One can imagine themselves reading, relaxing and enjoying a warm cup of tea or coffee in a room designed by Jeannie Balsam. Her eye is present not only in the details that make up the design, but also in the unseen ways a room works — the seating arrangement that inspires conversation in groups and […]

As co-founder of Chicago-based architecture and design firm fcSTUDIO and the owner of an impressive portfolio that spans North America, Julie Fisher is at the vanguard of a movement that blurs residential, commercial, and hospitality design. Yet no matter how innovative her interiors, Fisher keeps art front and center. “We create spaces that have lots […]

Tina Ramchandani’s interiors share an innate sense of balance. Understated and beautifully curated, they adhere to what she calls “soulful minimalism,” a style that’s “clean, comfortable, relaxed, and meant to be lived in.” Rather than stark white spaces, her version of minimalism is thoughtfully layered with light, texture, and depth. Ramchandani cultivated her talent for […]

“You have to listen to what a home tells you and go with it,” says Kevin Isbell. The designer, who lived and worked in New York for 18 years, recently moved to Los Angeles, where he’s attuning to a new language of architecture, space, and light. “Color is different in California,” he says. “It’s a […]

Chicago-based designer Shelly Handman has an innate sense of balance and beauty. Over many years, his eye has been trained to perceive details that others miss. “I have always had a reverence for age—a respect,” he says. “We are such a transient society, and everything is always being replaced or torn down.” As an antidote […]

With more that 20 years in the industry, and an international roster of clients, interior designer Shelley Johnstone of the eponymous firm Shelley Johnstone Design is one of Chicago’s brightest style stars. Known for creating elegant, modern spaces with a strong European influence, her designs are equal parts luxurious and livable.  “I like to create beautiful, […]

It’s not every day that we chat with a top designer who also happens to play elephant polo competitively. But when the designer is Sara Story, an AD100 (and PAGODA RED) favorite, the larger-than-life hobby makes perfect sense. After all, one look at her beautiful work and it’s clear—this tastemaker is no stranger to risk taking. […]

For many, the word holiday conjures images of family and friends gathered around festive tables. But for Holiday House, the design showcase now in its 11th year, the term has a broader meaning. After battling breast cancer more than 21 years ago, founder Iris Danker says that she considers every day to be a holiday. […]

Interior designer Summer Thornton, of Summer Thornton Design, is known for her fearless use of saturated color, and her affinity for combining bold patterns and textures with seeming abandon. A self described maximalist, Summer is full of cheeky but useful advice like “do one thing your Mother wouldn’t,” and “use pattern and color recklessly.” We love […]