Chicago Design Blog | Material Girls | Chicago Interior Design

{LaRok Luxe, Wild Thing Moto Jacket, $468 Shopbop}

Animal prints are all over the place right now!  I myself am considering investing in a faux leopard print fur jacket (too out there? I think I might have to go for it!)  I stumbled upon this feature on Elle Decor about animal print in interiors, and I must say I am a huge fan.  Bringing the outside in, I like!  Adds a little spice and whimsy to any room, especially a traditional space.  Don’t be afraid to add a touch of “wild” to your space.  Whether it be in a big (armchair, headboard) or small way (throw pillow, accent fabrics) let your wild side out!

{Diane Von Furstenberg at Claridge’s Hotel, London}

Diane Von Furstenberg’s name has become synonymous with the printed wrap dress.  Her latest venture is the print, minus the wrap, plus a bolt of fabric.  The designer has snagged 87 of her own prints and rather than put them on the body has gracefully created upholstery  for the couch, chair, pillow and more.  The prints are super chic, fun and innovative.  Such a great idea, as just about every DVF print is fabulously eye catching.  Want to see the fabrics in use?  Check out these photos from her decorating collaboration with Claridge’s Hotel in London.  What are your thoughts….would you rather wear them or lounge on them?

Photos courtesy of Elle Decor and Claridge’s

{Dress from fall 2008 collection…see a resemblance?}

{Claridges Room with China Vine pattern}

{Room at Claridge’s}

{Claridge’s}

{Claridge’s}

{Michelle Obama’s Jason Wu dress at the Inauguration Ball}

Having recently opened my own showroom space, I always love to check out what other designers are doing with their shops and showrooms.  This month’s Elle Decor featured designer Jason Wu’s new studio in the garment district in New York.  Of course he would never leave behind one of his most prized possessions, “the” table where he signed his first deal with Bergdorf Goodman in 2008, the table on which he crafted Michelle Obama’s gown for the inaugural ball.  Decorator Jesse Carrier was enlisted to deck out Wu’s new space, which certainly wouldn’t be complete without “the” table at the forefront.

{Jason Wu in his New York studio}

{“The” table}

{Wu’s couture filled showroom}

{Wu’s fabulous designs are simply breathtaking}

Kids of all ages are sporting the latest craze to sweep the nation: Silly Bandz.  These small, pliable pre-formed rubber band bracelets come in all shapes and colors, each pack individually themed.  If you’re into baseball, princesses, even the Chicago Bears…there’s a pack of Silly Bandz for you!

With my daughter recently sporting her own variety, I realized the color ways of each pack are pretty well paired.  After reading the September issue of House Beautiful, the main theme being color, I decided to take a look and see if the Silly Band color ways correlated with interior color ways…and sure enough they do!  Check out some of the matches below…not so silly after all!  But don’t at all feel limited by these selected color ways; google Silly Bandz to see many more collections and colors of this crazy trend.

{Silly Bandz Fantasy Shape, $4.95}

{Jeffrey Bilhuber}

{Silly Bandz Beach Pack, $1.85}

{Steven Gambrel}

{Silly Bandz Baseball, $3.39}

{Silly Bandz, Wild West $3.49}

{Kathryn M. Ireland}

{Crazy Bandz Neptune, $3.99}

{Miles Redd}

{Silly Bandz Sea Creatures}

{Bunny Williams}

{Gisele Bundchen in Versace}

Love wrapping yourself up in a Diane von Furstenberg dress, throwing on a Missoni scarf, donning a seductive silk Versace gown or heading out the door with an Armani bag? If so (or even just in your dress up fantasy), it’s time to take it to the next level with your designer friends…sleeping in fashion designer outfitted hotels!

Claridges Hotel in London recently unveiled 12 DVF designed guest suites, the Armani Burj Dubai Hotel within the Burj Khalifa sports sleek Armani Casa furniture, the Palazzo Versace in Dubai sports the decadence expected with the Versace name, and the Hotel Missoni opens this fall in Kuwait.  Surprised that most majority of these swanky hotels are appearing in the Middle East?  Hardly!  The Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets for luxury goods…so these brands are being smart by getting involved in all sectors of the luxury market.

