The Jo team is constantly seeking out design-related inspiration — at the core, we’re curious a lot — and lucky for us, there’s been no shortage of places to find beautiful things and thought-provoking ideas as of late. And (spoiler alert) with the Showhouse at the MART, NeoCon, Design Days, and some stunning Chicago landmarks opening soon, the design buzz in our hometown is more exciting than ever.

 

First up, on May 26, The Showhouse at the MART officially opens its doors. For design enthusiasts (like us!) looking for inspiration and beautiful residential design ideas, it’s a must-visit this spring. Jo clients En Masse, Goesling Group, and Abrams Valenti are among the 13 designers who have created spaces in the 3,000-square-foot model penthouse on the Merchandise Mart’s first floor, and we highly recommend planning a visit to check out all the gorgeousness they’ve dreamt up. And then, make a return trip around one of the many events (including one hosted by Jo Comms on June 24; more to come soon…) that will surround The Showhouse during its four-month run through September.

 

Just a few weeks later, from June 8 to 10, Chicago welcomes the commercial design community from far and wide for the city’s biggest design events: NeoCon and Design Days. The three-day design celebrations always include some of our team’s favorite activations and sights, and this year, we’re especially excited about Design Days’ Less Than a Truckload. Inspired by the Guerrilla Truck Shows of the early 2000s (and yes, some of us have been in the industry long enough to have attended), the event will include 10 shipping-container installations on the streets of Fulton Market created by emerging designers and artists. Free and open to the public, it’s a must see. 

 

As the design season in Chicago reaches full bloom, we’re looking forward to one more momentous achievement: the opening of The Obama Presidential Center to the public on June 19. Designed by New York’s Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and Chicago’s Interactive Design Architects, the 20-acre campus features a 225-foot stone-clad tower, a forum building, and a library surrounding a public plaza. Highlights we can’t wait to check out include a replica of Obama’s Oval Office, meticulously recreated by legendary interior designer Michael S. Smith, and an 83-foot-high painted-glass window by artist Julie Mehretu. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome this important architectural landmark to our city. 

 

Spring has always been a favorite season for our Chicago-based team, and this year, it’s blooming more beautifully than ever. 

 

Cheers to finding your own inspiration,

MJ

Another beautifully designed Chicago landmark — this one with a seriously intriguing twist — just opened just off the Magnificent Mile: The Hand and the Eye, a 36,000-square-foot mansion devoted entirely to the art of magic. Ironically, we first caught wind of the new space in March at Charleston by Design, thanks to a tip from renowned interior photographer Douglas Friedman, but after learning more in The New York Times, consider us fully ready for that close-up (close-up magic, that is). Set inside the legendary McCormick Mansion, the experience pairs world-class magicians with a culinary program, but for us, it’s the design that steals the show. With 37 rooms, secret passageways, and hidden chambers, the space doesn’t just support the concept, it is the magic. When design moves beyond backdrop and becomes part of the experience (see also: Printemps’ NYC outpost, recently visited by Jo VP Kate Templin), consider us spellbound.

Jo client En Masse partnered with James Thomas Interiors to reimagine this lakefront Michigan home, recently featured in the pages of House Beautiful. Learn more about the project (photographed by Ryan McDonald) here.

Reading: Interior Design’s “10 Questions With … Sarah Kuchar-Parkinson” (featuring Jo client Kuchar) reminded us that taking risks — in design, business, and life — can have beautiful results.

 

Watching: Project Hail Mary inspired us to ask ourselves if “celestial core” might be the next big design trend (and to wear more chunky cardigans). 

 

Listening to: The So Can I podcast featuring Jo clients’ Park & Oak details the intention and passion behind the founding duo’s design vision and business savvy. 

Coveting: Kelly Wearstler’s collaboration with H&M Home, revealed at last week’s Milan Design Week, is at the top of our spring wish list (learn more here).