River North Design District

Yamini Designs: Interior Design for the Way You Live

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Yamini Designs Joins RNDD

The River North Design District (RNDD) had the pleasure of working with Yamini Designs for the first time during the 2019 RNDD Fall Gallery Walk. Owner and Principal, Yamini Hingorani created a bold and beautiful 70’s style design vignette in the Casa Spazio showroom, landing them first place throughout the entire Gallery Walk. So we couldn’t be more excited to have Yamini Designs officially join our community as a member of RNDD.

Clients Come First

Yamini Designs is a full service interior design studio based out of Evanston, IL. They approach each interior design challenge with careful analysis and a problem-solving approach. They work closely with clients to meet their individual design requirements, budgetary goals, schedules and lifestyles.

Interior Design for the Way You Live

Yamini Designs provides interior design solutions to improve the quality of your life. Whether you’re building a new home, renovating or just looking to freshen your space, Yamini Designs provides creative, thoughtful custom designs tailored to the way you live, work and play.

Services Provided

Yamini Designs provides interior design services for new construction, renovations, and space makeovers. Services include:

On-site consultations
Space planning
Kitchen and bath design
Finish, fixture and material selections
Furniture, art and accessory selections
Window treatment design and selection
Millwork design
Design management
AUTOCAD design drawings

Welcome to the River North Design District

Please join us in welcoming Yamini Designs to our Chicago interior design community. For more information on Yamini and her work, please visit www.yaminidesigns.com.

_DSC3342_08 Cropped

Posted in chicago interior design, chicago interior designers, interior designers, RNDD Members, Yamini Designs | Leave a comment

What to Expect from the Chicago Real Estate Market this Spring from Two Real Experts

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused massive global uncertainty including how it will affect the US Housing Market. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) anticipates at the very least, the coronavirus could cause some people to put home sales on hold.

While the full impact on the Real Estate Industry in particular is still yet unknown, if you are planning to Buy or Sell a Home in Chicago this year, it is important to educate yourself so that you can take thoughtful and intentional next steps for your future. We enlisted two experts — top producing broker, Janet Owen of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago and Millie Rosenbloom, a top realtor with Baird & Warner — to share their thoughts and predictions on the Chicago Real Estate Market this year.

An Article by Realtor Janet Owen

When asked to discuss the spring real estate market, I decided to talk about HOME and what our homes mean to us.

Home has never meant so much as it does now during this unprecedented time as we self-quarantine and follow the directives of “Shelter at Home” from the governor of our state.

Home

There are so many hundreds of sayings about Home… “Home sweet home”, “Home is where the heart is”, “Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home”… even E.T. said “E.T. phone home” and Dorothy clicked her Ruby Slippers and said “There’s no place like home”… Home is truly where everyone wants to be.

Of course, this is a time for great opportunities for both buyers and sellers. If you are a buyer, I would highly suggest you contact a lender and become qualified and approved, and take advantage of the all-time low interest rates and, in some neighborhoods, high inventory. It’s a good time for sellers as well because potential buyers are staying home and looking for properties on the internet. As a result of the stock market, many people may decide to put their assets into a new home. I believe there will be pent up demand and buyers will be out in droves when this is over. While searching the internet, buyers can also take advantage of virtual tours. All of my listings are on all sites and have beautiful virtual tours and floor plans. You can always contact me directly for additional information.

When this is over, we will all emerge from our homes better and stronger. The real estate industry will go on as it always has after challenges in the past. Buyers will come out again and homes will sell. But for now, we need to follow the “Shelter at Home”, try to be comfortable, maybe take on a project and if possible, check on your neighbors and people who are home alone. Be kind, think of others, especially our first responders, but please just stay home.

Make the most of your time at home. It really is true, there is “no place like home”.

Learn more about Janet Owen here.

Beautiful Chicago Home for Sale: 999 N Lake Shore Drive #2A

Here’s a peek at one of Janet Owen’s beautiful listings, 999 North Lake Shore Drive, Residence 2A. It is a lovely home which is available now and able to view through the virtual tour link. Have a look… it truly feels like home!

