Elevated interiors, tailored for Chicago’s finest
AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGNER
Meet Anthony Michael
Anthony is regularly named as one of the top interior designers in Chicago and various metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, NYC, Naples, New Buffalo, Scottsdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Belair, Nassau Bahamas and more in addition to numerous other projects in Chicago and the suburbs.
With offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, he works with bicoastal clients. His work has been featured in LUXE as a LUXE Gold Designer, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Modern Luxury and more.
With over 35 years of experience, Anthony Michael is to interior design what Sir Alec Guinness was to acting— able to handle radically different roles, his talent comfortably manifesting itself behind many faces. While hard to typecast, he dares to cross the lines of convention to try what is visually bold and dramatic , but never jarring.
FEATURED PROJECTS
Buckingham Place
Breathtaking colors of our planet
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Sheffield
Portraits of people from around the globe
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Greenview
Stark beauty of desolate dunes
View project
FEATURED PRESS
FROM THE BLOG
Scrolling through endless design inspiration or staring at color choices at a paint store can be overwhelming. Without direction, it can be tricky to establish your space’s aesthetic. The key is to look inward. Instead of copying a trend, develop a home design that reflects your personality and supports your lifestyle. Answer these questions to uncover your style. 1. What's the Feeling You Want When You Walk in the Door? The entryway sets the emotional tone of your home and serves as your transition from the outside world to your sanctuary. Think in terms of feelings, not just styles, when designing it. Do you want to feel a “peaceful sigh of relief,” a “jolt of creative energy,” a “warm, cozy hug,” or a sense of “sophisticated calm and order”? If you look forward to a sense of escape and tranquility, your home’s design personality may fit the Naturalist. If you want to be enveloped in a sense of comfort and timelessness, your home likely leans toward the Historian. However, your home is probably the Minimalist if your goal is to find clarity and an uncluttered peace of mind when you walk in your home. 2. Which Colors Are You Naturally Drawn to? Color is a powerful mood influencer. For example, yellow can energize and enhance mental activity , while blue evokes tranquility and a sense of inner reflection. Look beyond basic colors. Compare crisp neutrals, earthy shades, airy pastels and dramatic jewel tones, then determine which draws you in the most. If you prefer colors inspired by forests, beaches, deserts and other natural landscapes, your home may fall into the Naturalist. Attraction to rich, deep and layered colors suggests you have a Historian’s love for drama and elegance. If your home gravitates toward a controlled, calming palette, you have the Minimalist’s desire for simplicity. 3. How Do You Use Your Space? A beautiful room that doesn’t support your needs will always feel wrong. If you’re a social entertainer, you might need plenty of open space and seating. A comfy armchair and soft lighting are essential for any bookworm, while a well-equipped kitchen is the heart of the home for someone who loves cooking. Prioritizing personal hobbies and quiet, restorative activities at home suggests a Naturalist style. If you view your home as a warm, welcoming backdrop for connecting with others, you lean toward the Historian style. Seeing your home’s layout as a tool for living more efficiently points to the Minimalist. 4. Which Materials Make You Feel at Ease? Materials provide a tactile and visual experience. Assess your preferences. Some people like the coolness of metal and glass, while others value the softness of plush textiles like velvet and wool. If you like biophilic design, you likely prefer natural materials , like wood or stone. A desire for varied, organic textures that appeal to the senses points toward the Naturalist, while an appreciation for materials that gain character and patina over time leans into the Historian. If you prefer the polish of smooth, uniform surfaces, you have the Minimalist’s love for sleekness and order. 5. Where Would Your Home Be if It Were a Travel Destination? This is a creative way to assess the vibe you want to create. If you’re imagining a “breezy Santorini villa,” you can’t go wrong with white walls, natural textures and pops of blue. Floral patterns, plush furniture and warm wood are must-haves for a “cozy English cottage,” while minimalist lines and industrial materials define a “sleek urban loft.” Your home’s design personality is the Naturalist if your dream destination is about escaping into nature. If your go-to getaway is rich with old-world charm, it’s a sign of the Historian style. If your ideal retreat is a sophisticated and efficient urban center, your home will lean towards the Minimalist. 6. Do You Prefer Items With a Story or Brand-New Pieces? Your answer indicates whether you value history and character or a clean, modern feel. Does your heart beat faster at a flea market, imagining the history of a vintage dresser, or do you prefer the sleek look of a brand-new cabinet straight from the showroom? If your focus is on authenticity and craftsmanship regardless of its age, your home’s design style is the Naturalist. Believing that objects should possess a soul and a unique history is characteristic of the Historian. A preference for the clean perfection of new items points toward the Minimalist. What Your Answers Say About Your Design Personality Determine your home’s design persona based on your answers. The Historian You love items with a story, are drawn to classic patterns and appreciate the quality of natural materials, like leather and dark wood. The Historian values timelessness and craftsmanship. You believe a home should feel curated over time, not bought in a day. This love for the past isn’t limited to antiques. It can also mean appreciating historical design movements, like the midcentury modern aesthetic. Covering the period between the mid-1930s and 1960 , it blends polished styles with wooden furnishings, modern materials, clean lines and simple forms. The Naturalist Your home style is Naturalist if you seek tranquility and texture, are drawn to earthy colors and natural materials, and consider a cabin or a beach house your ideal destination. This personality wants to bring the soothing qualities of the outdoors in, whether in the form of natural light and plants or organic materials, like jute, rattan and linen. Color palette is crucial for this vibe. Versatile, calming neutrals are popular, especially in open floor plans. They tie together multiple spaces with a cohesive and calming tone that works well with wood, linen and other natural textures. The Minimalist If you prefer having a place for everything, are drawn to simple solids and prefer brand-new items, you likely crave order and simplicity. The Minimalist values functionality, intention and clean, open spaces. “Less is more” defines this personality, but that doesn’t mean a home that’s empty of visual flair. This style goes well with contemporary design, which often features geometric shapes , accentuated lines and heavy artwork. The key lies in moderation and strategic decor placement. Bring Your Design Personality to Life You don’t have to fit into one box. Feel free to mix different styles to create a layered, personal look. Create a mood board on a corkboard or an app, then pin images that align with your style persona. Use your preferences as a compass for every design choice. The goal is to create a home that’s an authentic reflection of you.
