Whether you’re acting globally, locally, or just in your own backyard, our Philanthropic Specialists will help you make a difference, and make sure it lasts.
Lisa Bertagna
WM Private Banking Advisor –Market Leader
NMLSR ID 822011
400 Skokie Blvd., Ste. 510 Northbrook, IL 60062 224-306-5110 lisa.h.bertagna@wellsfargo.com wellsfargoprivatebank.com
Shanise Evans
WM Fiduciary Advisory Specialist
400 Skokie Blvd., Ste. 510 Northbrook, IL 60062 224-306-5122 shanise.a.evans@wellsfargo.com
5 Beds | 5.2 Baths • $2,700,000
1324WWebsterAve.info
Sensational, super bright home located on a prime corner lot in a fab Lincoln Park locale! Timeless finishes and amazing attention to detail throughout. Extra wide living room has 2 walls of windows & a gorgeous fireplace flanked by custom built-ins. The kitchen features beautiful white cabinetry, high-end appliances, a spacious great room/eatin area & access to outdoor living areas. The 2nd level master suite has fantastic closet space and a spa-like bath. Top level offers two flex rooms easily converted to bedrooms & a recreational space. Wine storage, an elevator & a 2-car garage!
1212
4 Beds | 3.1 Baths • $2,500,000
1212NLakeShoreDr23An-Bn.info
Superb, completely redesigned home from 2 residences at this premier Lake Shore Drive address. Outstanding lake & city views from 60’ of east facing outdoor space + west facing Juliet balconies. The expansive living room, dining room & kitchen offer gracious living. The custom kitchen has high-end appliances and a butler’s pantry. Wake up to lake views every morning from the luxe master suite with a balcony, white marble bath & a custom closet/dressing room. 3 additional bedrooms, one ensuite, complete the residence. Full amenity building with a fitness center, pool, sundeck, 24-hour door staff & ample parking!
1504 W BYRON ST
6 Beds | 5.1 Baths • $2,175,000
1504WByronSt.info
Elegant brick & limestone home located in a fabulous Southport Corridor locale! An extra-long lot allows for unparalleled outdoor living space. This home offers great natural light, coffered ceilings in the living room, a beautiful kitchen with butler’s pantry, 3 interior fireplaces, a great penthouse level opening to the roof deck, and 4 bedrooms on the 2nd level. The master suite has a cozy fireplace & spa bath with heated floors & a steam shower. Roof deck has an expansive turf area, a fireplace, & a hot tub! The rear patio has a 2nd exterior fireplace. Steps to hip shopping & dining!
Enjoy this spacious Belgravia-built townhome in the best Lincoln Park/ Old Town location. This front facing home features high ceilings and hardwood floors throughout. The sunny white kitchen has all SS appliances and a breakfast room. The dining space is open to the living room, with a wood burning fireplace and sliding doors that open to the patio – perfect for dining al fresco. A spacious secondary bedroom and family room are just up the stairs. Two additional bedrooms are located on the third floor. Lower level recreational space doubles as a 4th bedroom. 2-car garage and Lincoln Schools!
A STAR ALWAYS FINDS A WAY TO SHINE
It’s authentic cattle drives, breathtaking ATV tours and timeless fly-fishing outings. It’s staying in a tent fit for the most finicky of glampers, while having butler service and a dining experience that’s unmatched. But perhaps the greatest reward of all is seeing the wonder, the awe, the unbridled joy on the faces of your loved ones. This is not something to be wrapped in pretty paper. This is something to be held close to the heart, for years to come. After all, the best gifts are the ones that you share.
Frank Ponterio’s modern sensibilities stem from his Old World Italian heritage.
GARDENS Tour several extraordinary North Shore properties providing a delightful refuge for homeowners and honored guests.
Philanthropist Leslie Gantz McLamore explains her passion for giving back.
A new Winnetka boutique blends classic and modern with a twist.
DUSTIN O’REGAN
DEBBIE LEE KEMMIE RYAN ELAINE DOREMUS
CONSTANTINE JAMES ALLISON DUNCAN
ALLISON DUNCAN, MITCH HURST, RONI NEUMANN, ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER, MEGAN WEISBERG JORDAN WILLIAMS LINDA LEWIS
AMEEN QUTTEINEH
AMANDA ALVARADO, CHRIS GEIMER REDDING WORTH
APRIL GRAVES, FRANK ISHMAN, JON MILLER, LARRY MILLER, ROBIN SUBAR ROBERT RISKO
MINDY KOVCO JULIE YOVITS GRETCHEN BARNARD, JENNIFER STURGEON
RAHEELA ANWAR, EILEEN BENNIN, RENEE CROWN, JEFFREY EISERMAN, MAUREEN GRINNELL, DANA HUGHES, JOYCE BRUCE JIARAS, JILL KATZ, LEXIE KNOX, YOANNA KULAS, ARTHUR MILLER, MEREDITH MITCHELL, SANDRA CASPARRIELLO MURPHY, RONI MOORE NEUMANN, IBBY PINSKY, AND MONIQUE WATTS How to reach Sheridan Road ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 847.926.0957
JWC Media accepts freelance contributions; however, there is no guarantee that unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or graphics will be returned. All rights to the contents of this magazine are owned in full by JWC Media. Sheridan Road may not be reproduced in whole or in part, including but not limited to advertisements and articles, without written permission from the publisher. Sheridan Road assumes no respon sibility for statements made or opinions expressed by contributing writers, editors, or advertisers. However, comments or corrections or differing opinions are welcomed. The publisher reserves the right to edit and place all editorials and ads. © 2020 JWC Media
Welcome to our Home & Design issue highlighting the beauty of architecture, interior design, landscape, and a new stylish Winnetka boutique. Our cover showcases Winnetka’s Leslie Gantz McLamore who is co-chairing the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design show’s opening event. Originally scheduled on May 14, the event has been postponed until October 2020 as a precaution of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this will just give the chairs more time to make the party even better. To take your mind off the pandemic, turn to our first feature highlighting the prolific Frank Ponterio and lose yourself in the glory of his designs. Frank shares his journey to success and the life experiences that have influenced his work. Our second feature takes us outdoors for a stroll through glorious North Shore gardens. Staying with the garden theme, a famous gardener is given a nod in our final feature. Gardener extraordinaire Bunny Mellon is an American icon and a favorite of Winnetka’s Peyton Merrill. Peyton is such a fan that she honored Bunny in the naming of her new Winnetka boutique—Bunny & Babe. “Babe” is in reference to American style icon, Babe Paley. This boutique is as elegant and stylish as its namesakes.
Shore vs. City shares the city and shore favorites of Jennie Soudan, founder of luxury gifting company Mr. Bluebird. This gifting guru’s favorite styles are made up of three components: quiet sophistication, a contemporary edge, and timeless elegance.
Swapping pretty presents for a divine Lake Forest estate, Home Tour showcases a beautiful
new lakefront estate crafted as the owners’ dream house and forever home. Speaking of dream homes, Home Design highlights Britt Carter, owner of the North Shore go-to for fine furniture. Britt invites us into his 24,000 square foot design center and shares his love of his longtime business.
We end this issue with Parting Words from Cindy Galvin, famed interior designer and founder of Maze Home. Happy 10th anniversary to Maze.
Peruse this month’s issue with home improvement dreams dancing in your head and the knowledge that warmer temps are on the horizon.
Dustin O’Regan dustin@jwcmedia.com
Follow Sheridan Road on Instagram: @sheridanrdmag
Sheridan Road provides the North Shore’s comprehensive social calendar to see what’s doing and who’s doing it.
