When Cynthia Leibrock Came to Town…..

Posted on January 18, 2015 by sreicis

Villa Maria College proudly hosted the Universal Design Symposium on their college campus. This event was open to all students in the region as well as local practicing professionals. And better yet it was free of charge! It started with a planned campus visit by Universal Design expert Cynthia Leibrock. Her mission is to educate students and professionals on the specifics of Universal Design and encourage using these principles in all aspects of design. To support this mission and maximize this effort, Villa expanded the platform of speakers and opened their doors to the community. With Cynthia Leibrock as the keynote speaker the program had a strong anchor. She was followed by a panel discussion on the practice of Universal Design that included researcher Jonathan White, Villa professor Ryan Renshaw and practicing professional and Villa alum Laura Wax. Other distinguished speakers included Professor Beth Tauke and Dr. Korydon Smith, both from the University at Buffalo, and Dr. Alex Bitterman from Alfred State College. Each presentation was registered with the AIA as well as the IDCEC for continuing education credits. This event was made possible with the generous support of the Interior Design Association of Western New York, SmartDesign Architecture, Eastern Energy Control Window Films, The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access as well as the Irma Dobkin Universal Design Grant.
Villa students presented their Millennium Dream House studio projects, that feature Universal Design, as poster presentations during the afternoon coffee break. This was a wonderful learning opportunity for Villa students, who also had the added benefit of additional presentations before and after the symposium with Cynthia Leibrock. The strongest message that was shared during the symposium, is that it is the Interior Designer who will be the leader in Universal Design, above all other design and construction professions. The Interior Designer has the knowledge, ability and professional opportunity to improve the lives of countless individuals by incorporating Universal Design in each and every project.

Designing a Room for Ronald McDonald House

Posted on June 8, 2014 by sreicis

Recently Villa Maria College was offered an opportunity to design and complete a guest room in the Ronald McDonald House located in Buffalo, New York. The invitation came from the Interior Design Association of Western New York (IDA). The room was to be completed in memory of Julie Roberts, a young Buffalo woman. The students and faculty at Villa did not know Julie, but over the course of the many weeks that we worked on the project we came to understand how special a person she must have been. From her sophisticated style to her love for her cute and funny dog Opal, we tried to capture her spirit in this room. She was clearly loved by many and is dearly missed. Designing this space took on a very personal quality. The theme for our room?…. at the request of Julie’s family and friends it was Diamonds and Dogs. Now there was a design challenge! And of course it needed to service the needs of future guests, cater to their comfort, and focus on the purpose of their stay. To our assistance came Lynne Rider of Rider Frames and Gallery. Artist Laurie Herrmann was commisioned to create a whimsical water color of Opal. As the focal point of the room it provided all the inspiration that we needed. The color pallette became an inviting green with a playful and warm orange accent. Lucite furniture kept the small bedroom airy and light and crystal knobs on the built in wardrobe, courtesy of Creative Storage, played to the Diamond theme. This became a labor of love, to create a space that Julie’s family could be proud of, and that would respect and honor a beautiful young woman who left us much too soon. The dedication was held on Thursday, June 5, 2014… Julie’s birthday. In the presence of the Robert’s family, Julie’s friends and co-workers, members of the IDA, RMH staff, faculty and staff from Villa Maria and two members of the design team, Jillian Schultz ’14, and faculty advisor Sandra Reicis, the ribbon was cut and the room was open for viewing. The attention to detail and comfort, from the spacious wardrobe, to reading material, to extra stuffed dogs for the youngest guests, this room will be welcoming for the young families that will benefit from a stay at Ronald McDonald House. Remaining members of the design team included Tara Clack ’15 and Angela Girdlestone ’15. Earlier in the project Jason Cole’14, also was an active participant.

RE.STYLE Design Competition from ASID

Posted on May 12, 2014 by sreicis

The ASID New York Upstate Canada East chapter sponsored a RE.STYLE Design Competition that challenged members at any level to repurpose any kind of object into a creative, interior design related fabrication. The judging and display occured during the Network 2014 event held recently in Syracuse, New York. Designers were encouraged to create a piece of furniture, light fixture, art object or other item that directly related to Interior Design. What a fun and inventive approach to sustainability and adaptive re-use! Your only limitation was your own creativity. It also placed students in competition with design professionals. Constance Strother, a Junior in the Villa Maria College Interior Design Program submitted the lighting fixture that she designed and fabricated for the Lighting and Acoustics class and came away with a third place prize! Villa Maria College gets to be doubly proud, since the first place award went to Villa Alum Caroline Barr.

Krug Showroom Tour with the IIDA

Posted on April 10, 2014 by sreicis

Villa Maria College Interior Design students and faculty were fortunate to participate in the IIDA Buffalo City Center sponsored trip to the Krug showroom in Toronto. Incorporated into the Studio 5 experience, and open to all students at the college, this was a professional development opportunity for students and faculty alike. A CEU presentation on Level was a key component to the visit, as was an informative and entertaining tour of the Krug showroom. We were treated to breakfast as well as lunch. Following the showroom visit there was free time to explore Toronto before catching the chartered coach bus back to Buffalo. A great day that contributes to the body of professional development hours that all Villa students must earn. Together with our alum we were a group of 19 participants strong! Go Villa!

