Chicago Design Blog | Material Girls | Chicago Interior Design

Spain enchants me……On my very first trip to this captivating country,  I had the opportunity to be swept off my feet and to travel to Spain courtesy of Cosentino, the makers of Silestone, Sensa and Eco products. Cosentino’s current production capacity is 700,000 square meters of engineered stone per year, making it the largest manufacturer of engineered stone slabs in the world. The opportunity to visit their quarries and manufacturing plant and to get an all exclusive behind-the-scenes pass of everything Cosentino was the highlight of my summer.  And what a trip it was.

Starting in Barcelona, my husband  (Edels) and I met up with a group of fast paced and trend-setting  people in the design industry who were also part of this “party”. No expense was spared to provide us with an intimate glimpse into the culture and traditions of Spain. Being in the company with other like-minded design aficionados really was a treat, and in Spain we all aligned and gathered some roots.  Salutations to my friends who joined me on the trip…Patty Dominguez-Field Marketing Director for Cosentino, the leader of our group and the one who treated us all like royalty; Lisa Henry-National President of ASID , Randy Fiser-CEO of ASID  ; Shawn and Edward Alshut  -Duo architects of Studio A2 in Atlanta; Amanda Zitlin  and Terri Crittenden – both designers at the Chicago Interior Design Firm of Susan Fredman. What an amazing time we had together and experiences that I will never forget. We laughed, learned and shared much.

Along with experiencing some of the astounding sites, restaurants, shopping and nightlife to be seen in Barcelona, we were able to visit a local Silestone dealer and to gather in their exquisite showroom. We were then zoomed off  to Almeria  where we were able to visit Cosentino Headquarters. Upon our arrival to the airport, is was apparent that Cosentino had had a hand unto the design.  Cosentino is a  global leader within its field, is devoted to the responsible and innovative development of top-quality surfaces and is the world´s major producer of quartz surfaces, it is a family business consortium financed entirely with Spanish capital. I greatly admire their values and hope to aspire to them all within my own business.

A modern interior all created with Cosentino stone…

The Cosentino Headquarters certainly were a sight to see.  A very memorable part of the trip was having the opportunity to check out Cosentino’s Silestone quarries. Silestone is a naturally beautiful, durable quartz. (As you can see below!) Silestone is the world’s leading natural quartz surface and features a range of more than 65 unique colors! Silestone is the one and only worktop made of quartz with anti-bacterial protection, giving it hygienic properties that are not to be found anywhere else on the market. All in all, I love their products-having installation plotted for my new home in Arizona and my Buckingham I + D Showroom!

A Cosentino quarry- a great view of it all….

Of course, all that walking around quarries got all of our shoes a little dirty!  And check out my nail polish-quite the popular color this summer- Essie Bikini So Teeny! I just can’t resist a nod to fashion which sets off a light bulb for daily inspiration. I have been using blue quite a bit lately within my client projects. Just an FYI-this color has been sold out FOREVER- this was my swan song-best place for that bad news. Inspiration quite literally never stops!

 I am SO excited to be adding Cosentino’s Silestone in the color Lagoon in the Buckingham I+D showroom! It was such a great experience to watch the entire process- and look at the gorgeous results. We are all simply drooling over this color-simple and timeless- and my team is impatiently waiting for the BI+D installation!

While we were onsite- an interesting part of our trip was watching the manufacturing of Silestone.  Love this group pic of us respecting the process of proper and safe protocol for one of the most environmentally sound products in the world.

We had some very special group outings during the trip, including a luncheon within the private offices of the heart of the Cosentino Headquarter’s. The beautifully catered affair was an intimate glimpse of the fortitude, intelligence and elegance of the family themselves. Let it be said that our day together was regal in feel. I have had a glimpse of what it feels like to exhibit core values on every level-and their embrace of the generations of family that will carry on these values for many more years to come.

Our castle- Luncheon with Paco and his exquisite olive oil at Castillo de Canena

Oh the architecture…historic and regal.  We were received as friends and left as such!

John and me during our final night in Granada..Alhambra Castle in the background. A night to treasure forever.

Thank you to the Chicago Cosentino Center for the Prexury Petrified Wood on the island and Haiku Silestone on the perimeter countertop in my designed kitchen at the CS Interiors 5th Anniversary Showcase at the Ritz-Carlton Residences (Open House October 12-13). Purchase tickets here. You will love it all as the Chicago design community has again proven what we can do!

