Meet IFDA NY Members Column, Summer Series

IFDA NY's New Column, Meet Our Members...

This Week, Let's Get To Know Artist,

Garette Johnson of Garrott Designs

As part of our new series to support and collaborate with our IFDA NY Chapter members, we created this column. Please stop by each month to read a new profile where we will showcase the talents, interests and inspirations of our members. This week, meet Garette Johnson of Garrott Designs...

What inspires you day in and day out?

“Design Your Space, Create Yourself.” is my brand and my motivation. Empowering people explore personal expression and create spaces that make for meaningful experiences.

What do you do?

I am an artist, designer and trend analyst working in the fashion industry. I'm excited to make a pivot into the world of interior design and architecture because lifestyle and self expression is as much about our environment as our personal sense of style. I create expressive and colorful artwork for the well-curated space.

Why are you great at what you do?

Mostly because I am curious and want to see what else we can do while we're here.

Why did you join IFDA?

Well, full disclosure, I met the most amazing three ladies on a total whim at the Design Center, and that felt so ridiculously clandestine that I had to double down. I always say, “Find your Tribe.”  Since joining IFDA, I've felt as if I've found a tribe of creative shakers and doers that I just enjoy being in a room with. We lift each other up; it's awesome.

How can we learn more about your business?

I'd love to make your acquaintance at an upcoming IFDA event such as CCC. In the meantime, my website is www.garrottdesigns.com and I am on most social platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest as @GarrottDesigns. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn by searching for Garette Johnson, Trend Analyst. Note that my name and the brand name are spelled differently.

More to know...
Our environments have a huge impact on our thoughts, feeling and actions. We can co-create the world around us. It's not a set of parameters but a place of discovery and play.

IFDA SELECTS takes ICFF By Storm, Awarding Best In Show in Ten Categories, May 2016

Today, we are fortunate to have the talent of new member Catherine Ruvolo here on the blog.  We are grateful to Catherine for her time and effort documenting our day at ICFF with IFDA Selects.   Let's give a warm welcome to Catherine as we include her with the all-volunteer core of industry talents in our New York Chapter. Please follow#IFDASelects on social media for updates.

ICFF Best in Show winners from IFDA New York Selects:

May 14-17, 2016
by Catherine Ruvolo, IFDA member

The mood was set and our senses were immediately stimulated as we entered the 28^th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair Design show. Designers, architects, retailers, manufactures, and merchandisers come to this design hub every year from all across the globe. Both veteran and inaugural booths take the stage while they show their  latest display of contemporary furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bath for residential and commercial interiors. Among the team of judges include legendary interior designers, artists, and architects. We joined forces to choose the best of the best at the show, across isles of beauty and inspiration. Follow us and tune into who we voted as "Best In Show". These designers and manufactures were one of over 500 exhibitors who débuted their latest product to the creative masses. Every inch and corner you turned hosted more and more design fuel for the soul.  
Judges included--

Rose Ott, Iliada Bass, Justin Shaulis, Amy Figueroa, Stacy Garcia, Michelle Slovak, Debbie Viola, Lisa Blecker, Catherine Ruvolo

                The winners of the 2016 ICFF Best in Show: 

Flooring

Judge: Rose Ott

SHORE | Flooring and innovative Rugs

Founders Louie and Gill

This young duo is right out of the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating two years ago, they developed floor covering woven out of silicone cord (one of the most environmentally friendly products). Their products are hand woven, waterproof, UV resistant, non-slip, easy to clean, and extremely durable. Not to mention; they will turn heads of everyone who experiences them!

Kitchen

Judge: Amy Figueroa

GALI | compact kitchen prototype

Student Designer Ana Arana

We were gaga over this kitchen pro-type designed by Ana Arana, an Architecture and Design Student from Spain. This compact unit is not only visually interesting, but this is THE kitchen of the future. Cook top, several storage options, mini fridge, and sink all designed into one beautiful unit. She nailed this kitchen design! Judge Amy calls this winning design “creative, innovative, efficient, and compact tiny kitchen. It is amazing for single occupancy living with a very clean lined, modern feel”. Bravo Ana!

Decorative Accessories

Judge: Amy Figueroa

ADD+ | Bruno Lamoureux| ADD+ Packs

Designed to give the home furnishings world a qualitative alternative and functional décor, Add+ has redesigned and reinvented how we can live in a space. These malleable and interactive wall units allow us to limitlessly create wall units and systems.  This is a “creative, fun, custom, modern, decorative accessory that is easy to install and adds character and conversation to any space”.

