Top 10 Design Tips for the Holidays!

Ten inspiring ideas and tips for the holidays from our top designers!

1) Think outside the box when creating table centerpieces. Fill a vase with candy canes and ornaments.

2) Most people use their fine china when company comes over for the holidays. To make your place setting more festive, try pairing fine china plates with less expensive holiday plates.

3) Place different colored and scented candles around your home to make it warm, fragrant and inviting. At Home in the City has a great variety of scented candles ranging from juniper citrus to chestnut and quince spice.

4) In your living area string white lights and pine branches to give your home a winter wonderland feel.

5) Instead of using regular gift wrap, make your own. You can buy parchment paper and stamps and design your own gift wrap. To finish off the gift, take a ribbon and tie a trinket onto the present to make it more meaningful. Recycle this season and use fabric swatches to wrap your gifts!

6) Make a pomander. Take an orange and hollow it out and fill the inside with cloves. Lastly, wrap the orange with a ribbon to make it look like an ornament. This is a great way to make your house smell wonderful.

7) String together pine cones from your backyard. Tie in some pine branches and cranberries and make your own decorative wreath or table setting.

8) To make a simple yet unique holiday centerpiece, take a cake stand and place different sized candles on it as well as pine branches.

9) Take a small crystal bowl and fill it with water, cranberries and tea lights. This arrangement is a great way to create a holiday ambiance in your home.

10) Make your own mistletoe and hang it around your home. When you have company over, the mistletoe will put everyone in a merry mood.

What are you thankful for?

In light of the upcoming holiday, we asked our designers what they are thankful for this season. Read on to hear their thoughts, insights, and sentiments.


“What am I thankful for? Here goes:

This year gives us much to ponder. I lost a cousin, a friend lost her parents, our marketing director, Jill & Bridget, her amazing assistant are fighting to survive the accident they were in....
We are dealing with the first downturn in business in many, many years.
But still I am grateful. I am grateful for the smart, talented, compassionate people I get to work with each day. I am grateful for the clients I meet, the work I get to do, & the difference I am able to make for our clients in performing the work that changes me each time.
Thank you 2009 for the good & the bad.....bring on 2010.”
-Susan Fredman

“I am thankful for my inspirational coworkers and the creativity they bring to our firm each day.”
-Susan Rossie

“I am thankful for my generous clients who are constantly referring me to their circle of friends! Much appreciated!!”
-Barbara Ince

“I am thankful for each and every new day which gives us an opportunity to start anew and to be thankful for all of the things we have learned and all of the things we have yet to learn!”
-Barb Theile

“I am thankful for my 2 grandaughters ages 2 and 4. Through their eyes I see the world as new, filled with wonderment and imagination.”
-Judith Maier

“I am thankful for being surrounded by a network of great creative minds who encourage and inspire me daily to go beyond boundaries to be my most creative self.
I am thankful for a loving family and husband.
I am thankful for the strength and courage to seek out great opportunities in the face of uncertainty.”
-Ruthie Delf “I am thankful for my friends—they give me strength and support every day, and will always keep me laughing.”
-Gina Valenti

“I’m thankful that I have a passion in life that brings joy to people in the gardens I am able to design for them.”
- Roger Boike

“I am thankful for:
...being able to enjoy the fast pace of Chicago's city lifestyle and drive a half hour to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the suburbs.
...rainy days off when I can snuggle on the sofa with Lucy!!!
...coworkers who can help make ANYTHING funny!
...understanding that we all live with abundant possibility and the power to create.”
-Sarah Davis
“I am thankful for my loving family, wonderful friends, and the abundance of opportunities in my life.”
-Kathy Hoffman

“I am thankful for good food and good drink shared with family and friends. Those are the best of times.”
-Karen Kravits

"I am so thankful for my wonderful family; they support me through everything and are abundant in love. I am also thankful for my family at Susan Fredman. It is truly amazing to have such support and love from coworkers."
-Amanda Zitlin

“I'm thankful that Susie has collected a phenomenal group of designers who know their trade, and have a passion for what they do; it's humbling to work around so many brilliant people. I'm also thankful that the people here genuinely care for each other; it's like a little family.”
-Jeanne Woods

A Table You Can Be Thankful For

There are many great things about Thanksgiving Day. Waking up early to watch the parade, my father and brothers gathered around the television watching football, and let’s not forget the food! Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato pie! Just thinking about Thanksgiving makes me hungry! But there is a part of Thanksgiving that I look forward to even more than the food, THE TABLESCAPE!

