FGI Names Corey Damen Jenkins "Designer Of The Year"

We are thrilled to announce that FGI-Detroit recently named Corey Damen Jenkins "Interior Designer Of The Year" at their annual Night Of Stars Awards. The swanky black-tie gala was held at the Detroit Opera House on December 6th, 2012. Jenkins is the first Michigan-based designer to win the award for this category.

FGI is a global organization of executives and artists dedicated to recognizing emerging talent in a number of related categories, including fashion, automotive, engineering, exterior and interior design. Jenkins, along with two of his assistants, Tama Anderson and Alysia Gauthier, was on hand to receive the award.

(Pictured: DWV's Corey Damen Jenkins and Alysia Gauthier)

"The New Guard": Corey Damen Jenkins

 

Have you been following Clean Fresh Design online? This blog has become one of the most popular  resources in the country and is a "must-read" for serious design enthusiasts. Recently, the blog launched a new series called "The New Guard" and the second edition features Corey Damen Jenkins! Check out his candid "Tell-All" interview with celebrated shelter magazine writer Carl J Dellatore at the link below. The article also includes a 1-minute video clip of Corey Damen speaking to consumers on the power of choice.

http://cjdellatore.com/corey-damen-jenkens-design-with-vision/

 

 

Upcoming Televised Appearance on HGTV

Did you miss the premiere of our HGTV reality series earlier this year? If so, there's another chance to catch it this week! We've been recently informed that Scripps Network/Home & Garden Television has placed an encore airing of Showhouse Showdown on its schedule for Tuesday, November 20th.  Check out our firm's principal Corey Damen Jenkins in the show's new time slot at 10:30 AM!

New StyleLine Magazine Spread

We are very proud to announce that StyleLine Magazine has honored us with a generous five-page feature spread in its November issue! Penned by celebrated writer Jeanine Matlow and lensed by Gene Meadows, the article covers one of our Northville clients' homes and is available now at newsstands, Barnes & Noble, CVS and other fine stores. As some of you  know, StyleLine is Metro-Detroit's biggest selling magazine and my firm is thrilled to be covered in its pages.

You may also read the article online starting on page 104 at this link: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d522adee#/d522adee/1

House Beautiful's "Color" Issue Now Available

We are excited to share that the September 2012 issue of House Beautiful hits newsstands this week. DWV's principal Corey Damen Jenkins had the privilege of being interviewed for the magazine's "Top Color Picks" section.

House Beautiful, which has been running successfully since 1896  as one of America's top shelter magazines,  conducted a special research project earlier this year. The first of its kind, the study focused on color interpretation by region in the United States. A number of interior designers were invited to weigh in on the subject, sharing with the reading audience what colors are currently hot and which ones are fading in popularity. The results are very interesting and provide the reader a bird's eye view of how living in certain parts of the country impacts people's usage of color in their homes.

A portion of Corey Damen Jenkins' interview with House Beautiful's Christine Pittel is featured on page 48. We would like to express our thanks to the editors and staff at House Beautiful for including us!

Downtown Magazine Spotlights Corey Damen Jenkins

Story By Hayley Beitman

07/02/2012 - Owner of Design With Vision in Bloomfield Hills and winner of HGTV's Showhouse Showdown, Corey Damen Jenkins intends to remain a loyal member of his community.

"There's already a healthy design industry in New York and Chicago, but Michigan needs resources too. A lot of people could benefit from that so I can't jump ship. I'm committed to the area and seeing it through," he said.

Jenkins grew up in Rochester Hills, where he drew for the first time at the age of three. "My mom used to cut open cardboard cereal boxes and I would watch TV and draw Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman inside the box," Jenkins said.

Helping his parents redecorate, Jenkins realized he was interested in furniture layout, unlike his two younger brothers who enjoyed playing sports, and moved to New York after high school.

"I grew up in Michigan with grass and roads. New York is all subways and concrete. At 19, I was absolutely terrified by myself but I kept pursuing my dream," he said.

He moved back home and first followed in his father's footsteps, working in the automotive industry. After purchasing furniture and designing offices for ten years and briefly working at The Michigan Design Center, he started his own firm in 2009.

"I created a position for myself where I could control my own fate and couldn't be outsourced," he said.

Jenkins parents both remain huge supporters of Design with Vision, but from opposite ends of the spectrum. "My mom is 'go for it!', while my dad is 'go for it...cautiously'," he said.

Jenkins describes his style as fresh with a continental mix of elegance and modernity, and is mostly inspired by clients.

