Chicago Design Blog | Material Girls | Chicago Interior Design

Upholstered Bergere

So excited that several of the Material Girls (Lauren, Emily and I) will be part of the Design Bloggers Tastemakers Tag Sale on One Kings Lane!  OKL, which I now affectionately call it within my office, selected 10 of their favorite interior design blogs to participate in this grandiose event. Of all of the various projects inside the design world which I have been involved in, this one is definitely right up there towards the top…working with my fellow MG contributors is always a thrill. I am reminded of my previous years as the owner of an antiques store in Cincinnati and also of my exhibit’s within the antiques world at shows in Chicago, NYC, The Hampton’s and LA.  Bringing me back to my roots a bit

In prep for our big debut, I thought I’d feature several of my favorites on OKL today.  Be sure to stop by the Design Bloggers Tastemakers Tag Sale on One Kings Lane beginning Tuesday, February 28th at 6 PM PST!  Can’t wait!

Valerie Nesting Cocktail Table

Industrial Coffee Table

Pyrton Club Chair

Manhassett Console

Upholstered Sofa with Canopy

Would lovee this in my garden!

Pink Chenille Slipper Chair

Lauri Table, Gold Leaf

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!

{Op Art Tables by Anne Herbst}

I wish I could consider Sunday a day of rest, but in this line of work, it is a 24/7 operation.  Even when I am “relaxing” at home, I am still glued to my computer combing the vast sea of internet based interior design for inspiration, furniture and accessories.  Sitting down at home (albeit in front of my computer) is as close as I get to truly “taking the day to rest.”  Sigh…

On the flip side, I truly do love searching high and low for the absolute perfect, special “somethings” to present to my clients and use in my projects.

This Sunday took me to 1stdibs, a favorite online marketplace of all sorts of extremely high-end goods- from furniture to fine art to vintage clothing.  If your budget allows, it is an excellent place to find one-of-a-kind, fabulous pieces that really have that “wow” factor. I was approached by Michael Bruno to exhibit my wares when he first began -and now, I have inquired and am waiting patiently for his response.  I think that he may have forgotten about me- but I am still VERY interested :0

Check out my latest finds…ironic it was my “resting” day when thousands of others were running 26.2 miles in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!

{Set of 6 Lucite Bar Stools by Lion in Frost}

{Mid-Century Ceruse Credenza}

{Mid Century Biomorphic Dresser by Popel’s}

{Digit 1 Wool Rug by Cristian Zuzunaga}

{Large 60’s Op Art Mirror}

{Pair of club chars by Leon Rossen for Pace Furniture}

{Set of 6 Teak Spindle Back Round Chairs}

{1960’s Italian Frosted Glass Fixture (pair Available)}

{1970’s French Black Lacquer, Brass, and Agate Table Lamp}

{Pair of Silvered Metal and Wood Table Lamps}

{Art Deco Lamp Base by Frederic Weinberg}

{Chrome & Glass Ball Chandelier}

{Low Table By FranÇois Monnet}

{‘Le Yacht’ drinks tray by Hermès, Paris}

{Pair of Italian Brass and Lucite Side Tables}

{Mid Century Console / Sofa Table in the Manner of Paul Laszlo}

{Mirror, Italian Ca. 1960’s}

{1950s Italian Pair of Bronze-Edged Mirrored Chests}

{Burl & Chrome Etagere by Paul Evans}

{Pair of Flame Veneered Semaniers}

{Restored Brass Serpentine Chest}

Also loving this whole vignette!

Design Within Reach is literally down the street from me in the neighboring town of Evanston.  Whenever I am running errands- or working out around the corner (although this is mainly before the sun rises)-  in the charming downtown, I pass by DWR’s ever changing, always intriguing windows.  Although I rarely have time to actually stop in, I took a minute to “flip through” their latest online catalogue. The gals in Evanston as well as the team in Chicago at the Tree Studios location and, of course Curtis in Hawaii have helped me to deck out many clients homes with their cleverly modern- yet timeless pieces.

I am always impressed with what I see in its pages.  Lots of beautiful patio furniture, interesting artwork and fabulous rugs. In my office, we are constantly sourcing from these pages…The Evanston team even loaned us chairs for an event that we recently held when our Eames chairs were not able to be delivered in time.  What fantastic customer service.  Keeps me coming back again and again!

{Customizable Plates}

With the seemingly endless number of internet sites out there that let you customize everything from baby diapers to a computer mouse, it’s hard to know where to even begin looking for just the perfect personalized item to fit your needs (and lets be honest, to fit your wants is more like it).

Stop your aimless wandering now, and welcome to Iomoi! It is a fantastic site for all things personalized….totes (Lauren posted about these last month as one of her faves), coasters, trays, paperweights, stationary….you name it!  And with everything so exciting and colorful, it is a true feast for the eyes!  These items would make the ideal hostess, bridal shower, birthday or holiday gift, not to mention a fun treat for yourself! I have given the lucite trays as client gifts and the paperweights make the perfect “little something”- one to my assistant Amy for the holidays  The only problem with Iomoi is how in the world will you ever be able to choose between the “Muffin the Zebra Orange Plate” and “Turtle Cay Chino Orange and Purple” coasters?!

