Boutique Design - May/June 2011 - 2

l e t t e r

f r o m

t h e

e d i t o r

www.boutiquedesign.com

Insights from the 18

ST Media Group International 11262 Cornell Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45242 P: 513.421.2050 | F: 513.421.5144

T

EDITORIAL

he Fourth of July came early for me this year. As I opened up the images that this year’s Boutique 18 had sent me of the projects they’d worked on, I invariably found myself saying, “Oooh!” and “Aaah!” But it wasn’t just eye candy from this year’s crop of up-and-coming young interior designers. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, we asked the 18 what they view as the greatest obstacles and opportunities facing their field during the next five years. Pamela Chelle, of Johnson David Interiors, said that with limited new construction domestically, “renovation work within architectural boundaries and existing conditions will be a necessary skill set. In addition, creating a completely custom and layered space on a fractional budget will require additional brainpower, as client expectations remain high.” Studio B’s Anna Busta notes that mandatory efficiency standards “will affect the quality of interior lighting in a profound way. By design, narrow-spectrum, high-efficiency light sources such as fluorescent or LED don’t provide the smooth, warm color balance that we’re all accustomed to. Designers will have to be very careful in choosing materials, color schemes and lighting products that will maximize the potential of the new lighting standard.” Christie Ramos, of RTKL Associates, worries that “everything is starting to look alike!” when it comes to hospitality projects around the world. “I believe deeply that design is a reflection of culture, so we have a responsibility to strengthen that connection and use it to our advantage,” Ramos says. Then there’s this great bit of advice from WCI Inc.’s Larissa Burden: “Several times a year I make it a point to read online reviews for properties I’ve designed. This is a great tool that I think every designer can benefit from. Seeing first-hand what today’s design-savvy travelers have to say about the aesthetics and functionality of a space can be quite valuable.” For more insights from this year’s winners, turn to page 16. You can also meet them in person at the annual Boutique 18 Bash, which will take place May 19 at 8 p.m. at the Eve Nightclub in Las Vegas’ CityCenter complex. For ticket information, go to http://boutiquedesign.com/form/boutique-18-bash.

Editor | Matthew Hall matthew.hall@stmediagroup.com Senior Art Director | Kimberly Pegram kim.pegram@stmediagroup.com Editor at Large | Mary Scoviak mary.scoviak@stmediagroup.com Assistant Editor | Megan Krause megan.krause@stmediagroup.com
SALES

Publisher, Hospitality Products Michael Schneider michael.schneider@stmediagroup.com P: 513.263.9379 Business Development Manager, West Gerry Kreger gerry.kreger@stmediagroup.com P: 323.999.0991 Business Development Manager, Southeast Scott Rickles scott.rickles@stmediagroup.com P: 770.664.4567 Business Development Manager, Southwest Stuart Freeman stuart.freeman@stmediagroup.com P: 972-782-2584
CORPORATE

President Tedd Swormstedt Design Group Director Kristin D. Zeit Audience Development Director Christine Baloga Director of Book Division Mark Kissling Senior Event Manager Kristy Lohre Production Manager Linda Volz Reprint Information 800.925.1110, ext. 399
CUSTOMER SERVICE/SUBSCRIPTIONS

E D I TO R

800.421.1321 (U.S. and Canada only) P: 513.421.2050 F: 513.421.6110 customer@stmediagroup.com 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 a.m., ET



Boutique Design | May+June 2011
http://www.boutiquedesign.com http://www.boutiquedesign.com/form/boutique-18-bash
Boutique Design - May/June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boutique Design - May/June 2011
