TOTO has always been inspired by a desire to improve everyone’s quality of life. Their products are some of the most innovative and modern bathroom products available, so it’s no surprise that our RNDD Kitchen and Bath expert, Scott Dresner of Dresner Design regularly uses their products in his bathroom designs.

Dresner Design is a design company, a cabinetry supplier, and an installer, as well as a residential and commercial renovation company. Led by Scott Dresner, Dresner Design specializes in both kitchen and baths.

The Master Bath of Scott Dresner’s home featuring the TOTO Neorest.

We asked Scott to share his top 5 picks from TOTO’s line of products:

1) The Neorest 750HThe Neorest 750H with Actilight technology is the most luxurious toilet there is. I even have one in my own home. It uses an integrated UV light and special glaze to break down dirt and grime in the bowl, and rinses it clean with ewater+.  Complete with a heated seat, deodorizer and warm water sprays.

“If a regular toilet is a Chevy, the Neorest is a Ferrari.”

– Scott Dresner

2) Legato Showerhead
This clean, modern showerhead is a go-to for the bathrooms I design. It is a single spray showerhead complete with rubber nozzles to prevent limescale build up. It adds a touch of luxury to any shower.

About Scott Dresner: Scott Dresner is a prominent kitchen designer and custom builder who has designed and installed over 7500 kitchens and baths. He approaches each project from both a practical and creative point of view understanding the big picture; seamlessly blending design and function while using quality and innovative building methods. Scott’s aesthetic is influenced by European design and he masters style, balance and proportion using exquisite his own private label of Italian made cabinetry.  With unflagging passion, dedication and expertise Scott maintains his position as an innovator in both the cabinetry and construction industries while completing thousands of multi-unit developments across the country, designing and building kitchens, baths and wall-units in celebrity homes and residential estates. www.dresnerdesign.com

About TOTO USA: TOTO is the undisputed global leader in product innovation, precision engineering, high design, and sustainability in products that are designed to meet people’s real world needs. Exemplified in the company’s philosophy – People-First Innovation — TOTO offers consumers elegant luxury products that save money and water without sacrificing an ounce of performance and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they purchased a brand that sets the standard for world-class performance, enduring quality, and reliability. Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the Environmental Protection Agency. TOTO continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath space, as it connects people with water in ways that enrich the flow of their daily lives. www.totousa.com

Please join Chicago Luxury Beds, The River North Design District (RNDD), and Luxe Interiors + Design for one of the most anticipated design events of the year, “Dreaming of Design”.

Thursday, May 3rd, 2017, 5:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Chicago Luxury Beds, 440 North Wells Street, Suite 100N, Chicago, IL 60654 USA
RSVP: info@chicagoluxurybeds.com

Preview bedroom vignettes from Chicago’s top designers including: RNDD Members Inspired Interiors, Mitchell Channon Design, and Vincere LTD., as well as Anthony Michael Interior Design, Centaur Interiors, hk+c, Ilene Chase Design, JP Interiors Inc., Soucie Horner LTD., Suzanne Lovell Inc., and Tom Stringer Design Partners.

A percentage of Chicago Luxury Beds’ proceeds in the month of May will be donated to the Children’s Service Board, an affiliated organization of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Photos by Mary Carol Fitzgerald Photography.

Love is in the air. Happy Valentine’s Day from the River North Design District (RNDD)!

To celebrate this sweet holiday, we wanted to share the products from River North Design District showrooms that we’re currently crushing on.

Studio41
The Grohe Essence Professional Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet ($489.99) gets a Valentine’s Day makeover with this PINK Kitchen Hose Spout ($59.99). Find this at Studio41!

The Golden Triangle
The Chinese ‘Love’ Cabinet from The Golden Triangle is a rare, extra-large wedding cabinet made with red lacquer over Elmwood. It has two bifold doors, two shelves, and a hidden compartment below. Original retail price is $5,200, but they are offering a Valentine’s special on this piece for $2,900. Dimensions are 61W x 29D x 83H.

Lightology
The Cindy Table Lamp by Ferruccio Laviani, For Kartell is available at Lightology. This bold, pink lamp features a conical lampshade and rounded teardrop base. Cindy’s special feature is her shiny chrome-like finish which gives it a twist of contemporary and a touch of richness. Dimensions are 16.5″H x 9.29″W x 9.29″D.

The Rug Company
The Farrah Ruby rug from The Rug Company has a large scale, ruby red, sinuous motif of the Farrah design depicted in hand-spun silk against a wool background, lending it a shimmering movement. It’s Handknotted Tibetan wool and silk and is $172/ per sq. ft.
“Farrah was initially inspired by the bold 60’s inspired graffiti printed fashion collections of Stephen Sprouse. The lines move in an organic way and the bold scale is juxtaposed with the simplicity of a pared down colour palette.” – Nicole Fuller, designer.

