Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
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haute property InsIght Mirror magic: Built-in shelves in Samantha Todhunter's smoky-blue library will sparkle with mirrored walls behind the books. Samantha Todhunter weight of jewelry. A rendering of the Ritz-Carlton Residences. continued from page 127 "Each designer will do a whole residence. —margo dahmani " deserving charity (Art Institute of Chicago); and be presented in association with a partner (Traditional Home magazine). But in keeping with The Ritz-Carlton's schema for distinction, Prism snagged a group of five renowned interior design- ers to array the residences. The lineup includes Frank Ponterio from Chicago, British ex-pat Julia Wong from Los Angeles, Doug Atherley and Samantha Todhunter from London, and Javier Martín Muriel from Spain. The designers were cho- sen for "their diverse styles and intriguing oeuvres," says brings Dahmani. a very "Each different point of view to their resi- dence." That means novel ideas in spades for those who already bought homes here, potential buyers, and anyone with a passion for interior design—not to mention the curious, since this will be the only time many will have access to a project of this magnitude. Ponterio sees the one-bedroom he's designing as "a decidedly masculine in-town" that "I'd like to own myself." There will be a new starburst-pat- tern mosaic limestone floor in the powder room, creamy vellum and charcoal cashmere wall treat- ments, and light fixtures with the decorative 128 michiganavemag.com mohair, and linen, all mixed up together, and upholstering the dining set," she reveals. Wong imagines her two-bedroom as a primary residence, with transitional furnishings that sport an industrial-chic edge. "They'll have classical forms, but contemporary flourishes and finishes, such as hard-wearing patinas that become richer with use and commercial fabrics that are durable yet luxurious," she explains. Wong is also champi- oning American craftsmanship with furniture from the US. And Atherley is going sleek and contemporary with a twist in his two-bedroom. "Instead of over- done and fussy, we're aiming to make it simple, stylish, and comfortable," he says. Polished-plaster walls and thoughtful built-ins, such as a cantile- vered display shelf that doubles as a bench and a lacquered built-in cabinet that hides a wet bar and wine cooler, will complement streamlined Italian pieces from Minotti and Poltrona Frau. The 89 residences—which range from 1,400-square-foot one-bedrooms for $1.395 mil- lion to 6,500-square-foot full-floor penthouses for $13 million—sport high ceilings, spacious rooms, sizeable balconies, smart-home technology, and abundant storage. They also offer enviably opu- lent kitchens by Mick De Giulio, a first for the nationally acclaimed designer; prior to this, he has turned down many a developer because "I simplymagnificentshowcase.com. MA Todhunter also has treasure on her mind in her one-bedroom with a study: "I want to make it a jewel box rather than a grand statement, and like the idea of small, perfect, and glamorous," she says. Precious light fixtures and classic furnish- ings are in her game plan, but the pieces will be colorful, eclectic, and above all, unpredictable. "I'm using wonderful fabrics like velvet, silk, Closet confidential: Custom walnut millwork turns a walk-in closet into a dressing room in Frank Ponterio's masculine pied-à-terre. Julia Wong don't do cookie-cutter kitchens," he says. But with 13 different layouts, high-end German cabinets, slick stone countertops, pricey appliances, and more, these are luxury kitchens at their best. Given the roster of designers Prism has reeled in for this effort, it's also safe to assume that the residences they create for this event will showcase trends never before seen in a setting with gran- deur to spare. For tickets and hours, visit Interior designer Frank Ponterio in the bedroom of the home he's designing. photography by katrina wittkamp (ponterio)