The shiny white finish of the kitchen table contrasts smartly with the soft gray weave of its chairs. The bedspread and rug employ subtle grid patterns that call back to each other. The bar in the corner is fully stocked for Friday night's party.
If this sounds like a sparkly Gold Coast apartment, think again-it's a 16-by- 10 foot room.
Living in 160 square feet doesn't sound possible, let alone glamorous, but the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and CB2 are working together to upend that assumption. Twelve SAIC students worked with home décor professionals in a yearlong class to design and produce a line of space-saving furniture and accessories for what's called "micro-living."
"It's the perfect partnership," CB2 trend and development manager Sandra Malec said. "We work with designers from all over the world. It's basically doing that, but it's just with a group of students who are the cusp of getting into their professional life. It was really no different. The whole collaboration-we treated them and they treated us exactly as we work with product designers."
The project came to fruition Monday at SAIC with a small-space installation previewing the line, which is now available for purchase in stores and at cb2.com. Other items in the tiny quarters included a cache storage cabinet and a vanity mirror that slides open into a jewelry box.
The designer of the multi-purpose mirror, Josh Crampton, graduated from SAIC in May and now works as an industrial designer for Kohler. He said the process-from classroom to showroom-was not only exciting, but also set him up for success in his career as a designer.
"Now I have my name on a product that's at CB2, which is awesome. It's very unique. It's not something that everyone can say," said Crampton, who now lives in Sheboygan, Wis. "But also, just the knowledge that was gained. I don't think I would have that knowledge and the skill set that I have now if I hadn't gone through the process with CB2."
Crampton's classmate and fellow designer Allison Rokusek, who lives in Chicago, agreed, calling the experience "a new realm in the real world." Rokusek's graphic design background fit perfectly with her role in creating textiles for the project. The linens and dinnerware incorporated units of measure to highlight the idea of how much space exists in a micro-living arrangement.
"When you know the back story, you know how thoughtful [each piece] is and you know where it came from, and that's what we strive for," Malec said. "It's not only beautiful furniture and beautiful accessories, it's to be thoughtful and be unique."
As the class was the first collaboration between CB2 and SAIC, Malec acknowledged the leap of faith required could be a little nerve-wracking, but added that this collection is only the beginning.
"The second class has already begun," she said.
Lauren Chval is a RedEye special contributor.