in the world, his family became wealthy through railroad construction and investment, and shipping industry (Biltmore: The Vanderbilt Family History). One of Cornelius’ most prized and famous houses was The Breakers, located on Bellevue Avenue in Newport. The Breakers estate is not only not only large, but grand. Richard Morris Hunt (Architect) designed this estate based on Italian Renaissance palaces. Four stories high, elaborate entrances, marble and alabaster pillars, sculpted figures, open air terraces, and 70 rooms of oceanfront property make this residence one of the finest in American Architecture and Design Continued on page 13
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history (Fordors: Newport County Sights). As one of the United States’ oldest and most unique cities. Newport, Rhode Island has seen many changes throughout the centuries. One of the best ways to understand a location is through its architecture. Newport is largely colonial with Gregorian, Jacobean, Georgian, Modern, and Renaissance inspired styles scattered throughout the city. Newport’s geographical location, trade influence, and varying socio-economic status is why the city looks as it does. As ‘Eden of America’, Newport has become home to some of the wealthiest families that our nation has seen and become the landmark for their impressive and lavish summer homes. Today, Newport is one of the busiest tourist destinations on the east coast. Newport shares
many characteristics that mid-sized New England towns have such as; working naval shipyard, and base, universities, and countless restaurants, shops and markets - but what makes Newport unique and amazing is the history of the summer houses, where the wealthy came to play. This December, members of our Rhode Island Design Community took the “Christmas at the Breakers” tour, it was a beautiful event which made you feel as if you were living the life of a Downton Abbey character. The holiday season is one of the most amazing times to see the Breakers Mansion, each detail is impressively and precisely executed to establish and transport the guest into another world. We at ASID are already looking forward to next year’s tour!
New England Chapter | Winter | 2017
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Legislative Update
By Eric M. Haydel, Allied ASID
A
SID New England, in tandem with IIDA NE, have been making significant progress with interior design advocacy at the MA State House and request your involvement to make our message even stronger. Advocacy Progress: This month, we introduced a bill for an optional registration for Interior Designers. • This will remove a barrier to practice for designers with an accredited education and NCIDQ certification without restricting our current way of practicing for anyone that chooses not to pursue the Registration. • While the ability to stamp and seal may not impact you directly where you currently practice, it will benefit many of our peers as well as create opportunities for future growth in our profession. How this Involves You: Let your Legislators know this matters! • Many have already been briefed on the issue and are generally supportive of our legislation – but their job is to serve their constituents, so your voice is essential in gaining their support. • Below is the fact sheet we’ve presented to brief legislators on the bill and below are considerations and a template if you’re ready to participate! Outreach Considerations: In addition to the below template, please include
• Your own personal comments – they value understanding how this specifically benefits their constituents • Include your contact information – many legislators will not acknowledge requests without this information We encourage everyone to reach out to legislators both where you reside and where place your of business is • You can find your Legislators here: https:// malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator • Phone calls are recommended over emails, but if email is the only feasible option this week – we’ll take it Please let us know if you were able to reach out, it’ll be helpful for our records and follow up, have been making significant progress with interior design advocacy at the MA State House and request your involvement to make our message even stronger. NOTE: One a fun fact / piece of encouragement: Not only is this a new and exciting partnership between ASID and IIDA New England Chapters, but also has the involvement and endorsement of our respective headquarters. Collectively, we compiled the bill language to leverage lessons learned from the 32 other states with legislation and to make this the new standard for interior design across the country. For more information about how to get involved with the Advocacy committee please contact our office at Administrator@ne.asid.org.
Advancing the Profession of
Interior Designers CURRENTLY: Interior designers are unable to work independently of a licensed architect – even when projects are limited to interior and non-structural elements. The current laws are hindering new opportunities and growth for the interior design industry.
WHO IS AFFECTED BY THIS LEGISLATION?
• Interior designers having met the qualifications to be registered as an Interior Designer, including passing a national exam
WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATION DO?
• Establishes the practice of Interior Design, which would allow interior designers to do the following: – Supervise new construction, alterations, repair of a building’s interior space within newly constructed or existing buildings when core and shell structural elements are not being changed – Prepare plans and specifications – Obtain building permits independent of a licensed architect, when appropriate • Creates a board to oversee the registration of interior designers who are qualified and want to practice interior design
AN INTERIOR DESIGNER BE ABLE TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSION OF INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE COMMONWEALTH? WHERE WOULD
• Limited to projects classified as interior and non-structural in the State Building Code or other code approved by the state • New and existing buildings where the core and shell structural elements remain unchanged
AN INTERIOR DESIGNER BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY WHEN WOULD TO REGISTER AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? • Passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam • Meets Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements determined by the state
• Completed full-time diversified verifiable professional experience as an interior designer • Paid the application and/or renewal fee for registration
WHY IS THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY?
• It creates new opportunities and growth, and decreases costs – Increases opportunities available to women and minority owned businesses – Generates small business growth – Creates more competition and decreases prices by offering alternatives – Entices recent graduates to remain in MA to utilize their skills and put their degree to use – Provides interior designers with opportunity to grow professionally and expand their portfolios
Interior Design Industry
in Massachusetts ACTIVE 650 APPROXIMATE NCIDQ INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Direct Impact of the interior design sector in Massachusetts EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 ● 2,125 in interior design occupations in other industries ● 2,783 in the interior design industry
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COLLEGE PROGRAMS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED WITH THE COUNCIL FOR INTERIOR DESIGN ACCREDITATION (CIDA)
• • • •
Boston Architectural College, Boston Endicott College, Beverly Mount Ida College, Newton New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, Boston • Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston
$321m
Benefits to businesses in the Commonwealth from wages and salaries of interior design workers totals 2,752 jobs and over $321 million in revenue
Suppliers of interior design firms (such as engineering and printing services) indirectly produce $282.1 million in revenue and 1,635 jobs
1,635 JOBS
$1.3m WAGES ARE HIGHER
$68.5k $65.3k
Every 100 jobs can support89 additional jobs in MA Every $100 in revenue results in an additional $45 in other industries
Interior Design
Other Industries
Generates more than $1.3 million revenue of firms
PROVIDES $26.8 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE TO THE STATE
$4.6 Million Payroll taxes
$5 Million Corporate income tax
$17.2 Million Individual income tax