{Muffin the Zebra Orange Plate}

{Turtle Cay Chino Orange and Purple Coasters}

Plates

Paper Coasters

{Set of 25 Heavy Square Paper Coasters}

{Set of 25 Heavy Square Paper Coasters}

Ice Buckets

{Ice Buckets}

A few out the wide selection of customizable patterns for ice buckets…

Lucite Trays

{Lucite Trays}

A sample of the customizable patterns for lucite trays…

Glass Coasters

It seems that everyone is going cyber these days, doesn’t it?  A few years ago, my children, Caroline, Alex and Madi would have been mortified if I had “friended” them on Facebook, but now it is almost necessary to have some sort of cyber connection- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn- to maintain a fan base in the ever growing online population.  Magazines are running with this trend, and many of our favorite shelter mags have created Facebook pages to keep their fans (their many thousands of Facebook fans, that is) up to date with the ins and outs, happenings and events going on with the mag.  It’s a cool way to feel like a magazine insider, especially when their formal websites can seem to get a bit repetitive month after month.  I have actually been asked by the Social Media Division of Kravet to sit on a panel at the Merchandise Mart on Wednesday,  May 19 at 2:30 in the Kravet Showroom to explore how social media can be used as a marketing tool for designers. If you are in Chicago- come check it out.  Should be a lively discussion. We are hard at work here in the Buckingham ID offices completing our own Facebook page.  We should be up and running sometime this week.  Be sure to check out the Material Girls Facebook page too!

Elle Decor

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ELLE-DECOR/80643096709

Veranda

http://www.facebook.com/VERANDAMagazine

Chicago Social

http://www.facebook.com/#!/modernluxury.CS?ref=ts

Architectural Digest

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1063590085#!/architecturaldigest?ref=ts

House Beautiful

http://www.facebook.com/HouseBeautiful

Chicago Home + Garden

http://www.facebook.com/chicagohomemag?ref=nf

Southern Living

http://www.facebook.com/#!/SouthernLivingMag?ref=ts

Dwell

http://www.facebook.com/#!/dwell?ref=ts

Martha Stewart Living

http://www.facebook.com/#!/MarthaStewartLiving?ref=ts

Lonny

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lonny-magazine/118245763401?ref=ts

Coastal Living

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coastal-Living-Magazine/120871440369?ref=mf

I am a big fan of  the “Secret Sources” article in this month’s Met Home.  Even designers like to hear about other designers hidden gems!  One of my favorite finds is Flavor Paper, “tasty” hand-screened wall coverings.  Based in New Orleans, Flavor Paper uses only the highest quality water based ink to create vintage reproductions, contemporary and custom hand-screened wall coverings.  So incredibly unique!

Remember this room, which I featured in “Purple Rain?” You guessed it…this paper is from Flavor Paper!  This is actually the dining room in designer Cynthia Rowley’s home.

Check out these other fab papers…and many many more on their very own website!

{Ziggy Diamond}

{Fruits of Design}

{Power Plant}

{Iris}

{Tutti Frutti}

{Party Girl}

{Flower Pedal}

{Terminal}

Woohoo! The 1st edition CRAVE Chicago guide has gone to-print.
CRAVE guides connect urban gals to the sassiest, gutsiest, most inspiring people they need to know in town. This is Chicago’s first edition, and it is only reproduced every two years! The first edition CRAVE Chicago guide features a great variety of renowned entrepreneurs from an orthodontist to a dry cleaner to a dance instructor, and every fabulous entrepreness inbetween! I am happy to announce that our Interior Design firm, Buckingham ID, is a part of this dynamic group.
Other cities that offer CRAVE guides can be found at Crave Headquarters and the following cities have just begun their CRAVE orientation: LA, Washington DC and New York City!

Inspired by Inspiring Women in business…Sound like you could be a part of the magic?

And here’s another one…”So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Spaces,” written by Margaret Russell and the editors of Elle Decor.  I had actually been meaning to pick this one up, and checking out the virtual preview on 1STDIBS.COM reminded me once again to do so!  Just made that trip to Barnes & Noble this afternoon and picked up both books-”un” (from my previous post) and “deux!” Now just have to find some time to dig in and enjoy….Anyone finished both and have a favorite?

I haven’t heard the term “Required Reading” since I was about in the 10th grade and had to suffer through 1,000 pages of Crime and Punishment.  (Ok, I actually did enjoy the over-the-top Russian violence and romance during my  later teenage years.)  But on 1STDIBS.COM, “Required Reading” refers to that which anyone who loves fashion, design or anything beautiful must read.  Or at least check out the digital preview online.  I have been doing just that for quite some time this morning, and look at these glorious interiors I found in “Domino The Book of Decorating: A Room by Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.”  Although I only got a six page preview, I am thinking about heading to Barnes & Noble this afternoon to check out the rest of what this book has in store…having anything to do with any of these rooms surely would make me one happy designer!