THE “IT” GIRL

Those who follow Maggie Getz Studio on Instagram are familiar with the Lake Bluff interior designer’s love of mixing the unexpected with the classic— often sharing her palette of colors, vintage finds, and patterned textiles as an inspirational tableau.

From new construction and whole house renovations to the simplest room refreshes, her residential interior design studio specializes in creating personalized spaces that tell a story.

“I don’t want any of my projects to feel too new and shiny,” says Getz, explaining that in addition to curating one-of-a-kind interiors, she’s been taking on new construction projects across the East Coast and Midwest. “It takes time to create something from the ground up to make it feel like it’s always been there. But that’s also a very fun challenge.”

Whether it’s creating a dreamy European tablescape for the Spirit of 67 Foundation Home and Garden tour or choosing bespoke tile for a new build in Kennebunkport, Maine, the North Shore native’s work is meticulously chronicled on Instagram— drawing more than 6,000 followers.

And while that doesn’t exactly make her an influencer, Getz’s designs did recently catch the eye of an editor at FREDERIC magazine, a posh but unpretentious “guide to a more beautiful life” that features tastemakers from around the world.

“It’s the coolest magazine,” says Getz, explaining how Editor in Chief Dara Caponigro came up with the idea of the FREDERIC magazine “It List,” which this year showcased 12 up-and-coming designers around the world who are “defining the next generation of style,” including Getz. “To be recognized by Dara and FREDERIC is the ultimate compliment. It’s the most fresh, chic magazine there is right now.”

She says the whole thing came as a very pleasant surprise.

“I got the letter back in April. They flew me out to New York in June and I said to one of the editors ‘how did you guys find me?’” says Getz, who received a $10,000 stipend from The FREDERIC Fund, established to support the careers of gifted designers. “Apparently one of the editors had been following me on Instagram. They explained that they have a very extensive vetting process to choose among hundreds of new designers around the world so it’s a huge honor.”

There was, however, one catch.

She was sworn to secrecy until the big reveal in August.

“But of course you have to tell your mom,” laughs Getz, noting that it was her mother and grandmother who inspired her to become an interior designer, reflecting on her childhood in Lake Bluff. “Growing up on the North Shore, you think, this is just like where I’m growing up. You get older and come back and realize that this is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.”

She has fond memories of going to estate sales with both her mother, a real estate agent, and her grandmother, an artist who decorated her home on the Villa Turicum estate in Lake Forest with a bohemian flair that defied expectations.

“There was something about my grandma’s style that was so different for Lake Forest,” adds Getz, a graduate of Harrington College of Design in Chicago who has been working in the interior design industry for more than a decade. “When you think of the North Shore, a certain aesthetic comes to mind. It’s preppy with a lot of pink and green. My grandmother was the opposite of that.”

Every inch of Getz’s grandmother’s home was covered in bold wallpaper with design motifs inspired by her travels, which she paired with an elephant collection, batik sofas, old books, and eclectic antiques—including chairs upholstered in Oriental rugs.

“That really inspired me. She was the original bohemian before bohemian was trendy,” says Getz. “I wish she still had that house. She just had such a way of bringing things together in a room that you’d never think to put together.”

Today, she looks at her grandmother and mother as mentors as she juggles running her Maggie Getz Studio with running a busy household that includes husband Daniel, 3-year-old Henry, and 4-year-old Scarlett.

“My mom also owned a staging company, which showed me that you don’t have to work for anyone else. You can run your own business and still have a family,” adds Getz. “These powerful women and matriarchs are the reason I am who I am today.”

They are also what ultimately drew her back to her hometown of Lake Bluff to settle down and raise her young family.

“I lived in Chicago, Winnetka, and Libertyville, but I always knew I’d end up in Lake Bluff again. Obviously I’m biased but I think it’s the best place in the world to raise a family. It’s kind of the best-kept secret in that it’s the best suburb on the North Shore—sleepy and not so pretentious,” says Getz. “I wanted to bring my kids to the Lake Bluff pool, and give them the childhood experiences that I had so moving here was a no-brainer.”

Now that she’s back, Getz has been donating her time and talent for show houses and home tours in the area.

“That’s been an unexpected and very rewarding part of being here, choosing who I can give back to in the community,” she says, explaining that in addition to the Spirit of 67 tablescapes you’ll see on her Instagram, she also did a room at the 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens fundraiser for the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. “It’s very fulfilling to know that I can help raise money for the community and make a difference.”

When asked about her take on holiday décor, Getz confesses that she’s more into decorating for Halloween than Christmas. However, she does love bringing out pieces she grew up with for the holidays. “I lean into family heirlooms,” adds Getz. “I have the stockings from my childhood and now my mom is needlepointing stockings for my kids.”

As the year winds to a close, she reflects on her success and what is means to be a working mother.

“My business is four years old and it’s really taking off. To get recognized by FREDERIC feels super validating,” says Getz, who was feted with the other 11 designers at the It List Awards dinner in New York City in October. “And the fact that I’m a working mom is a huge part of my story.”

She says this is especially relevant for young North Shore families like hers.

“Everybody has young kids. Everybody has a budget. I like to show these clients that we can still have nice pieces and do things that are within reach,” adds Getz, who has already been tapped to participate in the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. “I also want these moms to know that you really can do it all. You can be a good mom and still follow your dreams. I needed help. It definitely takes a village. It’s hard but you can do it.”