WORDS BY KEMMIE RYANWHERE: Peachtree Place, 303 South Happ Road, North eld
WHEN: 10:00am - 5:00pm Join Peachtree Place in celebration of 35 wonderful years on the North Shore. Tasty treats and gifts galore will commemorate this milestone. peachtreeplaceonline.com
WHERE: e Kenilworth Assembly Hall
WHEN: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. TICKETS: $40
e Junior Board of the Auxiliary Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center presents its largest fundraiser of the year. An annual event not to miss, junior board member models will strut the runway in fashions from local stores, styled by fellow junior board members. All proceeds from the event will bene t Rush University Medical Center. Reserve your tickets by April 26. jrboardrumc.org
WHERE: Chicago Marriott Downtown Magni cent Mile
WHEN: 6 p.m.
TICKETS: $300 per person; $2,500 for a table.
e Ravinia Associates Board introduces this year’s Music Matters fundraising dinner, dance, and auction. e blacktie event has been hailed one of the most fun events on the social calendar, o ering cocktails,
dinner, dancing, and more. Last year’s event grossed more than $639,000 for Ravinia’s education programs, which serve 85,000 people in Cook and Lake counties. ravinia.org/page/ musicmatters
UN AIR DE PROVENCE
WHERE: Ritz-Carlton, Chicago WHEN: 6 p.m. reception; 8 p.m. dinner TICKETS: $700 e Alliance Française de Chicago Woman’s Board hosts an elegant event where guests will be transported to a eld of lavender and owing rosé. e decadent event raises funds for immersion study, scholarships, and education and cultural programs in the Chicago area. pjhchicago.com/event/afc
GLENCOE UNDER THE STARS: DUELING PIANOS
WHERE: Skokie Country Club WHEN: 6 to 11 p.m. TICKETS: $250 Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos brings live entertainment to Family Service of Glencoe’s (FSG) annual bene t. Guests are invited to make song requests, sing, dance, or simply enjoy the performance during FSG’s fundraising festivities. familyserviceofglencoe.org/bene t
Take a peek inside four beautiful Wilmette homes lled with unique architectural elements and rich history. wilmettehistory.org
MAY 23-SEPTEMBER 2
BUTTERFLIES & BLOOMS
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. TICKETS: Included with admission. Immerse yourself among hundreds of beautiful butter ies native to North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. chicagobotanic.org/butter ies
VISION FOR THE FUTURE BALL
funds raised will support the GI Research Foundation. girf.org
DHF GALA
WHERE: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago WHEN: 6 p.m. TICKETS: $600
Join the Digestive Health Foundation (DHF) and supporters for an evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and raising funds for Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center. Former hockey player and colon cancer survivor, Eddie Olczyk, will be honored during the evening. digestivehealthfoundation.org/gala2020
33RD
WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum
WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. TICKETS: $40
WHERE: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago WHEN: 5:30 p.m. TICKETS: Starting at $600 Get ready for a spectacular evening featuring elite mentalist and magician, Oz Pearlman, live music by Shout Out, strolling magic by Carl Michael, and more. Guests are encouraged to dress in cocktail-chic attire and
As we go to press, many of the events listed may have changed or been postponed. With that in mind, we urge you to check the organization’s website to find out whether an event is still taking place, or has been canceled or rescheduled, before attending.
In 1910 Haig Kashian and his brother opened a small rug business in Wilmette priding themselves on professional service with a personal touch. One hundred and ten years later, the beloved community-based KASHIAN BROS continues to serve North Shore residents including many of the early customers’ descendants. With storefronts in Wil mette and Lake Forest, the expanding business now boasts a vast selection of luxurious tile for countertops in addition to its array of flooring and rug options. An in-house design team is on hand to help navigate the selection and turn any home renovation dream into a reality. Kashian’s goal is to serve customers in a way so that they become customers for life. With 110 years under their belt, this long-established company is well “grounded” and here to stay. For more information, visit Kashianbros.com.
On twenty-five acres in Washington, D.C. sits the garden paradise envisioned by Marjorie Merriweather Post after purchasing the Arbremont estate in 1955. Working with prominent landscape architects, Post set about mapping out the estate grounds using a diverse array of trees, shrubs, and plants. When Post, an art collector, businesswoman, social figure, and philanthropist, left the estate to the public, she endowed the country with the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia, an exquisite 18th century French decorative art collection, and acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and natural woodlands. A GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONS: MARJORIE MERRIWEATHER POST’S HILLWOOD, published in partnership with Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, is the first book on the history and design of these remarkable grounds. © A Garden for All Seasons: Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Hillwood by Kate Markert, Rizzoli New York, 2020. Images ©Erik Kvalsvik. For more information, visit rizzoliusa.com.
While the 1927 original Girl Scouts’ recipe for s’mores hasn’t really changed, the marshmallows desperately needed an ingredient-list makeover. Losing the bad but keeping all of the sweet and gooey goodness, DANDIES MARSHMALLOWS are 100 percent vegan, all-natural, gluten-free, gelatin-free, certified kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Compared to its conventional counterparts, the taste is superior and the texture indistinguishable, but what’s inside is totally different. Dandies are made with high-quality, clean ingredients like real vanilla flavoring and vegan cane sugar, and completely free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and colorings, plus the common allergens gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, corn, peanuts, and tree nuts. With a roast and melt just like the marshmallows we grew up with, Dandies are perfect for roasting over a campfire to make gooey springtime s’mores. For more information, visit Dandies.com.
WITH ONE MARRIAGE, FOUR DOGS, AND THREE KIDS UNDER HER BELT, WINNETKA’S
IS ENTERING THE SECOND PHASE OF HER LIFE— BUT SHE IS NOT TAKING EMPTY-NESTING LIGHTLY. UNITING HER CREATIVE PASSIONS FOR ALL THINGS HOME, ART, DESIGN, AND WELLNESS, SHE FOUNDED MR. BLUEBIRD—A BESPOKE LUXURY GIFTING COMPANY. SOUDAN STOPPED SHOPPING TO SHARE HER CITY AND SHORE FAVORITES WITH SHERIDAN ROAD
EDITED BY DUSTIN O’REGAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR HAIR, MAKEUP & STYLING BY CONSTANTINE JAMES
What’s on the horizon? Lots of travel, shopping, and curating items for Mr. Bluebird luxury gifts Mantra? The Golden Rule and Good Things Come to Those Who Wait Best grooming tip? Self Tanner Guilty pleasure? Coffee and a fresh glazed doughnut Favorite foods? Chips and salsa Music you love? Live music at the Winnetka Music Festival— best event on the North Shore Best advice ever given to you? Remember every day is a new day Advice you’ve given? Don’t sleep your life away Earliest memory? Listening to ‘70s (yacht rock) music on the radio, behind the counter of my parents’ store When you wake up, you? Walk our yellow lab, Tusker, around 5:30 a.m., then pray, meditate, and get an early morning coffee. I love starting the day early and crossing items off my list before anyone else wakes up Before bed, you? Light a candle, drink tea (or wine), and read What’s on your bookshelf? Stacks of books
Your style is? Casual luxe—cashmere, jeans, and Brunello Cuci nelli anything Can’t leave the house without? My phone and Blistex Driving music? The Highway, The Coffee House, and Pop Rocks Place to eat? I love coffeehouses. Particularly, Hometown Coffee & Juice and Reprise Coffee Roasters Shop? The Book Stall and Material Possessions. When I’m feeling special, neapolitan, Bunny & Babe, and athene Best thing about the Shore? Winnetka is the quintessential American small town Worst thing about the shore? The empty storefronts The perfect day is? A morning at home, an afternoon watching my kids playing sports, and a night at Stormy’s with friends
and magazines. I’m a literary grazer dabbling in two or three books at a time. I think Bill Bryson is hilarious, he has my dad’s dry sense of humor You can’t live without? My camera photos—they are the scrapbook of my life, 50,000 and counting Love to escape to? Big Sky, Montana or Malibu, California Advice you would give your younger self? Pursue your passion
Your style is? Monochro matic with lots of ruffles or fur Can’t leave the house without? A great statement piece Driving music? Any playlist my kids have made me. I love listening to their favorite music Place to eat? RL at Ralph Lauren and 3 Arts Club Cafe at Restoration Hardware Shop? Space 519 and any goop pop-up Best thing about the City? The energy Worst thing about the City? Homelessness The perfect day is? A summer Cubs game, or Blackhawks game with my honey, or a 12-hour “lunch” with my favorite ladies
TIFFANY T T1 WIDE RING in 18k rose gold, available at ti any.com
Marvelous gifts for your magni cent mum on Mother’s Day.
