Brooklyn! Hipster Heaven

tbbcwd — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 03:39:34 +0000

It’s a known fact. Designers travel for Inspiration.

Taking in new sites and sounds certainly gets the creative juices flowing.

I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Design Cartel Gal Pal, Decorator and Biz Owner, Victoria, of The Clearinghouse Exchange (Greenport, www.tchx.net) when we set out to explore Brooklyn.

Summer is the perfect time to discover Brooklyn. Tip: Start in Williamsburg. This Indie enclave is all about Epicure, the Eclectic and the Experience.

Victoria and I started at what we first thought was an outdoor Flea Market only to happily discover was an outdoor Smorgasburg! We ate our way through the cleverly named venue. A personal delectable favorite was Bon Chovie whose tagline is Swim Fast. Fry Young.

Check out link http://www.smorgasburg.com/vendors/

Brooklyn Soda Works was Victoria’s Favorite. Tip: try the Raspberry and Mint. It’s slick, cool, and decidedly unexpected.

Next stop:

Let me share what visually captured our attention. Originality. New twists on the obvious. It’s amazing how many ways you can create a dress or jewelry or even hats…and hats are that much more expressive when they are hand crafted from newspaper!

Take a hard cover book and transform it into a clock (my fav was Nancy Drew)

When I came across antlers and crystals, I was giddy. Victoria reminded me that there are no ‘lights’ in this light fixture. That seemed like an odd placed after-thought because the lines are so lovingly original…who needs lighting?! (www.evolvinghabitat.com)

I came across a ‘jewelry box’ repurposed from Monopoly (my daughter’s favorite board game) and thought what a great keep box for her college dorm room! (www.anotherworkinprogress.com)

So yellow is out and gray is in. That’s the current trend in home fashion. Having said that, yellow is an amazing understudy to gray and it’s pop of exuberance is exactly what gray needs not to be ‘yawn’ boring. Tip: Use yellow in artwork, accessories, pillows and area rugs.

Architecture in Brooklyn captivates.

As Victoria and I wandered down a side street towards yet another outdoor fair (we literally ate our way through this borough) we happened upon a Church whose chandeliers spoke to us. So we ventured inside. Double whamy. Architecture and a Lebanese food festival fund raiser out back.

Victoria scored dinner and I reveled in the beauty of the Church.

Our last stop was what captivated me the most. As Victoria explained to me, Housing Works is all about Healing, Advocating and Shopping for a Cure. A cure for the twin crises of AIDS and Homelessness. This treasure has superb items for resale at unreal prices. Needless to say, we left with a trunk-full of treasures.

We visited the Shoppe at 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201

So how does all this translate to Design?

It’s about looking at everyday items and re-imagining them into their next life.

Take V’s trunks, for instance. Victoria, as I mentioned, is the owner of The Clearing House, a unique home consignment store in Greenport, NY,

She comes across some incredible pieces. The more “out of the box” the better! Recently, Victoria acquired an antique French steamer trunk.

As she tells it in her own words, “Yes, a gorgeous faded red paint graced the exterior much like lipstick after a sumptuous meal with clues to its place of origin stenciled on the front. The lettering, meticulously done by hand yet barely visible, revealed these words which gave me goosebumps… Champs-Elysees.

So Not long after, in walks one of the most unique women I have ever met and immediately she spies the trunk. “Oh my goodness” she remarks. “Tell my about this piece!” As we chatted and touched and walked around her to imagine the possibilities of a ‘restoration’ we both came to the conclusion that leaving her just as she was on the outside would tell the tale of her long and delicious life. However, we agreed that a facelift to her inner beauty would be just the trick. Being the diva that she is, my client asked for an opulent yet practical remake of the interior so she might store her feminine wiles away as before. “The more sparkle & bling the better” were her parting words.

Left to my imagination and true to my commitment to re-purpose & re-use, I began the creative fun.

Removing the old crumbling wallpaper as is sometimes the lining of these old trunks left a clean surface to attached the batting too.

Sheets of poly batting were cut to size once the interior surfaces were measured and these measurements can be used again to cut the fabric. I used a spray adhesive to attach the batting. Do this outdoors if possible due to the fumes. Then, as I learned by trial & error, wash your hands before starting on the fabric…sticky fingers become a winning video for ‘America’s Funniest’ when working with fabric.

