The Merchandise Mart Design Center

Dream Home - Tip Sheet

Designers Make a Difference. Working with an interior designer may seem like a daunting experience for the first time. Below, please find The Merchandise Mart Design Center's guide to finding and working with an interior designer.

How to Work with an Interior Designer:

• Define your Budget, whether you have $1,000 or $100,000 to spend an interior designer will help you achieve your design goals - big and small.

• Plan Ahead, an interior designer will help you create a road map to reach your design destinations from major renovations to minor tweaks.

• Define your Style, design is a personal thing and The Merchandise Mart Design Center is the world's largest design center offering resources for all discerning styles. Whatever you are trying to achieve, your interior designer will be able to find it in one or many of its showrooms.

• Take Stock, an interior designer can come into your home and rearrange what you already have and tell you where you may need more.

• Fill in Holes, an interior designer works with places such as The Merchandise Mart Design Center showrooms; they know that they can come to The Mart and find that one great piece to help supplement what you already have. BONUS: Twice a year these showrooms have sample sales that are open to the public where you can find values of up to 75 percent! The next one takes place on The Merchandise Mart's 8th floor on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. If you are working with a designer he or she can accompany you to the trade-only preview.

• Savings is Experience, the interior designer is an expert; there is nothing worse than spending money on something that looks great in the store, only to get it home and realize it is completely wrong or won't even fit through the door! An interior designer can source furniture, fabrics and wall coverings working with showrooms at The Merchandise Mart Design Center - these two groups will be able to head off bad design and purchasing decisions before they become a problem.

How to Find an Interior Designer

Finding an interior designer that is right for you is as important as the project itself. Below are a few places where you can find a reputable designer:

• Merchandise Mart Design Center Online Designer Portfolios at www.merchandisemart.com/designcenter - click on Designer Portfolios

• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); for information log onto www.asid.org or call 312.467.5080

• International Interior Designer Association (IIDA); for information log onto www.iida.org or call 312.467.1950

MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:

Jackie Paulsen

Director of Public Relations

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Phone: 312.527.7555

E-mail: jpaulsen@mmart.com