EDITED BY DUSTIN O’REGAN
CHANEL-ESQUE BOXES available at Belden Interiors in Lake Forest, 224-880-5999
BERGAMOTTO & SANDALO PERFUME OIL available at share in Wilmette, 847-767-1915
SARAH ALEXANDRA SHIRTDRESS available at The Lake Forest Shop, 847-234-0548
KATE MALLER STARRY NIGHT CUFF available at Citywoods Highland Park, 847432-9393
MODERN ACRYLIC BOOKSTAND holding 20th Century Fashion book, available at Style Shack, Highland Park, 847-579-4525
GRAZIELA 18K WHITE GOLD DIAMOND EARRINGS available at Razny Jewelers, 847-432-5300
DESIGNER LIBRARY AND GOLDEN CERAMIC LIPS VASE available at Style Shack, Highland Park, 847-579-4525
Sheridan Road delivers the season’s inspired looks—worn by you— as seen on the North Shore.
EDITED BY KEMMIE RYAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR, WIDIA VITI PHOTOGRAPHY, AND RUSH PHOTO GROUPChicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.
• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects
Chicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.
Chicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.
• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects!
• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects!
Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects
• Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects
• Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects
• State-of-the-art medical facility in River North
• State-of-the-art medical facility in River North
• Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting
State-of-the-art medical facilities in River North and Lincolnshire • Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting • Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff
• Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting
• Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff
Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Additionally, Chicago Ketamine Centers is now offering SGB (Stellate Ganglion Block), the breakthrough instant treatment for PTSD. As featured on “60 Minutes,” this treatment is transforming lives.
• Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff
Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Chicago Ketamine Centers is now providing this proven therapy utilizing proven protocols.
Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Chicago Ketamine Centers is now providing this proven therapy utilizing proven protocols.
844-9-IVMEDS (844-948-6337)
844-9-IVMEDS (844-948-6337) www.chicagoIVsolution.com | www.ketaminechicago.com 712 North Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60654
therapy utilizing proven protocols. 844-9-IVMEDS (844-948-6337) www.chicagoIVsolution.com | www.ketaminechicago.com 712 North Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60654
EDITED BY ALLISON DUNCAN
Dr. Perlis is the only board-certified physician on the North Shore that creates a custom, patient-tailored treatment plan based exclusively around her patient’s needs. Her extensive training makes her the preeminent doctor for hormone therapy, custom vitamin/ supplement regimes as well as cosmetic medicine - Botox, Restylane, Dysport and more.
Dr Perlis treats her patients with a holistic approach. The secret to her amazing success is her unique ability to make her patients beautiful—from the inside out.
A Lake Forest estate showcases lives well lived.
WORDS BY RONI MOORE NEUMANN
Facing East, toward the shores of Lake Michigan, stands a graceful, striking Georgian home belonging to Winnie and Bob Crawford. Symmetrical lines and classical architectural elements exude a sense of place, of belonging.
The sound of the waves lapping onto the shore echo into the crisp air as the cerulean blue water meets the sky. The Lake Forest beachfront is, by any measure, a Midwest wonder: the seven-acre park is literally an extension of the home’s front yard.
The Crawfords, a family known for giving back, joined the effort undertaken by the Forest Park Preservation Board, helping to raise six million dollars for the reno-
vation initiative, ensuring the beauty of the lakefront for generations to come.
“We’re an ‘outdoor’ family,” says Winnie. “In terms of the inspiration for this home, we wanted a blend of formal and informal entertaining space that would work effortlessly for our family and friends. Each room on the first floor, with large windows and doors bring in natural light. The doors open to the outside and that accessibility was important to us,” she continues.
With three floors of living space, in cluding three kitchens, six well-appointed bedrooms, six full bathrooms plus one half bath, on one and a third acres of land, the home is a design tour de force.
Interior Architect/Designer Jill Danly, in close partnership with Winnie, sought
to create a design that was above all a “forever” home with future needs a foremost consideration. These design elements included a first-floor master, an elevator, a specially designed outdoor pool as well as a downstairs suite.
“Winnie and I have many friends who’ve decided they’ll retire to warmer climates. As we thought about our future, we recognized that we are invigorated by the four seasons and want to be surrounded by the people and the places we love most, and that’s right here in Lake Forest,” says Bob Crawford.
Following twenty years of living in their original home on this location, it was determined that extensive renovations were required. They resolved to do what most
couples at their stage of life would not: design and build a new home in this revered location.
“We wanted to honor their past while celebrating their present and future. To me, this home showcases the Crawfords—lives so well lived,” says Danly.
With more than 25 years of experience in interior architecture, Lake Bluff’s Danly was perfectly suited to serve as collabora tor-in-chief on this project. Danly, whose late father was the renowned Chicago architect Gerald Horn, brought her welltrained eye, creativity, and design sense to shape the exterior and interior space, in cluding proportion, room scale, and color palette. Attention to detail includes the reclaimed Chicago brick chosen for the exterior.
Upon entering, in the grand entranceway, guests are greeted by the Crawford family embossed crest that reads in Gaelic, “I will keep you safe by my strength,” setting the tone for this comforting yet awe-inspiring home.
The first floor features an open floor plan with drawing rooms that flow effortlessly with complimentary neutral walls of varying shades and textures, as well as a well-curated mix of coffered, trayed, and barrel ceilings.
The family’s history is showcased through priceless treasures from former generations on display throughout the home.
A favorite of Winnie’s are the beautiful views of the lake from the kitchen as well as the glass-enclosed conservatory, providing a private sanctuary, displaying items of inter est and beauty from their extensive travels.
Not one but three kitchens—one designated for catering and coffee-making—are well-integrated spaces in the home and suit their needs, both in terms of everyday living and the many larger philanthropic and civic events the couple host.
Within weeks of moving into the newly completed home, more than 75 immediate family members came for a family reunion. Only days later, the Crawfords hosted a magnificent evening of dining and fun for more than 250 guests who celebrated a “big” birthday for Bob. The backyard pool was converted into a dance floor, complete with neon lights; music and dancing went well into the evening, capped off by a rousing sing-along held in their music room, with three generations of Crawfords, together with dear friends and their children, taking part.
This light-filled home, with a perfect blend of formal and informal living spaces,
is the ideal “forever” haven for Winnie, Bob, their children, and grandchildren as they plan forward with joy. “It’s exactly as we imagined and hoped it would be,” says Winnie.
Lake Forest’s Britt Carter & Company will help you build the interior of your dreams with the finest furniture and an expert, artful eye.
EDITED BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR’m excited every day to get out of bed and come to work,” says Britt Carter, founder of and senior interior designer at Britt Carter & Company. “No two clients, no two projects are ever the same. This is one of the many reasons I love what I do.”
Carter grew up in the “mom and pop” furniture business. His stepfather owned a number of “Happy Days-era” stores in the northern suburbs that sold everything from sofas to air conditioning units.
“As a teenager, I used to help out at the stores a lot,” he remembers. “And I’ll never forget the first time someone actually asked my opinion about a design question they had for some furniture they were buying. I was encouraged that they wanted my opinion and really trusted it.”