While paint colors and furniture get a lot of attention, the floor is truly the foundation of a room’s entire design and feel. In 2026, flooring trends are all about combining personality with performance. Many homeowners are moving toward choices that are both beautiful and practical for their lifestyles. Here are the top trends designers are loving, from the return of classic materials to cutting-edge technological advancements in flooring. 1. Rich and Warm Hardwoods This trend is a return to warmth, a shift away from the cool-toned grays and ultra-light bleached woods that have been popular for the last decade. It focuses on midrange to deep wood tones that feel inviting and timeless. Rich and warm hardwoods connect to a broader desire for cozy, comfortable and natural-feeling interiors, which pair well with biophilic design. Consider these key details and examples: Wood species: White oak remains a top choice, but it’s now being finished with warmer, more natural tones. Walnut, with its deep, rich chocolatey hues, is also seeing a resurgence. Finishes: The trend favors low-sheen finishes, like matte or satin. These hide scratches better than high-gloss and allow the natural grain and texture of the wood to shine. Character wood: There’s a growing appreciation for wood with more natural imperfections — like knots and mineral streaks — which adds unique character and a rustic yet refined look. If this style resonates with you, All American Flooring can help apply it to your home. It’s the premier Dallas-area expert for achieving this classic aesthetic because it specializes in hardwood restaining and refinishing services. Its team can help you customize new floors to achieve a precise custom color or update your existing floors with a new, on-trend warm stain. If you’re wondering where you can buy high-quality hardwood flooring in Dallas, this flooring company also has you covered. 2. Pattern Play and Parquetry The floor is the focal point with this trend, which involves arranging flooring — usually wood, but also tile — in geometric patterns instead of a traditional straight-lay installation. It adds an immediate “wow” factor and a bespoke feel to any room, elevating the floor from a simple surface to a primary design feature. Here are some popular patterns: Herringbone: Rectangular planks are laid in a staggered, interlocking V-shape. It’s a classic, sophisticated pattern often seen in historic European apartments. Chevron: The planks are also in V-shape placements, but their ends are cut at an angle so they meet at a perfect point. This creates a clean, continuous “arrow” effect that can make a room feel longer or wider. Basket weave: The planks are arranged into square modules, with each neighboring square laid in a perpendicular direction. The final look resembles the interwoven pattern of a woven basket, offering a charming, traditional feel. Creating these intricate patterns is not a simple DIY task. It requires incredible precision, skill and expertise to ensure the lines are straight and the design is flawless. Footprints Floors is a great partner for this trend. It specializes in executing complex arrangements, ensuring your investment in materials results in a beautiful finished floor. 3. Natural and Sustainable Materials This popular style centers on flooring made from renewable or recyclable resources, with an emphasis on low-volatile organic compound materials for better indoor air quality. It’s driven by a growing environmental consciousness and a desire for healthier homes. These materials often offer unique aesthetics not found in traditional options, such as: Cork: This is naturally insulating, soft and comfortable underfoot and hypoallergenic. It comes from the bark of a cork oak tree, which is not cut down in the process. Bamboo: Because it regenerates quickly, bamboo is highly renewable. It’s also hard and durable, often stronger than many hardwoods. Reclaimed wood: Salvaged from old barns, factories and warehouses, each reclaimed wood plank has a history, patina and character that’s impossible to replicate. It’s the ultimate in recycling. Embracing this trend is easier with Floor Coverings International , thanks to its mobile showroom. Materials like cork and bamboo often have unique textures and colors that are best viewed in your home’s lighting, next to your own furniture and wall colors, which the service allows you to do. Find the Perfect Foundation for Your Style Flooring today is about personal expression. Whether you’re looking to buy high-quality hardwood flooring for that timeless warmth or embracing sustainability with cork, there are more high-quality options than ever. The best choice is the one that reflects your taste and meets the functional demands of your household. The right floor is more than just a material — it’s the canvas on which life’s moments are painted, setting the stage for a home you’ll love for years to come.
