ECO-FRIENDLY MEETS OPULENCE

Design Bureau 92 / 100

"An Apartment Complex Goes Green Without Sacrificing Luxury"

By Saby Reyes-Kulkarni

Jennifer A. Banks, owner of Chica-go-based Bella Maison Interior Design, realized she'd fallen into the perfect partnership when she was hired by M&R Development to custom-make all the furniture and casegoods for a luxury apartment building in Evanston, Illinois. "Toni Rossi Sr. and Toni Rossi Jr. of M&R are committed to progressive design." she says. "They have an appreciation and dedication to elegant urban residences that is unparalleled in the Midwest."

Such is seen through the project’s use of high-end finishes like Italian mosaic tile in the cyber café, a French chandelier in the lobby, and custom furniture upholstered in mohair and silk fabric throughout the first floor. “Central Station,” Banks points out, “is not only an eco-friendly, energy-efficient green building, but it also features refined use of materials, high-end finishes, sophistication of color, and strong silhouettes”—all of which suit the culturally refined personality of the surrounding community (which is home to Northwestern University).

“At Central Station,” Banks says, “we wanted to establish both comfort and opulence.” She points back to the cyber café’s Italian mosaic tile as most em- blematic of the overall design aesthetic that she and the Rossis were aiming for. With its “juxtaposition of polished marble, honed granite, and glass—cou- pled with its unique shape—the tile sets the tone for the progressive design character of the entire building.”