If you’re reading this, I’ll assume you’re one of us. Those who want our homes to be perfectly designed and thoughtfully curated with that delicious scent of hotel lobbies. We work hard to make that happen for our clients, but there is something different about the wonder and relaxation of staying at an epic hotel. Now that it’s summer, my wanderlust is at an all-time high. The aspirational vacation content on social media doesn’t help! Dreamy locations aside, I’m scrolling to find the next incredible boutique hotel. I love staying in places that embrace the local aesthetic and culture. When t ..read more

If you’re an interior design enthusiast, I’m sure you have a social media feed flooded with beautifully designed spaces- so beautiful that they look effortless and aspirational. For designers, that’s the goal! After months and months (sometimes years) of work, there is no better feeling than finally capturing a finished project and sharing it with the world. Not to mention, quality imagery is essential to a successful interior design business. Our portfolio photos establish our reputation in the industry and build trust in our creative vision and expertise with future clients. It’s true- a pho ..read more

Designing a home that feels effortlessly curated is a passion of ours. Trends are starting to swing away from minimalism, welcoming back pattern and color. While we aren’t ones to follow trends, it’s exciting to see our clients more interested in unexpected design choices that make their home tailored to them. I keep seeing the social media sound from Historically Zane, “I’m interested in those homes where you walk in and I know exactly who you are in the first two seconds.” This is all over social for a reason. The idea of collected interiors are resonating. But, it can be hard to know where ..read more

Not all cabinetry is created equal. While all homes have cabinetry for storing dinner plates in the kitchen and soap in the bathroom, these cabinets don’t usually leave a lasting impression. We could talk all day about the potential custom cabinetry has to introduce beauty and function to your home. As a studio specializing in kitchen design, we love designing cabinetry that not only enhances your home aesthetically, but also your lifestyle. Good design will anticipate your needs and make it easier to function within a space. When building or renovating a kitchen, investing in custom cabinet ..read more

Is there anything better than dining outdoors? There is something so relaxing and freeing about it, especially after a long winter. Here in Chicago, people take alfresco dining seriously. On a sunny day, restaurant patios fill up moments after they open! While it’s fun to dine out, I love to host friends and family and to have an excuse to craft a beautiful tablescape. Now that Spring is officially here, I can’t wait to start enjoying more time outside. Let me bring you down my recent rabbit hole of outdoor tablescape saves. I promise you’ll leave inspired! OUTDOOR TABLESCAPE INSPIRATION ..read more

Centered by Design for House Beautiful Whole Home Gaining popularity in recent years, trellis or lattice work has made its way indoors, adding depth, texture, and beauty to interior spaces. Trellis layered on an interior wall is elegant and sophisticated way to bring the outdoors in. We embraced this trend in the sunroom we designed for the 2023 House Beautiful Whole Home and it has been on our minds ever since. More on that later (don’t miss the end of this post). We are making it even easier to add the trellis look to your own home. What do you think of when you hear the word trellis? Maybe ..read more

As the first impression to many guests and visitors, and as the view that welcomes you home each day, your staircase is a focal point that sets the tone for your home. Many people decide to invest in stair runners to ease concerns about slips and falls or to help muffle sounds. Functionality aside, we love a stair runner for the color, warmth and personality they can bring to your foyer. Striped stair runners and/or adding a striped border are a classic look in historic and new homes alike. Centered by Design recently partnered with longtime local business, Lewis Floor & Home to install a ..read more

We were so honored to be chosen as designers at the 2023 House Beautiful Whole Home in Hinsdale, Illinois. This was the sixth year of the Whole Home project, which is a national show house organized and publicized by House Beautiful and the Hearst Magazine group. This year, along with 13 other design teams, we were tasked with preserving the history of a stunning 13,000-square-foot David Adler designed estate while updating it with fresh, vibrant designs. Centered by Design is known for our love of historical properties, so this was a perfect opportunity to reimagine an intricate sunroom ..read more

Is there anything more lovely than Paris in autumn? The City of Light is hard to beat in this glorious season, and last month, we got the opportunity to travel to France to visit both Paris and Bordeaux. It wasn’t a purely leisure trip (though how can Paris ever feel like work?) — our main intent was to meet with French wallpaper company Isidore Leroy. We were first introduced to the brand through a friend from design school, then partnered with them on the Lake Forest Showhouse. This collaboration sparked the idea for another: What if we developed a wallpaper collection together? Enjoyin ..read more

If you’ve been following Centered by Design for a while, you know how much we enjoy exploring Round Top Antiques Fair. Last year, Claire and Meghan shopped the expansive antiques experience covering miles and miles of land surrounding the remote town of Round Top, Texas, and came home with treasures galore. We talked about our best tips for navigating Round Top here, and Claire was even interviewed by Veranda for a story about how to shop it smartly. This year’s Round Top Antiques Fair is coming up in October, and we’ve created an exciting opportunity for you to shop the market with us! Marry ..read more