M. GRACE DESIGNS

What's "HOT" for Spring Fashion and Home...

2012-01-14T14:24:00.002-06:00

LOVE these Gorgeous Fabrics from CASSARO

Painting by Klari Reis

Dolce and Gabbana Ready to Wear, Spring 2012

Abstract Scandinavian Glass Vase

Scandinavia 1960's

Vintage sculptural Scandinavian glass vase with abstract design.

Fashion and Home Spring 2012

Gorgeous Transitional Pieces.

2012-01-12T22:14:00.004-06:00

Our client just approved these gorgeous transitional pieces.

Hickory Chair/ Pearson

Kravet

David Sutherland

A "LOVE for PURPLE...

2012-01-12T14:21:00.000-06:00

Spring 2012

Elegant, Eccentric, Mysterious... Purple is widely accepted in all categories,

including fashion, food, architecture and design...

A LOVE for PURPLE…

This Purple Hotel was built in 1953 by the Hyatt Corp. and was originally called the Lincolnwood Hyatt House. Fred Treitler, an American architect, designed and selected these beautiful "Purple" bricks.

Pantone Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango

2012-01-12T09:35:00.004-06:00

Fashion Home, Color Inspiration Spring 2012

Pantone 2012 Color of the Year: Tangerine Tango

Fabric: Schumacher

Painting: Baltus

Karastan and it's Beautiful Rugs

2011-12-13T11:32:00.002-06:00

Karastan has partnered with five (5) expert Interior Designers from around the country to participate in their Designer On Call program.

"DESIGNER ON CALL"
Write on Karastan's facebook wall and tell why a space could use some help and you'll be entered for
a chance to call on M. Grace Sielaff to help you update your space!

Karastan: http://www.facebook.com/KarastanCarpetsandRugs

To all our fans. Thank you for your support!

2011-11-28T13:07:00.006-06:00

To all our fans, vendors, business partners, family and friends.

We thank you for your support!

GOOD LIFE

2011-11-13T21:07:00.002-06:00

Add some GOOD to your Life!

Design Bureau Magazine

2011-10-17T17:50:00.000-05:00

Special Thanks to Design Bureau Magazine

http://www.wearedesignbureau.com/projects/be-kind-design/

Design Bureau delivers an honest and inspirational global dialogue on design from diverse disciplines and points of view. It gathers people like you—creative professionals, style arbiters and industry leaders—and connects you with a like-minded community of design enthusiasts across the world with one common idea: discovering great design and the people who make it happen. Published bi-monthly in Chicago by ALARM Press.

Chicago Home and Garden Magazine

2011-10-07T11:48:00.000-05:00

Let the professionals help you when Chicago Home + Garden and the

American Society of Interior Designers present Picture This.

October 11, 2011, Chopping Block, Merchandise Mart Design Center.

Is your carbon footprint harming the Earth?

2011-10-07T11:38:00.004-05:00

Well, why yes. We are all affecting the Earth, just by living. Each of our everyday actions consumes energy and produces carbon dioxide emissions like taking holiday flights, driving our cars, heating or cooling our homes and offices.
Everything you do has an effect, the question is whether or not your effect is positive or negative. Many people and organizations around the world are changing their lifestyles to save the planet... and the truth of the matter is that altering your life to reduce your carbon emissions is the best way to do that. However, many of us are in a position where drastic changes to the way we live are impossible to make.
But the key is balance. As Sir Issac Newton said, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". And that's why you're here, you want to make the lifestyle changes you can, and balance out the things you can't. That's where Carbon Offsets step in.

For more info on Carbon footprint:
http://www.carboneliminator.com/

Design Bureau Magazine

2011-09-14T10:39:00.002-05:00

Check out our full page feature on the September - October 2011 issue of

Design Bureau Magazine.

http://www.wearedesignbureau.com/projects/be-kind-design/

2011-09-06T10:11:00.004-05:00

Bradley Hughes

2011-08-13T13:12:00.003-05:00

Special Thanks to Bradley Hughes!

New and Exciting Project.

2011-08-01T06:45:00.002-05:00

New and Exciting Project

We are excited to be working on several projects; one in particular is an exciting new construction home that is set to be complete in spring of 2012.
Our design: Classic, Transitional with an edgy, modern twist.

The palette will consist of neutral tones, contrast of lights and darks. The walls and ceiling will be finished in silver leaf, hand-painter wall-coverings, 4 large custom crystal chandeliers and custom cabinetry throughout the space. The list goes on and on.

