Southern Studio Interior Design

Last week, our local ASID Design Community hosted a Paint Party as our holiday charity event. Of all the duties involved with organizing our Design Community, I have found that the events that give back to the community are most rewarding. Isn’t that what we are always told? Why, then, do we not do more of it?

Under the amazing guidance of Susan Hecht, our ASID members created beautiful themed paintings. The canvases will be hung at the Women’s Center at the Durham Rescue Mission. A fun-filled evening for a great cause….what a combination!

Angela Pence…it’s been an absolute pleasure for me to co-chair our ASID Design Community with such an incredible designer.

Susan Hecht and her “designer” art students!

A few of the beautiful creations!  I can’t wait to install them at the Mission next week.

Next time you’re visiting historic downtown Apex, North Carolina stop in Studio 123 to visit!

It’s our hope that the variety of landscapes will bring peace to the Mission residents who are working through difficult times. The “wish list” at the Mission is long and it’s our hope that we can continue to fulfill their needs and bring a little joy all year long!

This past week I traveled to Wrightsville Beach for the ASID Carolinas Fall Conference.  October is the most beautiful time of the year at the beach and the SunSpree Resort was the ideal location for our conference.

It was a day filled with design inspiration and continuing education.  Katie Wakeford, co-editor of the recently published book Expanding Architecture:  Design as Activism challenged us to consider creative design in the service of the greater public and the greater good.  We often consider design as only being accessible to the wealthy.  Katie reminded us that design should be accessible to all and can improve the daily lives of entire communities.  Am I hearing a calling?

The afternoon was spent in an interactive seminar on social media.  The statistics are fascinating!  Did you know that if Facebook were a country, it would be the 4th largest in the world?  That’s right…China, India, United States, Facebook. It looks like social networks, like it or not, will be in our future. I’m slowly conforming to this new networking tool and invite you to join the brand new Southern Studio Interior Design Facebook page.  Won’t you be a fan…please?

The highlight of the day was spending time with many talented designers from throughout the Carolinas.  I guess they’re actually my competitors, but I’d rather call them friends. I have a great appreciation for the talent of many designers, including Angela Pence and Michael Steiner.

We all need inspiration in our daily lives and today, it’s my wish for each of you….Vicky

Labor Day….a legal holiday which honors labor and working people.  For me, this holiday weekend started with real labor.  For some time now I’ve been a member of the Triangle Alliance Group, a team of proven professionals that partner to grow and nurture business relationships.

Today our members joined forces to volunteer our time at a Clean Up Day for the Durham Rescue Mission’s newly opened Bargain Center.  The Bargain Center is located at 10701 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh and offers 18,000 square feet of “shop ’til you drop” bargains.  It is an excellent place for Triangle residents to recycle and reuse furniture, clothing and household items.  It also provides jobs and serves as a training center for the men and women who are residents at the Durham Rescue Mission, many of whom were once homeless.

Alliance Group members hard at work include Troy Menges with Planworx Architecture and Richard Novacek with NOVAservices.

A special thanks to Shawn Saunders with the Durham Rescue Mission and Greg Smith with Greenscape.  Although they look like they are relaxing, they were responsible for coordinating the successful day!

If your Labor Day weekend includes cleaning out closets, please consider donating to the Bargain Center (or just stop by to shop the bargains)!

My labor is complete for the week.  I’m off to enjoy the fruits of my labor and wish you all the same!