Casual Market to host Inspired Exteriors

Educational program for designers set for Sept. 24

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 8/31/2010 10:34:00 AM

CHICAGO — The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market has partnered with Luxe Interiors + Design magazine to bring Market attendees a day of design inspiration on Friday, Sept 24.

Interior designers, landscape designers and architects are invited to attend special educational programming about design trends, to gain insights into selling clients on the outdoor room and view the newest outdoor furnishings products.
Landscape designers, architects and interior designers are encouraged to attend Friday's presentation, panel discussion and lunch and to explore the permanent outdoor resources The Merchandise Mart has to offer year-round as well as the temporary exhibitors in town for the Casual Market.

"Inspired Exteriors is a great way for interior designers, landscape designers and architects to learn more about the new design opportunities that outdoor
furnishings provide," said Jaclyn Kotzum, director of marketing, Casual Furnishings Industry, MMPI. "Attendees of Inspired Exteriors will see the newest products and design trends as well as all of the outdoor furnishing resources that The Chicago Merchandise Mart showrooms offer on a daily basis, year-round."

INSPIRED EXTERIORS - FRIDAY, SEPT. 24
Presented by Luxe Interiors and Design magazine.

Perfect Porches: Designing Welcoming Spaces for Outdoor Living
10:30 a.m. I Suite 1520, 15th Floor
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) president and co-founder, Paula Wallace, will discuss the history of designing outdoor spaces and porches over the years and across the country. Wallace will illustrate how varied and iconic these American spaces can be and present a wealth of structural appointments and designs. The presentation also will provide practical ways for bringing privacy to urban porches, adding chic accents to old-fashioned verandas and creating coziness in modern environments.

Inspired Exteriors Panel Discussion and Lunch
11:30 a.m. | Suite 1520, 15th Floor
Why stop your design service at the backdoor or not offer clients the furnishings they need for their outdoor room? Led by Luxe Interiors + Design magazine associate publisher, Lisa Fraiberg, interior design and landscape design experts will share important information about how they market to clients and work together to design outdoor spaces. Lunch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Expert panelists include:
• Susan Fredman of Susan Fredman Design Group has more than 30 years of design experience and is one of Chicago's most prominent residential interior designers. She is the founder and CEO of her namesake firm, Susan Fredman Design Group, which is one of the largest design firms in the Chicagoland area.
• Tom Ferguson of Tom Ferguson Interiors, a name that has become synonymous with timeless interiors of livable elegance for more than 20 years. Tom Ferguson Interiors, Ltd. offers full service interior design in a complete vocabulary of stylistic, quiet luxury.
• Scott Byron of Scott Byron & Company Landscape Architecture, an award-winning landscape architectural company that has more than 27 years of premier architectural landscaping experience.
• Michael Schmechtig of Schmechtig Landscape Company, who has more than 23 years of design experience. Under his leadership, Schmectig Landscape Company has continued to grow and serve the finest properties in Chicago and its North Shore and Northwest suburbs.

Outdoor/Casual Showroom Tours
Following the panel, attendees are welcome to explore the permanent outdoor resources that The Merchandise Mart has to offer year-round to landscape designers and architects
Visit www.casualmarket.com and click on "Register Now" to R.S.V.P. for "Inspired Exteriors" at the Casual Market and the show.

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market returns to The Merchandise Mart, Sept. 21-24. The Market offers the newest, most innovative products from leading manufacturers around the world. Attendees can discover the latest trends in color, product design, fabric patterns and more.

SHOW INFORMATION
Permanent Showrooms: Floors 15, 16, 17
Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 21-23, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Temporary Exhibitors
Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 21-23, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.casualmarket.com.