The spotlight will be on the design businesses in Highwood during the 7th Annual Highwood Design Week, Sept. 16-19. “It’s another reason to get people to come to Highwood,” said Jennifur Condon, Executive Director of the Highwood Chamber of Commerce, which produces the event.
In past years, the event has just been about design firms, but that is changing, Condon noted.
“It’s exciting this year because we’re growing a little bit beyond the original focus on design and architecture, and interiors,” Condon reported. “We’re trying to embrace the idea that design is everywhere. We’ve got these fantastic murals in Highwood now. The restaurants infuse creativity into dining. We’ve got small businesses that turn everyday spaces into experiences.”
The main events are all free because of generous sponsors, Condon said. NS Magazine is the media sponsor.
Registration is required to attend the free Preview Party, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 16 at 250 Waukegan Ave., the future home of Avec restaurant. (highwoodchamber.com) The food will be provided by Avec. The event is sponsored by NS Magazine, One Off Hospitality, and The Merchant.
“We will be introducing the partners from Avec,” Condon said. “They will show the architectural renderings of the space.”
The event will be on the patio where a DJ from 4 Sure Entertainment will provide music.
Guests can try on and purchase vintage clothing and jewelry provided by Square Vintage Company of Glencoe.
They can also view a mural that was created by Anna Murphy, who may attend.
Registration is not required for the other main events, but it is suggested.
The Ablaze Design Group has participated in Highwood Design Week every year since the beginning. Ava Markoutsas, one of the owners of the company, noted that the event started when her husband George was president of the Highwood Chamber of Commerce, where he was involved in shaping the Week.
Markoutsas praised the annual event, saying that it serves “to show that Highwood is more than just about restaurants and bars. It’s really about highlighting those businesses and shops that specialize in arts and design.”
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Ablaze Design Group hosts an event each year. This year their free event will be 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 17 in their showroom at 259 Waukegan Ave. in Highwood.
They will be showing a 23-minute video about the kitchen that they designed for the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens.
“The kitchen is the heart of the home,” Markoutsas said. “It had a massive transformation because it was four different rooms that we created into this one beautiful space.”
They added a scullery, pantry, and hallway in the room.
Markoutsas noted that they worked on the kitchen with partners, including Cosentino and Lutron, which are cohosting their event.
In addition to viewing the video, visitors can have a Lutron Experience, where they can see different levels of light.
There will be drinks and light bites, plus swag bags for the first 50 people.
On Thursday, Sept. 18, from 5-7 p.m. Carpets of Highwood at 2699 Waukegan Rd. in Highland will present “Form & Flow: The Rhythm of Nature in Design.” Light bites and beverages will be served.
The main event on Friday, Sept. 19, from 4-6:30 p.m., will be a Mural Tour led by curators Chris “Koz” Kozloff and Laura “Lulu” Reich. It will start at 552 Bank Lane in Highwood.
Kozloff is an artist, curator, and filmmaker. Reich is an art dealer and curator, who has owned successful galleries. The couple recently moved from New York to Highwood. They are in the process of opening an art gallery in their new hometown.
Reich reported that James M. Lynch, Executive Director of The Art Center Highland Park, connected the engaged couple with Highwood officials. “They were extremely excited and very supportive about bringing public art and doing a city beautification project,” Reich said. “We ended up working with Eric Falberg from Celebrate Highwood and the city officials to curate the beautification project.”
Kozloff reported that all of the murals were completed within a week for the beautification project. The couple worked with twelve artists approved by the city from Kozloff’s and Reich’s suggestions.
“The city gave us full creative freedom,” Kozloff said. “So, we gave that back to the artists.”
People who attend the tour will see 14 or 15 murals, located within a three-quarters-of-a-mile radius.
“We’ll be sharing a biographical history on all of the artists,” Kozloff said. “We’ll be sharing stories about their time here in Highwood. We’ll be sharing information based on what materials they used, their technique, how long it took them.”
One of the newer murals people will view is “An Open Door” by artist E.LEE. “It’s all made up of balloons and the balloons spell out Highwood,” Reich said. “He’s great with optical illusions. We had people who were asking while he was painting it if they were real balloons.”
The mural is visible when you leave the Highwood Metra.
After the Mural Tour, people are invited to enjoy cocktails from 6:30-9 p.m. at The Merchant, 122 North Ave., Highwood.
There will be many other events across Highwood during the four-day Highwood Design Week at restaurants, art galleries, and shops, including car wraps, design demonstrations, and a live portrait demonstration.
“Even though I’m not a drinker,” Condon said, “Toadstool Pub has this really great technology where you can get your portrait in Guinness foam. I’m going to buy one.”
For the complete schedule, visit highwoodchamber.com/events.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.