Fast forward into Carter’s adulthood when he was early into his 40-plus year marriage to Vicki and decided to open his own store. “We had to borrow $50,000 from Vicki’s parents to open our small shop in Libertyville,” explains Carter. “When I worked with my stepfather, I realized there was a need for high-end furniture offerings that wasn’t being met. This would be—and always has been—our focus.”
In 1987, Carter moved his showroom to Vernon Hills, tripling the size of his retail space. One day, a young contractor walked into Carter’s showroom and asked him what he was paying in rent. He then told Carter he could build him his own stand-alone retail space for the cost of his rent.
“I believe people come into your life at certain times for specific reasons, and that day this guy came into the store and gave me the nudge I needed to build the showroom I had dreamed of.”
That was 1994. Today, the 24,000 square-foot Britt Carter & Company showroom still stands in Lake Forest.
“I sketched out every inch and I’m still in awe how it all came together,” Carter explains of his retail space located right off of Route 41 that now showcases more than 30 vignettes of high-end pieces. “New customers and clients often come in here and say they’ve driven past our storefront a thousand times never realizing how distinctive the showroom is. Furniture industry leaders that I’ve met in High Point, North Carolina who have visited us have said there’s nothing else quite like it. We’re really blessed to have what we have here.”
When asked the secret to his long-term success, Carter confidently espouses that he and his family love meeting and helping
new people and creating interiors they love coming home to.
“I started this company because I knew if I spent time investing in our customers and clients’ desires, there would be a ‘win’ for everyone,” Carter says. “Our years of experience merchandising, laying out the showroom, and keeping up with every aspect of the home furnishings industry has honed our passion for interior design. Our clients appreciate the fact that they can experience the home furnishings first-hand instead of ordering product sight unseen as if the case for many design firms.”
In addition to offering furniture, décor, and accessories—Britt Carter & Company offers full interior design services. They’re the only leading interior design firm in Chicago with a large showroom. “If someone wants to come in and buy a sofa, we can help you. Or if you come in looking for lamps for your bedroom, we can help you with those, too,” he says. “But if you come into our showroom with the desire to create an enduring design change, we can offer professional interior design services that will inspire. Custom window treatments, wallcoverings, and area and broad loom carpeting have always been part of the services we offer. I can be a client’s eyes and ears and also their hearts. The relationships we build with our clients is truly at the core of what we do. My
heart is in every project as if I were designing it for my family.”
To that end, Carter launched the Britt Carter Signature line of furniture that he has developed in response to client needs.
“There are times when I can’t find the perfect piece of furniture for a particular need, so I dream of what it should be, then draw it, then have it made to the highest standard,” Carter says. “My clients love it. This is the kind of thing you can do when you’ve been in the business for as long as I have and know as many people in the industry that I do.”
Carter also adds that he and his team love collaborating with other designers. “I hope they know they can send their clients here to review products, just as if they would send them down to the Merchandise Mart. We never step on the toes of another designer,” Carter says. “We’re here to help them do what’s best for their clients. And we’re a lot closer than downtown Chicago.”
One of Carter’s greatest sources of pride is having two of his five children working with him in the family business. His son Shaun is his right-hand in the showroom, while his son Jeremy oversees the “business side” of things.
“Shaun was our son who would come down on Sunday for church dressed to impress,” he says with a smile. “We should have known back then that he would be a natural in our business.”
Being in the furniture business for more than 40 years has taught Carter and his team the importance of creating a rewarding experience for clients and customers. “That said, we can always improve,” says Carter. “We really don’t know what tomorrow brings—but we believe it will be exciting because it’s another day to work with someone new.”
Britt Carter & Company is located at 1350 S. Skokie Highway, Route 41, in Lake Forest, 847-735-1180, brittcarter.net.
WORDS BY ALLISON DUNCAN
In 2019, celebrated Lake Forest-based interior designer Frank Ponterio launched a collection for the legendary textile purveyor Clarence House—it followed past successful product design collaborations with brands like Arteriors on furniture, lighting, and accessories; Lee Jofa on upholstery; and Charleston-based Avrett on handcrafted furniture and fixtures. These lines are now available to the trade in more than 100 countries.
Growing up, Ponterio spent summers at his family’s farm in southern Italy, and it was during this time—along with the weeklong jaunts his family would take to locales like Rome, Venice, or Milan—that Ponterio developed an appreciation for artistry and craftsmanship.
“I certainly didn’t know how this would shape my perspective at the time,” he says. “when designing the new collection for Clarence House I shared family photos, travel images, and other inspiration when presenting my initial ideas. Images like the underside of a timber and clay-tiled roof became a plaid; cobblestone streets became paisleys; and images of mushrooms growing on the farm all eventually became part of my designs.”
Founded in 1994 when Ponterio was just 23 years old, his namesake firm is now full-service with expertise in everything from interior architecture and historic preservation to interior design and product design. The mission? To create unique environments that are a physical embodiment of the life his clients want to live.
“I was young and making nothing working for other people so figured why not be broke working for myself,” says Ponterio. “I took a chance and opened a small office in Market Square. Fast
forward 25 years, and we now have the office in Lake Forest, a 4,000-square-foot space in River North with 14 team members; we opened in Nashville last year, and we are opening later this year in Naples.”
Ponterio is a longtime supporter of the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, benefitting the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago,
and in his first year designing for the project, he asked to work on the living room. “They basically said ‘no chance,’” laughs Ponterio. He was given a staircase. The next year, the attic, where he created a rooftop terrace with a bar and music to draw attention. Then finally the next year, he was handed the living room. The space was published nationally and helped propel his career.
What stands out about Ponterio’s work is the idea that he doesn’t play within just one aesthetic and easily transitions from projects like an upscale penthouse in Nashville to legacy estates, to boutique hotels, and now on to the interior of private jets, the most recent inspired by an Alfa Romeo GTV. “Aviation is so much fun,” says Ponterio. “The client happens to be a good friend of mine, so every once in a while, I’m lucky enough to be invited to pop on the plane and go somewhere great.”
Personally, he, his wife, and daughter, and their beloved dogs live in a David Adler-designed home. It was awarded an historic preservation award from the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation and exemplifies all that Ponterio’s work represents: classic heritage, thoughtful restoration, architectural integrity, incredible details, and an inviting atmosphere.
Speaking to life in an historic home, Ponterio notes “Nobody lives the way they used to; it’s great to have a ballroom, but really the kids just roller skate in it. Preservation is important because these buildings are beautiful and significant, a testament to craftsmanship. Remember, they didn’t have power tools back then. All was done by hand creating a completely bespoke home. Though, while historic preservation is important, good design is even more important.”
To that end, Ponterio gives his time and expertise as a board member of the Design Leadership Network, a group of more than 300 professionals that seeks to promote growth and best practices in the high-end design world. Additionally, he’s on the board of directors of the Children’s Brittle Bone Foundation, co-chairing the group’s largest fundraiser every year.
“My parents were both immigrants and neither had higher education,” says Ponterio. “I realize how fortunate I am and sometimes can’t believe this is all actually happening. I believe if you can give back, then you should. And thankfully we can.”
We caught up at Ponterio’s home studio after he’d spent the week traveling with back-to-back meetings to promote the Clarence House collection and visiting clients in multiple locations— we asked how he spends his rare spare time: Ponterio frequents the bar at Deer Path Inn, loves brunch at Guildhall, and has been going to Miramar for 20 years. In the city, he’s a big fan of Le Colonial and the view offered by Gibson’s Italia.
“I’m also a really bad golfer, so I keep thinking my game will improve and we travel ... a lot—our favorite is of course Italy where we go at least twice a year,” explains Ponterio.
Right now, he’s enjoying mentoring the younger designers in his office and soaking up their excitement, and he is looking forward to escaping Chicago winters in the forthcoming Naples office.
