The Painted Menagerie
Lincoln Park, Chicago | Summer Thornton Design | Completed 2025

What better canvas for a designer's imagination than the place where imagination itself goes to work? Nestled along Chicago's storied Armitage Avenue, The Painted Menagerie is a celebration of creative identity. Fantastical wallpapers, daring color, and unexpected contemporary flourishes mingle with traditional architecture in a spirited expression of Summer Thornton's singular aesthetic. Conceived as both a working atelier and a living manifesto, the space balances theatrical exuberance with the quieter business of making beautiful things.

Developed collaboratively at Summer Thornton Design, this project marked my transition into an independent design role. I assumed responsibility for Summer's private office, contributed to selections and procurement, coordinated complex wallcovering installations, and helped shepherd the larger project through completion, balancing creative ambition with budget and execution.