Before anyone notices your coffee table or comments on your throw pillows, they register your color story. The palette you choose does more than set the mood — it quietly governs every design decision that follows. It influences the furniture you’re drawn to, the materials you tolerate, the amount of visual stimulation you can comfortably live with and even how large or intimate your space feels. If you strip your interior design down to its foundation, color temperature is often where the divide begins. On one side, you’ll find frosty minimalism. On the other, toasty maximalism. And while most homes fall somewhere between the two, your palette choice usually reveals which direction you instinctively lean. Frosty Minimalism vs. Toasty Maximalism Frosty minimalism tends to favor cooler tones, such as crisp whites, muted blues, soft charcoals, pale sage and occasionally icy blush or lavender. These colors create clarity and visual calmness , enhancing focus. They reflect light, enhance architectural lines and minimize distraction. The effect is controlled, restrained and intentional. In contrast, toasty maximalism leans into warmth. Think terracotta, ochre, rust, deep emerald, burgundy, caramel, chocolate brown and layered jewel tones. These hues absorb light rather than bounce it back. They create intimacy and make a room feel collected, layered and emotionally expressive. The difference is atmospheric. Cooler palettes expand space and quiet it. Warmer palettes condense space and energize it. And once you commit to one temperature direction, your decor naturally follows. How Palette Choice Shapes Your Entire Interior Color isn’t just a finishing touch. It’s a framework, and once it’s established, it influences nearly every element in your home. Furniture Selection A cool, frosty palette pairs naturally with streamlined silhouettes. You’ll likely gravitate toward furniture with clean lines, minimal ornamentations and neutral upholstery. Light oak, ash, blackened steel, matte finishes and glass all harmonize with cooler schemes. Ornate carving or heavily textured fabrics can feel visually loud against a restrained palette. In a toasty minimalist space, furniture becomes more sculptural and expressive. Rounded shades, velvet upholstery, carved wood, vintage prices and statement chairs feel at home. Walnut, brass, antique gold and richly stained woods complement warm palettes. In this setting, contrast is welcomed rather than avoided. Texture and Material Choices Cool-toned minimalism often embraces materials that reinforce simplicity , like linen, cotton, plaster and light woods. Surfaces tend to feel matte or softly reflective rather than glossy. Texture is subtle, not dominant. Warmer maximalist interiors rely heavily on texture for depth. Think velvet drapery, patterned rugs, embroidered cushions, aged leather, dark woods and mixed metals. Layering is intentional and visible. The room is meant to feel tactile and dimensional. Lighting Decisions Lighting behaves differently depending on color temperature. In minimalism, natural light is often prioritized. Sheer window treatments, reflective surfaces, and strategically placed mirrors enhance brightness. Artificial lighting tends to be soft white or cool-neutral to maintain the clean aesthetic. Maximalism thrives under warm, golden lighting. Table lamps, sconces and layered ambient lighting create pools of glow that deepen the richness of warm hues. In these interiors, lighting is less about maximizing brightness and more about creating atmosphere. Art and Decorative Objects In cooler minimalist spaces, art is often oversized and restrained. A single large abstract piece, black-and-white photography or minimal line drawings reinforce simplicity. Decorative objects are curated and sparse. Negative space is intentional. In maximalist interiors, walls can become storytelling canvases. Gallery walls, mixed frames, layered textiles, bold prints and collected objects all coexist. Warm palettes provide cohesion even when patterns and eras vary. Perception of Space Cool colors visually recede, making rooms feel larger and more open. This is one reason frosty minimalism often appeals to apartment dwellers or those seeking a sense of spaciousness. Warm colors advance, making rooms feel closer and more intimate. In larger homes or high-ceilinged spaces, toasty maximalism can make rooms feel grounded and inviting. Design Ideas Across the Spectrum If you lean toward frosty minimalism, anchor your space in layered whites, cool grays and soft charcoal, then introduce quiet contrast through matte black fixtures or pale woods like ash and white oak. Incorporate sculptural lighting, simple ceramics and one oversized piece of art rather than multiple smaller accents. Keep surfaces intentional and uncluttered. For those who appreciate warmth but don’t want to commit fully to saturated maximalism, taupe white is an exceptional choice. It’s a warm, welcoming hue that combines soft beige and gray undertones. It carries an earthy calmness that softens a space without overwhelming it. If you’re drawn to toasty maximalism, begin with a warm base such as terracotta, ochre, caramel or deep olive. Layer upholstered seating in jewel tones, incorporate walnut or richly stained woods, and introduce brass or antique gold accents for depth. The Palette Is the Blueprint Ultimately, your color palette is the quiet authority behind every design choice you make, shaping how your home looks and how it feels to live in. Whether you gravitate toward cool, frosty tones that create clarity and openness or warm, toasty hues that build intimacy and depth, that temperature decision becomes the foundation of your home decor.