Thanksgiving Day provides the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful scene atop your dining table. Whether your house is the annual family gathering location, or if you are having a simple Thanksgiving dinner for two, take advantage of all the wonderful dining design possibilities.
I interviewed a few of the Susan Fredman designers for some tips for creating the perfect, cost-effective Thanksgiving tablescape. Here is what they had to say:

Tip #1: Use gourds, pumpkins, and squash for center pieces.
These Fall favorites are good for more than eating. Layer each at different heights to create more visual interest. Plus, you can use the pumpkin and squash in your favorite recipes.

Tip #2: Use branches from the yard for your floral bouquet.
Floral arrangements can be expensive! So, take a walk on a beautiful fall day and pick up some small branches to incorporate in your very own floral arrangements. When picking your type of arrangements, mums are a classic fall favorite. Use different size vases that you have collected over the years for interest or use clear, simple vases and float cranberries in your vases to add flare.

Cherry Napkin Rings by Table Art byMichael Michaud

Tip #3: Use colors in nature.
The Fall season is full beautiful colors. Use the colors you see right outside your window to enhance your Thanksgiving dining experience. Deep purples, burnt oranges, and golds are great colors for your table. You can even sprinkle in some fresh, colorful fallen leaves into your décor.

Tip#4: Reuse gift baskets.
We all have baskets hanging around from old gifts that we have gotten in the past. Here is your chance to put them to good use. Line your baskets with elegant, fall colored napkins and use it for your Thanksgiving dinner rolls. You can even use it to store your Thanksgiving silverware.

Yellow & Black Tie Dye Napkin by Judith Kruger

Tip #5: Make Cinnamon Napkin Rings.
Cinnamon is the scent of Fall. Wrap cinnamon sticks in string around your favorite napkins for beautiful and inexpensive napkin rings.

Tip #6: Use pumpkins for place holders.
Pick up some baby pumpkins and write your guests’ names on them with permanent marker to save their place at your beautiful Thanksgiving table.


Orange on Coal KlayPea Bowl by Judith Kruger

Tip #7: Use Pumpkin and squash as serving ware.
Open up some pumpkins or squash and clean out the insides to serve your favorite dishes in. This is perfect for you mashed potatoes or Thanksgiving veggies.

Tip #8: Pick up your all of your Thanksgiving tablescape needs at Susan Fredman’s At Home in the City.
Susan Fredman’s At Home in the City is the perfect place to find all of your design needs, especially for the holidays. From beautiful table linens, to serving platters and festive glassware we have everything you need to make all of your dining design dreams come true!

http://www.susanfredmanathome.com/

Not Your Everyday Dining Room!

What do you get when you mix Kohler bathroom products with Susan Fredman Designers? A glamorous, Old-Hollywood inspired dining room!




Moderne Gold finish samples were strung together to create stunning curtain backdrops. The light fixture was created with Kohler’s new Karbon faucet and fiber optics. Each dinner plate was garnished with a napkin, bound by a beautiful faucet handle napkin ring that accented the cross table base. Faucet light fixtures and napkin rings, Toilets and sinks for vases; no, this is not your everyday dining room.


Not what you expected? DIFFA’s Dining by Design is the perfect outlet for designers to create playful, extraordinary dining design with practical, everyday elements. The designers at Susan Fredman Design Group had two months to prepare creative design materials, with less than two days for installation. Their inspiration was sparked by two of Kohler’s new vibrant Moderne Gold and Honed White finishes.


All of the flatware, glassware, and dininware you see can be purchased online at our urban home store, www.susanfredmanathome.com.

DIFFA/Chicago (The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) is a not-for-profit fundraising and grant making foundation that distributes funds to Chicago area HIV/AIDS service agencies.

Dining by Design exhibit is open to the public at the Merchandise Mart today and tomorrow until 3pm.

SFDG would not have been able to fashion such an outstanding dining experience without the support of sponsors & donors: Kohler Store, David Sutherland Showroom, Fiber Optic Studio, Eurocraft, Joseph Woodworking, Kravet Fabrics, Wilshart, Tables International Corporation, Daisy Hill, Michael Wainwright, Reach Distribution, and Urban Oasis.

