Dining By Design Does It Again! DIFFA NYC 2018

If you had a blank room with which you could showcase an over-the-top, dining area, how would you decorate it?  What would you put in it?  How would it look?  Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS AKA (DIFFA), has been challenging designers to transform raw spaces within Pier 94 for as long as I’ve been in the event marketing business..that’s over 15 years.  And I’ve enjoyed discovering all the well-thought out, creative details and have been totally inspired and wow-ed year after year.  Here is a recap from my VIP press preview highlighting some of the most stunning displays of dining design!

My most favorite room of all, was a cozy nook hidden behind a royal blue wall and sheer curtains.

It felt truly lit from within and had such a happy, vibe. Luxe Interiors + Design described it as a “calm cocoon..a blooming space that brings to life the joy of springtime.”

diffa, dining by design, architectural digest show 2018, tablescapes, dining room, dining area, dining room decor, interior decor

Doesn’t this feel so cheery?  I totally wanted to dine here.

The black and white graphic room below felt like it could have come from a Kardashian’s home, don’t you agree? I loved the art work.

Using Crate and Barrel items, they added a “fresh pop of color to the mix, a burst of gorgeous, inspiring green with just the right energy to spark fresh ideas, make the party buzz and bring the look to life.”

This matte black room felt so moody and cool.

dining by design, black dining room, black interiors, black wall, black furniture

Sometimes color is all you need in order to get that WOW effect.  The School of Visual Arts incorporated “cylindrical elements to create a sense of unity and a celestial aurora that emphasizes the feeling of hope and prosperity.”

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And sometimes it’s all about lighting or an interesting art installation.  Here’s a room where you won’t be able to avoid talking about that elephant in the room.  -Designed by the Pratt Institute.

Walking through the aisles of dramatic displays really gets my heart pumping.  I love taking in all the floral arrangements, seeing the creative build-outs and studying the tablescapes.  Thank you DIFFA for inviting me to cover this spectacular event again.  It’s always a highlight of March!

To see past year’s tables, click here.

For more decor and design ideas, click here.

If you live in the NY area you can see this display along with Architectural Digest’s show through the 26th at Pier 92 and 94 off 52nd – 55th streets! Click here to purchase tickets.  It’s the best way to get inspired, explore trends and shop the latest.

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About Dining by Design

Dining by design is DIFFA’s marquee fundraising event showcasaing designers, manufacturers and creatives who bring their fvision and passion to the table.  Dining by Design features an array of dining installations on displahy for five days, and includes exclusive special events.  All event proceeds dupport DIFFFA’s mission to fight HIV/AIDS.

 

 

Dining By Design – DIFFA Fab Decor

Dining by Design is DIFFA’s marquee event showcasing designers, manufacturers and creative individuals who bring their vision and passion to the table.  It’s seriously my favorite ‘trade show’ and I feel so lucky to live in NYC and to have attended it for the past 5+ years.  Dining by Design runs March 17 – 20 in conjunction with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show and all event proceeds go toward DIFFA’s work to fight HIV/AIDS.  This year, I was invited to a special media sneak peak and personal tour through the space.  There were so many fabulous finds – too many to feature here so I’ll focus on sharing my favorite creative spaces that featured my favorite colors, black and white.
This all white room sponsored by Benjamin and Moore featured variations on their white paint options.  Each square art piece that hung on the wall for instance, was painted in one of their popular shades of white and noted (title style) with the exact paint chip color. What a beautiful way to showcase your whites!
DIFFA dining by design
The florals, chairs and tablescape were simply breathtaking, don’t you think?
benjamin moore, dining by design 2016
Another all-white room that had me gasping was one designed with Crate & Barrel products.  Look how they created that art installation on the wall with their plates and bowls!
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I now NEED to have those furry white chairs.  They’d look so fab next to my dining table.  And can’t you just see them at a vanity or office space too?  Also, can we talk for a minute about those cloche platters??  They make me want to move to a suburban house just to have the room to store these beautiful finds!
Moving onto the next space, this one featured a live grafitti artist who we were excited to see decorate the walls right before our very eyes. I couldn’t help but imagine how much fun my daughter would have had scribbling all over the walls and furniture in the same manner..
dining by design, art installation, home decor, tablescape trends
He was kind enough to pose for pictures and give me this amazing Pra-DUH sticker which I will treasure forever.  Hands off my sticker, Juliet!  This one is MOMMY’S!
grafitti art, fashion stickers, art diffa
Here is the finished room.
DIFFA_DBD_Booth12_RockwellKnoll_Room2_After
Imagine getting to dine with a zebra, and a fashionable one at that!  This room’s fusion between fashion, function, and furnishings was from Echo, a brand long known beautiful prints and patterns.  Many know of the brand from their famous scarves, but they have creatively branched out into wraps, bags, rugs, table linens, wall coverings, gloves, outerwear, beach ware and more!  At their booth you could see the brand on the hale bay bench fabrics, on their wallpaper and on the tenting.
DIFFA_DBD_Booth10_Echo_Room2
Also interactive, they encouraged selfies with their polka-dotted zebra named Dot.  Who could resist?
diffa 2016, change your stripes
Kate Spade.  I just love everything about the brand.  To me it exudes happiness.  I love the bright pops of color against graphic black and white elements, the usage of stripes and polka dots and their quirky advertising.  So I was super psyched to see their table decor come to life at DIFFA.

tablescapes, designing tabletops, tabletop decor, table decor, diffaSAMSUNG CSC

kate spade diffa

Wouldn’t this be such a fun, girly place to have a girls’ brunch?  I would die.

For more video coverage of DIFFA 2016, follow me on Instagram @stylishlystella where I re-capped even more highlights!  And click here to see some DIFFA blog posts from past years!
Please leave a comment below with what your favorite vignette was. I’d love to hear!
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