The design industry spends millions of dollars promoting product and services. Galas, Gatherings, Events and Parties are a privilege for me to attend. Since Mon Oncle has become a “journal” for designers, I want to bring you a fresh list of New York’s preeminent design leaders. It is a select group known as the “LEADERS OF THE PACK”. This list recognizes establish icons and enterprising trailblazers whose work is as inspiring as it is influential. These are the men and women who are shaping the design industry we live in — one building, one house, one room, one pen, one camera at a time.
BRETT BELDOCK – INTERIOR / PRODUCT DESIGNER
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Brett Beldock, a former fashion designer, before becoming an interior designer, has a crisp special contemporary approach to design. As a decorator Brett uses fabric texture color and scale to define each project, producing a sophisticated innovative luxurious product for each home. Along with being whimsical the spaces stay functional. New York City based designers, the firm does design build projects specializing and beginning with renovation ending in fully decorated chic rooms.
DUSTIN O’NEAL – PUBLICIST
Dustin O’Neal is publicist living in Manhattan. Dustin has successfully managed press campaigns for top design brands across the United States in publications such as Architectural Digest, Wallpaper, Vogue & The New York Times, and has coordinated events for top showrooms & designers from coast to coast; from raucous champagne fêtes to the AD Home Show.
JON CALL – INTERIOR DESIGNER
Jon Call is a talented designer with a savvy clientele. Call studied architecture in Seattle before moving to New York to work for Diamond Baratta, where he was immersed in their world of vivid color, custom furniture, and storied tradition. After that, he worked for Shawn Henderson, another young designer, before striking out on his own in 2010. The name of the firm, a somewhat cheeky reference to the days when designers were known by Mr. or Mrs., embodies Call’s spirit: he winks, rather than nods, at the past. Clients say he is smart, professional, energetic and that he listens well, but will be firm in “preventing you from making a bad choice.”
DAISY LEWELLYN – STYLIST
This “Queen of Effortless Chic” is a style expert, TV personality and author of “Never Pay Retail Again”: Shop Smart, Spend Less, & Look Your Best Ever. Hailing from the fashion halls of iconic magazines including In Style, Glamour, and Essence, Daisy has worked in the industry for over a decade and is chock full of money-saving style tips and tricks. Daisy loves to help women pull out their inner celebrity by performing drab to fab makeovers. When Daisy is not gracing the small screen on shows like Dr. Oz and Today, she regularly speaks at women’s conferences and malls across America conducting interactive style workshops. Blood, Sweat and Heels is Bravo’s new series following a group of Black women, this time with careers, who are struggling with personal, relationship and career goals. Daisy Lewellyn and the cast are living it up in NYC trying breakout and climb that ladder.
YABU PUSHELBERG – INTERIOR DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE
With studios in New York and Toronto, the design studio is divided into 6 teams comprised of design and project management personnel specializing in luxury design.Yabu Pushelberg has been honored with the Platinum Circle Award, for their exceptional achievement in the hospitality industry, as well as, the James Beard Foundation awared for excellence in Restaurant design. Partners George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg were named Designer of the Year by Contract magazine ,and have been inducted into the Interior Design magazine Hall of Fame.
TOSHIKO MORI – INTERIOR DESIGNER/ARCHITECT
Toshiko Mori Architect is known for over thirty years of innovative and influential work in a diverse body of projects that have received numerous design awards. Mori’s intelligent approach to ecologically sensitive siting strategies, historical context, and innovative use of materials reflects a creative integration of design and technology. Her designs demonstrate a thoughtful sensitivity to detail and involve extensive research into the site conditions and surrounding context. The work of TMA combines a strong conceptual and theoretical approach with a thorough study of programmatic needs and practical conditions to achieve a design that is both spatially compelling and pragmatically responsive. Toshiko Mori Architect has worked on a broad range of programs including urban, civic, institutional, cultural, residential, museum and exhibition design. Recent work includes New York City theater, library, and museum projects, the Hudson Yard Park and Boulevard, and a park visitor center in the Bronx.
