ThisNext Blog

Matthew David is the event designer of choice for celebrities like Madonna, P. Diddy and Robert DeNiro, with his style of elegance meets modern design. His events vary from personal galas to corporate events with subtle touches that make an impact. ThisNext played Q&A with Matthew David to find out some of the easiest and best ways to style a party for the coming holidays.

TN: What’s the best product someone can use to create ambience/style in their home?  For an event?
MD: Assuming you have music, add lighting! Dimmer switches are the answer to that. Every single light switch in my home has adIt creates the mood. Additionally by lowering the dimmers you are using less energy. To be more environmentally responsible when doing an event, lighting and candles are always a must. 

TN: Do you have a favorite product(s) when decorating events?  How about for planning events?
MD: Flowers! When florals are designed properly they can hit all the right notes to create a special mood for any event. 

TN: What’s your favorite latest product for decorating events?
MD: I adore plexi -glass.

TN: How did you get into event planning?
MD: It was a natural progression. I started designing events for people and the clients really liked the way I worked. From that it lead to clients asking me to plan the actual events.

TN: Any sneak previews you can share with ThisNext readers?
MD: We are very excited to be working on a relaunch of a popular magazine and the opening of a museum in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the specifics are confidential.

TN: Biggest response a design of yours has received? 
MD: I get responses all the time! Anything from hearing the guests “ooh”s and “ahh”s to letters , emails, word of mouth and peoples attendance. However, my biggest response would probably be when I designed what would amount to as a theme park for 10,000 guests one day.

TN: The product that’s had the biggest influence on your design?
MD: Tech support. With the appropriate tech support anything I dream of can be achieved.

TN: Your favorite product discovery in the last six months… Or something that inspired you?
MD: It has to be video scrim. It is video technology that acts as a curtain of video. It is transparent and low resolution. You can drape this kind of video. Also another discovery is G-Force. It is a visual extention of iTunes that can turn your TV into a light show that reacts to music.

TN: Most prized possession?
MD: A note from my eight-year-old niece that reads, “We know you are crazy..but we love you anyway!”

TN: A product love secret you’re too embarrassed to share?
MD: Ben & Jerry’s Karmel Sutra.

TN: Name an item under your bed? 
MD: Tapestry from India.

TN: Something in your closet that is not apparel, shoes, bags, etc.? 
MD: I came out of the closet 20 years ago!

TN: Fav trend for fall?
MD: A book by Michael Tcherevkoff called Shoe Fluer.

TN: Least fav trend for fall? 
MD: The TV show, Dancing With The Stars. I just can’t get into it.

TN: Can’t leave home without my______?
MD: My astronaut pen. It is very small and always in my pocket. Consequently, I always have something to write with. 

TN: City or suburbs?  
MD:  City.

TN: Loft or the perfect house with the white picket fence?
MD: Loft. I live in one. 

TN: Flip-flops or sneakers?
MD: Love them both.

TN: Coffee or tea?  
MD: Coffee.

See more of my It’s an Event list at ThisNext.