Elevated interiors, tailored for Chicago’s finest
AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGNER
Meet Anthony Michael
Anthony is regularly named as one of the top interior designers in Chicago and various metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, NYC, Naples, New Buffalo, Scottsdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Belair, Nassau Bahamas and more in addition to numerous other projects in Chicago and the suburbs.
With offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, he works with bicoastal clients. His work has been featured in LUXE as a LUXE Gold Designer, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Modern Luxury and more.
With over 35 years of experience, Anthony Michael is to interior design what Sir Alec Guinness was to acting— able to handle radically different roles, his talent comfortably manifesting itself behind many faces. While hard to typecast, he dares to cross the lines of convention to try what is visually bold and dramatic , but never jarring.
FEATURED PROJECTS
Buckingham Place
Breathtaking colors of our planet
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Sheffield
Portraits of people from around the globe
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Greenview
Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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FEATURED PRESS
FROM THE BLOG
When you start designing a home or room, it’s easy to focus on the visible things first, like colors, furniture, materials and finishes. But that’s not where great design begins. Design starts long before you make any aesthetic choices. It begins with understanding how you’ll live in the space, how you’ll move through it and how it can best serve your daily life. If you want a space that looks beautiful and feels effortless, the process has to start with function and flow. Understand Your Needs Before sketching a layout or choosing materials, ask how you’ll actually use the space. This means being specific. Who will use each area? What activities will happen there? What problems need solving, such as a lack of storage, poor lighting or awkward traffic flow? For example, if your living room doubles as a workspace, you’ll need different lighting zones and storage solutions than if it’s just for relaxing. A kitchen used for large family meals requires a different layout than one built for a quick morning coffee. Write these needs down. This list will guide every decision to follow, from the size of the furniture to the location of electrical outlets. Plan the Flow Once you know your needs, focus on how people will move through the space. Flow is the invisible backbone of great design. It determines whether a home feels open and natural, or cramped and confusing. Ensure there are clear pathways between rooms to maximize the spaces. Start by sketching rough pathways through the space. Imagine walking in from the front door — where do you go next? Does the space encourage movement, or does the furniture obstruct the path? Are there clear sight lines between key areas like the kitchen, dining and living room? A well-designed flow allows easy transitions between tasks and zones. Think about: Entry points: Are they clutter-free and welcoming? Circulation: Do you have enough space to walk comfortably, even when doors are open? Natural light: How does it move through the space during the day, and can you maximize it? A great test is to physically walk through your plan on paper before anything is built. If something feels awkward now, it’ll feel even worse in real life. Design for Real Life, Not Just for Show Functionality goes beyond traffic flow. It’s about everyday details that make life easier. Plan for outlets where you’ll actually need them, consider how storage fits into your routine and ensure lighting supports your lifestyle. Daily habits drive design. For instance, by the mid-1930s, as much as 70% of the United States population began to have access to electricity, and homes began to change dramatically. Electric refrigerators replaced iceboxes, and new lighting made kitchens brighter and more practical. When you build your layout around how you use your home, it becomes timelessly functional, just like those early modern homes that adapted to new ways of living. Layer in the Beauty Only once the flow and function are right should you focus on aesthetics. This is the fun part where you choose materials, finishes, colors and textures that reflect your personality. Start with lighting. It’s one of the easiest ways to highlight the flow you’ve already created. Use layered lighting to define zones and create mood. Warmer tones can promote calmness and relaxation , and cooler tones can boost concentration. Then think about surfaces. Natural materials like wood and stone add warmth, while metals or glass can add contrast and structure. Use color strategically to emphasize how the space works. Soft tones can make rooms feel bigger, while rich hues can make open areas feel cozy. Textiles, artwork and decor are the final touches that bring soul to the design, but they should enhance the flow, not fight it. Revisit and Refine Designing a functional space isn’t a one-and-done process. Once your plan is in place, walk through it again. Visualize cooking dinner, hosting guests, getting ready for the day or winding down after work. Adjust as needed. If something doesn’t feel intuitive, change it. The best designers constantly refine until the space works effortlessly. Form Follows Function Great design starts with flow. It’s about making the space work for you before making it aesthetic. Once function is built into every corner, beauty naturally follows. Start with how you live, plan around how you move and then layer in everything that makes it feel like home.