“Just like any designer, I don’t really know what’s next, as you never know when the phone will ring or when you’ll meet someone who wants you to be a part of something great,” he says. “But as I get older, the Chicago winters seem longer, so our expansion into new markets is very exciting. Though, the heavy lifting will always still happen in my hometown, Chicago.”
For more information, visit frankponterio.com.
Tour several extraordinary North Shore properties providing a delightful refuge for homeowners and honored guests.
INTRODUCTION BY RONI MOORE NEUMANNGardens of astonishing beauty can be found across the globe: Jacques Majorelle’s garden in Marrakech; Gertrude Jekyll’s Munstead Wood garden in Surrey; Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s gardens in Charleston; and, of course, Claude Monet’s Giverny in France.
Yet, as demonstrated in the pages that follow, glorious gardens can be found much closer to home—literally in the backyards of the North Shore. Cultivated by renowned horticulturists and landscape architects, these exquisite gardens serve as living examples of the artistic principles of balance, contrast, and pattern.
Socialite and avid gardener C.Z. Guest observed, “I’ve always felt like having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend.” May these pages inspire you to nurture a relationship with your own garden; a relationship destined to bring joy for years to come.
Chalet is a third-generation, family-owned, local business serving the North Shore for more than 100 years. Today, Chalet is one of the North Shore’s leading one-stop destinations for inspired landscape design, locally grown plants, curated home décor, and customer service that creates lifelong connections. Chalet helps people to discover fresh, imaginative ways to design their outdoor space; create inviting, inspired homes; and grow a personal connection between beauty and nature. Chalet is located at 3132 Lake Avenue in Wilmette, 847-256-0561, chaletnursery.com.
This Wilmette landscape consists of twenty-five mature trees including ash, American elm, and crab apples. Large planting beds filled with Annabelle hydrangea, Wolf’s Eye dogwood, and Pixie Meadowbrite coneflower border the property. A granite cobble driveway welcomes guests to the front of the home and a large bluestone patio provides ample space for entertaining. Weekly visits by an experienced management crew ensure the lasting beauty of the landscape. Photography by Mike Crews
The landscape plan for this 2018 contemporary build was com prised of a simple planting palette and included only four plants; river birch, juniper, arborvitae, and sedge repeated throughout the property. The landscape reflects the clean lines and architecture of the home and helps connect the landscape to the nearby wooded bluff. Spring flowering bulbs pop up through the sedges to create a surrounding bulb meadow. The front entry is framed by a Koi pond with stone steps that appear to float just above the water. The step pers are heated so the homeowners and guests alike can safely step across the path year-round. A large bluestone patio in the back yard looks out over the wooded bluff. The new, low care landscape compliments the architecture of the home and nestles it into the surrounding neighborhood. Photography by Andrew Merz
A third generation, family-owned business founded on trust and service, Mariani Landscape began modestly in 1958, providing garden maintenance services along Chicago’s North Shore. Mariani has grown over the past 60 years, providing award winning landscape design, construction and maintenance, and now ranks as the largest residential company in the U.S. Mariani Landscape is located at 300 Rockland Road in Lake Bluff, 847234-2172, marianilandscape.com.
Mariani Landscape transformed this outdoor space for the 2017 Lakeforest Showhouse & Gardens event. Traditional boxwood hedges, white hydrangeas, and green euphorbias work harmoniously with the English country style of the house. Add to that white geraniums and tulips and you find a garden with a vintage, throw-back feel. Photography by Tony Soluri
This picturesque property is comprised of 10 acres bordering a public prairie preserve. The landscape architects developed a series of garden rooms each addressing different needs of the homeowners. These garden rooms include a potager garden for organic vegetables, an orchard for organic fruit, a butterfly garden for horticultural experiment, a pool area for active play, an open lawn space for large tent parties, and an outdoor kitchen and terrace for dining al fresco. The prairie unifies the garden rooms by providing the perfect backdrop. Photography by Linda Oyama-Bryan
Celebrating 60 years, Schmechtig Landscapes has taken pride in masterful landscaping employing its old-world traditions and perspectives introduced by the founder, Klaus Schmechtig and handed down to his son, Michael. This year, they welcome Michael’s son and third-generation family member Matt Schmechtig. Their philosophy treats the land scape of a client’s property as an extension of their home by combining design solutions with experienced horticultural maintenance services. Schmechtig’s successful practice comes from dedication to building long-term relationships with their clients—and that is why the majority of their work comes directly from referrals. Schmechtig Landscapes is located at 20860 West Indian Creek Road in Mundelein, 847-566-1233, schmechtiglandscapes.com.
Longtime Schmechtig Landscapes’ client, Jeannie Balsam of Jeannie Balsam Interiors, asked Schmechtig to team up with her firm to develop a full site out door living design for a Glencoe residence. Michael Schmechtig and his team created a plan honoring the architecture of the home while prioritizing the family’s lifestyle preferences. The landscape design reflects the timeless nature of the site. A sweeping bluestone walk leads to the front door where large urns are filled with seasonal interest. The home is framed by mature ornamental trees, plant layers, color, and texture. Backyard living spaces reflect the family’s lifestyle preferences, featuring an outdoor dining area enclosed by a vine cov ered pergola, a seating area, a modern water feature, an outdoor kitchen, and sweeping steps that lead to the back lawn. A rooftop garden features a secluded seating area, a contemporary water feature, and plants with seasonal interest. The property is on a weekly maintenance program to maintain the integrity of the landscape design for years to come. Photography by Dustin Halleck
fter a record-breaking event raising $100,000 last year for NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore), the Myra Rubenstein Weis (MRW) Benefit Committee is poised for another year of success and impact. This year the Committee is hosting an online auction, featuring one-of-a-kind items available for bidding from the comforts of your own home.
The online auction is in lieu of the annual luncheon this year. Items including a Valentino handbag, a Brunswick Tennis Table, jewelry, gift cards and much more will be available for a limited time. Bidding will open on April 1, through May 13 at aesbid.com/mrw20. Bidders are encouraged to check the auction frequently to ensure they are not out-bid by another donor.
“We are excited to introduce this innovative opportunity to raise funds with the MRW Benefit Committee,” explains Eileen Rubenstein Goldstein, Co-Founder. “We wanted to offer an alternative because we recognize that many community members still want to be part of the ‘event’ in some way. The online auction offers the opportunity to shop for some beautiful items from home while supporting NorthShore programs — a win for all of us.”
In addition to the auction, this year’s Raffle Bags are the best yet and are valued at over $2,300 each. Tickets will be available at foundation.northshore.org/2020-mrw-raffle.
Proceeds from the online auction will benefit the new NorthShore mental health program for teens, Arts 4 Health. This art therapy program is designed to provide a therapeutic experience for students and families in the community.
In addition to the Arts 4 Health program, the MRW Benefit Committee will continue its longstanding commitment to the Myra Rubenstein Weis Living in the Future (LIFE) Cancer Survivorship Program through NorthShore, including free educational lectures on topics important to cancer survivors, including nutrition, exercise and genetics. In addition to the MRW LIFE Program, funds raised from the Committee support an innovative pilot project that will educate the next generation about personalized medicine and how genomics is transforming healthcare.
For more information, visit foundation.northshore.org/mrw or call 847-926-5003.
Family and friends of Myra Rubenstein Weis honor her life by supporting wellness and cancer survivorship programs at NorthShore. Myra Rubenstein Weis was actively involved in the Highland Park community. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she lived for 10 years before the disease claimed her life in 1990. Her sister, Eileen Rubenstein Goldstein, and her brother-in-law, Paul D. Goldstein, MD, continue to honor Myra’s life and her upbeat spirit by hosting an annual spring benefit luncheon with a group of dedicated volunteers and friends who plan the event.