Take the foyer, for instance. It will be covered with Donghia gold and silver leaf wallpaper, and the hallway turns into a tunnel of glamour, with its arched ceiling finished with 3 Borovier and Toso crystal chandeliers.

Sources: Trade only: Kindle, Kravet, Lee Jofa, Brunswig and Fils, Fort-Street Studio, Bright Group, Donghia, Maya Romanoff, Bradley Hughes, and more.

LHQ Magazine "At Home With" M. Grace Designs

2011-07-15T13:45:00.002-05:00

Luxury Home Quarterly Magazine, "At Home With" July 2011 Issue

Green Products

2011-07-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

Green: Despite the recession, green products and services continue to thrive. Consumers are paying for eco-friendly products and services from clothing to housecleaning, but some of the biggest opportunities are on the business-to-business side. Green consultants who help businesses shrink their carbon footprints are poised to grow, as new regulations will increase the need for experts to advise businesses. In fact, IBISWorld, Industry Research Reports projects the environmental consulting industry will grow 9.4 percent per year to $30.0 billion by 2016. Another growth industry: providing remediation and environmental cleanup services, such as removing hazardous waste or cleaning up wastewater study finds.

http://www.ibisworld.com/

Green Projects

2011-06-15T16:40:00.007-05:00

Installation Chicago, IL

Our interior design team focused on using design elements and furnishings that would give continuity to this contemporary condominium residence, which featured a curved hallway, enormous floor to celling glass windows and an intimate living/dining room.

The living room was very small, so we created an illusion to make space look larger by incorporating small-scale furniture intimate setting. Modern, warm, comfortable, and inviting color scheme of neutral tones, and soft teal as well as off-white sheer drapery, to achieve and airy open feeling of the space, and to attain the breathtaking view of the city.

"Our goal was to utilize local manufacturers and vendors to reduce CO2 emissions. “ While most of products specified were obtained from locally approved suppliers. Materials used--such as paints and adhesives--were low in VOC (volatile organic compounds).

Architects Design Group, First LEED Certified Urban Police Headquarters in Florida

For more info on our favorite Green Projects, please visit Green Source: http://greensource.construction.com/

NeoCon Photos

2011-06-15T02:00:00.021-05:00

Group Lacasse Showroom.

Met up with Eric Chang, Hellman Chang, and John Pomp, John Pomp Lighting. We viewed some lovely new furniture and lighting introduction at A-Rudin showroom.

ASID Member's Party

Sampling some B&B ITALIA with my best friend Jason Holtzman, Jason Holtzman Design, Architect.

Sitting Comfortably in this lovely B& B Italia Lounge Seating.

M. Grace Designs, Facebook Page 2011

2011-05-24T20:47:00.002-05:00

Designer Vignette Preview Party at International Antiques Fair at the Merchandise Mart, Chicago

2011-05-14T14:07:00.002-05:00

Many thanks to our Designer Vignette partners, and supporters, Tufenkian, Bradley Hughes, A-Rudin, Golden Triangle, Niedermaier, Osborne and Little, Lee's Antiques, Toulouse Antique Gallery, Three Friends Studio,Carl Virgo Artist, and the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair! What an amazing success! THANK YOU!

New Project Installation, Chicago

2011-04-26T22:55:00.000-05:00

New Project at 540 North State.

Photography: Chicago Commercial Photography

Meet some of Chicago's leading interior designers at the International Antiques Fair!

2011-04-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

Check out our Designer Vignette at Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair,

Friday April 29 through May 2, 2010.

Our First Quarter for 2011

2011-04-18T23:20:00.018-05:00

We're so happy to announce that we will be featured in the July 2011 issue of Luxury Home Quarterly magazine, and September -October 2011 issue of Design Bureau Magazine.

Designer Vignettes at the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair 2011

2011-04-07T08:26:00.005-05:00

We're so happy to announce that we will be designing the Designer Vignettes during the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair. Five of the leading interior designers will create beautiful room-scapes on the show floor, demonstrating how to blend contemporary furnishings with antiques, and with the help of my assistant Christopher, our vignette will look amazing!

The show runs currently with Artropolis, Art Chicago, and NEXT on April -29 through May 2, 2011, at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago.

Featuring: A-Rudin, Tufenkian, Niedermaier, Bradley Hughes, Golden Triangle, Lucien (Pete Perodine) artist and Mid Century Antiques throughout the space.

1) TUFENKIAN - 9X12 TOPO BLUSH, AREA RUG.

