Boutique Design - October 2016 - 66

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Runway, Booth #1719

The masterminds: Floss Barber Inc. Design team: Floss Barber, principal,
ceo; Courtney DiBlasi, project designer; Anne Marchessault, junior designer
The backstory: DiBlasi immediately envisioned a couture concept
for the lounge because she "always loved fashion and always believed in its
power to influence interior architecture." She and her team also liked the idea
of channeling Airbnb's "Don't go there. Live there." approach to localizing a
hospitality experience. The team thus decided to infuse the space with the
vibrant energy of Manhattan during Fashion Week to connect visitors to the
city's unique sense of "see-and-be-seen" style.
The teaching moments: Local doesn't mean literal. Barber's recent
trip to Sicily inspired the designers to look beyond Seventh Ave. for details
that would seamlessly bring the runway to the trade show floor. Dolce &
Gabbana's fall 2016 collection not only suggested the lush fabrics, floral motifs
and rich colors; it also provided the answer to a technical dilemma. "One of the
biggest challenges was creating self-supporting walls. Every piece of casework
required a certain depth and structural system," says Barber. "We used that
to our advantage by creating a 'platformed' base that aligned with the strong
geometric patterns in the design house's fall line." That framework opened
the way for incorporating gold-leafed, curvilinear trellis screens which give
passersby a glimpse into the space as well as smaller return walls that function
like department store window displays, offering attendees a view of people
working at connected tech tables behind a screen of twinkling lights.
The magic touches: The Runway features design details that will make
viewers want to snap a photo and share it. "We used flower-packed walls,
life-size fashion sketches and whimsical lighting to deliver some great selfie
opportunities," says DiBlasi. By abstracting portions of Dolce & Gabbana's
textiles into interior design elements, Marchessault adds, visitors "can
photograph themselves literally enveloped in the latest in high fashion."
FEATURE AREA SPONSORS: HG Arts; Indon Intl.; Swavelle Hospitality
PRODUCT SPONSORs: Durkan; Elegant Lighting 

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boutiquedesign.com october 2016

Do Touch-and Explore
After checking out the inspiration of this year's Designed Spaces, make
time to make your own creative mark-and learn some new strategies along
the way. The new Incubator area in Boutique Design's booth invites designers
and hoteliers to put on headsets to explore the potential of virtual reality in
modeling and presentations or get a crash course in how to incorporate 3D
printing in their process-and products. Join in as artist Chor Boogie creates an
exclusive mural on the show floor. Then try your hand at creating a sculptural
masterwork alongside steampunk guru Bruce Rosenbaum and his ModVic team.
Exchange ideas with more than 100 thought leaders who will be sharing their
best practices during this year's conference programming, and learn about the
newest, coolest, smartest products on display in the 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit
space. And find out which firms and projects are revolutionizing the world of
hospitality design at the 2016 Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality
Design gala being held Monday, Nov. 14 at the Waldorf Astoria.

HARREITT LEWIS-PALETTE (BDNY); PIXELPERFECT STUDIOS (RUNWAY)

The hot spot: Runway, Booth #1719
http://www.boutiquedesign.com
Boutique Design - October 2016

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