JWC Media
a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events, fashion, beauty, finance, and the pursuit of leisure.
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY:
KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
IAN MCLEOD, MAGGIE RIFE PONCE, AND KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY:
THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY:
DORIA DEBARTOLLO, MEG KOMLENAC AND LEANNA ERNEST
ABLAZE Design Group is a full-service residential design firm creating refined, high-performance homes that balance beauty with purposeful living. Led by George and Ava Markoutsas, with CFO David Lipsky, ABLAZE is known for transforming outdated floorplans into sophisticated, highly functional environments tailored to modern lifestyles. Their work is guided by intentionality—layering thoughtful planning, innovative solutions, and quiet luxury to create homes that feel effortless, elevated, and deeply livable.
What does luxury mean to you in 2026?
Luxury in 2026 is no longer about excess or spectacle, it’s about intention. It’s the seamless integration of wellness, biophilic design, home automation, quiet luxury, convenience, and universal design, all thoughtfully composed to support how people actually live.
What trends or shifts are most influencing your work right now?
The biggest shift is the demand for lifestyle-driven homes within outdated floorplans that no longer function. We’re transforming tight, single-cook kitchens and poorly planned layouts into open, connected, highly organized spaces—often without adding square footage. People don’t need more space; they need smarter, more refined planning.
How do you tailor your approach for clients who expect both beauty and performance?
We lead with creativity and challenge the ordinary. By understanding how our clients live, we design spaces that are visually compelling and deeply functional, where beauty and performance are inseparable. Every decision is intentional, buildable, and designed to work effortlessly over time.
What details instantly elevate a space?
It’s the hidden details that make the biggest impact: circadian lighting, integrated home automation, concealed pantries, disguised organization, and hidden speakers that quietly enhance daily life. When these elements are paired with strong proportion, restraint, and craftsmanship, the space feels effortless rather than overdesigned. Low-maintenance, high-performance materials complete the experience, allowing the home to feel elevated and stress-free.
ABLAZE Design Group is located at 259 Waukegan Avenue in Highwood. For more information, call 847-579-1600 or visit ablazedesigngroup.com. Follow on Instagram @ablazedesigngroup and Facebook @theablgroup.