A home which combines tasteful refined elegance and up to date functionality…
There are lots of places in this home to curl up and get comfortable…

A beautiful completely renovated Kitchen/Family Room, the “Heart of the Home” with an Office and Dine-in area…

And brand new, up to date amenities to enjoy. Indeed a wonderful place to call home!
See link to property: https://tour.vht.com/433851294

A Note from Realtor Millie Rosenbloom

As of this moment, I am mostly anticipating that some sellers may be less likely to list their homes as planned, which could impact inventory levels this Spring. That said, it is important to remember that continued low rates and rising home values still create considerable opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Interest rates have hit new lows, at an average of 3.29% on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Important fundamentals like the job market and income levels are still strong.

Learn more about Millie Rosenbloom here.

Millie’s advice to current sellers amidst the pandemic:

“Temp Off Market Status:” There are a few different status options for properties on the market (“Active,” “Sold,” “Pending” being the most common), and “Temp Off Market” means exactly what it sounds like: the property is temporarily unavailable. The benefit of this status is that the property stops accumulating market time. The downside is that you obviously lose out on potentially interested buyers. My current advice is it is too soon to make the change to “Temp Off Market.” I would recommend waiting until we have more information.
Stay the course: We are very much still getting deals done. Because real estate is an “essential service,” per the Governor’s “Stay-at-Home Order,” all of the moving pieces of closing deals are still in motion.

Millie’s advice to future sellers:

Home features list: Spend some time making a thorough list of the highlights and upgrades you have made to your home. This will come in very handy when it is finally time to put together marketing.
Paint and caulk: Spend your free time at home, freshening up any imperfections on your walls with paint and/or caulk.
Declutter and rearrange: After spending so many additional hours at home, do you see new and better ways to arrange your furniture? Try it out! Sometimes simply moving a few pieces of furniture can make a room look larger! Also: declutter! Go through drawers and closets and get rid of anything non-essential. What better time, but now?
Yard work: With the weather turning warmer, enjoy some time outside and clear out leaves and old debris to get ready for exterior photos.

Millie’s advice to current and future buyers:

Get pre-approved: Once the market picks back up, having a pre-approval ready to go will be a total necessity. So interview a few lenders, find one you like, and get the paperwork out of the way now.
Take virtual tours: Many listings have virtual tours available already. If not, have your broker contact the listing broker and see what they have. Videos are a great way to get a feel for a property.
Neighborhood information: Baird & Warner has tons of great resources about all of Chicago’s neighborhoods. Read, watch videos and really figure out exactly where you want to head next.

Live in Luxury at 4 E. Elm, Unit 12S

Live in luxury at the less than 5-year-old intimate 4 E Elm building! This incredible unit offers a private elevator entry, expansive living and dining areas with beautiful floor to ceiling windows, 10 ft ceilings and gorgeous high-end finishes throughout. Featuring 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, a powder room, with a large private balcony off the living and dining room with southwest city views. It offers 3 exposures throughout, west, south, and east! The building includes an outdoor pool, whirlpool, sun deck, fitness center, screening room, & clubhouse lounge.

Millie Rosenbloom is the official listing broker for this luxury condo. For more information, or to contact Millie directly, visit her website here.

07_4EastElmSt_12S_10001_LivingRoom_HiRes

21_4EastElmSt_12S_178001_MasterBedroom_HiRes

37_4EastElmSt_12S_99_Balcony_HiRes

Posted in janet owen, millie rosenbloom, real estate | Leave a comment

Incorporating Technology into Your High-Design Media Room

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

The Perfect Media Room Design

Given the current condition, we all are spending more time at home than we ever thought possible. And while we busy ourselves cooking and organizing we now have more time to spend in our media rooms discovering our favorite new series and escaping the day to day monotony of the self quarantine. We thought it quite fitting to provide you a little inspiration for the perfect media room and when the dust settles- we hope you’ll call our experts so they can help you make some upgrades.

The perfect media room design is made up of several key components: comfortable seating (and a lot of it!), large coffee tables or side tables for a great snack spread, a casual yet cozy atmosphere, and, of course, state-of-the-art technology — a large TV or projector and screen, surround sound, home automation and the right lighting. When it comes to the technology aspect, working with experts like SilverGate Technology will allow your space to function well even as technology evolves.