2) A-RUDIN - CHAISE

3) A-RUDIN - HARRIS RUBIN, COFFEE TABLE

4) A-RUDIN - SOFA

5) A-RUDIN - HARRIS RUBIN “ARC” SIDE TABLE

6) NIEDERMAIER - “WILHEMINA” URNS

7) A-RUDIN - BLACK AND WHITE ARTWORK

8) BRADLEY HUGHES - “ATHENA” CHANDELIER
MID CENTURY ANTIQUES

All the best,
M. Grace Sielaff

ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS

2011-03-02T09:05:00.001-06:00

Architects and Interior Designers play an important role in determining the needs of every project.

Whether you are remodeling a kitchen, creating your dream home, or planning a hotel or commercial building, working with an architect or professional interior designer can save time and money by making your new spaces more functional with a greater level of comfort, a higher level of efficiency and environmentally responsible. Architects and interior designers are there to help in solving problems by producing a custom design that meets individual needs and lifestyles through research and development, bringing a sense of wellness, good design and beautiful aesthetics.

Architects can play a pivotal role in reducing the overall environmental impact and energy needed to create and operate buildings, the single biggest consumer of fossil fuels. (producing 70 percent of GHG emissions) The result is a project that produce beautiful, distinctive, efficient, and healthy buildings for a sustainable planet.

Interior Designers, in the legislative arena, the public's confusion about the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator is one of the biggest hurdles to protecting the public through legally defining the profession of interior design and setting standards of education, experience, and examination.

Like doctors, hiring architects and designers examines your overall protection of the health, safety and welfare of building occupants and users.

HEALTH - Aspects of architecture have wholesome, beneficial, and healthful effects among the users of buildings or sites and address environmental issues, and health concerns in design of buildings. Examples include: building climate, HVAC, humidity control, natural day lighting, indoor air quality and nontoxic materials and finishes, green building and landscaping. SAFETY - Aspects of architecture intended to limit or prevent accidental injury or among users of buildings or sites, and promote public safety.

“Green “or sustainable design refers to the increasingly popular and important practice of creating architecture that is friendly to both the environment and the end user and the inhabitants. The concepts of sustainable design include:

• Maximization of site potential

• Reduction of non-renewable energy consumption

• Conservation of water

• Reduction of waste

• Use of environmentally friendly products

• Improvement of indoor environmental quality

Using sustainable design strategies may be as simple as using recycled, non-toxic materials or may involve a more comprehensive program incorporating such elements as green roofs, photovoltaic cells that capture sunlight, and

air and water treatment systems. Although many firms are generally familiar with green design, you will want to question prospective architects closely about their level of experience in this regard and examine past projects that incorporated sustainable strategies. (For more information, visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk and the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC at www.usgbc.org.)

Every architecture and design firm brings its own combination of skills, design expertise, interests, concepts, and values to its projects.

CHEERS to all those amazing architects and designers who have made a great impact in the history of architecture and design.

AIA - The American Institute of Architects, founded in 1857, is the professional organization for 83,500 licensed architects and associated professionals. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and some 300 state and local chapters worldwide, the AIA helps to build public awareness of architects and supports the practice of architecture. AIA is the founding member of the U. S. Green Building Council, USGBC, and producer of ARCHITECT magazine.

For more information, please visit: http://www.aiachicago.org/

ASID - The American Society of Interior Designers is a community of people driven by a common love for design and committed to the belief that interior design, as a service to people, is a powerful, multi-faceted profession that can positively change people's lives. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people's lives. Founded in 1975, the American Society of Interior Designers is the oldest, largest, and leading professional organization for interior designers. ASID inspires and enriches its members by promoting the value of interior design, while providing indispensable knowledge and experiences that build relationships. ASID is the forefront in every major progression in the design profession, founder of CIDA, NCIDQ, and founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC. For more information, please visit: http://www.asid.org/

IIDA - International Interior Design Association with respect for past accomplishments of Interior Design leaders strives to create a strong niche for the most talented and visionary Interior Design professionals, to elevate the profession to the level it warrants, and to lead the way for the next generation of Interior Design innovators. The Association provides a forum to demonstrate design professionals’ impact on the health, safety, well being, and virtual soul of the public, balancing passion for good design and strategy for best business practices. IIDA stands at the intersection of passion and strategy where designers create extraordinary interiors and experiences. For more information, please visit: http://www.iida.org/

M. Grace Sielaff, Principal, M. Grace Designs, Inc.
Jason Holtzman, Architect, Jason Holtzman Design, Inc.