Country Floors' 2017 Design Challenge

Earlier this year I was delighted to receive a notification from the team at IDS National that Cottages and Gardens Magazine had reached out to them to ask if I would be interested to assist as part of the judging panel for their 2nd annual “Country Floors Design Challenge.”

The magazine partnered with Country Floors and IDS to promote the endeavor by broadcasting the design challenge to young designers around the country. The challenge was for designers to showcase their product in a creative way and create a new design for a kitchen or bath. As a full renovation design firm, it's a specialty of ours, and I was delighted to accept the invitation!

I love Country Floors’ product and use it regularly with my clients. Their materials are high quality and they are a wonderful resource for niche tile product that you just don’t find in other places. Their tile designs are very artisanal, with a hand crafted, small batch type of traditional touch. And they’re made right here in the USA – you’ve got to love that!

After meeting the other judges – Cottages and Gardens’ Chief Editor Kendall Cronstrom, celebrity Interior Designer Jarret Yoshida, and Country Floors Product Designer Omar Torres – and reviewing entries, the four of us selected the top three finalists who were ultimately included at the Gala Event on Thursday April 27 at Country Floors’ Downtown Manhattan Showroom. The event was spectacular, full of energy, excitement, and creativity.

I had the supreme honor of announcing Minh Lai as the winner at the ceremony. She is currently a student in the Master's program and my alma mater, New York School for Interior Design, here in Manhattan. The top 3 finalists walked the red carpet and Minh got to showcase her work throughout the showroom while engaging with fellow attendees.

As a CLIPP Certified Professional, brand ambassador for Robern, contributor for Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine, President of the IDS New York City Chapter, and member of the NKBA New York Chapter – it is wonderful to get to celebrate the success of my colleagues. We are a wonderful community of interior designers and it’s always great to see so much genuine support for our profession.

Big congratulations to our winner Minh Lai, Country Floors, Cottages and Gardens Magazine and the IDS for pulling off such a successful event! It was an honor to participate. See you next year!