apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Do the designers have a certain dollar amount that they couldn't exede in designing/dressing the rooms? Some of them look way more expensive than what I think of when I think of designing a room on a dime.

OK, second pic, the two black and white hanging rugs/material anyone know where I can get these?

plastolux: I assume the rooms/contents have all been donated to Housing Works, which is a non-profit?

Aaron, do you know if that's what "designing on a dime" means in this instance?

The designers are responsible for procuring whatever they use to furnish and decorate their rooms - most items are donated, many are made by the designer, etc. I believe "Designing on a Dime" is in reference to the great deals one can find every day at Housing Works...?

I'm actually one of the artists who is asked to donate a piece every year, so I can help answer some questions:
1) Nevis, everything is donated. The designers are asked to throw a room together with materials that they intend to donate to HW and sell to the attendees. My guess is, it's all stuff from their inventory.
2)Plast, if you wanted to get a certain item, you'd have to buy a ticket and go shop there tonight or tomorrow. The gala was last night and new stuff is rotated in nightly.
3) Aaron, you are spot on! That is exactly the concept.

It's a great cause! All should attend :)

xxx

I have a question about the first room. The big red tote bag seems integral to the balance of the color scheme, as do the casually tossed books on the floor. (The "reading lamp" is way too low for actual use, by the way...)

I do realize that this is not an actual home's decor, more like a store window, but does it bother anybody else that the room relies on emphemerally placed items of clothing or entertainment to complete the effect? If I lived in that space, my red tote would go to the closet and the books to the shelves and it would start to seem a bit flat.

# 11 reminds me of Roman Holiday when Audrey Hepburn is totally wasted and Gregory Peck rolls her off the couch onto the bed facing the wrong direction. I remember when i was little i used to make my bed the wrong direction sometimes just to mix things up because my mom wouldn't let me hang posters or decorate my room.

There are some scary rooms there. Good thing it's for charity. Plenty of charity is needed.

But, Mark Stephen's (#9) made me exhale.

Any idea where the desk in #8 (http://atgallery.apartmenttherapy.com/assets/0012/2891/housing-works-08.jpg) comes from?

I went to this sale on Saturday afternoon and it was EMPTY! People were buying every single last thing. Everything that was left was drastically marked down - furniture, art, accessories, lots of linens.

Next time I will definitely go earlier!