Philanthropist LESLIE GANTZ MCLAMORE explains her passion for giving back.
In October, event co-chairs Sarah Potter, Leslie Gantz McLamore, and Missy Kedzior began planning for e Woman’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s annual Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show opening night bene t party. e preview party was originally scheduled for May 14 but as a precaution during the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been postponed until October 2020. e co-chairs are continuing to plan and will have additional time to make the event more fun and fabulous.
“We complement each other,” says Winnetka’s McLamore. “Both Sarah and Missy have the creative vision, and I enjoy the behind-the-scenes management.” Adds Kedzior, who has been on the Board for nearly 20 years, “I really just love to throw a party and now that the formalities are in place, we have time to work on the fun part.”
e preview party will o er serious collectors the opportunity to shop the Show—featuring over 70 premier exhibitors presenting ne antique furniture and decorative and ne arts on the
seventh oor of the Merchandise Mart, before the Show opens to the public. VIP ticket holders will enjoy cocktails and a lecture with the party’s honorary chair, architect Margaret Cavenagh, Studio Gang’s Principal of Interior Architecture.
Cavenagh joined Studio Gang when Jeanne Gang had just been awarded the commission for the Aqua Tower. As employee number 10, Cavenagh helped to grow the Chicago practice at the rm, which now has 130 people in four o ces. Cavenagh will talk about her work, which extends architectural building concepts into the interior, and discuss Studio Gang projects both past and current.
Proceeds from the opening night party bene t programs and patient care initiatives supported by e Woman’s Board, including the Board’s recent commitments to fund support for the EDGe Program, the Early Detection of Genetic Disease, for genetically-detected cancer patients and their families, as well as the study of collaborative mental health care in Northwestern’s primary care clinics in Chicago. rough these projects, e Woman’s Board is helping to improve the range of patient care initiatives.
Now in its third year, the three co-chairs will put their own spin on the much-anticipated preview event. “We want to make it our own,” says McLamore. “Honoring a female architect who has spent her entire career in Chicago is a bit of a change from the interior design focus of the past. Margaret has a broader point of view and, in my opinion, will be equally interesting to both male and female guests that evening.” To further the appeal, the chairs have arranged a cigar roller and whiskey tastings.
McLamore says her commitment to philanthropy began with her parents, Wilbur (Bill) and Linda Gantz.
“Growing up, I saw how much joy charitable work brought to my family,” says McLamore. “As I’ve gotten older, charitable work has become my responsibility too and I want my children to understand that it’s rewarding to give back.”
McLamore goes on to explain that her parents have streamlined their focus to two speci c organizations in the last decade. For Linda, it’s the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and, for Bill, it’s the Field Museum. McLamore, for her part, is following in her father’s footsteps by also serving on the Field Museum’s Women’s Board, while her sister Caroline Gantz Burns is a dedicated advocate for the Boys & Girls Clubs like their mother.
McLamore joined e Woman’s Board of Northwestern in 2012 because she valued the women who dedicate their time impacting the hospital as well as the City of Chicago. What’s also special are the relationships forged on these boards that quickly become lifelong friendships between dynamic North Shore and downtown women.
McLamore also nds herself personally interested in design and is in the process of redecorating her home—something she jokes is “ongoing”—with a curated mix of old and new. She will be on the lookout for antique chests and standout art at the Show. “Of course, throw in some jewelry and bags, too,” she laughs.
Separate from the shopping at the Show, McLamore loves to frequent a t h e n e and neapolitan collection, dine at Mino’s in Winnetka, exercise at Unify Fitness in Glencoe, and is looking forward to an upcoming trip to San Miguel, Mexico for the “art and culture.”
“Art and design are so personal and bring me joy,” she says. “At the preview party, I get to enjoy both while raising funds to expand patient care at Northwestern.”
For more information about the preview party of the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show and to purchase tickets, visit wbnorthwestern.org.
North Shore women looking for classic style with a twist of provenance can count on an upbeat new fashion outpost in Winnetka: Bunny & Babe. This fresh and modern retail shop, named for two American style icons, Bunny Mellon and Babe Paley, is infused with their essence and interpreted with the refreshing eye of owner Peyton Merrill.
Bunny Mellon was best known as a gifted gardener with royal means, infallible taste, and her confidante—and client—Jacqueline Kennedy. Reportedly, it was President Kennedy who, over lunch in Cape Cod, requested that Mellon redesign the White House Rose Garden. Mellon’s decision to anchor the Rose Garden with four magnolia trees—one placed at each corner of the garden—was considered a grace note, given her ethos that “nothing should be noticed.”
Babe Paley was an American socialite whose second husband William S. Paley built CBS into one of the foremost radio and television network operations in the U.S. Named to the International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame in 1958, Truman Capote included Paley and Mellon, along with high society chums Frank Sinatra, Lee Radziwill, Rose Kennedy, Lynda Bird Johnson, Norman Mailer, and Arthur Schlesinger Jr. at Capote’s Black and White Ball held in honor of Katharine Graham.
A classic flavor is featured throughout the boutique, nestled in a retail enclave on Chestnut Street in the middle of the bustling village. With neapolitan collection just across the way, a stone’s throw from Winnetka’s quintessential Frances Heffernan, and just doors down from Valentina and the modern a t h e n e, Bunny & Babe’s arrival makes Winnetka’s Chestnut Street what Oak Street is to Chicago.
Bunny & Babe offers a breath of fresh fashion air, with the interior marrying shades of blue, lavender, and pops of leopard. Complete with a cocktail cart, bedecked with crystal lowballs and comfy chairs, the sitting area has a homey, inviting vibe, perfect for trying on resort wear and smart sundresses for destinations from Palm Springs to Palm Beach, while mulling over hair scrunchies crafted from vintage Hermès scarves and curated giftware and home goods.
The shop’s look and feel is the work of a cheerful collaboration between Merrill along with Cindy Galvin of Bardes Interiors along with contractor Rutledge Smith and Michael Hershenson Architects. This partnership, well-honed through past projects, was a true meeting of the minds, leading to elevated design elements including surprisingly high ceilings, emitting natural light illuminating the handsome inven tory. Portraits of Bunny and Babe are showcased with white trellis detail covering an archway, along with featured topiaries, a nod to Bunny’s world-renowned gardening.
“I would say the whole process from start to finish took me about a year. I did a lot of research on brick and mortar stores and boutiques and discovered that there was a lot of evidence supporting small boutiques surviving in this current market,” says Merrill.
With a desire to invest both resources and talent to enhance the retail footprint in Winnetka, Merrill says, “Personally, I love to
shop locally. There is a lot to be said for customers wanting to touch, try on and feel the clothing they are buying. We will be super focused on providing the best customer service and keeping up with that immediate gratification that women want today,” she continues.
Inspiration for the space included Aerin Lauder’s boutiques in East Hampton and Palm Beach, with the goal of delivering a light, happy, and stylish customer experience.
A mother of three children from middle school to college, Merrill’s husband Topher grew up in Winnetka and the two met at Roanoke College in Virginia, where Merrill majored in history. For their first five years of marriage, the pair lived in London where Merrill’s taste and appreciation for design continued to evolve.
The daughter of an artist and advertising agency owner, Merrill credits her mother as her original design and color inspiration. Merrill’s early career included professional stops at retail giants Ann Taylor, J.Crew, and Thomas Pink in visual merchandising.
Merrill decided the time was right—personally and professionally—to embark on opening a retail store in her hometown. “I decided to open Bunny & Babe once my two older kids were away at school, as I have been waiting for the right time to jump. I have always wanted to open my own business and my wheelhouse is retail. I saw the need for that middle of the road, advanced contemporary price point for women’s ready to wear in Winnetka and decided to give it a shot,” she says.
For more information visit, bunnyandbabe.com.
