Design on a Dime 2018

Combining the grace and elegance of Far East culture with the fierceness of the one and only Kim Chi, Francis Interiors’ founder, Francis Toumbakaris, was thrilled to present his room design showcase, “Memoirs of a Gay-sha,” at Housing Works' prestigious annual Design on a Dime benefit in 2018.

Having cumulatively spent more than a year in Japan, where he visited 70 cities throughout the country, Toumbakaris has a strong connection to Far East culture, people and design. After finding inspiration for the design challenge in a blossom wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries, Toumbakaris developed a Far East theme for his showcase room that featured several portraits of RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favorite, Kim Chi. In a delightful turn of events, Kim Chi herself visited the vignette to pose for photos during the event. Francis Interiors is proud to have been able to contribute to Housing Works' record-breaking fundraising efforts in 2018.