IFDA NE Winter 2015 Newsletter by IFDA New England

IFDA NEW ENGLAND NEWSLETTER Winter 2015 / Issue 1

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

CONNECT WITH US Our IFDA New England website is a first stop for official news about our chapter. It lists all of the board members and their email addresses, upcoming chapter events, a calendar of industry events, and links to previous event recaps and newsletter issues. Bookmark the page for easy access! Our IFDA New England Facebook page has breaking chapter news. Like us to hear the most up-to-date information.

Dear IFDA Colleagues, We are so excited about the 2015 program year! The board has been hard at work planning events and setting goals. There are three goals I’d like to share with you: 1.

We are working even harder to listen to our members and provide

what you’ve asked for in our events, in our communications, and in our connections with one another. 2. We’ll be raising the visibility of IFDA New England. We want to let everyone in the design community know that we provide wonderful opportunities for our vendor and design members to connect, work and grow together! 3. We’d like to give members more visibility into how the board works for our members. We hold our board meetings the first Thursday of every month (except in July) from 12noon – 2pm and all members are welcome to attend. Our current board meeting location is at Reflex Lighting at 7 Tide Street in Boston. Our board meeting minutes will now be available on the chapter website.

“Members are welcome to attend our board meetings on the first Thursday of every month (except July) from 12noon – 2pm.” Despite the cold temperature and bleak white landscape, we kicked off the year with a pop of color and energy! “Colors that Make Sense” was presented by Gloria Robertson, who is a color consultant and principal of Twinkle Designs, plus a new board member. New was a common thread of this first event because it was hosted by IFDA-NE Silver Sponsor Landry and Arcari at their new Natick Showroom and we enjoyed a presentation by Loni Willey,

the Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development (WIHED) which is IFDA-NE’s new non-profit. Please continue reading this newsletter to hear about exciting events the chapter and individual members are planning for the 2nd Annual Boston Design Week which will take place from March 19th – 29th. Also, read about an event called “Take a Seat” which is an amazing new opportunity for connecting with other IFDA chapters, drawing on the creativity of our members and the greater New England design community, as well as further highlighting our connection to WIHED. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015! Best, Karen Dzendolet

IFDA-NE COMMUNICATIONS Hello, my name is Christopher Saad and I am the new VP of Communications for IFDA-NE. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and layout some of the plans for communications for the upcoming year. I will be reaching out to the membership for ideas and input on how we communicate as a group. Here are some of the items I already know I’d like to consider:

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Employ social media to inform the membership

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Utilize new technologies to stay current

Update the membership regularly with IFDA NE news and event details, as well as design industry news and trends

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Generate more public awareness to promote our organization o

Drive more business to group members

Attract new members

Offer training to our membership o

How to utilize current communication channels and tools

Encourage more self & organizational promotion

Tools to streamline

Best practices to generate relevant, interesting content

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STUDENT NOTES IFDA-NE is supporting the IFDA Educational Foundation’s Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship for three years, beginning in 2015, and it has been renamed the Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship. This is a student scholarship, and the winning student each year will receive $1500. This scholarship is open to any currently enrolled undergraduate student focusing on the green/sustainable field. The application is due by March 31st. Click here for the application form.

“For those of you not familiar with Tricia, she was a long-time IFDA-NE member and board member and a designer for California Closets. She died from bone cancer in 2013.” In addition to the Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship, there are five other scholarships hosted by IFDA Educational Foundation this year. Click here for more information about each scholarship and their requirements. All applications must be postmarked by March 31st to be considered. Winners will be notified by July 31st unless otherwise stated. The IFDA Educational Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of the association. All members of IFDA belong to the Educational Foundation. Along with student scholarships, there are a number of professional grants available. Please consider contributing to the Educational Foundation, to further both professional and student educational opportunities.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (WIHED) The new year brings a new charity for IFDA New England, The Women’s Institute of Housing and Economic Development. Our members already contribute to the design, construction and beautification of the built environment, and adopting WIHED as our charity will allow us to contribute money and expertise to an organization that meets the housing needs of the neediest through the development of affordable housing. The Grinnell Mansion in New Bedford, Massachusetts is a great example of a project in which our members could make a difference! This existing property for seniors offers 17 affordable one-bedroom apartments plus community space for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Learn more about Grinnell Mansion.

“The Women’s Institute is a national award-winning affordable housing development organization, which offers a core mission to promote economic opportunity and build strong communities by developing safe, affordable and supportive housing for individuals and families.”

Please visit the WIHED website to learn more about their extraordinary 30 year history, and stay tuned for more information about exciting plans for specific fund raising initiatives and opportunities for sweat equity contributions to some of their projects in Massachusetts. If you have questions or would like to be kept closely informed about our work with WIHED, please contact IFDA NE VP of Community Relations Jacqui Becker at jacqui@beckerfinearts.com or 617-513-6856.

UPCOMING EVENTS We are planning a fantastic year of networking and educational events which will include favorite, annual events like the Summer Cruise on the Charles River, Annual Membership Dinner and Holiday Party. We will also plan numerous new and exciting events ranging from social evenings to educational opportunities. We hope to see you at many of the events. Upcoming events: 

March 19th – 29th – Boston Design Week 2015, a 10-Day Citywide Design Festival

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Tuesday, March 24th – Modern Interiors for Men

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Wednesday, May 13th – IFDA-NE Kick Off Press Event for Take a Seat

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June TBD – IFDA-NE Auction Gala Event for Take a Seat

