Häfele’s New York City Showroom Launches Anew

Häfele’s NYC Showroom Facility 

Launches Anew 

Aspire to inspire...
When you walk into Hafele’s newly upgraded NYC showroom expect innovation everywhere. The showroom is a full immersion into the Häfele experience. Located in the heart of Manhattan at 20 West 22nd Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010, the new showroom houses the latest and greatest in LED lighting, kitchen organization, architectural sliding, functional hardware and more. Displaying the functionality of both a residential and commercial space, there is a new kitchen, a community space for the designers, millworkers and architects to collaborate and learn.

Noteworthy Häfele products displayed include Loox LED lighting, Matrix drawer systems, Slido door hardware, the latest decorative hardware collections and more. A full functioning showroom by day and an event space in the evening. The displays are a reflection of Häfele and fully showcase the brand’s commitment to solving the pain points of the designers, owners and beyond.

To The Brafa Art Fair in Brussels, 2019

Highlights From Our Trip To The 

Annual Brafa Art Fair in Brussels

written by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

chocolate and treats from Maison Dandoy

More and more designers from the United States are finding it helpful both for their business and their creative inspiration and sources to attend the international design and art trade shows.  Paris shows Maison Objet and Deco-off  are quite popular with designers here in New York.  This year, we attended the Brafa Art Fair in Brussels, Belgium the same week as the Paris shows, and it was an exceptional experience. An added bonus was seeing this beautiful, historic city with cobblestone streets.  Known for their beer, chocolate and waffles, there is certainly a lot to do besides take in the design at the fair.  The fair showcased a milieu of the classics, beautiful historic art that keeps you enthralled.  But, make no mistake this international art fair, showcases modern art and artists as well. There is also plenty of decorative arts at the fair.  I especially loved the showhouse-like designs sponsored by Delen Bank in Belgium and created by mother and daughter interior design team, Anne-Sophie Delen and Marie-Alix Delen.  The rooms were gorgeous and jam-packed with rich art, mid-century furnishings and vintage lighting.  It was wonderful to see how European designers put all these factors together in a home-- this certainly gave us fodder to bring home to our projects.  

 interior designers

Anne-Sophie Delen and Marie-Alix Delen

One of the artists at the fair who drew my attention was Julian Opie represented by Patrick De Brock gallery.  The artist renders his subjects with minimal details in thick black outlines then fills it in with solid areas of that same color. I particularly love the portraits, including "Lucia 1" which he painted in 2017.  It's a must-see for modern art lovers. His oversize sculpture installations are stunning as well and they appear in a multitude of applications from hospitals to other public spaces and of course private gardens and homes.

  JULIAN OPIE, Lucia 1, 2017 Silkscreen on acrylic panel

more art we spotted...

please see more of my musings from Brussels 

over on the 

Aspire Design and Home magazine Instagram

MEET OUR MEMBERS COLUMN: Mimi Levitan

Meet Mimi Levitan

What inspires you day in and day out?

I have a lot of energy, and seem to be inspired by everything and everyone around me. My camera is always close at hand, and almost anything becomes a subject … in no particular order, saturated colors, architecture, great textures and flowers. Not just relative to interior design, but nature itself. My two young adult children inspire me and certainly keep me young, as do my friendships of a lifetime! And I really love what I do, even on the more challenging days!

What do you do?

I have been an Interior Designer for all of my adult life, and have worn a variety of industry hats throughout my career. As I have recently moved back to NYC via LA and So. Florida, I am reconnecting within the trade and working on business expansion. I have maintained a client base in Florida, so there is a lot of back and forth, which I actually love. As well, I am involved in several trade organizations, which allow me to access and continue my education as an Interior Designer.

Why are you great at it?

To be a designer has been a part of who I am since I was a little girl. I come from a long line of artists, both my mother and grandmother being fine artists…I took a slightly different route! So inherently, that helps me be “great”.