Orizzonti
This hot pink custom-made vanity was made by Orizzonti for a client. It is a free-standing wood vanity with glass countertop featuring Lacava’s Suzanne 3702. Dimensions are W: 39 1/8″, D: 22″, H: 32 1/4″,  and it was priced at $5,315. Contact Orizzonti for more details.

Oscar Isberian Rugs
The Neon Supreme “Random” rug from Oscar Isberian Rugs is 100% Silk and was Hand knotted in Nepal. This deep red rug is a one of a kind, artistic and unique rug, crafted from recycled silk.  Sized at 8’x10’ and priced at $11,500.

Casa Spazio
The Grace Chair by Saba is an elegant, soft pink lounge chair with a quirky style and can be found at Casa Spazio in River North. The back is composed of adjacent metal rings in varying sizes – reminiscent of playful bubbles. Pictured here in a pink velvet.

Renaissance Tile and Bath (formerly The Tile Gallery)
This exquisite terra cotta/stone sample is from Renaissance Tile & Bath’s Manor Collection. It is inspired by the great halls of manor homes and is ideal for any interior. It is priced at $184.03 per square foot and is available at Reniassance Tile & Bath.

Renaissance Tile & Bath is thrilled to announce their expansion into the Chicago market with their 6th showroom.

Renaissance Tile & Bath has recently acquired The Tile Gallery. Residing within the River North Design District in Chicago, the new showroom will feature 4,800 square feet of a working design studio that will incorporate their branded showroom experience; a gallery-style space with a unique mix of products purposefully positioned to allow unbridled exploration. This is an exciting opportunity for them to increase their footprint in the tile and bath industry along with broadening the distribution of their stock material and the increasingly visible O’Neil Ruppel collection.

The new Chicago showroom will share many key concepts with other Renaissance showrooms. Yet, in true Renaissance fashion, in order to meet market specific client demands, will be unlike any other existing showroom.

Current view of The Tile Gallery before renovations

This opportunity will further drive Renaissance Tile & Bath to the forefront of the tile and bath design industry.

“We are looking forward to parlaying The Tile Gallery’s  22 years of rich client history into another winning venture for Renaissance Tile & Bath. I am confident this will be the outcome given their customer service model perfectly aligns with our vision of creating an ‘exceptional experience’; a service approach that has its foundation rooted in knowledgeable and dedicated staff, with the ability to expertly guide the customer through a carefully curated product selection.”

— David O’Neil, President, Renaissance Tile & Bath

Visit the River North showroom today at 555 N Franklin St. 

About Renaissance Tile & Bath: Atlanta-based Renaissance Tile & Bath offers its customers premium tile and bath products with design expertise and hands-on service. Opening in 1991 with a single showroom in Atlanta, Renaissance Tile & Bath now operates studios in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and Washington, D.C. In addition to offering the most distinctive designs from around the world, the company offers trend-setting product lines from the studio of O’Neil-Ruppel, further inspiring clients with new levels of beauty and sophistication. For more information on Renaissance Tile & Bath, visit www.renaissancetileandbath.com or call 1-855.395.9677.

The following blog post was originally posted on www.millierosenbloom.com by one of our River North Design District (RNDD) Members, and a realtor with Baird & Warner, Millie Rosenbloom. If you are looking to buy or sell in Chicago this year, listen up! Millie share’s her predictions of what’s to come with the Chicago real estate market.

Millie Rosenbloom’s Predictions for Real Estate in 2018

2017 was definitely a year for the books, but I am just as eager to get 2018 started! I’ve put together a list of my predictions for what the coming year will bring us in the world of Chicago real estate:

• Trump’s new tax plan: I think the new tax plan may slow our market in the beginning of 2018 while people digest the news, but ultimately it will have little impact on the market this year. From a real estate perspective, I will be closely watching these aspects of the plan:
  • Mortgage Interest Deduction: The limit on deductible mortgage debt has been reduced to $750,000 for new loans taken out after 12/14/17.  Interest remains deductible on second homes, but subject to the $1M/ $750K limits.
  • State and Local Property Taxes: The final bill allows an itemized deduction of up to $10,000 for the total of state and local property taxes and income or sales taxes.
  • Capital Gains Tax: No change here, but important to note that homeowners must live in their home two out of the past five years to qualify for capital gains exclusion.
• First-time buyers: We will continue to see a large pool of first time buyers in the 25-34 age group enter the Chicago market this year.
• Spring market: It will start early again this year!
• Interest rates: Will remain low for 2018, in the 4-4.5% range.
• New construction: We will continue to see an increase in new condos and single family homes although they will primarily be delivered in the $750k plus range.
• Supply and demand: 2018 will be very similar to 2017 in terms of supply and demand:
  • Price: The median price of attached homes on the North Side of Chicago has increased roughly 3.5% each year for the past two years.
  • Supply: There is currently a three month supply of inventory on the market with attached housing on the market, and a seven month supply of detached homes.
• Area of opportunity: The amount of home sales under $500K have been steadily decreasing over the past two years, while the number of home sales over $500K and $1M have been increasing.  This presents an opportunity for move-up buyers who can sell their current home high and purchase a new home at the lower end of the price range.

