Chicago Style: Architecture and Design Part II

2011 Design House in Chicago, room by Michael Abrams

This post is way late.  For the past two weeks, since we moved into our house, I've been running around like a lunatic (or better description: manic new homeowner on the lose in Norfolk with a mission to make new house feel like a wonderful home with no sense of direction and a constantly malfunctioning Garmin guiding the way). I did a tally and I've  been to Lowe's four times, Target three at two locations, Home Depot twice (including last Friday when Jeff and I literally shut the place down at 9pm-- gung ho homeowners who prefer to shop for ceiling fans than be at dinner with friends, yes we admit we have problems), Best Buy for a TV mount and a house phone and then there are the countless trips to the local hardware store, mainly to return things because I never measure or check sizes for anything before I go.

Despite crossing off an average of 5 items on my to-do list each day, which runs the gamut from "find oval-shaped mirror for downstairs bathroom" to "hang belt racks that has been on our bedroom floor for ten days," I seem to add another 7 new ones, which mentally negates the 5 things that now have a line through.

OK, sorry to do a little ranting, but then again didn't blogs originate as a rant mechanism for loquacious, often perturbed, individuals. Up until now I would say my posts have much more rave than rant, so I figure I was about four months overdue.

Now, back to the Chicago trip as promised.  It was my visit to the Merchandising Mart's Design Center and lucky for me I had the chance to tour the inspired rooms of the 2011 Dream Home which is on display from April 15-December 9.  The Design Center at the Merchandising Mart is a new home owner's playground.  It opened in 1930 and is still considered the world's largest commercial building and wholesale design center.  Since Jeff and I are in full renovation mode, we spent the better part of our Saturday in Chicago walking in and out of the first floor showrooms of this massive building (the floors above are opened during the week and mainly only to the trades).  From Ann Sachs vibrant tiling to Waterworks top of the line fixtures to Woodmode custom cabinetry, we were like kids in a candy shop and I filled two shopping bags of samples and catalogs.

Cabinetry in the Woodmode showroom, we are usign Brookhaven, their
semi custom line for our kitchen remodel

Ann Sachs tiling--ideas for when we redo our "mud room"

Artistic Tile's showroom was incredible

Just like their print ads in the shelter magazines

A master bathroom floor? Maybe someday....

The Design House at the Merchandising Mart features nine of Chicago's top interior designers, each exhibiting their creativity and design style within a single room, many using a lot of the showroom resources within the Design Center, such as bold geometric carpets from Stark, Paris Ceramics oak flooring, and sleek, minimalist furniture by Holly Hunt.  While every room wasn't exactly my taste, there were a few that I really loved.  I only had my little Canon Power Shot to work with that day so sorry the pictures aren't as professional as I'd like them to be.

Statement foyer by Buckingham Interiors + Design
(she describes it as "subtle nuance of a period Parisian apartment," no wonder I loved it)

Foyer by Buckingham Interiors + Design

Home Office by Michael Del Piero Good Design

Living Room by Scott Himmel Architects

A vignette sitting area within living room by Scott Himmel Architects

Kitchen counter tops in granite designed by Snaidero Chicago

Kitchen by Snaidero Chicago

Outdoor space by 1 Design Group Inc.

Bedroom by Michael Abrams Limited
(a designer favorite of mine and my favorite room in the showcase)

Bedroom by Michael Abrams Limited

Sitting area within bedroom by Michael Abrams 

Dressing room by Luca Lanzetta, LLC

For more information on the materials, furnishings, and accessories each designer used in the 2011 Design House at the Merchandising Mart, please visit the website where you can take a virtual tour of each room and find the stylist's resources.

Chicago Style: Architecture & Design in the Windy City Part I

After nearly a month of travelling through Europe, we were ready to roll our overstuffed carry-ons straight home, but our summer schedule had it differently. One of my closest (and most fashionable) friends from college was getting married in Chicago and our plane tickets were booked months in advance from Charles De Gaulle to O'Hare.