HGTV saw his website and ask him to audition for the nationally televised design competition, Showhouse Showdown, an opportunity he initially thought was an April Fools Joke.

"I didn't call them back because the likelihood of HGTV calling me just felt a little too far fetched," he said. "When they called, I was so sarcastic because I thought it was a joke."

He competed with 52 designers from Michigan in a grueling interview process before getting the call that he was cast on the show.

"It was surreal to end up winning. At first I didn't think I really won. Even the day it aired, I kept waiting for the alternate ending," he said. "It brought tears to my eyes because it validated two years of really hard work."

Jenkins intends to remain in Bloomfield Hills. "It's a classy, sophisticated and timeless city. It's trendy and cosmopolitan, but also has old world class. It's like a little mini elegant New York," he said.

His dreams extend to having his own television show and launching an exclusive furniture line.

"I'd like to do it all. I don't see why I can't. If people say you can't sail your boat, sail it anyways. Not to prove them wrong, but to prove yourself right," he said.

Detroit News: "HGTV Program Makes Area Designer A Star"

 Bloomfield Hills designer Corey Damen Jenkins shows his flair

Article by Susan R. Pollack

Bloomfield Hills designer Corey Damen Jenkins, above left, created this Old World Italian kitchen and breakfast nook in his showhouse for the HGTV “Showhouse Showdown” competition, which he won. The episode aired twice in March. (HGTV / Scripps Network)

Corey Damen Jenkins, an interior designer in Bloomfield Hills, almost didn't return a phone call from HGTV inviting him to participate in "Showhouse Showdown," a nationally televised reality design competition.
"I felt at first that it was a joke, someone messing with me," says the 35-year-old designer.

Jenkins, who was one of two Michigan designers cast from among 52 considered, went on to win the competition with his Old World Italian farmhouse design. It featured hand-scraped planked floors and Tuscan-plastered walls finished with an eight-step hand-application process.

Filmed in Midland but called "Saginaw Michigan Showdown," the episode aired recently on HGTV. During a Saturday open house, about 800 locals came out in the pouring rain to tour. The first 100 were given scorecards to determine the winner. And Jenkins is now a featured designer — along with the likes of Candice Olson and David Bromstad — in HGTV.com's national Designers' Portfolio, an online resource viewed by millions.

An Oakland County native, Jenkins spent 10 years in purchasing for the auto industry before launching his design firm, DWV: Design with Vision, in 2009. Homestyle recently caught up with the busy designer to learn more about his work:

Congratulations on winning the showdown . How did you get involved?
The folks at HGTV saw my website and gave me a call. I didn't call them back at first. … Later, when they called me back (to say he'd been picked for the show), I almost dropped the phone.

What did you do then?
I drove up to Midland, which is not exactly my background. I wanted to get to know the area.

Was the show challenging ?
I've never had to design so quickly! I prefer to bake my design versus microwaving. It really showed me what I could do under pressure and tight time constraints. Gorman's was very supportive and enabled me to get custom pieces quickly. Showrooms at the Michigan Design Center — Robert Allen and Kravet — supplied the fabrics that gave the house that really luxurious finish and feel. And several local family-owned companies, such as Designer Furniture Services, donated literally thousands of dollars and manpower. That's how I was able to maximize my budget.

What's your background?
I grew up in Pontiac and Auburn Hills and later Rochester Hills. I graduated from Pontiac Northern (1996).
Early on, I always knew I wanted to get into this field. When I was 6 or 7 years old, I was rearranging my parents' furniture. They did a major remodel when I was maybe 13 and I came up with some ideas: I had a color swatch with my mom's handkerchiefs and scarves and I drew out sketches. I was very serious.
In school, I took architecture, drafting, everything that was remotely related to design. I took a lot of trade school classes — I just loved that.

Jenkins stocked the "Showdown" house wine cellar with Michigan-made wines from Fieldstone Winery in Rochester. Beth Singer

After high school?
I had an opportunity for a scholarship to the Center for Creative Studies (now the College for Creative Studies) in Detroit. And I had an offer from a New York-based construction firm looking for interns for historical hotel restoration projects. I decided to move to New York at 19 and worked on some gorgeous renaissance-style hotels.

What happened after that?
Then I had a bit of a career shift. My dad's a banker, my mom is in the banking industry and both my (younger) brothers, too. I was making a clear break from tradition. My dad really wanted me to focus on business; he didn't want any starving artist kids.
So I did purchasing for 10 years in the automotive industry. It was a postponement of my dreams but I'm really glad I got that experience. Now I know how to crunch numbers, too. Eventually I got laid off.