Whether it’s a full home theater set up with theater style seating or a more low-key design with a large sectional sofa, the media room is the perfect place for entertaining or for quiet family movie nights.

Here’s a few of our favorite Media Room Designs from our RNDD Members.

Modern Media Room with Digital Art

This Gold Coast Residence, designed by Centaur Interiors, includes integrated lighting, TV/media, and calming fire feature. The adjacent wall boasts a one of a kind art titled “Torpedo” by Tyler Shields which dominates in scale at 5’ by 9’. The photograph is surrounded by a custom frame we designed to showcase the work and seamlessly integrate into the surrounding architecture. A modern floating tread staircase was designed to provide an open view from the moment you enter the residence. The final statement of this home is the apollo digital fine art system which ascends the stairs. The client enjoys using his proprietary mobile app to seamlessly change the artwork at will for a different mood in the home.

545 dearborn_001

A Hidden Television in a Wine Rack

The interior of this Millennium Park residence, also designed by Centaur Interiors, features a motorized TV which seamlessly vanishes into a room dividing millwork wine feature. A distressed leather wrapped floating credenza & millwork wall panels showcase a beautiful piece of custom art which anchors the living room seating grouping. All interior furnishings & décor were implemented by the Centaur Interiors design team.

6N penthouse_003

Customized Media Room Storage

The modular 505 system, one of the “blockbusters” of the Molteni&C collection, is the perfect solution for today’s media rooms. With its innovative features that refresh and broaden its infinite uses, the 505 offers the flexibility and design to meet the needs of any client looking to create that statement media room. See more here.

Integrated LED Lighting

The Grid, designed by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C, opens a new chapter in what we know today as modular wall-systems. The Grid aims to achieve a flexible open system based on a modular grid, integrating LED lighting throughout. LED lighting can be installed, both in the central part and at the top, all the way down, along with various connections linked to sounds and images and hi-tech equipment making this wall-system perfect for your next media room. See more here.

Sleek and Savvy Stereo Storage

Dresner Design created this modern yet inviting Media Room in their Gold Coast Townhome. The design features a beautiful white oak veneer focal wall (which perfectly matches the floors) that holds the TV and a 12” ventless fireplace. Behind the couch, Scott Dresner created a custom window seat which serves dual purposes: a place for the dog to curl up in the sun as well as a place to house the stereo equipment. Out of sight, but not out of mind.

High-End Specialists to Automate Your Media Room & Beyond

SilverGate Technology is a full service technology firm specializing in low voltage design and automation installation/programming services for luxury residential and commercial projects. They sit down with the client/architect/designer/builder and come up with a technology plan for infrastructure and all the equipment needed to complete a project, then procure the equipment, install it, and deploy for the end users. Their team can service union and non-union projects for pulling infrastructure and installing equipment. Projects requiring motorized window treatments, smart lighting, human-centric lighting, environmental, network, audio, video, cinema, and security are all in SilverGate’s wheelhouse.

If you are looking to upgrade your media room — or the rest of your home — check out SilverGate Technology today at www.silvergtech.com.

Posted in centaur interiors, dresner design, Molteni&C, SilverGate Technology, Technology | Leave a comment

Introducing the Design Insider Podcast with SilverGate Technology and RNDD

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

We are so excited to introduce to you the “Design Insider” Podcast from SilverGate Technology and RNDD!

Each episode of this new podcast will feature local Designers, Builders, Suppliers, and Solution Providers to lift the hood on the design industry and see how it works from the INSIDER’s point of view.

The introductory episode features Tyler Warble of SilverGate Technology, RNDD’s Jill Maremont and Kelli Zaremba of Dornbracht, the current VP of RNDD.

Listen to the introductory episode here.

89917505_3115372125163603_3045465454513487872_n

In Episode 1 of “Design Insider,” Tyler Warble of SilverGate Technology chats with EJ Silver of Studio41 Home Design Showroom and Melinda Lafrey of Wike LaFrey. They talk all things fancy toilets, running a design firm, odd requests from clients and Tyler’s perspective on the perception of the smart home industry.

Listen to Episode 1 here.

