MEET OUR MEMBER COLUMN- Introducing Lisa Walker Brown

Happy September

Let's Get To Know
Member Lisa Walker Brown,
Chief Operating Officer
of
Everick Brown Designs
With a Little Question & Answer Session...  

What inspires you day in and day out? 

I’m inspired by the artistic climate. There seems to be an electricity in the air around being independent and creating your own path.  Today, I am particularly inspired and excited about seeing more people of color represented in the world of art and design - in museums, in magazines and media, on corporate boards and on panels. Diversity is finally being seen as an asset. That inspires me to keep soaring. 

What do you do?

I am a partner and COO at Everick Brown Design (Everick is my husband) and Co-Founder of Objects & Accents, our home décor accessory business. O&A is in retail stores in Los Angeles, Cliff Young Showroom at 200 Lex. and is a turnkey service for interior designers finalizing projects or prepping for photo shoots. 

Why are you great at it?

I grew up in Los Angeles and was surrounded by artists living creatively, whether it was visual arts or production. It seems everyone in LA is connected to the arts and entertainment industry one way or another, my family is no exception. Additionally, my grandfather, an artist, opened the first art gallery in LA owned by an African American so I’ve been surrounded by art and artists my entire life. I think what makes me great is my ability to connect with people and help deliver their vision. Our clients come to us for the Everick Brown aesthetic and our job is to enhance their environment and bring their vision to life through that lens. 

find Lisa on Instagram

Everick Brown Designs

@objectandaccents

Why did you join IFDA? 

Because David Santi harassed me! LOL To connect with great talents and great minds in the industry. The IFDA group is made up of incredibly generous and friendly people. The mixers are terrific fun and everyone is open to help, educate and share their insight. I always feel like I can go to any member and seek advice and counsel and they want the best for me. It’s not a competitive environment. We all know there is plenty to go around and we are stronger together. 

How can we learn more about your business? 

Let’s have lunch! You can see examples of our work at everickbrown.com and check out objectsandaccents.com if you are interested in unique, artisanal home décor – we can assist in accessorizing any design project. 

Little-known fact about you?

Everick and I grew up together in Los Angeles, attending k-12 together. Then, went our separate ways to college.  We reconnected at a high-school reunion. 

available through objectsandaccents.com

IFDA NY Chapter Blog Features Hand Made Rugs By Obeetee at DIFFA Dining By Design

Want to express yourself while giving back?

Learn More About

Obeetee's Collaboration at

DIFFA This Week in New York City...

Here's one way to do it with the help of Obeetee, a leader in hand-woven carpets and an IFDA NY sponsor. Last fall to introduce their Obeetee Express quick-ship program, the company partnered with DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, to create the DIFFA Collection of customizable rug designs by 17 top interior designers and architects.

That collection is available at here for you to custom color or you can choose from hundreds of other designs, or design your own.  All Obeetee Express rugs are expertly hand-tufted using New Zealand wool in 194 colors with a 2-week lead time for custom samples (after rendering approval) and a 6-8 week production time for most sizes.

To support DIFFA's silent auction for the DINING BY DESIGN event this week -- their largest fundraiser -- consider bidding on Obeetee's donation.  It's item #87 -- up to 50 square feet of a hand-tufted rug of your design choice as part of Obeetee Express. We've shown here some wonderful examples of what a few color changes can do to one Obeetee Express design. We bid you well!

Please follow us on:

Twitter @ObeeteeInc

Facebook @Obeeteeny

and

Instagram: @Obeetee  

New Ideas from our sponsor, Hunter Douglas

Hunter Douglas

Smart Windows, Smart Home

Window treatments have come a long way!

Here to keep us updated about some of those advances is information from one of our IFDA NY Gold sponsors, Hunter Douglas.

Innovations in technology are making home life easier, more convenient and all-around smarter.

