Meet the Connecticut Judges
Brad Ford
Brad Ford is a high-end interior designer based in New York City. With a highly edited vision and a strong hand, Brad has developed a spare, modern aesthetic with a warm soul. Originally from Russellville, Arkansas, he moved to Manhattan almost 25 years ago and established his own firm Brad Ford ID in 1998 with an emphasis on residential spaces. His interiors showcase signature designs that are understated yet sophisticated, straightforward, elegant and functional. Balance, light, space and color factor into all of his designs, creating a timeless effect. Clean lines and simple but well-crafted furnishings, with an attention to texture and the highest quality materials are Brad Ford ID essentials. “We create environments that complement and suit the lifestyle and personality of the client. Whether the room is formal or casual, traditional or modern, accessibility and comfort are a must.”
Brad has been featured as one of “10 New Designers to Watch” in both New York SpacesMagazine and New York Magazine, and was also named one of America’s Top Young Designers by House Beautiful and Traditional Home. In addition, his work has appeared in a number of shelter magazines and publications across the country including HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens),Elle Décor, Lonny, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He’s been profiled on 1stdibs.com, the world’s largest online luxury marketplace and most recently he was listed as part of the next generation of design in Departures Magazine. The International Furnishings and Design Association recognized him as one of the Rising Stars of Interior Design and Charles Cohen along with the Decoration & Design building in New York awarded him the 2012 Star on the Rise award. Brad is a member of the Design Leadership Network, a membership organization founded to strengthen business practices in the design industry, and was recently given the DLN’s annual Design Leadership Award. He also serves on the board of the Collective, an innovative design fair in New York City that presents a curated selection of the best in contemporary and 20th century international galleries In addition, Brad is the founder of Field + Supply, a modern makers craft fair in upstate New York as well the showroom FAIR in New York City which also focuses on high-end handcrafted furnishings. Brad has numerous altruistic pursuits as well, but is most notably a committed advocate for DIFFA and The Alpha Workshops, two design-oriented charities focused on raising money and awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Young Huh
Young Huh Interiors is a full service design firm specializing in residential and commercial interiors. With impeccable attention to detail, Young’s projects are conceived and tailored to fit each client’s personality and needs.
Fluent in a wide range of styles from historic to contemporary, Young’s interiors reflect her love of art and artisans, materials and textures. Young designs spaces that are timeless, combining classic proportions with eclectic, chic styling.
A native of Detroit, Young was an English major at Smith College and received a law degree from Fordham Law School. After pursuing further education and an internship in interior design, Young concluded that design was her true calling. Armed with practical experience and a lifelong love of art, she founded her firm in 2007. “Equally important to having great creative instincts, my legal training has reinforced a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and an ability to see every transaction from different angles.”
The firm’s work has been featured in several shelter publications and, in 2011, CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) honored Young with the “Innovation in Design Award for Interior Design.” She participated in The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Project Design in Fall 2013, as well RMH’s Phase II, and LXTV Open House prominently featured Young and her room in its coverage. Young was also selected as one of the new designers to join the prestigious 2014 Kips Bay Decorators Show House and her “Hollyhock Lounge” was featured on CBS This Morning, as well as online in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Interior Design and Lonny magazines. In addition, Young and three other rising design stars were recruited to collaborate with the Peter Fasano Studio to create a unique hand-screened fabric, which was featured in the October 2014 issue of House Beautiful.
Marshall Watson
New York-based interior designer Marshall Watson is best-known for creating classic, light-filled interiors with a modern sensibility. Internationally recognized, his projects have spanned the globe, from Cabo to Stockholm and across the United States. As an award-winning designer, Marshall’s work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Veranda, Luxe, Cottages & Gardens and Traditional Home. He is currently working on his fourth furniture collection with Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman, available nationwide, as well as an outdoor carpet line with Doris Leslie Blau. Also known for his design column in the Southampton Press, Marshall divides his time between his Upper West Side office and his home in East Hampton.
Amy Lau
Founded in 2001, Amy Lau Design creates interiors known for their warmth, expressiveness and impeccable attention to detail. Amy has a reverence for the inherent beauty of natural materials and landscapes, and thoughtfully incorporates elements of each into every project. Embracing both art and design, each personalized space is enlivened with dynamic mixes of vintage and contemporary pieces, and site-specific commissions.
Amy’s portfolio of luxurious residential interiors includes an array of artistic and sophisticated homes throughout the world.
The Arizona native developed a deep passion for design and honed her curatorial eye studying eminent historians. She received her master’s in fine and decorative art from the prestigious Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She then served as a director at Thomas O’Brien’s Aero and spent five years as the design director of noted mid-century specialist Lin-Weinberg Gallery in New York City.
Amy Lau Design published a monograph in 2011, and Amy accepted an honorary doctorate from New York School of Interior Design the following year. She served as a spokesperson for Benjamin Moore’s 2010-2011 campaign “Paint with the Very Best.” She has designed spaces for renowned show houses like Kips Bay in New York and has created distinctive interior installations for Kohler, Bergdorf Goodman, Lladró, Baccarat, and the Showtime television network. The firm completed an exclusive boutique for Elie Tahari in East Hampton, New York, and is creating the home furnishings showroom Maviar in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Amy Lau Design recently collaborated with Architectural Digest designing the inaugural AD Design Studio for the Architectural Digest Design Show in New York.