Then what?
I did decorating here and there, some nonprofit community work, pro bono design projects. … And then I decided to take control of my own career, my own destiny. In 2009 I started DWV: Design With Vision in Bloomfield Hills.

How's business?
I have two assistants working for me. We've been able to maintain a consistent flow, mainly word of mouth. Most of our work is in Grand Blanc, Davisburg, Northville, Ann Arbor, Oakland Township, and I'm starting now to get some in Birmingham.

What are you working on?
Right now I'm juggling six different projects. One is a family in Northville with a very Park Avenue/contemporary meets traditional mix. And her sister hired us in Ann Arbor for a huge, 22-space project. It's in a totally different direction, more rustic.

The Northville project is an entire first floor — kitchen, breakfast nook, parlor, foyer, two sunrooms on each end of the family room. In the living room we installed a black and white, Greek key-pattern carpet. The walls are a soft taupey gray and the sofa is a bright lemony velvet. It's modern-traditional, very clean, very exciting. There's lots of crystal but very contemporized.

Any other cool projects?
I've been working with a Davisburg couple on their home since 2010; we stepped outside the box with honey-colored walls and fun plaid carpet. They called us back to remodel the kitchen, a study and the second floor. I'm excited about the study: I'm covering the walls and ceiling with a vintage-looking geographic map. There's a chair rail framing the room's perimeter and from that point down I'm running a masculine hound's-tooth wallpaper.

I like doing the unexpected, something different. If I can move clients outside their comfort zone even 5 percent I feel I've done my job.

This warm bedroom master suite helped Jenkins win HGTV's "Saginaw Michigan Showdown" design competition. HGTV/Scripps Network

How would you describe your design style?
A fresh continental mix of traditional and modern design. I like things mixed and matched. You'll never see me do a 100 percent period room. Like with the HGTV Tuscan house, I had crocodile-skin upholstered chairs — so whimsical. I can't really explain the rationale. If it works and I'm feeling it, I just do it.
I try to stay away from trends. I don't want to have to "Botox" any of my rooms — I don't want them to look dated. In our economy staying power is very important.

What do you do in your spare time?
I love working out, hitting the gym. Staying fit, mentally healthy, is important — this is such a detail-oriented job. I still love drawing — there are sketches on my website — and I love reading decorating books, trade magazines. I really eat and breathe and drink the stuff.

spollack@detnews.com
(313) 222-2665

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120511/LIFESTYLE01/205110311#ixzz1ucIwQuLk

SNEAK PEAK: New Powder Room Design!

Click on photo to enlarge

SNEAK PEAK: Over the last year, our firm has been constructing an exciting residential project in Northville, Michigan. In what we'd like to call a modernized "Europe Meets Park Avenue" style, the entire first floor of this  home is being dressed in a black and white color concept, tempered with soft gray. To break up the monotony, each room will have differentiating vibrant pops of color ranging from citrine to tangerine!  Here's a look at the powder room where the Cole & Son paper is currently being installed. The ceiling has been treated in a black, high gloss finish. A petite Nulco chandelier featuring black and clear crystal drops is planned for the vanity area; this will add a touch of feminine elegance to this space.

Adjacent to the foyer, we are designing this powder room to serve as an "appetizer" of things to come for visiting guests. We appreciate our fearless clients!

Detroit News: "Music room features timeless, classic design"

 Article By Jeanine Matlow

"In a world filled with iPods and other devices, it's uplifting to see a traditional music room. This was the concept chosen last fall by Corey Damen Jenkins, principal of Design With Vision in Bloomfield Hills, for The Art of Designing with Antiques series at Judy Frankel Antiques Centre in Troy.
What the designer dubbed "Salon de Musique" was meant to be different from anything that had been created for the series.

"I wanted to do something no one else had done before. It was my interpretation of a classic music room," says Jenkins, who took advantage of the French pieces available in the gallery at the time. "Technology can date. Fifteen years from now, today's technology will be dated. My goal is to give clients a space that is timeless and always looks fresh and classic."

Seemingly disparate objects worked together like an Art Deco-style table, French painted bookcases and a Napoleon-style desk in the study area (not shown). Traditional French armchairs were paired with contemporary art. Animal prints appeared in the rug and pillows. Most of the gilded mirrors are from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

"The arrangement on the wall made a very narrow room seem larger. When used in conjunction with each other, they make such a powerful statement," Jenkins says.

Corbels that held decorative objects broke up the mirrors and "brought an unexpected element to the wall that provides balance," he says.