INTRODUCING TAKE A SEAT IFDA-NE is excited to announce that we will be taking part in IFDA's International Third Annual Event called Take a Seat! Take A Seat is an ongoing project of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). Chapters from around the world work together to conduct this design opportunity that garnishes much attention from both the consumer and trade audiences. Members of the furnishings and design industry creatively re-imagine ordinary chairs, turning them into works of art. On Wednesday, May 13, 2015 we will host a Kick Off Press Event for Take A Seat to announce and exhibit designer chairs. This event will be followed by local free exhibitions where the chairs will be displayed in advance of an Auction Gala event. IFDA chapters in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC kick will host a simultaneous kick-off event. Japan, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Northern California will host their kick-off events in October. In June (date to be announced), we will throw a Gala Auction for the designer chairs. All proceeds will benefit the Women's Institute of Housing and Economic Development (WIHED) and additional select charities. Watch your email for a full announcement about this event including information about how you can help and how you can get started. In the meantime, learn more about this event by following these links:

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Take a Seat website

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Gallery of the amazing chairs from last year’s exhibit

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Patron details

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Take a Seat Facebook Page

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Take a Seat Twitter page

IFDA WORKS! Residential Art Work Project Linda Mariani, Interior Designer at The Weston Studio of Interior Design, collaborated with Debbie Bowen of Debbie Bowen Associates on to create the perfect art work for a client’s home. Linda’s client purchased at auction two hand colored prints with decorated French mattes and gold frames. When the client later acquired four more unframed prints to hang in the same room, Debbie sourced frames and hired an artist to hand paint mattes to complement the two framed pieces. The result was perfect!

“It is a special project when fellow IFDA members work together in the field and bring each other in on the right jobs for the right clients.”

NOTEWORTHY Jacqui Becker enjoyed collaborating with IFDA members Dianne Ramponi, Deborah Berger, Nicole Hogarty, Susan Shulman and Vani Sayeed on art consulting projects in 2014. 2015 is off to a wonderful start for Jacqui as she has been invited to write two guest blogs for New England Home’s Design Notebook. Her posts posed the question, “Are you a Collector?” where she explored collectors past and present and “Harnessing the Power of Art” with tips on maximizing enjoyment of your art collection. Read her posts. On March 24th Jacqui will participate in Boston Design Week 2015 as part of a panel discussion about the architectural, interior design and public relations powers of art work, under the auspices of the International Interior Design Association New England Chapter.

Sean Cutting, proud new member of IFDA, is excited to announce that Cutting Edge Homes, an all-inclusive boutique firm specializing in Residential Fine Homebuilding and Custom Millwork, will be the Gold Sponsor of Boston Design Week 2015. Sean is honored to moderate “Collaboration: The New Edge in Home Design” at AD20/21 on March 28 at 3:00pm. This panel will explore how today’s collaboration between a new generation of architects, builders, and interior designers results in premier design and renovation. All members of IFDA are invited to this presentation, including complimentary admission to the AD2021 show. To reserve your tickets, compliments of Cutting Edge Homes, please RSVP here: CuttingEdgeHomes.EventBrite.com.

Elaine Fredrick has volunteered to be our chapter photographer this year! Sheis a photographer specializing in interior and architectural photography. She holds Certificates in Interior Design and Digital Photography from Rhode Island School of Design and has studied architectural photography at the New England School of Photography and the Coleman Center for Creative Studies at the Newport Art Museum. She is a member of the WaterFire Providence Volunteer Photography Group.

Carolyn Meek, Fellow of IFDA – FIFDA, is celebrating her 50th year as an IFDA member! Our chapter has benefitted greatly from her participation and leadership through the years. Did you know that once you have 50 years in the organization, you don’t have to pay dues anymore?

WARM WELCOME Ten new people have joined our chapter over the past four months. If you see them at an upcoming event, be sure to introduce yourself! Do you work near one of these new members? Consider carpooling with them to an upcoming event. It’s always easier to walk into an event with someone by your side. Sean Cutting Edwina Drummond Boose Elaine Fredrick Sara Grossman Myriam Jacopille Constance Kolman Elina Passou Gloria Robertson Brittany Shellington Heather Vaughan

Cutting Edge Homes, Inc. Edwina Drummond Interiors Elaine Fredrick Design Reflex Lighting Kolman Artisan Glass Boston Architecural College Twinkle Designs Allstate Glass Heather Vaughan Design

sean@cehomesinc.com edwinad@comcast.net efredrickdesign@gmail.com sgrossman@reflexlighting.com mjacopille@me.com connie@kolmanglass.com elinapassou@hotmail.com twinkle.gloria!@verizon.net brit@allstateglassco.com heather@heathervaughandesign.com

Ashland, MA Boston, MA Riverside, RI Boston, MA Boston, MA Sudbury, MA Chestnut Hill, MA Quincy, MA Weymouth, MA Newton, MA

EVENT ROUNDUP Holiday Entertaining with a Personal Touch with Chef Bill November 2014. We enjoyed an entertaining and educational evening with Chef Bill who demonstrated personal touches that make your food stand-out from conventional offerings like homemade Caesar Salad dressing, hot fudge sauce and pickles. Chef Bill brought many more yummy appetizers for us to sample and savor. See pictures from the event.

Annual Holiday Party! December 2014. Our annual holiday party was a chance to celebrate together and lift a glass our colleagues. The Endicott Estate, an architectural and historical gem, was the perfect venue. During the course of the evening we honored board members, collected donations to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, listened to carolers, toured the 25 room estate, took a horse and carriage ride around the estate grounds and greenhouse, and enjoyed a delicious spread. View pictures from the event.

Colors That Make Sense February 2015. Our kick-off event for the 2015 program year featured a presentation from Gloria Robertson, of Twinkle Designs, about how to create the perfect environment that is a true reflection of your client’s home or business by using color. This event also included speed networking and a presentation about the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development (WIHED) which is IFDA-NE’s new non-profit. View pictures from the event.