When one Marley is not enough

Author John Grogan and Gracie

Shortly before the Jennifer Aniston/Owen Wilson movie “Marley & Me” opened in theaters last December, I caught up with “Marley” author (and master) John Grogan. 

He was just moving into a new home in Pennsylvania and their newest pup, Woodson, was channeling Marley. (Read: Taking a wrong turn and running down to the basement, mistaking it for his restroom.)

Nonetheless, John was gracious and told me in a phone interview for the Chicago Tribune all about antique tools and reupholstered sofas. Want to know who has the eye for furniture reincarnation in the Grogan household? Click here.

Galleria: Matt Lorenz

 

Matt Lorenz

June 18, 2009

You probably know Matt Lorenz from Bravo’s “Top Design” ’07 season, when he snagged the brass ring.

Or maybe you know this 30something designer from the handsome and glamorous bedroom he designed for The Merchandise Mart’s Dream Home that year (see photo below). All grays and white, leather and tile. Textural and rich.  A room that we could see Cary Grant sinking into.

I know Matt best for his generosity in creating a holiday ornament for the Chicago Tribune’s celebrity ornament auction (“Jingle Balls,” Dec. 9, 2007)  when I was there as editor of the paper’s Home & Garden section. His “Come Together Ornament,” made on a $10 budget with a metal pendant and blue and silver beads, was, believe it or not, like his rooms: simple and elegant. And it sold for $150.

Flash forward: Matt, who now owns ML Design Studio, 101 W. Grand Ave., Suite 200, Chicago, continues to bring this look to more projects in the Chicago area — and beyond.

“The last couple years since ‘Top Design’ aired has been amazing,” he told me via e-mail. “My firm ML  Design Studio has completed projects in Chicago, Aspen and Florida. This past winter, we completed the remodel of  the Private Dining Room at Spiaggia and I’m currently working on four other restaurants.”

Photo by Byster Studios

Garden girl: One of his most recent public displays was a  girl’s bedroom in the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens last spring.

 

Photo by Byster Studios

C’est magnifique: “The room was inspired by my 7-year-old daughter, Lily.  It is meant to be a year-round garden retreat, with a bed centered in the middle of the room channeling a French pavilion.” 

Photo by Byster Studios

Sources:

• Daisy rug – Edward Fields
• Upholstered bed and chairs – Baker
• Child photography and poodle series – Byster Studios
• Poodle painting – Aaron Feldman
• Iron trees, wall screen,dresser – ML Design Studio
• Mirrored vanity – Julia Gray

Contact: 312-497-7525, mldesignstudio.com

Daytripping: Hubbard Woods / Winnetka

 

A vintage monogrammed doorknob gets a new life as a wine stopper. At Seagrass.

Something new from “the snoopster”! I’ll be taking you on little excursions and showing you all the great spots to find goodies for your home. Today’s daytrip: Hubbard Woods in Winnetka. To read about it (I finally figured out how I might make things easier for you …)  just click here.

Take a peek in the “Galleria”

I’ve finally got something for you to look at — five beautiful rooms designed   by the Susan Fredman Design Group. Fredman not only has studios (and stores!) in both Chicago and Union Pier, Mich., in Harbor Country, but she also founded Designs for Dignity, which provides pro bono design work to area non-profits “to create environments that reflect dignity, hope and comfort.” Now run (and click on) the “Galleria” to see the upscale and sophisticated Fredman looks.

~ Elaine Matsushita

First “Knock, knock” stop: Palatine

How can a house be so full of light yet have no windows??? Check out my first “Knock, knock” visit on the “Knock, knock” page, won’t you please? It’s a look into the Dennis Stevens-designed house in Palatine (Ill.) that Min Pak calls home.