I love when Chicago-born interior designers hit it big. Which is why I’m so excited for the first book by South Loop native Kyle Schuneman. In The First Apartment: Cool Designs for Small Spaces, published by Clarkson Potter and out now, Schuneman talks about how to cram big style into not-so-big homes on any budget. And although Schuneman now lives in Los Angeles, he hasn’t forgotten his Chicago roots. One of the 10 apartments featured in his book is in Bucktown, an image of which is shown here. You’ll get tips on how to personalize a cookie-cutter space, how to split up a loft or studio into different living areas, and even how to work with roommates who have very different design sensibilities.

A recent Louis Vuitton ad served as my inspiration for these fabulous finds. With a little finessing, LV’s rich hues, luxurious textures, wanderlust spirit, and groovy Downton Abbey-meets-21^st-century vibe can be parlayed into your own space. 

1. Chair 2.Trunk 3. Candle 4. Box 5. Pillow 6. Knob 7. Tray

It’s that time of year again—to head to Michigan and swoon over gorgeous kitchens while munching on delightful snacks! Mark your calendar for the 2012 Kitchen Walk on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Harbor Country, Michigan. The walk will benefit Designs for Dignity, a charity that offers pro bono design services and in-kind material donations for non-profit organizations. Following the walk there will be a reception at Journeyman Distillery that is likely to be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a silent auction. If you can’t make it to the walk, support the cause by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win fantastic prizes for your home, including Cambria countertops or a Kohler sink and faucet. For more information and tickets visit kitchenwalk.brownpapertickets.com.

There’s a newish modern furniture store at 1574 Kingsbury Street (it had its official opening last week, but it’s been there for a few months, getting to know the neighborhood). Modani, which first opened shops in Miami and New York, is expanding like crazy and chose Chicago as the place for its fifth location. Here’s what you need to know about it: The furniture is super-modern but also affordable without being cheap (you won’t find a $20,000 sofa here, but you also won’t buy something that falls apart in a year). Some of my favorites (so far!) are the minimalist white leather sectional, the metal-studded Valentino side table, and the Winston floor lamp, which looks like it was stolen off a Hollywood set.

Whether your pockets are deep enough to be the highest bidder or you like a good deal, Wright auction house has some tempting offerings. Coming September 27 is the Living Contemporary auction, at which more than 300 modern art and design objects will be on the block, including two unique pieces of furniture from the architect Steven Holl. His A-Chairs (a set of four chairs made of maple) and Riddled Cabinet (shown here) are going to be going, going, gone. The preview goes through the 26^th, and even if you aren’t prepared to open your wallet very wide, you can still head over to the auction house to stare longingly. Or, you can check out the new online sale category at Wright Now for discounts on pieces by the greats— Hans Wegner, Florence Knoll, Edward Wormley, and more. The auction house is at 1440 W. Hubbard and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays by appointment.

To help celebrate Expo Chicago, the huge contemporary art fair happening on Navy Pier this weekend, The Golden Triangle (330 N. Clark, 312-755-1266) is hosting an Open House Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The latest collection is definitely worth browsing. Some highlights: a panel made of small round mirrors that came from a hotel in the South of France and French soda spray bottles from the 1950s, shown here. Also, check out the pop-up apartment interior designer Michael Richman designed at the Trump Tower in honor of Expo Chicago, Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. Call 312-644-0900 to make reservations.

The former Seneca Hotel on Chestnut Street in the Gold Coast has been renovated into one rad residence—and it is safe to say that I have developed a design crush on this unit, decorated by Room & Board. The juxtaposition of the building’s vintage architectural charm with the modern pieces is just my style. It’s enough to make me want to move. 

You may not know British company Eskandar now, but you will soon. Eskandar is a high-end seller of clothing, accessories, and home goods—and it is opening its first Chicago location on September 27. The housewares are absolutely gorgeous—from Sotis Filippides ceramics, shown here, to Daniel Smith tableware, North African glass, French metallic shelves, antique wooden tables, and more. The 2,000-square-foot shop will be at 70 E. Walton St.

Old Temple Chicago (843 W. Van Buren St.), packed with imports from China and Thailand as well as India, Africa, and Indonesia, just opened its doors to the East in the West Loop. The unique furniture and accessories include painted cabinets, decorated chests, Asian trunks, and Chinese panels, shown here. And this is not mass-produced merchandise: Each piece has a unique story behind it and some date back all the way to the 16th century. Need even more of a reason to visit the store? To celebrate their opening, the owners are taking 35 percent off everything in stock.

The changing of the season makes it the perfect time to swap out the scented candles in your home. (I’ll see you next year, beachy-scented votive!) And one of the best places to stock up on such olfactory delights is Waxman Candles (3044 North Lincoln Ave., 773-929-3000). In addition to their classic fall offerings (pumpkin spice, campfire), this year, they have some new varieties: mulled cider, pumpkin pie (similar to the aforementioned pumpkin spice, but with more of a yummy baked good quality), and caramel apple (a votive that is layered to look like there’s caramel on the bottom and either red for red delicious or green for granny smith on the top). Waxman candles are all made in-house every day using wax from Michigan. And they are super affordable—votives go for $1.75 each or a dozen for $16.