Category Archives: Design Lines Special Events

Design Lines Communications, Design Lines Special Events

Highlights From the Business of Design Conference In New York City

New York City

One of the coolest things about my job is traveling to the Business of Design Conferences twice a year. A week ago Judy and I headed up to New York City for three days to gain master level training about the business of design. I feel as if I am back in school at these conferences. I love it! I have my laptop in hand and quickly take as many notes as I can, in hopes of bringing these thought provoking strategies and business practices back to the rest of the team for implementation.

Judy and I heard from many speakers, including the 4 below: Tobi Fairley, Steve Nobel, Adam Japko and Pam Danziger.

Speakers at Business of Design Conference 2010

Tobi Fairley talked all about the endless possibilities of having online conversations through social media and how online influencers can create a viral success for you and your business. Building an online media presence takes time and a lot of patience.

Steve Nobel gave us great insight into the consumer and the luxury market as a whole from fashion to interior design to the luxury lifestyle itself.  How do we become the best interior designers we can be? Not only do we need to be educated in our products, but also understand our clients’ purchasing preferences while effectively communicating the value of living well.

Adam Japko was the king of SEO. His focus was on content marketing and gave advice on what we should be doing to leverage our social media content.

Pam Danziger presented research findings on the luxury market and talked in-depth about consumer psychology. This information helps us understand our clients and howe we can best serve them.

Thank you to all the guest speakers your expertise.

David Shepard with Loni

Some of the fun stuff included David Shepherd, CEO of Designing Profits, Inc. giving a kiss to the “Business of Design” Service dog, named Lani. Since the Business of Design conferences started 6 years ago, David has donated 10% of all our conference profits to sponsor a rescue dog through the Quest Foundation. It takes 10,000 to train a whole dog and this conference we finally got our DOG! It was a wonderful surprise during the final hours of the conference.

Thanks David!

 

Design Lines Communications, Design Lines Special Events

Ashley’s Baby Shower

Design Lines Ltd. Team

Over the weekend the Design Lines team got together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of baby Sophia. Ashley is expecting her first child in October and this is the first Design Lines baby in over six years. The team is thrilled for Ashley and her husband Dean!

From one Design Lines family to another, Ashley below shows off the hand-made blanket, one of Molly’s kids made for baby Sophia.

Design Lines Team 2

Community Involvement, Design Lines Communications, Design Lines Special Events

Current Project: Design Lines Gives Back to Creedmoor Elementary School

DLL & Creedmoor Elementary School

Chris Elliott, Principal of Creedmoor Elementary School (CES) approached several interior design firms in the Raleigh and the Durham area about helping create a more stimulating environment for the children at CES. When we heard what Chris was trying to accomplish, we jumped at the opportunity to help the school and also at the chance to give back to the town of Creedmoor. The team at Design Lines firmly believes everyone deserves good design and for these kids, this was no exception.

Brittany and I drove out to Granville County on Friday and met with Chris and a few administrative staff to select some paint colors. The walls, doors and trim throughout the school are in a dire need of a new coat of paint.

We believe children learn better when the are around stimulating colors, and so does Chris.

 Design Lines School Inspiration from April 2008 Dwell Magazine

Brittany first was inspired by this Lincoln Log picture in the April 2008 Dwell Magazine. She took the inspiration a step further with these CB2 his & her bathroom signs.

 Design Lines School Inspiration 2 from CB2

As we toured the school with Chris, we instantly understood the vision for creating a place where children feel proud of where they go to school. Brittany even had a neat idea for Chris’s office-create a Lego wall.  

legoWall

 

Design Lines & Creedmoor Elementary School 2

 As the school project progresses I will be sure to update you on the transformations and even get a couple of the kids reactions when they arrive at school on August 16th.

Thanks Chris for letting  us be a part of the team, we cannot wait to hear all the buzz it creates around town.  

