Designwire Daily: from the editors of Interior Design magazine

Housing Works’ 2011 Design on a Dime Recap

by Larry Weinberg | Monday, May 9, 2011 | 6 Comments

Juniper Tedhams; Malcom James Kutner

Housing Works’ seventh annual Design on a Dime benefit kicked Thursday night with a sold-out and successful soiree. The confluence of the popular fundraiser with Cinco de Mayo translated to an evening of margaritas, tacos, socializing, and shopping.

Always a marked date on the design calendar, this year’s event featured 50 room vignettes by top interior designers such as Laura Bohn, Shawn Henderson, Steven Sclaroff, Patrick Hamilton, and Kristen McGinnis. All the donated merchandise was for sale, at steep discounts, with the proceeds going to Housing Work’s “Get a Room” program for homeless and low-income New Yorkers afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

Iman with Petra Nemcova

Among the A-list crowd in attendance at the VIP cocktail hour and preview were benefit co-chairs Nate Berkus, Iman, Lara Spencer, and James Huniford. Not surprisingly, Iman and Lara Spencer were walking photo-ops. I learned that if I want to be a paparazzo, I need to gain weight and get a much larger camera. As it was, I settled for a long range shot of Iman; luckily for me, it is not possible to take a bad picture of her.

Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen; Tricia Foley & Roy Hardin for The New General Store

At 7:00 sharp, the gates opened for the early birds, and the shopping frenzy began. Under the influence of margaritas, bargains, and a good cause, the crowd swooped in on the offerings, which included some vintage and much contemporary design, from donors as diverse as Knoll, Henredon, John Robshaw, Liz O’Brien, and Shabby Chic. Interior Design’s Cindy Allen, no novice to charitable shopping, claimed a choice morsel in Alexander Pelikan’s 2004 Clic chair, a knock-down design in one material inspired by Gerrit Rietveld. Despite a few ruffled feathers, the overwhelming take-away from the preview is of the objects and creativity freely given to support those in need.

Jarret Yoshida, Inc.; Andy Cohen with One Kings Lane

Brett Design Inc.; Elizabeth Bauer Design

Miles Redd; FLAIR

Iman Home; Nickelodean

Genevieve Gorder with Valspar; Jarret Yoshida, Inc.

Carrier and Company; Katie Ridder Inc.

Shields & Company Interiors; Bradley Thiergartner Interiors

Tiger Lily's Greenwich; Darren Brown Interior Design

Images by Laurel Petriello and Larry Weinberg.