David Stark Design and Production

12/30/2024

We’ve been in Marrakesh for five days now, and yesterday we took a day trip to the Atlas Mountains which was extraordinary. Each day is more inspiring than the next. 🇲🇦

Many of you have privately asked me for our itinerary. Of course, I’m happy to share, but we need to give credit where credit is due. This trip is incredible due to the amazing folks at and their partners on the ground at . It’s not just the suggestions that they have made on where to go, but it’s the expertise (and kindness) of the professionals that we have been surrounded by from the moment we have arrived, and it’s also the ACCESS. I mean, we are going into artists studios, seeing construction sites of historic projects, gaining entry to private experiences that you’d never typically be able to see, and are gifted the context to it all by such wonderful guides that we are walking away with a brilliant education on culture, politics, religion, art, history, architecture — the list goes on. We are also making friends. Here we are with Mahdy (in the yellow kicks) who has been leading the charge with us in Marrakesh. We are grateful for you and your team, “Cariño.” 😂😉🤣

I wish I was part of the beta trial here on Instagram that would allow me to post more than ten shots on a carousel as I’m bursting at the seams with inspiration to share. But, alas, I’ll have to settle for the ten slots they currently allow. 😉

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12/27/2024

It’s been a year of transformations. Whether that be
converting the dining hall of the in Princeton, NJ into a technicolor laboratory with our friends at or the conversion of the theater at into a Super Bowl fantasy for , it’s been a year of thinking big from top to bottom, and it’s truly what we love to do.

We’d like to take a moment to thank our dear clients and partners for putting their trust in us for these very important endeavors. We know how much is riding on their success, and we’ll always take that seriously.

Swipe ◀️ to see just a few of our 2024 transformations.
All 📷 by except for 📷 6 & 10 by ;

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays, whichever one you celebrate. We hope you have the best day (and a wonderful rest of your week!) 😘

12/24/2024

These were our first ready-made menorahs shot a few years back, and this idea has inspired the recent creations we posted over the last few days. We are going to make new ones next year — now officially an annual, holiday tradition. For now, though, swipe ◀️ to see our first attempts at the genre. 🕎

Any thoughts on everyday materials we should try working with for our next installment? All 💡’s are appreciated.
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12/24/2024

12/22/2024

A few years back, we made our very first ready-made menorahs out of everyday stuff — sugared donuts, bread, paint brushes, and more! We’re back with a fresh installment for your viewing pleasure. 🕎

We’ve long been fascinated with repurposing materials that were intended for other uses, and just when I think we’ve exhausted our list of ideas, a whole array of new ones present themselves. If you had to pick just one, which one would you choose?

Swipe ◀️ to see the options.
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12/21/2024

Hanukkah is four days away, and if you don’t have a menorah, don’t worry! Maybe you have some soap in the closet or a bowl of pennies, for instance? Here are a bunch of ideas you can create one out of — all made from the everyday things that surround us. 😉

We’ll share a whole new set tomorrow, but in the meantime, swipe left for four thought starters. 🕎
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12/19/2024

What a pleasure it was to take the main stage in front of more than 400 industry colleagues at Amelia Island. ‘Keeping it Fresh’ is always top of mind, and it was fun to share five principals that we live by:

💡 You Never Stop Auditioning
💡 Constraints Breed Innovation
💡 The Relentless Pursuit Wins
💡 Don’t Take Your Foot Off the Gas
💡 Create with Purpose

It was an also a double pleasure to return to the stage with our dear friend and collaborator for a fireside chat on ‘Taking the Leap ‘ — lessons learned on the road of our professional journeys.

The days (and nights!) were filled with inspiring talks by great friends and leaders in the event industry, beautiful details, and a ton of great energy. A giant thank you to for hosting us so warmly, and to and : You should be very proud. It’s an honor to be there with you, and I thank you so much for having me.

Swipe ◀️ for more.

12/17/2024

Luxe simplicity at Philip Johnson’s iconic masterpiece: The Grill.
Planning:
Design and Production:
Venue: The Pool and The Grill | |
Catering:
Lighting Design:
Lighting Production:
Entertainment and Audio:
Stationary and Calligraphy:
Wedding Cake:
Wedding Photography:
Wedding Videography:
After Party Venue: The Lobster Club | |
After Party DJ:
After Party Talent: Suzanne Bartsch
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12/15/2024

The Pool — the iconic restaurant designed by Philip Johnson ( formerly known as The Four Seasons ) is one of the most revered rooms in NYC. Whenever we work there, we think about “respecting the architecture” and ask ourselves, how can we make the room personal for the event at hand? How can we enhance it for this special occasion, but do so in a way that would make Mr. Johnson proud?

