IFDA NEW ENGLAND NEWSLETTER

Summer 2014 / Issue 3

FROM THE PRESIDENT

I want to thank the membership for your enthusiasm in supporting IFDA

New England!

As we move into the second half of the year, we have both new and favorite

events to look forward to. Our next event, new for us and something no other

New England design organization is offering, begins on August 20th. “When

Clarity Meets Creativity” with the venerated writer Louis Postel, is a series of

writing workshops geared to helping design professionals find the “voice” of

their businesses. In October, we are all so excited about our 2014 Designer

Showcase and Interactive Vendor Exhibition, always a membership favorite!

Speaking of the Designer Showcase, I hope you are prepping your entry or

entries! Entries are due on Friday, September 12th, as are nominations for the

community service award. Remember, the competition is open to all IFDA-

NE members and we have a student category this year. Each entry must

represent completed projects but the completion date can be from any point

in your career. You may re-submit non-winning designs from previous years.

Multiple entries will be accepted from the same company.

Please continue to give us your feedback on events and what we, as a board,

can do better. We have heard your concerns about the cost of events, and

where we can, we are reducing attendance fees for members. If you would

like to have an even greater impact on IFDA New England, please consider

becoming a board member in the 2015 program year. Contact me or one of

our other current board members about which anticipated open board

positions are a fit for you!

HOUZZ AFFILIATION BADGE PROGRAM

As you may know, Houzz has launched an Affiliation Badge Program which

allows professionals with Houzz profiles to showcase their affiliations with

schools and associations. IFDA has joined the Affiliation Badge Program and

now has a profile page in the schools and organizations category!

The IFDA profile page will provide current members in good standing with

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 read

the most up-to-date

information.

the opportunity to display the IFDA badge under the affiliations section of their individual profile pages. If you have a

Houzz profile, please promote your IFDA membership by adding the IFDA badge to the affiliations section of your Houzz

profile.

Read this article for step by step instructions for adding the IFDA affiliation badge to your Houzz profile.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our events so far this year have been wonderfully attended and thoroughly enjoyed. We hope to see you at upcoming

events!

Upcoming events:

Wednesday, August 20th – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 1 with Louis Postel and hosted by

Venegas and Company.

Wednesday, August 27th – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 2 with Louis Postel and hosted by

TBD.

Wednesday, September 3rd – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 3 with Louis Postel and hosted by

Century Furniture.

Wednesday, September 10th – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 4 with Louis Postel and hosted

by Sea-Dar Construction.

Friday, September 12th – Designer Showcase Entries due

Wednesday, September 17th – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 5 with Louis Postel and hosted by

Dover Rug.

Thursday, September 18th - Exclusive, invitation-only networking reception for DLF, ASID and IFDA members

following the Boston Lights Exposition 2014 seminars and show.

Tuesday, September 23rd – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 6 with Louis Postel and hosted by

California Closets.

Wednesday, October 1st – When Clarity Meets Creativity, Writing Workshop 7 with Louis Postel and hosted by

DiscoverTile.

Friday, October 10th - 2014 New England Interior Design Career Day

Wednesday, October 15th – 2014 Designer Showcase and Interactive Vendor Exhibition

IFDA WORKS!

Finishing Touches to Newton Home Dianne Ramponi of Dianne Ramponi Interiors and Jacqui Becker of Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services recently worked together to transform the Newton home of a busy father of three. Dianne’s fresh, elegant, family friendly interiors were enhanced with lively but restful artwork throughout house.

“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.”

Boutique Upgrade Service Project Kathie Chrisicos of Chrisicos Interiors, Susan Tata of The Drapery Lady, Brian McSharry of Closet & Storage Concepts, Richard Irwin of Patriot Electric and IFDA NE Silver Sponsor Wolfers Lighting teamed up to refresh the local Dress for Success chapter boutique. Sheer window treatments were installed on exterior windows, drapes were created for the changing rooms and new closet systems were put in place for shoe storage and other storage requirements in the main boutique room. Other non-IFDA companies participated with their painting skills, carpentry, mirrors, mirror framing, carpeting and paint supplies to complete this make-over. Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that supports women who are seeking employment by providing a complete wardrobe for the two first interviews, interview skills, resume writing skills and a positive confident can do attitude.