Within my residential focus, my clients' tastes are as varied as you might imagine. I pride myself on listening and really hearing, and am able to adapt my years of expertise to each individual client. Regardless of the scope, I dedicate myself to a successful outcome. And I really have a great time doing it; I think that Interior Design should be fun, and I try to bring that to the client. Why am I great? I’ve been doing this a long time, I have a natural flair and I am a great puzzle solver. As I have shared with my children, if you chose something that you love and make it your career, you will never really “work” a day in your life. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing!

Why did you join IFDA?

Joining IFDA initially was a promise to the South Florida Chapter President. She was right. Being an integral part of this community is beneficial not just professionally, but personally. It has been a pleasure to work and socialize with these members of the NY Interior Design community. We are involved in so many ventures; the options to be involved are never ending!

How can we learn more about your business? My website, though ever-changing, is www.mjldesigngroup.com. I think this will give you a small taste of all things possible. Follow me on Instagram at mjl.idesign, where you will catch me snapping shots of all things that inspire me on a daily basis! Most importantly, give me a call! Let’s chat, let’s have an iced tea while getting know each other We’ll have a great time, I promise!

 

Little-known fact?

I am a theatre lover, go as often as possible! And dare I say, I am a bit of a fanatic with crime genre, but have become absorbed by the Law & Order crime series! Oh, and did I mention a book lover? I still like to turn a real page while reading a great story!

IFDA SELECTS plans to head to ICFF and Award Best In Show on May 14, 2016

Join us for     IFDA Selects - Out and About at ICFF May 14 - 17, 2016 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC Visit all the IFDA Selects "Best in Show" winners    Their booths will be identified by IFDA Selects framed award certificates after 1:00 PM from May 14, 2016 through the duration of the show.    The "IFDA Selects" initiative supports and promotes the design industry,  highlighting new and innovative products debuting at New York City trade shows. Click Here to Register for your ICFF Show Badge  Walk the show and see the IFDA Member /Sponsor booths:  Cliff Young Ltd. for HearthCabinets and Lapicida  Presenting what's best and what's next that only ICFF can offer, make time in your schedule to hit the highlights: Luxe Interiors + Design pavilion;     Ho.MI New York Lifestyles pavilion;   The Milk Stand by Design Milk;   ICFF Global Emerging Designers Program, including the best of Design Fairs from around the world;   ICFF Studio presented by Bernhardt Design;   ICFF Talks; and register to attend ASID CEU approved programming.  End the day with us at the   Opening Night Party Saturday, May 14, 2016 7:00-9:00 PM Presented by ICFF & Luxe Interiors + Design and Sponsored by IOA The Museum of Modern Art, The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden,  Design and Architecture Galleries *Must register for ICFF to purchase tickets   About ICFF:   ICFF is the premier North American global Design Showcase for interior furniture, seating, carpet, and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall covering, accessories, textiles, kitchen and bath, and fabricators, attracting more than 700 exhibitors and 32,000 attendees from around the world. The 28th annual; ICFF is scheduled for May 14-17, 2016 at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Visit www.icff.com for more Information. The first annual ICFF Miami will debut on October 5 &6. 2016, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, presenting hundreds of leading brands and addressing every facet of better interiors for residential, hospitality, commercial and high end retail. Visit www.icffmiami.com for more information.  _________________________________________________________________________

Exciting Upcoming evening event at Material ConneXion in the Time & LIfe Building on May 5!

                

"THE FUTURE OF HOME"
By Hermine Mariaux,  

President/Founder HMI Digital & Print Media

Register for The FUTURE OF HOME HERE

We are offering a special program scheduled for May 5 by IFDA.  As IFDA’s NY Chapter Board VP for New Directions, I will be moderating the Evening Event held at the Headquarter Offices of and hosted by Material ConneXion located at 1271 Avenue of the Americas on the 17^th floor of the Time & Life Building.

