New York’s iconic Decoration & Design Building (DDB) celebrated British creativity, craftsmanship and heritage on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 with 9 British Interior Design Showrooms participating in the event, displaying the very best of British design.

Participating Showrooms included: Chesney’s, de Le Cuona, Farrow & Ball, Forbes & Lomax, George Smith, OCHRE, Osborne & Little, Vaughan Designs, Cowtan & Tout and Zoffany. Showrooms paired up with brands such as Belvoir Fruit Farms, Chapel Down, Designers Guild, Dudley Reed, Ettinger, Molton Brown, Rococo Chocolates, Tom Dixon, Wedgwood, Zone Creations and more.

Highlights of the celebration included product showcases, afternoon teas, chocolate tastings, beauty and home fragrance experiences, photography exhibits, cocktail receptions and an exclusive social media competition. The event was held in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Trade, New York Cottages & Gardens and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) USA.

Laura Hickey, the Deputy Consul-General from the British Consulate in New York, delivered the opening remarks, followed by a few words by New York Cottages & Gardens CEO/Publication Director, Marianne Howatson. Lastly, Chesney’s US CEO, Alistair McCowan, thanked everyone for attending the event and introduced a few of Chesney’s custom stone carved decorative items made especially for the event, one of them in the shape of a classic British bowler hat.

The DDB, where the event was held, is an invaluable resource to industry professionals who seek to design and decorate luxurious residential and commercial installations. It is owned and developed by Charles S. Cohen, who is known for his brilliant repositioning of commercial real estate. Cohen’s umbrella company, Cohen Design Centers owns and manages the DDB; the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California; Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach, Florida; and the Decorative Center Houston in Texas.

The DDB is open exclusively to the trade and welcomes design industry professionals from all over the world, who can find inspiration in anything from the bespoke furnishings, ornamental wall coverings and luxurious fabrics to unique decorative accessories and dramatic lighting, featuring styles ranging from the richly ornate to the sleek and modern. Celebrating 50+ years, the DDB is known nationally and internationally as the world’s most prestigious home to over 130 showrooms, and represents over 3,000 leading manufacturers dedicated to the very best in residential and business interior furnishings, and resource information.

Aside from the plethora of inspirational showrooms, the DDB also offers a number of additional services, including its Design Professionals Program and the Designer Referral Program; a complimentary service that helps individuals locate an interior designer who best suits their taste, project scope, and budget.

Photo credit to Paul Bickford for LandinoPhoto