*Person in photo is model, not actual patient.
to restore your unique natural beauty
John Q. Cook, M.D. Plastic Surgeon B.A. Yale, M.D. Northwestern Rush University Medical Center Plastic Surgery Staff U.S. News Top Doctor Castle Connelly America’s Top Plastic Surgeons
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Receive a complimentary consultation with Dr. Cook. Use code: BEAUTIFULYOU valid until 4/30/20
JohnQCookMD.com Gold Coast North Shore
Parents and supporters stepped into a Winter Wonderland at Writers Theatre during Glencoe Junior Kindergarten and Nursery School’s annual benefit. PAGE 100
JDRF ONE DREAM GALA, PAGE 94
The JDRF Illinois Chapter set a global record in December at its incredible gala—raising $7 million to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D).
MY BEST FRIEND’S CLOSET 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, PAGE 96
Some of the North Shore’s most fashionable friends gathered to celebrate Highland Park’s My Best Friend’s Closet.
GALENTINES AT SHARE, PAGE 98
Guests sipped champagne and enjoyed nibbles while perusing luxury goods at Share in Wilmette before Valentine’s Day.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY GLENCOE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN Leah Kohn, Megan GreerThe JDRF Illinois Chapter set a global record in December at its incredible gala—raising $7 million to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). With more than 2,000 in attendance, guests participated in lively fundraising opportunities, enjoyed dinner, and a program featuring the Lacher Family and their story of life with T1D. The evening concluded with a rousing concert by Third Eye Blind. The 2019 gala co-chairs were David and Carrie Carlson. Michael and Sarah Alter served as Fund A Cure co-chairs, Glen Tullman served as fundraising chair, and Greg Wasson of Wasson Enterprise was the 2019 Honorary Corporate Chair.
Some of the North Shore’s most fashionable friends gathered at Disotto in Highwood to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Highland Park-based My Best Friend’s Closet. The upscale resale boutique owned by Gilat Zamost, features designer selections at a fraction of the original price. My Best Friend’s Closet also hosts philanthropic events throughout the year benefitting local charities and bringing customers and consigners together.
Beauty and detail result from thoughtfulness and planning. Our Toms Price Home designers can transform your backyard space into a relaxing retreat. Schedule a consultation in-store or in your home today. Find your designer at tomsprice.com
WHEATON
sharewilmette.com
When Dr. Peter Geldner was in high school, he witnessed a young burn victim who had been treated by a plastic surgeon and who couldn’t stop talking about how the surgeon had changed his life. That was the moment Dr. Geldner knew he wanted to be a plastic surgeon.
Fast forward a few decades. Dr. Geldner now runs the Geldner Center, a plastic surgery and aesthetics center with locations in
Chicago’s Gold Coast and Hinsdale.
“I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing the psychological and physical transformations that my patients experience following surgery,” Dr. Geldner says. “They revitalize their lives.”
Dr. Geldner’s path to managing two plastic surgery centers in the Chicago area was, at the very least, unconventional.
The son of Holocaust survivors, Dr. Geldner was born in Warsaw and immigrated to Israel with his parents as a very young child, then to the United States at the age of six. His father, a neurosurgeon, and his mother, an opthamologist, helped expose him to the field of medicine.
After receiving his medical degree from the University of Madison, Wisconsin, Dr. Geldner went on to receive his training in plastic surgery from the University of Chicago. He completed his residency at the University of Texas, Galveston, where he met his Chicago-born wife, JuliAnn. Together, they decided to base his practice in Chicago. JuliAnn, a lawyer, is the Geldner Center’s General Counsel and COO.
The foundation of the Geldner Center’s success is a focus on understanding and gaining trust with patients.
“Our interest is in meeting a subjective goal,” Dr. Geldner says. “The point of plastic surgery is to achieve the goals of patients, and that achievement is built on a relationship.”
“Plastic surgery is not based on needs,” he continues. “It’s based on what it is about you that bothers you and how I can help you. It’s patient-centric and patient-focused.”
When you book an appointment with the Geldner Center, you might have a start time for your appointment, but Dr Geldner won’t leave the room until he feels he and his patient have established a true collaboration.
“That can take five minutes or it can take two hours,” JuliAnn Geldner says. “It doesn’t make it easy to manage the appointment calendar.”
Undergirding the Geldner Center’s success is a keen focus on education and ethics.
“I’m a lifetime learner,” Dr. Geldner says. “When JuliAnn and I go on vacation she loads her Kindle with fiction books and I bring my medical journals. I go to conferences and try and keep up with the latest technology.”
The center’s assessments, completed in collaboration with patients, might lead to a recommendation of surgery or the center might refuse procedures if they don’t meet its ethical guidelines.
In addition to its comprehensive set of plastic-surgery procedures, the Geldner Center offers many aesthetic services performed by highly trained nurses and practitioners. Services include injections and medical-grade facials.
Geldner Center staff are held to the same high standards that Dr. Geldner sets for himself.
“Having highly trained Nurse Injectors and Estheticians gives us a strategic advantage,” Dr. Geldner says. “Our Nurse Injectors and Estheticians not only receive the highest level of training, they also enroll in continuing education and are experts in their fields.”
All of this adds up to a winning combination for the Geldner Center, a perhaps improbable destination that started for Dr. Peter Geldner in Warsaw many years ago.
The Geldner Center is located at 12 Salt Creek, Suite 315, in Hinsdale, and 680 N. Lake Shore Ddrive, Suite 1325, in Chicago, 312-9814440, mygeldnercenter.com.
WORDS
From Warsaw to Chicago, a successful journey to changing lives.
The spring market is here! Is your home ready?
Four things you can start doing now so that your home is in top shape when it comes time to sell.
Take care of any deferred maintenance that you have been avoiding. The cooler fall temperatures can be a great time to knock out that “to-do” list. It’s also an excellent time to replace roofs, do exterior painting, or work in the attic.
Go through closets, basements, and storage areas to remove or donate unwanted items. Consider renting a storage unit for extra furniture or items that you know you’ll want to keep for the long term.
Staging is more than just furniture placement and flowers. Consider painting rooms, replacing light fixtures, or making cosmetic updates to help your home feel “new” again.
Moving can be a difficult emotional journey as your home is more than just a house with walls and fixtures, but rather a place filled with years of memories and joy. It’s important to appreciate the past but be excited for what is to come.
Contact us for a consultation, market evaluation, and to learn how Compass Concierge can help pay the upfront costs for improvements and staging to get your home ready for the market.
daveandamy@compass.com northshorehomeguide.com 847.461.8856
ventions that enable true rejuvenation, healing, and a new spring of beauty from within.
“A lot of times, conventional medicine will just give people a medication for suppressing a symptom instead of addressing the underlying root causes—creating a lifelong drug dependency,” Dr. Perlis says. “I believe the body has innate capacity to heal itself if we empower it with the right balance of therapies. This is what we address here—with a completely new way of thinking.”
The team at Perlis Wellness first begins with a comprehensive check of the whole body using an 8-minute diagnostic test from Germany. This cutting edge technology identifies both the issues currently manifested as well as the systems and organs that need watching carefully. Dr. Perlis firmly believes that it is always bet ter to prevent a health issue from accelerating than treat it after the fact.
“It’s like an EKG for the whole body, only more detailed,” she exclaims. “Once I have this diagnostic report, I use this information along with their blood work results to create a personalized therapy protocol.”
Dr. Cheryl Perlis, MD is best described as a doctor of beauty … as her patients lovingly call her. The secret to her amazing success is her unique ability to make her patients beautiful—from the inside out.
The thought of a doctor’s office often brings to mind a sterile, serious, and somewhat stressful place we visit when we are sick and need medication. Perlis Wellness Center is the complete antithesis of this.