 And a nod of gratitude to all of the Cosentino Family for the opportunity to have been invited to travel to Spain and to have been embraced as a part of their larger family. My experiences there have peaked my keen design interest to see what new and innovative products Cosentino comes up with next. I think that we all should stay tuned!

Adios amigos! xx

 

As many of you know, Pantone recently released their color palettes for Spring 2013. But we want to talk FALL! Every week I’m honored to join in one of Twitter’s best chats, #IntDesignerChat. This week some of the industry’s top interior designers came together to discuss what is hot for fall’s interiors. Check it out and let me know what colors YOU’RE loving right now!

 

One of my favorite elements of design is that inspiration comes from many different places. I was recently quoted in CS Interiors’ “It’s Glow Time” Summer 2012 issue. I was asked what I felt about a horned CT Chair. Although opinions were differed, it sparked an idea. Why not write about some interesting (whether you like them or not) designs that are inspired by nature!

1. Custommade designer Naturalism Furniture
2. Smarin Designs
3. Vine Bowl Baskets
4. Studio Aisslinger
5. VivaTerra
6. Tshuka
7. Unknown- photo credit: designer Jarlath Mellett
8. Cappellini
9. Nadezhda Moiseeva
10. Christian Norhave
11. Bodo Sperlein
12. Jesse Shaw

As you can see, I ran across several different and intriguing designs. Some modern, all unique- I certainly had a fun time finding all of these! So here goes the hard part, who can name the nature-inspiration behind all 12 pieces? I’ll comment later and give you the answers. No cheating! Comment below!

I’ve run into several people lately that have asked about my role in this year’s High Point Market. I am so psyched and honored to have been given such a fun role in the show so I wanted to write a quick post discussing High Point, my role as a Style Spotter and also some of the benefits for going!

So… what is High Point?
The High Point Market is the world’s largest furnishings industry trade show that happens every six months. With over 100 million square feet of show-space, this event attracts over 75,000 attendees at each market with 100+ countries representing more than 2,000 exhibitors. All in all, it’s a huge show with just an amazing group of people. (And have I mentioned the parties?!)

What is a Style Spotter?
As mentioned earlier, I am over the moon that I have been asked by the HP Market to be a Style Spotter during the festivities.  I will be among eight other special somebodies (I’ve highlighted three here in my last post) and I have been given the honor of showcasing my favorite products and top trends at the Market. To see what I discover during the Market (October 13-18) make sure you are following my High Point Market board on Pinterest! The idea behind it is simple, yet brilliant. Pinterest is a website that allows users to organize and share visual content on virtual boards. Everything that I come across during my High Point journey will be captured and will be visible on my dedicated board. The best part is that as an Internet user from home, you have total access to everything I see and love- and you can be involved too!

How to Vote:
One of the fun parts about being a Style Spotter is there’s some friendly competition. If you like what you see on Pinterest, like it and repin! Each time you “like” a pin it’s considered 1 point and when you “repin” it’s 2 points. These points add up, so to show your support vote for your favorite designs/designers like and repin often! The winning Style Spotter is chosen by who has the most points!

One Last Note For STUDENTS:
I could not stress enough how important it is to get in the game while you’re young and still in school. We were all where you are today and personally, I love meeting and mentoring young aspiring designers! You keep me young and greatly remind me of myself at your age. If you have the time and resources, you should seriously consider attending High Point Market this year. And guess what? It’s FREE ADMISSION. In order to apply for a student pass, you must be enrolled in as college/university degree program with a course of study that is relative to home furnishings and students may only attend the last three days of Market. You must request a pass by having your program professor email a request to registration@highpointmarket.org and it must be on letterhead. The deadline is October 1, 2012. I hope to see some fresh faces this year at High Point- please find me if you attend!

Again, I am so excited to be a Style Spotter this year at the High Point Market. Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest board and share your favorite pins! See you there (virtually or literally!)

