3/21/14: A Day of Design with Franklin Eighth
Franklin Eighth's day of design with BlogTour NYC could not have been more fun! Tina and I are really proud to have been the first EVER official BlogTour ambassadors on Friday, and I can't wait to show you the recap below of all we did with the BlogTour NYC team.
In case you're wondering who Franklin Eighth is, here's a little bit about us: Franklin Eighth is a Manhattan-based interior design firm, specializing in residential and commercial interiors. Founded in 2013 by Tina Ramchandani and Sarah Sarna (me!), Franklin Eighth focuses on creating environments with a fresh, sophisticated perspective. Our eye for detail enables us to create modern interiors with traditional elements, resulting in an elegant aesthetic. We believe in striking a strong and thoughtful balance between light, color, form, and function. Now on to our day of design.
Friday in New York was an absolutely beautiful, sunny day, perfect for our day of design, which began at Noon.
12:00 PM: Treillage with Bunny Williams
Our first stop was Treillage, for an exclusive tour by co-owner and interior designer Bunny Williams, complete with a surprise visit from her husband and co-owner, John Rosselli. Tina and I have loved Bunny since we were little girls so it was such a special treat to spend the early afternoon with her and John!
Treillage is a garden, interiors, and antiques store owned by Bunny Williams & John Rosselli, founded in 1991, when it occurred to them how difficult it was to find sources in America for wonderful things for the garden. For nearly 25 years, Treillage has been delighting gardeners, design professionals, magazine editors, stylists, and dreamers. Shopping the world for beautiful and unusual objects is second nature for Bunny and John, and Treillage continues to be a primary source for the world’s best garden design and home objects.
Bunny Williams has been at the helm of her design firm for more than 15 years. Her work is regularly featured in major design publications. She has written four books, On Garden Style, An Affair with a House, Point of View, and Scrapbook for Living.
John Rosselli has been in the business for 40 years. An important source for designers looking for antiques and one-of-a-kind items, his businesses now include his own line of furniture, textiles, hand painted treasures, showrooms around the country and, of course, antique furniture, lighting and accessories.
Next up:
2:00 PM: McGuire at the New York Design Center
Over a delicious lunch and cocktails, catered by Nourish Kitchen + Table, we settled in for an eloquent introduction to McGuire by Creative Director Jim Caughman. (Over dinner several of the bloggers told me how much they loved the descriptive language Jim used to paint vivid portraits of the brand's history and beliefs!)
In his presentation, Jim told the story of how John and Elinor McGuire launched their eponymous company in 1948 with the bold idea to explore the relationship between outside and inside; between elegance and raw nature. For 65 years McGuire has captured the essence of casual luxury; unpretentious, optimistic, relaxed, warm, and engaging.
Each and every piece of McGuire furniture is crafted by trained artisans who bend, weave and form every table, chair, and accessory by hand. This pendant is a great example.
As is this chair that we all loved. Whether tying 3,500 pieces of leather, using tension to weave Danish cord or casting leaves in concrete, Jim explained, McGuire's processes cannot be rushed. He also shared that McGuire design has found its way into many of the world’s finest residences, including the White House.
After Jim introduced us to the brand, Raina was next.
3:00 PM: Styling Tips for Designers with Raina Kattelson
As an interiors and prop stylist, Raina's highly regarded work appears in magazines such as Country Living and Anthology. She also recently styled Thom Filicia’s book American Beauty and Matthew Patrick Smyth’s Living Traditions.
Her award winning blog A Stylist’s Life (rainakattelson.com) is about all things design and her behind the scenes work as a stylist. She is currently undertaking a complete renovation of a 150 year old house and is bringing her readers down the rabbit hole with her. In her engaging presentation, Raina gave us styling tips, as well as behind the scenes looks at a number of her most recent projects, including her own home, which is included in the soon-to-be-released Bright Bazaar: Embracing Color for Make-You-Smile Style.
Next was Michele!
4:00 PM: Photography for Designers with Michele Scotto Trani
Michele Scotto Trani of Sequined Asphault Studio is an award winning, Architectural and Interiors Photographer based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Passionate about opposite ends of the spectrum, good design, and forgotten places, her clients include interior designers, architects, builders, and other professionals in creative fields.
Her photography regularly garners commendations for clients from organizations including the AIA, ASID, and the HBA and appears in the pages of home magazines including Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, athome, and New England Home Magazine. You can find her blogging about her experiences at Tripping on Asphalt (social media and links for all Day of Design participants, including Michele, are listed at the end of this post).