Kelli Zaremba of Dornbracht and Scott Dresner of Dresner Design join Tyler for Episode 2. In this episode we do things a bit differently. We began by talking about Curb your Enthusiasm then curtailed into an artistic kitchen on a sidewalk, and finished the conversation with the current state of the construction industry.

Listen to Episode 2 here.

A special Thank You to SilverGate Technology for making all of this possible and to Studio41 for letting us use your River North showroom as our podcast studio for these 3 episodes. Visit them at 225 W Hubbard or shop online at www.shopstudio41.com.

Stay tuned for more Design Insider!

Posted in Design Insider Podcast, dornbracht, dresner design, Podcast, SilverGate Technology, studio 41, Wike LaFrey | Leave a comment

Timeless, Beautiful Interior Design: Elizabeth Scott Design Group

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Elizabeth Scott Design Group Joins RNDD

The River North Design District (RNDD) is proud to welcome the Elizabeth Scott Design Group to our design community.

Elizabeth Scott Design Group creates homes that evoke feelings of peace and calmness infused with luxurious details.

Meet Elizabeth Scott

After receiving her Bachelors in Design from Western Illinois University, Elizabeth Scott moved to Asia. While working there, her appreciation for design expanded as she experienced the historic architecture of ancient temples and busy street markets. At the same time the mixture of new structures with aged architecture led to her appreciation of proportions. Upon her return to Chicago, Elizabeth’s talent and passion for creating nuturing environments caught the attention of many clients throughout the area, reaching as far as the west coast.

Elizabeth’s passion for bringing her clients the best look with the finest quality is her goal. She loves mixing colors and textures with timeless pieces to create a fresh look that never goes out of style.

Timeless, Beautiful Interior Design

Creating beautiful, timeless, homes with an unexpected twist is the approach at Elizabeth Scott Design Group.

Your interiors should capture the essence of you, your family, and how you want to live. Elizabeth Scott Design Group takes great pride in creating a home that is not only stylish but also one that functions beautifully, giving your home a sense of ease with luxurious details.

The Design Process

When you work with Elizabeth Scott Design Group, your projects include beginning at the initial stage of building a home to renovating and refreshing a space. Their full service team is intimately involved in every part of the project serving you world-class design and management at every stage of the design process while maintaining budgets and timing.

Award-Winning Designs All Over the Country

A decade and a half in business has given them the opportunity to work on many notable projects in and around Chicago, as well as projects from California to Florida throughout the years. Their award-winning designs can be found in many local and nationwide magazines, but our best compliments come from their fabulous clients.

We are so excited to have the Elizabeth Scott Design Group a part of our community here at the River North Design District. Welcome! To learn more about their firm and their work, visit escottdesigngroup.com.

Posted in chicago interior design, chicago interior designers, Elizabeth Scott Design Group, interior designers, RNDD Members | Tagged chicago interior design, chicago interior designers, interior design | Leave a comment

Carved in Stone: New Trends in Tile and Stone

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Whether you are building or remodeling a home for yourself or for a client, there are a few elements that will show up in almost every room of the home: Tile and Stone. These materials find themselves into our kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even outdoor spaces. Tile and stone can be a large investment at times, but they can truly make or break a room’s design.

With design trends constantly evolving and changing, we asked our RNDD Members to share with us some of the top trends they expect to see more of in 2020 when it comes to these versatile materials.

Natural Stone Mosaics

The Materials Marketing trend forecasters are predicting that 2020 is going to be a big year for natural stone mosaics. This year they have released the new Byzantine mosaic collection, which was inspired by the classic mosaics of ancient Rome. When on a trip to this historic city, they fell in love with these charming mosaics and knew they had to bring a similar product to the Materials Marketing customers.

These mosaics are available in 1/2” or 5/16” tiles on 8” x 8” meshed sheets. The rustic hand chipped edges are unique and perfect for indoor applications like bathrooms or outdoor applications like pools. They are currently in the works developing even more mosaics, like the Calico and Galileo patterns. These grid and starburst patterns will be completely customizable. With over 30 stone options, your possibilities are limitless. 2020 continues to pave the way for unique, personalized, and creative design. No two pieces of natural stone are ever the same, and Materials Marketing believes that no two homes should be either. For more information visit www.materials-marketing.com.

