CheekyChicago

Tell us about yourself.  Where are you from, what neighborhood you live in, what you do for fun, some fun Cheeky facts about yourself….

 I was born and raised in Skokie and I later moved to London for college.  London has become a second home of sorts. I think I may have been built English but delivered to Chicago on accident.

I am blessed to consider my work fun.  I find myself doing what it is that I love each and every day by creating ‘accidentally luxurious’ spaces out of the most ordinary of apartments.  I say accidentally because we don’t try hard to develop the best in our markets, it’s just the result of giving our tenants spaces that I as an owner would be more than happy to call home. Outside of work I also like to travel. I cannot suppress my wanderlust, especially for untouched parts of the world; which inspire my work at home.

Have you always had a passion for design? How did you get into this industry?

I have a passion for all things beautiful: space, art, architecture, cities, people, culture, food, etc. It’s never been all about design, but more a passion for living well.  I have translated that into my work life by creating thoughtful and meaningful environments out of the ordinary.  Anyone with deep pockets can buy designer furniture and make house look pretty, but that’s nothing special.  It’s finding the diamonds in the rough and refining their beauty that’s unique.

What are three must-haves (or must-dos) for a Cheeky girl looking to upgrade the design of her own home?

 1)   Good lighting.  Find pieces that have dimmers or more than one level of output.  Bright lighting hurts my eyes! And a scent that makes you feel at home (Cire Trudon makes my favorite home scents).

2)   Clean, crisp, ‘hotel style (white with contrast stitching)’ white bedding. Even Target sells a nice set for less than $90.

3)   Items that make you happy every time you pass them. For instance, I have a few men’s handkerchief boxes framed in my living room.  They were my first pieces of ‘Art’ because I was on a very limited budget.  Eight years later these framed handkerchiefs may be the most important artwork I’ve even owned because they make me feel at home every time I pass them.

What are your personal décor must-haves/favorite pieces?

I always find the most rewarding pieces to be those that I find in distress – usually broken or covered in ugly fabric. With a little love and a few bucks, they become staple pieces in my home.  And, I always mix in a little CB2 for good measure.

What’s been your favorite project that you’ve worked on thus far?

To date, my most gratifying project is my Rockwell Commons Courtyard Building in Lincoln Square.  I think it’s because I am from the Chicago that I have an inherent love for the Chicago Courtyard building; so when I had the opportunity to redevelop one that had been gutted to the bricks, I ran with it.  The finished product is a clean and crisp definition of the next generation of the Chicago Courtyards.

What are your favorite designers/retailers that you work with and why?

Doug Levine is, by far, my favorite Chicago designer.  Although he is best know for his modern work, he has a really keen eye for working the traditional into the modern home or visa versa and I love the contrast.

 I also always find great restored pieces at Brimfield and The White Attic in Andersonville. Julie at Brimfield is the Goddess of plaid.  Walking through her store is like taking a journey into the movie Dirty Dancing (minus Patrick Swayze).

What do you love about the Chicago design community? How would you improve it?

I feel like Chicagoans are truly authentic in their design sense in that we do what we love over what’s ‘in’ and that makes for a more vibrant and interesting design landscape.  If I could make one change to the Chicago design community it would less of an ‘upstairs-downstairs’ mentality about fine design.  A well-designed space is without price. So it may come from the Merchandise Mart, or it may come from Target. The winners are those who can seamlessly merge the two.

If you were to design a “Cheeky” room, what would it look like?

For the Cheeky girl I see a stark modern space made of concrete and glass with super traditional antique furniture re-painted and re-covered in modern whimsical fabrics sitting on a textured rug with a smart marble top coffee table.  I also see a wall covered in a heavy natural grass cloth, with a collage of family photos and some random local pieces of art…of course, complimented by some great lighting fixtures, and a candle with a scent that makes you feel at home. To me, it’s about appealing to all of the senses.