Held at the Mayflower Grace, the Day of Design brings together architects, interior designers, stylists and writers to tell their stories and inspire those who love design.
“It is just as disastrous to have the wrong accessories in your room as it is to wear sport shoes with an evening dress.”
— Dorothy Draper
Most of us know to strap on the heels with evening wear but falter when it comes to the styling and decorating of our own home. The big questions….what to add, what to take away and how it will all work together are endless. Day of Design’s experts will share secrets about revealing beauty through simplicity, embracing cultural references, making statements with objects and how to integrate the interior with the outdoors. All these discussions will take place on Saturday, June 18th in a charming shingled tea house where participants and panelists can arrange themselves on comfortable sofas and armchairs.
The first morning panel is entitled The Beauty of the Undone: Discovering Simplicity in Design and pairs interior designer Michael De Perno and Andrew Fry with Kyle Hopener, Editor in Chief of New England Home Magazine. De Perno and Fry are the owners of the latest design shop destination in New Preston, Plain Goods. Both De Perno’s portfolio of work and the interior of Plain Goods are perfect examples of this aesthetic. This will be followed by The Allure of the South: How the Region tells its Narrative through Design headlining an authentic group of Southern style arbiters including Elizabeth Ralls, Editor in Chief of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles as well as designer duo Michael Mitchell and Tyler Hill who hail from Charleston, SC. They will be joined by Washington’s own Kathryn McCarver Root, originally from Memphis, TN, and the owner of the fine art photography gallery KMR Arts.
Lunch is al fresco, overlooking the Shakespeare Garden, on a patio with round tables shaded by white umbrellas. A day at this iconic New England Inn is a time for these design professionals to relax, share resources, make connections and discuss the subtleties of interior design with the attendees. When asked what he found special about the event, Robert Couturier aptly said, “Maybe, because in such an idyllic and calm atmosphere it is easier to think, we don’t have to go anywhere, there is no time pressure and it is always enriching to find out how the others think and to discuss how differently we all work. I love doing it!!”
Kicking off the afternoon is a discussion with design maven and author Susanna Salk about the subject of her latest Rizzoli published book, It’s the Little Things: Creating Big Moments in Your Home with the Stylish Small Stuff. Joining her on the panel are Stacy Kunstel, stylist and co-owner of Dunes and Duchess (with her partner, photographer Michael Partenio) and Kati Curtis, an interior designer who has been getting rave reviews for her room at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House.
This will be followed by a panel with the world renowned architect and interior designer, Robert Couturier and the talented Washington-based architect Harold Tittmann. This panel, Architecture: Connecting Interiors with the Landscape, is certainly an apropos subject for one of the most popular counties for country homes. Moderator for this panel, as well as Allure of the South panel, is the insightful Stacey Bewkes of the premier design blog Quintessence.
After the panels, there will be a Meet the Designer cocktail party on the porch of the Tap Room, as well as a book signing coordinated by the Hickory Stick Book Shop. Designing Paradises by Robert Couturier as well as a selection of Susanna Salk’s books will be available for purchase.
The presenting sponsor of this event is John-Richard, a global luxury furnishing company based in Greenwood, MS. The media partner for Day of Design is New England Home, one of the very best design publications in the country. For the third straight year, the 5 Star Relais & Chateaux property, The Mayflower Grace will be the host of the event.
Saturday, June 18th
Program starts at 10:00 am
The Mayflower Grace
118 Woodbury Road
Washington, CT 06793
To book your place for the Day of Design, please contact:
Allison Fodor 860-868-9466
[email protected]
