Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Miami Herald - Sunday, October 19, 2003
Daisy Olivera, dolivera@herald.com
Elle Decors Dining by Design kicks off in New York each February. Thursday, the Moore Building in Miamis Design District becomes the eighth stop in Dining by Designs nine-city tour.
Interior designers, architects, florists, fashion designers -- anyone involved with fine design -- donate their talents and materials and unleash their imaginations in the design and execution of a round table, 10 chairs, dinnerware and flowers, all in an 11-by-11-foot space.
Margaret Russell, Elle Decor magazines editor-in-chief, is on the DIFFA board of trustees. She creates a table and travels to each city during the tour. "Never in one room will you find this amount of creativity," says Russell.
RAISED $31 MILLION
Since its start in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design community to provide more than $31 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide, providing the largest amount of funding for HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. This event will also provide funding for local AIDS organizations, including the Department of Children and Families AIDS program, the Dade Community Foundation, Mothers Voices: United to End AIDS and the Episcopal AIDS Ministry.
More than 40 of South Floridas designers, architects and artists have signed on to design tables. For $350 to $1,000 per person or $3,500 to $10,000 per table, some 400 diners will enjoy champagne by Taittinger, hors doeuvres by Nobu, a gourmet dinner by Thierrys Catering and become part of this one-of-a-kind fantasy for charity.
The scheduled designs include the exotic feel of Bali brought indoors by J. Batchelor; a medieval castle feast by Blue -- A Design Company); a cocoon of light created by Fanny Haim; an East meets West lounge by Ton Luyk; a garden inspired by Morocco and Turkey designed by Francisco V zquez and Jos Gregorio Graterol of Pistils & Petals; and a sea-themed experience by Oggetti.
ASIAN THEME
Event planner Sean de Freitas, winner of the Designer of the Year award from Events Solutions Magazine, conceived an Asian theme for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. "The orchid was my jumping-off point and I wanted to complement their signature look," he says.
Paul Mathieu, design director for the Stephanie Odegard Collection, already designed tables for the New York and Chicago events. The benches and marble table are his exclusive designs. "I love the Miami event because I can use unconventional things and show a very poetic feeling," he said. "People here have an eye and a culture so you can really go far and enjoy yourself."
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