The 210 Design House showroom is filled with a wide variety of product types — from cabinetry and closet systems to furnishings and finishes, our showroom is constantly evolving. The same can be said for our team’s workdays, as they’re also varied, flexible, and dynamic, with no two looking exactly alike.
We’re sharing a peek behind the curtain to highlight the work we do here at 210, including collaborative client and designer presentations, site visits, days spent deep in design details, and exciting in-showroom events.
The 210 Design House Showroom: A Multi-Level Showcase of Design & Innovation
Our showroom spans four floors of design magic, featuring everything from waterproof wallpaper and chef-worthy kitchens to bespoke closets, spa-like bathrooms, and statement furniture. The top floor of our space, however, is reserved for us. While we frequent the other floors when showing clients around, gathering inspiration, or simply changing up our scenery, most of the day-to-day magic happens in our office on the top floor — where we’re surrounded by fun inspirations from our brand partners, including the showstopping Glas Italia Sherazade Wall for our President’s office!
Team Collaboration: A Glimpse into the 210 Design House’s Daily Workflow
Five days a week, you can find our Chicago team members in the office. With a few full-time remote team members, we’re frequent users of Zoom and its instant-messaging counterparts, but we’re also firm believers in the magic of in-person collaboration, otherwise. We arrive in the office bright and early, and our team of designers, project managers, and sales experts hit the ground running answering emails and preparing for the day ahead. Our design team is largely made up of the single-family residences team and the multi-housing team, alongside our sales and business management team members. While we all collaborate to bring our visions and designs to life, each team brings something unique to the table through their expertise. “We’re all pretty creative independently,” says Design Assistant Grace Radoha, “but we love talking ideas aloud and brainstorming together.”
Client Appointments at 210 Design House: Preparing for Creative Possibilities
When we’re not collaborating as a team or checking in with emails, shipments, and client updates, you can usually find us on one of our showroom floors. Client appointments are some of our absolute favorite parts of the job, as it’s always exciting to show a client all the potential magic we can create together. No matter who a client is — a homeowner, a designer, or a developer — we ask for some pre-appointment information shared ahead of time. Homeowners tend to share more of their project specifics and needs, while interior designers usually come with a more fully developed vision for us to prepare for. Either way, we tailor our services to accommodate both, ensuring a personalized experience for everyone.
After a visit, we’re back heads-down at our computers, finalizing estimates and brainstorming big ideas based on the appointment. Oftentimes, potential clients come in with one thought (a kitchen renovation, for example with our brands Snaidero Cucine and/or Plain & Fancy), and then they leave wanting even more (it’s hard to say no to a Wall&Decò wallpaper once you’ve seen it in person). It’s our job to ensure that potential clients and partners know exactly what we offer, what it would cost, how long it would take, and how amazing the final product can be.
Site Visits: Bringing Design Vision to Life
Of course, only so much design magic can happen from behind a screen — so our days often include site visits to check on ongoing projects. It’s absolutely crucial to us to ensure that installments are managed at the highest level, and there’s no substitution for the creativity and precision that takes place onsite. Once we begin a new project with a client, a site visit is usually one of our first steps. We measure, take ample site photos, understand the granular details, and then go back to our drawing board. Site visits remain a regular part of our process once the installation begins, ensuring precision and efficiency.. “A lot of big decisions happen onsite,” says Design Assistant Grace Radoha. “It’s when you can really get a true feel for the space and then dive into the details accordingly.”
Beyond the Office: Coming Together
As hard as our team works, we make some time for midday fun as well. Our basement features a custom kitchen (of course!), so the team frequently cooks meals and enjoys them together. That’s one of the best parts of working in a space filled with the most beautiful, high-tech kitchens in the world: it makes you want to get creative within them!
Another perk of the job is the many incredible events hosted in the 210 showroom. When we shut off our computers for the day, we’re often able to head downstairs to experience a wine pairing from a sommelier, tasty bites from a renowned chef, or even a yoga experience from a trained instructor — thoughtfully crafted to inspire creativity and connection in the industry. (Make sure you’re following along on Instagram and subscribed to our newsletter for exciting updates on upcoming events!)
If you’d like to see our showroom and its many offerings yourself, give us a call or book an appointment. We look forward to working with you!
