Last month, May Design Series held a silent auction to raise money for long-term partner Out of the Dark, a charitable enterprise that trains young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the art of furniture manufacturing and up-cycling. Organisers UBM Live Built Environment announced that £1001.80 was raised.
The eight chairs up for auction were lovingly created by Out of the Dark in partnership with some of the industry’s best loved voices, who assisted in selecting the fabrics and reupholstering the chair cushions. The collaborators were:
· Arianna Trapani, co-Editor of Heart Home and blogger at Arianna’s Daily
· Carole King, co-Editor of Heart Home and blogger at Dear Designers
· Yasmin Chopin, interior designer and blogger at YasminChopin.com
· Kate Watson-Smyth, freelance interiors writer and blogger at Mad About the House
· Tina Bernstein, freelance interiors writer and blogger at Colour Living
· Laura Almond, Web Editor at Achica Living
· Kate Burnett, Editor at The Schemer
· Denise Mahmud, Trendease
Jenny Hurren, from outthereinteriors.com, was one of the highest bidders. She says: “I am such a furniture addict. I heard of Out Of The Dark back in 2011 and loved everything about what they were doing – the idea, the people, the furniture. It was right up my street. I am also a huge fan of Heart Home Magazine, hence bidding on Carole and Arianna’s chairs. They both have such an eye when it comes to interiors. I’m thrilled to have won both, and plan to sell the chairs on via Out There Interiors.com to raise more money for Out Of The Dark.”
Jay Blades, founder of Out of the Dark, says: “We are so grateful to UBM Live Built Environment for going the extra mile and raising such a great sum of money. The professional and financial support that they have shown us over the years has made a massive difference to the lives of the young people that we work with, and it was a great pleasure to have been involved with the May Design Series this year. Getting to work with the bloggers on these chairs was an added bonus, and the support that we’ve received from them so far has been incredible.”
Andy Vaughan, brand director for May Design Series, says: “It’s a real pleasure to have found such a brilliant way to raise money for our good friends Out of the Dark. The chairs all looked fantastic and it’s no wonder that we raised such an impressive sum. I only wish I had won one myself!”
May Design Series will run next year between 17-19 May 2015 at London’s ExCeL.