All White Tile is Here to Stay

One trend that we see year after year and never tire of is all white tile – especially when it comes to the bathroom and kitchen. Using all white tile breathes an air of calm and brightness into your space and gives it an all around more modern feel.

CI – Centaur Interiors updated this compact master bathroom located in Streeterville with the use of white tones and blonde cerused wood. The use of large format white porcelain tiles on the floor give the perception of a larger space and support the clean, minimal look by eliminating busy grout lines. CI also chose large format porcelain slabs by Antolini to provide accent walls at the tub and shower walls. The porcelain slabs assimilate Italian marble and add both texture and interest in this otherwise white, clean space. Large format porcelain is a great way to get a cost-effective cousin of stone. From an application standpoint, porcelain is much easier to clean and maintain, making it an ideal choice for this pied-á-terre.

Firm: CI – Centaur Interiors
Design Team: Jennifer Aubry, Emil Garcia
Project Location: Chicago, Streeterville

Mixed Materials

Always on the cutting edge, eggersmann continues to expand their Unique stone collection of cabinetry. A huge trend that is seen in their clients’ designs is mixing materials like natural stones, woods, concretes, stainless steel and brass. eggersmann’s new Bianco Nuvola leathered is a robust quartzite with a stunning interpretation, reminiscent of the Arctic tundra. Here it is surrounded by Core Ash Anthracite Wood topped with a Solid Brass bar.

A New Twist on Classic Tiles

Let’s lay it all out…. There’s a reason Subway Tiles are so popular. They are affordable, versatile, and never go out of style. But this year Scott Dresner of Dresner Design expects to see a more unexpected approach with this classic tile. It could be a change in the pattern, the tile or grout color, or — as seen here in this kitchen designed by Scott — flip the tiles on their ends for a vertical layout.

Want to get even craziest with your subway tiles? Try a different material like stainless steel. Stainless steel tiles are resistant to water, heat and stains. Their non-porous surface means no liquid or substances can penetrate into the material at all, making them a breeze to clean.

Posted in centaur interiors, design trends, dresner design, eggersmann USA, Materials Marketing, scott dresner, Stone, tile | Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day Home Design Inspiration

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

The River North Design District (RNDD) and our members are celebrating Valentine’s Day all month long. 💕

Pink and Red Home Designs

In honor of this sweet holiday, we are featuring some of our favorite pink and red interiors and products we are currently crushing on from our RNDD Members. Take a little inspiration from blushing pinks and rich reds to inspire your own Valentine’s Day home decor.

The Bonnie to Your Clyde

Let Ligne Roset introduce you to the most notorious coupling of their collection: Bonnie & Clyde. Let their love story inspire your design desires this Valentines Day. When design icon Pierre Paulin created Bonnie, he instilled her with more than French je ne sais quoi: striking in terms of comfort, both aesthetic and physical, she hugs the lines of the human body fiercely. Clyde may come off as steely at first, but designers Numéro111 had Valentines in mind when they created him: V-shaped supports lift the mesh steel structure.

Above: Bonnie Armchair & Sofa | Below Left: Bonnie Armchair, Below Right: Clyde Low Unit

A Bold Pop of Pink on the Floor

A bold pop of pink in the rug and design accents bring the warmth of Valentine’s Day to this chic and modern kitchen not just in February, but all year round. The rug is from cutting-edge and award-winning designer Jürgen Dahlmanns of RUG STAR and is sold exclusively at Oscar Isberian Rugs.

Ruby Red in the Bedroom

This lavish and elegant bedroom in the Gracious House Designer Showcase designed by Donna Mondi Interior Design was infused with deep, rich reds, giving the room an air of romance year round.

Photo by Werner Straube

Love is in the Air at Chicago Luxury Beds

For the entire month of February, Chicago Luxury Beds has partnered with Hinsdale Artist, Maureen Claffy Fine Art, to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. They couldn’t have found a better artist to feature, as Maureen expresses her whole soul while representing relationships, love and life.

Maureen specializes in collaborative work and storytelling, creating visual mantras and vision statements that work inside of custom interiors. The sacred space of the bedroom is her specialty. Come and experience the ultimate sleep experience: Hastens and Vispring, the textures and colors of Chicago Luxury Bed’s bedroom accessories and the benediction of art by Maureen Claffy. Enhance the mood of the season by creating a space for ultimate comfort and joyful rest. The luxury and the love will delight. See the exhibit at 440 N Wells, Ste. 100N.

