Downtown design energy lands in the burbs: Legat’s new Oak Brook studio shines at International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Illinois Chapter’s inaugural Suburban Afterglow
For more than 50 years, Chicago’s Merchandise Mart has hosted NeoCon, one of the nation’s premier commercial interior design industry events. And in 2022, Fulton Market Design Days was introduced as a concurrent offering.
This year, Legat Architects’ Monique Taylor and her IIDA Illinois Chapter cohorts determined it was time to bring that urban design vitality to the suburbs. And what better venue for the inaugural IIDA Illinois Suburban Afterglow event than Legat’s new Oak Brook studio?
On July 31, more than 100 Chicago-area designers and vendors convened at the penthouse suite to network and explore new products ranging from flooring and lighting to wall coverings and furniture. A charcuterie board and a fully stocked bar kept guests fueled, but the highlight was the trucker hat bar where guests designed their own caps.
Kudos to IIDA Illinois VP of City Centers Reed Peters, to IIDA Northern Illinois City Center Co-Directors Michelle Castellan and Monique Taylor, and to the IIDA Illinois planning committee for coordinating the event.
“Seeing people come together to celebrate design was uplifting,” said Taylor. “Events like this are where we get to fully embrace what we love, surrounded by others who share the same passion and excitement. This proves that incredible design energy isn’t just in the city — it’s right here in our own backyard!”
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