Inside Out Interior Design
NWI Times| April 25, 2008
By: Philip Potempa

Interior design guru Kenneth Ludwig has logged more than 15 years absorbing the cutting edge creativity he faces each day at the famed Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

Known to many as just "The Mart," this towering treasure trove in downtown Chicago owned and operated, in part, by the Kennedy clan, is filled with all the hottest new home decor products, furniture, accessories and seasonal sensations.  It's open only to buyers and interior design experts like Ludwig, who display, market and sell the trends destined to be the big sellers and "must haves" of tomorrow.

But despite all of his experience, even Ludwig admits he never dreamed he'd see the day when he'd see an odorless and smoke-free glass enclosed fire pit used as a living room coffee table centerpiece.

More than just a conversation piece, the tabletop fireplaces created by Amore Designs and sold for just over $500 are literally one of the "hot finds" this season for spring and summer decorating ideas.

"This fireplace centerpiece is one of my favorite items right now," said Ludwig, president of Kenneth Ludwig Home Furnishings Ltd.

"And one of the reasons I love this particular item is because it so perfectly represents the latest trend we're seeing this season."

Even though the general public can't visit the Merchandise Mart without an escort of an interior designer or without being a buyer, the displays and new merchandise consumers are now noticing in magazine spreads and showcased in department store displays are all of the ideas and items most likely originated from latest offerings spotlighted at the Merchandise Mart.

And the most popular home decor and interior design trend that's welcoming warm weather this season follows the lead of Ludwig's indoor fire pit focal point.

"We're turning everything inside out," Ludwig said.

"Furniture, fabrics and furnishings that were previously considered to only be appropriate for the outside patios and decks are all coming inside and giving new life and a fresh focus for living rooms, great rooms and home tones," he said. Helping further push the idea of natural and comfortable surroundings is today's push for an environmental emphasis, otherwise known as "going green."

Ludwig said more homes are embracing a design scheme focused on simplicity and fewer "extras," with regard to home accents.

"What we're seeing is a move toward purchases and planning that highlight a certain or favorite decorative piece, as opposed to the push we had a few years ago that produced a home interior design that had many pieces and accents filling every conceivable open space in a room or table and shelf surface," he said.

"When there's so much going on, the eye doesn't know quite what to focus on first. What we have now isn't so much as a sparse look, but it's much more of a clean and direct approach to room design. It's a return to that classic thought that 'less is more.' "

For fabrics and colors, Ludwig says this season is sporting a return to lighter, softer pastel tones, replacing the darker and more bold colors that dominated in recent years.

And in a surprise industry turn-around, the idea of outdoor furniture being used inside, a concept that at one time might have represented the cliche of a college dorm room or a 'first apartment' furnished on a struggling income, is now one of the hottest design trends.

Lighter, small frame wood structures and wicker and woven combinations are all the rage, according to Ludwig. Even fabric tents and canopies, contrasted with light fabric draperies, are very popular for everything from dining rooms and bedrooms to solariums, day rooms and enclosed porches and decks.

One of the Merchandise Mart's most popular displays this season is a "prototype" showroom of chairs and home decor furnishings created by students from Columbia College, an ideal representation of the simplistic and contemporary tastes of the younger future generation.

Sherry Markov, of Glenwood, Ill., who for more than a decade has been with Dennis Nemcek Associates, a design and merchandise firm representing 43 manufacturers in their showroom at Merchandise Mart, likes to describe the Mart as a "crystal ball for the consumer." "There's never any shortage of all things new and different for items and ideas on display at the Merchandise Mart," Markov said.

"Then the real creativity comes with gathering all of those great finds, and creating a theme that's eye-grabbing."