Photo by Logan Bowes

Furniture that Will Make You Blush

Theodore Alexander‘s beautiful ‘Blush’ pink color option is more than just a color…it nurtures peace, harmony, calmness, warmth, abundance, compassion, and love.

With the Custom Palette Program from Theodore Alexander, they embrace the beauty of pink and empower you to color your world! Check out their wide range of blush pink furniture today.

Romantic Art for the Home

Celadon Art — available through Casa Bella — brings the romance with their Parisienne Page Series. A quirky assortment of historical pages from French textbooks and title pages. Each is overlaid with contrasting colorful illustrations of rabbits, statuary, figures, and energetic abstracts and framed in a simple, elegant silver moulding.

Good Vibrations: Red Rugs

Red is passionate, assertive and courageous. It’s like that one shade of lipstick that looks good on everyone. The same is true with this “Rouge Vibrations” bright red rug from Organic Looms. It is a brave yet romantic color choice that can look good in any space.
The rug comes in both 8×10 and 9×12 and is made of Wool/Sari Silk from India.

Unexpected Colors in the Kitchen

Using color in unexpected places like appliances and cabinets, is a fun way to incorporate a bold statement and make a kitchen truly unique. This red kitchen, built by Xced Design Build, brings a little extra love to the heart of the home with bold red cabinets.

Photo by Jared Powell; Build by Xced; Design by Power Partner, Melinda Cabanilla

Breakfast for Two

What could be sweeter than starting your Valentine’s Day with an intimate breakfast for two? We love the idea of home-made pancakes and coffee, shoulder to shoulder, at this quaint little banquette. Making plans for an evening out while the sun beams in the window…A Valentine’s floral as the centerpiece on the table, nestled on two soft blush velvet chairs. Mia Rao Design made this idea a sweet reality in this beautiful breakfast nook.

Infuse Some Love into Rooms that Need it

The laundry room isn’t typically a place that we love to visit in our home. It’s associated with mundane chores and extra work. Scott Dresner of Dresner Design found a way to make this otherwise dull space into a bright and cheerful room where anyone would be happy to be. With bold, glossy red cabinets, he was able to infuse some love and life into one of the rooms in the home that needs it most.

💕 Happy Valentine’s Day! 💕

Posted in Casa Bella, Chicago Luxury Beds, Donna Mondi Interior Design, dresner design, Ligne Roset, Maureen Claffy Fine Art, Mia Rao Design, Organic Looms, oscar isberian, Pink interiors, Red interiors, theodore alexander, valentines day decor, Xced Design Build | Tagged pink decor, pink interior design, Pink interiors, red decor, red interior design, Red interiors, valentine's day design, valentines day decor | Leave a comment

The Largest Ceramic Tile Manufacturer in the U.S. — Daltile

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Daltile Joins RNDD

The River North Design District (RNDD) recently welcomed Daltile to our Chicago design community. Daltile has a Chicago tile store and design studio right in the heart of River North, Chicago. We are excited to have them a part of our organization.

Renowned for trend-setting style, Daltile’s foundation of upscale design and exceptional quality provides you with a broad selection of superior products you can trust.

The Largest Tile Manufacturer in the US

Daltile is the largest ceramic tile manufacturer in the U.S. and one of the largest tile manufacturers in the world, employing over 11,500 associates. They currently operate 11 manufacturing facilities in North America, five Regional Distribution Centers, and over 250 Sales Service Centers (SSCs) throughout the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Daltile Design Studio in Chicago, IL is the best destination for specialty flooring in the country. At Daltile Design Studio, you’ll always find the tile you want and the information you need to make a wise choice.

20190603_152724

Why Tile?

Built on a tradition of outstanding design, quality, and service, they set the standard for the entire industry. For over 70 years and counting, they have answered the question “why tile?” with trustworthy tile for floor, wall, and countertop that is proudly made in the USA. 1 out of 3 tiles sold in America is a Daltile product, setting the standard for tile across the country.

