Gracious House Introduces Its Chicago Designer Show House

May 22, 2014 in Charities & Foundations

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Gracious House Introduces Its Chicago Designer Show House it was a balmy night for a party when guests turned out to support Gracious House, a non-for-profit which works with others in the design industries and support their launch of the Chicago Designer Show House. The party, held at Cosentino Center Chicago’s impressive warehouse, was sponsored by Cosentino’s Silestone brand.

While guests enjoyed music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres they had the opportunity to take tours and wander up and down the massive warehouse aisles of granite and quartz slabs. With all the rows and rows of stone, the warehouse was a few degrees cooler and also quieter than where the main event was happening. It is impressive and definitely worth a tour.

M. Grace Sielaff, Bianca Richier, Jing Lerch, Arlena Larocca

Alex Dabrowsk, Dominick Mondi, Ashlee Larsen , Alyssa Hall

Mid-way through the party, Erik Liefrinck, who is general manager of Consentino Center Chicago, welcomed guests and introduced Grace Sielaff, owner of M. Grace Designs and founder of Gracious House. She thanked everyone for coming out to support, then introduced Janice Moy-Wong, a broker from Berkshire Hathaway, who found the Ravenswood neighborhood house that will renovated in the Designer Show House. Janice introduced Berkshire Hathaway’s managing broker, Darlene Little.

Steve Malambri, Susan Brunstrum, Herb Siegal

Lauri & Jim Venema, Lara Venema, Vincent Angloni

The designers for the Designer Show House were also introduced. M. Grace Sielaff, an award winning interior designer and a recipient of the ASID Design Excellence Award from the American Society of Interior Designers; Debbie Auer, owner of Auer Design Associates; Michelle Rohrer-Lauer, owner of Michelle Interiors; Donna Hall, owner of Savvy Interior Design; Mary Susan Bicicchi, owner of Interiors by Mary Susan; Susan Brunstrum owner of Sweet Peas Design Sweet Peas Design ; Loren Reid Seaman owner of LRS Interiors; Lauri Venema, owner of Leading Edge Design.

The Designer Show House theme, “Boutique Hotel,” will present innovative concepts and ideas in the context of the house as a beautiful, safe and nurturing environment and will open in early September.

Brittany Anderson, Alyssa Hall, Donna Hall

Proceeds from the Cosentino launch party and the September Designer Show House opening gala and tours will benefit Prevent Child Abuse America.

Sponsors of the Gracious House Designer Show Houseware: Silestone by Cosentino, Brizo, Dekton, GE Monogram, Karaztan, and Titan Electric.

More information on Gracious House can be found at graciousshowhouse.com or by emailing [email protected].

Gracious House is a 501(c)3 non-profit which works with others in the interior and architectural design industries to raise awareness of the epidemic poverty, neglect and abuses of numerous children throughout America. The Gracious House Designer Show House mission is to present innovative concepts and ideas in the context of the house as a beautiful, safe, healing and nurturing environment.

Photo Credit for Gracious House: Slawomir Chrzaszcz

About Margaret O'Connor

Margaret J. O’Connor is the founder/owner of MarCon Communications, a public relations and special events firm which handles the publicity and event needs for a diverse range of clients. She’s involved with numerous charities in Chicago and is active in its lifestyle and social scene. She grew up and was educated in Africa, Australia and America and holds degrees in marketing and finance from the University of Illinois. She is a contributing writer to many print and digital publications and her focus is lifestyle, culinary and nonprofit events. Read more from this author.