Fall decorating is about more than a few carved pumpkins on the porch. The season brings a chance to warm up your home with color, texture and natural light, creating a cozy space that celebrates the shift in weather without feeling overdone. These creative ways help you capture autumn’s charm indoors and out. 1. Bring in Earthy, Unexpected Color Instead of relying on predictable orange tones, build your palette from nature’s softer side. Think of terracotta, mustard, olive green, rust and chocolate brown. These shades layer beautifully with neutrals like cream, camel or stone. Paint a single wall in a rich hue or mix textured throw pillows and blankets in coordinating tones. Even small accents, such as ceramic vases or linen napkins, can shift a room’s mood toward fall. 2. Add Natural Textures for Instant Warmth Texture defines autumn's decor. Combine materials that feel organic and layered rather than sleek and polished. Balance rougher textures with smooth surfaces like glass or polished metal for a look that feels curated, not cluttered. Ideas include: Woven baskets for blanket storage or firewood Chunky knit throws draped over an armchair Wood and rattan accents that bring visual warmth 3. Highlight Seasonal Greenery Skip faux leaves and instead mix real greenery with dried stems. Think eucalyptus, pampas grass or maroon-hued branches. Avoid traditional favorites like yew, which is poisonous and contains taxine , to keep your home kid- and pet-safe. A large vase on a console table or entryway shelf brings life to transitional spaces. Dry your flowers or reuse stems from summer arrangements for a sustainable touch. 4. Layer Lighting for Cozy Evenings As daylight shortens, lighting becomes key to fall’s inviting glow. Pair overhead fixtures with lamps, candles and string lights to create depth and warmth. Position seating near windows to optimize natural light. Daylight improves your comfort and mood by providing vitamin D , alleviating seasonal affective disorder. You can enhance this effect by drawing back heavy curtains to let daylight in during daytime hours. 5. Bring in the Outdoors Collect fallen leaves, pinecones or acorns during a weekend walk and display them in glass jars or wooden bowls. Mixing natural finds with candles or metallic accents creates an effortless seasonal vignette or wreath. If you have a mantel, swap summer artwork for a framed pressed-leaf display or landscape print. 6. Create a Focal Point With Fragrance Scent is one of the quickest ways to evoke fall. Layer candle aromas like sandalwood, fig, amber and clove. Add a simmer pot with cinnamon sticks, apple slices and orange peels to infuse your space naturally. Keep fragrances subtle so they complement, not compete with, your decor. 7. Switch Up Textiles Rotate out lightweight fabrics for heavier materials like flannel and soft ones like velvet and fleece or tactile wool, which stimulate your senses positively. Changing curtains, bedding and table runners can instantly make a home feel cozier without adding clutter. Mix patterns, such as plaids, houndstooth and floral prints, but stay within one color story to keep everything cohesive. 8. Style Outdoor Spaces Extend the cozy factor outdoors by using hay bales with a durable blanket cover as casual seating for firepit nights, adding lanterns to pathways and layering outdoor rugs for texture. Finish with a seasonal wreath made from dried wheat or magnolia leaves for a timeless entrance that welcomes guests before they step inside. 9. Make It Personal The best fall decor reflects your personality. Frame family photos from apple-picking trips, showcase handmade pottery or layer your favorite vintage finds. Your home feels seasonal and uniquely yours when every piece tells a story. Fall Into Action Fall decorating is less about matching a trend and more about creating atmosphere. The flicker of candlelight on a cool evening, the scent of cinnamon drifting from the kitchen, the way sunlight filters through a linen curtain — these small moments make a space feel alive. Use the season as a cue to slow down, refresh your home and rediscover comfort in the details. Whether you swap in rich textiles, experiment with layered lighting or simply open your windows to let the crisp air in, each touch brings a little more of autumn’s magic indoors. When you’re done, your home should be an invitation to gather, rest, and savor the cozy months ahead.