While work trips and visits to friends had brought me to Chicago a half a dozen times before, I had yet to assume a tourist role in the city.  Since my husband and I were already in the sightseeing mode from Europe, I thought I would heed the advice of many friends and take the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise.  Seeing Chicago from its inland waterways is like seeing Chicago for the first time.  Cruising atop a brightly colored river boat dubbed "Chicago's First Lady," with a knowledgeable docent as our guide, we craned our necks toward the sun's glare and took in the windy city's magnificent architecture.

White terra cotta tiles originally decorated the facade of the Wrigley Building
(the Renaissance inspired clock tower is modeled on the Giralda Tower in Seville)

Chicago was incorporated in 1837 and has reinvented itself countless times during its fairly young American history.  As the US grew during the industrial revolution, so did Chicago, and it required modern solutions for buildings and infrastructure. Some of the most innovative urban designs and original skyscrapers were born in Chicago.  Now in the 21st century, Chicago remains at the forefront of architecture and urban planning in sustainability design.

Trump International Hotel and Tower is the tallest structurally all-concrete building
in the world! Residences sit above the hotel's floors.  
That means someone lives on the 92nd floor!

Art deco design reflects against a modernist facade

View from the river of 333 West Wacker Drive 

Willis Tower (left, formerly Sears Tower) was the world's tallest building 
for 24 years after built. The two tubes sticking out the top run through the entire 
structure, supporting the building. This  was the first innovative engineering concept 
known as "bundled tube construction."

Willis Tower

Marina City designed in the 1960s.  The 61-story twin towers with
semicircular balconies are multi-use complexes for residences, shops, hotel, etc.

Tomorrow, Part 2 of this post, will include my exploration of the famous Merchandising Mart and my visit to the 2011 Chicago Design Home.

En Vacanes: Paris

I had thought my desire to live in Paris would forever remain a dream deferred.  I've long regretted passing up the opportunity to study at the Sorbonne my junior year in college, opting instead to live off-campus with my best friends where we could host parties in our backyard.  At the time it was an easy decision to make, and now all I can think how is short sighted I was.  Yet this summer I had a chance to sample what that experience could have been like (minus the academics, the extended three-month stay, oh, and being 20-years-old and single...and I'll stop there, clearly still regretful) when my husband and I concluded our European adventure with a week in the city of lights.  It was a dream realized when one of my oldest friends and her husband quickly accepted our invitation to join us in a two bedroom pied a terre within an 18th century, newly renovated, mansion house in the vibrant neighborhood of Marais.

entrance to the private courtyard of 17 Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges

Le Jardin de Places des Vosges

We filled each day to its fullest, navigating Paris by its intricate subway system and well designed bike share program.  No matter how ambitious our agenda, we made sure there was always time for a mid-morning espresso pit stop and a relaxing, pre-dinner glass of wine in our charming flat.  Most days included a lengthy sidewalk cafe lunch, an afternoon stop at the most authentic crepe cart we could find, and, on our last night together, we sprawled out in the park on Place des Vosges with stinky cheese, ripe fruit and a bottle of rose for a picnic en plein air.  Here are a few of the sights we saw and a few of the bistro chairs we plopped down in along the way.

Looking up beneath L'Arc de Triomphe

La Tour Eiffel, just as grand and romantic as I remembered her

Les Jardins Tuileries

what's a trip to Paris without a stop at the red light district?

view of Paris from the top of Sacre-Couer in Montmatre

The Sun God's staircase, inside Versailles

gilded doors at Versailles

Le Chateau Versailles

gardens at Versailles

And because this is a blog about interiors and inspiration for home decor (I admit I've been a bit too much into travel journalism lately), here are some pictures from a few of the shops I explored in the Marais district.

antique French tile shop in Marais;
I found some great ideas for backsplashes and floors for our new kitchen

loved this for a backsplash; it would look good in the kitchen we are planning
which has stark white cabinets and grey countertops

this shop right off Place des Vosges had a rugged, safari feel;
it sold mainly repros and vintage pieces 

i love these silver antler pillar candle holders

we bought pieces of this red coral for a bathroom display