ifda ne winter 2015 newsletter
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IFDA NEW ENGLAND NEWSLETTER
Winter 2015 / Issue 1
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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,
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.
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:
Employ social media to inform the membership
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
Generate more public awareness to promote our organization
o Drive more business to group members
o Attract new members
Offer training to our membership
o How to utilize current communication channels and tools
o Encourage more self & organizational promotion
o Tools to streamline
o Best practices to generate relevant, interesting content
Please Like Us on FaceBook and Follow Us on Twitter .
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 [email protected] 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
Tuesday, March 24th – Modern Interiors for Men
Wednesday, May 13th – IFDA-NE Kick Off Press Event for Take a Seat
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:
Take a Seat website
Gallery of the amazing chairs from last year’s exhibit
Patron details
Take a Seat Facebook Page
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.
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 Cutting Edge Homes, Inc. [email protected] Ashland, MA
Edwina Drummond Boose Edwina Drummond Interiors [email protected] Boston, MA
Elaine Fredrick Elaine Fredrick Design [email protected] Riverside, RI
Sara Grossman Reflex Lighting [email protected] Boston, MA
Myriam Jacopille [email protected] Boston, MA
Constance Kolman Kolman Artisan Glass [email protected] Sudbury, MA
Elina Passou Boston Architecural College [email protected] Chestnut Hill, MA
Gloria Robertson Twinkle Designs [email protected] Quincy, MA
Brittany Shellington Allstate Glass [email protected] Weymouth, MA
Heather Vaughan Heather Vaughan Design [email protected] Newton, MA
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?
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.
SPONSORS
GOLD Sponsor
SILVER Sponsors
BRONZE Sponsors
International SILVER Sponsor
