Chicago Design Blog | Material Girls | Chicago Interior Design

{Roofdeck…what a view!}

One of my former interns, Colette, recently moved to New York…so excited for her to start her post grad life!  She is currently seeking jobs and apartments, but she stayed with her mother for the past week in one of New York’s most fabulous hotels, the Hotel Surrey.  Located in a prime Upper East Side location, both Colette and her mom absolutely raved about it.  They have done quite a bit of traveling and said this was one of their favorite hotels they have ever stayed in.  Her mom will now be making any excuse to come back to NYC to visit Colette and her sister (who also lives in the Big Apple).

I checked out the hotel for myself, as I am heading to NYC for the BOD Conference and as a guest of Brizo during Fashion Week in September,  and it looks amazing.  Loving that roofdeck.

{Entrance}

{Lobby}

{Lobby}

{Lobby}

{Roofdeck}

{Bar Pleiades}

{Bar Pleiades}

{Presidential Suite}

{Presidential Suite}

{Presidential Suite Bathroom}

{Penthouse Suite}

{Penthouse Suite}

{Penthouse Suite}

{Penthouse Suite}

{Suite}

{Suite}

{Suite}

Although I spotted these plates in a bridal magazine (CS Brides), I decided I liked them enough to suggest them to clients- and possibly even consider them for myself.  However, it is no doubt that they would make a great gift for a bridal shower, baby shower or a gift for any special occasion that would be appreciated for its personal touch and commemorative nature.

The My Private Sky collection from Nymphenburg consists of a set of 7 plates, each piece unique, showing the night sky at the time the purchaser was born at his or her place of birth.  Although Nymphenburg uses computer programming to determine the precise look of the night sky for the set, eat piece is meticulously hand crafted to absolute perfection.  About 500 stars, nebulas, constellations and planets are individually painted by hand for precise accuracy…what a task!

This collection is limited edition, so if you are interested in owning this one of a kind (literally!) set, act fast!  The My Private Sky collection can be purchased at Kneen and Co., a luxury tableware company in Chicago (I actually did a post on them recently).

{Mary Jeanne Kneen, owner of Kneen and Co., hosting a party of her own…lucky guests!}

Now that the traditional party season may seem like it is over, there are certain hostesses that are still going strong.  Mary Jeanne Kneen covers all your table topping needs so that throwing the party/giving the hostess gift doesn’t have to stop now.  Not only can this hostess with the mostest throw a fab fete (as featured in Chicago Home + Garden), but as the owner of the recently founded upscale Chicago-based tabletop company Kneen and Co., she’ll help you with everything from the perfect necklace to wear to the get together, exquisite crystal with which to serve your guests, and charming stationary on which to write thank you notes.

Check out some of my favorites finds from Kneen and Co.! And I just have to ask…Are you still all ready to party?

{Fferone design champagne flute set of 2,$70}

{Lobmeyr Sputnik Crystal Sconce}

{Snowflake Linen Cocktail Napkins, $48 each}

{Mandarin Border Linen Fingertip Towel, $65}

{Fancy Monkey Fill In Invitations, The Printery, $45}

{Lobmeyr Polka Crystal Water Glass, $104}

Although Kneen and Co. markets itself as a tabletop company, check out these amazing medallions that I couldn’t help but feature

{Nymphenburg Medallion with Skull in White Glazed Porcelain with Yellow Gold Clasp, $3269}

{Buckingham ID}

Have you noticed oversized wall decor popping up all over magazines, website, magazines, designer’s projects, the blogsphere…etc?  This trend seems to indicate that larger is better at the moment, or at least the customer/client favors the big and the bold.  From paintings to mirrors to series of framed photographs and unique pieces of wall art, oversized wall decor is very chic without being too trendy.  I think this decor may stick around for a while, and even if you hop on the bandwagon now, it won’t likely be passe by this time next year.  It seems to be especially popular in the dining room.  Is there that one wall adjacent to your table that just doesn’t seem to get it right?  Try out a larger than life piece of decor…it just might be the solution to your wall problem!

{Elle Decor…Ellen Pompeo’s home!}

{CS Interiors}

{Casa Sugar}

{Blu Label Bungalow}

{Katie Did Blog}

{Angelino Interiors}

{House Beautiful}

{Elle Decor}

{Decor Pad}

{Buckingham ID}

House Beautiful always houses an endless collection of delectable tablescapes and featured a great concept in their November issue.  15 tastemakers received a classic white Pottery Barn setting and a challenge to make it their own.

Eric Cohler’s perfectly prepared breakfast tray guarantees a good morning in my book!

Color me happy! Would you expect anything less from Miles Redd?

Amy Ephron sets the scene with elegance and charm…

I’m loving Phoebe Howard’s timeless trio of white, silver and gold…

Jan Barboglio brings a “richness of spirit, a softness of age and a story” to the table with meaningful artifacts and minimal color.

Pick up the latest issue of House Beautiful for more classic white transformations and entertaining inspiration…

I think that I am going to grab a bite to eat!

Could this delicate Ochre fixture be a more lovely topping  for this handsome walnut Hudson Furniture table?

Texture, texture, texture! What I wouldn’t give to curl up and indulge in this fireside nook… I am loving the Alison Berger sconces and pendant lighting, not to mention the bronze vintage table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.

Check out the full spread in the November Issue of Elle Decor.

Parties, entertaining, now showers! ‘Tis the season for gathering friends and family to celebrate anything and everything, to which my last two posts, now this one, are a testament.  It’s always fun and beneficial to hear what the experts, such as Eddie Ross and Tom Kehoe, have to say about hosting a get together.  We cannot, however, have the likes of Eddie or Tom on call to deck-out every gathering, large or small.  So I am dedicating this post to my own take on hosting a party, in this case a baby shower.  

A few weeks ago I hosted a shower for a mother-to-be who is very near and dear to my heart.  Having known Erin for over 10 years, she was our beloved sitter when we lived here in Chicago, and after a brief junket at SMU, she transferred to Miami of Ohio while we were hunkered down in  Cincinnati  (where I opened my antiques store, Crackle.)  Thank goodness that she is now a special education teacher at a local school so we still get to see her often!  Erin and her husband, Lee have been a wonderful part of our lives and being pregnant with her first child, I wanted to throw her a shower that was intimate, personal and lovely.

Rather than holding the shower at a restaurant or country club, I chose to have it in my own home.  I think there is no better way to honor someone than by having a gathering for them in your own home.  It shows a level of commitment, dedication and involvement that I just don’t feel is achieved by holding an event elsewhere.  And besides, this way- for better or for worse- the event planning (and very importantly decorating!) is in your own hands.  

By using my own furniture and place settings and adding celebratory touches such as floral arrangements and balloons, the event retained an intimate yet bubbly and fun feel.  Using things of your own, often in unexpected ways (such as the table which is normally used as a center table in my parlor and chairs from all over the house!) instantly creates a relaxed atmosphere that is far from a stuffy, formal setting.  The delivery of recently purchased pieces from Brimfield could not have come at a more opportune time.  Chairs were everywhere!!!

 

With its fairly open floor plan, tables and chairs in just about every room of my main floor were not isolated from one another.  Rather, each “vignette” of sorts provided an intimate yet unique experience which were united by guests mingling throughout the entire space.  

It was a truly fabulous day full of love, laughter and life.  What better way to celebrate the coming of a new life than by holding a party in honor of someone who has contributed so much to your own?

On the QT….It is a girl