Are you the Next….
Southeast Designer or Architect of the Year?

2010 Call for Entries

ADAC’s Southeast Designer of the Year Competition Has Added an Architect Category!

Submit your design projects for ADAC’s 2010 Southeast Designer and Architect of the Year competition. This esteemed competition is open to interior designers, interior design firms and architects from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The competition will be judged by a panel comprised of Industry and Educational Professionals as well as editors from Veranda Magazine. The panel will review all submission blind coded. Winners will be notified when the judging is completed.

By popular demand, the ADAC Southeast Designer and Architect of the Year Competition has retained their new categories in order to provide exposure for a greater number of design industry professionals working with many different project parameters.

2010 Categories Available are as follows:

Residential Category, Best Overall
Residential Room Categories:

• Best Bedroom
• Best Living Room
• Best Kitchen
• Best Dining Room
• Best Family or Great Room

Best Residential Architect, Best Overall
Contract Category, Best Overall
Contract Sub-Categories:

• Best Corporate Space
• Best Retail or Hospitality space

Project Submission Rules

• Materials in the form of a portfolio, brochure or photo album.
• No size or special requirements.
• Photos are not required to be mounted, although they may be.
• Do NOT put your name or firm information on the individual photographs, as all entries will be blind coded in order to remain anonymous to the judges.
• Each entry must represent only one project but designers may enter as many different projects in as many different categories as they wish.
• No maximum or minimum number of photographs are being requested.
• Projects submitted must have been completed in the last two years (2008 – 2009).
• Projects may NOT have been previously published.

Submissions must include return mailing information with FEDEX return ship labels. If complete return information is not provided, they will be held in the ADAC Office for 60 days prior to disposal.

WE’VE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR THE COMPETITION! Materials much be received in the ADAC Management Office by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010. For more information, please call: 404-231-1720 or click here to download a submission form. (PDF)
* You will need the Adobe reader to view the PDFs on this page. Download it for free here.

All entries should be directed to:

2010 Southeast Designer of the Year Competition
c/o Ms. Sarah Dobbs
ADAC Management and Leasing Office
349 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE
Suite A5
Atlanta, Georgia 30305

Source: http://adacatlanta.com/se-designer.html

Should interior designers have the same power as architects? There are many people on both sides of this issue. Well, Georgia has decided to become the state to test out new legislation that would give interior designers the ability to stamp drawings for interior modifications to any building, change in use, occupancy load or occupancy classification. I was informed about this new legislation, HB 231 – Change to the Practice Act Governing Architects, last night via email. The email I received is below:

Dear AIA Georgia Members:

Recently, language approved by the Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Desginers to be inserted in HB 231 has been changed, with concerns raised by AIA Georgia having been largely ignored (for detailed history, see below).

As a result, AIA Georgia cannot support and must oppose HB 231 for the following reasons:

1. The current language is overly confusing, and it will be difficult for both practitioners and building officials to interpret. Suggestions made by AIA Georgia representatives to improve the legislation were largely ignored, while suggestions by the Georgia Alliance of Interior Design Professionals were largely incorporated.

2. Architectural education and training includes the study of civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineering, and the coordination of the work of those professionals is a part of the definition of the “Practice of Architecture”. [43-4-1(6)] Interior designers are not trained in these disciplines. HB 231 would require a registered interior designer to coordinate work beyond their level of expertise. The current restrictions are intended to protect the life safety of Georgia citizens.

3. Traditionally, the use of existing legislation has been a basis for establishing similar laws. The language in HB 231 is unprecedented in the states that currently have practice legislation for interior designers, and would place the building officials and the citizens of Georgia in uncharted legal territory. In a time where some states are disbanding their interior design practice legislation, Georgia is on the verge of passing legislation that will give sweeping authority to the interior design profession.

YOUR “ASK” TO ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE:

1. Oppose HB 231 in its current form.

2. Support the December 18, 2009 language unanimously passed by the State Board of Architects and Interior Designers.

HOW TO MAKE CONTACT:

Find your legislator

1. Copy and paste the above information into an email to send to him/her.

2. Print the language on your letterhead and mail.

3. Call their office and ask to voice your concerns to the legislator or a senior aide.

Remember, your voice is critical in guiding AIA Georgia’s advocacy for our profession. If you haven’t already registered, come meet with legislators to discuss the issue at our annual Legislative Reception, Tuesday evening at the Georgia Freight Depot. Tickets are available at the door ($55).

Thank you,

Gerry D. Cowart, AIA, LEED AP
AIA Georgia President

If you feel as tho this law should or should not be passed, let your State Representatives know now! You can find your representatives two ways:
Representative Email – List if you know your representatives name
Congress.org – Which will find all your elected officials based on zip code

AIA Georgia’s site has more information on this issue and an event planned.

What do you think about the Georgia Legislator giving more power to interior designers? Leave your comments below.

