WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE ADVANCED TO ALLIED ASID
Terry Anastos - ETHAN ALLEN INC.
Andre Mack - ANYTHING DeLiVeRy & REMOVAL
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Norah Naser Alajmi, Student ASID
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Alyssa Marie Blemings, Student ASID
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Brianna Marie Giglio, Student ASID
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Rachel Jean Lodi, Student ASID
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Anna Szalacha, Student ASID
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Alyssa Tunkel, Student ASID
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Luke John DeRosa III, Student ASID
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Andrea Pilat, Student ASID
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McKenzie Shea, Allied ASID
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Jennifer Coleman, Allied ASID
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Laura Gorman Potenza, Allied ASID
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Bruce Valicenti, Allied ASID
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Sara J. Poes, Allied ASID
Andrea Elaine Olson, Allied ASID
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Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors
Thank you to our Gold sponsor
Thank you to our Bronze sponsors
Thank you to our Friends
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Sponsorship Opportunities
at ASID CT
if you would like more information about partnering with ASID CT, advertising in our enewsletter, or sponsoring an event. We look forward to working with you!
Click Here for Event Sponsorship
and Annual Sponsorship
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How to Upgrade your Designer Portfolio
Go to the Log In tab at www.asidct.org then select your chapter and log in by entering your Firstname.Lastname.membership number (enter exactly as shown, using capital letters and periods)
then use your ASID member number again as your password.
Once you have logged in you will see your member preview and a place to upgrade your portfolio. Also when you are logged in you can edit your profile and add photos.
If you have any problems or don't know your member number please email info@asidct.org
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The ASID CT Career Center is available to post a position, upload a resume and find a job on our website! Click the following links to explore our career center: Find a Job Upload a Resume
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Please Contact Us
The ASID CT newsletter is interested in sharing the thoughts of our Interior Designers, Industry Partners and Students. We would like to hear your views on design and business issues, and about jobs you are working on. Please contact us if you would like us to include something about you in our next newsletter.
Please check our website regularly for news, upcoming events and important information
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ASID CT Student Design Chairity Challenge
All participating students please register HERE
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LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
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Greetings Connecticut Members! 
I am nearly half way through my term as Chapter President, and I am pleased with what our Chapter has accomplished already.
Our annual meeting in September at Ambler Farm was a wonderful kick-off loosen your boot straps type of event for the year. Our holiday party in December, co-hosted by Karen Berkemeyer Home was well attended and enjoyed by all in their beautiful showroom. The food was delicious, creative and fun. Many thanks go to our sponsors including AKDO, DUNE, Lillian August and Cottages and Garden for their contributions for such a successful event.
There is still more to come as our chapter board moves forward in revitalizing and energizing our chapter through programming, networking, membership outreach, and support of the design students of today.
Plans for the new year include DESIGN MATTERS informational at Terrain in Westport on February on February 25th. The event will launch you into spring with a fresh approach on designing by bringing the outdoors, indoors. Register today! Apply these principles in your work as this spring is forecasted as VERY PROSPEROUS in the design build community.
Our Chapter continues to invest in and support students from our Connecticut design schools, as they are the design leaders of the future. DESIGN DIRECTIONS, our newly renamed event will center on excellence in design education on March 24th. ASID CT Student Chairity challenge is also in process. Students will refinish, reupholster, and repurpose donated side chairs to be auctioned of at our May 20th Design Forum 2015. Proceeds from the event will benefit Her Haven and our Chapter.
Exciting developments are underway in planning our big spring event, DESIGN MATTERS FORUM 2015. On May 20th, REALM will co-host this spectacular event.
The Forum will be an evening of exploration on design ecology, evidence based design, and the Psychology of design. ASIDCT is thrilled to announce that CLODAGH will be the keynote speaker at the event.
In keeping with our directive to improve communications via social media, we have engaged a new friend to the chapter, Connie Cusick. Connie has volunteered her services to help enhance our social media outlets and to focus on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to get the word out about how ASIDCT Designers and Industry Partners can transform lives. We continue to encourage our membership to use #asidct and #designmattersct when posting your body of work. Send your work and photos and a short description or links to info@asidct.org. As a member benefit we are happy to post them!
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DESIGN MATTERS
Terrain
Join us at Terrain, 561 Post Road East, Westport on Wednesday, February 25 from 5:00 -7:00 PM
Fight the winter blues. This is an evening not to be missed. Set among the greenery, be inspired and learn to design spaces while bringing the outdoors, indoors. Join the discussion about the health and well being aspects of living with plants.
Register on-line HERE.
Members $37.00, non members $45.00.
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DESIGN DIRECTION 
Student Career 2015
Mark Your Calendars!
Design Direction: Celebrating Excellence in Education is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th 2015 at Fairfield University from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. The dynamic evening will include a Trade Show with industry vendors who will introduce design students, and chapter members to their products. Industry professionals will offer portfolio reviews , the highlight of the evening will be Guest Speaker Kia Weatherspoon.
ASID CT plays an important role in education advocacy and supporting the future Interior Designers of tomorrow. ASID prides itself on the education and efficacy of the membership and the impact ASID Designers and Industry Partners have on transforming lives.
Guest Speaker for the evening Kia Weatherspoon Allied ASID is President of Determined by Design. Kia has diverse experience in hospitality design and management, residential and multi-family design. Currently Kia manages the boutique design firm that creates spaces that Evoke, where they are designers and craftsman of Interior Stories.
