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Of all the gleaming high- rise residences anchoring the Streeterville neighborhood, perhaps the new Optima Signature is one of the most artistic. You can't help but notice the striking red glass panels that wrap the lower seven floors of the modern apartment tower or the bright yellow free -form sculpture that stands in the plaza in front of the building. The color bursts are a signature of renowned architect and developer David Hovey of Glencoe. The 57- story Optima Signature at 220 E. Illinois St. is a joint venture between Hovey's firm, Optima Inc., and DeBartolo Development. The two also partnered in 2013 on the sister building next door, Optima Chicago Center . The base of that apartment tower is similarly clad in black glass. "Our focus is on architecture and contributing to the built environment but doing it in a way that resonates with the broader community and our residents," Optima Senior Vice President Mark Segal said. "We didn't design in ...

Design May 31, 2017   Share To create a winning master bath with limited square footage , assess the space, identify the client’s functional, aesthetic and stylistic preferences, and focus on incorporating unique and spectacular design details . authors Ellen Cheever   All too often, designers across the country tell me that, when offered a master bathroom project , the clients’ dream of an adult oasis is limited by the existing bathroom space and their unrealistic budget. While this may be the reality we all face with our “post Great Recession” clientele, let me suggest you not spend your energy complaining…but be energized by the challenge presented to you. Several strategies can help you create an exciting solution for a master bath space that must be completed within the confines of the available square footage . And, while they may not all fit within the client’s budget, these strategies will at least help you justify a recommendation to increase the initial budget! While the...

By David Gill Last month saw the grand openings of Lord & Taylor Home's first two stores, in Paramus and Shrewsbury, N.J.--marking what could be the most dramatic development in the home specialty -retail segment in many years. The Paramus Lord & Taylor Home is located adjacent to the full-line Lord & Taylor department store in the Fashion Center mall . The Shrewsbury store sits three miles away from the Lord & Taylor store in the Monmouth Mall. Both stores measure about 22,900 square feet. The merchandise on offer encompasses a variety of product categories in housewares, home textiles and tabletop. The new format is being positioned as somewhat upscale from Bed Bath & Beyond. "Lord & Taylor Home is a natural extension of the Lord & Taylor brand because it is about style, inspiration, color and entertaining," said Brendan Hoffman, president and CEO of Lord & Taylor. "The product offering is high-quality, trend-right merchandise fo...

How do I prevent mold and mildew from accumulating in my bathroom? Mold and mildew can be located anywhere in our homes, but is most likely to grow in areas that are wet, humid and damp.  It is most commonly found in bathrooms, basements and attics, when a combination of water and insufficient ventilation are combined. One of the most noticeable areas you will find mold and mildew is in your bathroom because of the high levels of humidity confined in this small space.  Most commonly, mold and mildew are found in the corners and bases of your shower, under your sink, and along the walls near your shower.  Bathroom mold occurs because it loves damp, isolated and non-ventilated spaces. Leaky toilets, sinks and plumbing pipes also increase the likelihood that mold will accumulate in your bathroom.  Add water saturated wood , wallpaper, grout, drywall and fabric, and your mold will have all the surface area it needs to take over your bathroom. How do you know you have a mold problem? If yo...

It all began with an aqua Terrazo tile as the inspiration for -our client's master bathroom transformation . A master suite built for an Edmonds Queen, with walk-in closet, master bathroom , and 2 vanity areas were included. The project also included updates to her powder room and laundry room- which was relocated to the lower level. This allowed us to reframe her master suite area and create a larger, more dramatic, and very functional master bath . Angled walls made space -planning and reframing a challenging puzzle to solve and we not only had to measure the interior, but the exterior angles as well since we were removing walls . Luckily, the large “wet room” concept met the client’s needs and overcame this obstacle. The new space features a stand-alone tub open showering area , as well as sink vanity, and seated makeup area . Additionally, storage needs were addressed with a wall of cabinetry installed adjacent to the new walk-in closet. A serene color palette and a var...

Architects: Miel Arquitectos, STUDIO P10 Location: Barcelona, Spain Year: 2017 Area: 699 ft²/ 65 m² Photo courtesy: José Hevia Description: “Two windows facing a party wall, our point of reference, the beginning of the project… Where serendipity arose and focused our purpose. Parlament19 is our experiment with reflective ergonomics. A creative distribution of mirrors enticing the glimmer of light, which cautiously entered this third floor Sant Antoni apartment . Inviting the trees and the nature of the barrio into the space. We extended this design strategy to the internal distribution of space. Positioning a cube of mirrors, acting as a kaleidoscope of light at the geometric hinge of the apartment. Internally, this golden cube houses those apartment services that can be utilised without natural light – the kitchen & two en-suite bathrooms. Externally, it creates the illusion of space that spreads to the bedrooms and communal areas. Upon entry, the cube acts as a gatehouse inviti...

Deerbrook Farm is a love story, straight out of the True Romance series . It’s about a young girl named Betsy Skillin , born in New York City and raised in Europe, who met Tom O’Connell, an American soldier, on a train traveling from Frankfurt to Paris. She was 14, and he was 20. Their chance meeting led to several years of friendly correspondence. Somewhere along the way, Tom met another woman and married. Betsy married Nolan Welmaker . Tom developed a successful career in advertising sales, and Betsy became known in San Antonio as a successful mother, community volunteer and entrepreneur, opening Violet Talk Gifts in Alamo Heights. I ran into Tom at a business function after he was married and had a daughter,” Betsy says. “I wrote my phone number on the back of his business card and gave it to him.” She invited him to visit San Antonio and then went on with her life. “In 1980, my phone rang,” Betsy continues. “A deep voice said, ‘This is a voice from your past,’ and it turned out...

By Jill Reilly Published: 10:03 BST, 14 February 2013 | Updated: 11:30 BST, 21 July 2014 e-mail View comments As the shops flood with red chocolate hearts and over-sized cards, trying to put a different twist on Valentine's Day can be tricky. Couples spa breaks are always a romantic option but because my boyfriend James had a preconception that they were for 'girls' I wasn't too sure if he would embrace the experience as much as me. But then I stumbled across the perfect present – a luxury spa stay in a treehouse. Retreat in the trees: The 12 treehouses - in the grounds of Chewton Glen - were completed in 2012 It's every boy's childhood fantasy to live in a treehouse – and this was just a five-star adult version, swapping creaky floorboards for underfloor heating. The 12 treehouses - in the grounds of hotel Chewton Glen - were completed in 2012 and are the only luxury suites of their kind in the UK. The 18th century house is just off the M27 in Hamps...