Next:
5:15PM: Neal Beckstedt Studio
The phrase “modest luxury” may seem like a contradiction, but it’s how Manhattan-based interior designer, Neal Beckstedt defines the quietly elegant residential spaces he creates for clients like fashion star Derek Lam.
Since his launch in 2010, Beckstedt’s goal has been interiors for living rather than for admiring. “I definitely perceive rooms as serene backdrops for reading, dining, and conversing,” he observes. “The people should be the focus, not what’s around them.”
Next:
6:30PM: ABC Carpet and Home
ABC Carpet and Home’s Manhattan flagship is a six-story retail experience—one in which beauty and magic are composed onto a revolutionary platform of cause-related products that guide creative expression, celebrate individuality, and cultivate the actualization of home as the sacred space.
With a little bit of time before dinner, the BlogTour crew was able to browse the store and see why it's such an NYC destination.
7:30PM: ABC Cocina
ABC Cocina is passionately committed to offering the freshest, safest ingredients, presenting a seasonal menu that is locally focused and globally artistic, and cultivating a healthy relationship on their tables and for the planet. They did not disappoint!
ABC Cocina & Michelin star Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten welcomed us to their modern global exchange celebrating local craft and international culture, a fusion of tradition and innovation uniting yesterday and tomorrow. Dedicated to whole food and inventive fare, ABC's ever-changing offerings are sourced from boutique producers with an emphasis on holistic development and environmental consciousness. In Veronika Miller's words, it was "#foodie #perfection" - delicious and festive and a fantastic time.
On Social Media
Interested in joining the dialogue and connecting with all the great #blogtourNYC players? Use hashtag #blogtourNYC and find everyone here:
Name
Twitter
Instagram
Blog Name
Blog URL
ABC Cocina
@ABCcocina
@ABCcocina
ABC Cocina
abccocinanyc.com
Alison Habermehl
@hdstylestudio
@HDstylestudio
HDstylestudio
hdstylestudio.com/blog
Bunny Williams
@BunnyWilliams
@BunnyWilliamsHome
Bunny's Buzz
buzz.bunnywilliams.com
Deborah Main
@DeborahMain
@DeborahMainDesigns
Pillow Goddess
pillowgoddess.com
Faith Sheridan
@FaithSheridan
@ingoodfaith
In Good Faith
faithsheridan.com/blog
Franklin Eighth
@FranklinEighth
@FranklinEighth
Franklin Eighth
franklineighth.com
Jeanne K Chung
@CozyStylishChic
@CozyStylishChic
Cozy Stylish Chic
cozystylishchic.com
Jeffrey Johnson
@jeffreydesigner
@jeffreydesigner
Jeffrey Johnson
jeffreydesignllc.com/blog
Jill Abelman
@insidestylehome
@insidestyle
Jill Abelman
lasvegasinteriordesign.net
Marc Abelman
@MarcAbelman
@insidestyle
Inside Style Home
insidestylehome.com
Marcy Michaud
@stylesson
@marcymichaud
Stylesson
stylesson.com
Maureen Break Coates
@MaureenCmodecor
@MaureenCoates
Modecor
modecor.ca/blog
McGuire
@ThisIsMcGuire
@ThisIsMcGuire
McGuire
mcguirefurniture.com
Michele Scotto Trani
@michele_scotto
@sequinedasphault
Sequined Asphalt
sequinedasphault.com
Modenus
@modenus
@modenus
Modenus
modenus.com
Neal Beckstedt Studio
@NealBeckstedt
@nmbecks
Neal Beckstedt Studio
nbeckstedtstudio.com
Paola Thomas
@mirrormirrorxx
@mirrormirrorxx
Mirror Mirror
mirrormirrorblog.com
Raina Kattelson
@astylistslife
@astylistslife
A Stylist's Life
rainakattelson.com
Treillage New York
@TreillageNY
@TreillageNY
Treillage NY
treillageny.com
Typhanie Peterson
@TyphPeterson
@TyphPeterson
Typhanie Peterson
typhaniepeterson.com
Vicki Gladle Bolick
@theaceofspacebl
@theaceofspaceblog
The Ace of Space
theaceofspaceblog.com
After an awesome day with many memories made, we said good night to BlogTour NYC. Hope you enjoyed the recap!
Images Credit(s): Franklin Eighth on Instagram, Florence von Pelet on Twitter
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Continue reading Franklin Eighth’s Day of Design with BlogTour NYC. This post appeared first on Live The Life You Dream About.