Star Power to Present at ARTS Awards

January 15, 2013  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on January 16, 2013

The Dallas Market Center and ART are adding a bit of star power to the upcoming 24th annual ARTS Awards Saturday.

HGTV's designer and television host John Gidding, and Shay Geyer, an interior designer who makes regular appearances on WFAA's "Good Morning Texas", will participate in presenting awards. 

Gidding has appeared on HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block" series. Born in Istanbul, he attended American schools in Turkey and Switzerland before Yale University, receiving a bachelor's degree in architecture. He also earned a master's degree in architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

Gidding's portfolio includes his work on the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Union Square in New York, the campus plan for Carnegie Mellon University, and a pavilion for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Geyer has been a professional interior designer since 2001. Her mother, Beth Rafferty, founded IBB Design Fine Furnishings when Geyer was a toddler, so she was exposed to the world of design at a very early age. Her work has been published in ON and GrandLuxe magazines. Her projects range in style from modern lofts and high rises to French opulent estates. Her style and ability to forecast design trends landed her the position of design expert for "Good Morning Texas". She has been a part of the show since 2006 and is currently designing an exclusive collection of upholstery and soft good furnishings for IBB.

Bill Winsor, Dallas Market Center president and CEO, and Cindy Morris, COO, will also be presenters along with Sharon Davis, ART executive director, and Mindy Lowack, executive vice president of ART.

The presenters will speak from a crystal embellished podium, complemented by a 14-foot-tall crystal strand curtain backdrop. Both were custom created by Swarovski Elements. 

ARTS Awards is an international awards program dedicated to recognizing home industry excellence and achievement in retailing, manufacturing, design and representation. The awards culminate with a black-tie gala held each year during the January Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (Jan. 16-22). The awards will be presented during a gala event on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.