DIFFA Results!

I got a call from my friend and President of IDCFC, Interior Designers Coalition for Change, Carolyn Dwyer,  in July asking if I would be the Project Manager for the DIFFA Dining by Design event held in Detroit on August 14th. In order to garner more recognition and make use of her wonderfully vast knowledge with these types of events, IDCFC paired up with Shirley Maddalena of Maddalena Design.

I was so excited to have something to keep my mind busy that I said YES! So… first thing every morning after my radiation treatments, (I wrote about my recent diagnosis of breast cancer here) I set to work on organizing the paper work for the entry forms, team members and vendors! We had only 6 weeks to pull it off and boy did we ever! We met every week and gave our status reports! I was in my element – being the manager! (or the general as my brothers call me) Hey – I have 3 brothers; someone has to tell them what to do!

Everyone had a job to do and some duties we all shared, like the origami balls! It was like a knitting circle only origami!  The install day was quickly approaching, but not without challenges. Our first printer, backed out at the last minute and the vendor that we counted on for chairs and benches could not commit. The carpeting was lost in the mail. And on the day of install the floral designer came with an entirely different view of our concept! Yikes! After 2 more attempts, the centerpiece was declared finished!   There were of course other minor details that always need to be address during an install – lighting, curtain rods and additional accessory pieces to complete the concept.

But thanks to our crack team of experienced, dedicated designers, fabricators and lets’ not forget our better halfs and personal support teams that we are all so fortunate to have stand beside us during these crazy projects we get ourselves into, we pulled it off in record time and received fabulous feedback from all who attended the event.

Over the three day event, approximately $50,000 was raised for MAC, Michigan Aids Coalition. Not too shabby for a first time effort. The Detroit Home Magazine, will be featuring a write up on it in their upcoming issue. DIFFA has been in existence for 13 years now. This is the first time Detroit was asked to participate with the big boys, New York, San Francisco and Chicago to name a few. Next year is predicted to be even bigger and better! And I can’t wait!