A Royal Invitation
By Elaine Doremus
By Elaine Doremus
Harry met Meghan. A romance ensued. They fell in love and they wed. If you are like most of us, you still can’t get enough of their story, the pictures, and what the future holds for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Lucky for us, a special edition book chronicling every step of the couple’s journey together is hot off the presses.
Harry & Meghan –The Wedding Album promises to be a luxurious cocktail table book for the ages. Published by St. James House, the United Kingdom’s leading royal correspondent media group, and edited by Robert Jobson, dubbed the “Godfather of Royal Reporting” by The Wall Street Journal, the book was released in June in both the U.S. and the U.K. The book features exquisite photography from the royal couples’ lives, including the tale of their engagement, the momentum leading to their wedding, and the inspiration behind Meghan’s custom-designed ring. It also highlights the charitable work of the royal couple and their future plans.
What makes this book particularly noteworthy is that local interior design firm Linly Designs is among the few businesses selected and profiled in the publication. In addition to all things surrounding the royal wedding, the book serves as a celebration of royal heritage—featuring businesses and individuals who represent not only a regal aesthetic, but the values and stature of the royal family. Linly Designs is one such business.
“Linly Designs is honored to be profiled in St. James’s House’s official Royal Wedding album,” says Janet Linly, founder of Linly Designs. “We are renowned for our regal, rich, and timeless design style. The recognition validates that our classic style continues to be held in such high esteem.”
She explains how it all came about: “We were contacted by the Royal correspondents in London after working with them on a prior project. They were aware that our design company is well known for refined classic interiors and they asked if they could profile our company in their high-end, coffee table book, Harry & Meghan—The Wedding Album.” After the initial phone call and subsequent interview with the founder, Janet Linly, she provided about a dozen pictures of completed projects for consideration to be featured with their profile. The publisher selected a formal dining room (pictured in this spread), which indeed exemplifies the royal aesthetic, and Linly’s traditional/transitional approach.
Only 25 or so individuals or companies throughout the world are being profiled in this special publication. Of those, only about eight will be from the U.S., and only one will be from the Chicago area. Linly Designs is that one company and also the only interior design firm from the U.S. represented in the book. The profile will delve into the firm’s history, values, beliefs, and vision for the future. Linly’s vision for the future remains steadfast and one that has enabled the firm to endure and thrive in the ever-changing and often reactive interior design world.
“Our focus on classic and timeless design sets us apart from other design firms and high-end furniture stores,” says Linly. “As we always say, ‘we don’t follow trends, we set them’. Trends come and go, and if we follow them, what may be in this year will be out next year.” Linly says that her team focuses on creating traditional and transitional designs that stand the test of time. “It’s all about how you compose these elements together in a space to achieve our signature look—elegant and classic,” she says.
“The room pictured had good bones, but lacked finishing touches and an overall ‘wow’ factor,” Linly says, explaining that the finished room is the result of a collaborative effort among the team at Linly. “It’s not just me. None of this could happen without our talented and unbelievable team at Linly.”
For this project, the team combined multiple finishes, including wood tones, champagne details, and gold textured finishes (the wall treatments feature a gold tone-on-tone damask paper).
“This proves you can mix and match different finishes as long as the end result is cohesive,” she explains. The draperies are made from a luxurious embroidered overlay with Italian silk panels and crystal trim details. High-end Marge Carson furnishings and a crystal chandelier from Fine Art, both known for their classic elegance, were the room’s inspiration. The dining table’s top adds a slightly more modern aesthetic with the added benefit of reflection to give the room a larger appearance.
“The mirrored top is surprisingly durable with easy upkeep for everyday living,” adds Linly. The room’s lighting—with its multiple levels of ambient glow, crystal chandelier, and wall sconces—creates a bit of sparkle and a carefully curated atmosphere in the room that serves to accentuate many of the beautiful details in the wall coverings, fabrics, and window treatments.
To celebrate the United States’ release of Harry & Meghan – The Wedding Album, Linly Designs will host a “By Invitation Only” Royal Red Carpet Book Launch Event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 12. Guests will enjoy Champagne and hors d’oeuvres with a cellist providing music, and copies of the book for purchase, all amidst newly refreshed showroom vignettes in Linly’s 11,000 square foot showroom in Clarendon Hills. Visit Linly’s Facebook page to request an invitation and to rsvp to the event.
“Linly Designs is a high-end, full-service interior design firm offering a wide variety of design services to fulfill the needs of the most discerning clients,” Linly says. “Whether you are in search of beautiful home accessories, luxurious furnishings, remodeling your home, or simply looking for a unique gift, our talented and professional team will deliver an uncompromised quality of products and services to complete your project.”
Linly Designs is located at 445 Ogden Avenue in Clarendon Hills, 630-769-5099, linlydesigns.com.
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