Design, Food and Charity: DIFFA Picnic by Design Summer Event 2014

Images from DIFFA Picnic by Design 2013

Design, Food and Charity is a great combination for a summer event. It will be my third year participating in DIFFA's Picnic By Design. This event rocks and this year I was able to workbehind the scenes on the steering committee. What an awesome event 2014 will be.... amazing sponsors, donations and designers! Picnic By Design redefines the concept of a traditional picnic where 40 designers come together to create innovative picnic basket experiences that are sold online in advance with proceeds benefiting DIFFA. Guests who purchase a basket  will enjoy a dinner, wine and desert for two under the stars on an urban rooftop. They will be amazed by a truly unique picnic setting! 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 6:30-10:30pm

Midtown Loft & terrace 267 Fifth Avenue @ 29th street

Purchase your picnic basket for two here


Designers are sharing their designs on DIFFA's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest! Check out some inspiration!

Here's a sneak peek of MoD Design Guru's picnic.... Farm-chic represents the wheelbarrow to table/picnic experience.  The mood will be set with reclaimed oak, Robert Allen fabrics ( one of the key sponsors) and firefly LED lighting. 

Event is Sponsored by Bolon, Robert Allen , Poggenpohl,
Canard Inc., Interior Design Magazine & New York Design Center

Participating designers include: Antoinette Loupe _ Aesthete & Tastemaker, Archives ID, Atelier nnd/Nicole Dufour DuRocher, B+N Industries, Barbara Fina – Fina Design LLC., Brad Ford ID, Bryon C. James for House of Oasis, Cheryl Umbles, CRD Associates, Dan Mazzarini and Brian Humphrey of BHDM Design, Danielle Colding Design, Dustin & Paris, Gensler, Hollymount Ltd., Homestories,HUBLEY DESIGN INTERIORS, HUX HUX Design, Inc.Architecture & Design, Jennifer Flanders Inc., Jeremiah Brent, Johanna Barger,Jonathan Berger Interior Design, Julie Schuster Design Studio, Kristen Guerrero, Lindsey Coral Harper Interior Design, Matthew David Celebrations, Maurice Assouline – Creativa Design, Mee Tran Studio, Michelle Slovak, Design and Decoration, Mod Design Guru,Nile Johnson Interior Design, Patrick Mele, Richard A. Baquero Interior Design Inc., Samantha Knapp for Tigerlily’s, Samuel Masters,Simple Dwellings by Elizabeth Braha, The 3rd Floor Lab, Think Fabricate, Tina Rachmandani Creative, VANESSA DELEON, West Chin, and Workshop/APD.

Thank you to all the terrific sponsors for the event! Woot woot!

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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: Chic Interior Designer Nina Magon

One of my new fave interior designers is Nina Magon, Creative Director of Contour Interior design based in Houston. She is known for her signature contemporary meets glamour style recently seen on Nate Berkus' NBC's American Dream Builders. On the show her memorable spaces were sleek and tailored emphasizing layered detailing. She has impeccable style and I'm giddy to share an interview with Nina today:

laurie perez photography

YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE

CLASSIC MODERN MEETS GLAMOUR

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

SIMPLICITY IS THE ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION

GOALS YOU SET TO BECOME AN EXPERT AT DESIGNING LUXURY CHIC SPACES

DELIVER UNPRECEDENTED DESIGN

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING ON AMERICAN DREAM BUILDER

ACCOMPLISH HIGH DESIGN, ORDER & INSTALL IN A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME

LESSONS LEARNED ON AMERICAN DREAM BUILDER

YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE THE BEST, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO IS BETTER, SO BE HUMBLE.

BIGGEST DESIGN IMPACT

LIGHTING 

MOST IMPACTFUL SPACE THAT INSPIRES YOU

OZONE BAR IN THE RITZ CARLTON IN HONG KONG

BEST DESIGN ADVICE YOU FOLLOW WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE GUN

KEEP IT SIMPLE. FOCUS ON ONE DESIGN ELEMENT AT A TIME

MANTRA YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING BY LATELY

DON'T FIND FAULT, FIND A REMEDY. ANYBODY CAN COMPLAIN - HENRY FORD

Thanks NINa for the interview!

image credits: nbc, laurie perez photography & contour interior design

You can connect with nina magon on her 

WEBsITE, FACEBOOK, pinterest, twitter

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LG STUDIO + NATE BERKUS: Kitchen Renovation Contest

"Life's good," and so is the contest for a complete kitchen renovation with Nate Berkus and LG Studio appliances, the leader in stylish and innovative home appliances! To enter, tell Nate in a video what your personal inspiration would be to incorporate into the design and what you love about LG Studio appliances!  LG Electronics is the leader in stylish and innovative consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. I think this contest is so sweet that I have to enter to win too! Good luck!

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Modern Botanical Innovations

Vase & Leuchte by Dua Shop

The 2014 market has some really cool modern botanical treasures to define and enhance our spaces, walls, and furniture with greenery. On the popular blog Spacesculpt, I guest posted today an article called "Five Clever ways to Style your Home with Plants." The products range from the beautiful Woolly Pockets living walls to Danielle Trofe's organic planters made out of mushrooms. These innovative greenery products promote style, warmth, and wellness for our homes.

To get a daily dose of design, find MoD Design Guru on

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