Design Dynamos Show Up To Support A Favorite Design Cause
By Gordon Kendall Photography by Bret Redman
THE SETTING: Recently, over a hundred Dallas interior design aficionados and aficionadas, thrift shoppers, and community well-wishers from braving the elements were among the first at the Thrift Studio pop-up shop preview party for Dwell with Dignity. In fact, the partygoers had early access to shop before Thrift Studio opened to the public. The event was held in Dwell’s very own new space in the Design District, which added even more bravura to the event. This was no “ordinary” shopping experience. Once doors opened, the crowd rushed forward into a world of furniture, works of art, and home accessories arranged in imaginative, inviting vignettes. Also, for the first time there was a space devoted to encouraging children’s creativity and thoughtfulness with Crayola’s, natch, colorful play space, “Colors of Kindness.” Eight interior designers lent their talents to curate other vignettes to entice buyers to purchase the curated items they contained, all to carry out Dwell with Dignity’s transformative mission of changing lives through the power of design.
THE VIBE: Chic Charity! The Preview Party was sponsored by NorthPark Center, and offered breakfast pastries and coffee from Eataly, beer and wine by Ben E. Keith, cookies and non-alcoholic beverages from Neiman Marcus, and tasty tacos from the Tacos, Bites, and Beats food truck. From a Coastal Pied a Terre, to a tranquil sanctuary, and also with a lair inspired by motor cycle and cigar enthusiast Robert Cerga, also including a Parisian Industrial Lounge, added with a mid-century Don Draper-inspired office, and not forgetting a Hollywood Regency/Palm Beach chic space, an Old, Rich Aunt Reading Room theme was invoked, as well as a space fit for a World Traveler, there was plenty of decorative eye candy to entice, to inspire shoppers, and to support the mission of Dwell with Dignity.
THE NON-PROFIT: Dwell with Dignity is privileged to work with families who are dedicated to changing their lives by working to become self-sufficient. The families are nominated by local social service agencies who had accountability-based programs that address housing, education, career, finance, life skills, and children’s needs. Yet, after a family has received counseling, training, and support from Dwell’s partner agencies, the families find themselves struggling to provide a home in which they can thrive. Dwell with Dignity addresses this critical economic need through its mission. Thrift Studio, presented by Amazon, is located at 1833 E. Levee St, Dallas, TX 75207 and is open to the public Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 am – 5 pm, through October 7. For more information, visit DwellWithDignity.org.