Brooklyn Designers Show Us Their Vignettes at 'Design on a Dime'
Brooklyn designers tell us what inspired their creations at Housing Works’ first Brooklyn “Design on a Dime” charity event.
Yolande Milan Batteau of Callidus Guild
The 19 designers — most from Brooklyn — tapped by Housing Works to create vignettes using donated treasures for charity at the first “Design on a Dime” in Brooklyn had just 36 hours to realize their vision. On Wednesday, the show floor at Industry City was covered in boxes and designers were painting their booths and adjusting the lighting.
Before the doors opened Friday, all was calm. We snapped photos and asked every designer we met to describe their creations in a few words. By Sunday afternoon, everything was gone.
Artist Yolande Milan Batteau of Callidus Guild
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
“We wanted to represent what’s happening in New York design now: Process- and material-driven handmade design. I discovered decorative arts as way to pay for my painting habit.”
Fashion and interior designer Akhira N. Ismail
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
“Blue!!! I wanted a nice cozy serene kind of vibe — a sophisticated look as well as comfortable, which is hard to pull off. The dining chairs were a vintage find, and I got them reupholstered in navy.”
Photographer, lighting and interior designer Julien Aleksandres, House of Julien
Neighborhood: Flatbush
“Lighting, wallpaper, photographs and textiles. I’m a photographer. I use photographs to create my own prints. I took a photo of the dishes in my kitchen. Now the wallpaper is in the kitchen.”
Event designer Mark Stephen Testa, Mark Stephen Experiential Agency
Neighborhood: NoHo
“We wanted to do a Brooklyn cafe with bright colors.”
Interior designer Jae Joo, Jae Joo Designs
Neighborhood: Bed Stuy
“Dramatic color in 10-by-10-foot room. Very layered. Antique paintings. I like rooms that look like someone has been living there for several years.”
Furniture dealer Michael Bargo
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
“It’s a collection of pieces I pulled from an auction I felt had a great Alvar Aalto vibe, a mid-century moment. The textiles are African.”
Textile artist and designer Monica Hofstadter
Neighborhood: Gowanus
“This is the lounge in the temple of the moon. The materials are mohair and mylar from emergency blankets. On the wall is a granny square for meditation. I made it all myself. I’ve been working on it for two months.”
Interior designer Natalie Kraiem, Natalie Kraiem Interiors
Neighborhood: Midwood
“The inspiration was the hand-painted wallpaper from Porter Teleo. Mid-century but eclectic. Cozy and layered. Like a little apartment in the city.”
Interior designer Sheena Murphy, Sheep + Stone Interiors
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
“It’s representative of the people we love and work with. We try to support local furniture makers and designers. It has a very Scandinavian feel. Scandinavian design is very popular in American culture lately. We see the forms coming from Scandinavia but being made here with an American twist, which is nice.”
Interior designer Jennifer Levy, CAVDesign
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
“Sophisticated beach house. It’s the end of the season.”
Plaster artisan Stephen Antonson, Stephen Antonson by Hand
Neighborhood: Gowanus
“I wanted to create a room that was based on the period rooms in museums. I made everything for the booth. I thought it needed a funny thing. Hence the plaster pies. I pied the bust. The whole booth is about handmade. Another fun element: Plaster snowballs all over.”
Leyden Lewis, Leyden Lewis Design Studio
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
“I wanted to create a very wonderful place. Nightshade. Mood. Queer. Loving. This [big photo collage] is a piece on gender positive love by Tony Whitfield. One of the things I love about design is how art impacts interiors.”
[Photos by Susan De Vries]
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