The topic of her presentation will cover how to use the passion for your purpose to move forward in the next stage of your design career. When do you take risk? Kia believes in service based leadership which is demonstrated through her active involvement with ASID
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SAVE THE DATE
Design Matters Forum 2015 at REALM, South Norwalk
Wednesday, May 20
ASIDCT invites the larger design community to join us at Design Matters Forum 2015 for an inspiring evening by learning about the value
of designing with an environmental consciousness. Cutting edge resources will be introduced by industry vendors along with educational and networking sessions. ASIDCT is pleased to announce that International Designer, Clodagh will be the keynote speaker of the event.
The evening will encompass a trade show, breakout educational units, and networking cocktail hour. The keynote speech by Clodagh, who's trajectory has remained steadfast: to remain true to herself and produce quality inspirational and life enhancing design with a sustainable and ecological directive will highlight the evening. Watch for more details!
Mark your calendars!
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Craig J. Smith, ASID
ASID CT President Elect has been nominated for the Designer of Distinction Award presented annually by the American Society of Interior Designers.
The society's awards are widely celebrated as the most prestigious in the field of Interior Design. Craig has been nominated by his peers for his award winning hospitality design and resort development styling. The nomination acknowledges his 28 years of proven experience providing creative project visioning, strategic planning, and effective management of design. Congratulations Craig!
Also, very many congratulations to C2 Limited Design - Interior Design Firm of the Year in the Boardroom Magazine "Excellence in Achievement Awards"
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Ridgefield Art Guild's Festive Home
Rachel Belden, ASID and Barbara Schmidt, Allied ASID, board members of ASID CT, participated in The Ridgefield Art Guild's Festive Home this year. They, along with other designers created vignettes that featured a Guild Members piece of art work. It is an annual event that supports the Guild.
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2014 ASID CT Holiday Party
The ASIDCT Chapter Holdiay Party was held at the newly branded Karen Berkermeyer Home showroom on December 4 .
The evening was well attended with many new people eager to join our synergized chapter that offers networking opportunity, Industry education and fun!
Various food tables were positioned throughout the showroom, with delicious offerings,such as a Turkish table, Delicious Cheese Table, Desserts and more.
We send a special thank you to our sponsors of the evening and CT Cottages and Gardens, our media sponsor. Walker Zanger, Lillian August for the food tables, CT Cookie Company for the basket of cookies, Dune and AKDO for the holiday baskets and for Karen Berkemeyer Home for allowing us to host the party in their beautiful showroom.
Photos of the evening are posted HERE
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Seeking Peer Group Leaders !
One of the great benefits of being a member of ASID CT is having the opportunity to form a peer group. Peer groups can help you build better business practices, learn and share information about products and sources, share ideas and find solutions to business issues. More importantly it offers you the opportunity to spend time and develop friendships with others that share your passion for design. The benefit of being a member of ASID CT is only as good as those that choose to participate. Get involved. Get energized. You will be amazed at what you can learn and the personal growth you can experience by being involved in a Peer Group. If you are interested in starting a group ,please contact Maureen Judge at
info@asidct.org and we will help you get started!
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Donna Bonafide, Allied Member ASID 
Bonafide Interiors
As a fairly new member of ASID, I want to thank the members who have so graciously reached out and welcomed me to the organization.
Unlike most Interior Designers, I started my career in public accounting, became a CPA, and then served as a financial manager for a real estate investment portfolio at JP Morgan. In 2001, through the design work associated with building our new home, I discovered a talent that has become my passion. In 2004, I received my Certification in Interior Design from Fairfield University and started my own company, Bonafide Interiors, which has given me the opportunity to be involved in all areas of interior design.
Of the many aspects of interior design, the one I find most exciting is being exposed to a wide variety of client style preferences and the challenge to incorporate them into a fresh and current design scheme.
In my spare time, I love to play golf (though not very well!), attend ballet and yoga classes and play the piano (well, I am just starting to take lessons). I also look forward to continuing my involvement with ASID and enhancing and expanding my presence in the design community.
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Available exclusively to interior designers and architects, the Designer Circle Program offers members 20% off retail prices, plus special resources, events, and a dedicated trade team to assist with projects. To enroll in the program, please visit serenaandlily.com/designer-circle and submit an application, or call 866.971.1016 to place an order. To shop the site, or for more information, please visit www.serenaandlily.com.
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NEWS FROM OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS
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Fred Kaoud, Jr. 
Kaoud Carpets
Wilton, CT
Our family takes great pride with the knowledge that we've been offering our rugs and services to the Fairfield County area for 60 years - and what's more our passion for rugs and color shows in every project and every relationship we establish. This holds especially true with designers at ASID where these relationships continue far beyond each completed room. We truly enjoy working with ASID, whether it be on a sale, collaboration, sponsorship or hosting events - this has held true for many years and we look forward to continued support and success for many more.
Family has always been at the heart of Kaoud Carpets. It really defines what and why we do what we do and the members of ASID are an extension of that. We wouldn't be where we are today without this ideology and that's what keeps us all connected. We are fortunate to have
built these relationships within the ASID framework and look forward to continued growth with the many talented designers at ASID.
When a client comes in to look for rugs, our first inclination is to establish a friendship above anything else. We want that person to feel most comfortable during their visit and want them to be well informed and educated during the entire process. If we sold a rug that's great but if we made a friend that's even better! This same idea is felt at ASID and you have a sense of camaraderie each time you attend an event or visit with an ASID member. These similar characteristics we share with ASID are crucial in todays fast paced internet world where one on one interaction is almost non-existent. We hope to continue these values for many years to follow alongside ASID.
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