Textiles

Judge: Michelle Slovak

Jude | Jude Cassidy Textiles| Hand woven Irish Textiles 

This young talent left us appreciating the beauty of hand craft and attention to detail. From Saintfield, Ireland, Jude Cassidy is the voice and visionary for this luxurious, yet subtle and soft textile line. We were honored to award her Best in Textiles as this was her first appearance at ICFF. Interior Designer, Michelle truly loved the product for their “elegant hand woven, innovative combination of fibers including hand painted gold foiling”.

Wallcovering 

Judge: Lisa Blecker 

Fliepaper | By: celebrity photographer Don Flood| Astek Wallcovering

His wall coverings will truly make any wall a work of art! From Magnified beetles, iconic architectural elements, and colorful florals, Don Floods photo printed wall coverings are show-stopping. These bold designs are simply inspired by unexpected found objects, then printed during an eco-friendly process. “This L.A. artist’s work is innovative, unique, flexible, and customizable”.

Innovative Booth  

Judge: Catherine Ruvolo 

Larose Guyon | Audree Larose and Felix Guyon| Objects and Luminaires

This creative couple took their first trip from Canada to ICFF this season! Their booth gave the most minimalist, yet impactful and powerful stage to their stunning lighting and decorative objects. This cascading paper installation created the perfect moment for their trend-setting pieces.

Art

Judge: Debbie Viola   

Frates | Doug Frates| Blown Glass

How could we not highlight this American based pattern, blown and colored glass artist? His custom, one of a kind pieces are sure to entice any viewer from all angles. Artist and judge Debbie calls these masterpieces “innovative and creative use of color, form, and pattern.  His art branches from sculptures, to shelves, to unique installations”.

Bath

Judge: Justin Shaulis

THG and Vitraform | Sink faucet and Mirror| Paris

The show was blooming with trend setting bath design and new forerunners, but TGH in Paris stole the show with their sleek and classic design in their sink, faucet, and mirror trio. Shaulis was inspired by this revolutionary piece and “aspirational luxury. The tangible price point is just one of many reasons this bath design is on trend and sophisticated brand collaboration”

Lighting

Judge: Iliada Bass

Veronese Paris | YSA| Tristan Auer

We were awed by the lighting exhibits at the show, however, this piece truly inspired us. Taking the functionality of lighting to the next level, this piece is the epitome in art and function working in harmony. Iliada coins this piece best in show thanks to its “layering of textural glass in a sophisticated way. They married LED technology with classic Murano influenced techniques”.

Furniture

Judge:Stacy Garcia

Suite NY |Marble Table| Angelo Mangiarotti 

We were wowed by this beauty. We adored her intriguing shape, strong presence, and clean lines. While we were catching so many glimpses of beautiful design during the show, this table took the cake. Suite NY never seizes to disappoint us! “The contract of material choice and playfulness of its design” kept us                going back for more”.

This years’ ICFF show was filled with luscious materials, inspiring designs, and trend setting concepts. We were honored to present these awards to the best in Show this year. All of their different stories and backgrounds are utterly exciting, but all come to share the common goal to captivate their audience and pave the way to an even richer design world!

BKLYN DESIGNS 2016--On the Hunt For Innovative Design With IFDA Selects!

BKLYN DESIGNS, 2016

IFDA NY chapter was out and about last Friday in Brooklyn for the annual BKLYN DESIGNS.  Our hand-picked judges are talents from the design industry who scoured the show to award Best In Show in ten categories.  A special thank you to member Julie Schuster for this guest post/recap of a fantastic day, and to Claudia Giselle Tejeda for the Instagram take over plus these lovely photographs! A very warm congratulations to those selected:

IFDA Selects at Brooklyn Designs, May 6, 2016

guest post by Julie Schuster

follow these design talents and our judges on instagram at 

@aalgazedesign; @roseott; @barbarhaberman; Jan Girard; @carolyn_cirillo; @schusterdesign @mhhandb_dumbo; @claudiagdesign; @hohlhome; Mimi Levitan

Friday was an early morning.  Under cloudy skies, zipping off on the subway to midtown with the rush to “off to work” travelers, I was meeting a bus to make the trek from Manhattan to the Brooklyn Designs show in Greenpoint.  As part of the adjudication panel for IFDA Selects, I had no idea how wonderfully the day would turn out.

This burgeoning start up show, in its second year, is a showcase for much of the growing arts and crafts scene in Brooklyn, running May 6 – 8.  The location was flooded with natural light from all of the surrounding floor to ceiling windows.  Nearly all of the venue’s displayers are local to the area, giving one a great opportunity to get an overview of the array of creativity developing here.  The venue had running CEU presentations all day in their theater and Naula created a wonderful Press Room for 

Our team to meet and discuss the categories and winners.

The judging panel was treated to a gourmet lunch courtesy of AJ Madison Appliances in their beautiful kitchen display booth, courtesy of Tulley Road Caterers, featuring locally grown and sourced delights.  The evening concluded with a cocktail party for attendees and show vendors alike, giving everyone an opportunity to mingle and enjoy the wonderful location together.  All in all, an amazing day!

