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.

Mirrored Image

(art deco asian living)

One of my favorite interior styles is art deco.  You're probably thinking how can someone who loves vintage French country headboards and distressed wooden farm tables also find a place for art deco in her home, but I promise you, if curated with just the right balance, these styles are easier to combine than you think.

The first connection is that the origins of art deco come from Paris in the 1920's.  It influenced many facets of design around the world from architecture, interior design, fashion, jewelry and even film.  It's a style know for high glamour, modernism, utilitariansim and elegance.  Some of Manhattan's most iconic buildings are examples of the style:  The Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building's spire, and the GE Building at the heart of Rockefeller Center.   With the economy flourishing during the Roaring Twenties, people had a strong appetite for luxury goods.  Art deco furniture, opulent and sleek, became a popular investment, and mirrored pieces were of the most sought after.

The Chrysler Building, 1930
(James Maher Photography)

I love decorating with a few mirrored pieces, my favorites are side or end tables, vanities, and coffee tables.  They look great placed on dark wood floors, next to black laquer or stark white furniture, and I like to accessorize them with a few color pops from decorative pieces placed on their surfaces.  However, use color sparingly around mirrored furniture; every item placed on or near is doubled.

A few rules I follow when personally decorating with mirrored furniture:  They must be placed carefully and tastefully (e.g. one piece in a room is usually enough, unless you live in a penthouse apartment in a big city or are going for all out LA-glam look--my Norfolk nest certainly isn't), too much reflection can be overwhelming.  Mirrored pieces can make a room appear larger and brighten a space with elegance and high gloss.  They are certainly investment pieces so take your time selecting.  I recommend a few websites when researching these pieces including Neiman Marcus,  Horchow, and a lesser known site Glam Furniture.  For other editorial ideas, Elle Decor recently did a feature on mirrored furniture that is definitely worth reading.  Here are a few pictures that use mirrored furniture perfectly.

(Horchow)

(Lennox)

(Elle Decor)

Sarah Jessica Parker's bedroom
(Elle Decor)

(HGTV Secrets from a Stylist)

Color Pops

(tracery interiors)

I'm not afraid of color, but I like to keep it contained."-- Mark Gillette

I loved the spread in this February's issue of the UK's House & Garden featuring the Manchester apartment of interior designer Mark Gillette.  His cosmopolitan glamour of clean lines, rich fabrics, and art deco furnishings, is a distinct style I'd like to replicate when designing my first home.  I plan to use color, but in moderation, tightly tailored pops of color that draw your eye to unique accent pieces.  Here are some pictures from the issue of Mark Gillette's flat (all images courtesy of House & Garden).

Hermes oragne--j'adore

Mark Gillette's use of color is best described in the quote opening this post.  It's also my personal design taste when it comes to integrating color into a space.  For my first place, I plan to use mostly black, white, grey, beige, dark brown palates with bold color accents and plentiful mirror and glass that add dimension to a room.  Here are some interiors that use color as a pop versus a backdrop.


love the chair, love the disco ball, love the curved stone mantle, love everything
(Dylan Thomas for British Vogue)

while this room is too modern for my first home, orange is one of my favorite colors
(moderninteriordesigns.blogspot.com)

the shape of these yellow chairs compliments the geometric design of the window valance
The Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs, room decorated by the color maven Kelly Wearstler
(herbchambers.com)

turquoise is one of my favorite accent colors
(Suzanne Kasler)

Winging It

Chelsea wing chair
(casadiseno.wordpress.com)

I have never owned a wing chair, but I'm on the hunt for one for our first house.  There is something so elegant and regal about them.  Estate sales are one of the best places to start looking, but if that doesn't yield something I like, I might go true DIY.  I'll find a shape I like at a yard sale or on Craig's list, saving the money on the chair, and put it toward reapohlstering with a fabric of my choosing.  Elle Decor did a great piece on wing chairs in their December 2010 issue.  I'm thinking for my house I'll either do one statement wing chair, with a high back in a bold pattern and sleek shape, or a set of more traditional ones framing the fireplace.  Below are some other wing chairs for inspiration.  I'm hoping that soon enough we will have one (or two) on display in our living room.

I'm really drawn to art deco style black and white motifs;
these are a more modern take on a wing chair with a lower back
(2.bp.blogspot)

pale yellow and leather...i bet it feels like "buttah"
(apartmenttherapy.com)

The grey stone, the turquoise chairs, the pop yellow pillows...so fun
(thefrenchchair.com)

I usually don't like pink, but this set is so French and happy,
I would break my color rule for these
(John Kernick Photo)

a bolder fabric works for a more modern shape
(images.vandm.biz)



classic white wing chair with a zebra rug
(david jiminez and jose picayo photography)