Cool Hunting

Particularly relevant in the current economic climate, Housing Works Thrift Shops' fifth annual Design on a Dime benefit takes over 40 of the world's top interior designers and challenges them to create inspiring room vignettes using donated materials. (Sills Huniford's 2008 vignette pictured at right.) Visitors can then buy the merchandise at 60 to 80 percent off the retail price. And as with all the Housing Works locations throughout the city, proceeds go to health care, housing and other services for homeless and low-income people living with HIV and AIDS.

This year's event kicks off tomorrow at the Metropolitan Pavilion with an opening-night reception with actress Parker Posey. Guests will get a first look at the room vignettes with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live entertainment. (Tickets are still available.) For everyone else, the free public sale goes from 10 am to 6 pm on Friday and Saturday.

The crop of 2009 designers spans the globe as well as the style spectrum. One of this year's first-time participants is David Cafiero of Cafiero Select design firm and antique shop. His eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary elements spans decades and can be seen everywhere from rustic beach homes to Chloë Sevigny's East Village apartment (pictured). We were able to talk to David about about his ongoing partnership with Miss Sevigny, tips for decorating on a budget and his previous life as a scallop fisherman.

You've been designing professional for five years and this is your first time participating in the Design on a Dime benefit. How did you first get connected with Housing Works?

Well, I've always gone there to shop for myself. I just love the turnover, so for years I always just went to Housing Works first. Back then, we weren't far from the 17th street one, so I'd go almost every day.

What was the inspiration behind your Design on a Dime vignette?

We're doing a psychiatrist's room.

Where did that concept come from?

Some of the things we had donated were from a psychiatrist, so I started thinking about the first psychiatrist's office i started going to as a kid, which was actually in my grandfather's house. He had sold the house and then my shrink bought it, so I ended up going back to my grandfather's house for treatment. Basically, I just recreated that shrink's office from when I was 10.

What are some tricks you use to decorate an interior on a budget?

You should always move things around. You should never be married to one furniture plan or one set-up because you can freshen things up by just pushing the furniture around. Another thing I find useful is swapping out art work all the time, and having a reserve of different art works. Mirrors, of course, are a big trick. And I love small rugs. I love putting rugs on top of rugs on top of rugs. You can really create an alternating cold weather look and warm weather look that way.

In your design work, what makes a great client?

Someone who comes to the table knowing what they want. But also being flexible enough to understand that maybe we need to steer it in that direction, but bring other things to the table as well.

You designed Chloë Sevigny's apartment, how was that experience memorable?

Well, she was our first published client. It was a great experience, and we're continuing to work with her. You never really finish a project. We're constantly going back there and adding new things and taking things out, switching stuff around. It's an on-going process. An evolution.

Before interior design, you worked as a commercial scallop fisherman. Which do you find more challenging, catching scallops or designing an interior?

They both have their challenges, believe me. They're equally challenging. The great thing is, the boating aesthetic is actually a great influence on what I do now with interiors.

Design on a Dime Opening Night Reception
Thursday 7 May 2009
6:00 PM
The Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
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