DBD 2009 - Vasi Yipsilanis and Margaret Cevasco

I think I ate in this restaurant in Taiwan. It had foie gras temmpanyaki. It looks really nice just a little expected maybe, a little been-there-done that, perhaps?

The place settings, however, were killer.

DBD 2009 - School of Visual Arts

When I had dinner at Daniel Craig's, it totally looked like this.


I'm just pulling your leg - I never have dinner.


This is the first dining room I have ever called sexy. Mark it down.

DBD 2009 - HP

Gorgeous, even a little spirtitually peaceful.

DBD 2009 - Razortooth Design

Seriously, can I live somewhere that these walls would fly? I am researching locations that are weatherless and breezeless so these panels can be my only walls. Chances are, that is not in the Carolina's and it surely is not here in New York today. Where have these been all my plaster-walled life?

This dining room was magical but just did not sit up nicely for its photos or close ups: Photographing vibrant colors in that dark building was a mite easier. But I swear to you on my 50th Anniversary copy of Amy Vanderbilt, this was eye catching and glamorous. I hope you suspect that from these photos.

Ghost chairs made this job hellish.

The black stuff (technical term) placed all over actually sparkled but the lights in the room were so dim they did not make anything of the embellishment. I had to get within a foot of the terrier centerpiece to note the material of the black stuff. When I did, I was disappointed it wasn't used to greater effect because it carried light and colors beautifully. It is a shame a light was not directed towards it. The room looks dark because it was. Really, really dark. With clear chairs. A tad frustrating.

The centerpiece was a terrier which looked suspiciously like Mickey, my Mom's snarky Cairn, and the black stuff is loosely made in the shape of flowers.

It had elements of genius.

DBD 2009 Tracy Reese

What can I say here? This really did nothing for me in light of some of the others.





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DBD 2009 - NYDC 200 LEX

This installation was New York the way I normally would not think of it. One gets accustomed to the things they see in places they know well. I don't think twice before moving quickly past streetlights (on the napkins), all manner of trucks around town (on the dinner service), and graffiti (all over). But those elements contribute to our glorious city and this room so perfectly
captured all the things I miss in a day...

But here it all is, presented so that one understands this is a labor of love for cities and that even the blemishes are magnificent.

At first, I really did not get the fruit centerpieces. After I looked at the room for a while, I decided that while a million other objects could have been placed there, they do soften the scene and the colors fit in perfectly. Which is to say, not at all, because it is a vibrant free-for-all.


So, the Hostess will never own the place settings or napkins but someone less trad than I will and in the meantime, they tipped the balance of understanding for the consumer here: Everything rough and gritty about cities, brushed up, refined, and presented in such a way as to create an appreciation of the things we overlook in a day.

Right down to the graffiti'd crown moulding. Look really close, the ceiling is papered end to end in blue prints.
Completely over the top and definitely a masterpiece.

DBD 2009 - New York School of Interior Design

New Years? An engagement party? Broken glass and complete disaster? Could go either way. There were twinkling diamond-like rocks hanging from the ceiling on "invisible" string which created the effect of a diamond chandelier crossing the entire ceiling. "Diamonds" were recklessly tossed all over the table top. Against that peacock blue drape and under those lights, they were in optimum sparkle conditions. The photos do not do justice to the glow in this room.



The shattered-glass wall ties into the place settings which appear destroyed and glued back together. There was something glamorous and broken about it all at once.

DBD 2009 - Mark Blackwell

Certainly Mark Blackwell's sophisticated masculine dining parlor was luxe, beautifully executed, and completely mature. I was just in the mood for something lighter, I guess. But it was fabulous, hits of oranges and boxwood greens to finish struck perfect notes.

DBD 2009 - Kravet, the pink and green lovers

Perfect for a girls party in Palm Beach, Kravet's tribute to a girl-prep was hip and fun. I could see shoppers from Flat of the Hill and Island Outfitters loving all these familiar fabrications used in this way.
Is there anything that winks more at summer fun than a huge white picnic table? It's raining in New York today, and I am totally ready for summer and party in a tent like this one.



The table setting was crowded but pleasing in the exhibit-sense: Glittering, gold, of varied heights and textures.


Caged cupcakes: Fun. Only, the vibrant colors of the tent made me wish the cupcakes had been more vibrant as well, like those memorably featured in Lily Pulitzer's book in hot pink, lime, and golf greens.
On the whole, a really cheerful beach dream.

DBD 2009 Jerry Sibal

Right, so, huge butterflies at the corners of a illuminated stage. And then ghost chairs and tables. And as you can see from the photos, the "ghost" concept makes photography predictably difficult...

DBD 2009 Doc Domus

Two things about this installation are great for future inspiration: First, I never would have placed long-stemmed flowers lazily in a shallow bowl. As I reviewed the pictures however, it seems refreshing and considerate to the calla lily which never looks as regal when cut short.
Secondly, though it is not easy to make out since the walls were navy blue, they were of rubberized basket weave. Selfishly, I wished they had selected the slightest tonalities of this color to make it more obvious in photography.

Beautiful and serene.

DBD Part 5 - Cotton

Can you imagine the work that went into this pillow wall?

Meant to create a lush comforting setting of greige cotton piece goods, this dining alcove was over the top and simple all at once. Even the tabletop settings were cut from cotton fabric; notice how everything but the centerpiece is flat as it is only fabric fashioned into plates and utensils. Huge bowls of newly picked cotton in varied sizes served as the centerpiece.

DBD Part 4 - Christopher Coleman and Angel Sanchez for Profiles

This dining room was clean and crisp, two things the Hostess loves in any scenario.

Graphic and artistic, it appeals to a closet minimalist who still goes in for bold color.

Did the place settings measure up to the decor, though? There are so many wonderful chargers and settings these days, it seemed this could have been more visually exciting. Also, though I understand that they were probably intended to balance out the tabletop, I am not a fan of darkly colored stemware.