Lunch with HGTV + Blogfest 2013 part 4

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPh6Sk-8seIUJ1FpNxMFo-ModMCq-zcUr_-4mgDHNf-_8WkH1RbIERDr_u1AxI5QcaDY409NlL5beKO5jxEdR-3rJTFqsk2V0NMuN7jST_ks32fFr6Xa0AWwNIQH21fVCmY1vL0l275EZ/s1600/HGTV+mag+swag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPh6Sk-8seIUJ1FpNxMFo-ModMCq-zcUr_-4mgDHNf-_8WkH1RbIERDr_u1AxI5QcaDY409NlL5beKO5jxEdR-3rJTFqsk2V0NMuN7jST_ks32fFr6Xa0AWwNIQH21fVCmY1vL0l275EZ/s800/HGTV+mag+swag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A memorable Blogfest moment from my trip to New York in May (was it really almost a month ago??) was when my travel companion designer <a href="http://www.lindaholtinteriors.com/about/">Linda Holt</a> and I were waiting for our bus to arrive to take us back home to Boston. We were at the head of the line, still dressed up from a morning spent visiting Kravet fabric studios (more about that later), luggage at our feet with HGTV swag bags in tow. A young couple a few spots down in the line from us were chatting with each other, glancing at us. The girl left her spot in line, walked over to us and asked “Are you two with HGTV? I love HGTV!</span><span style="font-size: large;">” Linda and I just laughed. After being treated by HGTV the day before, we actually did feel a little bit like part of the HGTV family ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7lsaPFd9tnFQuSTJiycN4WHY8T4ZGqFPFXEgBj776_fJRmQo4Sho1qErVO9yhFamsWETVuJNIjgaIQ5EQ7GXPs-wgFBidoBgxnz74fIwCG6e-7q0FCY8KiwSdqYF229xjYexoRS2DOmI/s1600/rooftop+garden+NY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7lsaPFd9tnFQuSTJiycN4WHY8T4ZGqFPFXEgBj776_fJRmQo4Sho1qErVO9yhFamsWETVuJNIjgaIQ5EQ7GXPs-wgFBidoBgxnz74fIwCG6e-7q0FCY8KiwSdqYF229xjYexoRS2DOmI/s800/rooftop+garden+NY.JPG" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We began day two of Blogfest 2013 at the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2013/05/kips-bay-show-house-blogfest2013-part-3.html">Kips Bay Decorator Show House</a> and later were transported as a group to Hearst Towers for an HGTV sponsored lunch. <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-york-look-book.html">The last time I was in New York, the city was blanketed with snow.</a> This time, we had a great view </span><span style="font-size: large;">of the surprisingly lush roof top gardens below. Some even had large scale trees. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CiSRpqdErGBJ58QxrtGt40z7lYFHEATBMKf65ihwYyaKuQV7f_-nHtxMhDUCuHF_8XjXoE84Ndr2ifElJpxfdfTWhLeHZTrXFI5v2DFpHDzK-PkjMN02s-G2HnhDdI7n7UJdq719IMHA/s1600/Valspar@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CiSRpqdErGBJ58QxrtGt40z7lYFHEATBMKf65ihwYyaKuQV7f_-nHtxMhDUCuHF_8XjXoE84Ndr2ifElJpxfdfTWhLeHZTrXFI5v2DFpHDzK-PkjMN02s-G2HnhDdI7n7UJdq719IMHA/s800/Valspar@Hearst.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Valspar stands behind their <a href="http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/love-your-color">Love Your Color Guarantee.</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Don’t like your first choice? The next one is on them.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyMN7a55fLPiPvkhAKlyHpBupS1m44cRu30H-KuqW735lsAeADAiaUGdqdf5PgIEqtQCwWS28OSd2dtDLno0U3rEIiocESIGwYTm0xAiNo-1PVY3fIppV1UidVvH8W8fPwUBSMX1MVGXk/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyMN7a55fLPiPvkhAKlyHpBupS1m44cRu30H-KuqW735lsAeADAiaUGdqdf5PgIEqtQCwWS28OSd2dtDLno0U3rEIiocESIGwYTm0xAiNo-1PVY3fIppV1UidVvH8W8fPwUBSMX1MVGXk/s800/image002.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Inside our 44th floor meeting room, <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/">HGTV</a> and our <a href="http://www.blogfest2013.com/nyc/sponsors/">Blogfest sponsors</a> had set up lots of pretty for us to look at and interact with. <a href="http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/index.html">Valspar</a> paints brought their latest color palettes for us to check out. <a href="http://www.neutrogena.com/category/cosmetics.do?nType=1">Neutrogena</a> set tables with equally colorful cosmetics to freshen our faces. We posed in front of HGTV step and repeats and  watched as our Blogfest tweets streamed live on super size video monitors. Besides all that, we got to network with a roomful of design bloggers while we waited for our guest speakers to arrive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a7e5Hsa3IOwoAnCQ5HTL3Rc3jbCAa2wANRmtx4FWhRYMk_dsNVLCumO74YqlYFleDot52dZjEyw91ZuWQK0fs3Jwx3DwWabuignvLaodBjqM14A3p-JohHwocxaO-2SdAN1z_aXvjuX5/s1600/Makeup+mirrors@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a7e5Hsa3IOwoAnCQ5HTL3Rc3jbCAa2wANRmtx4FWhRYMk_dsNVLCumO74YqlYFleDot52dZjEyw91ZuWQK0fs3Jwx3DwWabuignvLaodBjqM14A3p-JohHwocxaO-2SdAN1z_aXvjuX5/s800/Makeup+mirrors@Hearst.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QT-EZDesvHooOYKpgPpbpO-p6kbMcBD0ANnMrs0XgLk0Qyaa0uaQ0RHzIGq8bVslwSl7Ob5U1piyMwKbzoyDyvVQlBa27GNOB7r-d3F7awsPCQPUb3RIg7DV6a8b65UkKNMCchN0OAF_/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QT-EZDesvHooOYKpgPpbpO-p6kbMcBD0ANnMrs0XgLk0Qyaa0uaQ0RHzIGq8bVslwSl7Ob5U1piyMwKbzoyDyvVQlBa27GNOB7r-d3F7awsPCQPUb3RIg7DV6a8b65UkKNMCchN0OAF_/s800/image003.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVRpWxe_otfyV8mg2g8LhuAamXPFMAZJEn0T2XG6ig2R2adbhPzGTQ5MRQZDHYOFnsK11QhRV4Ojy9JIGRKOKHWDhv7eV8YFS3R6hBcqOue9MXiN4qVtAOMk2q8pn5ocsaPWKql8_3aGF/s1600/yvonne-linda-manvi-leslie@Hearst-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVRpWxe_otfyV8mg2g8LhuAamXPFMAZJEn0T2XG6ig2R2adbhPzGTQ5MRQZDHYOFnsK11QhRV4Ojy9JIGRKOKHWDhv7eV8YFS3R6hBcqOue9MXiN4qVtAOMk2q8pn5ocsaPWKql8_3aGF/s800/yvonne-linda-manvi-leslie@Hearst-s.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>with Linda Holt, Manvi Drona Hildago and Leslie Hassler</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstr92O_5hHn1s6QEzjxPUjcGsXHdILL86bExzPiDbjAWpvFhVOX1M65qHtIBnWjacMdwamq7HtJqndZn42XWWIF4fwSD0HjQE3_B5ZGz8RO_EZwTInARumj0ahe8wFrMkTLf3swpNZn3N/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstr92O_5hHn1s6QEzjxPUjcGsXHdILL86bExzPiDbjAWpvFhVOX1M65qHtIBnWjacMdwamq7HtJqndZn42XWWIF4fwSD0HjQE3_B5ZGz8RO_EZwTInARumj0ahe8wFrMkTLf3swpNZn3N/s800/image001.