The most memorable part of the 2016 Architectural Digest Design Show was Dining By Design which featured fully decorated dining rooms designed by industry leaders to showcase and auction off for the charity (DIFFA) Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

This is the "guide book" given to everyone visiting Dining By Design.  It features the DIFFA Board of Trusties and staff, sponsors of Dining by Design and all of the design companies participating. — This is the "guide book" given to everyone visiting Dining By Design. It features the DIFFA Board of Trusties and staff, sponsors of *Dining by Design* and all of the design companies participating.

As you can see in the photo above I've marked the pages where each design company described, in their own words, the inspiration behind the dining room they created. This is important to me because even though the final outcome and pictures are beautiful, knowing the story behind the design and the thought process that produced what I see in each fully decorated room, helps me to appreciate the details and the overall look of the dining rooms even more because now I understand the concept.

That is precisely the reason why I enjoy writing my blogs (which I've unofficially named The Story Behind My Designs). I feel that when people get a deeper understanding of the creative process behind the finished design, the pictures they see on the portfolio page of my website are better appreciated because the viewer now understands the process that lead to the final outcome.

In the caption under the photos below are the quotes I took directly from the Dining By Design booklet where each design company/designer described the inspiration behind their completed dining room. Enjoy, and get inspired...

Benjamin Moore & Cosentino

"The great Paris fashion houses have been Julia Buckingham's muse.  Our space is reminiscent of a long, flowing silk-charmeuse white gown with sparkling chandelier earrings; chunky lacquered bracelets; and a strikingly modern sculptural necklac… — "The great Paris fashion houses have been Julia Buckingham's muse. Our space is reminiscent of a long, flowing silk-charmeuse white gown with sparkling chandelier earrings; chunky lacquered bracelets; and a strikingly modern sculptural necklace hidden under a snow-white fur wrap."

Echo

Design Within Reach, designed by ICRAVE

"We invite you to an imagined poolside, somewhere in a Californian desert, as late afternoon turns to early evening.  The floating planes, bold colors, and striking 'shadows' evoke Palm Springs' utopian modernism and transport you to a breezy r… — "We invite you to an imagined poolside, somewhere in a Californian desert, as late afternoon turns to early evening. The floating planes, bold colors, and striking 'shadows' evoke Palm Springs' utopian modernism and transport you to a breezy retreat."

M Moser Associates

"Transformation of the 1990's Urban Environment of Avenue A - 'Dining the Sky' is a rose-colored view of in industrial materials against a soft palette of amenable patterns."

Luxe Interiors + Design with LIAIGRE, designed by Sasha Bikoff

"Christian Liagre is known for amazingly chic and sleek woodwork, so this space translates that into something more vibrant that displays the furniture in a new light with de Gournay's 'Le Eden' wallpaper transforming the room into a rainforest."

Crate and Barrel

"Celebrating the beauty of everyday objects, the art of the dinner table and the simple joy of gathering.  Installation and dinner experience created by Crate and Barrel in collaboration with Patrick Janelle and Amy Virginia Buchanan of Spring … — "Celebrating the beauty of everyday objects, the art of the dinner table and the simple joy of gathering. Installation and dinner experience created by Crate and Barrel in collaboration with Patrick Janelle and Amy Virginia Buchanan of Spring Street Social Society."

Sunbrella, designed by Ghislaine Vinas Interior Design

"'Out of the Blue' uses Sunbrella fabrics to create tropical foliage, African patterns and boldly saturated blue hues to represent tranquility, serenity, life, power and knowledge - characteristics necessary to advance medical treatments and educati… — "*'Out of the Blue'* uses Sunbrella fabrics to create tropical foliage, African patterns and boldly saturated blue hues to represent tranquility, serenity, life, power and knowledge - characteristics necessary to advance medical treatments and educational programs to eradicate HIV/AIDS worldwide."

Poltrona Frau in collaboration with Alexandra Champalimaud

"Luxury Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau and New York based design firm Champalimaud have created a contemporary interpretation of 'The Urban Explorer', with a collective mission to transform concrete, urban dwellings to a place of luxury, comfort and allure."

Arteriors

"Descend an underwater wonderland inspired by the lost city of Atlantis.  Organic shapes, gilded finishes and seeded glass are a few design elements that will pay tribute to this revered utopia that has captivated dreamers for centuries." — "Descend an underwater wonderland inspired by the lost city of Atlantis. Organic shapes, gilded finishes and seeded glass are a few design elements that will pay tribute to this revered utopia that has captivated dreamers for centuries."

The dining rooms below didn't have a quote explaining the inspiration for their room in the Dining by Design booklet. I guess we'll just have to use our own imaginations for these decorated rooms below. I know I let mine run free.

New Growth Designs, designed by Mary Douglas Drysdale

Ralph Lauren

Architectural Digest, designed by Bronson Van Wyck

Pratt Institute

I hope you enjoyed this Dining By Design experience as much as I did! And please understand that even if the dining room in its entirety isn't something you could live with in your own home, hopefully there are pieces within each room that have at least jump started your creative juices. The point is to allow your mind to become inspired by the concept and story behind each design.

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