Happy New Year!
We are excited to debut our new, well, everything.
It has been an exciting journey reinventing the entire look of our brand and logo after 23 years. After looking at almost 40 different images, mostly conservative in style and color, our graphic designer Lesley threw one in “for fun.”
When she flashed the image in front of us, the whole team thought, “That’s it!”
The bold colors of the logo reflect the excitement and passion we have for our work. The strong lines reflect our architectural design capabilities and attention to detail. Our 2009 newsletter is a reflection on days gone by and days to come. We’ve had a blast looking back on two decades of completed projects, reminiscing about the various details, locations and our cherished clients. While color palettes, material choices and ornament styles fluctuate with trends, it’s evident that our firm has always had a strong grasp of the fundamentals of good design throughout our history. As a result, our work continues to captivate and engage those who experience our designed spaces year after year.
We are poised to continue providing the highest quality interior design services to the builder/developer, golf and resort, and health care industries. We look forward to serving our clients in 2009 with passion and fresh ideas.
trend spotlight
Old and New
Throughout our history Mary Cook & Associates has continually maintained our commitment to the needs of our clients and their core audiences. Like fashion, interior design trends shift with the sensibilities of the times. Here’s a look at some of our earlier projects in contrast to our more recent work.
The New York reception area, Chicago, IL (1987): This luxury high rise rental building located on the Chicago lakefront was designed to attract young professionals with amenities such as a health club, pool and stunning views.
Harborside Lofts main lobby reception, Hoboken, NJ (2008): The lobby at Harborside Lofts– appeals to the young urbanite with its stunning selection of contrasting architectural materials, clean lines and boldly colored accents.
The Boulevard, New York, NY (1987): This two-bedroom model apartment was designed for a professional 40-something couple living in late 1980s uptown Manhattan. The husband is a stock analyst with a strong interest in Asian culture, and his wife is an advertising agency account executive.
Hudson Tea, Hoboken, NJ (2007): To target young professionals living across the Hudson River from Manhattan, this model was designed around the life of a Wall Street professional who embraces tech toys.
Boulder Ridge Country Club, Lake in the Hills, IL (1990): The model for this golf course community was designed with an empty nester couple in their mid- to late- 50s in mind. The comfortable furniture and subdued color scheme reflects the simple pleasures of downscaling home size for a cozier and more upscale lifestyle.
Hampton, Hawthorn Woods, IL (2006): A two-story built-in bookcase with a
catwalk is the striking feature of this model home in this upscale golf community
outside of Chicago. Striking woodwork enhances the overall clean lines of the home.
Green Space
Mary Cook & Associates is dedicated to sustainable design through the use of materials and services that reduces non-renewable resources, minimizes environmental impact and connects people to the natural environment. Our diverse experience and expertise offer intelligent design that identifies and sets trends through the implementation of green products. We encourage the use of these items by integrating eco-friendly and sustainable materials into our internal library, which we use where it is possible and appropriate.
Project Spotlight:
Maxwell Place
Maxwell Place, a luxury condominium on the Hoboken, New Jersey waterfront developed by Toll Brothers,
is one of the latest projects
being completed by Mary Cook & Associates. The firm has been earning rave reviews for our designs of the lobby, corridors, fitness center, children’s playroom and residents’ club. The design, a canvas for the spectacular views of Manhattan, achieves a spirited modern look through the use of rich, warm color tones and a bold mix of
patterns and textures.
The children’s playroom (pictured) has been described
by residents as “magical” for
its whimsical red and pink
hues, stuffed creatures and
other elements such as the
play kitchen.
The warm reception to
Maxwell Place has led to
work for forthcoming Toll Brothers' New York playrooms. We look forward to continuing
to design interiors that
please all ages.
Staff profile
Timothy Schwarz, LEED-AP
Director of Design
Timothy Schwarz brings
over 13 years of hospitality, commercial and residential experience in all aspects of the design and architectural industry to Mary Cook & Associates. His main focus is to deliver creative and financially viable designs that respond to market demands, they are desirable to the user, and increase space usage, function and business success. Throughout his career, Timothy has designed and managed projects throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Architecture in design with College Honors and Distinction in Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Tim is also a member of the Friends of the Arts, which promotes young and aspiring artists throughout the world, and has also served as director of the Artist in Residence Program as well as co-chair of the Arts Committee at the Cliff Dweller Club in Chicago.
Upcoming Events:
- IAPD/IPRA "Soaring to New Heights" Annual Conference, January 29th through 31st, 2009, Chicago, IL at the Chicago Hilton, Booth 910.
- Golf Industry Show, February 5th through 7th, New Orleans, LA at the Morial Convention Center, Booth 7414.
- 50+ Housing Symposium, April 27th through 29th, Philadelphia, PA at the Marriott.
mary's wishlist:
A HEARTFELT INSPIRATION
Six years ago I heard something
that still inspires me. During the
grand opening celebration of our
first continuing care retirement community (CCRC) project, Peconic Landing, Collette, a planning board member and then future resident, told me the story of her friends asking, “Why are you moving into a nursing home?”
But once Collette’s friends saw the finished Peconic Landing in Greenport, New York they exclaimed, “You live in a country club!”
I was so flattered to hear her story. Now as we take on our fourth CCRC interior design project for Baptist Homes of Indiana, I want to send a special thanks to Collette: Your happiness has been my inspiration to our firm to create interiors for seniors that promote activity, wellness and, of course, a sense of pride.