Suburban designer's 'Tranquility Suite' offers serenity now
You say things are a little tense.
The recession has you tossing and turning. High gas prices mean you've canceled your vacation. Maybe you're facing a summer filled with kids who have time on their hands.
How about a little tranquility in your life?
Brandie Pittelkow, a recent graduate from The Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg, designed just the space for you.
It's called the KN Tranquility Suite on the 11th floor of the Hotel Monaco in Chicago's Loop.
More Coverage Links KN Tranquility Suite specs
Curl up in a window seat and enjoy the view of the Chicago River and the new Trump Tower. Or, enjoy a bubble bath in the large whirlpool tub. The sparkle that you notice is the candlelight glinting off the tiny glass beads embedded in the wall covering.
"I like shiny stuff," said Pittelkow."There's an elegance to it."
Velvet is a favorite of the designer, who works for Design Classics, a kitchen and bath firm based in Arlington Heights.
She mixed several velvets with lots of pillows covered in faux fur and sequins. Most of the pillows are from KN Karen Neuburger. In fact, it was that company's new line of items for the home that inspired the Tranquility Suite.
Pittelkow, a resident of Lakemoor, won a competition at the Schaumburg school to design the suite.
Tranquility was a bit of a challenge because the hotel's decor features vibrant colors in reds, greens and yellows.
That's all gone from the suite, replaced with Pittelkow's palette of soothing ivory/champagne shades spiced with icy blue and chocolate.
If, however, the approximately $400 starting rate for a night in the Tranquility Suite is not in your budget, you can take a few of Pittelkow's ideas to create a relaxing oasis in your home.
And who doesn't want that?
Lighting: A dimmer switch goes a long way to setting the mood. She used one with the three shell pendants cut to different heights to create a chandelier that picks up the leaf pattern from the wall covering.
Nature: There's nothing like the sound of water to help you unwind and relax. Thus a wall fountain plays in the suite. Plants and flowers contribute, too. And what is more natural than pets? Of course a yapping Yorkie might not be as calming as a few goldfish cared for by trained housekeeping staff.
Cozy furniture: Pittelkow met that challenge in the suite by using a sofa with a curvy back and high, enveloping arms in the sitting room, but she had it reupholstered from green to a platinum velvet. She carried the comfy feel to the bedroom with a headboard she designed and upholstered in vinyl from Maharam that feels like anything but plastic.
Scale: The Monaco rooms have ceilings taller than 10 feet, which makes it easier to pull off the grand scale that Pittelkow thinks everyone is looking for when they crave luxury and "things in life that normal people don't have." Remember to keep the size of your room and other furnishings in mind when selecting new pieces.
Drama: Pittelkow, insisting white can be a really bold statement, arranged a selection of white and silver vases under the wall fountain. Wall fountains might be beyond your budget, but groupings of similar objects might create the same kind of effect.