Dream Home

DreamHome and Finishing Chicago = “A Perfect Union”

The 2012 Chicago Designer DreamHome at the Design House at the Merchandise Mart gave the city’s top designers the opportunity to show their room creations, a reflection of the latest design trends. This year, the DreamHome benefits Almost Home Kids, an organization that provides transitional care in a home-like setting to children with complicated health needs.

Finishing Chicago-FCAC, a sponsor of the DreamHome, was an integral part of the success of the project. Clark Johnson, FCAC Director of Marketing, says they like working with the DreamHome and their designers. “It highlights our skills and what we can do as far as completing the vision of what the homeowner wants through the designer.”

“Finishing Chicago stands ready to deliver the designer’s vision in the most time efficient and professional way possible,” states Mike Krawiec, Instructor for Finishing Chicago-JATC. Up to 25 apprentices worked with Mike over the month to complete the finishes. “We used a crew of five to six apprentices each day throughout the entire project, starting with taping out the walls to applying the faux finishes. We worked up special finishes for Ken (Kenneth Walter, ASID) in the game room highlighting the black and earth tones of copper.” Also in this room, a stunning color-tweaked finish taught at a Faux Effects® workshop with Sheri Zeman (Faux Design Studio, Addison IL) was applied to emphasize the TV wall. In the living room, Mike worked with Richard Abrahamson’s design using toning glazes and replicating stone around the fireplace.

Michael Krawiec has spent a lifetime perfecting his craft and sharing his expertise with students. In his role as Specialty Instructor for the JATC (Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee), Mike has been creating amazing faux finishes, woodgraining and marbleizing for over a decade. He also instructs nationally at the IUPAT-Finishing Trade Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to becoming a Faux Effects® guest instructor, Mike spent 15 years as a Journeyman painter for one of Chicago’s largest painting contractors. Working in high profile settings with the top echelon of Chicago designers, Mike not only knows the skill level required to succeed, but also knows how to work with discriminating clientele.

Faux Effects International Inc., DreamHome product donation sponsor, has a longstanding relationship with Finishing Chicago and the IUPAT and JATC. The Chicago Area JATC and the DFTC (Drywall Finishing Training Committee) are dedicated to developing apprentice trainees into skilled professional painting, decorating, and drywall finishing Journeymen. The objective of both the JATC and the DFTC programs is to provide the Union Contractor employer with a qualified, highly productive, safe workforce. The IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) represents men and women in North America who work in the Finishing Trades of commercial and industrial painting, drywall finishing, glazing, floor covering, sign and trade show/convention display.

The DreamHome on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart is open to the public now through December 9, 2012. Hours are 10am-3pm, Monday through Saturday.