 

Charisma Blue

Green living is hot, hot, hot right now, and everyone seems to be looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint in any way they can, particularly in decorating.  One of my favorite environmentally friendly products is Vetrazzo, a surface manufacturing company that produces cement based slabs infused with recycled glass products.  100% of the glass is reused, coming from either curbside recycling or from post-consumer manufacturing, such as discarded bottles from the Skyy Vodka and Heineken factories.  If you get lucky, you might even get a piece of glass in your surface that contains a leftover bottle label!  Although it is technically a manmade product, 85% of the entire surface is recycled!  Whether you decide to use it for a tabletop, kitchen counter or backsplash, you can feel good about having a chic, beautiful and eco-friendly surface!

Thom Filicia and Artistic Tile’s table, using Vetrazzo, at DIFFA Dining by Design event

Alehouse Amber

Bistro Green with Patina

Cobalt Skyy with Patina

Hollywood Sage

Floating Blue

Cubist Clear

Some photos from various Vetrazzo installations…

 

 

Cubist Woman
Judith Deim

I love sharing my modern + antique finds with my clients, MG followers and shelter mag readers.  Now, I am so thrilled to say that I will be sharing my favorite pieces from Buckingham Interiors + Design with 1stdibs members too!  I loved being a part of the One Kings Lane Design Blogger Tastemaker Tag sale, and now I have been asked to be a dealer on one of my other favorite sites.  I will have my collection up and ready for viewing tomorrow at 12pm CST!

I have long been virtually obsessed with 1stdibs, aka “The Most Beautiful Things on Earth” (love their tag line).  As a site dedicated to the highest quality of all things furniture, fashion, art…you name it, I feel strongly that 1stdibs has maintained the integrity of high end products while still making it all accessible to an internet audience.

Here are some of my current favorites on 1stdibs now-  from the only place where one can view “Storefronts” of 1200 of the most respected antiques dealers in the world!

Lip Streaks (Donna Mitchell), New York, 1967
Melvin Sokolsky
1967

Pair Of Hans Wegner ‘Halyard’ Chairs , Denmark 1957

 Silas Seandel Free Form Coffee Tables

Wicker Park project that will be featured in tomorrow on LXTV Open House

I had such a blast when I hosted an LXTV tour of my own home on Chicago’s North Shore, and was so excited when I was invited back as a guest designer to give a tour of one of my projects in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

This project was several years in the making, and I must say that it is one of my proudest achievements.  The home is loved and cherished by a lovely family and I was so lucky that they were willing to embark on this journey with me in pushing the design envelope a bit in a surprising fashion.  This house is an amazing 19th century Italianate manse that the family-along with the renowned Chicago architectural firm of Vinci Hamp and famed Chicago Landscape Design firm, Hoerr Schaudt and myself- completely gutted and restored from top to bottom.  No detail was overlooked in this massive undertaking.  It was definitely worth the years of waiting for the big reveal. The house is beyond amazing, especially since it sits on a rare 5 city lots in the heart of one of Chicago’s chicest and most historic neighborhoods.  It is like a suburban paradise in the middle of its urban surroundings!

Join me on the tour tomorrow (Sunday, March 4th) during LXTV Open House on NBC Channel 5 at 10:30 AM CST.  I would love to have my MGs tune in

Here’s a sneak peek of what you will be seeing tomorrow…

Photos all from Buckingham Interiors + Design website and photographed by Eric Hausman.

 

Exterior of this North Shore home

All of my projects are special and unique in some way, but one particular project was unlike anything I’d done before. Well, it was exactly like what I’d done before…it was the same house, but a different client!  I had designed this particular North Shore home for lovely clients back in 2008, but they sold the home a few years later to an equally lovely couple, who wanted me to overhaul the home and take it in a completely different direction than I had done for the previous homeowner.  Make no mistake- they loved the home as it was designed before and fell in love with it “as was.”  It was a surprise to see their home on my website after being referred by a mutual friend. I like this kind of surprise

Although they did keep some of the same features and fixtures as the previous homeowner, their design aesthetic was driven towards a more colorful and layered feel. I knew that we were moving away the “French” feel after several consultations and Merchandise Mart visits with them proved. The look of the home under the previous homeowner had been very “French Country”, but my new clients wanted more of a modern, eclectic feel.  Very different, but equally as fun!  This is a wonderful home, and I am so glad that it has had such loving homeowners!  Welcome fabulous art that we sourced in New York together.  A nod to Indian and Chinese influences.

Take a look at the “then” and “now” photos…keep an eye out for the new owners pup making a cameo

Photographs courtesy of Buckingham Interiors + Design.

