"God is in the details" is an adage (often attributed to Mies van der Rohe) proven correct every time an event goes spectacularly well—or doesn't. And it's especially true of event design. With linens, flatware, lights, carpets, glasses, flowers, vases, votives, the look of an event is the accumulation of countless details that don't come together until hours (or minutes) before the event actually starts. And if the last-minute preparations aren't operatic enough, these days the freshest decor choices bring their own sense of heightened drama. They create tension by mixing pieces from different periods with unexpected materials: A crystal chandelier encased by mirrored acetate. A row of elegant calla lilies standing over glass bins full of copper pieces and stone. These days, the drama is in the details.
Sure, you can still find events loading stark, minimalist spaces with sleek, modern-for-the-50's furniture and plenty of boxy vases of monochromatic flower arrangements. And in the past few years that calm look felt appropriate. But now rooms that make guests stop and .php—we're not the only ones who do that, are we?—mix elements and references to periods in unexpected ways. They're ornate and exciting but not conventional, gaudy, or (heaven forbid) "themed." Instead of literal themes, these events have moods. They don't look like a recreation of a time or place, they feel like a stimulating experience. Bring on the drama!
Edited by Chad Kaydo and Mark Mavrigian
Design Portfolio 2006 (Part Two)
Design Portfolio 2006 (Part Three)
Design Portfolio 2006 (Part Four)
Design Portfolio 2006 (Part Five)
Photo: Jeff Thomas/ImageCapture (Famous Grouse)
Posted 03.01.06
Design Portfolio 2006: Caught Up in the Drama
Get inspired with these innovative decor ideas.
March 1, 2006
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