DAL_DwellHouseLA_KitchenBacksplash_CU08

Setting the Tile Industry Standard in People and Service

People: You’ll discover a unique difference with Daltile Design Studio store. They listen and provide complete satisfaction from your first visit through installation.

Service: Daltile Design Studio salespeople are highly trained experts who help you choose the floor that matches your decor, your lifestyle and your budget.

20190603_153027

The Best in Tile

Just a few of the reasons why you should choose Daltile in Chicago for your tile needs:

Fashion Forward:
Style & design are the hallmarks of their brand. Dailtile has stunning products for every style and every space.

Raising the Bar:
Using the latest testing methods, Daltile creates safety standards that are consistently adopted by the tile industry.

Visionary Technology:
Daltile leads the industry for innovation and technology as they continue to invent cutting-edge solutions.

Exceptional Value:
Their ownership of the manufacturing & distribution process allows them to control costs and pass the savings along to the consumer.

Sustainability:
Tile is naturally eco-friendly, Daltile facilities employ sustainable processes, and they help trade pros qualify for LEED certification.

DAL_HanleyWood_Orlando_027

Welcome to RNDD!

We are excited to have Daltile and their Chicago tile shop a part of the RNDD community. To learn more about their company and their product lines, visit them online at www.daltile.com or visit their River North tile showroom at 316 Hubbard Street.

DAL_Viana_Home_019_MasterBath_M420_ThassosWhite

Posted in Chicago Showroom, Daltile, Flooring, RNDD Members, tile | Leave a comment

7 Kitchen Design Trends We Expect to See More of in 2020

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Kitchen Design Trends for 2020

On the heels of the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas last month, we have seen some beautiful and innovative design trends emerge in Kitchen Design. The kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home, so it deserves a little extra love and attention to ensure it’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but ultra functional.

While technology and open-concept continue to be at the forefront of kitchen design trends, we asked our RNDD Members — who are kitchen design experts — to share with us some of the other kitchen design trends they expect to see more of in 2020

Integrated Kitchen Cabinet Handles

The new Shape Kitchen from Poliform is a model that is inspired, for practicality, to kitchens without handles, with a new and contemporary design, where a molding runs through bases and columns, resulting in a tapered cut, within which the characteristic built-in integrated handle is inserted.

The VVD kitchen designed by Vincent Van Duysen for Dada — available through Molteni&C — reinterprets the recessed handle detail in a modern and sophisticated key.

Open Shelving in the Kitchen for Display

With the kitchen becoming the “hub” for entertaining, having a great display area has emerged as a key element in 2020 kitchen design, and one of Mia Rao Design‘s favorite kitchen trends. Shadow boxed by the cabinetry or designed to stand alone, Mia Rao believes that open shelving is the perfect way to add interest. Pull some of your show stopping items out from behind the doors. Glassware and interesting pitchers and platters shouldn’t be hidden. Add a couple of plants for color and life. A few key items pulled out of hiding add personality and texture to any kitchen!

Design by Mia Rao Design, Photo by Cynthia Lynn

Clad it All in Stone, Please

Beauty + Durability; two words you don’t hear often from a designer…until now. Donna Mondi Interior Design (DMID), predicts that 2020 will bring more kitchens applying both natural stone and engineered stone together in kitchen designs. This application is visually impactful, especially when compared next to the more traditional wood cabinets. Donna also believes integrated stone sinks are a stunning way to fuse the connection between the sink and the countertop/cabinetry.

Rattan in the Kitchen

Warm up a kitchen with rattan! Arteriors Home presents the new Cameron Bar Stool. Thinly sliced pieces of rattan peel are first steamed and then bent by hand to shape this stylish seat. A chestnut wash finish and exposed feet work to further enhance its natural characteristics,and the double-layer of its open-form structure adds airiness. With no arms and a slightly angled back, this stool easily slides under any countertop.
arteriorshome.com Available through Casa Bella.

Dark, Dramatic Colors in the Kitchen

Think black, blue and green. Scott Dresner of Dresner Design is known for his love of all-white kitchens, but even he can’t say no to this emerging trend. Using rich, dark colors like this Butler’s Pantry design by Dresner Design in collaboration with Suzan Hadaway, adds a sense of warmth and serenity to a room that at times can be filled with chaos. Designers are going “green” in terms of materials AND color.

