Hiya kids! Have you met Frank? Chicago-based celebrity designer, HGTV host, Today Show design expert, Home & Style contributor to Oprah.com, and regular super nice guy (with great hair)?
Welp, now’s yer chance. Frank Fontana will be signing copies of his new book, “Frank Fontana’s Dirty Little Secrets of Design” this Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 4 – 6:30 P.M. at the glistening (*ping!*) showroom of his pal, Ken – AKA founder and creative director of Kenneth Ludwig Home Furnishings, located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Showroom 1510. Can you say GUH-REAT Christmas Gift Idea for your favorite DIY-er?? And, as if meeting Frank in person and picking up a copy of his new book wasn’t reason enough to rally and brave the tundra that is currently Chicago, check out the eye candy in Ken’s showroom:
Um, hello giant ottoman upholstered with an antique rug. I would like to put my feet up on you whilst I spoon my rugged, lumberjack boyfriend in a cabin in the woods. In front of the fire.
Check out those luscious, velvet-y tufted chairs… the cream leather headboard… the Turned White Table Lamps by Barbara Cosgrove… those intricate light fixtures that look like Santa’s little elves snipped them out of a piece of construction paper on fast-forward (!!)
Ooooh. Hello, Notre Monde antique mirrored glass pendants, crafted by none other than Dawn Sweitzer – bomb diggity artisan and cool chick extraordinaire.
In “Dirty Little Secrets of Design,” Fontana provides his essential do’s and don’ts, dissects the individual design components of each room, and applies his “Look for Less” principle to gorgeous spaces to help readers build their own look on a budget. The book also includes do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that are accessible and do-able for readers of different skill levels, as well as advice on how to be a savvy shopper when looking for home decor items or furniture. We likey.
To make matters more fun, Kinzie Chophouse (YUM) is catering the event and – timeout – have you met Ken? He’s what my grandparents might call “a real card.” Dapper, knee-slapping-ly hilarious, and almost always either pop-collar-clad, or sporting one of those little pocket hankies. To know him is to love him.
Frank and Ken have been buds for several years, working together on TV spots (like this one where I get to help them move furniture in Aunt Bunky’s dress… mmmgoody) and various design projects, including style features in this book. “I am so proud of Frank for taking the time out of his busy design career to express thoughts on design. He has truly created a resource that will help everyone, even a seasoned designer with new ideas. We are excited about sharing this wonderful resource with our design clientele and customer base,” Ken gushed.
So, come sip some holiday cheer, nosh on some apps, peruse the sparkly showroom that is a sea of swirly twirly gumdrops and design candy, snag a signed copy of Frank’s stellar new book (hello – great Christmas gift!), and hobnob with the good people of the Chicago design community.
PS: “Frank Fontana’s Dirty Little Secrets of Design” is currently available in bookstores nationwide and on Amazon.com.
See you there!