Three expert panelists will lift  the curtain on tomorrow’s home and share their forecasts of what the future holds for our home environments - what home will look like – feel like – and how technology and product innovation will intersect, re-shape, and enrich the way we live.

Dr. Andrew Dent ,Vice President of Material ConneXion heads the company’s extensive Materials Library and Research. He is a frequent speaker across many design disciplines and has helped hundreds of clients – from Whirlpool to Adidas, BMW and Rolls Royce -to develop or improve their products through the use of innovative materials.

Matilda McQuaid is Deputy Director of Curatorial and head of the Textiles department at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. She overseas one of the premier textile collections in the world. To many of us in the design trade, she is well known as one of the most foresighted oracles of the Next BIG Thing in textiles and beyond.

Leslie Clagett is the Products Editor at The Architects Newspaper. Well versed in residential construction, she has a special affinity for Kitchen & Bath, both the design elements which comprise them and the engineering behind them. Her observations are well documented in her blog kbculture.com. Her presentation will explore the interplay between technology, materials and design trends in residential architecture with a focus how they impact home interiors.

A special bonus for IFDA members and their guests on the night of the event will be access to the usually CM Members Only on-site Library of

Material ConneXion with its display inventory of 7500 innovative materials.

Registration for this NOT TO BE MISSED event is essential and urgent. Space is very limited and tickets must be reserved – none will be available at the door. We look forward to having you.

the official address for MaterialConneXion is 1271 Sixth Ave.

The TIME & LIFE Bldg.  However, the Special Entrance everyone is supposed to use is:

121 West 50th Street between Sixth & Seventh Aves. second entrance from Sixth Ave. The event will be held on the 17th floor.

Please note:  Space is limited and no tickets will be available at the door, so please order tickets today!

The IFDA NY chapter takes their philanthropy efforts to greater heights, and on a day of building with Habitat For Humanity NYC

2015 IFDA NY President Andrea Brodfuehrer

8 IFDA NY chapter members 

collaborated this past weekend with 

Habitat For Humanity NYC

on a productive day of repairing homes damaged from Superstorm Sandy 

on Staten Island.

(Left to Right) Shannon Maher, Maureen Klein, Scott Hohl, Mimi Levitan, Cathy Moore (HFHNYC Crew Leader), Andrea Brodfuehrer, 

Su Hilty, Jade Ng, Rose Hittmeyer

It was a dedicated volunteer group who met early on Saturday, January 10 at the Staten Island Ferry, with some members leaving their homes as early as 5:30 am to make the trip via public transportation to Staten Island.  On a blistery winter morning that barely reached 15 degrees, volunteers arrived bundled up with layers from head to toe.  The group was guided by three AmeriCorps young men and learned how to complete tasks such as sanding walls and ceilings, plastering, caulking, taping, painting preparation and cutting.  Some members hung doors and added molding to frame doors.  The guides showcased how to use the new tools on the job site, such as electric power nailers and circular saws. All remarked it was rewarding to meet the homeowners who eagerly brought cupcake treats to them. 3M sponsor's products were utilized on the build site, enabling the face masks to work well.  

The day ended when the evening ferry returned to the main land, yet some folks continued the CCC fun (construction, connection & carousing) at the infamous Irish-American local pub The Dead Rabbit, a spot recommended by 2014 IFDA NY president Kara Marmion.

a lil' bit about Habitat for Humanity...

Their vision:

"a city where everyone has a decent place to live".

Their mission statement:

"Habitat for Humanity New York City transforms lives by building quality homes with families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing."

*The non profit was founded in 1984 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat NYC builds in the five boroughs of New York City, building homes for ownership by families and individuals in need.

With the help of thousands of volunteers every year, Habitat NYC has served more than 380 families in the five boroughs of New York City with their permanent housing needs.  Habitat NYC's first project in New York City began with President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter's visit and build in the Lower East Side. 

*post source:  Habitat for Humanity NYC website