Dining in the Dark – Table with heavy black themes made for dramatic spaces and great designs. Clockwise starting on the left: A dark setting with a great ceiling light fixture, Interior Investments by Gensler Chicago and Dining by The Dobbins Group

This years Dining by Design event in Chicago which is held by DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting Aids) was a complete success. Over the coarse of three days we wined and dined while talking shop with design professionals from all over the Chicagoland area. I had the pleasure of working on the Harrington College of Design Table which allowed me to walk the floor at this great industry networking event. The table this year had a very creative edge. I have organized the table by the trends that were most relevant. Thursday night started the event with my favorite evening of Cocktails By Design. This is always the best night of the event because everyone has completed their tables and just want to have fun. I always enjoy this evening because everyone is talkative and fun. Drinks and appetizersare served and the party begins. Thi year I was lucky enough to have friends volunteer at the event and they were alot of fun to party with.

Warm Country – Another popular  trend was dining in warm, friendly environments Top Left: The Merchandise Mart Design Center designed by Scott Arthur Yerkey, Sponsor table Gabbiano Winery and crowd favorite from Richar Interiors INC

Dining Under the Stars – This very popular design theme was seen in several dining spaces. Here are a Handful of designs that really spoke to me. Top Left: Patio Dining from Stephanie Wohler Design, This dining space reminds me of the television show Brothers and Sisters on ABC designed by Melissa Edelman and another fun space from Soucie Horner LTD

More Outdoor Dining – left a showcase of artwork from Kathy Taslistz, Top Right: from the minds of RL Home and a modern designer balcony scene from the folks at Vesta Hearth and Home for CS Interiors.

White Light – Visions of white take hold of these visionary spaces. Left: Kohler designed by Susan Fredman Design Group, Le Soupir Amoureux from VOA for Artistic Tile and Gasp! by Harrington College of Design Students.

Top Left: Sponsor table from Elit by Stoli, Leopardo by Interior Architects and Allsteel by Epstein International

So I was just approached by the Harrington College of Design Alumni to enter a Concept design for review for this years Dining By Design booth. The event is in a month and I have some pretty stiff competition. DBD is a charity event by DIFFA a great organization who is really making a difference with in the industry and I’m glad to be apart of what ever they do.

So my concept for the dining space was really born out of what is unconventional but will really create an impact; Something that will be remembered. So I started thinking about dining out doors and how the harvest season is my favorite. But that got a little bit “down home,” if you know what I mean. So I traded in the straw bails and cornstalks and replaced it with lush green grass. I wanted to create a space that really meant something to me so i began to think about what I would really want in my dream dining space. A canopy of trees, a long table, a sky filled with lanterns of all shapes and sizes and a sense of family or community, which always involves the best food and wine.

Enter a Mid-Summer Nights Dream… Bringing all the elements I n mentioned together to fit a great 10′x10′ space to create a unique dining experience for six!

Watch the video below and leave me a comment on what you think!