Shay Geyer, partner and designer at IBB Design Fine Furnishings, a full-service interior design firm & fine furnishings store known for creating beautiful livable spaces, in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, shares a little background on IBB, some of the shop’s best offerings and her suggestions for must-have Gabby pieces.
Q. How did IBB get its start?
IBB: IBB Design Fine Furnishings founder, Beth Rafferty, started her interior design business more than 30 years ago and has since grown into an award-winning firm encompassing a 40,000-square-foot fine furnishings store and design center.
Q. Tell us a little about your design team.
IBB: We have 35 designers currently on staff. Each designer is well versed in interior design and our approach is to design for the client’s style, not apply our style to the client’s home.
Q. What are your favorite, must-have Gabby pieces?
IBB: The Gayle Twin Bench; Johnson Counter Stool; Keran Cocktail Ottoman; Barkley Side Table; Natasha Table
Keran Cocktail Ottoman
Q. How do you suggest your clients accessorize their rooms?
IBB: Select accessories that have an impact on the design and help tell the story you are trying to convey. I believe in a thoughtful curation of objects to finish a room. Scale is important. A room full of small “tchotchkes” can feel cluttered and busy.
Q. When buying furniture, what do you suggest that your clients look for?
IBB: Scale is so important! The homes in Texas are often generous in square footage and have soaring ceilings. Small scaled furniture can quickly look out of place in our area. Also, you should always buy the best quality you can afford. I often say “Buy the best & you’ll only cry once.” I’m not a big fan of the disposable furniture mindset.
Q. What’s the hottest new design trend for this year?
IBB: We’re loving pieces with mixed metals. They’re easy to incorporate into a variety of aesthetics and help convey a layered story.
Q. Where do you get your design inspiration?
IBB: I love to read through design books and magazines. I also get a lot of inspiration from Instagram and other social media. Having a staff of 35 designers is also a great source of inspiration. We are all constantly bouncing ideas off of each other.
Q. What do your customers like most about Gabby?
IBB: The quality and style are wonderful. Gabby’s pieces fit very well into a variety of design styles. Our clients are especially big fans of the counter stools & ottomans. We just can’t keep them in stock!
Q. Tell us a little about some of your events.
IBB: We host a range of events throughout the year focused on design inspiration, education and, of course, giving back to our community. This September, we hosted a party for a local charity, The Family Place, and their supporters to celebrate the important work they do to stop and prevent family violence. This was our sixth year to have the honor of hosting this event.
Recently, we held a Meet The Designers Open House. Several of our team members designed vignettes throughout our showroom to showcase their talent. We hosted clients for design eye-candy and to get to know our awesome team. Guests enjoyed food truck fun with gourmet grilled cheese and yummy cupcakes.
Next year, we are kicking off a new all-day event – IBB Day of Design. Stay tuned because it’s going to be a design filled day!
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