Chicago’s design professionals will gather to celebrate the best in outdoor design at the annual Spring Fling, a day-long event on Thursday, March 14 at the Merchandise Mart’s newly dedicated outdoor/casual industry showrooms within the Design Center located on the 15th and 16th floors.
Twenty-five outdoor furnishings showrooms will be hosting open houses and special events throughout the day, in addition to a feature presentation by industry expert Amy Elbert, senior architecture editor of Traditional Home Magazine.
Elbert
Here is a closer look at the day’s events:
The feature presentation will take place from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in Lounge 1447 on the 14th floor. Elbert for Traditional Home will address the topic, “Pushing the Boundaries: Trends in Outdoor Living from Basic to Luxe.”
Afterwards, head to Summer Classics, Suite 1556 for a beach party from 11:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy summer salads, tropical drinks and delicious light bites while viewing the five new collections.
Outdoor design by Barlow Tyrie: Driftwood Deep Sea
At 1:00 p.m., stop by the TUUCI showroom, Suite 1507 to hear a presentation, “Shade Products As Creative Design Elements: Form Finally Meets Function!” Gina Bazer, style editor at Chicago Magazine and editor of Chicago Home + Garden will lead the presentation. Bazer has been writing about design, entertaining, food and culture for more than a decade.
The Century Furniture Showroom, Suite 1464, is newly opened and carries 13 distinct collections of outdoor furniture designed by Richard Frinier, Oscar de la Renta and Pride Sasser. Other new showrooms include OW Lee, Suite 1598 and Poly-Wood, Suite 15-105.
Outdoor design by JANUS et Cie: Fibonacci Daybed
Showrooms hosting open houses from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. include: JANUS et Cie, Suite 1420; Brown Jordan, Suite 1510; CabanaCoast by Actiwin, Suite 1585; Ebel Inc., Suite 15-121; Gloster Furniture, Suite 1572; Homecrest Outdoor Living, Suite 1518; Lane Venture, Suite 1548; Mallin Casual Furniture, Suite 1525; MAMAGREEN, Suite 1519A; Outdoor Lifestyle, Suite 1599; Pride Family Brands, Suite 1576; Skyline Design, Suite 15-110; Three Birds Casual, Suite 15-100; Tropitone Furniture, Suite 1523; Woodard, Suite 1543; Anacara Company, Suite 16-130; Barlow Tyrie, Suite 1659; Lloyd Flanders, Suite 1650; Treasure Garden, Suite 1655; and Winston Furniture, Suite 16-100.
The Design Center at the Merchandise Mart is home to more than 45 Outdoor/Casual Showrooms that specialize in high-end, outdoor furnishings. After perusing the showroom open houses, there will be an afternoon reception in Suite 1623 at 3:00 p.m. with a raffle and prizes.
