La-Z-Boy Design Dash | Vote & Win

by | May 15, 2017 | All Things Home, Decorating | 37 comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

A few months ago, I was invited to be a participant in the La-Z-Boy Design Dash this year.  It’s a design competition that starts with a sofa and ends with a day and a half of racing to claim furniture & accessories in a showroom to put together an entire space in a few hours that will be photographed and voted on!  Eeep!

Here’s a quick video preview of the event…

My first thought when I was invited was that I would be totally out of my element.  I’ve always worked with antiques and second-hand pieces and I’m used to putting my stamp on everything.  Would I be able to put together a room with all new stuff?!

I didn’t know the answer to that question, but I like that this opportunity pulled me out of my bubble and would be a challenge.  Plus, I’ve had the chance to work with the people at La-Z-Boy before and they are top-notch.  So, I said yes.

I went to my local La-Z-Boy showroom in York, PA a few weeks ago and picked out the Phoebe sofa in a beautiful blue velvet fabric.  I liked the classic styling of the sofa and, since blue is my favorite color, it was a no brainer for me.

We had no idea what our rooms would look like, but each of us seemed to get a room that was perfect.  I loved the large windows, transoms, architectural detail, and the flooring in the room that was assigned to me.  We did get to select a Sherwin Williams paint color for the walls and I selected Pearly White, the color used in my Living and Dining rooms.

One of the best parts about the competition is I had the chance to hang out with some of my blog buddies.  And I go way back with some of them!  The fact that most of us knew each other made the event light-hearted and fun.

We arrived at the La-Z-Boy showroom in High Point and, within a few minutes of arriving, we were given the rules of the “dash” and lined up at the starting line.

So, the rules…  We were each given 50 stickers, 2 helpers, 1 cart, and 60 minutes in the 2 story showroom.  We claimed pieces with our stickers and those pieces would be taken to the studio the next day to use in our room.

I remember waiting behind the starting line, looking around the showroom for some artwork I saw at the store in York.  I would plow people over to get to that art.  If I could find that art, everything would fall into place.

Ready, set, go…

As you can see from the picture, I was running out the gate!  Within seconds, I spotted a green and blue woven pillow that drew me in. I started moving towards it and noticed Cassity from Remodelaholic walking towards it as well.  We both were caught up in the moment and dove towards our goal, which turned out to be entirely different things.  I was laying on the bed, an upset tray of accessories in my wake, laughing at myself.  All over a pillow.

It eased the tension, though.

My two helpers were fantastic.  They took things I claimed to my table, fumbled with removing the backs off of the stickers, so I could keep looking, etc.

(That pillow in my cart is the one I dove for!)

60 minutes actually ended up being plenty of time and I found myself circling again and again to claim new items, take pictures of ones I had claimed, and review the table of accessories I had collected.  In hindsight, I should’ve been quicker to claim things.  At the rate I was putting stickers on, you would think I was spending actual dollars!  Instead of picking four chairs, I would claim two and then change my mind and remove stickers off the first two and claim two more.  I did way too much editing in the showroom when I should’ve given myself plenty of options for the designing the next day.

My top priority was finding great artwork and then I would work from there.  The art I was hoping to find, landscape paintings of a cranberry bog (heavy on the greens and blues), wasn’t in this showroom, so I had to find something else that spoke to me.  The artwork I did find had more color in it, but I used it as my inspiration and selected pieces that would work with that art.

There were about 20 minutes remaining and I had only used about half of my stickers, so I gave a few to Cassity, who was already done with her dash, and to Kelly, the host of the event.  It was an impulsive thing, but I’m so glad I had a few “surprise design elements” to work with.  I ended up using a few of them in my finished space.

At one point during the dash, I heard someone announce that we could select pieces from the lobby as well.  I didn’t know where the lobby was and I was so focused on what I was doing that I didn’t take a minute to ask.  I was frantically looking for a tall piece of furniture, like a bookcase or etagere.  All of them were claimed.  I knew I would be suffering without something tall.  At the last minute, I tagged an enormous mirror that could add some height in a pinch.

The time was up and they ushered us into the foyer for a toast.  As I was sitting there, I spotted the most amazing green and blue plaid side chairs.  My heart sank.  I immediately recalled a piece of art with lots of blues and greens in it and it would’ve been perfect paired with those chairs…  I imagined a room coming together around my sofa and the chairs and artwork I didn’t claim.  I also noticed several unclaimed tall pieces.  Why, oh why, did I not go into the foyer?!

