Every now and then I like to get out and about and mingle with the peeps in my industry. Last week I ventured a little outside of the bounds of strictly kitchen and bath design to experience The New Look of Luxury event held at the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA).Suffice to say I was not disappointed. DCOTA is also home to luxury cabinet superstars SieMatic and Poggenphol. They were not open for this cocktail hour event but it was fun just to peek in the windows!Refreshments were served to compliment the visual yumminess! High design even in this Elit vodka bottle by sponsor Stolichnaya.First stop, Inside The Art of Craftsmanship. THESE DOORS! OMG, stunning in both scale and creativity. You would have to have just the right space for one of these, preferably BIG. Surprisingly there is not much info out there on this Florida based company. Suffice to say it’s very exclusive… I started snapping pics with wild abandon before I noticed the “no photography” signs. Sorry.The DCOTA is located on the outskirts of Miami and you don’t go to Miami without paying respects to Versace. Their designs can be over-the-top but the Versace Home showroom was very tasteful, even including coordinated sales associates and the requisite champs.My absolute favorite item at Versace was this super cool leather cushion which sells for $4,000, worth every penny (maybe) Luxury has a sleek masculine look as well at Lamborghini Tonino Casa at FORMITALIAd. If you’re not partial to the Lamborghini look they offer Aston Martin and Mercedes Benz inspired furniture too. Next on the tour was Casa Collezioni/Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors. I was looking forward to this as I loved their showings at last year’s Maison et Objet Americas. It’s elegant and edgy at the same time. Dedon, known as the premiere luxury furniture brand is innovative, colorful and comfy. All you need is the beach! Last but certainly not least we got lost in the world of E.M. Soberon. They focus on high end architectural furniture. They also happen to be known for harvesting wood from fallen trees, mostly in Mexico. This is a unique approach that also yields one of a kind results. Mr. Soberon designs most of the products but they will also work with clients and designers visions to create the perfect piece. I’m so glad I went to this event. A big thank you to Casa Collezioni for the invite. The big takeaway from this evening is that I need to continue to get out there and see what is possible. Who knows, perhaps it can inspire me to create the formerly impossible... DCOTA http://dcota.com/dcota-information/ is open to- the-trade Monday –Friday 9-5. If you are not “trade” you can still check it out if you are accompanied by a design professional.

If you can imagine Fashion Week for interior design, most likely it would resemble the trade show Maison & Objet Paris. Since 1995 brands have been debuting new collections and bringing fresh talent to the forefront at this biannual show. Now its success has spawned a new version, Maison & Objet Americas which was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center May 12-15.

Miami is at the crossroads between North and South America, both physically and culturally. In addition, as a home to Art Basel and the hugely successful Miami Design District, it is quickly becoming know as an art and design capital.

M&O America's Designer of the Year award went to Brazilian furniture designer Zanini de Zanine. His intense and very sculptural furniture design is influenced by the diverse culture he comes from as well as by his father, well known architect and designer José Zanine Caldas.

We spent the day at the Miami Beach Convention Center touring the booths at M&O Americas. Here are just a few of my favorite finds.

Not only did I enjoy perusing the creatively turned out booths and exhibits, I also enjoyed listening to the world renowned talented and accomplished architect, Paola Navone. She shared the stage with Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief of Interior Design Magazine.

I connected with Ms. Navone on so many levels as she was skillfully interviewed by Cindy Allen. Navone loves and is inspired by the sea, calling it "liquid color". Her creativity is driven by curiosity and she eschews perfection. In fact she says, "I promote imperfection". In the following video she differentiates artist and designer.

It was a great experience and I'm so glad I took the time out of my busy summer season schedule to attend. Sometimes you just need that mental break and all the better when it is creatively inspiring and thought provoking. For more about the show click here. Maison & Objet Americas will be back for round two in 2016, May 10-13.

561-254-7736