Living room 2012

Living Room 2012

Living Room 2012

Living Room 2008

Dining Room 2012

Dining Room 2012

Dining Room 2008

Hallway 2012

Hallway 2008

Stairway 2012

Stairway 2008

Kitchen 2012

Kitchen 2008

Master Bedroom 2012

Master Bedroom 2008

Family Room 2012

Den 2012

Indoor Pool 2012

Backyard of house

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all.  I LOVE this day.  Hoping that you all have an amazing one! xx

I was so excited to see that Chicago Home + Garden recently featured the home of the creative director of FLOR, a modular flooring company based outside of Chicago. This home was beautifully captured and photographed by the uber talented Chicago photographer Nathan Kirkman.  Chicago Home + Garden always features fine Chicago Design-I look forward to each issue.

Not only do I love the look of Flor, but also several of my projects, my own home, and now my own dogs (as part of the set) have been featured in their campaigns.  We actually have a shoot later this week with the FLOR Photography Crew at the home of one of my clients-sans dog models. And, one of my oldest daughter’s roomies was the model in their latest catalogue.  She had a blast at the shoot with our Wheaten Terriers, Jane and Frankie, but stole the show!

FLOR is a great solution for affordable, custom sized carpeting, and the broad selection is amazing.  The look of Flor trends toward modern with basics to suit any decor style.  I have the “Fine Feathers” pattern installed inside my offices. Having worked closely with Chip and Cynthia over the years, it was so much fun to “peek” into their home. It comes as no surprise that the home of this creative director in suburban, family-friendly Elmhurst would have a very midcentury look…I love it!

The look of Flor…

What an charming 1940′s ranch home.

Dying over this orange couch.

Love the original stove and oversized chalk board…perfect for a home with creative little ones.

Fabulous onyx entry table.

Such a fun room for the little guys.

I could get some serious R&R in this patio area…

Please visit the Chicago Home + Garden site for more images of this amazing home and much more!

A “hot off the press” design project of mine on the North Shore of Chicago.  Custom MS fixture in foyer!

Sitting in the pop-up showroom of furniture and lighting designer Marjorie Skouras at High Point Market was thrilling and  fulfilling.  A treasured friend of mine as well as the mastermind of a gorgeous new line for Currey and Co, I have used the work of Marjorie many times in my own design projects. It is because of my shopping and placing her works-from lighting to all sorts of gorgeous accessories into my projects that we became friends. I loved our last brunch in LA with my assistant, Amy, and dear Bruno and India.

Our friendship led to my showroom being the source for all things “Marjorie” as her midwestern rep. Nate Berkus Associates have become one of our most recent new client’s for that “Marjorie” style.  Her famed beaded chandeliers are to die for as well as her inventive and unique furniture. We have both on display in my Buckingham ID Showroom here in Chicago.

Check out some of my favorite pieces from Marjorie’s collection as well as the use of her work in several of my projects.

Custom designed piece using Tiger’s Eye and Amethyst in one of my latest design project’s in Chicago.  A pair of coordinating sconces seals the deal in this dining room.

Marjorie Skouras in my Buckingham Interiors + Design Showroom

A different Marjorie Skouras light beaded chandelier in my BID showroom

Same fixture in my showroom, different decor-and art exhibit!

Buckingham Interiors + Design Showroom

Same fixture as used in my Showroom in the kitchen of  a Nantucket home I designed. Different scale but still the same “wow.”

Marjorie Skouras piece in the Lake Forest Showhouse Foyer that I participated in for The Infant Welfare Society. I worked with MS to integrate the Fromental Paper via Holly Hunt Chicago into our hand selected beads.

Marjorie Skouras in my space at the Chicago DIFFA Dining by Design event. Bradley Hughes was also a huge hit in my space!

Image of the custom sconce hanging out in Chicago at my client’s abode.

The color of this “Honeycomb” is breathtaking.

This mirror in a rectangular space is sitting pretty at BID Headquarters

Love this rug! Look like someone you know?

These curtain tie backs are gemstones and are to treasure alongside amazing fabrics or stand alone with a subtle monochromatic linen.

Stop by anytime to say “hello.”  We are around from 9am to 6pm CST Monday to Friday. Except this week when I will be cherishing the return of my 3 children from both coasts.

Happiest of Thanksgiving’s to you all!!!!