Six Chicago-based interior design firms created luxury living spaces for the 11th annual Design Center at the Merchandise Mart DreamHome, which opened on April 16. Designers curated rooms using only the resources available at showrooms on floors 6, 14, 15 and 16. Keep reading to take a peek inside and learn about the designers’ inspirations.
From left: Anne Coyle, John Cannon and Cary Frank, and Eva Quateman.
From left: Frank Fontana, David Kaufman and Tom Segal and Marshall Erb.
Marshall Erb designed the foyer and drew inspiration from the grand foyers found in vintage New York apartments. It featured a prominence of art, Art Deco inspired furnishings and classic but simple architectural details.
David Kaufman and Tom Segal designed the study with a nod to both sophistication and functionality. Using their personal ideas of what makes an ideal space and how it would be used as a jumping off point, they created a space that could be used for reading, working, lounging and entertaining. They used the wool and silk rug to set the tone and palette for the room, and then added a pair of chaises, a desk and brass and gold details to create a timeless, elegant space with both masculine and feminine elements.
Frank Fontana designed the bedroom to be a retreat that promoted feelings of serenity and balance while simultaneously stimulating the senses and imagination. The bedroom featured contrasts between rustic wood elements, glamorous finishes and layers of texture using monochromatic gray tones as a motif.
John Cannon and Cary Frank used inspiration gained while vacationing in the Caribbean to design the outdoor dining room. They created a trellised space with an adjoining cabana accessible through two sets of doors leading from a living space and a bedroom—as would be found on Saint-Barthélemy. Colors reflected a Caribbean lifestyle, and the space featured casual but elegant furnishings and decorative touches.
Anne Coyle designed the dining room as if she were designing for Danish Baroness Karen bon Blixen, the heroine of the film Out of Africa. Instead of a strict, formal space only for dining, Coyle created a multipurpose room with a collected feel but modern purpose.
Eva Quateman designed the living room for someone glamorous and sophisticated who loves to entertain. Inspired by designers such as Dorothy Draper and James Mont, the room featured the softer side of the mid-20th century by combining sleek lines and luxurious materials with curves and bold use of pattern and color.
The DreamHome will remain open through Dec. 6; hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations on behalf of Almost Home Kids will be accepted.
