I’ve told you all about our amazing day at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, but there’s more! After a spot of R&R back at the hotel, we were back at Pier 94 for second helpings.

(Thank you so much to Cecy Brooks for this gorgeous photo of the lovely Pippa Jameson.)
Cocktails By Design was the first of five Dining by Design events run in conjunction with the AD Show by DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS).

(Thank you to Cecy for this photo of the DESIGNLUSH installation.)
Top names in fashion, interior design, art and architecture were tasked with creating “spectacular, over-the-top dining environments” the only stipulation being that it had to be possible for ten people to dine within each installation.

(Thank you to Cecy for this photo of the Ralph Lauren installation.)

This year marked the 15th anniversary of Dining by Design, which has raised over $13million for DIFFA in previous years, and saw contributions from the likes of David Rockwell, Richard Chai, David Stark, Evette Rios, Jonathan Adler, DESIGNLUSH and Christopher Peacock as well as New York’s top design schools led by mentors like Clodagh and Isabel & Ruben Toledo.

While we got to enjoy the installations from the sidelines (whilst sipping on specially designed EFFEN cocktails and nibbling on treats from some of New York’s finest foodie institutions), the very lucky guests at the Gala Dinner the following week actually got to sit and dine in them!

(Thank you to Cecy for this photo of fellow BlogTourNYC bloggers Hannah Coleman and Andrew Dunning.)
I’d be hard pushed to decide which one I’d like to be seated at. I loved the decadence of the 24 carat gold slinkies on DESIGNLUSH’s table, and the beautifully executed statement in support of gay marriage of Dufner Heighes’ table. But in the end I think the bookworm in me would have to plump for Benjamin Moore’s Colour Stories.

(Thanks to Cecy for these photos of Benjamin Moore’s installation.)

I’d love to tell you that we partied the night away with the great and the good of the New York design scene, but the truth is that the BlogTourNYC gang slunk off for a slap up meal at an all American diner whose name tells you all you need to know – 5 Napkin Burger!
I would like to say a massive thank you to Tim and Veronika from Modenus for inviting me to join BlogTourNYC, and to the sponsors: Jenn Air, Ethan Allen, Axor, Miele, Blanco, Rotsen Furniture, Poggenpohl, Modern-Aire, Scholtes, Du Verre, Spirit of Sports, Big Ass Fans, Samuel Heath, Vitra, Victoria and Albert Baths and Wallunica, for making it possible.
Further reading for the especially geeky:











1 comment
David Barclay says:
Jul 12, 2012
What a fantastic idea for a series of installations, and I love it when art also has a functional purpose. I agree that the Colour Stories installation is the most interesting, but they all look like great designs!