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How to Shop: The Merchandise Mart

Author: Dana Felmly

(S)Mart Shopping: The Merchandise Mart offers goods and services that fit the needs of even the most jaded consumer; a visit is a trip to a city within a city, Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

In existence now for nearly 80 years, the Merchandise Mart remains the world’s largest commercial building and wholesale design center, sandwiched between Orleans and Wells, just north of the Chicago River. Sixty percent of the building’s 4.2 million-square-feet are comprised luxury furniture, fabrics, floor coverings, wall coverings, lighting, antiques and much more. As you can imagine, it is a design professionals dream space, and it has become one for consumers, as well.

No longer must you be a part of the trade to see, touch and experience all that the Mart has to offer. There are three ways now in which one can indulge their home fashion aficionado self in these hallowed halls.

On Your Own: LuxeHome^®, is a group of 30 boutiques on the first floor that feature fine kitchen and bath items from high-end manufacturers. Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, these showrooms run the gamut from the modern European styling of Poggenpohl, Snaidero and Ernestomeda Chicago to the classic American decor of de Giulio Kitchen Design to the traditional English settings of Clive Christian. In addition, each boutique offers its own designers who are available to assist with all phases of a design project.

Should you have any questions about either the LuxeHome boutiques or design resource center, a LuxeHome concierge, located on the Orleans Street side of the building, is available daily to answer questions and hand you a LuxeHome directory. You can even contact a LuxeHome concierge from home at 312-527-7939.

With A Designer: The Merchandise Mart Design Center™ showroom floors are 700,000-square-feet of residential and casual furnishings (floors 6, 15, 16, 17 and 18), gifts and home accessories (floors 12, 13, 14 and 15) and contract (office) furnishings (floors 3, 10 and 11). Normally open to the trade only, consumers can access these places through their own design professional or use the Mart’s Designer Portfolio to find one. More than 60 area design professionals are featured in the online Designer Portfolios. Log on to www.merchandisemartdesigncenter.com, and click on the “Designer Portfolio” logo; you will be able to view each designer’s web page featuring his or her design philosophy, area(s) of specialty, project photos, fee structure and more.

“Designers can contribute significantly to both large and small projects,” says Michele Hodo, senior director of marketing, The Merchandise Mart Design Center. “Their range of services include helping you determine your own style, selecting a color palette and even offering tips on how to rearrange your existing furnishings to create a new look.”

Hodo suggests bringing photos of your rooms and floor plans. They will allow you to get the most out of your design consultation and help you confirm just how perfectly that Holly Hunt arm chair or unique Stark rug will work with the existing pieces in your living room.

Special Event Shopping: The Merchandise Mart hosts several annual events, including the most exciting home fashion sale of the year. The Treasure Hunt® and The Luxury Sample Sale offers exceptional values and deep discounts on luxury home furnishings from top names such as Oscar De La Renta, Henredon, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Ludwig and Tufenkian. Among last year’s items was an Oscar De La Renta-carved Bombe Chest, reduced more than 80 percent of its original price! Scheduled for May 17 and 18 this year, there is a small fee of $10 to attend, and registration can be handled online or on-site. Members of the Designer Portfolio program will be offering complimentary, in-person consultations during the event.

If it’s ideas you are after, be sure to tour DreamRooms, Luxury Living Spaces on the first floor of The Mart, April 25 to July 12. It features nine rooms created by some of the design industry’s biggest names including Holly Hunt, Kravet, Donghia, Stark, Henredon and more. The Merchandise Mart and House Beautiful are also teaming up for "The House Beautiful Color Institute" on Wednesday, May 7, with the public invited to attend.

Time to Relax: When all is said and done, and you can’t take in one more shop at the Mart, try relaxing in the art deco-designed Mart lobby or trying some of the special eateries, including The Artisan Cellar Gourmet Market, bluprint restaurant and the Billy Goat Tavern & Grill.

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Check out places of interest near How to Shop: The Merchandise Mart:

Ai
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This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007. From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.

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Bloomingdale's
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Six floors of designer clothing, cosmetics, shoes and more.

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Ruth's Chris Steak House
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Bloomingdale's
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