My Iphone Travel Pics

San Juan, Puerto Rico

High Point , North Carolina

Willemstad, Curacao

Hello Family

Whoa! It’s so go to be home.  April was such a busy month for me.  I started it out in Curacao for the "2013 Dream Home Experience” and ended it in Puerto Rico where I am working on a penthouse project.   I attended High Point Market with other members of the AATOP 20, and spent some days in Huntsville and Atlanta. This is new for me because there are so many events now in the spring.  I use to get by setting aside May as my big design month.  With Design ADAC, ICFF and the Kravet Blogfest, May just seemed like the perfect time to take a break and see what's new.  Now, conferences and events get underway a few days after he new year and don't slow down. This May is different. This year I'm taking a break so I can rest and regroup.

My super hectic spring schedule was  for a great reason.  Later this summer we will be revealing the 2013 Top 20 African American Interior Designers.  The list is in its third year, and over the past few months, I have been meeting with magazine editors and design showrooms to see how we can not only celebrate the Interior Designers on the list, but also take this celebration of diversity to a whole new level.

We have been working on the metrics behind the list and are looking the way to make it a true representation of the best our community has to offer.

 Stay tuned. If you thought the event at the 40/40 was fun last year, wait until you see what we have in store for our next celebration.  It is going to be epic!

More on that later.  For now, I'm taking some time off!!!              

I'm definitely looking forward to some serious rest and relaxation. 

Did I say this already? 

Anyway.

 Love you much!

XOXO,

Kimberly

High Point Market, I Need A Do Over!

I need a do over because I had so much fun visiting showrooms, attending lectures and hanging with my design + blogging friends that I didn't get all my work done.  High Point Market was  so jam packed with activities, that it became challenging to break away and do anything else. I tried.  I really did.  But I just kept getting distracted.  (Thank God for the Internet!)  I did manage to get lots done for my male clients.  You can check out some of those finds here.  I'm definitely planning to stay longer next time and better organize my time.

So given my epic fail at Market, I'm forced to leave you with the few things that did make it back on my iPhone. The first being these items for my male clients and the second some pretty amazing mirrors.

Mirror Image Home Showroom at High Point

It's funny, I couldn't find the chest that my client wanted or the perfect place to source things for a beach house, but I knew exactly where to find a great mirror.

My first assistant ever in life said sarcastically, "You use too many mirrors."  What did she know?  How can you not love a great mirror?  Especially one that makes a powerful statement!  Framed or unframed, they have the magical ability to make even the tiniest space special.

Vignette at Emporium Home featuring the "Bethany" Mirror and "Luck Be a Lady" Lamp

Mirrors of various sizes and shapes at Mirror Image Home

I love mixing smaller mirrors in with other items to create an arrangement over an entry table or chest.

Another gem of a mirror from Emporium Home

This is one of my favorite mirrors from the show.  It screams GLAMOUR!  It rocks next to the "Luck Be a Lady" lamp, this time in jade.

Mirrors from the Bunny Williams Line for Mirror Image Home

This Blue Sapphire mirror is by Bunny Williams Home for Mirror Image Home.  I went ahead and sourced it for you because I know you are going to want to own it!  You can pick it up here.  The other mirrors featured here are in the Bunny Williams collection also.  She loves a great mirror as much as I do.

How Social Media is Changing the High Point Market Experience

I'm sure by now,you've heard all the excitement surrounding the Spring Furniture Market at High Point.  I received a tweet today from my friend, Jenner Stoner, exclaiming how excited she is about this particular market.  It's all the tweets of excitement that have me and several other designers from the African-American Top 20 rearranging our schedules so we can  make a stop in North Carolina.  

Looking at the market guide, I've noticed things have changed quite a bit since the last time I was at  market in 2009. Back then we had no way of organizing things and often found ourselves  going from building to building  trying to make appointments.  I would leave worn out.  Thankfully, social media has completely revolutionized how Market is experienced.  I for one, am looking forward to the resources and interactive guides designed to make the whole thing easier to navigate.  I'll be able to keep up with my friends and fellow designers via twitter and see in real time, what they are finding in the showrooms.   

 Every year, I fall in love with a piece only to misplace the order form or forget where I saw it altogether.  Technology and social media will change all that.  Take for example these items from Emerson Et Cie.  In the past I would see them at market and pick up a catalogue for later use.  Now, I can look up the company's website on my iPhone, store that information in Evernote, pin the items to my market pin board, and later show my client how the item can be used in their space via Olioboard.  

Sample tear sheets of  items available at High Point and represented on our Market Pintrest Board

Sample Olioboard 

Not attending market?   Don't worry.  You'll be able to see all of our great finds via Pintrest here.  Joan Goodwin, Michel Boyd and I will be pinning items there starting Saturday April, 20th.  And of course I'll be tweeting and Instagramming away so you won't miss a thing.

I plan to attend lectures, events, and take in all that North Carolina has to offer.  I've received many invitations to visit showrooms.  I'm especially excited to visit brands I've only recently been introduced.  Just check out these images from  Caraccole.  Amazing right?  I can't wait to see them all in person!

If you have any suggestions of showrooms to visit or things to do, please leave a comment below.  I'll do my best to check them out.  In the meantime, follow along on your favorite platform and I'll meet you back here after market to share my market finds and event details.

Until then!
Kimberly

My Dream Home Experience -Curacao

I just returned from a six day trip to the Island of Curacao. Located in the Caribbean, this colorful island is a true gem.  The trip was amazing!  A designer's dream. During the day, we worked with our host and interior designer, Nadin Bento talking global design and creating spaces for her "Update My Space Dream Home 2013 Experience"  Show house and TV show and during the evenings we dined  on 4 course meals, created by celebrity chefs from various food network shows. It was all just divine!

I am not one of those people who take things like this for granted. This opportunity was a true blessing.  From the beginning I was drawn to Nadin. It was very ambitious of her to attempt such an event. She and I worked on the Interior design aspect which was crazy and ever changing, I had no idea of the magnitude of the project, until I got to the Island, to learn that she was also coordinating chefs from several countries, local and internationally media and countless sponsors on the Island.  The fact that she reached out to me at all was really a blessing.

More fun with the chefs. Images here.

"Update My Space "is a local decorating show that is shown through out the Caribbean, the Dutch Antilles and Holland.  The shows host and producer Nadin Benito was the sole designer for the luxury estate at the center of our trip.  She worked on one of the penthouses at "Residence Le Blue"-at the Blue Bay Resort, room by room until it was perfect. Assuring that it represented the future of luxury design on the island. 

Image of space designed by Joy Moyler for the "Show house experience"