Michelle Rohrer-Lauer

A fabulous project! Most of all a fabulous family! A must see!

Want a look at luxury living? 'Entertainer's Dream House' opens this weekend in Naperville Home improvement aficionados this weekend will have a chance to tour the "Entertainer's Dream House" in Naperville during two open houses.

Join me in Lake Geneva for a simply fabulous event. There's still time to register.

Joining me will be Orren Pickell Building Group and Sheldon Landscape/Schmechtig Landscapes for a live seminar packed with ideas for transforming your backyard into a luxurious, three-season get-away.

Executive Chef Pawel and his sous chef Jay from Wolf/Sub-Zero will prepare heavy hors d’oeuvres. Cocktails and dessert will also be served.

All participants will be eligible to win one of our exciting raffle prizes. You must be present to win.

https://www.michellesinteriors.com/fifty-shades-of-green

Such a regal look! But these sitting area furnishings would be at home in more understated settings too, including that exciting new “All Season” rug from The Delos Company. Can you tell that it is woven from yarns made from recycled water bottles? According to Forbes and Scientific American, it is estimated that one square yard of carpet keeps 50, two-liter water bottles out of landfills. That’s good for the planet, and it is durable, stain-resistant and retains its color. From a design standpoint, outdoor rugs have the same attributes as indoor – they help define a space while contributing texture and color. Delos also offers rugs made from recycled fish nets recovered from the ocean. That’s something to talk about as you contemplate a dip in the pool!

If you love the outdoors like I do, you’ll want one of these heated and lighted umbrellas from . With technology like this, I can start the season early and end later. Isn’t that a cozy scene?

For clients in the Chicago area, I selected this teak dining set from . The clean lines and light-colored wood have a relaxed, Scandinavian vibe that reminds me of the lazy days of summer.

Take a peek at teak. Yes, the teak used for this fireside vignette is shipped from Southeast Asia, but it is sustainably raised on plantations, conserving our valuable forests and providing jobs. I was amazed to learn that more than 25 percent of the world’s people – nearly 1.6 billion – rely on forest resources for their livelihoods! Because of its high oil and rubber content, teak is naturally weather resistant and because it is slow growing, it is very durable. After all, they make ships out of teak! Of course, I love it because the organic look is perfect for outdoors. Photo courtesy of Summer Classics ().

I discovered that one of my most valuable vendors has just launched its first indoor-outdoor fabric collection. “Vista” collection is durable, cleanable, feel luxuriously supple and is 100 percent recyclable. Those words are music to my eco-loving, designer ears! Kravet is another member of SFC, and the company works hard to maintain sustainable manufacturing processes. These outdoor yarns require almost no water to produce, and they absorb color beautifully. The palette is so crisp and refreshing, it will make us feel cool comfortable during the sunny days of summer.

“Colossal Cast Stone Sculpture with Seat” and photo from .

Yes, it’s really a bench, and it lives up to its “Colossal” name at 99 inches wide x 40 inches deep x 78 inches high. That’s a big piece, and so awesome. The rugged, organic texture is just right for outdoors. This piece is made of durable resin, which is not recyclable, but the company minimized the impact on the environment by adding a natural stone finish that comprises half of the piece.

Outdoor spaces give us a lot more room to stretch out, so to speak. It’s easy to accommodate a sizable sculpture like this one from , at 55 inches wide x 18 inches deep x 40 inches high. I love the timeless, fine art look, and that edgy quality. As a bonus, the piece is made of recycled scraps of aluminum, which are themselves recyclable. The award-winning artist and sculptor, Timbul Raharjo, lives in the village of Kasongan in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. What a great story to tell your family and friends! Phillips is one of my go-to vendors for sustainable pieces. Like me, the company is a member of the .

