DreamHome rooms come alive with sparkle and shine

Glitter on the walls sounds like a bit much, but the effect is subtle glamour when you see it in the small silver dressing room, the champagne dining room and the outdoor room at the Merchandise Mart's DreamHome.

New wallcoverings and paint that add sparkle are just more tools in the campaign to bring texture to decor, and they are shown to best advantage in the rooms that open Friday, April 15.

The office by Michael Del Piero Good Design is a model for decorating with texture, although she calls her style “undecorated.”

The white walls with a Maya Romanoff design of small raised loops bring warmth to the space, Del Piero said.

Intriguing materials include a long metal table from Bradley Hughes, a new showroom at the Mart, that serves as a desk. She also stocked metal barrister bookcases with old leather books.

And who could miss the arrangement of English saddles on the wall?

Here are other highlights in the DreamHome.

Living room

Are you mystified when faced with someone gushing about the use of color while describing a room of whites and browns?

You won't have that problem in the living room by Scott Himmel Architects.

Himmel and Michael Henning chose linen slipcovers in rose, yellow, green and white for the chairs and sofa, not to mention robin's egg blue Venetian plaster for the walls of this room inspired by Château du Tertre in Normandy.

They also show how to mix old and contemporary treasures. Star finds include an 18th Century Swedish Gustavian sideboard with a worn blue finish and a very contemporary table the architects designed—two inches of recycled glass set on curved metal legs.

Foyer

While we're in the mood for French decor (and when aren't we?) hop from the château to a Parisian apartment by Buckingham Interiors + Design.

The way Julia Buckingham Edelmann framed pieces of jewelry is counter intuitive. Each light-colored cameo is surrounded by a large white mat and framed in gold. It's hard to believe how well this shows off the collection.

The walls are covered in dark leather and white old-fashioned textured wall paper.

Bedroom

Large crystal beads trim the edge of the gray drapes in this silver room from Michael Abrams Limited.

The walls in the small dressing room next door are a glittery covering from Maya Romanoff.

Dressing room

Here's an insider's note: The clothes from designer Borris Powell that Luca Lanzetta put in the closet of his lady's dressing room are the same ones in the video in the Media Room. All serendipity, swears Lanzetta, known for kitchens and baths. Viva Chicago!

Dining room

Frank Ponterio Interior Design of Lake Forest and Chicago introduces the wall-mounted console that's a thick piece of walnut on wrought iron legs, an addition to the designer's furniture collection.

And here's a great idea: A huge antique basin planted with succulents anchors the large round table by David Iatesta.

The dining room shows other intriguing pieces a designer can find for you such as the beehive-shaped Ribbon chandelier by Rose Tarlow from Holly Hunt.

The shimmery wallpaper here is from Weitzner via Donghia.

Media room

While we have no idea why someone would need or want three televisions in one room, it is fun to watch the panels slide down and the smaller duo of televisions pop on when someone walks into the room. The étagères with the magic technology that flank the large screen were designed by designer Lauren Coburn in collaboration with Michael Bell, Inc.

Outdoors

No one will miss the mosaic mural in this room by 1 Design Group. Commissioned from Billy Michaelis of Dallas, its 10,000 white gold, red, blue and green pieces celebrate Chicago jazz and dancing.

The water fixture by Ore, Inc. of Salt Lake City is called gabion because it is made of galvanized wire containers like the ones that stabilize retaining walls and prevent erosion in areas like freeways or dams. When they are filled with local rocks, they are environmentally friendly, says Michael Anthony, whose firm specializes in outdoor landscaping.

And to make this room even greener, the capstones on the knee wall are made from construction debris collected on site in the DreamHome. This was achieved by Tommy Rock, Inc. of Addison.

The pearlescent paint shining on the wall from MDC Wallcovering can be used outdoors but must be under a roof, said architect Jeremy Stanulis.

Kitchen

Studio Snaidero says today's kitchens are really family rooms. That's why this one has five or six work areas.

Snaidero makes contemporary cabinets, so Shawna Dillon mixed doors with textured finishes with smooth stainless steel ones. And she added a traditional breakfront from Plain & Fancy to provide more variety.

How about all that white and gold marble used for countertops and backsplashes!

One note from Dillon: The trend toward eating fresh, local and sustainably means refrigerators are getting smaller and cooking appliances larger.

<b>Merchandise Mart DreamHome</b>

<b>When:</B> April 15-Dec. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

<b>Where:</b> North Lobby, The Merchandise Mart, Orleans and Kinzie streets, north of the Chicago River, Chicago

<b>Admission: </b>Donation to University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women's Board

Opening gala: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 13; benefits University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women's Board

<b>Information: </b>merchandisemartdesigncenter.com/dreamhome or (800) 677-6278</I>