About Millie Rosenbloom: Millie is a broker at Baird & Warner, where she has been number one in sales out of over 2,200 brokers for the past 10 years. She was inducted in the Chicago Association of Realtor’s Hall of Fame in 2014, and is routinely quoted and featured in multiple media publications and broadcasts, including CNN and The Wall Street Journal. Actively involved in the Chicago non-profit community, Millie is a committee co-chair of the Brain Research Foundation and the Magnificent Mile Association.

The River North Design District (RNDD) is a close-knit community consisting of designers, showrooms and other design-centered organizations. Our members often collaborate with one another on design projects and the results are nothing short of amazing. This month we are putting the spotlight on the collaboration between Mitchell Channon Design and Lightology.

Mitchell Channon is known for elevating style to the level of art, so it’s no surprise that he looks to fellow RNDD Member, Lightology when searching for the perfect light fixtures to transform a room. With Mitchell’s keen eye and Lightology’s collection of contemporary and modern lighting, the fixtures in these 3 spaces below blend seamlessly into the design of each space as a work of art.

An Adventurous Home

Photo by Tony Soluri / Lighting Consultant, Jeff Wonsetler

An adventurous progression of rooms moves to the beat of a day spent abroad. For a couple with a passion for travel and storytelling, the home tells the story of a day well-lived. The Dining/Great Room features an energetic mix of colors and patterns. These combine with modern forms and ethnographic elements to create a crescendo to the day. The globe and arc of the Arco Floor Lamp, (designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos), reiterate the circular geometry and curves featured elsewhere in the room (Moroccan-style wall covering, round dining table, round chaise, curved rug). The curves of the grandly-scaled Chrysalis white floor lamp accentuate this as well. Designed by Marcel Wanders for Flos, the Chrysalis also anchors the corner of the room while projecting light onto the ceiling that reiterates the pattern of the adjacent wall covering.

View more photos of this project online here.

Sophisticated Chicago Loop

Photo by Tony Soluri / Lighting Consultant, Jeff Wonsetler

A youthful, retired couple moves to Chicago’s Loop for its cultural amenities. The orange hue of the iconic CNA building nearby inspires the palette. The geometry of the space inspires the rest. Like the owners, the vibe is sophisticated, masculine and inviting. The fabric of the two chairs in the foreground contrasts with the dominant orange and echoes the grid-like geometry of the wood-veneered wall covering.  Lighting selections like the Hope 43 Suspension ceiling fixture, designed by Francisco Gomez Paz for Luce, add contrast and counterpoint. It’s also a stunning piece of “jewelry” that reinforces the symmetry of the room by anchoring its centerpoint. The Taccia Table Lamp and the Noguchi  fixture ( #UF3-S) echo the contrasting roundness of the ceiling fixture, while adding a touch of white contrast to the room.  The round geometry of these choices perfectly balances the grid-like features of the rooms architecture, fabrics, layout and furnishings.

View more photos of this project online here.

First Class Retreat

Photo by Tony Soluri / Lighting Consultant, Jeff Wonsetler

 A corporate couple who travel internationally adore their smashing Millennium Park view. At one with its magnificent architectural surroundings, their home becomes a first class retreat from a very busy life.  Inspired by Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavillion at nearby Millennium Park, the metallic ribbons of the Spin 30 ceiling fixture in the living room mimic the curving metallic forms of the Pavilion as well as those found elsewhere in the home.

View more photos of this project online here.

About Mitchell Channon Design: Mitchell Channon Design is a residential interior design firm dedicated to elevating style to the level of art. Serving the Chicago area, the North Shore and beyond, their award-winning work is driven more by your story and personality than by allegiance to any particular style. Mitchell Channon Design tells your story… beautifully! Learn more about their firm on their website here: mitchellchannondesign.com

About Lightology: A River North institution since 2001, Lightology’s 20,000 sqft Chicago showroom is the largest contemporary lighting showroom in North America. Displaying an ever-changing selection of lighting from hundreds of top lighting brands across the globe, Lightology is a world-class resource for lighting inspiration and education, with interactive exhibits and light art installations throughout. Staffed with knowledgeable, ALA certified lighting consultants, the showroom serves the specialty needs of architects, designers, contractors, and homeowners alike. Please visit www.lightology.com for more information or stop by their River North showroom at 215 W. Chicago Avenue.