DreamHome 2009
Posted by Nicole Corradi | Posted in Interior Design, NeoCon | Posted on 9:04 PM
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
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
i am out tryig to network! your blog is fantastic! i would love to add one another as followers and link exchange! let me know if you are interested! have a great day~rach
thanks! i added you too! looking forward to following you!