Design Chicago Welcomed Industry Experts and Design Icons to theMart

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Guests at the Opening Night celebration
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Guest, Julie Mitchiner, SuzAnn Kleitzen
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Guests at the Opening Night Celebration
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Julia Buckingham, Jeannie Balsam
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Megan Opel, John Robshaw
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Kyle Bunting and Guest

theMart was buzzing with innovative Presentations, Special Events and Product Debuts

The Design Center at theMART hosted Design Chicago, the Midwest’s Largest Interior Design Event, October 4-5 drawing nearly 1,000 attendees from across the Midwest. Design Chicago featured educational and inspiring programming by over 75 of the nation’s leading designers and industry insiders. The event included over 40 showroom open houses and many new product debuts from over 70 showrooms. An Opening Night Celebration was held in the newly renovated 2nd floor Lounge and was followed by a second evening that brought together luminary design talent in celebration of the Ones to Watch winners.

“We are thrilled with the large response and great participation from our Design Center showrooms, presenters and attendees,” said Susan McCullough, Senior Vice President, Vornado I Merchandise Mart. “The Design Center is the go to place for the newest luxury custom home furnishings from top manufacturers and offered attendees endless inspiration and resources for their clients.”

The event drew national leading talent from the design industry including textiles designer, John Robshaw, leather designer, Kyle Bunting, media personalities, Jessica Romm Perez of domino magazine and Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home magazine, nationally-renowned designers, Paula Grace and Linherr Hollingsworth, and manufacturing leaders, Chad Stark, Senior Vice President of Stark, Joyce Romanoff, CEO of Maya Romanoff, and Scott Kravet, Creative Director of Kravet. CEU’s and presentations were jam packed and buzzing with energy throughout Design Chicago.

“This year’s Design Chicago event at theMart was so full of energy and life that I was exhausted by the end! My presentations for DFA about our #DoItFor initiative and STARK about Handmade Rug Production were both very well attended and the audience seemed very engaged. I’m excited about what theMart is doing to keep the design community engaged with our industry and the STARK showroom,” -Chad Stark

“Attendance at Design Chicago, as well as our panel discussion, “Does Craftsmanship Outlive the Present-Day Makers Movement”, was very successful. Cheryl Durst, our superb moderator, and our diverse panel stimulated a thoughtful discussion among the attendees who were energetic and interested designers.” -Joyce Romanoff

In addition, the Ones to Watch reception held Wednesday, October 5th, welcomed the who’s who in the design industry to honor Laurie Demetrio of Laurie Demetrio Interiors, Steve Somogyi and Filip Malyszko of steve + filip design, and SuzAnn Kletzien of SuzAnn Kletzien Design. It was a wonderful celebration for designers to mix and mingle and share their favorite experiences from Design Chicago.

For more information about Design Chicago, please visit designchicagoevent.com.

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Rio Hamilton, Payton Cosell Turner & Brian Kasprin Bradley
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Tracy Hickman, Stave Kadlec, Michael Del Piero, Bruce Fox and Kara Mann in Jean de Merry showroom
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Michael Del Piero, Steve Kadlec, Kara Mann, Bruce Fox, Tracy Hickman
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Guests in the new Made Goods Showroom
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Sarah Vaile, Julia Buckingham, Lauren Coburn and Joey Leicht in Edward Ferrell+ Lewis Mittman

ABOUT THE DESIGN CENTER™ AT THE MART

The Design Center, located in Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart, is home to four floors constituting the world’s largest and finest design center. As a leader in the $65 billion residential home furnishings market, The Design Center offers the largest presentation of high-end, couture, home furnishings worldwide, all under one roof. Encompassing 650,000 square feet, boasting 115 showrooms and featuring more than 2,500 product lines, it is the design professional’s ultimate resource for luxury furniture, fabrics, floor coverings, wall coverings, lighting, antiques and much more. For more information visit, designcenter.com