ADS Originals: The Diva Table

Inspecting the finished Diva Table

ADS Originals: The Diva Table

The next custom piece of furniture that is part of the ADS Originals: Ruthie Alan Collection is the Diva Table.  Ruthie at Alan Design Studio conceptualized and designed this ‘lux’ table.  Everything about this table is homegrown; the design concept, the construction materials and the artisans who fabricated each piece, were all sourced locally in Chicago.  Close attention was paid to every detail, at every step of it's creation, and the outcome is simply stunning.

Copper; Prior to Nickel Finish

The Diva table is constructed of four pieces of copper which meet at a metal spinner.  The table top is hollow, slightly recessed, and has a hammered metal finish.  The table top also doubles as a structural element because it contains a wooden load-bearing disc. The wooden edge around the table top, which is intentionally left exposed to add a luxurious aesthetic, is kept flush with the polished nickel edge of the top to create a finished look. 

Two small “bells” which are stacked end to end, similar to an hourglass shape, create the pedestal.  The base was treated with the same hammered metal texture, but a crisp polished nickel edge was left near the bottom to add a finishing detail.  The Diva Table is a culmination of materials and layers creating one distinct design.  The entire table is finished in a polished nickel finish.

Hammered Copper Top with
a Shimmery Nickel Finish

Please contact Alan Design Studio for more information about custom ordering The Diva Table.

ADS Originals: Slab Glass Screen

Jean and Ruthie Alan have been designing and producing one-of-a-kind pieces since 1994, and continue to do so under their new brand: ADS Originals. ADS Originals are custom pieces created by Jean and Ruthie individually and collaboratively in this new facet of Alan Design Studio. They’re called ADS Originals because they’re bespoke, unique pieces. Some pieces are commissioned by clients, others are born of Jean and Ruthie’s creative vision. ADS Original pieces have already gained a reputation as showpieces in their client’s homes.  

One example, the Slab Glass Screen.  The 9-by-7-foot metal screen with translucent pieces of colored glass inserted into the frame catches and refracts light beautifully. The screen can be used as a new take on a room divider, or stand alone as an art piece. The Slab Glass Screen is made entirely in Chicago, and was featured in CS Interiors, Chicago’s luxury interior design magazine.  You can view the article by clicking this link and then at the top of that page clicking the word "Cover" and then selecting "Page 40-Page 41".

• CS Interiors Magazine: Article "Screen Shot"

Slab glass is also referred to as ‘Dalle de Verre’ or ‘Concrete Windows’.  Concrete is the original method of constructing Dalle de Verre windows.  Churches throughout the world feature this method of presenting stained glass.

Over the course of the next year, we’ll be featuring a couple new pieces each month on our Facebook page. As always, you can go directly to AlanDesignStudio.com and click on the SHOP button at the bottom and get pricing and spec sheets at any time.

The "SHOP" of Things to Come

Well, it's been a while since we last posted and that's because we've been going through a lot of changes here at Alan Design Studio. First the new name and logo, next came our beautiful new website, then the redesigned space and custom stone floor designed by Jean, and then gathering together some of the amazing custom pieces of furniture to display in our showroom. The next step in our renaissance was to promote some of the custom pieces we've done for clients over the years and allow anyone to grab that information off of our website AlanDesignStudio.com.

We've added in a new SHOP section to our site where you can get tear sheets (informational one-sheets) that have high-quality images of each piece along with dimensions, upholstery and finish details, and pricing. This makes it extremely easy for anyone anywhere to see what we do and then call us or email us to order those pieces. Since everything we do is custom, you will need to call us, email us, and/or stop in our showroom to discuss the specifics of your desired pieces.

This new SHOP and these pieces along with our interior design services makes Alan Design Studio the best place for you to come for that perfect chair, that perfect chaise, that perfect table, and all the way up to that perfect space.

We are in Chicago Social Interiors!

We are proud to be featured in the Winter Issue of Chicago Social Interiors! Cheers to the new Senior Editor of CS Interiors, Diana Tychsen! We offer many heartfelt thanks to our clients for this project, who were in Hanoi, Vietnam during the writing and were so willing to make themselves available for interview despite being half a world away. 

Click here for article.

Our "Winnetka Home" project is featured on pages 72 - 77 of the Winter Issue. You can pick up at newsstands around the city or click on the link above for direct access to the digital magazine.

The Big Reveal

In a prior blog post we asked the question ‘when your space doesn’t reflect who you are, what do you do?’  Our answer was simply ‘you change it’. And change it we did! We mentioned a few of our changes including our awkward main entry and solution with the new floor. We also talked about other changes to impart more of a gallery feel to our space and we are now ready to reveal the amazing results.

Looking in from the outside.

An overview of our new look from the front entrance.