A stately piano from Evola Music in Bloomfield Hills was brought in along with a Baker sofa from the Michigan Design Center in Troy. The artwork above the sofa is by Lenore Gimpert.

Jenkins says we should think of pianos as furniture that should be showcased. This music room was divided into three distinct sections. The piano provided a place for people to gather in the middle, while the study was on one side and the seating area on the other.

"The way we live now is that we have to find more purposes for one space. Everyone could enjoy the piano because it was centrally located in the space," says Jenkins, who added themed references throughout, such as framed music notes in the study.

"I like to do something that's subtle without beating you over the head with it," he says.
A trio of chandeliers defined the different areas. "Together, they made an amazing composition, while adding a beautiful decorative element," Jenkins says.

Crown molding added interest to the walls, which were covered in a light shade of cream. "It's the whole that made the impact, not the parts," says Jenkins. Though his creation is no longer on display, the inspiration lives on. The designer is working on a music room for one of his clients.

For information, contact Corey Damen Jenkins at (248) 770-5771 or go to coreydamenjenkins.com.

Jeanine Matlow is a Metro Detroit interior decorator turned freelance writer specializing in stories about interior design. You can reach her at jeaninematlow@earthlink.net.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120427/OPINION03/204270313#ixzz1uWfbWRkJ

Highly Anticipated "Jeff Lewis" Event Coming Soon!

BIG NEWS: Corey Damen Jenkins is working behind the scenes designing the set of an upcoming promotional show for Bravo Network's hot new show Interior Therapy With Jeff Lewis! The series follows Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos as they move into their client's home and Lewis does what Lewis does best — judge their flaws and redesign their space.

He'll observe the homeowners, diagnose their problems, and then take over their house for five days — with the goal of improving them inside and out.

The show premiered last Thursday to rave reviews and high ratings. The Michigan set will feature furnishings from Art Van and Scott Shuptrine and will portray a highly stylized modern "therapist office".

Michigan Interior Designer Corey Damen Jenkins selects furnishings for the set design

On March 22, 2012, an "Interior Therapy" promo event featuring a live audience will be hosted by WDIV Style Editor Jon Jordan at Art Van in Warren. The live event will be lively with comedic moments from Jeff and his adorable assistant Jenni "interviewing" audience members on a leather chaise and other special surprises. There will also be a photo session for fans to take pictures with the cast.

JOIN US and meet Jeff Lewis and the cast of Interior Therapy! This highly anticipated event is open to the public so please be sure to RSVP as soon as possible @ www.artvan.com to reserve your seats!

Art Van

6500 East 14 Mile Road Warren, MI 48092
(586) 939-2100

The Art Van event will be hosted by popular TV personality Jon Jordan

Official Photos: "Salon De Musique"

We are excited to share photos of the music room Salon de Musique which opened to the public on November 16th, 2011! Designed by Corey Damen Jenkins and housed at Judy Frankel’s Antique Centre Of Troy, Salon de Musique is a fresh, 21st Century interpretation of the neoclassic French Provencal music room. Invited guests that attended the grand opening enjoyed several live concerts courtesy of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s organization.

Salon de Musique was the finale in the popular “The Art Of Designing With Antiques” program, a series that demonstrated how antique furnishings, accessories and artwork can be incorporated into modern interior design. A major 1stdibs.com dealer, Judy Frankel Antiques has become a destination resource for interior designers worldwide due to its unique and diverse array of English, French, and Belgian antiques. Corey Damen Jenkins opted to develop a neoclassical-styled music room, framed within a Gentlemen’s study. The room also had a reception area featuring two very unusual cane/bamboo/metal chairs.

(Click on the photos to see larger versions)

A rare gold and black lacquered Bosendorfer piano served as Salon de Musique’s focal point. A signature piece provided courtesy of Evola Music, the piano is No. 13 of thirteen units made—each dedicated to one of Mozart’s classic concertos. A wall covered with a bevy of 19th and early 20th century gilded mirrors provided a dramatic backdrop for this stunning instrument.

In keeping with the spirit of its theme, Salon de Musique’s premiere featured live musical concerts by the Detroit Symphony Civic Ensembles program. A Jazz Trio greeted guests upon arrival while a violinist and flautist strolled among the crowds as they toured the 10,000-plus square foot gallery. A pianist mastered the Bosendorfer itself. Nearly 300 design and music enthusiasts were in attendance for the grand opening.

(Click on the photos to see larger versions)

"Salon De Musique" grand opening photos courtesy of PremierOne Photography.