Workroom

Couture Design for Your Windows 

Tucked away on a stretch of Belmont populated by dusty antique shops and thrift stores lies one of the city's most unusual home décor concepts.

Workroom, as its name suggests, is a working showroom filled with gorgeous fabrics, wall and floor coverings in an artful, ever-changing setting.   

The space combines a retail shop with the design studio and actual workroom of John Diekmann and Joel Klaff, showcasing their couture-quality window treatments. Expect the unexpected from the moment you’re buzzed in the front door. Staff are often busily sewing or constructing projects in the adjoining workspace, and the owner’s pets, two pugs and a tabby cat, often greet customers.   

Fabrics and drapery panels, shades, blinds and shutters are Workroom’s main focus, but the designer/owners believe that window coverings should be the backdrop, rather than the primary focus, of a beautiful home.

Workroom's selection of floor coverings include the durable and interchangeable carpet tiles from Flor and rugs in unique patterns and weaves that can be customized to fit any space. A choice selection of wallpaper, mirrors, vases and furniture pieces rounds out the shop’s offerings.   

Items change frequently, not unlike the shop’s rotating events. Most recently, an installation by artist Lucy Slivinski put art where it belongs – in a home setting, according to Diekmann and Klaff. “Home is where the art is,” says Klaff. “Why view it in the blank white box of a gallery?”

Both Diekmann and Klaff have backgrounds in design and the dramatic arts, and Klaff is occasionally off on location, dressing windows on movie sets, most recently for a filming in New Orleans for Brad Pitt’s latest project.

Klaff also provides set decoration and costume design for theatrical productions, including those of Chicago’s own Redmoon Theater.


The team’s theatrical background is apparent in the showroom’s ever-changing environment and displays. One day the room looks like a bachelor pad perfect for the likes of Rock Hudson, and the next it might resemble the boudoir of a leading lady.

Like the shop itself, each new display is worthy of a look!

 

Workroom

1906 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
773.472.2140

www.workroominc.com 

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SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – L. Heller.
 
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Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ.  07/07.