Our new screen designed by Ruthie and Jean. The screen was made with slab glass that Jean had purchased years ago at a flea market. Slab glass is typically set in concrete, but here we set in metal to create a screen to really set the front window apart from the rest of the studio and create a true window display area. It takes up just enough space visually to define the areas of the studio yet also allow the space to still flow and feel open. The floor has also been raised a few inches. Remember how we spoke of the awkward front entry to the studio? It wasn't only awkward to enter, but when you passed by from the street it never looked right. By raising the floor and addressing the entry we also addressed the store front issue and now have a real window display area.

More of the screen and a wonderful blue vase.

We have borrowed art from Century Guild (www.centuryguild.net). We love what they do and the bold pieces they have. We get them and they get us!

Our new chandelier floating in the sky. Another piece Jean has had in her inventory for years. You never know what amazing things she will come up with or the fascinating stories behind them. This was acquired decades ago when purchasing antiques was as much about the relationships between sellers and buyers as it was about the actual pieces. This is was found in a old warehouse of antiques owned by a unique Chicago family. Jean would 'shop' there regularly with her children's help.

Our beautiful stone wood floor. We think it highlights our pieces wonderfully as well as the old architectural elements of our building. 

Chair with contrasting top stitching.

We hope you have enjoyed seeing our new space. Please stop by some time and take a closer look!

A Wonderful Celebration!

What an exciting evening for us! The night was a celebration of so many things. A newly redesigned space to reflect what our business has become, a book signing featuring our own Jean Alan, a celebration of health and happiness and the ability to help others. We welcomed Nancy R. Hiller, author and Kendall Reeves, photographer of A Home of Her Own to sign their book as well as meet our friends, clients, associates and so many near and dear to us. Below are some highlights of the evening.

Our new window scape featuring a custom screen to create a well defined display area. Jean Alan talking with a guest. The delicious items our guests dined on.

Jean, Nancy Nugent, and Ruthie Alan sharing a laugh. Kendall Reeves, photographer of A Home of Her Own signing books. Joe Partipilo of Olde Chicago Antiques with Ruthie. Nancy R. Heller, author of A Home of Her Own signing books.

Jean with Rosaire Nottage and Eunice Ward. Michelle Pennington and Beth Allen Tiernan of the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest. 

Nancy talking about her work and the book with Susan and Noel, Ruthie and Suzann Craig, featured in the book. Jean with Dr. Lixin Sha. Jean talking about design with Elizabeth Raspolich and Kevin Wheeler. Jean with Danny Popuch of Daniel's Antiques.

Ines Augiar and Peggy. One-of-a kind Turkish pillow designed by Jean. Jean signing books.

Ruthie with Dr. Lixin Sha. No celebration is complete without thinking of others. Guests enjoying the evening.

We hope you enjoyed celebrating with us as much as we enjoyed having you. If you were unable to make it to the party we hope to see you soon. Books are still available for purchase and make great holiday gifts!

A Home of Her Own and a Newly Redesigned Space For Us!

Our own Jean Alan is featured in the new book A Home of Her Own, by Nancy R. Hiller. A Home of Her Own is a collection of stories of women and their homes, the connections and relationships they have with their spaces and the work they put in to making it happen. The stories of these remarkable women are chronicled not only though their words but also the beautiful photographs of Kendall Reeves. Jean’s own story is highlighted as well as her work with a client and the home created for her.



A Home of Her Own Book Cover



Jean Alan Residence Entryway

When your space doesn’t reflect who you are what do you do? You change it. Recent reevaluation of many aspects of our business caused us to make some very important changes including a beautiful new logo and website. Since putting our space together in 1999 we realized that we simply did not get it right. In addition, the book signing for A Home of Her Own was providing us a grand reason to make significant changes to our space.

All along we struggled with the complicated issues of our main entry and the awkward transition into our space. With numerous aspects of our business changing we realized we had the opportunity to really address our entrance as part of the overall change of our studio space. We spent the better part of a month tossing ideas around, none of which stuck for various reasons and it was when Jean saw that very graphic floor at the Spring 2012 Balenciaga runway show she knew she had finally found her inspiration and answer. Using a material known as Stone Wood from our friend Robert Briggs at Marble and Granite Resources, Inc. Jean was able to design a bold graphic pattern and at the same time raise the level of our floor solving the awkwardness of our entry. This is what we do as decorators, we take very real and practical needs and create solutions that are artful and reflective of whom our clients are in addition to addressing their needs. In this case, our new stone floor is a very real example of that truth.



Alan Design Studio Section of Stone Wood Floor







In addition to the floor we have made other changes to our space to impart a gallery feel in the space. Our window space is being redesigned to allow us to better showcase our one of a kind pieces and allow for seasonal changes. We look forward to sharing our 'new' space on November 18th with everyone!