The IIDEX Tradition….change is on the way

Posted on March 19, 2014 by sreicis

For as long as I have been at Villa Maria College….and long before I joined the faculty we have taken our students to IIDEX , Toronto in September. We started with a caravan of cars….making the trek from Buffalo to Toronto. Sometimes we stayed overnight to broaden our experience. Change was not new to us. We had to adjust to stricter rules at the border and required students to have passports or enhanced driver’s licenses. But we were always able to make it work. Students would sometimes be unprepared…and take a chance at the border, hoping their student ID and a Red Cross card would be sufficient to demonstrate good character. In the end we always made it there and back….with everyone in tow. Most recently we started renting a bus and opened the trip to all students, faculty and alumni. We would select an iconic destination for an afternoon tour. This year it was the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) where students marvelled at the Frank Gehry renovations, including the staircase that inspires romance. This always marked the start of the Fall semester. But as I said…change is on the way, and IIDEX 2014 will be held in December. Not only do we have to think about the weather (and if this winter taught us anything it was the power of the polar vortex) but the December dates will come a week before the end of classes. That means it will come immediately before finals, and immediately before final critique. So I think that change is on the way for us as well….. Our students learned a tremendous amount at IIDEX, bringing us back year after year. Even though a few exhibitors were not welcoming to students, most were…and the students remembered them. They worked at forging relationships with the representatives and specified those products in their projects. As professionals they continued to gravitate to furniture, fixtures and materials that they were familiar with. So….looking forward we will make sure that our students not lose the learning experience. We will likely be replacing IIDEX Canada with a field trip that works with the academic calendar…..but losing a beloved tradition will be difficult.

Service Learning Through the ASID Student Club

Posted on March 17, 2014 by sreicis

How do you make Service Learning fun? It starts with a project that puts a smile on your face. The annual Festival of Trees to benefit Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is a joyous event that exudes joy, wonder and design excellence. A perennial favorite with the Interior Design students at Villa Maria College, this year’s project was a truly collaborative affair. Pictured above are Harrison Walsh, Jillian Schultz, Kim Ewing and Tara Clack. Our unique wreath display was inspired by the classic Christmas poem, “T’was the Night Before Christmas”. We had sugar plums and stockings, ornaments and elves a jolly Santa and even a tiny mouse. To top off the activity we attended the Designer Showcase Reception at the Hyatt Hotel in Buffalo.

Corks and Forks with Villa Students

Posted on March 14, 2014 by sreicis

Heritage Centers hosted a unique fund raising event that called upon the local design community to create beautiful table scapes that would then be auctioned. Interior Design firm Reicis and Associates were pleased to participate with the help of Villa Maria College interior design students Jillian Schultz and Kim Ewing. At the Villa Glass Atelier, beautiful, one-of-a-kind functional, glass art pieces were designed and fabricated. The buzz on the floor was that this was a crowd favorite. The party was an amazing success and Heritage Centers were able to raise a significant amount of money. The Villa students were able to earn both professional development hours as well as service learning hours.

Villa’s Freshman Class at the Darwin Martin House

Posted on November 3, 2013 by sreicis

Students in the Introduction to Interior Design class at Villa Maria College, taught by Professor Sandra Reicis, were treated to an outstanding, docent led tour of the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright designed Darwin Martin House Estate. Located in the city of Buffalo, close by the Olmstead designed Buffalo park system, the Martin House Restoration Corporation has done an incredible job restoring this architectural gem to its former glory. Still a work in progress, we were able to see the first completed room which would be the sitting room, the nearly completed restoration of the kitchen, the living room, dining room and library nearing completion as well as the recently rebuilt pergola and conservatory. Our tour director shared a wealth of knowledge with our students, which is surely to inspire them as they embark on their design education at Villa.

Remembering Ann Medinac…..

Posted on August 19, 2013 by sreicis

This summer we lost one of the shining stars in the Buffalo Design world. Ann Medinac was one of those special people, beautiful inside and out, with a distinctive design style. One last Junior League Decorators’ Show House will bear her mark. The Summer Sitting Room was a collaboration of five designers, all memers of the governing Board of the Interior Design Association of Western New York (IDA). As faculty with Villa Maria College, Sandra Reicis represents the Interior Design Program with the IDA. Joining Ann on the design team was her professional colleague and Villa alumn Barb Reformat, Villa alumn Sandy Nelson, Villa alumn Michelle Peller White, and Carol Schaper, whose company Carol Schaper Interiors Inc., is a familior Villa internship site. As described in the Show House brochure, this room ‘gives Lily Pulitzer a modern day makeover’. The striking large scale wall graphic in neutrals of gray and white is the background to a bright mix of hot pink, green and aqua. This room was originally the summer sleeping porch off the Master Bedroom, but the fabulous five from the IDA transformed it into a space that puts a smile on your face, to sit, relax and take in the view.

Creative Interiors by Melissa

Posted on August 16, 2013 by sreicis

Melissa Pleace is a graduate of the Villa Maria College Interior Design Program and it was a pleasure to see her participate in the 2013 Junior League of Buffalo Show House. This was Melissa’s first room at a Show House. Her design for the Master Bathroom Couples Sweet Retreat was a whimsical and playful decorating delight. Taking her inspiration from a beautiful French Provincial paisley fabric she successfully brought the outdoors in and combined both masculine and feminine features. Collaborating with local artists the room featured a hand painted mural by Victoria George. Attention to detail is prevalent in the space from the new ceramic tile floor, installed in a basket weave pattern to the updated light fixtures and lush greenery. The vintage subway tile on the walls was complimented by the sky blue painted walls and accessories.

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