 

Community Involvement, Design Lines Special Events, Showhouse & Home Tours

Junior League of Raleigh: Showcase of Kitchens [Lake Boone Trail Kitchen# 6]

 

Junior League Kitchen Tour 2010 Rockinteriors

 

THANK YOU , THANK YOU- To the Junior League of Raleigh!!

The 2010 Showcase of Kitchens was a huge success and we were thrilled to be a part of the tour. Above you see (Left to Right) Pat the owner of the Lake Boone Trail house, Laura from ROCKin’teriors and Hilaire from Design Lines, posing in their lime green aprons. They were so fun!! You just might find me wearing mine flipping some juicy hamburgers.

There were volunteers at every house greeting the visitors and answering any questions. What a fine organization! 

Meredith and Hilary hats off to you ladies — fabulous job.

Junior League Kithcen Tour 2010

This tour was also fun for the whole team at Design Lines. Below Lauren and Hilaire take a quick break to snap a shot. Throughout the weekend all the designers took part in the tour.

Design Lines, Raleigh NC

For more pictures on the Lake Boone house click here and you will be re-directed to previous posts. Tomorrow we will show you some pictures of the master bedroom. My are they gorgeous!

Community Involvement, Design Lines Communications, Design Lines Special Events

Design Lines Donates Time to the Carolina Ballet Cinderella Ball

 

Cinderella Cinderella Cinderella! Hurry before the clock strikes midnight! This past Saturday Carolina Ballet hosted their annual Cinderella Ball at the Downtown Marriott City Center in an effort to raise money for the ballet company. Today Carolina Ballet is one of the top ten dance companies in the country. Design Lines started helping with prepreations back in late November 2009 on both the Logistics and Decorations committees.

Design Lines helping Carolina Ballet(3)

(Above Brittany and Judy pin tulle on the table skirt.) 

Design Lines helping Carolina Ballet(2)

(The Design Lines team helping decorate the carriage table.

This is the first thing the guests see when they arrive.)

Design Lines helping Carolina Ballet

(Above Brittany and Molly tying turquoise ribbon on the back of the carriage.)

 

That evening Carolina Ballet honored Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Roberg and Mr. & Mrs. Steve Techet, who have contributed to Carolina Ballet since the company started 12 years ago. The Techets and Susan Garrity, the Cinderella Ball Chair, also happen to be two of our longtime clients. Susan, the ball was fabulous! Thank you for letting us be a part of such an amazing event. Michele Weathers of Carolina Ballet and the rest of the committee chairs did wonderful job!

 Design Lines helping Carolina Ballet Carriage

The velcro slipcover carriage was inspired by Stewart Woodard was engineered and built by Walter Newton and painted by William Strickland. At midnight the carriage turned into a pumpkin! How awesome is that! Stewart and Nancy Church collaborated on the decorations and overall the look of the evening to create a stunningly beautiful event. Below are a two shots of the ballroom centerpieces. Stewart and Nancy, they look awesome.

Carolina Ballet Cinderella Ball

 

Carolina Ballet Cinderella Ball(2)

Let the ball begin!  The evening had many surprises. The Live Auction Items included trips to Paris, Tortola, BVI and even a two night stay in NYC. There were also 70 silent auction items that attendees could bid on. My favorites were the dove hunt in VA and a weekend trip to a mountain home in Echota, North Carolina. Oh did I mention the food was delicious! Beef Tenderloin seared with toasted cardamom seeds and to top it all off  a white chocolate editable slipper with fruit for dessert. Yummy! By the end of the night our tummy’s were full and ready to hit the dance floor.

(Molly and Judy at the Cinderella Ball.)

Judy Pickett & Molly Simmons at Carolina Ballet Ball copy

 

To see more on Carolina Ballet’s 2009-2010 Season click here. Also please join us in helping and spreading the word about the “Fund A Dream” program, which helps a specific need for every dancer, pointe shoes. These shoes are the lifeline for the dancers and with each pair costing $70 the shoe bill adds up. Over the course of a year, the bill exceeds $90,000. By contributing to this effort we can help the dancers at Carolina Ballet have the best pointe shoes. To donate call (919) 719-0800 ext. 229.