If you haven’t heard about AmericasMart before you are probably like me, new to the industry, recently laid off, not an interior designer, or do not own a store. Anyways. Evidently, AmericasMart has been around since 1957, quite a while. It was also started by an world-renowned architect John C. Portman, Jr., he has done some recognizable buildings you know in Atlanta, and his son now runs AmericasMart Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr. Back to AmericasMart. The facility is huge with 7.7 million square feet. It spans across four buildings in downtown Atlanta, from 230 to 250 Spring Street. They have wholesalers for:

• Home Furnishings
• Gourmet/Housewares
• Living. Outdoor/Indoor. The Gardens
• Home Accents & Fine Linens
• Fashion Accessories/Fine Jewelry
• Apparel & Fashion Accessories
• Area Rugs
• And Much Much More…

They not only have permanent wholesale installations, but they also have temporary ones that come in for trade show. The trade shows are the only reason why I even know about this place. They are currently having a show right now called The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishing Market from January 6-13, 2010.

What you need to get in is:

• Photo ID
• Valid Email
• Professional Association Affliated Membership Card (AIA, ASID, IIDA, etc.)

There are other ways of gaining admittance without out running security,and you can find them here. Oh just a word of warning, from what I can tell parking can be an issue, it is in downtown. Regardless, it sounds amazing and I am hoping to go there soon.

Share your thoughts about AmericasMart below.

Source: AmericasMart

Kyouei Design, a Japanese Design company, has once again come out with something amazing. The Liquid Lamp is stunning, simple, and abstract. It is the perfect accent for a modern home with clean lines and wants a spot of color. Also, for those designers that revile ornament and decoration and desire something functional yet aesthetically pleasing, the Liquid Lamp is the answer. The Liquid Lamps comes in two color combinations white on white and white on red. There are also two kinds – one being a desk lamp and the other being wall mounted.  They range in price from around $193 to about $238. These lamps are hot and you may not have to go all the way to Japan to get one either. Kyouei Design products are sold many places around the world. For my fellow Atlantans, you can purchase some of their designs at the Museum of Design Atlanta – Design Store. For those of you that are not in a city where you can purchase their products, you can buy some stuff at their online store. Check out Kyouei Design’s website and products they are way cool.

What do you think about the lamps? Leave your comments below.

Source: Kyouei Design via 3Rings

I.D. Magazine is closing!!!!! I am in complete shock. From what I can gather and I am still searching to confirm this but it appears that I.D.’s print magazine is going to end. I think they may keep up the website but not sure.

Here is where I first found out about it: What Killed I.D. Magazine?

We send our best wishes to all those affected by this.

ADAC will be having Elle Decor’s Editor-In-Chief, Margaret Russell as the keynote speaker on December 10, 2009. Mrs Russell will also be signing immediately after the presentation her latest work “Style and Substance: The Best of ELLE DECOR.” Reservations are required and seating is limited. ADAC’s Presentation Room is on the first floor Atrium. Please contact 404-231-1720 or register online.

When:
December 10, 2009
Starts at 10:00AM
Where:
ADAC
351 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone:404-231-1720
How Much:
Free!

More Information:
For two decades Margaret Russell has infused ELLE DECOR with a singular sense of sophistication while helping to preserve its mission to inspire designers, architects and homeowners with the best in interior design and product design. Margaret lectures frequently on interior decoration, and has been a guest of numerous television programs to discuss design-related topics; she was also a featured judge on both seasons of Bravo’s hit reality television series, Top Design, where she reviewed the work of 13 aspiring interior design contestants. In addition to overseeing ELLE DECOR, www.elledecor.com and the ELLE DECOR series of books, Margaret is committed to promoting the design community through charitable works both locally and nationally and she serves on the boards of God’s Love We Deliver and the Alpha Workshops. Immediately after her keynote presentation there will be a book signing for her latest work, Style and Substance: The Best of ELLE DECOR; a book celebrating the 20th anniversary of the magazine. In 240 gorgeous pages, the reader will find a closer look at hundreds of dazzling spaces culled from the magazine’s archives, all organized by room. It offers fabulous yet functional interiors that have stood the test of time, including spaces designed by top designers such as Nate Berkus, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Muriel Brandolini, Jamie Drake, Albert Hadley, Charlotte Moss, Michael S Smith, Vicente Wolf and Bunny Williams. The book will also provide a glimpse into the homes of such celebrities as Cindy Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna and Yves Saint Laurent.

Image Source: Apartment Therapy

Based on ColourLovers, the new trend for interiors is Red and Orange, which I think is a good color combination. I am a big fan of red. Some people may think it is too bold or harsh, but depending on the space, it adds a since of warmth and luxury. There are also the people that think that the colors are to elementary, saying that the colors look like they should be in a daycare. Either way, I think this trend should stay and should possible become a mainstream color combo for home and luxury.

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

• Architectural Products
• Artwork and Accessories
• Building Products and Services
• Fabric and Textiles
• Floorcoverings and Wallcoverings
• Furnishings
• Indoor and Outdoor Furniture
• Stone and Tile
• Sustainable Design Products
• Technology

The conference is in Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore Convention Center. The list of exhibitors is quite extensive and it is pretty much guaranteed that they will bring out their best for this show to impress you.

Source: NeoCon East

John Coleman is a well know designer with plenty of experience under his belt. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1979 and started his own studio in 1981. Coleman’s studio mostly focuses on producing designs for the industry, but their design intent is to produce pieces that are “restrained, understated and timeless.”

Source: Allermuir via 3rings