Design by Dresner Design with Suzan Hadaway, Photo by Jim Tschetter

Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets

Unified cabinetry is a thing of the past according to Komandor Chicago. Take a cue from this kitchen, designed by Komandor. Featuring a bold combination of patterned laminate panel for the display cabinets with contrasting flat finish on the island and remaining cabinetry. This kitchen is further punctuated with clear Black Opal pivot doors with clear glass. An exclusive product from Komandor. We love this dynamic kitchen!

Marble Kitchens Are Here to Stay

Xced Design Build reiterates that marble is a kitchen design trend that is here to stay! From countertops to backsplashes, this sophisticated finish will make any kitchen feel expensive and luxurious.

Build by Xced Design Build; Design by Power Partner, Jessica Margot, Photo by Jared Powell

Posted in Casa Bella, design trends, Donna Mondi Interior Design, dresner design, kitchens, Komandor Chicago, Mia Rao Design, Molteni&C, Poliform, Xced Design Build | Leave a comment

RNDD Welcomes Maureen Claffy Fine Art

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Jenny Maraccini

Bridging the Gap Between Design and Art

The River North Design District (RNDD) strives to connect the Chicago design community with the rich, vibrant art community of the River North neighborhood and beyond. We want to enrich the deep connections between interior design and fine art, which is why we love working with people like our newest RNDD Member, Maureen Claffy Fine Art.

Telling Stories of Love with Art

Maureen Claffy specializes in large scale watercolor and fluid acrylic artwork. She tells stories with art that are visual mantras of love for both residential and commercial environments.

“In the Flow” by Maureen Claffy, a visual representation of a family love story

Maureen paints about family, home, and love, on canvas, paper and birchwood. Her art is created with professional grade acrylic paint, ink, watercolor, pencil, marker, metallics as well as binding and grounding mediums. All materials are water based and water soluble. These materials are eco-friendly and waste is responsibly disposed. Only professional grade canvas on 2 inch deep gallery frames are used. Edges are finished so as to accommodate framing or allow for the art to be hung as created and delivered.

“The Love Intention” by Maureen Claffy, presented to this couple the day before their wedding.

The tagline for Maureen’s business is “Art that Speaks of Love.” She sits with her collectors and listens to their hearts and their stories to create positive visual mantras that keep them focused on the beauty of their lives and their dreams.

Living with Original Art

Living and working with original art is very much like living and working with natural light, fresh flowers and green plants. Original art carries its own unique and life giving energy. It is a touchstone for positive mental direction and focus.

The commission process with Maureen Claffy Fine Art takes this focus further in authoring an idea and acknowledging a common goal and identity. The result is an image of positivity and hope that unifies the community and encourages the individual. For more information on custom commissions with Maureen, visit her website here.

“Celebration”

Beautiful Works of Art

Here are just a few of the beautiful works of art Maureen has created over the years. To view her complete collection, visit her website here.

This is the story of a 2016 commission called “Mary’s Heart.” Mary’s Heart was her first true commission. Measuring 10 feet long and composed of four panels, one for each of the collector’s children. It is a series of interlocking hearts because it is most often true that it is hard to tell where a mother’s heart ends and her child’s heart begins. After installing this piece in a home in Hinsdale, IL, Maureen turned it into a beautiful scarf woven of the finest Cashmere-Modal 10/90 blend which quickly became a best-seller. Learn more here.

FB_IMG_1570048832805

Maureen+Claffy+Scarves+Mary's+Heart+Scarf+Dark+Green+and+Pastels+Heart+Art+Abstract+Art+3

Below is a 2018 installation of a large scale watercolor by Maureen Claffy in Clarendon Hills called “Joy in a Bottle.” On the back is a secret pocket protecting the written story of how she created it on a beach in Michigan over two Summers and the story of how creating it transformed the way she looked at the world and the release of the need for control and perfection in her own life.

Welcome to RNDD

We are thrilled to have Maureen a part of our design community here in Chicago. To learn more about her artwork, her process, or the custom commission process, visit her website at www.maureenclaffy.com.

Posted in art, chicago artist, Maureen Claffy Fine Art, RNDD Members | Leave a comment