I pushed aside the “what ifs” swimming around my head as we visited the local Ronald McDonald House and then went to a local taco place for dinner.  Did you know La-Z-Boy furnishes all of the Ronald McDonald houses in the US?  I was very impressed with that.  While my son didn’t have to be hospitalized long-term when he was diagnosed with diabetes, many children are.  One boy in Calvin’s pump-training class was in the hospital for a month.

Touring the house did put things into perspective.

When we got back to the hotel, I was nagged by those pieces I didn’t claim.  I didn’t care if I won the contest, but I started to worry that I would hate my room.  I was rooming with Traci from Beneath My Heart and it’s hard to get too wrapped up in worry when you’re chatting with her!  She’s a blast and such a sweet friend.

A funny thing about Traci…she asked me to room with her when I went to my very first blog conference.  I had never met her and was worried that she would be annoying or a total nightmare to room with, so I opted to room by myself.  As soon as I met her, I wished I had said yes to her invitation.  Now, years later, we finally got to room together!

When we finally tucked in for the night, I couldn’t shut my brain off.  I kept thinking through the list of items I claimed and regretting the ones I didn’t.  Then, a realization hit me – when I looked over the showroom, scanning the walls for the artwork I wanted, everything worked.  Many different collections, styles, and color palettes were represented, but the overall aesthetic of the space was pleasing.  I don’t know if it would be possible to put together a room that was a complete train wreck.  With that thought, I was able to drift off to sleep.

The next day, we were taken to a studio and shown our rooms and sofas for the first time.  All of the stuff we claimed the day before was lined up in front of each “bay”.

Since my bay was first, I had the “movers” and photographers ready for me to start arranging.  I wished I had a minute to gather myself and just think, but we had a limited amount of time, so I had to dive in.  The first thing was to decide how the camera would be positioned, so I knew what would be in the shot.  With the way the room was oriented, the best option was shooting at an angle.  I usually prefer straight-on shots, but it was just too limiting for this space.

Once the angle was determined, things fell into place pretty quickly.  Since I had edited heavily during the dash, my options were pretty straight-forward.

I would shuffle things around and then check how it looked on the monitor.  This challenge was more about styling for a still photograph, so I made decisions based on that.  For example, I would’ve used two chairs opposite the sofa, but that blocked off the shot too much, so I ended up just using one.

I also ended up leaving a big white space in the corner, because anything I put there looked like it was just growing out of the sofa.

I used a trunk as a side table, even if it was the wrong scale for the chair it was next to.  It just peeked into the photograph, so it worked, but it didn’t look very good in person. I felt I needed to throw a disclaimer when people were checking out my space.

Once the furniture was arranged, I began to relax.  I was struggling a bit with the accessories, though.  And, just in time, I was called to take my 15 minute turn in the prop room.  Now, I was just expecting some vases, fruit, etc.  This was a two story prop room filled with everything from books to games to food, dishes, baskets, everything…  And antiques!  There were antiques!!  I was in my element in that prop room and I claimed things that were “me”.  An antique fan and alarm clock.  Warm woods, brass binoculars, old books, and a woven French laundry basket.

Those props made a big difference for me.  I also claimed some hydrangeas from the flower buckets and arranged them in an old mason jar.

Since I was the first one with the movers, the photographers, and in the prop room, I was one of the first ones finished.

Here is how my room came together…

I loved that artwork of the river.  I think it draws the eye into the room.  I based the colorful hooked cotton rug, pillows, and pops of yellow around it.  It gets cut out of the picture a little, but I love the large gold-leafed feather over the small blue cabinet.  That blue cabinet, by the way, was the piece that was most “me” out of everything I selected from the showroom.  I’m glad I was able to sneak it into the room.

In the interview after the event, I was asked how my room is different from the others.  I answered that, in my opinion, my room is the “quietest”.  The large windows and French doors sort of forced me to have more white space, which, if you’re familiar with my home, you know I like.  In that sense, it fit me perfectly.

As someone who has done some styling for photoshoots, though, I know that sometimes rooms that are “too quiet” don’t provide much visual interest.  So, we’ll see how it stacks up against rooms that have a bit more going on.

In the middle of all of the dashing, designing, and styling, we paused for interviews with Kelly and the crew.

And, of course, we were photographed a lot!  I don’t know what in the world was happening here…

And, when I was all done, I roamed around the studio to check out the other rooms…

Man, all of the rooms are so amazing!  I would think one was my favorite and then I would get to another one and think that one might be my favorite.  They’re all crazy good.