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS__4hHdhgRfmFERYSqqZhkoF-C3vSK44PKnQDI3sjk6iKFwGKwB8tfLHLqH7i0mUXd_my0H9i2Kflvg-PuCxW8fiBWOxfXCSY1AbnXtkq-5QqtL_xbrjKgwSURUAjeBooWVQ87VWMKZo2/s1600/hgt_cvr-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS__4hHdhgRfmFERYSqqZhkoF-C3vSK44PKnQDI3sjk6iKFwGKwB8tfLHLqH7i0mUXd_my0H9i2Kflvg-PuCxW8fiBWOxfXCSY1AbnXtkq-5QqtL_xbrjKgwSURUAjeBooWVQ87VWMKZo2/s1600/hgt_cvr-lg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cover of the latest issue of <a href="https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/splits/hgtvmagazine/hgtv_sub_nav">HGTV magazine</a> was brought to life on our luncheon tables. Flower pot centerpieces were painted by HGTV team members with Valspar paints. Citrus brights and pretty patterns filled the room (on tables and on bloggers). Lunch was gourmet fresh. Desserts were decadent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKr87m3n_rLQqQ_hQc50Yg24les_4C93XSH6gm19PTkWv1db8Mh2ErcDkGgj63G43ORhhzlpLgSwEjn8lpdq7GwnXrNXZTSAGMdvQ-ctH63ZKDQKUo-0OuV-eQItO5IssbZh4p-2hTVx6/s1600/BloggerLuncheon@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKr87m3n_rLQqQ_hQc50Yg24les_4C93XSH6gm19PTkWv1db8Mh2ErcDkGgj63G43ORhhzlpLgSwEjn8lpdq7GwnXrNXZTSAGMdvQ-ctH63ZKDQKUo-0OuV-eQItO5IssbZh4p-2hTVx6/s800/BloggerLuncheon@Hearst.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2EmBTkAt678Lrf1Ruc6Nz441itRgZzD9YcFzbJqq5Yg5CClv9YDL2dztFUqyx1I5vMSCa5460IunkzkDn_bW9PODyewO_9YOlnW-UX0hjVmg3LvHXBPeKY4QEEFesDc8rXCX_hek7fCA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-10+at+9.34.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2EmBTkAt678Lrf1Ruc6Nz441itRgZzD9YcFzbJqq5Yg5CClv9YDL2dztFUqyx1I5vMSCa5460IunkzkDn_bW9PODyewO_9YOlnW-UX0hjVmg3LvHXBPeKY4QEEFesDc8rXCX_hek7fCA/s320/Screen+shot+2013-06-10+at+9.34.44+PM.png" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_gOLyqc_JOfh-IVmS6SnC4qCNeCfWUtLuaOW1RUREg2Iqn0GSYNXTa5MxiXCUbCcv8LL2ukn0sz-IhMRX5YkfkQphpJ5ZjngYx2PorQYRUsAv-9OCTein-ZXp1FU26Ou5ekT9RTJ7_v9/s1600/TweetBoard@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_gOLyqc_JOfh-IVmS6SnC4qCNeCfWUtLuaOW1RUREg2Iqn0GSYNXTa5MxiXCUbCcv8LL2ukn0sz-IhMRX5YkfkQphpJ5ZjngYx2PorQYRUsAv-9OCTein-ZXp1FU26Ou5ekT9RTJ7_v9/s800/TweetBoard@Hearst.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuntdtoUKZ-vZL8ampY_84kaLMGo95BSxp26fGTbNXSoxgrF70BDjfk4YRdmVZ5sv7ldxJ3H2G0PvYSRmVac5ECCeR7FGNBLzF4mZQf65IPjxHCDeyc0J40Du8TU7jPjnNbzU-jIbtK4B/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-10+at+10.07.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuntdtoUKZ-vZL8ampY_84kaLMGo95BSxp26fGTbNXSoxgrF70BDjfk4YRdmVZ5sv7ldxJ3H2G0PvYSRmVac5ECCeR7FGNBLzF4mZQf65IPjxHCDeyc0J40Du8TU7jPjnNbzU-jIbtK4B/s320/Screen+shot+2013-06-10+at+10.07.48+PM.png" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjDSlCrmgPcSc2fv2D1xPuV15WChMlrUaTNPcwB58deCqYqkW_5QXbJxHLDcpUcPX_xqQ0nND9dS_TjtlPwib31ByLlLRRXXtV40jZV2hxTP9ArsJWTGqKaPZmzcZWJv_s8eAeb_Mk1xg/s1600/BethGreene@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjDSlCrmgPcSc2fv2D1xPuV15WChMlrUaTNPcwB58deCqYqkW_5QXbJxHLDcpUcPX_xqQ0nND9dS_TjtlPwib31ByLlLRRXXtV40jZV2hxTP9ArsJWTGqKaPZmzcZWJv_s8eAeb_Mk1xg/s800/BethGreene@Hearst.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In between courses, presentations were made. First up was Beth Greene, Marketing Director and Strategic Brand Manager of Kravet, who welcomed us warmly. This is the third Blogfest in New York that she has coordinated. More than that, Blogfest was her initial concept: to bring bloggers together, provide them with amazing design content, introduce them to A-list members of the design field, and inspire them by providing behind the scenes access to great design. Kravet is obviously a company that puts a lot of value on the partnership they share with the design blogging community. To host over 100 bloggers and coordinate events for three days requires many hands, plus lots of genuine enthusiasm. #TheyRockedIt    </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8vXyuH0137pbb68LoPTfNi5nvXIlTV9olJq_q7l5MVluHl83zi-E_9Gz7YthxyRdQWo6pFXvUfWbc1NWpzE__W-B0MWQAyGSXx7Mvw164EEa14OQMqJm_v4Qq_kbWrLR8rMqDbhLj56G/s1600/SaraPetersonHGTV@BF13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8vXyuH0137pbb68LoPTfNi5nvXIlTV9olJq_q7l5MVluHl83zi-E_9Gz7YthxyRdQWo6pFXvUfWbc1NWpzE__W-B0MWQAyGSXx7Mvw164EEa14OQMqJm_v4Qq_kbWrLR8rMqDbhLj56G/s800/SaraPetersonHGTV@BF13.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sara Peterson, Editor in Chief of HGTV magazine was our special guest.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year’</span><span style="font-size: large;">s sponsoring publication for Blogest was <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/">HGTV</a> magazine. Editor Sara Peterson shared her thoughts on what makes their shelter magazine original. The goal of HGTV Magazine is to provide fun, informative design content for their readers in a fresh way, just as their on-air hosts entertain viewers while demonstrating their designer tricks and DIY how-to’s. Sara mentioned that her team regularly checks design blogs, looking for content worth featuring in their magazine (no worries if the photos have already been shown on your blog!) This was good news to many of us in the audience who are looking for ways to get our work published. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrVgOP6jTKRI-VPBCgSzhdOw0QM8EcVXZGK0kPLfMeZu_ZI3lqd99G8jeaOHCXBv-o9weHajMB4J_vVPMcDT8J5zwBONWYfUacNIdH-f3KqDMZv9SdmdZsvL-2q6jsG-W4QOJl5k9HqJT/s1600/doorHGTV.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrVgOP6jTKRI-VPBCgSzhdOw0QM8EcVXZGK0kPLfMeZu_ZI3lqd99G8jeaOHCXBv-o9weHajMB4J_vVPMcDT8J5zwBONWYfUacNIdH-f3KqDMZv9SdmdZsvL-2q6jsG-W4QOJl5k9HqJT/s800/doorHGTV.jpg.