Energy-and-time-saving, automated window treatments are the latest example. Hunter Douglas is advancing the window treatment market with the PowerView Motorization system. Designed to work with either handheld or wall-mounted remote controls, with a customized app, or even with other smart-home systems like Nest. PowerView allows you to wirelessly control window treatments and create Scenes for each room, automating the operation of shades and blinds according to pre-set schedules.

IN YOUR FAMILY ROOM

Reduce the afternoon glare without leaving the comfort of your sofa.

IN YOUR DINING ROOM

Use natural light to help set the scene for your picture-perfect dinner party. Using the PowerView App on your phone or tablet, you can preset changes in the positioning of your blinds to capture the sunset.

IN YOUR BEDROOM

Wake with the sun by programming your shades to lift at sunrise.

FOR THE KIDS

Eliminate hazardous cords and pulls from areas that the kiddos spend time in with PowerView operated shades.

THE TOTAL PACKAGE

With PowerView Motorization, your home’s window treatments deliver just the right blend of technology and style. Perfect lighting, energy efficiency and everyday convenience seal the deal.

Want to learn more about PowerView Motorization?

head to Hunter Douglas!

Look for IFDA SELECTS at NY NOW, August 21st, 2016

We Hope To See You In August for IFDA Selects IFDA NY Members & Judges will be Out and About at NY NOW Join Us August 21st Show runs 20 - 24, 2016  Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC These are our 10 judges (above) and their instagram names--talents from the design industry who will post and award "Best in Show" winners on August 21st! The winner's booths will be identified by IFDA Selects framed award certificates after 2:00 PM on Sunday and through the duration of the show. Past IFDA SELECT JUDGES: The "IFDA Selects" initiative supports and promotes the design industry, highlighting new and innovative products debuting at New York City trade shows Make sure you Register for your Trade Show Badge HERE  Walk the show and see the IFDA Member /Sponsor booths including: MariJean Jerrell at Rainey & Co. Booth 3166 Besides the more than 2500 brands presenting what's best and what's next that only NY NOW can offer, make time in your schedule to hit the highlights: NY NOW SEMINARS - Summer 2016 Get your tickets NOW, especially for   IFDA - COLOR, What's Coming in 2017?!   NY NOW EVENTS - Summer 2016 A Night on Broadway -SOMETHING ROTTEN, The 65th GDA Retailer Excellence Awards, Complimentary Museum Admissions & more. About NY NOW NY NOW®, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift, will take place at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. NY NOW features three comprehensive collections - HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE - that encompass 100,000 products in hundreds of product categories. The Handmade® Designer Maker and Handmade® Global Design sections of the HANDMADE Collection will open on Saturday, August 20 and close on Tuesday, August 23. The HOME and LIFESTYLE Collections, and the Artisan Resource® section of the HANDMADE Collection, will open on Sunday, August 21, and close on Wednesday, August 24. Attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. More information about NY NOW can be found at www.nynow.com ABOUT IFDA The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), founded in New York City in 1947 and now with 14 chapters worldwide, provides a professional forum for communication and interaction among its high-profile members. The IFDA, a not-for-profit volunteer-run association, also promotes career advancement and educational opportunities and is structured to increase public awareness of the furnishings and design industry through specialized programming, networking and service to the community.

The 2013 IFDA NY annual Big Apple Award Gala honoring the Brooklyn Bridge Park

written by IFDA board member, 

Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

photography courtesy of Dan D'Errico

Blare of Trumpets...

Roll of Drums... 

last evening's 

Big Apple Award ceremony was a magical evening spent in Brooklyn!

Held at the Galapagos Art Center in DUMBO, 

the celebration represents what Brooklyn is all about these days...

art, design and innovation! 

Every two years, the IFDA New York chapter awards 

a local business or institution 

for positively influencing the lives of New Yorkers through design, 

and over the years, 

17 recipients have been awarded.

