Reflections of an Interior Design Titan

It’s been two weeks since the 2021 Elle Décor magazine’s A-List of top interior designers was announced.  Though I have been on this esteemed list for more than two decades, it was an utter surprise to have been selected as one of two dozen industry TITANS.  Apparently, the Titan honor roll celebrates exceptionally influential talents, which I must say, is quite humbling.

Personally, there is a juxtaposed of feeling bafflement while simultaneously feeling profoundly rewarded for reaching this point.  Without a formal education beyond high school, I pressed through early adversity as a Cuban refugee with severe dyslexia, that made traditional schooling near impossible, coupled with bountiful early failures.  After moving to New York as a young man, I’d been fired from many jobs; trust me, it was not an easy path.  I could only rely on my own tenacious appetite to learn by exposing myself to things that inspired me; training myself to trust my gut and fight for my principals.  My fortune began changing with the exposure of my work in design publications that in no small way propelled my career.

But each day there were always new opportunities to conquer challenges.  In my early years it was difficult, even scary dealing with project hiccups (there were many) and clients (enough said).  Through experience – and a confidence that can only be achieved by experience will a budding design firm learn to properly deal with the ‘business of design.’  Adding to that is today’s unfortunate pace of the world that’s increased exponentially – thank you internet, which adds another layer to instability and vulnerability.

For these reasons I find myself embracing my role as a mentor.  Recently, I also had the honor of judging a magazine’s Home Design Awards.  All this have afforded me the opportunity to become acquainted with young designers and their work as they are launching their careers.  I cannot help putting myself in their shoes.  With the shifting availability of media and the plethora of design information at everyone’s fingertips, their paths will necessarily be different than mine.   Young interior designers are certainly challenged to gain footing in their chosen industry.

From where I stand, it’s critical that novices define their business goals.  Do they want more clients?  Higher profit margins?  Would they want to work in partnership?  Seek media acclaim?  Or simply preserve a sustainable, livable practice.  However, their business is sculpted, they must develop their own style vision and to maintain professionalism in all presentations and practices.

Patience my friends,

Deep Dive with Dara

Vicente continues to amaze as he defines and describes his creative process for interiors.  In a webinar hosted by DARA CAPONIGRO, the well-regarded Creative Director for F. Schumacher & Co and former Editor-in-Chief of Veranda and before that, Founding Editor of Domino who also held several senior editorial posts and House Beautiful and Elle Décor magazines, Vicente shares his interior design secrets.  This Deep Dive with Dara webinar examines how Vicente conceptualizes furniture layouts with architectural alterations he has developed in floorplans.

Vicente Wolf’s Tips for Finding — and Living With — Eastern Treasures

Spot-on article on the union of my two passions
by Dickson T. Wong for 1st Dibs 

The A-list designer shares his expertise on choosing authentic objects and displaying them with style

For several months each year, New York designer Vicente Wolf makes it a point to leave city life behind and go completely off the grid. “There is an extraordinary richness I feel when I travel to off-the-beaten-path places, such as Madagascar, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam,” says Wolf, who has spent decades exploring these Eastern locales and other far-flung regions around the world. “You have to step out of your daily experience.”

He has also spent many years collecting treasures from these areas — including decorative objects, sculptures and artifacts — and a handful of them have made their way into his showroom, VW Home. Over time, he has developed an expert eye for those rare items that convey a unique sense of place and represent the culture they belong to.

“Traveling to these non-tourist destinations allows me to mix with the people of these cultures and discover the essence of the objects they’ve created,” says Wolf. “There is something pure about their forms, techniques and materials that brings the spirit back to a place of calm.”

Here, Wolf shares a few pearls of wisdom about spotting one-of-a-kind pieces in the Far East and beyond and blending them into your home.

 

Read More of My Tips and Tricks Here

SuiteNY #FRIDAYFAVORITES

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Check out more great products at https://www.suiteny.com/

ABC Home Event with Wendy Goodman and Marianne Williamson

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Home Within, with Wendy GoodmanVicente Wolf & Internationally-acclaimed spiritual author, Marianne Williamson at ABC Carpet & Home.

DATE AND TIME
Thu, March 23, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EDT

Deepak HomeBase, ABC Home
on the mezzanine
888 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Tickets available at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-home-within-with-wendy-goodman-vincente-wolf-marianne-williamson-tickets-32000694940

Katie Scott & Vicente Wolf Jewelry Collaboration

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One of the most incredible opportunities I have had this year is the unveiling of my collaboration with jewelry designer, Katie ScottThis collection has the same mixture of yin and yang which translates to softness and boldness that appears in the interiors of my work. Below are some of my favorite pieces from the Rocca Collection.

Be sure to view the collection at www.katiescottdesign.com or at the VW Home Showroomlocated at 333 West 39th St., 10th floor, NYC 10018.

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