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/splits/hgtvmagazine/hgtv_sub_nav">HGTV Magazine, June 2013, p3</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>front door is Citron from Behr</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A regular feature in the monthly magazine includes the “come on in!” section shown above that highlights how to transform a front door from purely functional to “wow!” Each issue is packed with usable information like this ... what products to buy, what colors to choose, you-can-do-it solutions to home design dilemas, and so much more. If you haven’t subscribed yet, get 69% off the newsstand price (exclusive offer for bloggers and their readers) when you visit <a href="http://subscribe.hgtvmagazine.com/">subscribe.hgtvmagazine.com</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really love the colorful and engaging layout of this magazine, and the way they provide manageable bits of information. When I was working on <a href="http://newenglandfinery.com/Home_Page.html">New England Finery Magazine,</a> I also preferred the “less words, more pretty pictures” approach. Who doesn’t love a pretty picture?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpPyc9z527S67BiqQlvY1XcfSEeVdX04O_tLlBs9mUyUEPyOBJjwe2UG2NMlPVzwPqg1NWX_P3xAQGo7sGuTHvu2qTSsdXHmdgrbL5dI5_Gy9HMmnzqtFRhlKFSxgO6FtvimfsL7fUDk8/s1600/thom+filicia+Blogfest13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpPyc9z527S67BiqQlvY1XcfSEeVdX04O_tLlBs9mUyUEPyOBJjwe2UG2NMlPVzwPqg1NWX_P3xAQGo7sGuTHvu2qTSsdXHmdgrbL5dI5_Gy9HMmnzqtFRhlKFSxgO6FtvimfsL7fUDk8/s800/thom+filicia+Blogfest13.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our keynote speaker was designer and television personality <a href="http://thomfilicia.com/">Thom Filicia.</a> Thom was SUPER entertaining and his work is beyond elegant. He showed lots of photos from his extensive portfolio and his latest book, “</span><span style="font-size: large;">American Beauty.</span><span style="font-size: large;">” Words that come to mind when describing his design aethetic: tailored, elegant, thoughtful, perfect scale, refined rustic. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_IIsGciSmhMGNPbJSu4AgDWJXPKxeJ8xCoBihBTpQKARU0ST-HCTDkUDsj-uMmE3U_oP2atopzURYjUv7osKlCZ3KqtrOeYDKOisGv8cE8hSvkWhq6D4mIlfYZiwaa_fgSr2DHrf6YMb/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+10.21.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_IIsGciSmhMGNPbJSu4AgDWJXPKxeJ8xCoBihBTpQKARU0ST-HCTDkUDsj-uMmE3U_oP2atopzURYjUv7osKlCZ3KqtrOeYDKOisGv8cE8hSvkWhq6D4mIlfYZiwaa_fgSr2DHrf6YMb/s800/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+10.21.00+PM.png" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.thomfilicia.com/">photos via ThomFilicia.com</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX3-oWyaC9yRjiuYmCq82VQxBd1ctL9vDVzBQFgjGYwjkMMWLLdNadttwMt0bkPAkboCeY1kaZvtlgfcqkUBCzQBHEBdnGYqzYJMtWcBCQiMriGVua_JlBOir1JXZ-TOScrPCQexCTtS5/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+10.17.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX3-oWyaC9yRjiuYmCq82VQxBd1ctL9vDVzBQFgjGYwjkMMWLLdNadttwMt0bkPAkboCeY1kaZvtlgfcqkUBCzQBHEBdnGYqzYJMtWcBCQiMriGVua_JlBOir1JXZ-TOScrPCQexCTtS5/s800/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+10.17.20+PM.png" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />“The greatest inspiration for an interior is the person or people who are going to live there, and my goal is to connect them with a great-looking design that’</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">s approachable to their lifestyle, interests and points of view.”  – Thom Filicia</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4GRWnU7TSn6_Qvxwh51gahzgiU7JxudnRMy1uBWhXzU0e3y_TPWvOKWwYGMd4MDLzxxi9qFqrX0ONGP8Xas-f1GWJbAp1zE04dt5NakOt6eVSH9v2eDXvxKL_O_h3UAyKUZbfBg-Qw4E/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+8.08.01+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4GRWnU7TSn6_Qvxwh51gahzgiU7JxudnRMy1uBWhXzU0e3y_TPWvOKWwYGMd4MDLzxxi9qFqrX0ONGP8Xas-f1GWJbAp1zE04dt5NakOt6eVSH9v2eDXvxKL_O_h3UAyKUZbfBg-Qw4E/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-11+at+8.08.01+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtT9IgdyegMBW9VKN4pDmn0Wqo_uhiBqxidTBT9cyqDeqJQSr4TLmaYl6yFf47GmzDLetkplgIeUmfVDuRp2Q88_tT7ITyMJLOriaJnQCF2qiCnNLndXBXCLKwHNCLtBWQlC2jeNJascy/s1600/ThomFilicia+YvonneBlacker@BF13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtT9IgdyegMBW9VKN4pDmn0Wqo_uhiBqxidTBT9cyqDeqJQSr4TLmaYl6yFf47GmzDLetkplgIeUmfVDuRp2Q88_tT7ITyMJLOriaJnQCF2qiCnNLndXBXCLKwHNCLtBWQlC2jeNJascy/s800/ThomFilicia+YvonneBlacker@BF13.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Color coordinated with Thom Filicia: Blogfest 2013</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1bRMjF77LlIKhoJcWc5Da_YAW0_397BmBc8RhM6SlHXGFZ4N-RKIioFYPIAKntv2qZeNtik6aLuNKueuevwjhWIiIBKJ9XdHXHiW3DiDFLs7ShOZnTdMxMLDEUKXqwGSCdpZlgBT2W-z/s1600/HGTV+panel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1bRMjF77LlIKhoJcWc5Da_YAW0_397BmBc8RhM6SlHXGFZ4N-RKIioFYPIAKntv2qZeNtik6aLuNKueuevwjhWIiIBKJ9XdHXHiW3DiDFLs7ShOZnTdMxMLDEUKXqwGSCdpZlgBT2W-z/s800/HGTV+panel.JPG" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After Thom’s presentation, Kravet social media super star Jennifer Powell (far left) staged a little game of “How bad is it?”  which is straight from the pages of HGTV Magazine. Joining the panel was designer <a href="http://www.markhampton.com/">Alexa Hampton</a> who stepped in for HGTV design star <a href="http://www.candiceolson.com/">Candice Olson</a> who unfortunately was unable to attend. Random questions were posed to the designers like “Fake flowers? Good, Bad or Super Bad?” (Thom’s professional opinion: “If you have to dust the water, Super Bad.”) Alexa, like Thom and Candice, has a collection of fabrics in the Kravet line. I will show you some from each designer in my next post. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vcrd3wD2C7mxYFjGVRrLpOlxpgv6urHI-QkLeN80i03THe0KZvXSJmchIRhZk5VZ1um43ioggxNTWzfrCg36_HqHQ4lEffxgyMyOJqy49cZNACSYy-PSBwnXJitN1RcJ5PBvFD48iyf/s1600/Emily+Susan@Hearst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vcrd3wD2C7mxYFjGVRrLpOlxpgv6urHI-QkLeN80i03THe0KZvXSJmchIRhZk5VZ1um43ioggxNTWzfrCg36_HqHQ4lEffxgyMyOJqy49cZNACSYy-PSBwnXJitN1RcJ5PBvFD48iyf/s800/Emily+Susan@Hearst.