DDB employees opened both doors and hearts on December 8 during the design center’s holiday open house and Toys for Tots drive. Visitors were invited to drop by showrooms for cookies and champagne, and glimpses at the season’s offerings, followed by an evening reception at Lapicida. Two Marines were on hand to accept the design center’s 200-plus-toy contribution on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, which runs Toys for Tots.
Kim Huebner, showroom manager of Pierre Frey, shared about Pierre Frey’s first year participating: “We’re a bit in transition—we’ve got some construction happening later this week—but we wanted to participate and have our doors open. Everybody loves having a glass of champagne offered when they walk in the door, and it gives us a reason to put Christmas carols on and get in the spirit!”
In addition to the toy drive, participating showrooms created Christmas stockings—prominently displayed during the cocktail party—which will be shipped to deployed Marines. The most creative stocking makers took home top honors for their work: Caroline Vaughn at JAB Anstoetz earned first place for her red-tasseled stocking, while Susan De Angelis at Cowtan & Tout earned second for her butterfly- and letter-clad stockings. Liora Manné’s Dr. Seuss-esque stocking and Lutron’s fittingly well-lit stocking also earned accolades.
Attendees listened to The North River Sing Carolers, an a capella group performing holiday favorites, and entered a raffle to win wine, gift certificates to local restaurants, and showroom-donated treats, like a lounge coat from wallpaper-fabric company Quadrille.
Mimi Levitan of MJL Design Group, who has been a designer for 37 years and recently returned to New York, shared, “For me, personally, these events are allowing me to dive back into an industry in a city which I left in 1986. The events they’re putting together allow me to expand, grow and reeducate myself. We’re such a great industry! It’s important we do this, whether you end up with a friendship or doing great business with someone.”
