My Room Dish

a blog by Mia Rao Design is a Chicago-based, full-service interior design team that focuses on both residential and commercial interiors.

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish..

It’s true, there is no place like home for the holidays!  Add some sparkle and cheer to your dining room when you entertain this year. 

These Mia Rao dining rooms can be dressed for the season with festive floral arrangements, place settings, and scrumptious treats that complement the decor.

Think out of the “gift box”..  beyond the traditional red and green.. Shimmering silver and gold, sugar plum, wintergreen, pomegranate, and frosty white all lend to that nostalgic holiday feeling.

Tis’ the season bring out the crystal, and salute the New Year!

Peace and Good Tidings --

Mia Rao Design.

[myroomdish]

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Like a warm summer breeze, this newly finished Mia Rao interior, uses a subtle pallet of blues, with hints of tangerine and lavender to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Just in time for the season’s arrival, it’s casual, “hazy” vibe, brings to mind memories of the beach, the water and the sky.

The perfect setting to chat with friends, drift off with a book, or contemplate the day’s adventures...

A fresh summer feeling, captured throughout the year!

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

After months of anticipation, our House Hunter’s Renovation episode has finally aired. We are excited to share some photos of this amazing experience.

We hope you enjoy the before pictures, a peek at the behind the scenes work, and most importantly, the beautiful end result. 

If you missed the episode you can view it here: https://youtu.be/eqshoXAf6wQ?t=23m or check your local listings for reruns called “A Motion to Take Reno Action”. Check back soon for the official episode link. 

Enjoy!

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

One of the most fabulous things about arrival of spring, is the brilliant pop of bright color, as the earth shakes off her winter grey and sprouts new life.

Adding unexpected, vibrant color to our Tudor meets Modern Kitchen, gives it just the right amount of pizzazz to take it to the next level. 

Touches of tangerine and green, contrast with the classic elegance of white and grey, to give this kitchen a fresh, bold look.

Spring has finally sprung! Give your rooms a make-over with a hint of lively color.

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

Down and Dirty.. Bare Bones..

A sneak peek into one of our projects in process.  Take a look at how a concept in the studio gets brought to life in the field.  Collaborating with a great architectural firm, Blender Architecture, makes all the difference.

Although, perhaps not as pleasing to look at, the guts are just as important as the glory. 

Stay tuned..  This one we are excited to unveil mid 2016!

[myroomdish]

Lets Dish...

I’m dreaming of a White Kitchen....  

Let’s face it.  There is a reason why so many people are in love with a white kitchen.  Clean, Pristine, but most of all Classic.

This Mia Rao Design kitchen is the perfect showcase for January, befitting the beauty of the season.  Crisp lines and classic marble.  A fresh start to the new year, with timeless style.  

Happy New Year!

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

As we approach our American Thanksgiving holiday, we would like to take a moment to give thanks to the French philosophies that gave birth to our nation.

Egalite.  Liberte.  Fraternite.

A nod to our kindred spirits in all things design..  Casamance, Lalique, Dior, Corbusier, Christian Liaigre, Chanel, Philippe Starck, Renoir, to mention only a few...

And to the people of Paris... Vive la France!

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

Nothing is more humbling than the beauty and magnificence of nature in its simplest form.

In our Lincoln Park penthouse project, the colors of the earth and it raw purity, inspired our design direction.

In “Eclectic Menagerie” Mia Rao Design showcases the client’s ethnic art and artifact collection, seamlessly intermingled with modern furniture masterpieces.

The rich, vibrant earth tones, conjure images of our tribal ancestors who blended effortlessly into their rugged, yet stunning surroundings.

A visual adventure...

[myroomdish]

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Sharing a new project is always exciting. 

In this space, Mia Rao Design celebrates the comfort of surrounding yourself with the things you love.  Maybe a little worn, but broken in just the way you want it.  Like your favorite cozy cashmere sweater...