TONY INGRAO – INTERIOR DESIGNER
Interior design partners Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper are known for their unique approach to style. Ingrao believes that “style” is singular, growing from a particular person, place and circumstance — design, being a playful process of discovering each client’s personal style. Ultimately, Ingrao’s projects are open-ended conversations between the taste of his clients and his own intuitions and expertise. With high-profile clients like Kim Cattrall, Jack Welsh and Howard Stern, it’s no wonder that Ingrao and Kemper are sought after by many. Blending a fresh, contemporary approach with old-world classicism, Ingrao’s designs are timeless and simultaneously practical for contemporary life. Process, material, and reconciliation with natural elements are his paramount values. With this keen eye towards quality at every level, Ingrao’s interiors have been noted for their refinement, utility, and tranquility. Always considering the original creation he’s about to reinvent, Ingrao feels that, “Its interesting to pay attention to what the essence of a house is, to capture its spirit”.
CHRISTINA JUAREZ – PUBLIC RELATIONS
Christina Juarez & Company is a full-service consulting firm. CJC specializes in public relations, special events, product launches, media tours, design and lifestyle book ‘packaging’ and business strategies for high end interior designers, interior design books as well as home décor and tabletop related product lines. With over twenty five years experience, Christina Juarez has built a reputation as one of the leading consultants in the ‘luxury goods’ design and décor business. Renowned for her no-nonsense, straightforward approach and for a consistent roster of upscale clients, Christina Juarez & Company provides the personal attention of a seasoned consultant, with the efficiency and networking capabilities of a large agency.
PETER KUBILUS – ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Peter Kubilus was a post graduate of Drexel University where he studied both photography and architectural engineering. Since then Peter has combined the knowledge of both areas of study into becoming a sought after architectural photographer. He works with architects, engineers, contractors, interior and lighting designers, and manufacturers to create beautiful marketable photography for their projects. Clients have included: Gensler, NELSON, VOA, Vitsoe, NIEDERMAIER, Friday Architects, Erdy McHenry along with a bevy of others. His work has been featured in Boutique Design, Eco-structure, Builder, ArchitypeSource, AIA awards, and a variety of other media sources.
KENNETH WAMPLER – ARTIST / PHILANTHROPIST
Kenneth Wampler, Founder and Executive Director of Alpha Workshops.
The Alpha Workshops was founded in 1995, after a decade working with the AIDS Resource Center helping to develop the nation’s first housing program for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. In the ten years prior to that he was a decorative painter, working with interior design firms; Parish-Hadley, Georgina Fairholme, and Renny Saltzman; fashion designer Mary McFadden; and theater companies, among them the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Arena Stage in Washington, DC. The 1997 recipient of the Diego Lopez AIDS Service Award, NYC Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, Ken holds an M.S.W. from the Hunter College School of Social Work, an MA in acting and directing from the University of Pittsburgh, and a certificate in acting from The Drama Studio, London. As Executive Director, Ken oversees all of Alpha’s operations, including training and employment, administration, funding, sales and marketing, business management, and board development.
NIKOLAS KOENING – PHOTOGRAPHER
Nikolas Koenig was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and studied photography at the Academy for Photo Design in Munich. Since moving to New York in 1995, he has shot for numerous magazines, such as Architectural Digest, Vogue, Conde Nast Traveler, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, Wallpaper and the New York Times Magazine. His commercial and advertising assignments have spanned from collaborations with agencies such as Baron & Baron, Young & Rubicam, Lipman and Lloyd&Co to Annual reports and furniture catalogs. Since 2001 Nikolas has become Ian Schrager’s photographer of choice, and has since established himself as one of the most prolific hospitality photographers worldwide. Next to his work for Ian Schrager and Andre Balazs, he has photographed many luxury and boutique hotels and brands around the globe. Over the years he has also photographed architecture and interiors of, and commissioned by, many well known architects and designers, including Daniel Libeskind, Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, 1100 Architect, David Rockwell, Annabelle Selldorf and Tom Kundig.