{Diane von Furstenberg in Claridge’s…couldn’t find any pictures of the DVF designed suites themselves!}

{Armani Hotel Dubai, image courtesy of Wallpaper}

{Armani Hotel Dubai, image courtest of Arabian Business}

{Armani Hotel Dubai, image courtesy of Arabian Business}

{Armani Hotel Dubai, image courtesy of Arabian Business}

{Palazzo Versace Dubai}

{Palazzo Versace Dubai}

{Palazzo Versace Dubai}

{Palazzo Versace Dubai}

{Hotel Missoni Kuwait, image courtesy of Hotel Chatter}

{Missoni Hotel Kuwait, image courtesy of Leisure Opportunities}

{Hotel Missoni Kuwait, image courtesy of Hotel Chatter}

As promised, I am following up with the first edition of the “Strut Your Stuff” post.  Pantone featured too many fab designers for me to fit into just one post!  So here it goes for round two.  For those of you who didn’t get a chance to read the first of this two part series, click here!  The abridged version is that color magnate Pantone took a look at the shows of the hottest designers at New York fashion week, chose the signature color in their collection, and matched it up with one of their own many hues.  Shameless product placement, I know…but it is still a very cool concept!

Want to live like a star? Or more particuarly, like a Gucci?  Well now you can!  For $60,000 a month that is.  The 7 bedroom, 9.5 bath Gucci family penthouse located near midtown Manhattan is currently being rented for anyone who has some pocket change jangling around.  If you’re in the market for an immense 14 room pad with 16 foot floor to ceiling windows and 10,000 square feet of living space, then this place is the one for you.  The Euro chic furniture? Nope, not included.  Guess slipping into this Gucci pad will cost you a few bucks more than slipping into these Gucci pumps.  Contact Daniela Rivoir at Brown Harris Stevens if you’re interested!  Oh and by the way, the tip off on this apartment was another Coco Perez find .

{Gucci sandals, $595, Saks}

{Hermes}

As fellow Material Girls, I’m going to bet that you enjoy shopping as much as I do.  Even if I’m not swiping the plastic (it’s hard to resist, I know) I always enjoy taking in the unbelievable window displays.  As a true feast for the eyes, over the top window displays in high end department stores and boutiques have pretty much become a given.  In the lucrative and cut throat world of fashion, whoever can draw in the the customer best with their eye catching window displays comes out on top.  The position, rather team, of window display designers is not all that unlike an interior designer…each has to tailor the look to reflect the consumer’s style and inspire them to think of themselves (and their space) outside of the box.  Creativity and uniqueness are key!  Even if you don’t end up with a purchase, the visual eye candy will tide you over until your next trip to Hermes, Berdorf’s or Lanvin.

{Hermes}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Bergdorf Goodman}

{Bergdorf Goodman}

{Bergdorf Goodman}

{Bergdorf Goodman}

{Bergdorf Goodman}

{Saks}

{Saks}

{Saks}

{Saks}

{Neiman Marcus}

{Neiman Marcus}

{Neiman Marcus}

{Neiman Marcus}

{Prada}

{Lanvin}

{Lanvin}

{Lanvin}

{Lanvin}

{Gucci}

{Gucci}

{Gucci}

{Burberry}

{La Mimi}

No, no I don’t mean literally in your birthday suit (shout out to 50 Cent).  I mean the hottest trend for spring/summer…shades of nude. From nail polish (my favorite is Essie Jazz) to jewelery and bags, bearing it all is what’s hot right now.  Like always, this trend has made its way across the border to interiors.  Nude seems to be popping up all over the place.  Check out some of the photos I found.

Santa Barbara Beach House

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

Southern California Mediterranean

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

{Veranda}

Delphine Restaurant, Los Angeles

{Elle Decor}

Lake Forest, IL home

{Chicago Home + Garden}

Bucktown (Chicago) home…also featured in my “Just Because” post!

{CS Interiors}

{Southern Accents}

{Elle Decor}

{Elle Decor}

{Elle Decor}

{Elle Decor}

{Buckingham I.D.}

{Buckingham I.D.}

{Buckingham I.D.}

{Buckingham I.D.}

{Buckingham I.D.}

{Decorpad}

As you  may have seen in previous posts and in myriad fashion magazines, the line between color trends in the world of interiors and fashion is very permeable.  What appears on the runway is quick to be seen in home decor, and vice versa.  As the official color barometer, many in the design world look to Pantone for tips and insights into the ebbing and flowing of the wide world of hues.  However, Pantone’s take on color trends is not limited to the world of interiors.  In its latest venture, Pantone took a look at some of the runway shows of hottest designers from New York fashion week and analyzed their hottest hues.  With more or less every color in the book, Pantone has matched these designer colors with their own.  Not only are they simply pairing the hottest hues in fashion with their comparable hues, they are bringing in expert opinions to inform consumers how to best utilize these colors.  I love this idea!  Take a look below…

There were far too many designers to feature in just one post, so stay tuned for another soon to come featuring more fabulous fashion hues!