WINNERS AT BKLYN DESIGNS:

CATEGORY:  Furniture

WINNER:  Krivens Partners – Propeller Table

JUDGE:  Richard Segal

CATEGORY:  Gourmet Housewares

WINNER:  Signe Yberg Ceramics

JUDGE:  Claudia Giselle Tejeda

CATEGORY:  Innovative Booth Design

WINNER:  Naula

JUDGE:  Barbara Haberman

CATEGORY:  Mimi Levitan

WINNER :  Earthly Design – Hemp based/Eco friendly fabrics

JUDGE:  Mimi Levitan

CATEGORY:  Green Sensibility

WINNER:  Sawkill Lumber Co.

JUDGE:  Scott Hohl

CATEGORY:  Surfaces

WINNER:  Peg Woodworking

JUDGE:  Rose Ott

CATEGORY:  Tabletop

WINNER:  Think Fabricate – Brooklyn Plates

JUDGE:  Carolyn Cirillo

CATEGORY:  Design & Architectural Services

WINNER:  Garrison Architects – Pod Hotel

JUDGE:  Jan Girard

CATEGORY:  Lighting

WINNER:  Popular Architecture – Downside Up LED Suspension Light

JUDGE:  Julie Schuster

CATEGORY:  Art

WINNER:  Smash Industries

JUDGE:  Andrea Algaze

And, the winners are...a rich round-up of talent: IFDA SELECTS awards innovative design at The Brooklyn Expo

"DESIGN COMES OUT SWINGING"

at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint,

and IFDA SELECTS is there spotting innovative design and giving awards to boot!

The very best in contemporary furniture, lighting, accessories and art was arranged by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce who presented this exciting collection of the exhibitors this year including over 50 participating brands at a stunning new location, The Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint.  Each exhibitor/designer was handpicked though a competitive process by a prestigious jury, including editors from Dwell and Metropolis.

IFDA SELECTS was out in force on May 9th spotting the best of the best and awarding those proving to be especially talented.  

Take a look at who was awarded...

Furniture

Mor-He Art Tectonics –  “Dining Chair”

Judge Scott Hohl, Hohl Home Furnishings

“Innovative, functional, COMFORTABLE, inspirational, scalable, unique, well-crafted.”

Lighting

Leonoff Art Glass – “Continuum”

Judge Rose Ott, Rose Ott Interior Design

“Beautiful, intricate process to create light.  Plays with the relationship between inside and outside of piece, juxtaposes translucence with opacity, light and dark, shiny and matte.  The single continual line creates a continuum of energy in and around the piece.”

Textiles

bole’ road textiles - pillows

Judge Nancy Fire, Design Works Intl

“bole’ road textiles is an authentic company giving back to their community in Ethiopia by working with three different weaving studios in Ethiopia.  This show is her debut for her new textile line.”

Gourmet Housewares

Michael Zieba

Judge Andrea Brodfuehrer, Von B Interiors

“Certified “Brooklyn-made” by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Michael Zieba’s knives are a beautiful display of quality, craftsmanship and care. Each piece is meticulously made and carries the artistic mark of its creator, Micheal Zieba. Michael’s unique patina techniques and 24-carat gold inlay insignia makes these knives as likely to be found in a museum as they would in a kitchen.”

Innovative Booth Design

Urban Chandy

Judge Tracy Steele,

“Creative Brooklyn loft design showing living, dining, bedroom, bathroom, and outdoor space featuring a collaboration of lighting, furniture and home goods.”

Art

Reclaimed Home

Judge Patricia Fox, Purely Patricia

“Creativity = function, flexibility of product to be personalized using paint, print assemblage.”

Green Sensibility

Reclaimed Home – Placemats and Coasters

Judge Richard Segal, Metropolitan Home Hardware

“Making use of discarded furniture and repurposing it for every day use.”

Surfaces

Klotzwrk – “Wood Mosaics”

Judge Claudia Tejeda, Claudia Giselle Design

“Great use of wood, intricate detailing and precision in craftsmanship”

Design & Architectural Services

Architects Newspapers, AIA NY New Practices,

Abruzzo Bodziak Architects

Judge Wendy Silverstein, WS & A Public Relations

“Excellent presentation of the talent and scope of architectural services offered in Brooklyn.”

Tabletop

Fahzface

Judge Andrea Brofuehrer, Von B Interiors

“Through the power of Kickstarter the makers of Fahzface have found a unique way to personalize traditional tabletop décor. Utilizing 3D-printing, Fahzface can sculpt a one-of-a-kind vase using facial profiles. The outlines from the photos become the scaffolding for a 3D model that merges the distinct profiles into a seamless sculptural form. “