Design Perspectives Gail M Davis

Alix Lerman is the Chief Marketing Officer of the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue, a premier destination for high-end interior design. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, Alix has transformed the marketing landscape of the center, making it a hub for designers & architects. Her strategic vision & creative prowerss have elevated the center's brand, driving engagement & growth. Under her leadership, the New York design Center has become synonymous with excellence & sophistication in the design industry.

Courtney McLeod is the founder and principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning, full-service design studio located in the heart of the Flatiron District in Manhattan.She has been included on the Elle Decor A-List since 2022 and the 1stDibs Top 50 Interior Designers List. She received the Rising Star Award by the DDB in 2022 and was named an Emerging Designer To Watch by Luxe Magazine in 2019. Her work is featured in the books “By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers” published by Phaidon, “Living to the Max“ published by Gestanlten, and “Live Colorfully” published by House Beautiful. She has been featured in print editorials both in the US and abroad - including House Beautiful, Luxe Interiors + Design, Modern Luxury, The Wall Street Journal, and the cover of Aspire Design + Home. Courtney is a Trustee of the New York School of Interior Design.

Prior to founding the firm Courtney earned a business degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and pursued a successful 15-year career in the financial services industry.

Taking the tremendous skills gained through her experience and enhancing them with design-related studies at Parsons, Pratt, and the New York School of Interior Design, she confidently embarked on a new course and has never looked back.  She feels truly blessed to successfully pursue her second act and live her passion.     Courtney resides in the vibrant Harlem neighborhood, a wonderful source of inspiration. She has lived in New York City for over two decades, but remains a Southerner at heart.  

Takeaways

Being on a TV show can be a challenging experience, requiring designers to give up control and adapt to unexpected changes.

Balancing business and the demands of production can be difficult, especially when it comes to managing timelines and installations.

Budget constraints and unexpected surprises are common in design projects, and designers often have to make compromises.

Trusting your designer and allowing them to work their craft is important for a successful project.

Collaboration between architects and interior designers from the beginning of a project is crucial for a smooth and cohesive design.



https://www.rightmeetsleftdesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rightmeetsleftinteriordesign/

David Mann is the founder and Principal behind MR Architecture & Decor, a nationally published New York based architecture and interior design firm (also part of ELLE Decor A-List in 2023 and AD100 in 2014) known for his work on some of the most iconic fashion boutiques (Lanvin, Takashimaya, Dior, J Mendel and Tory Burch) to The Parker Palm Springs and homes for power players like Pierre Hardy. He is working on projects throughout New York City, upstate and the Hamptons and is completing a few new residential projects. He also has a book and a furniture collection with Maison Gerard.

https://mrarch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mrarchitecturedecor/

Tram is a full-time chemical engineer who has spent many years working in consumer industries. She has always fallen in love with the feeling of transforming simple elements into everyday products. There have been countless moments when she felt incredibly excited to see the products she has worked on land on grocery shelves. The feeling is pure joy.

Her love for these consumer products grows bigger every day, which is why I am so passionate about creating a product line that she can proudly call her own. What could be better than making your home feel cozier, healthier, and non-toxic? This passion led to the birth of 'Living Good Candle Co.'


https://lgcandle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/LivingGoodCandleCo

Her dad started his own cabinet hardware company in the 80s, so she grew up with an unusual appreciation for the pieces of metal that help you open your doors and drawers.

What Priya didn't appreciate was the shopping experience. Buying hardware today is tedious, thanks to the overwhelming number of underwhelming designs, inconsistencies across finishes and materials, and overall lack of curation and guidance.

She created Hapny to change that. Priya designed a more thoughtful end-to-end experience with an intentional product collection that lives at the sweet spot of durability, affordability, and beauty.

She want to help you turn your home - temporary, rented, or owned - into something you admire and that makes you smile, starting with the tiniest details.

https://hapnyhome.com/

https://www.instagram.com/hapnyhome/

Being in business is not for the faint of heart. It is time consuming & you must LOVE what you do! There are moments when you wonder if you should keep going…but then it is out weighed by the love that I have for this craft.