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A couple of uber-talented Blogfest 2013 attendees that I was happy to connect with: Emily Anderson of <a href="http://goodwithstyle.typepad.com/emilyanderson/">Good with Style</a> (linked to her blog in <a href="http://issuu.com/nefinery/docs/nef2-april.may2011/44">New England Finery, April 2011)</a> and Susan Brinson of House of Brinson <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/09/mecca-to-nate-and-back.html">(was in the studio audience with her at Nate Berkus Show in NY in 2010)</a>. Meeting up with people that I follow online – and whose creativity I admire and respect – was certainly a highlight of Blogfest!   </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g_bEC6sG7ZxeBnV1vQ3HMGwFnQdWiHmiooqrHVPzCHE5qepdsmI15fXwWFWdYGP9WNvJF3ugHq-W5pnFIfCiparxKP47VfpfgrkoKGJO3z-lSv8QF0V0ls6iRrxRQCZ6-c_NRR8dpt_J/s1600/HearstLobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g_bEC6sG7ZxeBnV1vQ3HMGwFnQdWiHmiooqrHVPzCHE5qepdsmI15fXwWFWdYGP9WNvJF3ugHq-W5pnFIfCiparxKP47VfpfgrkoKGJO3z-lSv8QF0V0ls6iRrxRQCZ6-c_NRR8dpt_J/s800/HearstLobby.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The modern lounge at Hearst Towers.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After our lunch and learn, we left Hearst Towers for our next stop: a 5pm cocktail party at <a href="http://www.newel.com/about.php">Newel Antiques</a> on 53rd Street in East Midtown Manhattan sponsored by <a href="http://www.interiorsmagazine.net/">Interiors Magazine.</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFpJ2nipTMo-MLv2VqjLt6U1lcuspED258bBxOYvKYRYfVOjVoMxmiJfGswQa7SlkEhtLLCYU22R5Bl4Zp5SY2OTo132b2NBg2oE6xkwJxQOsBmR5nV3InEFLH6z-VR5OGmiD0wasdBkl/s1600/Angels@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFpJ2nipTMo-MLv2VqjLt6U1lcuspED258bBxOYvKYRYfVOjVoMxmiJfGswQa7SlkEhtLLCYU22R5Bl4Zp5SY2OTo132b2NBg2oE6xkwJxQOsBmR5nV3InEFLH6z-VR5OGmiD0wasdBkl/s800/Angels@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Newel Antiques is a family-owned business that has been around for over 70 years, offering six floors worth of fine art and antiques from around the globe to collectors, designers, film, television, and retail display industries. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZoq9Snbt-bJx87VZff0Iz4vuG_DEBB3j1JCIsPDcwkgMTb4lYdWoC_Oa1ceVRzwG745u1sc8_lKg5zK__n0zbWFpj_nJFZp8XPWJahugqpT7mmS3kVmWvpLdaRZP1CW0e9FYIAIpL617/s1600/Newel+storefront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZoq9Snbt-bJx87VZff0Iz4vuG_DEBB3j1JCIsPDcwkgMTb4lYdWoC_Oa1ceVRzwG745u1sc8_lKg5zK__n0zbWFpj_nJFZp8XPWJahugqpT7mmS3kVmWvpLdaRZP1CW0e9FYIAIpL617/s800/Newel+storefront.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Newel was established in 1939 as a prop house for Broadway shows. Their pieces have made appearances in episodes of “</span><span style="font-size: large;">Sex in the City</span><span style="font-size: large;">”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> as well as on the floor of Bergdorf Goodman.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_NvGXF_0RMhntAUdlkxTnyJRVZrH-QfCdt4sEu8WZNQa6TBCddvJ1w4yPXlMmMMQ6pgeNH4nsNcbxTKrxaaRdU-TFPgOfmTFxJ2IlauAEZUzzdjbmqgdaiWgwMi2jhSfsGFiilj8ROuB/s1600/chair+birdcage@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_NvGXF_0RMhntAUdlkxTnyJRVZrH-QfCdt4sEu8WZNQa6TBCddvJ1w4yPXlMmMMQ6pgeNH4nsNcbxTKrxaaRdU-TFPgOfmTFxJ2IlauAEZUzzdjbmqgdaiWgwMi2jhSfsGFiilj8ROuB/s800/chair+birdcage@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Large bird cage featured in “Boardwalk Empire</i><i>”</i><i> on HBO.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjxMsOBrHoc_Sn9J_0c5uxCNnU8ZjEIMatYVlZy9DowknlPJfUfJLQsTfx6Um0MAut8IAvyZUAri78wm997w0xOky-14vlWaONy1NBilzYP4F9jjBwl0XkeQhHnAuNNVuIorNp9Xj4Sfu/s1600/chairs@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjxMsOBrHoc_Sn9J_0c5uxCNnU8ZjEIMatYVlZy9DowknlPJfUfJLQsTfx6Um0MAut8IAvyZUAri78wm997w0xOky-14vlWaONy1NBilzYP4F9jjBwl0XkeQhHnAuNNVuIorNp9Xj4Sfu/s800/chairs@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U30mf0Etf_fOW2YTDNa8QGis7ooH3l0tGmVqE9lvNIako0DgCZbIczTVSEg4BZIoIirdZChwyjIhVTHZkjmHSYbEIscoUpFmoGtB67irzTLqTSzZzMZoQKJGCpI0-x8myuvi08jZNDJG/s1600/lighting@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U30mf0Etf_fOW2YTDNa8QGis7ooH3l0tGmVqE9lvNIako0DgCZbIczTVSEg4BZIoIirdZChwyjIhVTHZkjmHSYbEIscoUpFmoGtB67irzTLqTSzZzMZoQKJGCpI0-x8myuvi08jZNDJG/s800/lighting@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Q4a-35BXd-8Pfra8TGpe96gTnOcbKe3nhDXIBsmUznToLwQMy7LnL5Y3FD_95o6zh7Efn8_4L4PgNVrwE0EeIhCq7yQwVlqJAaXmTWDgr5XiWTkLm6JX36lJ4FMoJuSaDtuxxvPT05q/s1600/tables@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Q4a-35BXd-8Pfra8TGpe96gTnOcbKe3nhDXIBsmUznToLwQMy7LnL5Y3FD_95o6zh7Efn8_4L4PgNVrwE0EeIhCq7yQwVlqJAaXmTWDgr5XiWTkLm6JX36lJ4FMoJuSaDtuxxvPT05q/s800/tables@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were allowed to tour the showroom on our own, but I am pretty sure we were not alone (do you ever feel like antiques are accompanied with the spirits of previous owners?!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW3f5QuxPgFfoxoAle1yNQWZpx1trS0ddom6VphuibrJak3XIc9C1EU5O8q5t7PdIArId_Y1DcHXP1bXVqGxNVGLGP3atwD-tq5PKxB1dMRCoyb2o3OM3zSRvJVQMrbtIy5ogICdAnAhc/s1600/carrie-sarah-laurie@Newel-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW3f5QuxPgFfoxoAle1yNQWZpx1trS0ddom6VphuibrJak3XIc9C1EU5O8q5t7PdIArId_Y1DcHXP1bXVqGxNVGLGP3atwD-tq5PKxB1dMRCoyb2o3OM3zSRvJVQMrbtIy5ogICdAnAhc/s800/carrie-sarah-laurie@Newel-s.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back on the first floor, I had to capture this moment of fellow <a href="http://www.brizo.com/theblogger19/index.htm">Brizo blogger alums,</a> Carrie Leskowitz, Sara Sarna and Laurie Gorelick, who looked as if they just fell out of the painting behind them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdT0Tk7fPpu399-6Sc8H-AZH1SBTl9toPVukz1_kPLHudrNufHpnLtot1XoQT0HrLBHpHJur9avFeIVjD_2Y_y9ureygXyK5ZikBKIOndBzvww6pjYEr8rNU2JvzzA_fnydSSbhQdJKkT/s1600/Beth-Adam-Clinton-Laurie@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdT0Tk7fPpu399-6Sc8H-AZH1SBTl9toPVukz1_kPLHudrNufHpnLtot1XoQT0HrLBHpHJur9avFeIVjD_2Y_y9ureygXyK5ZikBKIOndBzvww6pjYEr8rNU2JvzzA_fnydSSbhQdJKkT/s800/Beth-Adam-Clinton-Laurie@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laurie with Beth Greene of Kravet, Adam Japko of <a href="http://digitalsherpa.com/about-digitalsherpa/our-team/">Digital Sherpa</a> and design journalist <a href="http://smithonstyle.com/about/">Clinton Smith.