Everyone from toddlers to great-grandparents will be talking about this piece if you put it in your yard. With its deeply carved texture and fire engine red color, this table is as much a sculpture as a place to set your iced tea or umbrella drink. Plus, it would be gorgeous against a bed of mixed flowers with splashes of scarlet New Guinea impatiens or Red Dragon hibiscus. Photo Courtesy of .

Think about this Iluze sofa from “floating” in the middle of your yard, or by the pool, or in a cabana. The word “iluze” means illusion in Czech, but that pattern is the real thing. It is carved into the piece on three sides, so it looks great from all angles. And what about that grassy green color against the white? I can just picture it with a lush backdrop of colorful flowers, bushes, trees and turf.

Eco-Friendly AND Luxurious! The table and chairs from Summer Classics () have laid-back, classic styling and are fabricated of sustainable aluminum. Did you know that aluminum is infinitely recyclable and highly durable? Nearly 75 percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. That’s great to know when choosing outdoor furniture. Plus, these pieces are meant to last and last, so they can be passed along to someone else with just a change of cushion. Furniture is not disposable!

Yesterday Dreamy and I met with our rep to talk about their simply fabulous outdoor rug collection treated with Sunbrella.

Dreamy and I both loved how soft the rug was on our feet and the playful geometric pattern.

I'll be speaking at the 5th Annual PowerHouse SMART Luxury Conference. Please join us. Meet architects, designers, builders, remodelers, developers, landscape architects, and real estate professionals from across the nation, who can help you embark on your own project(s).

https://www.phsluxuryconference.com/home-consumer

The 5th annual PowerHouse Smart Luxury Conference starts in just two weeks.

Industry professionals and luxury-minded consumers will join over 500 of the "who's who" in the luxury residential and commercial industries.

The PHS Luxury Conference will include national, award-winning hard hat tours, a consumer focus group, unique Mindful Moment breaks, and nation-wide networking opportunities, as well as distinctive panel discussions and in-depth sessions. You can't afford to miss it!

https://www.phsluxuryconference.com/home-consumer

In only 3 weeks I'll be presenting at the 5th annual PowerHouse SMART Luxury Conference. Please join us virtually March 2-3, 2021.

https://www.phsluxuryconference.com/home-consumer

I always recommend installing tile on a shower ceiling to prevent damage and to give the space a finished look. The red glass tile trim echoes the framed mirrors above the vanities in the previous photo. Photo by Brian Gassel.

Tucked into a former closet, this charming gender-neutral nursery is just right for a visiting grandbaby. With a quick change of accessories it will work for boys or girls. I chose horizontal striped wall covering to make the space look larger, Photo by Brian Gassel.

The playful "confetti" dresser is made of old pine with a flat ivory-rubbed finish and handmade, colored pieces of glass flushed into the wood. The confetti encircles the visible sides of the piece. This cozy corner also features a faux fur swivel chair where the kids can read or text their friends. Photo by Brian Gassel.

A pair of mirrors bordered in red glass tile are the focal points in this black, white and red bathroom. Even the towels serve as colorful accessories that amplify the palette. Photo by Brian Gassel.

Faux wood floor tiles anchor this gray, cream and tan bathroom with freestanding tub. The hour-glass shaped wall sconces and the beaded mirror frames are the "jewelry" in the room. Photo by Brian Gassel.

To lighten the look of this guest bedroom I chose night tables with perforated doors in a square, grid pattern. The log-like lamps become a glamorous, metallic detail with their shiny gold finish. Photo by Brian Gassel.

From the wooden elephant sculpture and the elephant print pillows to the hair-on-hide rug and faux fur throw, this guest bedroom has a wildlife theme that is elegant and welcoming. I pulled the the soothing blue color of the wall covering and window panels from the duvet. Photo by Brian Gassel.

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, “Hidden in You” by Amy Donaldson of .

What will you find hidden in you this coming year?

On the 11th day of Christmas my true gave to me, a sumptuous slab of Botanic Green quartzite from to use as an accent wall.

That is truly a tribute to earth and all of its splendors.