And, as I mentioned before, it was a good group of people, so we had such a good time together.  Even though it was a competition, it didn’t feel like it at all.  There was a sense that we all just wanted to do our best and love our rooms.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that La-Z-Boy brought in three of their top designers from showrooms around the country and they acted as a sounding board for us.

And there were teams of people who helped with hanging, moving, and fluffing.  There was even a “soft furnishings styling expert.”  She made sure all of the upholstery was camera ready.

It was fun, but it was tiring, too.  At least we had comfy furniture to sit on!

And they brought in a “glam squad” to spruce us up for the camera, which was a nice treat, especially after scooting around furniture and running through a two-story prop room!

We ended the day with a relaxed, celebratory dinner of southern comfort foods.  I mean, there was a mashed potato bar, mac & cheese, chicken & dumplings, grits, and a Krispy Kreme bread pudding.  How’s that for southern comfort food?

When I accepted the invitation, I was hoping this opportunity would pull me out of my bubble and would offer a challenge.  Both things were accomplished.  Being around other creatives and just talking about the blog world and social media and business and how everything is so different from when we started was really good for me.

And it was also good to work outside of my comfort zone.  I’m still an antiques-lover through and through, but it’s still good to push myself and continue to learn and grow as a stylist and designer.

Here’s a short video about my space…

And, since this is a competition, you have a chance to vote for your favorite room and will be entered for a chance to win $15,000 in product from La-Z-Boy with each vote you cast!  (You can vote once a day.)  The designer with the winning room will earn $10,000.  Not too shabby!  (It’s funny, but neither Traci nor I realized we won anything until about 3/4 of the way through!)

So, visit the Design Dash website and vote for a chance to win.  All of the rooms are amazing, so I have no idea how this one is going to shake out!  Good luck to you and to all of the Design Dash designers…

Click HERE to vote.

Disclosure: I received a piece of furniture from La-Z-Boy as compensation for participating in this event.  I do not receive any additional compensation for posting about the event on my blog or social media.  All words and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

 

Receive a Daily Dose of Encouragement and Inspiration!

Stay Inspired with Marian's Daily Blog Posts

Sign up to receive uplifting blog posts directly in your inbox! Join our community of like-minded individuals and start your day with a burst of creativity, motivation, and positivity. Whether you’re seeking decorating tips, DIY projects, or simply a dose of inspiration, Marian’s daily posts are sure to brighten your day and ignite your creativity. Don’t miss out on your daily dose of encouragement – subscribe now!

    37 Comments

    1. Sue

      How fun but I would have been stressed out having to make such quick decisions 🙂 Lots of beautiful rooms but I like yours the best (surprise, surprise).

      • S. Morton

        Ditto. Me too. Love your room. And no, I don’t do well making quick decisions either!!!

    2. Becky

      Marian, how fun was that?! What an amazing opportunity. I follow Traci’s blog also so I’m wishing you both the best of luck.

    3. Darcy

      How fun! I think your room turned out lovely! I love that couch – it is different, but still classic at the same time!

    4. Liz

      Interesting that 4 out of 7 sofas are blue! Love your room.

    5. Sue Pagels

      How fun! To me, it proves there is no right or wrong way to decorate – do what you love! I liked yours the best also – some of the other rooms had elements I didn’t care for, but they were all good. I hope you win! I voted, but can’t really tell if it “stuck” or not because there was nothing after punching your tab to vote.

    6. AlisonG

      Your room was my favorite because it was SO colorful and casual. I didn’t vote because I didn’t want to be on a mailing list, and I don’t need to win a room. Good Luck!

      • dayle

        You can opt out of being on a mailing list. Don’t need the room ( lucky you), wouldn’t it feel good if you were the winner to donate it to a local woman’s shelter?

        • Dolores

          Nice thought, dayle- but AlisonG would then be responsible for the taxes on the ‘free’ furniture..
          It would fall under the heading of ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ 🙂

    7. Linda F.

      Your room is gorgeous! What an amazing experience you must have had!! I love it all, but immediately zeroed in on the rug, because it is the exact thing I need for my family room. Is it from La-Z-Boy? Do you know what it is and where I can get it? Thanks!!

      • Marian Parsons

        Yes, it was in the La-Z-Boy showroom, so you should be able to get it from your local store or online.

    8. Naomi S.

      I definitely like your room best, Marian! One major reason is that you used some antique pieces. I just love the cozy throws, and the artwork of the river with those two blue lamps is beautiful! There’s a spaciousness yet a cozy feel to the room that I find so appealing. And, of course, I love blues, too. I’m voting for you!