</a> Blogfest was the first time that I got to meet Adam and Clinton who were both judges of the <a href="http://dev.design-sherpa.com/featured/what-inspires-yvonne-blacker-of-yvonne-blacker-interiors/">“</a></span><a href="http://dev.design-sherpa.com/featured/what-inspires-yvonne-blacker-of-yvonne-blacker-interiors/"><span style="font-size: large;">What Inspires You</span><span style="font-size: large;">”</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> contest that I came so very close to winning a few years back (the prize was $10,000 and a trip to Paris!) I did end up in the top 10 finalists, however, which was pretty exciting in and of itself. I</span><span style="font-size: large;">’</span><span style="font-size: large;">m not going to lie, though, a trip to Paris with some cash in my pocket would have been pretty exciting, too! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3satIxKCU-t8NHyq_7Ejx1LJP5ojSO4CPG7YcH9dJ9gotkKGib05oujFAqGy4zNOtdKVOGyTVM4_wekESIF_EPXtFWfjz8NZceSmTU4Y-AvQTJqxUWr0cWm6qPwahlo2ZDwbGM5GJzIp/s1600/yvonne-jonathan-linda@newal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3satIxKCU-t8NHyq_7Ejx1LJP5ojSO4CPG7YcH9dJ9gotkKGib05oujFAqGy4zNOtdKVOGyTVM4_wekESIF_EPXtFWfjz8NZceSmTU4Y-AvQTJqxUWr0cWm6qPwahlo2ZDwbGM5GJzIp/s800/yvonne-jonathan-linda@newal.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/">Jonathan Adler</a> was one of the guest designers at our after hours cocktail party. Linda had just won a piece of pottery from one of his collections in the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2013/05/jonathan-adler-studio-blogfest2013-part.html">Blogfest kick off party</a> raffle held at his Madison Avenue location, so we grabbed him for a picture. He graciously obliged. #highlight</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKlJv25SCKfH4wQtvL2gYlrzGT4LTemBOQA5x94-AYbplJkiy-j55YaPEGYrwoDZNZezEiySbUeupNkJHnrygQbM0_5ngmfzumpj-ShNwS_nc7ICsjhdnFca23JXuqGZ97FxTuxsQy9T4/s1600/yvonne+alexahampton@Newell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKlJv25SCKfH4wQtvL2gYlrzGT4LTemBOQA5x94-AYbplJkiy-j55YaPEGYrwoDZNZezEiySbUeupNkJHnrygQbM0_5ngmfzumpj-ShNwS_nc7ICsjhdnFca23JXuqGZ97FxTuxsQy9T4/s800/yvonne+alexahampton@Newell.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Chatting with designer <a href="http://www.markhampton.com/">Alexa Hampton</a> at Newel was a LOT of fun! She has a way of making us every-day-kind-of-people feel equally interesting. She actually spent quite a bit of time connecting with us bloggers, asking us questions, telling us stories, and making us laugh. #mostpopular</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0RCrY4VGraN9Ww_RhGuSarCR8qn_q4iqtKkf0VkNf3Sso7Lonnt-CzaqEugmZYHOSnuE281flYFaj8ITErWdGH_x6kp61PPczkgMZknEej19IoffuUn-IJ3CxTOk8fupySLC_SKkezjx/s1600/JenniferPowell-AnnFeldstein@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0RCrY4VGraN9Ww_RhGuSarCR8qn_q4iqtKkf0VkNf3Sso7Lonnt-CzaqEugmZYHOSnuE281flYFaj8ITErWdGH_x6kp61PPczkgMZknEej19IoffuUn-IJ3CxTOk8fupySLC_SKkezjx/s800/JenniferPowell-AnnFeldstein@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Team Kravet: Jennifer Powell and Ann Feldstein</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvslYbVNVY6gaXsg82a-tVZKMStCpHUDTPudBtSahkEi6nQ3dJLuVp2ujxNfm5Zg7R8dz6Il1O1wNQw8-tehTEo8aNKy1T9lOOEGEk0kjzX-xD2Az_0NJR7t4JIxf38drb6zjQWh2V737/s1600/Jeanne-Jessica-Yvonne@Newel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvslYbVNVY6gaXsg82a-tVZKMStCpHUDTPudBtSahkEi6nQ3dJLuVp2ujxNfm5Zg7R8dz6Il1O1wNQw8-tehTEo8aNKy1T9lOOEGEk0kjzX-xD2Az_0NJR7t4JIxf38drb6zjQWh2V737/s800/Jeanne-Jessica-Yvonne@Newel.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><i>Getting to know bloggers Jeanne Chung and Jessica Gordan Ryan in real life.</i><br /><i>Jessica was a contributing photographer to <a href="http://issuu.com/nefinery/docs/newenglandfinerysummer2011/63">New England Finery, Summer 2011.</a></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuB2xGVcqrPtLd0xfSEJBkdbpV31TEH5u-AyjTeyNj_MXT7jwXuT1u0HnBGhxfsq_ZZCnmlNI0kgB6W5mH8DhCFC9pL-LpDLOakTS4m99DjHw386thpj9KXRldFoNE1aNroorJmXxrx1Nx/s1600/RonaldMcDonald+reps-Vicki-Garrison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuB2xGVcqrPtLd0xfSEJBkdbpV31TEH5u-AyjTeyNj_MXT7jwXuT1u0HnBGhxfsq_ZZCnmlNI0kgB6W5mH8DhCFC9pL-LpDLOakTS4m99DjHw386thpj9KXRldFoNE1aNroorJmXxrx1Nx/s800/RonaldMcDonald+reps-Vicki-Garrison.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vicki Bolinger and Garrison Hullinger with two representatives of the Ronald McDonald House which will benefit this fall by a Kravet sponsored <a href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/ronald-mcdonald-house-of-long-island-to-get-makeover-1.5009868">designer show house</a> to be held at their Long Island location. What a fabulous idea!</span></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuVcc15vOBqMeLj75H93lsuUTZsogfhBIa68gR-BI8SBa__VsdO9j6VTqBes3liVSmVxWS4Iu34WKV-9LEP4NVEto9SIIQ95sh2boqMHjTwF7KqjQGIKwvoIEENunPjqs3Wymdk6V86P6/s1600/JenniferPowell-MichaelWollaeger-TracyGavant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuVcc15vOBqMeLj75H93lsuUTZsogfhBIa68gR-BI8SBa__VsdO9j6VTqBes3liVSmVxWS4Iu34WKV-9LEP4NVEto9SIIQ95sh2boqMHjTwF7KqjQGIKwvoIEENunPjqs3Wymdk6V86P6/s800/JenniferPowell-MichaelWollaeger-TracyGavant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Jennifer Powell of Kravet with Interiors Magazines </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Editorial Director Michael Wolleaeger and Publisher Tracy Gavant</i></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much to our Blogfest 2013 hosts for a fabulous evening at Newel antiques! Up next ... a tour of Kravet studios. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Lunch with HGTV + Blogfest 2013 part 4

A memorable Blogfest moment from my trip to New York in May (was it really almost a month ago??) was when my travel companion designer Linda...