Happy Anniversary At Home in the City!

What a night! After months of hard work and preparation, The Art of Design was a huge success! We celebrated the one-year anniversary of our urban home store, At Home in the City, with a studio full of wonderful guests who came from all over to celebrate with us and enjoy beautiful art! Our walls were covered with unique and inspiring artwork that sparked insightful conversations. Fabulous bronze sculptures were also featured by artist Gina Novendstern. (Photo features the artwork of Marie Burke)

At the event, 9 artists displayed their unique works of art. It was an honor to be in the presence of the artists who came to celebrate with us.

Along with artwork, friends and family enjoyed great food, drink, and company. Wine was served, courtesy of Juicy Wine Company and CS Interiors, along with tasty hors d’oeuvres, donated by Rockit Bar and Grill.

(Above Artwork, Samsara and Blind Love 1, by Artist Teri Tito)

A portion of the proceeds benefit: Marwen, a local non-profit organization that educates and inspires under-served youth in the visual arts.

Guests came expecting an eventful night of tantalizing conversations, and they left inspired and delighted!

(Susan Fredman Design Dinning Display and Featured Artist Norbert Shimkus)

If you didn’t attend, you missed a spectacular event! Not to worry, you can always visit us at, At Home in the City, located at 350 West Erie, or check out our great products online at http://www.susanfredmanathome.com/. Visit us in the next two weeks to see some of the artists work still on display.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors: Asher Neiman Gallery, Chicago News Gallery, CS Interiors, Rockit Bar & Grill, and Shift Art Gallery.

Stylin' Stable

No horsing around, Susan Fredman Design Group recently had the unique opportunity to provide design services for Springfield Stables located along Chicago’s North Shore. A truly exceptional full service equestrian facility, Springfield Stables provides top notch living for riders’ black beauties. Indeed, these horses live in the lap of luxury that some of us may only dream of.

When asked to design the stable’s viewing platforms and lounge areas, SF Design Group saw the opportunity for multi-disciplinary spaces that could be rented out for various occasions beyond elegant horse shows. Consequently, in addition to providing multiple comfortable seating options, a full service bar and two separate kitchens appropriate for catered events, were incorporated into this commercial space venue.


While implementing function throughout the spaces was certainly a priority, fashioning the rooms was equally important. Hence, a local artist/cabinetmaker was saddled up to the project to create custom vanities in the bathrooms as well as cabinetry in the kitchen. Moreover, to execute an overall cohesive design, interior millwork in the common spaces was selected to complement the woodwork seen in the horses’ 50-stall barn (which in itself, includes heated flooring for the hoofed friends).

The result of Susan Fredman Design Group’s efforts at Springfield Stables is ultimately an equestrian abode that is not only appropriate for its primary purpose, but is also elevated to a whole new platform of opportunity.

Shakespeare is served at a fairy tale wedding in Chicago!

Marco Alexzondra, of the Susan Fredman Design Group, collaborated with a talented team to bring a bride and groom their very own fairy tale wedding. The bride, Anny Rusk, and groom, Cory Simonson, enchanted their guests with an theme that incorporated aspects of Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream and the era of King Arthur.

The wedding, held at the University Club.

For this fantasy wedding, Marco reunited with an old friend, Deborah Heagy, who was also serving as the maid of honor. In addition to collaborating with Marco on various aspects of the wedding, with Marco focusing on the flora/fauna and Deborah on the linens and place settings, she assisted Anny throughout the initial planning stage.

Deborah Heagy and Marco Alexzondra

Flower girls.

Moss incorporated into the centerpieces added an earthy delight to the evening.

Romantic, unique accents such as glitter on the flowers, flower girls adorned with fairy wings and wands, and a bride dressed in purple velvet, set the stage for the evening. The University Club in Chicago was transformed into a magical forest with moss table runners, made complete with flowers growing from it, fern fronds, and flowers dusted with iridescent glitter. The floral arrangements included roses, hot pink and orange lilies, gloriosa lilies and succulents.

A flower girl bedecked with fairy wings.

The creative team responsible for this event also included Amy Watts of Blush and Bashful events, as well as Frost Lighting and the florist, Tracy Lane.

Love was in the air and congratulations to Anny and Cory (pictured below) on their gorgeous wedding!