DesignSPARKS & Highlights: DALLAS

The second stop of the 2014 AFR DesignSPARK National Networking Tour in Dallas proved to live up to the Texas tradition of bigger and better than ever! 274 industry guests turned out for a beautiful night of inspiration, design and networking.

Welcome to OLD IS NEW! - Come Spark Your Senses

Our concept in Dallas was simple - “Old is New.” Playing off the trend of using old ideas in new ways, we took it to heart and carried it throughout the whole event. Starting with a historical venue, the Dallas Historical Society, Hall of State at Fair Park, we set out to bring the concept to life in refreshing ways. The venue had never been used for the type of event that we were proposing, and intertwining a modern event design with its historical elegance - the end result was an evening filled with inspiration.

New products spark new ideas and we were on a mission to integrate as many as possible throughout the event including the new Gold Leaf Tables, Memphis Communal Tables, Aspen Pub Tables, Butterfly Tables, Hylton Tablet Tables, Aria Tables and our cool new Essential Charging Station.

Design lounges featured unique set ups that incorporated different pieces from AFR Collections integrated into the event design created by two top local Dallas designers. We challenged them to design with our theme in mind, and we couldn’t have been more delighted with the way they brought our “Old Is New” concept to life.

Designer 1: Bryan Long used a combination of Grammercy, Ibiza Chairs and Butterfly Tables along with the Civic Cocktail Table and Cowhide Rug to create an environment that delivered the “Old Is New” feel to it. He also carried the inspiration into his design in the VIP Reception using the Winston and Parma Collections with Phoebe Gold Tables intermixed with Memphis Pub and Communal Tables and a unique floral design, which included native Texas flowers in new and clever ways. It was rustic, warm and beautiful.

Designer 2: Shelley Shackelford used our Regale Collection with the Aspen Pub Tables. We custom retrofitted a bar and Shanti Bar Back with textured metal and then retrofitted slide walls with iridescent bubble panels for a refreshed and new look. Integrating male models and gold leaf temporary tattoos, guests had a lot of fun with it. We’ve received so many calls about the tattoos we thought we’d share the information. You can contact Shelley here if you’d like to have some of those cool tattoos for your next event.

In addition to showcasing our furnishings, it was important to satisfy the senses and provide a fun experience. Here are a few tidbits that will bring the “Old Is New” theme to life for you.

Live entertainment really added to the evening. The evening started with an acoustic guitarist, and then moved to an acoustic group and after that it went all the way live with the Jam Wows… who played jazz, big band and ended the evening with favorite Top 40 hits.

The entire menu was state fair Texas food done in new ways. There were Mini Gourmet Corndogs, Mini Fried Green Tomatoes topped with Garlic Aioli and Pepper Bacon, and Mac and Cheese Bites with Bacon Crumbles and Chives, Southern Grits Cake with BBQ Brisket Topped with Chives….Mini Funnel Cakes…Mini Fried Oreos and Bite Size Candy Bars (OH MY!) and Texas Peach Sorbet Mini Waffle Cones. With the Texas State Fair just a few weeks away, it was a great spin on an old idea done in a very tasty way.

If you were looking for your senses, all you had to do was look down (*smile). Custom floor adhesives featuring the designSPARK logo guided guests to the bar… or the stage….or the food…simply by following the Logo with the word on it…ie) SIP for the bar… Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste and Touch and WOW! …were all there.

Along with the temporary tattoos we mentioned earlier, additional entertainment included the DoodleSketch Digital Character Artist who drew on the spot and either emailed it to guests or they could post to social media right on the spot. Both stations provided a new spin on old ideas and the guests loved them!

It takes a village to put these events together and we are so lucky in Dallas that everyone loves to help one another succeed. We are so impressed and grateful at how everyone came together and worked to bring the theme to life in new and creative ways. It was truly an inspiring evening.

We’re off and running for our next tour date in Baltimore. We hope to see you there!

Please check back often for more exciting updates and please join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the official tour hash tag #afrTOUR.

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