Second of three parts on this week's topic: antiques

Soon, area residents can view what will be the last of several antiques vignettes at Judy Frankel’s Antiques Centre of Troy. Judy Frankel, owner, and Cindy Schwartz, store manager, have been organizing specially designed spaces at their Troy location monthly for the past two years. And although November's is the last, it’s certainly not the least. In fact, the designer creating this antiques vignette — Corey Damen Jenkins of Design with Vision: DWV Interiors in Bloomfield Hills — just may be the most popular yet, thanks to his upcoming appearance on HGTV.

“We’re really excited about Corey designing a space here,” said Schwartz of Huntington Woods. “He’s talented. He works really hard and to get to the point where he was chosen for an HGTV show takes a lot. That’s some circle to be in.”

Jenkins, who grew up in Rochester Hills, was selected to star in HGTV's Showhouse Showdown. A Midland, MI, episode, scheduled to air this December (check his site on the exact date soon) features a  competition between two premier interior designers (Jenkins and Birmingham’s Michelle Mio of Rariden Schumacher Mio), who take over two newly built and identical homes with the same budgets to create a winning interior design. One designer is voted the winner by members of the public who represent the developer’s target market. The goal is to impress potential buyers in an open house tour. The victor's interior design portfolio will be added to HGTV’s  national designer directory, which is viewed by millions of potential clients.  

As for the inspiration for creating the special space at the Antiques Centre, that was Schwartz’s idea.

“It’s our space, their style,” said Schwartz, who’s always excited about how local designers turn the space into a head-turning room. “They always go so beyond what we thought they would do. They’ll do wall treatments, moldings, build-outs ... it’s amazing.”   

Schwartz said that many antiques shops showcase tabletop vignettes, but most don’t have the space to do a whole room. “It’s great for customers, designers and the community to come and view them." 

Jenkins’ creation, called Salon de Musique, is his modern, 21st-century interpretation of a classic French music room. “We’ll have a lacquered piano, a gentleman's study and more,” said Jenkins. “It will be elegant and airy — a room bathed in light cremes and whites,with a lot of mirrors.” Mirrors, incidentally, offer a great way to maximize a room’s style, reports HGTV.com. "Not your granny's antiques," Jenkins said with a smile.  

Jenkins officially launched his design business two years ago and retained his first client last year. “It took a while to get off the ground, but I think I’m there.”

Corey Damen Jenkins’ design vignette opens at the Antiques Centre of Troy on Nov. 16 with a special event, some of the proceeds of which will benefit the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It runs fromt 5-7 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested. For more information, call the Antiques Centre at (248) 649-4399.

From earlier this week:

'Ebay Effect,' Economy Hurt Antiques' Value – But Not Their Appeal