Town & Country honors founder with design awards for students
By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 5/14/2001
NEW YORK — Continuing to honor the legacy of its founder, Town & Country will distinguish three college students at its third annual Joseph D. Beyda Creative Scholarship breakfast on May 24 at its showroom at 295 Fifth Ave.
Beyda, former chairman of the company, died four years ago at the age of 57 of brain cancer.
"It's wonderful to honor him for his creativity and what he contributed to this industry," said David Beyda, chairman and son of the late founder. "He would have really appreciated this."
A panel of judges that includes Town & Country designers, members of the Beyda family and university professors selected the winners last week.
"The idea of the contest is to bolster creativity in the home design industry and help that creativity feed all industries," said Marijean Jerrell, senior vp, design.
For the contest, students were asked to design and decorate the kitchen of a summer abode — a trailer, cabin, house or grander dwelling. The room decor was to reflect the location, typography or cultural setting. Also, they were asked to design three patterns for furnishings for the kitchen. The winners were:
1st place, $3,000 — Brooks Hagan from Rhode Island School of Design;
2nd place, $1,000 — Corine Britto from Rhode Island School of Design;
3rd place, $500 — Heather Wells from Rhode Island School of Design.