For centuries, private members’ clubs have been a refuge for the wealthy and the well-connected. Traditionally places of sophisticated luxury and aristocratic comfort, they enabled networking, private socializing and sanctuary. Today, you can recreate a similar feel at home. Here’s what to aim for, how to achieve it — and why you might want to. What Exactly is a Members’ Club Vibe? These exclusive establishments — until recently, gentleman-only spaces — evolved from the coffee houses of 17th-century London. They were designed to be somewhere for upper-class men to escape the demands of their household and instead relax, socialize and develop their contacts. Typically housed in beautiful buildings, the interiors blended luxurious, comfortable, timeless elements such as would have been found in the grand stately homes of the landed gentry. Seating was often arranged to facilitate intimate conversation, with small zones for drinking or gambling. The original clubs were a product of their time, but the intent — to be a home from home — still endures. Key Features of Members’ Club Interior Design Today, many clubs have evolved with the times and now feature a more diverse array of styles to suit modern tastes — but there’s something about the classic, aristocratic, Victorian vibe that still appeals to many. Moody Yet Cozy Color Palettes Think deep, saturated colors — timeless burgundy or oxblood, dark greens, rich blues or jewel tones — often paired with warm wood paneling or dark-toned finishes. This creates an enveloping, comforting atmosphere and exudes sophistication. Luxurious Materials and Finishes For textures, the members’ club aesthetic uses an eclectic mix of tactile fabrics and materials. From velvet to leather or mohair, furniture and cushions feel good against the body. In the rest of the room, elegant finishes include marble, polished brass, thick carpeting or rugs, and dark wood. Intimate, Layered Lighting Instead of harsh overhead light, this vibe calls for a layered approach, using a mix of table lamps, floor lamps, sconces and statement lighting pieces to create warm, inviting pools of light. Lighting may arguably be the most psychologically important element of any interior, so this is a key factor to get right. Statement Pieces With Character Traditionally, members’ clubs had iconic furniture, such as wingback chairs and Chesterfield sofas. Mismatched items were fine because each piece was valued in its own right. Rooms would also have been filled with carefully curated art and ornamental pieces, giving a strong sense of personality. 4 Steps to Get the Luxury Members’ Club Look at Home You don’t have to spend a fortune to get the look the world’s wealthiest once coveted. Here are some practical, budget-friendly ways to get started. 1. Anchor the Room With a Rich Color You could paint the whole area in moody tones, but if you want to start small, one wall in a members’ club palette tone can be very impactful. Instead, or as well on other walls, you could use flocked or textured wallpaper in a luxurious, heirloom or damask design. The flooring color is also important. Dark hardwood floors are perfect for this vibe, but if you pair them with dark furniture and walls, it may be too much. Adding some light or bright accent touches elsewhere in the space helps prevent a monotone feel. 2. Choose One “Hero” Piece of Furniture Invest in a single, high-impact item, like a velvet armchair or handsome bar cart, to act as the focal point. Since these establishments traditionally have niches and cozy corners, you don’t even have to transform a whole room. Creating a nook can be a very practical and cost-effective way to get started. If you have two chairs, put them close together and at an angle, for meaningful conversation. 3. Curate Your Clutter The members’ club aesthetic is characterful, so include bookshelves, decorative objects and a curated art collection on the wall. This is a chance to show off your personality — someone should be able to infer something about you from the objects you choose to display. Seeking out second-hand art and photos is a great way to begin building a collection. 4. Perfect the Finishing Touches Think about the small details, such as upgrading your hardware to brass, using plush rugs or adding a signature scent through candles or diffusers. You’ll be surprised by how much impact these little touches can have. Reasons to Embrace the Members’ Club Aesthetic The concept of the “third space” — somewhere that’s neither work nor home but offers the best of both — took root during the pandemic, but historically, members’ clubs fulfilled exactly that purpose. Today, a similar area can help relieve stress and act as a personal sanctuary within your own home. Because this vibe is restorative, comfortable and deeply layered, it’s a character-driven ambience that can grow with you. Every such space will be unique to the person who created it. Whether working on your laptop, chatting, reading or just enjoying a coffee, your atmospheric nook will make the moment feel special. Welcome to the Club Ultimately, the members’ club look is about creating a feeling. By layering rich colors, tactile materials and personal touches, you can craft a sophisticated sanctuary for everyday luxury. It’s your space to relax, connect and feel perfectly at home — no membership required.
