The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, well known for its Dining by Design series, headed to Austin for the first time this year, bringing another signature event to the Texas city with the help of designer Kelly LePlante. After street construction at its original venue, Textile Event Space, prompted a last-minute move, Diffa hosted Urban Picnic by Design at Trinity Hall on September 11. More than 20 local designers worked on 16 tables in the indoor setting, mixing vintage and modern looks, referencing shows like Breaking Bad, and combining flowers with textiles.
Here's a look at some of the most inspiring picnic table designs.
Rebekah Gainsley of Blink Interiors concocted what she referred to as a “Nicaraguan hammock on the beach,” which included a lace canopy with lights and potted greens to resemble hedges.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Taken by the idea of journeys, Anita Erickson and Fallon Barr of Red Chair Market followed the yellow brick road with their ode to The Wizard of Oz. The duo conceived a tableau that combined a miniature tornado with straw mats, a basketful red poppies, and the iconic ruby slippers.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Taking cues from British potter Josiah Wedgewood, Maureen Stevens Designs and jewelry designer Jeannie Vianney created what they called “Modern Wedgewood,” with a color palette of muted blue and white with gold accents.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Stevens and Vianney updated Wedgewood’s stoneware look with avant-garde florals, quartz, china plating, and even a small fish floating in one of the acrylic boxes.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
A cluster of oversize porcelain vases filled with flowers and beds of grass formed the centerpiece at Keith Kreeger’s earthy table.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Inspired by India, Kim West of Well Dressed Space used strung lines of red flowers, as well as bowls filled with flower petals, for her table.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Looking to design a table that was instantly recognizable, designers Emily Basham-Hoelscher, Merrill Alley, and Shannon Stott-Sosa of Urbanspace Interiors, opted for television series Breaking Bad as their theme. Glass beakers were filled with blue rock candy, mimicking the show’s blue crystal meth, and cactus, as a nod to the show's desert location.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Designer Robin Colton sought to recreate a night under the stars with her table, using a canopy of blue twinkle lights underneath tulle.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Art Nouveau was the theme of for Sarah Stacey, where hanging florals and lace dominated the French garden table.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Flower and succulent arrangements in clear boxes sat atop deep teal and purple floral-wrapped boxes to form what designer Elizabeth Mollen from Stone Textile Studio called “modern garden party.”
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Killy Scheer of Scheer & Company created an eclectic artist’s workshop filled with volumes of books, paint brushes, tassels, feathers, and single candle sticks.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
