Winter Design Show to feature TV host, medical expert, renowned designer

The 2021 Winter Design Show: Flaunting the First Coast, featuring some familiar names from television and design, will be held Dec. 3-5.

The event is a new and reimagined version of the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Art & Antiques Show, which raises funds for the hospital.

As it has for more than four decades, the show will herald the holiday season.

“The Winter Design Show will bring many of the prized elements from its previous decades as the Art & Antiques Show while broadening and evolving its concept,” said Robin Albaneze, president of The Women’s Board. “’Flaunting the First Coast’ is an appropriate theme to showcase all of the talent right here in our community, in one space, for an event benefitting the hospital.”

The show will feature more than 45 exhibitors, including local and nationally recognized designers, artists, antique dealers and decor retailers.

Returning to the event are the black-tie gala, The Children’s Fashion Show featuring Wolfson Children’s patients and lectures by renowned speakers.

Here’s a look at this year’s speakers:

• Ty Pennington, Emmy Award-winning television host, designer, carpenter and author will focus his presentation on sustainable design and construction while featuring his St. Augustine home.
• Jennifer Arnold, neonatologist and co-star of TLC’s “The Little Couple,” will offer the keynote session about overcoming obstacles with optimism.
• Janie Molster, author of “House Dressing: Interiors for Colorful Living” and acclaimed Southern designer based in Richmond, Virginia, will reveal the secret behind her unique ability to craft dreamy interiors and share down-to-earth advice for creating your own beautiful and personal spaces.

The designers, artists, antiques dealers and other exhibitors at the show will share their work amid a backdrop that celebrates Northeast Florida. Interior designer and event creative director Fitz Pullins is behind the theme, “Flaunting the First Coast.” Attendees will be able to explore a path through the distinct and diverse personalities of the First Coast’s neighborhoods.

“From my home in Avondale, just outside the heart of Jacksonville’s downtown, to historic Springfield, from Fernandina past American Beach and following the coast of A1A, I’ve run into no shortage of inspiration behind ‘Flaunting the First Coast,’” said Pullins. “Creating an experience through the art and design that celebrates my hometown and supports our community and its children alongside The Women’s Board is especially rewarding.”

The Women’s Board aims to raise $1 million from the show for an endowment supporting the new world-class Neonatal Intensive Care Center in the Wolfson Children’s Critical Care Tower.

The endowment will help provide for programs, equipment and services for the center, which will open in February. All proceeds will be matched 150% by Baptist Health.

“The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital was the first organization to commit to an endowment for the new Wolfson Children’s Critical Care Tower, and for more than 40 years, this extraordinary event has helped to support and save the lives of many patients,” said Michael Aubin, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

The show, chaired by Kymberly Wolfson, Heather Creel and Kristina Powell, will take place at the Prime Osborn III Convention Center and continues to welcome exhibitors and sponsors. To get involved as a sponsor and exhibitor, contact (904) 202-2866.

For further information, go to womensboardwch.com.

General admission tickets are $15 and include the entire three-day event. Individual lecture tickets start at an additional $30. To purchase tickets or learn more about the 2021 Winter Design Show, go to womensboardwch.com/2021-winter-design-show.