Backstage
Asian Ambiance
Published in February 2008 Departments
Designer Sean DeFreitas, Designs by Sean, lavished guests at the 2007 Event Solution Spotlight Awards Dinner and After-Party with innovative ideas and details.
Teamed with Executive Producer Steve Hand of The HAND Company and Producer Eddie Diaz of Encore Creations, the Alfred I. Dupont Building in Miami provided a historic venue with its own architectural elements that DeFreitas incorporated into his vision for the event. He treated the event industry luminaries in attendance to a wealth of ideas, including his illustration of unifying several spaces into one using décor, flow, cuisine and entertainment.
Each area had its own signature tableau. In one stunning example, DeFreitas created a life-sized butterfly tree, hand-decorated with 2,000 silk butterflies that sheltered a living geisha. Rich tapestries designed and fabricated by DeFreitas graced the walls of the rooms. The space shimmered with hundreds of candles, lighted florals and Asian-influenced statues.
Collaborating with Miami-based Touch Catering, the team created living buffet vignettes as well as unique chef stations serving cuisine that complemented the décor.
A series of entertainment events throughout the evening further enhanced the Asian theme of the event industry’s most elegant, inspired affair, the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards.
1 Chandeliers surrounded by silk chiffon, trimmed with shimmering crystals, cast a glow and created ambiance in each area of the event. Designed and provided by Designs by Sean, they were created specifically to hide all the trussing. Because the venue was a historical landmark, nothing could be attached to the walls or ceiling. Décor throughout disguised the truss that was a necessary installation.
2 Giant projections provided by JR Silva enhanced the color palette. As the evening progressed, the projections transformed into a text messaging screen that delighted the guests.
3 Provided by Designs by Sean, dozens of parasols brought further color to the room, carried the eye of the attendee upward and integrated the existing architectural elements into the décor.
4 The Buddha Bar could be seen from any vantage point. It provided both décor and an Asian-themed vignette for the cuisine.
5 DeFreitas designed and fabricated lighted tables for 10. Guests viewed a collage of florals and objets d’art through the glass tops of the tables. With recessed lighting under the interior edges of the tabletops, the tables glowed and added one more unique element of lighting to the room.