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Connecting with creatives ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU7_6aJ4LSoya_pSHf3IEW0G2vkutPQ7pVmaVisxPq_Rkby0SXnYOquohJUgRlq0Z8eS8I64IgCOFNRY457-O1M2KjiyB9t2SuwwAw-g9jKKwiAg3zf8DXffXJLYb6GmZxn8FSWJT_6mf/s1600/AlexaHampton%253Abooksigning%2540bdc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541067503324666690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU7_6aJ4LSoya_pSHf3IEW0G2vkutPQ7pVmaVisxPq_Rkby0SXnYOquohJUgRlq0Z8eS8I64IgCOFNRY457-O1M2KjiyB9t2SuwwAw-g9jKKwiAg3zf8DXffXJLYb6GmZxn8FSWJT_6mf/s400/AlexaHampton%253Abooksigning%2540bdc.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />About once a month, the <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/events/#-1">Boston Design Center</a> hosts lecture series featuring celebrity designers. And yes they are celebrities to us! This past Tuesday, <a href="http://markhampton.com/">Alexa Hampton </a>presented a retrospective of interior design scenes from her childhood homes to her current residence. This was one of my favorite presentations that I have seen at the BDC for awhile.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.markhampton.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541378447312703362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_fVm2RsQ-pk0DrmqrbIt9rTPSIn_Hfanh5uqVdSnxjF2XsTFbp_Cd54BtZcOrj5VoS_Nrzj5ioLZLUSHtKqlEtld4Z0twJdFlvGSzad9Oi_9JR3IkvLqLHE-aO4Od7xrW95zOtWOtiQ6/s400/alexa-markhamptoninc.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 267px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.markhampton.com/">{Photo from Mark Hampton, LLC website}</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Alexa is intelligent, humorous, warm and so down to earth. She is the kind of person who can easily connect with others and make them feel at ease even though she lives a really big life and has worked on amazing projects, beginning her career as a young teen at the side of her talented architect/designer father, Mark Hampton. In 1998 Alexa took over her father’s interior design firm after his passing. She has made quite a name for herself and has proven that while her talent may be inherited, it can also stand on its own. She has designed interiors all over the globe and her portfolio includes product lines for a number of quality design manufacturers, making her signature style<br />available to the rest of us.<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.hickorychair.com/product_detail.aspx?i=4562"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541379226576442594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioR9Ii1vJs-83_uMo5EHyh-QafFfQYoBqQmtOfAivUy_auGzKQEdom0x4cygrf3QnnhqFlmiHmhCPSIbdK5rdxDnhANZaZ1xAPXz_RxjTvm7kCk-c3VUsQp1T4T9rz0N8V23U7PVGVx1T/s400/alexahamptonHickoryChair.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 397px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Alexa Hampton for <a href="http://www.hickorychair.com/product_detail.aspx?i=4562">Hickory Chair</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.kravet.com/search/fabdetail.asp?Code=FAB&roy=AH0-Alexa+Hampton&Price=All&mill=&Page=1&pat=25338&clr=16"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541079526120969618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLl3rUB5ZzcgouiScGOTsl3jF4TXw_cJVtoAQg_M7s1c1jNvX74u8SIKFY6CX4Byu7xH0kLIvp9bULA1-AmzFgcrMiedg56t3QwXEq2aws89BidHFDDyt-XU8IrHYiiVPD1Is-mzJrcwOo/s320/alexahampton-greekkey-kravet.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Alexa Hampton for <a href="http://www.kravet.com/fabrics/collections/hampton.htm">Kravet</a></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikhDpx05vWXWjKogU2ga68jiDNEFd4rOiivB3RXQVDRpQmZPuctvt942rAQBDvKS8Ev2_87cqEyMTE6ZPt5cJ6WdEDnMvasHPEnum8X6VQgvjp0Vg2940ljOi7r4nPdUgVtTursKQpdUo/s1600/alexahampton_kravet.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikhDpx05vWXWjKogU2ga68jiDNEFd4rOiivB3RXQVDRpQmZPuctvt942rAQBDvKS8Ev2_87cqEyMTE6ZPt5cJ6WdEDnMvasHPEnum8X6VQgvjp0Vg2940ljOi7r4nPdUgVtTursKQpdUo/s1600/alexahampton_kravet.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="http://www.circalighting.com/details.aspx?pid=1292"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541081584171203714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9TGyoGKzluuwzZLSSzVDmnxt1fpzLgNRPILI-hZxr-cuXPKeH9g7OoCBSazt6oZX9M6vkqm38Ob-XXiyi9B_9J-gslxncc8-KLPf89xBd76O0F8sZUlfOOr98BNzhY7x58Ly8_LYTKfM/s320/katetablelamp-AlexaHampton-circa.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J5_dTQKB2lUJfcrxgCJ4M91zvR1grNuaGX-UaU4LgglK_cGh4NO0ZvmPbtXW2YskacYqKi14rnbIbYMvZLCWCebpaBEJtDQtOUDdV080Bn6UcUVflx6Jt_a3Ey2K_vcktD3ulYyXXjw2/s1600/alexahamptonforhickorychair"><br /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Alexa Hampton for <a href="http://www.circalighting.com/details.aspx?pid=1292">Circa Lighting</a></span></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ppK4y0dVE1TWc3cm9EthpXflEGG0yhHEwTQXTmb5b53XbGeccO9sWuNp-Ku9bX3XfGwOQuO5dK0WcoequkWA4hGUAoJbl-zEhlzGF9kBpIrOTLTHgnCWqq4GS83ZBhB-O_D80XDVfYPP/s1600/frankflushmountAlexaHamptonCirca.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.markhampton.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541106051493222354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLCVT53f6dChimZYwrLPVh9Y71RXInHXtwUGDJPy0iJ4GwfuWOn0VUxjmYNp7lWvWvz3b4iQdCVyL2u_ExafIXxjpAHBxKOb8GF23yq0D40tJVVlI458KykY3k4Sirg5sDO1qOqUFtprH/s400/alexahamptonMBR.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 312px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">{<a href="http://www.markhampton.com/">Photo from Mark Hampton LLC website</a>}</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Side note: Alexa said she prefers wall-to-wall<br />carpet in bedrooms (she also designs for <a href="http://www.starkcarpet.com/default.cfm">Stark</a>)</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Good to know! Our new master bedroom carpet is<br />scheduled to be installed within the next 2 weeks!</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLG9iokOXL7cFerawWevaUTxnWBvt-9HG19Ew8ALpcCKzVoUnoGO0esz7F__RqRUoG9-16FlqPPZo6NSoBs0BD0Fd7nLWXb6ZcRdkdcbcWmGnYTsbFpNslUYHHnDz7wxpz4W22z-h6k2q/s1600/JumpStartYourNurseryDesignFinal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307460533/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1HE1TCT7S71WFGR22R7G&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541066950016455314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_aGCS_rGIyRi5LBzTHX4t2YPyvY9eJmRhjicEYnnR28MYVMUnaf-V-AnDW8CTd9f8QcZqctgTUyMpKVUyRPM5NKF7wbRdX7YQE4YXWcWyYEKuDriiqMQKNF_YMlqs1cCBqU68hsO_-fw/s400/AlexaHamptonLangofIntDesign.