This was no assignment for a novice. In 2009, Jeannie Balsam was selected to design an awkwardly long and narrow rear entrance hall and small powder room for the bi-annual Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, which benefits the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Designed by Benjamin Marshall and built in 1911 for a Rand McNally […]
Whether we admit it or not, most of us decorate our spaces. Sure, there’s a group of hardcore enthusiasts who agonize over paint chips, scour the Internet for back issues of the late Domino Magazine (sniff) and fervently pray tassels never make a comeback (guilty!), but even teenage boys display their trophies and hang posters […]
For many, the mere mention of the 4.2 million square foot Merchandise Mart conjures images of decorators and clients deliberating over furnishings and fabric samples, and squabbling over prices. But while the self-contained design district is, in fact, Mecca for aesthetic fetishists, the Merchandise Mart is open to the public. And navigating the sunless internal […]
A living room goes from small and awkward to elegant and family friendly. When an Evanston couple with three young children commissioned an addition to their historic Victorian, they turned to Buckingham ID founder and interior designer Julia Buckingham Edelmann for help with scale, color and figuring out the best way to make use of […]
Much has changed in the world of antiques since art historian Fern Simon opened her Winnetka shop Arts 220 in 1987. But the dealer of 20th century art and design says nothing replaces the knowledge gained by talking with dealers and seeing pieces firsthand. Simon will be exhibiting this fall at the 2010 Merchandise Mart […]
Following a few simple rules helped interior designer Stephanie Wohlner transfer her family’s “wreck of a house” into a stylish and comfortable home. Rick and Stephanie Wohlner’s 80 year-old 5,600 square foot Nantucket Clapper-style home was dated and worn the first time they saw it, but they appreciated the simple architecture, idyllic wooded setting and […]
Susan Fredman Design Group’s Ruthie Delf Talks About Transforming a Glencoe Sun Porch. Recently Susan Fredman Design helped a Glencoe couple redecorate their entire home. One of the biggest challenges was creating a serene but masculine sun porch that would maximize the gorgeous views of the nearby garden and swimming pool. Staff designer Ruthie Delf […]
In the 2009 film, “Up in the Air,” Ryan Bingham (George Clooney)is a road warrior.
Parent Alert: A synthetic form of marijuana, most commonly known as K2, is being sold legally in so-called head shops throughout the Chicago area. K2 is enjoying a surge in popularity and prompting lawmakers to consider a legal ban to the substance. The substance is an otherwise innocuous blend of herbs that has been sprayed […]
Designer, tastemaker and collector Thomas O’Brien spoke to a packed house about his just released first book “American Modern: My Inspirations for Classic Style, from Modern to Traditional” at the Merchandise Mart’s bi-annual International Antiques Fair. Whether speaking about one of his projects, one of his own homes or one of his lines for companies […]