Patients walking into Perlis Wellness are pleasantly surprised by the luxurious, yet warm and welcoming feeling that exudes an aura of happiness and health.
People comment on how happy they are with their personal wellness and healing journeys, some even calling it their new life.
“The truth is that in today’s world, health is the true wealth,” says Dr. Perlis, a Board Certified physician that specializes in natural hormone therapy, detox, rejuvenation, and aesthetic procedures “When you feel you are progressing in your journey of beauty rejuvenation, health, and healing, all at the same time, you feel empowered and happy.”
“So many people today are feeling tired, aging fast, and losing their zest for life, for reasons that are totally avoidable,” she adds. “They want to feel better and look great; sometimes they just don’t know where to start and who to trust.”
It’s this trust that Dr. Perlis earns with her patients, just by being herself. It’s evident that she truly cares and that her years of experience have all brought her to this point in her life and career as a doctor.
Over the years, Dr. Perlis and her dedicated team have curated a very unique set of therapies that combine the wisdom of natural medicine with cutting edge FDA approved technological inter-
Part of the healing protocol involves a new and unique therapeu tic procedure called Matrix Regeneration Therapy (MRT), an FDA approved wellness device. Perlis Wellness Center is the only center in Chicago and one of a handful in the U.S. offering this therapy.
“Most of our body is the matrix, the connective tissue between the organs, which is where most toxins reside and disease starts,” she explains. “This machine detoxes the connective tissues, allowing regeneration at a cellular level and a reconnection between all of the organs.
“Basically, MRT combines a number of therapies including mechanical cupping, direct current therapy (which reads each of the organ frequencies). MRT then uploads healing frequencies to each organ. Each session lasts about 45 mins, leaving patients feeling remarkably better.”
“MRT is a completely non-invasive, non-pharma, natural health stimulating procedure that can be used for detoxifying skin for facial rejuvenation, cellular detox, pain management, brain rejuvenation and detox, balancing hormone health naturally, and detox with an ionic footbath” explains Dr. Perlis.
Dr. Perlis has been offering these new therapies since October of last year, and thus far, the results of her patients have been nothing short of astounding.
“These therapies are helping me essentially reboot my patients and add more grace to aging, which is natural and inevitable,” she says. “People that are really in tune with their bodies can tell the difference rather immediately, but I do suggest that most patients need six treatments.”
“It’s all about deciding how you want to live the next part of your life,” admits the mother of three who recently turned 60. “Personally, I am a huge paddle boarder (even in the winter) on Lake Michigan, I practice yoga, and I’m working on my surfing this year. I want to live life to the fullest, but I can’t do that if I don’t have those toxins out of my system. I now have a way to regenerate and reboot my body, so really part of this is my own journey. And the best part of my job is meeting people who too are looking to go on their own journey to wellness.”
She pauses, and then smiles. “Most people don’t realize that they can truly feel alive again,” she says. “I am here to remind them that they can and to handhold them on their journey.”
Perlis Wellness Center is located at 81 E. Scranton Avenue , Lake Bluff, 847-295-5997, perliswellnesscenter.com.
Dr. Cheryl Perlis of the Perlis Wellness Center introduces groundbreaking new technology to her patients.
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Many women have undergone some type of breast surgery, either for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes.
Most of these surgeries are very successful but unfortunately for some, either the initial outcome falls short of the desired result or over time, the breast becomes dis torted or hard.
In the case of breast augmentation, the body forms scar tissue around the implant which is normal but sometimes the scar tissue contracts making the implant feel firmer giving it a distorted appearance. This is referred to as a capsule. Other complications include bottoming out, fold malposition, wrinkling, rippling, and symmastia. With time, sagging of the overlying breast tissue is not uncommon creating a disconnect with the underlying implant. And of course, a woman’s breast naturally will change shape and contour as the body ages.
Natural conditions such as lax skin elasticity, thin tissue, and multiple corrective procedures often pose technical and special challenges.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of a prior surgery, a revision surgery may be in order. Patients need to understand that revision surgery is complex and technically demanding. There are limitations based on one’s anatomy and what can be achieved.
Technologies have evolved over the years to help correct the described complications and deformities that can occur. The use of Strattice is a soft, natural product that is designed to reinforce weak tissue and to support growth of your own tissue. Derived from porcine dermis, it is a strong and sterile product.
Strattice, when used for revision breast surgery acts as an “internal bra” to support and hold the implant in the desired location.
Advantages provided by this internal support are:
• Provides coverage and support of the implant
• Significantly reduces the rate of capsular contracture
• Acts as an “internal bra” to give better support and control implant location
• Provides an additional layer to mask visibility of rippling and wrinkles
• Becomes viable tissue without scarring or fibrosis
The one drawback of Strattice is that it is expensive, but in my experience, it is well worth the cost if it significantly cuts down on the need for future revisions.
Barbara epitomized kindness and grace and was a role model for so many of us. She will be missed by all that knew her.
Cindy Galvin brings around-the-world inspiration to Maze Home in Winnetka.
WORDS BY MEGAN WEISBERG / ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT RISKOSearching for the perfect hostess gift? On the hunt for a fabulous home décor item?
For the last 10 years, in-the-know shoppers have found just these items and more at Winnetka’s Maze Home. Founded by famed interior designer, Cindy Galvin, Maze Home continues to be the North Shore spot for everything from a new lamp and linens to a thoughtful holiday gift.
In 1980, after earning a degree in Interior Design from Northwestern University, Galvin started Bardes Interiors. One of her rst jobs was customizing model homes’ interiors, with a timeline so tight that Galvin recalls having to “spend ursday night in the home, sleeping in the bed, and using the shower,” all to ensure everything was ready for the rst showing the next day at 5 p.m. Seeing these houses built from the ground up, Galvin gained invaluable rst-hand knowledge of construction, plumbing, and electricity. is in-depth training, allows Galvin to manage her 2020 workload of simultaneously designing the interiors of eight new construction homes across the nation.
Her unique talent is not having homes “stamped by Cindy Galvin,” rather she educates her clients on what they want, helping them discover their unique vision, and then using her talents to bring it to life. Old school designers, like Elsie de Wolfe, have inspired Galvin throughout her career, and on any given day you can nd her garnering inspiration from e Art Institute’s phenomenal orne Miniature Rooms.
She is ever evolving her career with a motto of “leave something better than you found it.” Around 2010 when multiple Winnetka home shops closed, Galvin decided to create a space where young moms could buy high-quality, unique items without having to trek to the city. us, Maze Home was born as a North Shore destination where shoppers can procure items at all price points from home accessories and pillowcases to fun makeup bags and gorgeous beach cover-ups. Curated by Galvin’s far- ung travels, one can nd vintage Ikat textiles from England, Nepal and beyond, to create one-of-a-kind upholstery or a tablecloth. Also, pop in to nd items from Made Goods, Bungalow 5, and Ryan Studio pillows, among other gems. A testament to Galvin’s vision and knowing her customers’ needs and style, she skillfully secured for Maze Home the rst exclusive license stateside—outside of New York—to sell the renowned D. Porthault linens and printed nightgowns. Galvin’s own signature gift of a boudoir pillow in a coveted, luxurious D. Porthault linen is a must-have item.
Crediting Maze’s amazing success to her collaboration with her remarkable sta , Galvin lauds their ability “to truly connect with
the customer and pair them with the perfect item.” With their new monogramming machine capable of personalizing everything from blankets to leather goods, Maze continues to assist its customers in nding a unique and thoughtful gift for every occasion.
And what’s in store for Maze for the next 10 years? “I keep traveling and watching,” says Galvin. “Eyes are windows to the future, and I bring past and experience to the table.” With Galvin’s curiosity and talent and Maze’s “dream team” sta , it is no wonder Maze is still a hot spot for North Shore shoppers.
For more information, visit mazehome.com.