Then the thick, glamorous gold velvet is cut to size and hot glued to the corners. You need to pull back or leave a teeny space at the corners were the batting meets so the hot glue for the fabric attaches to the wood & not the batting. This is a “soft” upholstery style and not to be confused with nailing and a tight fit. I wanted a soft almost cuddly interior for Madame Diva’s sweaters & girlie things.

Once the velvet was secure, I used scraps of teal & pink satin cording at the corners and around the bottom to hide any gaps and to finish the joined edges. I guess if you’re really good at maneuvering a large piece of fabric into place you don’t’ have to cut each individual piece. Not so for me, I handle smaller things with greater confidence. Next, I had just enough dazzling pink/gold/teal crystal bead trim to finish all along the top edge. This gave me that “OMG” response when opening the lid to peek inside. Lastly, I used a teal brushy trim, very ‘kitty-cat tail’ to trim out the recessed sides of the top.

VOILA!!!!! In all her glory as I had imagined! The wonderful thing about any of this is that whatever you can imagine…you can do! The colors you love… the textures that thrill… the objects transformed… are only limited by your vision. Think beyond.”

Victoria taught me that Design is all about surrendering to the inevitable. It’s there were you find your inner Inspiration.

It’s called Brooklyn….

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Design

Design Cartel

Kravet Inspired.talk

tbbcwd — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:31:17 +0000

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Design Cartel

Kravet

Textiles

Collaborating on redesign of space at Nassau Haven with the Design Cartel was beyond emotionally gratifying - it was spiritually fulfilling.

Special thanks to Kravet for donating their lucsious textiles. They made it possible to transform a depressing, sterile space into a welcoming, warm Home.

Design Cartel presents Affordable Kitchen Makeovers

tbbcwd — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:29:00 +0000

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kitchen

Design Cartel

Great time had by all at Kings Park Do It Best Hardware on January 15th where members of the Design Cartel presented: Affordable Kitchen Makeovers.
Yes, you read it right, AFFORDABLE Kitchen Makeovers are possible!

Designers are trained to "think outside the box" and we happily shared some of our tips to help you redo your kitchen for less!
It's all about Repurpose, Reimagine and Reinvent.

Hope to see you at our next Design Seminar - and for all who attended, thank you. You made the night a memorable experience!

Check out what Kings Park Notebook's blog about our event.

Affordable Kitchen Make Overs-1.pdf

Repurpose your way to an affordable Kitchen

tbbcwd — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:59:51 +0000

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Repurpose

kitchen

Design Cartel

Join Design Cartel’s Maria DiMonti (DiMonti’s Decorative Finishes - Best Artist LI 2013) and Therese Pomerenk (Therese Interior Design & Decoration) featured in this month’s issue of Home Magazine as they showcase how to Repurpose your way to a beautiful and affordable Kitchen Redesign!

When: Tuesday, January 15th at 7pm
Where: Kings Park Do It Best Hardware located at 6 Indian Head Rd Kings Park
Phone: 631-269-BEST (2378)

Admission is free, refreshments served!

Therese Interior Design Featured in House Magazine

tbbcwd — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:38:27 +0000

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Design Cartel

Design Cartel transforms Long Island's only Runaway Teen Shelter

Talented designers, space planners, artists and crafts people have donated time, talent and furnishings to create a serene and therapeutic haven fro runaway youth at Long Island's only shelter for runaway teens. The shelter, known as Nassau Haven, is one of Family & Children's Association's 35 community-based programs which assist approximately 25,000 Long Islanders in need.

The Design Cartel, brainchild of Therese Interior Design and Decoration is an informal trade association made of designers and artisans who meet to exchange ideas ... ➔ read more

Design Cartel - Runaway Teen Shelter.pdf

Design Cartel Creates Serene Spaces

tbbcwd — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 17:50:29 +0000

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Hurricane Sandy

Design Cartel

Talented designers, space planners, artists and craftspeople donated time, talent and furnishings to create a serene and therapeutic haven for runaway youth at Long Island’s only shelter for runaway teens.

Design Cartel Press Release.pdf

Therese Interior Design - Design Cartel

Brooklyn! Hipster Heaven

Kravet Inspired.talk

Design Cartel presents Affordable Kitchen Makeovers

Repurpose your way to an affordable Kitchen

Therese Interior Design Featured in House Magazine

Design Cartel Creates Serene Spaces