This is our latest attempt at just that — a festive wedding smack-dab in the center of December’s holiday season, which we think is a fabulous time to get married. Regardless, we hope Mr. Johnson would approve of our luxe simplicity. Thank you, Sir, for giving us such a special place to be endlessly inspired by.
Planning:
Design and Production:
Venue: The Pool and The Grill | |
Catering:
Lighting Design:
Lighting Production:
Entertainment and Audio:
Stationary and Calligraphy:
Wedding Cake:
Wedding Photography:
Wedding Videography:
After Party Venue: The Lobster Club | |
After Party DJ:
After Party Talent: Suzanne Bartsch
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12/13/2024

What foods would you like to see us play with next? As we ruminate on our next creative journeys, we’d love your feedback.

Swipe ◀️ for part two of our 2024 roundup of food forays. 🥖 🥕 🌽 🥦 🍞
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12/11/2024

Our last event of 2024 was on Monday, and I’m already reflecting on this truly creative period. During the year, we’ve hit farmers markets and bakeries for inspiration quite often, making installations from materials culled from their stands, but we have so many more ideas in the oven ( all puns intended! 😉), and we can’t wait to continue pushing this work further.

In the meantime, swipe ◀️ to see a survey of just some of these projects from this past year. For me, it’s gratifying to see them assemble as a collection — a little exhibition in this Instagram “gallery.”
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12/09/2024

I recently started following , and author Amie McNee advices, “Promote your creations for years after the launch.” So, I’m going to shamelessly follow her lead: If you need a wonderful holiday gift for that person in your life who loves to entertain, reveres the handmade, is fascinated with history, and finds joy in creating a mean tablescape, our book AT THE ARTISAN’S TABLE, created in collaboration with designer (and dear friend!) is what you are looking for.

Swipe ◀️ to see more from our chapter entitled, Black Basalt, an unexpected hue and material choice for the holidays. What do you think? Is black festive or funereal?

You can purchase AT THE ARTISAN’S TABLE online as well as at bookstores and specialty shops everywhere. There is also a link in our bio where you are one click away from making it yours! 😉

HO HO HO
AT THE ARTISAN’S TABLE
By and
Photographs by
Text by
Design by
Published by
📷 1 - 7 by ; 📷 8 - 9 by 📱;

12/07/2024

Behind the scenes as the gang builds the environment for a special, tented evening.

What you see in this carousel spans over five days of install, and that’s after three weeks of erecting the tents on the property. These productions are an incredible amount of work and require so many talented and dedicated people to get the job done. Is it worth it? Absolutely — celebrating the milestones of our short lives and making memories that last a lifetime, truly matter. I’ll go to the grave with that.

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Wedding Planning and Executive Producer:
Design, Production, & Florals:
Venue: .art, Montauk |
Tenting:
Catering:
Entertainment:
Lighting Designer:
Lighting, AV, and Draping:
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12/06/2024

In the heyday of magazines, I would often be asked for my tips and tricks on how to mix patterns. This was deemed “service to the reader.” 😉 While I would always come up with a checklist of things to think about — vary the scale of patterns, mix motifs with similar hues and intensities, add in solids here and there to keep the pattern play from becoming overwhelming, for all intents and purposes, it’s instinctual.

The artist Matisse was brilliant at this sport as is my dear friend, who I collaborated with on our book AT THE ARTISAN’S TABLE, which is filled to the brim with patterns galore. Images 5, 6, and 10 in this carousel are from the book, and I love them for their fearless mixes.

Swipe ◀️ to see more recent examples of our pattern play out in the world — from Saint Tropez to a farm in Vermont.
📷 1 - 4 by ; 📷 5, 6, & 10 by ; 📷 7 - 9 by

12/05/2024

A wise man once said, surround yourself with people much smarter than you are. I say, make them real nice too. 😉

Celebrating this team of extraordinary humans.

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📷 1 by ; 📷 4 & 6 by ; All other 📷 by 📱;

12/03/2024

At this point in the year, I get reflective, and so much has transpired over the course of 2024, it’s hard to believe that this event was even within this calendar year. Replete with an oversized jeep as a DJ booth, suspended canvas “tents,” and a parade of animals from the Savanna, we collaborated on this African safari fantasy with our dear friend , and what a way it was to start the year afresh! Norma, we’ll go on safari with you anytime!

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Event Planning and Design:
Design and Production:
Venue:
Catering:
Lighting:
AV:
Games and Amusements:
Band:
DJ:
Event Photography:
📷 1 & 3 by ; 📷 2, 4, 7, 9 & 10 by ; 📷 5 & 6 by 📱; 🎥 8 by 📱;

12/01/2024

Have you got some vegetables left from your Thanksgiving feast? Here’s an idea for what you can do with them. 💡🥬 🕯️

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📷 by ; 🎥 by , utilizing 📷 by