Want to pick up some interior design tips from legendary designers, editors and industry icons — names like Mario Buatta, Bunny Williams and Paige Rense? As part of a yearlong 30th anniversary schedule of special events for design professionals and design enthusiasts, DCOTA (http://www.dcota.com) is having its Winter Market 2015, two days of design demonstrations and discussions. The free event will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, February 4-5, starting at 10:30 a.m. both days.

Presentations are on tap by such influential designers as Mario Buatta, Marjorie Reed Gordon, Richard Keith Langham, Barry Dixon, and Bunny Williams. Also featured will be showrooms presenting the latest collections by world-class designers and brands including Andrew Martin, Duralee, Ebanista, Florense, Pindler, ROMO, and Jeffrey Michaels, among others.

Here are some of the highlights of the events:

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

10:30 a.m. – Presentation:  Decorators Tell You How to Do It (Atrium C)

· Paige Rense, Editor Emeritus of Architectural Digest, was editor in chief of the magazine for 40 years. She will moderate this informative panel with three of the design industry’s most esteemed icons: Mario Buatta, Marjorie Reed Gordon and Richard Keith Langham.

This presentation will be immediately followed by a lunch reception hosted by Donghia (Suite C-250) where participants can get up close and personal with Ms. Rense and the three celebrated panelists while viewing Donghia’s newest textiles, furniture and lighting collections – all the pieces to a well-tailored life.

1:30-2:45 p.m. – Presentation:  Barry Dixon’s Inspirations (Atrium A)

· “A room should start a conversation before an actual word is spoken,” according to designer Barry Darr Dixon. “And the quickest way to start that conversation is the color and pattern of fabrics in a space. They are the words and sentences that become the story of a home.” A designer known for a distinct aesthetic that blends Western styles with global influences, Dixon imagines interiors that infuse artifacts and antiques with present-day motifs. His exclusive collections include upholstery forTomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth; furniture, lighting and accessories for Arteriors; showrooms and products for Fortuny; custom furniture and lighting for Avrett; and fabrics and trims for Vervain. Following the presentation, Mr. Dixon will sign copies of his book Barry Dixon Inspirations in the Jeffrey Michaels showroom (Suite A-168)

3 p.m. – Presentation:  Furnishing the Garden (Atrium C)

· Renowned interior designer Bunny Williams has loved gardening since her early upbringing in rural Virginia. As a designer, her superbly trained eye makes the eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories that she places in each room seem effortless, while her gardening style weaves together issues of scale, texture, color and use of space. Ms. Williams will share tips from her gardens in northwest Connecticut and in the Dominican Republic, show images of gardens around the world that have inspired her work, and speak about her new outdoor collection for Century Furniture.

This presentation will be immediately followed by a reception hosted by Century Furniture (Suite B-228) where Ms. Williams will sign copies of her book. Dessert and champagne will be served.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

10:30 a.m. – Panel Discussion:  Selecting an Interior Designer from the Architect & Developer’s Perspective (Atrium C)

· Robin Hodes, Editorial Acquisitions for Florida Design Magazine, will moderate this panel as architects, developers and industry professionals discuss how they choose an interior designer for their projects. The focus will be on how this important decision fits into the creative process, followed by audience Q&A.