Connecticut Cottages & Gardens is one of my favorite magazines. It isn’t often that a local publication is as stylish and beautifully produced as many of the national ones, but Cottages & Gardens (there are 3 regional issues – Connecticut, Westchester and Hamptons) is most decidedly an exception. With interesting features, fabulous photography and a luxurious oversized format, it is on my monthly must-read list.
photo by Eric Piasecki
Last night were the Connecticut and Westchester Cottages & Gardens fifth annual Innovation in Design Awards, honoring Bunny Williams. The Garden Pavilion in the Stamford Hilton was beautifully appointed for the occasion. I had recently been there for another function and let me tell you, it didn’t look at all like the same space. The events department at C&G did a fantastic job transforming the room. Pennoyer Newman, who were recently featured on the blog, lent the elegant planters that served as beautiful dividers between the cocktail and dinner spaces.
Here is partner Virginia Newman Yocum in the middle flanked by Beth Dempsey of Images and Details on the left and ceramic designer Frances Palmer on the right, who served as the only female judge on the panel.
And Diane James contributed the beautiful floral arrangements that graced every table.
The judges were a who’s who in the design industry – William Diamond & Anthony Baratta, who I’d just met at Blogfest at the Traditional Home party, Matthew Patrick Smyth, designer and author of a beautiful new book, Philip Gorrivan, designer and C&G Country Life columnist, Frances Palmer, Lou Marotta, designer, antiques expert and contributing editor and Adam Hopfner, Architect and Building Project Director at Yale School of Architecture.
It was lovely to meet honoree Bunny Williams, shown here with Beeline design associate Audrey Margarite on the left and marketing/pr director Carolyn Sollis on the right.
CEO Marianne Howatson opened the evening on a positive note with great news about the profitability of the Cottages & Gardens publications. In an age when the viability and sustainability of print seems to be in question, it was encouraging to hear that quality magazines can still thrive. She then continued to describe a bit about the innovative and worthwhile Vlock Building Project at the Yale School of Architecture, the recipient of a portion of the evening’s revenues. This wonderful program is a requirement for all first year students. Partnering with local nonprofit agency Common Ground, this project allows students the opportunity to design and build a house in an economically challenged neighborhood. It’s a fabulous program that integrates design, social responsibility and practical experience.
Editorial director D.J. Carey then took the stage to present the awards. There were five categories with five entries in each. All the designs were beautiful and it must have been a challenging job to be a judge this year! The winners were:
LANDSCAPE
KITCHEN
BATH
INTERIOR DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
I was at a star studded table that included representatives of both James Doyle and Roger Bartels and Nicholas Sajda (below, Bartels on right) of Bartels/Pagliaro Architecture, both winners in their respective categories.
The winners received spectacular Juliska pedestal bowls. Bunny received the same but in a dramatic black version.
It was a lovely festive evening and a marvelous celebration of all that is right in the world of design! I salute the talented winners and Cottages & Gardens for a terrific evening and for consistently producing such high quality entertaining publications!!
Congrats to the winners! Those Juliska bowls are gorgeous … and I love the Diane James arrangements. So pretty! xo!
PS – just added Quintessence to my blogroll. So happy to have met you in person!
love the recap…and that photo of Audrey, Bunny and Carolyn! Beeline is the best!!
It’s such fun to share some great evenings and memories with you, Stacey, and this one was such fun! Since I knew you would write a great post, I added a link to you in my Thursday Thanks today.
xxoo
Great coverage Stacy! I was sad to have to miss this, but once again feel as if I was there! (loving those planters..again!)
Looks like a wonderful night honoring a lot of the big talents in the design business…..love those Juliska bowls..and the beautiful Diane James flowers of course were beautiful!
Fabulous! I got a chance to wave a virtual hello to my friends Frances and Carolyn and Bunny and others….The evening looked wonderful. Mainly, though, you are so right to give a shout-out to the magazine. They do a beautiful job; it is inspiring and at the same time a gorgeous retreat–and interesting to boot. Did you see their insert recently about local farms? That might be a terrific field trip for Q. xd
What a star-studded event and how lucky that you attended with such designers. I was just thinking about constructing a Bunny Williams post- she does some amazing work!
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
Such a lovely event, q!
Thank you for sharing.
Teresa
xoxo
Sounds like so much fun. Out here in CA we have San Francisco magazine, which wins national awards. It may simply be that as the Internet takes over the general, smaller, more localized publications hold more interest for people.
Yowzer, girl, you
run with the big dogs!!!
What an event and
soooo much talent ~
including your own!
xx Suzanne
you are right those Juliska bowls are beautiful!
Thanks to you, I enjoyed the event twice! In person, and then reading your recap —
–Katy
It is so rewarding to read about publishers doing well, in every regard. Congratulations to the winners, I have to admit to being enchanted by the Juliska pieces, they are stunning.
May you enjoy a splendid weekend!
tp
Bunny in the house, flowers by Diane James and awards by Juliska?! Party perfection! xx
I was so disappointed I could not attend the event….so very thankful for your complete coverage! Bunny – she is more than words in my book. Love the Diane James centerpieces — spectacular choice for the centerpieces.
And, love the project at Yale. Guess where my architect studied? That’s right. Yale!
I must visit Diane James to meet Carolyn and get me some peonies!!!
Xo, Lynn
Stacy what a beautiful event and to meet Bunny Williams would have been the highlight for me!!! You did a beautiful job showing us this amazing event, thank you for such great images!!!
Also,thank you for your visits to my blog, it is always so nice to see your name there and to know you read my little blog!!! Oh!! Yes you will see the basket next to the chair. I got one yesterday that I think is a keeper!!! Have a wonderful weekend,Kathysue
What a fun event, Stacy!
Have a great holiday weekend! xo
Are you still floating on cloud nine?? What a wonderful group of talented people and a very special evening! I’m such a fan of Frances’s pottery, love that she was there.
xo J~
This looks like quite the event —very well done for certain. I enjoy seeing re-caps and hearing your opinion — thank you for sharing!
xo,
Sarah