Asparagus Interiors Inc.

Sky Blue Scholars – Early Learning Center is Pop with Color!

In collaboration with Aimee Estes and Kim Cernek – Director of Sky Blue Scholars, we helped give the new center a pop of color and created a fun learning environment for the kids.

The center includes 3 classrooms, play room, library niche all in an open space plan.  The bright colors work well together creating zones anchored by the Begonia pink in the back.  All circulation areas are noted in orange to help the kids with wayfinding and direction.

Consider Sky Blue Scholars in Lisle, IL for your child’s preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten enrichment programs.

Our summer vacation, thanks to my parents, regularly takes us to Green Lake, WI.

We typically spend the week, swimming, boating and biking the roads of Lawsonia.  Lawsonia was founded by the Lawson’s of Chicago in 1888.  Now owned by the American Baptist Assembly, the Lawsonia property is home to many of it’s earliest homes including the Anne Hathaway Cottage.

It’s my favorite property as it’s architecture is replicated of English style and a rolling cedar shake rooftop that’s enchanting and nothing you’d see today.

According to their site the 4th Generation family owners, the Rysdons, maintain and rent the property.  A family treasure.

“Anne Hathaway Cottage was built in 1939 by Walter and Elsie Smith. Mrs. Smith was a native of England, independently wealthy and a women of descreet taste. She hired an english architect to design a creative reproduction of the Anne Hathaway Cottage in Stratford, England. All of the lumber used to construct the home was taken from the property, hand carved, cut, sanded and stained. The unique steelcased windows and antique furnishings were shipped over from England to integrate into the design making the finished product the most pictured home on the entire lake.“

A solar powered finish!  This week Naperville, will be hosting the American Solar Challenge at the finish line.

Naperville’s Sustainability Partners, will host a post-race party with events for kids and family.

Event details:

Saturday June 26, 2010
Naperville North High School, 10-4pm
Free event!

• Event Highlights, as posted on the Sustainability Partners Website:

• Welcome the American Solar Challenge drivers to Naperville as they across the finish line! The ASC2010 is a 1,100 mile cross country solar car race that begins in Tulsa, Ok and ends in Naperville, Ill.  Cars are designed, built and driven by university students from the U.S., Europe and Japan
• Kids Learning Center anchored by the DuPage Children’s Museum
• Showcasing sustainable solutions for your home life and transportation needs
• Solar and renewable energy car display.
• Live performances and music throughout the day.Asparagus Interiors, Elizabeth Marusin, is excited to volunteer for this event and encourages families to attend.

Check out some of the winners from this year’s 2010 – NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, posted by Contract Magazine.

What an exciting weekend we had, visiting my family and stopping across the Mississippi river in LeClaire, IA to see Antique Archaeology.

I was really excited to meet Mike and Danielle.  Their show American Pickers is on the History channel.

Their vast knowledge of all things vintage was impressive and their time spent with all who stopped was generous.  Try to see their show on History, it’s a great find.

I love to blog about artists who create with vivid colors and mixed mediums.  Check out Nina Falk Glass, her work blends colored glass in fluid shapes that is inspired by music.  A musician and artist, Nina creates with movement in mind.

This week, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Chicago Tribune reporter, Kari Richardson.  The article, “Designers & architects can save you money,” covered how hiring a professional to design your home renovation project can help prevent expensive home-improvement errors.

The article mentioned:

“Cindy Grier of Naperville was looking for that kind of expertise when she hired designer Elizabeth Marusin of Asparagus Interiors Inc. to assist with a kitchen and family room remodeling project.

“I don’t know how to do this kind of thing,” said Grier, who had lived in her home for 20 years with few updates before undertaking the project. “I really needed someone to help me.”

Marusin, who prides herself on her knowledge of green products, helped Grier and her husband repurpose a pair of built-in bookcases by repainting them and adding IceStone shelves for plants, a material made of recycled glass and concrete. Marusin also helped the couple save money by working their existing appliances and artwork into the space plan she developed.

Seasons Greetings!  Our annual holiday e-card went out this weekend wishing you all a fun and festive holiday season.  This year has proven to be full of projects that were both inspiring and creative.  Pushing my ideas further and doing more with what we have.

Emphasis on heirloom objects, renewable resources and placing priority on focal points has challenged my designs to work with your important creative goals.

Working together with a shared vision and common goal helps us create great interiors!

Wishing you all happy holidays and a prosperous new year!  Best Wishes, – Liz Marusin

The “power of presentation” applies to so many facets of our lifes.  We are a visual society that craves stimulus and makes decisions based on appearances.

We visited Joy Yee Noodle shop in Naperville this past weekend with our daughters.  They were instantly swayed by the visual presentation of the noodle shop’s offerings.

Can chopsticks really suspend in the air? Can a fish really stand up on a plate?  These are the fascinating visual effects in their display widows.  The menu all in asian script and photos helps us figure out what looks good as we decipher what to order.

How can this translate to your interior design?

Presentation is everything so if you have a specific style, or are hosting a friend, party or your mom for tea.  Go ahead and make it special.  Take the time to consider how your interior design reflects who you are.

I ran across this Kroehler Chair offered online via Hindsvik.etsy.com. It got me thinking, how cool is this chair and can these mid-century models still be out there.

I came across a write up on the Kroehler Manufacturing Co’s past in Naperville on the Encyclopedia of Chicago.

Considering I live a stone’s throw from the building, I thought it be in my best interest to follow up on some local history.

Interesting facts from the article:

• 1902, Peter E. Kroehler bought the Naper ville Lounge Co.
• 1940s, Kroehler was the second-largest furniture maker in the United States.
• 1970s, closing its historic Naperville factory in 1978 and ending its operations in the area.