On Thursday evening, the New York Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA NY) and media sponsor NYC&G welcomed more than 250 guests to Room & Board in Soho for the second annual "Take A Seat" charity auction and gala benefitting Habitat for Humanity NYC.
Thirty-six designers including industrial designer Karim Rashid, fashion designer Betsey Johnson, and interior designer Michael Tavano created one-of-a-kind chairs to be auctioned for the charity.
Michael Tavano
“The chairs in the auction are all very diverse and imaginative,” said Tavano. “It makes the case for hiring interior designers to make your dream theme come to life. Habitat for Humanity is a truly worthy cause, and it is a privilege to be able to help.”
2014 "Take a Seat" chair designers
Other designers who created chairs included Andrea Algaze and Deborah Martin, Caleb Anderson, Robin Baron, Pamela Copeman, Gregory Allan Cramer, Michael Danielsen, Vanessa Deleon, Joan Dineen, Peter Fasano, Toma Clark Haines, Pryor Callaway and Saxon Henry and Pryor Callaway, Scott Hohl, Ondine Karady, Andrea Mihalik and Victoria Larson, Evelyn Miller, Rose Ott, Claire Russo and Liza Serratore, Esther Sadowsky and Jim Partlow, Justin Shaulis, Michelle Slovak, Tracy Steele, Alan Tanksley and Matt Austin, Caty Tillman and Darlene Chimaliro, Sara and Moncef Touijer, and KathArine Wood.
Libby Langdon and Kendell Cronstrom
With the evening’s signature “Take a Cab” cocktails in hand, guests gathered and mingled on the first floor of the showroom until they were ushered upstairs for the main attraction, the auction, lead by interior designer and makeover TV personality Libby Langdon and professional auctioneer Harrie E. Copeland III.
Libby Langdon and Harrie E. Copeland III
"I had such a blast MC-ing the IFDA Take a Seat event,” said Langdon. “We raised a lot of money for Habitat for Humanity and that's what it was all about. My favorite part of the evening was of course getting to see all of the amazing chair designs. As designers, we so often focus on creating something our clients will love but this was a chance for this amazing group to let their imaginations run wild.”
"Tango Indigo" designed by Michael Tavno and "Butterfly Effect" designed by Vanessa DeLeon
All 28 chairs were sold for between $150 to $800 each.
Lisa McMahon, Sarah Fox Tracy and Tamara Matthews-Stephenson
“Co-chairing this event was the highlight of my spring,” said interior designer and blogger Tamara Matthews-Stephenson, who co-chaired the event with public relations executive Lisa McMahon. “As the event unfolded, our hard work was realized. It was rewarding to see so many enthusiastic friends in attendance, many of whom bid, all to benefit such a wonderful charity."
The first Take a Seat was held simultaneously in May 2013 in NY, Osaka and San Diego, and raised money for Hurricane Sandy and Japan Tsunami relief as well as chapter professional development. This fall, five IFDA chapters are also producing Take A Seat chair exhibits and events in Philadelphia, Boca Raton, Scottsdale, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Proceeds will benefit the overall IFDA TAS initiative called Helping Heroes at Home, which raises funds and awareness for charities including Habitat for Humanity, Wheelchair Foundation and Project Home.
Written by Kate Jerde; photos by Kate Jerde
