Luxe Living

Need inspiration for your home? Look no further than the Merchandise Mart in Chicago!

If you have ever been to Chicago, you may have noticed the 25 story, 4.2 million gross square feet building that spans across two city blocks along the Chicago River in the heart of the city. This wholesale design center houses retail shops, boutiques, showrooms, offices, trade shows, and events year round. Just last week the national Interior Design trade show, NeoCon, took place in the Mart as it does every year in June. It is a 3 day event that draws in over 50,000 Interior Designers, Architects, and other industry professionals and showcases both residential and commercial furnishings/products in one convenient location. In addition to the 1,200 showrooms/exhibits there are also a number of seminars and networking events that registered guests can attend during the show dates.

The best time to visit the Mart, in my opinion, is during NeoCon but there are plenty of permanent showrooms that are open year round too, so it is still a great resource anytime.

One of the showrooms that stays open after NeoCon is over each year is the DreamHome exhibit. It is a showcase for the top interior designers in the Chicago area and serves as a major inspiration for designers and home owners alike. The designs are impressive, inspirational, and trend setting.

Foyer:
    
(Trend spotting: Flowering branches for a more minimalistic approach at a bouquet.)
"Gilding, and the mixing of gold and silver finishes in glass, metal and wood seen throughout the entry, invokes a feeling of elegance and a classic mix of old world and modern design." -Laurel Feldman, Designer

Library:

"Influenced by the art that surrounds the Library, a sense of ultimate harmony is achieved, resulting in a space that bears evidence of eclectic taste." -ASI Interiors, Inc.

Office:

"...John Naisbitt introduced the formula 'high tech/high touch,' which describes our fundamental need to counterbalance the effects of new technology as it replaces human interaction. 'The more high tech,' he wrote, 'the more high touch.'...This home office balances cutting-edge technology with exotic woods and luxurious, natural fabrics...[It] is a personal sanctuary, as much about productivity as it is about individual style." - Janet McCann, Designer

Master Bath:

"It's not just the soothing spa treatments, or the relaxing massages that create the ambiance of tranquility and pampering while visiting your favorite spa, it's the décor. Why not wake up to that environment every morning in your own master bathroom?* My goal was to embrace romance and restrained elegance to create a clean and soothing modern spa-like environment." -Chris Michiels, Designer
(* Get a head start on this by reading one of my previous posts, "Better Baths")

Dining Room:

"In urban living, spaces need to be versatile to meet the demands of our multi-faceted lives. They should be comfortable and also function seamlessly as varied entertaining needs arise. This dining room can accommodate an intimate cocktail party and dinner or can be used for hosting larger-scale gatherings and receptions." -Leslie Jones, Designer

View more about the DreamHome 2009: http://www.merchandisemartdesigncenter.com/dreamhome/index.cfm
Photos courtesy of the Merchandise Mart, ApartmentTherapy.com, & Pagoda Red

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style." ~Billy Baldwin

By now, we've all heard the phrase "Go Green" and have been challenged to take steps in our daily lives to do so, but it may have left you thinking, "Okay, but...how??" It's really a lot less complicated than you may think. There are endless resources online, in magazines, in stores, and on the news that provide helpful lists of ways you can start living "green". I've compiled a list for you of some of the most common and simple steps you can take. Check it out:

1. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs.
This is a very quick and simple way to save energy and money. They are more expensive than regular incandescent light bulbs that you are used to, but they last 10 times longer (10,000 hours rather than 1,500) and use less energy because they convert most of the energy they use into light rather than heat. This causes them to consume 75% less electricity. If you replace one 75-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL you could save yourself up to $83 over the life of the bulb.
You can buy them at places like Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Sears, etc.


2. Unplug electronics/appliances that glow.
Items such as TVs, cell phone chargers, printers, DVD players, and anything else that has an LED light that stays on after you turn it off is continuing to use power. The easiest fix for this is to plug them into a power strip that is connected to a light switch. That way you can simply turn all of the items off in one step when you leave your home. It is estimated that this simple adjustment could save you around $200 a year!

3. Recycle old electronics.
Electronics, such as cell phones and computers, contain mercury and other toxic chemicals and should not be thrown away, but recycled. The Consumer Electronics Association created mygreenelectronics.org to help people find a recycling resource in their area. The site also provides a list of electronics, from laptops to baby monitors, that are easier on the environment and your energy bill. You can sell unused cell phones to greenphone.com. You'll receive about $35, and the phones will be refurbished and resold.

4. Conserve water.
Since 1950 we have increased our water consumption by 200%. Conserving water is as easy as fixing a leaky faucet or toilet; a dripping faucet can waste up to 74 gallons a day, a leaking toilet up to 200 gallons a day. You could save about 73,000 gallons of water per year by fixing a leaky toilet (which also saves you $ on your water bill). There are also many great water-efficient shower heads that you can purchase from various hardware and home stores. Front load washers are great as well. GE has a great set that is Energy Star approved and Nicole approved (I have the set in silver and love it! ;)).


5. Buy products with the Energy Star label.
This label serves as a guarantee that the appliance is energy-efficient. In some cases, you could even be eligible for a tax credit for your purchase of an Energy Star appliance. A household with Energy Star products uses about 30 percent less energy than the average household, which is an annual savings of about $570.


6. Adjust fridge and freezer temps.
Refrigerators eat up the most electricity in the household. Maximize efficiency by keeping the fridge at 37° F. and the freezer at 0° F.

7. Turn off lights.
Utilize natural light as long as possible each day by opening up blinds/drapes and turn off lights when you are in another room or not at home.

8. Choose low VOC paints.
When you are choosing paint for your home, look for water based products that emit virtually no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which lower your indoor air quality and are not good for your health. Sherwin-Williams low VOC paints are a great example.

9. Get some plants.
Another way to keep your indoor air quality pure is to keep certain plants in your home that will remove toxins from the air. If you don't really have a green thumb, some great greens that don't require much maintenance are Golden pothos, English ivy, and peace lilies.

All of these tips and many more are available online at various websites. Just try a simple Google search if you are curious about more ways to "Go Green!" One basic key to remember is to recycle and to look for items made from recycled materials. I'm no tree hugger; a lot of these tips are just very practical and not that difficult to do. I'm all about simple ways you can make a difference in the world and your wallet!

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style." ~Billy Baldwin