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 224px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307460533/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1HE1TCT7S71WFGR22R7G&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">The Language of Interior Design</a><br />by Alexa Hampton<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">After showcasing dozens of opulent interiors and classic design treatments, with funny side stories of design snafus and their graceful resolutions, Alexa was available to sign her book titled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alexa Hampton, The Language of Interior Design</span>. I regret to say that I did not purchase a copy, but I will put it on my holiday wish list! Alexa offers just as much useful information as she offers pretty pictures and I am sure I would enjoy reading her take on design. Even more I would love to talk with her about her life as a designer and young mom. She shared some entertaining stories that I could definitely relate to! Along with being an incredible designer, Alexa was named one of the top twelve “Fun Fearless Females</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cosmopolitan</span> magazine and the title suits her : )<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Here are some interesting degrees of<br />separation from Tuesday’s event ...</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-BmvO5QBZzXUaT4CZ6YcV3xw8Sx4BVdf3qN0tazZs_tRobX6-UulenQ9yRKBceT9wLhUjSVo9a1UbgeabVig2yHD0Et7AZAW51yO0ns85mG8TDYYK9iPGioFcN3CXwvTtD011kHTy5ro/s1600/melissagulley%253Aalexahampton%2540bdc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541059675590438866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-BmvO5QBZzXUaT4CZ6YcV3xw8Sx4BVdf3qN0tazZs_tRobX6-UulenQ9yRKBceT9wLhUjSVo9a1UbgeabVig2yHD0Et7AZAW51yO0ns85mG8TDYYK9iPGioFcN3CXwvTtD011kHTy5ro/s400/melissagulley%253Aalexahampton%2540bdc.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Designers Melissa Gulley and Alexa Hampton</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I finally met interior designer <a href="http://melissagulley.com/">Melissa Gulley</a> at this event. Melissa writes a blog titled <a href="http://www.designtrackmind.com/">Design Track Mind</a>. When I was at the<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/05/designers-before-and-after.html"> North Shore Design Show</a> this May, <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/05/north-shore-design-show-preview.html">the space next to mine</a> was designed by Nanette Chandler who happens to be a good friend of Melissa. I had been following Melissa’s blog for some time and Nanette confirmed that Melissa was as nice as she was talented. After meeting her in person, I agree!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.designtrackmind.com/2010/11/guest-post-rocking-this-old-house.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541062066640714978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmMyB-1fu0rRH2XMPbhcOsZIWqXyZJ00TELpkKYDBupR9WCpEHg1ya5oAs7xi7z-D7LQBxcj2XFJM03ECcJ3K1Uv1c49mbStpSt-u4YXPuTjSUSaCSEcPN7wPd05iG8WzNzjhTocp739E/s400/Melissa-Gulley-Designer-This-Old-House-Newton-MA.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Recently Melissa was recruited by non-other than<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/">This Old House</a> to be the interior designer for a <a href="http://oldhousemyhouse.thisoldhouse.com/2010/09/design-time.html">local renovation project in Auburndale</a>, Massachusetts. This new series will air this Saturday (<a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/info/0,,20058777,00.html">check your local listings</a>). Kevin O’Connor was actually the honorary chair of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">North Shore Design Show: Favorite Spaces</span> and I had a chance to meet him last May. By coincidence, Alexa Hampton has also been a <a href="http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,687959,00.html">senior design consultant for <span style="font-weight: bold;">This Old House</span></a> and was the first woman who was a regular on the show.<br />Small world getting smaller!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7UkLBeqXzQ7Id5c499YnU2brWctdrNxgdtZak4V4RAVtUz2j6DQRhUwNAOQVb-fRZFx7EJAKpDkeilbU0EprQFxmNXpx0NJZtdrx4tRzkQzNgHlMv4eEdxkeu6l5ZAG8NURDXXK4MA7g/s1600/julieanncovino%253Aalexahampton%2540bdc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541059670726374642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7UkLBeqXzQ7Id5c499YnU2brWctdrNxgdtZak4V4RAVtUz2j6DQRhUwNAOQVb-fRZFx7EJAKpDkeilbU0EprQFxmNXpx0NJZtdrx4tRzkQzNgHlMv4eEdxkeu6l5ZAG8NURDXXK4MA7g/s400/julieanncovino%253Aalexahampton%2540bdc.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Also enjoying the event was one of my favorite online design friends, Julieann Covino of <a href="http://www.jaceinteriors.com/">Jace Interiors</a> and the design blog <a href="http://creategirl.blogspot.com/">Create Girl</a>. When you work mostly on your own or one-on-one with clients, it is nice to connect with others in the design field at these types of professional gatherings (even when the meeting is a tweet-up online ... still valuable!) </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Whenever I see Julieann we have these great conversations about social media and how it has enhanced our creative careers. I wish our paths crossed more often because<br />I always enjoy running into her. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">She is extremely<br />smart, super energetic, and very positive.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://creategirl.blogspot.com/2010/11/jump-start-series-nursery-design.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541062704256962722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLG9iokOXL7cFerawWevaUTxnWBvt-9HG19Ew8ALpcCKzVoUnoGO0esz7F__RqRUoG9-16FlqPPZo6NSoBs0BD0Fd7nLWXb6ZcRdkdcbcWmGnYTsbFpNslUYHHnDz7wxpz4W22z-h6k2q/s400/JumpStartYourNurseryDesignFinal.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />We talked about her upcoming series of design seminars which she will be kicking off this Sunday with a presentation on how to make choices when decorating a nursery. If you are in the area and have a “baby bump</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that you are designing for, I would highly recommend registering for what I am sure<br />will be a fun and informative discussion.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://creategirl.blogspot.com/2010/11/jump-start-series-nursery-design.html">Click here for event details</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvl1eCFSkbJK9uqTCdo7H74E5FDKyTzFrBDTW0xuk7c2eepGpnaXsc8dMQ-7qLffVJSYOBposczeWjHemhz8YxTLzVzqwjDY3hQ8-JuEq3zITJSFhLa3bO5Z8r5VAg47VJulYHsJN9bKH/s1600/White-Dunes-and-Duchess-Candelabra1.