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IFDA Names Rising Stars of Design

Top left to right: Andrew Torrey, B.A. Torrey; Casey Debois, Debois Design; Bottom left to right: Anelle Gandelman and Ariella Duker, A-List Interiors; Adam and Sofia Zimmerman, Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop

December 3, 2018

The New York Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA NY) recently announced its 12th-annual “Rising Stars of Design” at an awards ceremony in New York City.

The honorees include: Anelle Gandelman and Ariella Duker, A-List Interiors; Casey DeBois, DeBois Design; and Andrew Torrey, B.A. Torrey, as well as the product design honorees Adam and Sofia Zimmerman of Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop. Each designer was presented with the IFDA NY 2018 Rising Star Award.

KBB spoke with these New York City-based Rising Stars to hear more about their inspirations, projects and tips for success.

Anelle Gandelman and Ariella Duker of A-List Interiors
About: A unique collaboration between two style-driven women, Gandelman, a former art dealer, and Duker, a former fashion stylist, their projects include new construction and large-scale residential projects throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Inspirations: “We are constantly collecting and documenting inspiration. From Instagram to travel, we record and save images of what we refer to as ‘design moments’ that excite us. Often we will save something without a project in mind but then go back to it later when the right project comes along.” – Gandelman, A-List Interiors

                                                          Design by A-List Interiors

Tips for Success: “It’s important to identify your own point of view as a designer and to stick to it without comparing oneself to others. Taking care of our clients and providing them with concierge-level service is also vital to building long-lasting relationships and referrals that ultimately help us grow our business.” – Duker, A-List Interiors

Casey DeBois of DeBois Design
About: With a discerning eye and flair for contemporary style, DeBois specializes in translating sophisticated tastes into practical modern designs.

Inspirations: “Inspiration can be found everywhere and anywhere – in a color scheme, in materials, objects and art. I find myself snapping photos of random things as I walk around the city or even more so when I am exploring a new city or traveling abroad. I am rarely looking for a specific thing, but I find they trigger ideas as I am working with a client to develop their unique aesthetic.” – DeBois, DeBois Design

                                      Design by Debois Design. Photography by Christina Lilly.

Tips for Success: “Be a problem solver. Your clients primarily hire you for your design expertise, but they also don’t want to be hassled by all of the inevitable things that can go wrong during a build-out. I go out of my way to make sure that issues that I can control or influence don’t even touch the client, and that takes equal parts creativity and tenacity. In the end, it’s about over delivering for clients so they can enjoy the end product with minimal distraction.” – DeBois, DeBois Design

Andrew Torrey of B.A. Torrey
About: B.A. Torrey is a rapidly expanding boutique company creating spaces that reflect each client’s unique personality and then elevates that vision into one-of-a-kind spaces.

Inspirations: Torrey finds that superb craftsmanship and use of luxurious, tactile finishes and materials inspire him.

                                                                   Design by B.A. Torrey

Tips for Success: ““I don’t want my clients to feel disconnected or in an impersonal space. I want them to walk into their home and absolutely love and appreciate every element of it, no matter how big or how small. If something is just filler or a decorative placeholder, then I haven’t done my job.” – Torrey, B.A. Torrey

Adam and Sofia Zimmerman of Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop
About: Adam and Sofia Zimmerman are the husband-and-wife team behind Ot/tra, a Brooklyn-based furniture company creating sculptural yet functional pieces to complement a variety of interiors, from residential to hospitality to corporate.

Inspirations: “We find inspiration in a variety of ways but primarily through art and nature. It’s where we see forms, colors, materials and so much more at play with one another, and that gets our creativity flowing. One of our favorite places to visit is Storm King Art Center in New York – between the sculptures and the acres of fields and forests, there’s so much to take in and enjoy.” – Adam Zimmerman, Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop

 Products designs by Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop. Photography by Garrett Rowland.

Tips for Success: “To quote Sir Winston Churchill, ‘Never, never, never give up!’ The more you grow, the more you’ll have to deal with, and there will be hard times. That’s part of being in the game. But anything can be done so long as you persevere and you silence that invisible brat that can whisper in your ear. Also take time to care for yourself; you can’t possibly be creative if you’re stressed out and exhausted. We’ve learned first-hand that when pressure builds up, we lose our ability to solve problems, and we’re no fun to be around. When you take care of yourself, there always seems to be a better energy, and good things grow from that.” – Sofia Zimmerman, Ot/tra by Zimmerman Workshop

The IFDA, founded in New York City in 1947 and now with 14 chapters worldwide, provides a professional forum for communication and interaction among its members. The IFDA, a not-for-profit volunteer-run association, also promotes career advancement and educational opportunities and is structured to increase public awareness of the furnishings and design industry through specialized programming, networking and service to the community.