Keynote Speaker: Barry Dixon

“An interior designer practicing in the Virginia countryside near Washington, DC, Barry Dixon has taken his own brand of warmly hospitable Southern design style to projects around the world.  A childhood spent abroad in exotic locales such as India, South Africa & French Polynesia affords his work a singular global perspective.  Multiple magazine pictorials (Southern Accents, Veranda, House Beautiful, Metropolitan Home, Traditional Home) as well as continuous television appearances (Good Morning America, HGTV) have spurred the success of his furniture line with Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth.  Recent accomplishments include a fabric collection for Vervain/S. Harris, a rug collection with Megerian, and his new book ‘Barry Dixon Interiors’ with Brian Coleman.”

Barry Dixon’s Design Philosophy:

The integrity of good design is determined simply by what is “appropriate.” Of course, the subjectivity of that word requires that clients align themselves with a designer who shares their vision. To me, “appropriate” involves several levels of consideration. Architecture – what works well with the bones of a space is paramount. Also important is transition, the thread that weaves its way through a home, simultaneously providing unity and flow and allowing diversion and interest. Comfort, even in the most formal areas, is mandatory, as is timelessness, a blessed attribute that straddles fad and period. Quality involves both experience and knowledge. A good reproduction can only be selected with an understanding of the original. Balance and contrast involves many elements: color and texture, heavy and ethereal, old and new. One is as important as the other. Successful design emanates a feeling, not just a look. Nuance is employed to fine tune the whole to the personality of the individual. In the best instances, the effect is a magical aesthetic harmony that is not initially surprising, at least not jolting. Upon inspection or reflection, however, the effect is cleverly unexpected, bridging past with present by bringing the best of history with us into the future.