Editor’s Miscellany: Celebrating Our Own

Time is growing very short until next week’s New England Design Hall of Fame gala and awards dinner. As happens every year, we’ll be honoring a truly impressive roster of New England’s premier figures in residential interior design, architecture, and landscape design. But Thursday, November 3, also marks the fifth anniversary of the Hall of Fame, the fifth evening the community of designers and design lovers will come together at the State Room in downtown Boston to celebrate its own.

At first I had thought to include in this post brief but exquisitely piquant and well-researched descriptions of this year’s honorees and their careers. But, on reflection, the qualities that really distinguish the truest talents–beyond, that is, the craft, dedication and hard labor that lie in the background of each project–are the sheer beauty and livability of their results. So how better to convey a taste of the riches produced by our group of inductees than through the following purely visual array of appetizers?

Architecture: Bernard M. Wharton, Shope Reno Wharton Associates

Photo courtesy of Shope Reno Wharton Associates

Photo by Scott Frances; click to see more

Architecture: Matthew and Elizabeth Elliott, Elliott + Elliott Architecture

Photo courtesy of Elliott + Elliott Architecture

Photo courtesy of Elliott + Elliott Architecture

Interior Design: Nancy S. Serafini, Homeworks Interior Design

Photo by Sam Gray; click to see more

Photo by Michael Partenio; click to see more

Landscape Design: Kris Horiuchi and Daniel Solien, Horiuchi Solien, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Horiuchi Solien, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Horiuchi Solien, Inc.

Specialty Award: North Bennet Street School
Honoring the school’s long, distinguished commitment to preserving, teaching, and promoting ideals of craftsmanship and technical skill in carpentry, cabinet and furniture making, and similar fields.

Desk by NBSS student David Trees; photo courtesy of North Bennet Street School

Antique lock repaired by NBSS students; photo courtesy of North Bennet Street School

I hope my little selection of amuse-bouches helps whet your appetite–figuratively and literally: the food at the State Room is quite something–to come help us celebrate these gifted folk. But remaining tickets are disappearing fast, so don’t delay if you want to reserve your place at the table.

The New England Design Hall of Fame Awards and Gala
Thursday, November 3, 2011
6:30 p.m. cocktails; 7:45 p.m. dinner and awards
At the State Room, 60 State Street, 33rd Floor, Boston, MA

For tickets call 800-609-5154, extension 703, or click here.