For the past five years, Images & Details has conceptualized and overseen the production and press for one of metro New York’s most successful charity events, the RED CROSS Red and White Ball . We take over the Net Jets hangar and in 24 hours reimagine it as a design lover’s Shangri-La. It’s one of our favorite events and this year was the best yet—40 leading designers creating one-of-a-kind tablescapes for 500 guests to enjoy over dinner and dancing. This year’s event was co-chaired by world-renowned designer Mary McDonald of Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorator. That’s Mary looking glam, below center with Giovanna Miller and Mary Young. Nearly $1 million was raised for the Red Cross, a charity we love to support as we know they are always there for us.
Carey Karlan‘s table was transportive. Inspired by the Jardin de Luxembourg, it came complete with cherub statuary by Pennoyer Newman and almost indecently luxurious platinum petaled plates by L’Objet. The best part of this table, though, was Carey’s unabashed celebration of something from nature, the divine yet fleeting peony. She served up a single, extravagant fuchsia bloom at each place, floating in a silver champagne coupe. So simple. So swoony. So superb. So Parisian.
With charming themes of leaves and hearts and heart-shaped leaves, interior designer Francine Gardner of Interieurs created this glittering table using china, crystal and flatware in various tones of gold and anchored her vision with a custom tablecloth of fabric hand-blocked by legendary fabric designer Peter Fasano.
Peter Fasano’s own table, which he co-created with designer Ondine Karady featured a whimsical Lego red cross “sculpture”, complete with little Lego Red Cross workers, a Lego Red Cross ambulance and helicopter. The very pretty red and white napkins on Peter’s table were made of hand-screened fabric by Elizabeth Hamilton. The overall effect was charming, ebullient and celebratory of an organization that does so much for so many.
Designer Darrin Varden‘s “Ripple Effect” table represented how the good deeds of the Red Cross can spread across a community following a disaster. He centered a gloss-lacquered red cross on a custom tray with red sand raked in concentric circles Zen-garden style, echoed by the circles in the tablecloth. Each guest received a miniature Zen sand garden complete with rake and a heart to place in the center filled with the message “Your heart may seem to be one drop in a sea of humanity, but its intention can be felt throughout the world. Thank you for your generosity.”
Jeweler extraordinare Simon Teakle, who was also the evening’s auctioneer, had a table that was widely touted as one of the most clever and sophisticated. A silver model of an R.A.F. F.E.2B plane, Hallmarked in London in 1917-18 by Edward Dime, soared above guests, who were invited to “enjoy the parachute gift” – the undisclosed treats were in jewelry boxes suspended from “parachutes” of billowy, white hydrangea blooms. The crowning touch was Mr. Teakle’s take on napkin-folding, in which white napkins were fashioned into classic nurse’s-hats.
So many more lovely tables were on display, and we are very grateful to all of the designers and design brands that made this magical evening possible. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time, including, left to right, below designer Darrin Varden with event co-chairs Liz Boutry and Jennifer Madrid:
Some photos in this post were generously shared with us by Quintessence.