    9. Jelena

      Marian, I couldn’t decide if I liked your room or Sarah’s room the best, but unfortunately, the rules for voting and prizes state that the winner would receive furniture from the room they voted for, and very few items from your two rooms would fit what I need for my home, so I had to go with Cassity’s room instead. Not fair! 🙁

      • Marian Parsons

        Cassity’s room was awesome! I love how her space turned out, so that’s a good choice! 🙂

      • Michelle O

        You don’t have to get the furniture from the room you voted from…you get to choose your own furniture. Also, you can vote once a day… 😉

    10. Jessica | Petal + Ply

      How fun!!! I recognized quite a few faces in the pictures you posted. What a crew of talented ladies! The sofa you picked is amazing.

    11. Michelle O

      Good luck Marian…hope we win!!

    12. Debbie

      Love your room! It was so much fun hanging out with you!!
      XO
      Debbie

    13. Carla from Kansas

      Looks like a fun challenge and you nailed it. Even if you did have to work with almost all “new” stuff. I liked several of the rooms and there were only a couple I didn’t feel like I could live in. Love to see what La-Z-Boy has available. Hope we win.

    14. Kim Price

      What fun you all have had! Loved the blue sofa you chose. I will go later and vote

    15. Chris Moore

      This looks like fun and LZB did a great job of organizing the event!

    16. Laura

      voted for yours! love it! good luck!

    17. Barbara

      What a fun event. Just for fun when I realized what was happening before I read too far into your post, I told myself to guess which one was your design. And I GUESSED RIGHT!!! 🙂 It’s beautiful! And I could see you in it. It spoke “Miss Mustard Seed” to me. See you this weekend at Lucketts!!

    18. Gavin from across the pond

      Wow what an exciting day ! I’m exhausted just reading, I’d love to spend a day in your shoes

    19. June Pope

      This sounds like it was a really fun time for everyone. Glad you got to go and you did a great job. Makes me look at La-z-Boy a little differently.
      I told my husband about the Krispy Kreme bread pudding. He’s a lover of both of those things and is demanding that you must now be in possseion of the recipe. Are you?

      • Marian Parsons

        Ha, no I do not have the recipe. I just ate it! I would imagine it’s similar to making a regular bread pudding, but you use Kristy Kremes instead of bread! I bet there is a recipe on Pinterest.

    20. Sharon Hankins

      Oh Marian, how beautiful! You did an amazing job. Heading over to vote for your room now…

    21. Deb Plapp

      I love your room. That painting is what really hooked me. All the yellow and blue you used in the room made it all come together. Very nice.

    22. Deb Plapp

      P.S. I’m so envious, I would love to do that.

    23. Julie Briones

      So, so fun! Thanks for sharing! Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the ‘competition’!

    24. Kathleen

      Love your design & tips on shooting/styling the room! Thank you for sharing your experience with us & being so gracious to all your teammates in the “contest”.
      As a floor designer in a large furniture store, I read your blog daily for inspiration & camaraderie….Love the way the blues & yellows were tied in through the picture & the colorful (but not overbearing) rug. Thank you for inspiring me! I voted for you!

    25. Beth Norwood

      Your room came together perfectly! I can see that picking the painting first made the difference. Everything tied in perfectly. You say it’s quiet…I say it’s happy, relaxed, and you! I love the golds with the blues!

    26. Bonnie

      I honestly thought your room is the best so I voted for your room. It looks so comfortable! Thanks for pointing out that you picked out the sofa and art work first. That makes a lot of sense to pick those pieces out first when decorating a room. It looks like kind of a stressful event but also like a lot of fun.

    27. Pat Miller

      Gosh! So much talent out there!
      All you ladies are winners in my book; however I hope YOU get the prize!
      Good luck!

    28. Glo.

      I have followed several of these bloggers for about the same amount of time (years), you included in that group. Visiting your blog has always been like having coffee with that ‘little sister’. It made me smile and love you more, that I genuinely loved your room the most and felt most at home with.

    29. Becca

      Even though you weren’t working with antique furniture, the room can still be recognized as being your “style” because of your eye for color and detail. I tried to choose a different from, but none of them spoke to me the way your room did. It just looks like home. Hope you win!

    30. L. THOMPSON

      I too preferred your room and the items in it. The picture is the first thing I see when I view the room. I doubt I would have chosen it, but I love it, something different. You did an amazing job tying the room furnishings to this print and the colors. Good luck and hope you win. Now if I can remember to vote each day!

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This