One of the beautiful things about living and working in the design world in Chicago is that it is sincerely a group effort. Call it part of the second city syndrome or heartland effect or whatever you want, but there is not the hard edge competitive feel you get elsewhere. When we started our company in 2006 we moved into a business incubator (we are still there in fact) and our neighbors upstairs were making a beautiful line of hardwood furniture (they still are but in a new space, Room 406). Troscan Design had started many years before us and have laid the ground for manufacturing modern furniture in Chicago back in 1999, back when Robert and I were just starting out and moved to Finland to work for Marimekko. Their founders, also a husband and wife team, Deirdre Jordan and Bob Robinson have a very interesting story of their own.
We recently shot our holiday collection at their new location, Room 406, a sturdy old building here in West Town, which Bob and Deirdre bought and rehabbed into a gorgeous showroom and next door factory called the Makers Guild. All of the furniture is designed by Bob with Deirdre at the creative helm of the whole company. Deirdre has also curated the showroom with a line of luxury home accessories from cashmere blankets to ceramic vases and paintings by local artists. They are open for interior designers and the public to view and shop Monday – Thursday 9-PM and by appointment on Fridays.
Here are some shots taken by Lyra Jakabhazy of the craftsmen and craftswomen of the Makers Guild.
