PROPERTY DESIGN DESTINATIONS OPENING – NEW YORK

New York, NY (May 17, 2011). PROPERTY, the sleek home furnishings showroom in Soho (14 Wooster St.) which features American and European furniture designs and accents, celebrated NY Design Week and the?International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) 2011 last night with DESIGN DESTINATIONS: LONDON ? MILAN ? NEW YORK ? VIENNA, featuring the latest designs of notable artists from those cities. Luminaries of the design world, including interior designers, architects and product designers from around the world, defied the downpour as they showed in full force to view the artful design vignettes curated by PROPERTY?s chic proprietress, Sabrina Schilcher.

Representing the four cities, artists Philipp Bruni, Christiane B?ssgen, Matt Gagnon, Reinaldo Sanguino and the design trio Rich Brilliant Willing made special appearances while the evening?s special host, Jeff Lincoln, greeted friends such as Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, Tracy Stern, Indochine?s Jean-Marc Houmard, Gemma Kahng, Joel Warren, Michael Borrico, Helena Khazanova and others. The third generation interior designer based in New York and specializing in high-end residential and hospitality design in various destinations noted that he was ?excited to host this celebration because of all the new designs from different parts of the world in one place?. Sipping caipirinhas from Satisfaction vodka and enjoying DJ Brion?s upbeat spinning, guests admired the design displays.

The US debut of Austrian designer Philipp Bruni?s Pinocchio vases was particularly exciting, causing a sensation as the handmade Viennese Augarten porcelain vases rocked but never rolled ? bending in all directions but never losing their balance as their specially weighted bases grounded them. The black and white vases were in stark contrast to the colorful Billiard Ball edition which entertained guests as much as the real thing. But the entertainment didn?t stop there, as guests played ?hide and seek?, peering through the honeycomb openings of Matt Gagnon?s Joint Venture stacked white shelves, a scalable storage system that can be assembled in dozens of possible configurations. The user becomes a collaborator in design and not merely a consumer.

The entrance was framed by oversized satin printed fabric shaded lamps with floral and butterfly patterns and powder coated metallic lights from Schilsan in fuschia, turquoise and purple. Rich Brilliant Willing?s Clinker coffee/side tables in black and white and in wood and lacquer welcomed viewers in the window next to the Hiho rocking horse by London?s Jarrod Lim, whose indoor/outdoor Koi chairs were snapped up by a Hamptonite.

Other arresting displays highlighted the work of Tom Dixon from London ? ranging from Etch brass pendant and floor lamps and candleholders to his Flash square coffee table, which faced Costello Lagravinese?s stunning Aurora arm chair in brass. Meanwhile, a cluster of Austrian designer Christiane B?ssgen?s Ball Lights, composed of neon cords (made of material not available in the US) with exposed muted bulbs was like an art installation of its own. For those who needed a brief rest, NY artist Reinaldo Sanguino?s ceramic stoolsprovided not only relief but wonder ? each piece is unique and represents a collaboration with Mark Dean of the Dean Project.

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Photos by Jeffery Gamble