A little bit of reclaimed wood, flagstone and plush fabrics, carefully mixed into a modern interior, creates a perfect soft yet sophisticated look.

The cool, tranquil color palette completes the mood.

Grab a book, curl up and enjoy.

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish... Spring has sprung! (Yes even in Chicago)

Let’s celebrate renewal!  Life exploding into the world! 

Delicate yet energizing.. 

The palette, soft and crisp.  The feeling, fresh and new.

Let the beauty of nature springing to life, inspire a room that is vibrant and uplifting.

#spring #rebirth #renewal #spring color #interior design

[myroomdish]

Let’s Dish...

Let’s be honest. While we all know a wall is a vital part of a structure, it is often overlooked for its potential to add to the aesthetic of a space.

Think beyond paint, traditional wall covering, or a place to simply hang art.

Create an infinitely more interesting space by turning your walls into the work of art! 

Dynamic graphics...  Appealing textures... Tactile dimension...

Utilize your walls and surround yourself in a room that is truly a work of art!

[myroomdish]

Let's Dish...

A new year, a clean slate, a fresh start...

New beginnings bring to mind the notion of bright and fresh spaces.

Calming tones and crisp lines. No clutter from the year past.

I love the idea of the crisp white space, with a juxtaposition of more tactile, textural fabrics. A few keenly placed photographs and artifacts for emotional warmth.

A pastoral space to come back to center and start fresh.

[myroomdish]

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Holiday with a twist, edgy, whimsical... Dare I say non-traditional! I love the idea of re-defining our favorite holiday decorations in favor of something a bit offbeat.

Voila, the tree without a tree!

Happy Holidays.. until Next Year....

Cheers!

Mia, Robyn and Meghan

[myroomdish]

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From Basel Switzerland, to Hong Kong China, to the colorful city of Miami Florida, we give you, Art Basel. The world's culminating explosion of modern and contemporary art! The show always provides images that are stunning, provocative, weird, beautiful...

Art Basel Miami wrapped up earlier this month.  The photographs that resulted do not disappoint.  Here are a few of my favorites - full of life, energy, and color.  Enjoy!

[myroomdish]

Let's Dish...

Your Thanksgiving dining table should be a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate.

I like to pull together a scrumptious table setting for my guests; eggplant, pumpkin, raisin, currant, mustard, grape, cranberry.. Yum.

A touch of Moroccan Spice for a twist!

A beautiful table is sure to get everyone in the mood for a deliciously inspired Thanksgiving dinner. 

Cheers!

[myroomdish]

Let's Dish...

Hotel Saint Cecelia.  Eclectic. Vivid. Glamorous. 

One of my favorite spots in the USA is Austin, TX. It is a town full of art, culture, warm air and warmer people. It's a fast growing city and an ideal destination.

Traveling there last year, I stayed with friends at the chic and ever-so-hip Hotel Saint Cecilia in the South Congress District. The entire atmosphere of this place is screaming with a cool vibe - the room décor, the swanky pool and perfectly landscaped setting, the vibrant lounge.  I found the décor to be funky with a modern yet vintage feel…it has a ton of SOUL, as the pool neon suggests.

The hotel is named after the patron saint of music and poetry…Saint Cecilia. Incredibly apropos! The space is very 1960s/70s Rock and Roll, converted from a late 1800’s Victorian residence into this amazing modern B&B. I suggest you put this hotel, and Austin, on your list of places to visit. You won’t regret it! 

[myroomdish]

Let's Dish...

Autumn.. what an inspiration.  Nature.. the best designer out there!

Sadly, the vivid autumn color is winding down.  Luckily, we can preserve it's vibrant inspiration as we move into the blah grey days of a Chicago winter.

Influenced by the vivid colors of the changing leaves comes the creation of a modern interpretation of the fall palette.  Stepping away from the traditional reds and oranges - a focus on nature's gorgeous eggplant, gold, and olive hues.

 My selection of fabrics, furnishings and accessories to create the perfect interior autumnal sanctuary!