To see more of Design Lines in the community head to our community involvement category.

Design Lines Special Events

Design Lines Celebrates 30 Years in Business!


At twenty-six and with only $500 in her pocket Judy Pickett had big dreams. In the fall of 1979, Judy opened the doors at Design Lines, Ltd. in a little yellow house off of Glenwood Avenue. (pictured above) and (pictured below, is Judy outside the Peace Street office.) This location was our second home until about 6 years ago when we move into our current space off of Jones Franklin Road.


Today, we celebrate those big dreams and the thirty-year journey since the yellow house. Now with seven employees, Design Lines, Ltd. has established itself as one of the première design firms in the Southeast, gaining clients with our abilities to leverage collaborative efforts and create design that positively impacts people’s lives.


(Above Molly and Judy head-shots from the earlier years.)

From the beginning, the design philosophy has always been about the client. So, it is with this history that we celebrate our clients, our partners, and our friends!

Check back next week to see a complete slideshow from the 30th Anniversary Party Celebration and even pictures of Judy’s house!

Design Lines Special Events

Summer Color Event: The Coolest Window Display in Raleigh

I cannot tell you how excited I have been about the Design Lines Summer Color Event!! And who can’t resist with- the coolest window display in Raleigh!

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Here is a close up:

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We have also partnered with local stores of ICI Paints and Sherwin-Williams to bring you the very best in paint decks.

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This is an unbeatable offer. For $200 you can have one of the designers on staff come out to your house and help you select paint colors. Giving you the best recommendations.


We know it can be an overwhelming process and we are here to help. We will write down all the selections, give you recommendations on local painters and even give you a complimentary fan deck. Now that is the best summer offer yet!What do you think?

Design Lines Special Events, Paint

Brittany’s Favorite Paint Selections for the Summer of 09

I’ve selected the palette below as my favorite paint colors for this summer’s Color Event

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A play on traditional Americana red, white, & blue,
I could see these colors ending up inside or outside of a Loire Valley Chateau,
here perhaps:
Janus Et Cie Bench
bench by Janus et cie
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Outside the chateau or your house- I love the idea of eating al fresco with these beautiful table linens or bistro dining chairs (for sale at our studio)
The paint color combination of pale grayish blue, deep red, steamed milk, and a brown so dark its almost black becomes more invigorating when energetic stripes are added in-
Chocolate and Cream Striped beach umbrellas are to me the equivalent of summer on a stick.

Mariette Hines Gomez Photography- Umbrellas

The gorgeous photograph above is from the Mariette Hines Gomez collection for Soicher Marin

What colors make you think of summer?

See Ashley’s summer selections: here

P.S. I’ve selected these paint colors from Sherwin Williams, be sure to check out some of their color resources: like the cool ColorSnap app for your iPhone


Design Lines Special Events, Paint

Ashley’s Favorite Paint Selections For The Summer Of 2009

Are you ready to refresh your house with new paint colors?
What should go hand and hand with Spring Cleaning is updating a few of your paint colors in the house.
What a great feeling to have a fresh new kitchen color, or dine with your friends in a new dining room atmosphere!
With a few new window treatments and great accent pillows to go along with the new paint color, you can have a fresh look that will last you through the summer and into the winter.

Here are my favorites that are sure to brighten up your day:

(These are all from Benjamin Moore Paints, http://www.benjaminmoore.com/)

Not only do these colors really appeal to any application they seem to carry a summer, winter, fall, and spring feeling.

I could see the blue’s in an office to create a relax and calming environment. The green’s go great where there is a view out to your yard. They complement the green grass and beautiful flowers in full bloom.

Not only can you fine refreshing paint colors but fabrics that can be used as new window treatments or new throw pillows on your lovely couch.

Fabrics from Cowtan and Tout, http://www.cowtan.com/