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2010/11/10/living-with-what-you-love-dunes-duchess-giveaway/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541100068539785602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3_B_DnyKpUtemQ5jrsScmXWEDDRbUFaLIDVYLYWvK4fEUq0GvV8HcD1F30_fbkHVcw2fophwjZturGA05kLZnogmDRCQDlUDBRd-_K-p-Lx1wwc5_7Igx0zA6T_KewK3d7vpICY-eXk3/s400/White-Dunes-and-Duchess-Candelabra1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2010/11/10/living-with-what-you-love-dunes-duchess-giveaway/">{Photo from ABCDdesign blog}</a></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/?page_id=54"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541370681755624898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfP10reyiIUOgHJxD3v0wla1gULBRX4EoGv9V_s5CriVDBReF5YJaCBMBH7p7dRl7rPusnFdwlf5A6bGVJh62fFexeE7Gbnfp9LJohE_APzzQiEQHdS1zhpwUT2X4EvA9mnh1luBjvUHEv/s400/stacywcandelabra.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 220px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/?page_id=54">{Photo from Dunes & Duchess website}</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Also at the BDC on Tuesday was </span><span style="font-size:130%;">the talented stylist, writer, and editor <a href="http://stacystyle.wordpress.com/">Stacy Kunstel</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.nehomemag.com/">New England Home Magazine</a>. </span>I haven’t had a chance to feature the beautiful new collection of candelabras<br />from her <a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dunes and Duchess</span></a> product<br />line yet, so today is the day!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />One was recently featured in the <a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/?p=383">Shippan Showhouse</a> in Connecticut and another was just raffled off to a lucky attendee at a <a href="http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2010/11/19/living-with-what-you-love-designtvtnt/">Living with What You Love</a> event at <a href="http://thenewtraditionalists.com/index.php">The New Traditionalists</a> showroom in NYC hosted by a couple of designer/bloggers who I met at the taping of the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/09/mecca-to-nate-and-back.html">Nate Berkus Show:</a> <a href="http://www.jonathanlegate.com/">Jonathan Legate</a> and <a href="http://www.abcddesign.com/">Amy Dragoo</a>. Can you just imagine how beautiful this piece would look on a Thanksgiving or holiday table?!<br />Click here for <a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/">retail locations</a>.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlvcXD59VJz9pfzgm6cNY4ArpR7rFv3Nmn0CkMn5wPmbMHaC1Fuc_v18gClNNVPyH36NW6SwAixgyQmGSYPsg7MTcOqFYWXGegyJWIVKBYiTKCFLuxnmRXyMa_WDGzV8zXbfZD_MhFLNI/s1600/StylePIC%2540NEFL.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCWP37NRM-yAqn3YJ0zpD8ErN8bHgdzViJXSuxsZACMPO-zNgeqcHB6iMV6vp520wDGsTkzVp1W-6k1zzh3Adi9KuYTfiy-w94JmVP8-vAF7ywrjqwmejUmiFOQjFnsPeYUihMFv3V5qr/s1600/StylePIC_tops.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztnfiEz5-wF2w-noLLqjUj-cY2hxkO6-4bjFdK_QU8chRVYeoC6BopZfFUJHYzoPb7bdBFxL95gG618IUaTfUuscdhPTOl6FtWhjCr757pMkLD0AcP-ZsQ3ICY5YVnw845JdmWTaqP272/s1600/StylePICscarves.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541349778807840466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztnfiEz5-wF2w-noLLqjUj-cY2hxkO6-4bjFdK_QU8chRVYeoC6BopZfFUJHYzoPb7bdBFxL95gG618IUaTfUuscdhPTOl6FtWhjCr757pMkLD0AcP-ZsQ3ICY5YVnw845JdmWTaqP272/s400/StylePICscarves.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCWP37NRM-yAqn3YJ0zpD8ErN8bHgdzViJXSuxsZACMPO-zNgeqcHB6iMV6vp520wDGsTkzVp1W-6k1zzh3Adi9KuYTfiy-w94JmVP8-vAF7ywrjqwmejUmiFOQjFnsPeYUihMFv3V5qr/s1600/StylePIC_tops.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541348682270214002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCWP37NRM-yAqn3YJ0zpD8ErN8bHgdzViJXSuxsZACMPO-zNgeqcHB6iMV6vp520wDGsTkzVp1W-6k1zzh3Adi9KuYTfiy-w94JmVP8-vAF7ywrjqwmejUmiFOQjFnsPeYUihMFv3V5qr/s400/StylePIC_tops.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztnfiEz5-wF2w-noLLqjUj-cY2hxkO6-4bjFdK_QU8chRVYeoC6BopZfFUJHYzoPb7bdBFxL95gG618IUaTfUuscdhPTOl6FtWhjCr757pMkLD0AcP-ZsQ3ICY5YVnw845JdmWTaqP272/s1600/StylePICscarves.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlvcXD59VJz9pfzgm6cNY4ArpR7rFv3Nmn0CkMn5wPmbMHaC1Fuc_v18gClNNVPyH36NW6SwAixgyQmGSYPsg7MTcOqFYWXGegyJWIVKBYiTKCFLuxnmRXyMa_WDGzV8zXbfZD_MhFLNI/s1600/StylePIC%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541113354946989810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlvcXD59VJz9pfzgm6cNY4ArpR7rFv3Nmn0CkMn5wPmbMHaC1Fuc_v18gClNNVPyH36NW6SwAixgyQmGSYPsg7MTcOqFYWXGegyJWIVKBYiTKCFLuxnmRXyMa_WDGzV8zXbfZD_MhFLNI/s400/StylePIC%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Final shout out for the week ...</span><br /><br />This Saturday at <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html">New England Fine Living</a> my friend (and in-real-life next door neighbor) Jenny Scala, will be hosting a <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/StylePIC.html">Style PIC</a> trunk show from 10am to 2pm. She will have all kinds of fashion accessories, bags and on-trend wardrobe choices that she has selected from her designer sources. She will be offering some special discounts on in-store merchandise and will be taking custom orders as well. Jenny’s items always go fast, so come early and don’t miss out on this one-day event!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3phOC-LH7Wv757E5UgEelvbPxC9RjL5MS6DvqY7ERlO41SpzRN44Nm0vHkdvGUxVEes6_rxZV2WKS9obylD3mLn_Cb-EIRzjuE6dSokP420Zgri9E30fU9HW3Muo5y_5SeF5s08vu3VM/s1600/NEFLsilverleopard.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541369441653914658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3phOC-LH7Wv757E5UgEelvbPxC9RjL5MS6DvqY7ERlO41SpzRN44Nm0vHkdvGUxVEes6_rxZV2WKS9obylD3mLn_Cb-EIRzjuE6dSokP420Zgri9E30fU9HW3Muo5y_5SeF5s08vu3VM/s400/NEFLsilverleopard.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There will also be <span style="font-weight: bold;">red tag sale items</span><br />throughout <span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Fine Living</span><br />including one-of-a-kind pieces from<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/AntiquesDisplayed.html">Antiques Displayed</a> at incredible prices!<br /><br /><br />Have a great weekend, get out there, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">connect</span>!<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>

Connecting with creatives ...

About once a month, the Boston Design Center hosts lecture series featuring celebrity designers. And yes they are celebrities to us! This p...

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