The difference between designing bars and restaurants, which we do a lot of, and designing a home (which we also do a good deal of) is that a bar or restaurant is a highly experiential space, while a home is a comfortable, livable space. However, one place in the home that's great for adding a bit of flair is the powder room.  It's a small space that can be designed to make a big impression, whether with tile, wall-covering, a funky mirror, unique lighting or a bit of bling. Check out these rooms to get your inspiration going!

We appreciate the usefulness of a well-designed screen that is both aesthetically pleasing and a powerful workhorse. Need to divide a space without constructing permanent walls? Either a freestanding or ceiling hung partition could be the answer. Maybe you want to obscure an unsightly view of the neighbor’s garage. A screen that lets light filter through while obscuring the view could enhance your living space. How about providing some privacy with acoustic benefits in an open office layout? Yes, there are partitions for that too. We even found a screen with built-in storage. Enjoy perusing some of our favorite screen time options.

Facet by 3form

BuzziZone by BuzziSpace

Nomad System by Mio

Nebula by Tacchini

FeltWall by B&B Italia

Too see images like this and everything else that inspires us, check out our Pinterest page, here! Also, congratulations to Caffe Ladro for their grand opening this week!  Make sure to stop by (400 Fairview).

When we're not busy designing living rooms we're busy watching them on our favorite sitcoms. It's fun to test if we're absorbing any of the interior decor while laughing along with some of our favorite characters. How many of these do you recognize? We got a 93%, think you can beat our score? Try the quiz here!

Have you ever noticed that some of the most interesting details in people's homes can come from re-purposing certain items (old doors, custom built-ins, funky light fixtures, furniture...)? People nowadays flock to salvage stores to find those singular details that just don't exist in today's fast paced, profit driven construction market. This type of unique detail is not limited to just certain snapshots of a home, but can, in fact, encompass an entire home. Today, people have found ways to creatively re-purpose old buildings such as churches, fire-stations, and even banks into one-of-a-kind homes for themselves. Take a look at some of our favorites below.


This last example is quite a dazzler.  Located at 1658 W. Superior Street in the East Village neighborhood of Chicago, this former Romanesque style church was built in 1888. It was converted to 14 condominium units back in 1998. This former church retained much of it's character throughout the transformation (which can be tricky for commercial resale projects): large, intricate stained glass windows; vaulted spaces, some as high as 30 feet; and brickwork can still be found in each unit.

http://www.seconduse.com/item/349137