Thanks to Traditional Home for including me in their list of “20 Young Designers to Watch”, in their March 2010 issue.  It is an honor to be included in this group of incredibly talented individuals, and great to be recognized by a favorite publication.  I had the privildege of getting to know one of the editors, Candace Manroe, this year on the photo shoot for a home in Key West that will be featured in the June issue.  Working with one of their great photographers, Werner Straub, was also amazing.  After having owned my own firm for just over 10 years, this has become one of the highlights.  I am most appreciative.

The feature is very clever.  The editors have taken this honor one step further to get their readers involved and are offering a fantastic prize to both the winning reader and winning designer.  As a reader of Traditional Home, you have an opportunity to vote  for your favorite young designer, and in the process win $5000 worth of Duralee fabrics!  As one of the featured designers, I have the opportunity to win more recognition in their publication.  The winners will be revealed in the October 2010 issue.  Voting is easy, and your vote for me will be greatly appreciated. 

Go to http://www.traditionalhome.com/duralee and click “Join Now” to register with Traditional Home.  You have to be registered to vote.  After that, click “Vote Now” in the Reader’s Choice section.  Scroll down to view the designer portfolios, and then cast your vote.  You will be asked to confirm a security code, and once you have entered that, press “ENTER” to cast your vote.  There will be a notice saying you were successful if everything was done correctly.  You can vote every day until March 23 and increase your chances of winning!  Thanks for your support, and thanks again to the team at Traditional Home for your vote of confidence in my ability.

Local designer featured in national magazine

Author: Tommy Millsaps

When you think of hotbeds for great interior designers, glamorous places like Beverly Hills or New York City probably come to mind.

But you can now add Sweetwater to that list.

Sweetwater native Todd Richesin was recently selected as one of House Beautiful magazine’s “Next Wave of Top 20 Designers.”
The magazine’s December/January edition with Richesin hit the newsstands Tuesday.
The article features up and coming interior designers who are on their way to making a big name for themselves while setting design trends.

Richesin’s business, Todd Richesin Interiors, is based in Knoxville. But Richesin grew up in Sweetwater and is a 1988 Sweetwater High graduate. He and Bobby Brown run Bobby Todd Antiques in downtown Sweetwater though Richesin said he mainly concentrates on his interior design business 40 miles up the road.

“This is very exciting for me,” Richesin said of his appearance in the magazine.
Richesin said he had sent some samples of his design work to House Beautiful, but was in no way expecting such a prestigious honor.
“That’s pretty good,” the small town boy acknowledged.
But Richesin also said he is very humbled to have an objective party judge his work so highly. Richesin said he is proud of what he has done and his clients are pleased, however it is sure nice to hear accolades from someone else.

Doretta Sperduto, decorating director of House Beautiful, said Richesin’s work speaks for itself.  “He is obviously talented and deserves to be featured in this article,” Sperduto said.
Though Richesin has decorated many upscale homes all over the United States, his motto is quite simple. “Everybody deserves a pretty place to live,” he said.
His blog: “On the Fringe,” hosts a variety of posts that can be found at http://toddrichesininteriors.com/blog/. ; 

Richesin’s fan page on Facebook is also growing at www.facebook.com/ToddRichesinInteriors. 
 Todd Richesin Interiors, LLC (www.toddrichesininteriors.com), is a full-service interior design studio that utilizes custom furniture, antiques and luxury fabrics to express each client’s individual style, Richesin said.

 The firm’s services include floor plan design; pre-construction analysis of floor plans and furniture layouts, flooring, plumbing, tile and lighting selection, selection of all interior finishes, cabinetry consultation and design, custom furniture, draperies, rugs and accessories, artwork selection and antiques. 

Richesin’s parents are Bobby and Patricia. He has an older brother, Michael, who lives in Sweetwater.
Richesin graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College and got his start at an upper-end design and furniture store in Maryville before striking out on his own.

You can see the article at www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/next-wave-designers?click= main_sr.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101