Paul Thomas & Su Hilty

Co-Chairs of the 2013 Big Apple Award 

Paul Thomas and Su Hilty worked diligently this year to create this spectacular award ceremony, which honored the Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Master of Ceremonies, Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President & CEO of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, presided and began the evening on a festive note to an enthusiastic audience.  

Carlo A. Scissura

We heard from distinguished speakers, including 

Doug Blonsky, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy; Susan Chin, Executive Director, Design Trust for Public Space; Paul Seck, Principal of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.; The Honorable Robert K. Steel, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, NYC. 

Robert Steel awards Regina Myer 

Doug Blonsky

"The party was a crush of design & furnishings professionals as well as city, park, industry & education attendees. Many industry design big names were in attendance including Jim Brett, President of West Elm; Kate Kelly Smith, Hearst Design Group; Dr. Thomas Schutte, Pratt Institute; Alexa Hampton, Mark Hampton LLC; Malene Barnett, Malerie B Carpets; and of course our speakers, MC and Regina Myer, the most gracious honoree to name just a few...What a Park - so well planned and the images that were part of the presentation got it just right. Many of them were taken by my co-chair, Paul Thomas, on a beautiful 'you can see forever' kind of day." Co-Chair Su Hilty

Much praise was bestowed upon

Honoree Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park,

 who oversees a hard-working team on the creation and construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park.  The ribbon cutting ceremony in 2010 marked the beginning stages of building and restoring this beautiful park which runs along 1.3 miles of the East River edge and now includes an 85-acre waterfront site.  

Galapagos Art Center in DUMBO

the food & drink were divine

check out the party snapshots...

Lisa McMahon, Alexa Hampton from Mark Hampton, Rose Ott

Claudia Giselle, Jessical Tolliver IFDA NY President, Su Hilty, Robert Ferraroni from Ferra Designs, Chris Abbate, Lisa McMahon

Claudia Giselle, Lisa Blecker & Challie Stillman from Resource Furniture

Amy Hanenberg and Stacy Garcia from Stacy Garcia, Inc.

Paul Thomas, Joyce & Dan Blitzer from the Practical Lighting Workshop

Sean Sullivan and Kate Kelly Smith 

from Hearst Home Group

Rose Hittmeyer, IFDA Office Administrator with volunteers, 

IFDA Student, Jhani Stasil, Danish Ghura & Sapna Mundra

Michael Hatcher and Malene Barnett,
Malene B Carpets

Amy Hagedorn from Sustainable Long Island and Maureen Klein

Chris Abbate, Su Hilty, Susan G. Doban from Susan G. Doban Architecture, Carlo Scissura, Jason Gorsline from Think Fabricate, Lori Raphael, Paul Thomas

 Tamara Stephenson, Lisa McMahon

 Paul Seck, Andrea Algaze

Alexandra Zwicky, Danielle MacWilliams, Chris Abbate from Novita PR
& Su Hilty

Su Hilty, Jim Druckman from NYDC, Alix Lerman from NYDC

Wendy Silverstein and Teri Brajewski

Jane & David Walentas from Jane's Carousel and Paul Seck

A special thank you to
3 M and GE Monogram who helped make the evening possible, as well as David & Jane Walentas for our free passes to Jane's Carousel

In Honor of Asia Week: Join IFDA NY at a spectacular event in NYC on Tuesday, March 19

What's on the IFDA NY Chapter Calendar?

Please Join IFDA NY

for "After-Dinner Enjoyment: 

The New Style of Japanese Traditional Incense Culture”

photograph form current exhibits 

see Asia Society New York

In light of world-renowned Asia week, two esteemed members of The International Furnishings and Design Association’s (IFDA) Japan chapter are visiting New York to share their country’s traditional and nouveau customs for entertaining, with focus on the high art of the Japanese Incense Ceremony.

In this special event, your senses will be awakened through sight, sound, taste, and smell while you learn the noble history of incense and its continued cultural importance in entertaining.   Both presenters, Akemi Toguchi and Akari Koike, are entertainment experts in Japan. 

RSVP Information