STUDENT NOTES

The 2014 New England Interior Design Career Day will be held this year on October 10. An annual event sponsored by

IFDA, ASID, IIDA, NKBA, this brings together Design students from the n myriad umber of Design schools to a program

created to enrich knowledge of their chosen field, meet design professionals, sit in on panels , hear and interface with

speakers chosen to present today’s interior furnishings products and discuss solutions to design issues as well as network

with each other.

IFDA has been part of Career Day since its inception over thirty years ago. Today, this is one of the largest Career Days in

the country due to the great number of Design schools here in New England. One of our organization’s most important

goals has always been to encourage the student both as part of programs like this and in our current development of

student chapters in New England schools.

Our professional members take part in Career Day as part of the Career Day committee, in staffing the registration table

and in networking with students at the luncheon.

Although held in many locations, most recently the Boston Design Center, this year it will take place in the South Boston

Innovation District, centering in the recently publicized District Hall for registration and panels with tours that will take

the students to the new locations of showrooms and firms that have moved to this exciting part of Boston.

All of us in IFDA New England support this effort as one of our most important contributions to the Design student,

particularly in encouraging new student members.

NOTEWORTHY

Beverly Rivkind, owner of Beverly Rivkind Interior Design, was honored to have a full-page feature article and photo in the June 22nd edition of the Boston Globe. The article was titled “A Room to Love”.

WARM WELCOME

Seven new members have joined our chapter over the past few 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.

Charles Agro Boston Architectural College charles.agro@the-bac.edu Boston, MA

William Brotchie Boston Architectural College wbrotchie@yahoo.com Boston, MA

Ed Cavallo Thread ed@threadworkroom.com Holliston, MA

IFDA NE Silver Sponsor Venegas & Company may be a small company, but they have a big heart! On Mother’s day, Channel 5 featured a story about a local family that instantly captured the company’s heart and inspired them to get involved. Two young children had recently lost both their parents. Their aunt and uncle, with four children of their own, open-heartedly welcomed the 2 year old and 14 year old into their modest Middleboro home. A neighbor launched an effort to renovate the small home to fit the now family of 8. Local builders, suppliers, craftsman of all sorts to contributed - most donating their personal time on nights and weekends to get the job done. Venegas and Company joined in the effort to give the family a new kitchen! Installation begins in August. If you would like to donate to Build it for Robins Children, you may do so at www.robinschildren.com.

Rebecca Wilson of RW Interiors participated in the Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club's 2014 Kitchen House Tour. Rebecca showcased decorated eating areas that highlighted fresh styles.

IFDA NE Bronze Sponsor California Closets recently agreed to be the official closet provider for Room to Dream Foundation renovation projects. The Room to Dream Foundation is a Boston-based non-profit organization dedicated to creating healing environments for children and adolescents suffering from chronic illnesses. “We are excited to be partnering with California Closets of New England,” says Room to Dream’s founder, Stefan Nathanson. “Every contribution made has allowed us to give back and put smiles on the children and families we serve. Having California Closets donate closets is a tremendous resource that goes directly to our end goal of providing lively but functional rooms for kids in need.”

Mahmud Jafri is pleased to announce Dover Rug & Home’s second location in Boston’s beautiful Back Bay at 390 Stuart Street. A stone’s throw from Copley Square, public transportation, and in the heart of Boston’s Home Furnishing district, Dover Rug and Home's Boston location offers the same exceptional products and services that customers have depended on over the years, with the backing of the extensive inventory in their Natick store.

Allison Ducharme Design Loft allison@interimfurnishings.com Framingham, MA

Karen Gillman Finelines kgilman@finelines.com Peabody, MA

Liz Hause Liz Hause Interior Design lizhause@yahoo.com New London, NH

Milano Neligon J D Staron donna@jdstaron.com Boston, MA

EVENT ROUNDUP

The Importance Of Styling May 2014. Under the expert guidance of Greg Premru and Stephanie Rossi we learned how to style interior design work for award winning photographs. Among the many lessons learned over the evening was the idea that smaller vignette shots looks more inviting than showing the whole space and items off center or angled sometimes make for a better photo. View pictures from the event.

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise with BRAGB June 2014. This members-only event was a terrific opportunity to enjoy views of Boston and Cambridge while socializing with peers from both IFDA New England and BRAGB. See pictures from the event.

SPONSORS

GOLD Sponsor

SILVER Sponsors

BRONZE Sponsors

International SILVER Sponsor