OREANDA-NEWS. June 06, 2012.  GE Monogram® will open its first Midwest design center location in Chicago at LuxeHome in The Merchandise Mart in March 2013. LuxeHome is the world’s largest collection of premier boutiques for home building and renovation located on the ground floor of the historic Merchandise Mart and offering discerning homeowners and trade professionals one-stop-shopping for the finest in kitchen, bath and building products.

GE opened its first Monogram Design Center in New York City’s Architects & Designers Building in 2008. The NYC center has exposed thousands of designers, architects and consumers to the quality and luxury of GE Monogram appliances and has increased share in the northern region by 50 percent since it opened.

“We wanted to build on the success of our first design center by opening another location that would complement the Monogram brand and would be a great strategic move to grow our business,” said Paula Cecere, manager, Monogram Design Center. “We could not be more thrilled with The Merchandise Mart for our second location. The property, management staff, location and outstanding reputation with consumers and professionals made it the overwhelming choice.”

The GE Monogram Design Center in Chicago will feature working kitchens for cooking demonstrations by a professional chef, a showroom equipped with more than 50 GE Monogram appliances that will be outfitted with high-quality, fashionable cabinetry, millwork and finishes that complement the GE Monogram line of appliances.

“The GE Monogram Design Center will be a fantastic addition to LuxeHome,” said Katherine Flaherty, MMPI’s vice president of building products and special projects. “As one of the top premier brands in the industry, GE Monogram appliances feature award-winning technology coupled with quality and timeless elegance- qualities that place them at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. We are ecstatic that GE Monogram chose LuxeHome for their newest location.”

Design of the 3,500-square-foot center will begin this summer with construction starting in January 2013. Once opened, the center will cater to professional trades and the general public. The GE Monogram Design Center will be staffed by three product specialists and a professional chef. The center will maintain the same hours as LuxeHome at The Merchandise Mart (M-F 9-5 and Sat 10-3). The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building and an international epicenter for high design and luxury goods.