Copyright Chicago Tribune
Downtown Clarendon Hills should be getting a new shopping option at the outset of the holiday season. Renovations already are underway at 5 S. Prospect Ave. in preparation for the opening of Jacaranda Boutique & Interiors, which will offer a selection of furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware, home scents and decorative objects sourced from luxury ateliers and artisans around the world, said interior designer Mariana Cuevas, the business owner. “Beyond shopping, our design studio offers bespoke services for residential, hospitality and commercial projects,” she said, adding that the business will host workshops and events with industry experts. Cuevas, who originally is from Argentina and currently lives in the western suburbs, said she chose to open her new business after more than 20 years directing high-profile hotel and residential design projects worldwide, including work on the Waldorf Astoria New York and other luxury properties. “I wanted to create something more personal, a boutique and design studio that reflects my passion for craftsmanship, beauty, storytelling and hospitality,” she said. This will be our flagship home.” Cuevas said she chose Clarendon Hills for her business because she believes it has a unique charm and a strong sense of community that aligns very well with what Jacaranda represents. “It’s intimate, walkable and filled with people who truly value quality and want their home to reflect that,” she said. “Clarendon Hills provides the perfect setting for us to introduce a concept that blends global artistry with local charm.” Cuevas said she has been dreaming of opening her own boutique and design studio for some time and carefully explored different communities in which Jacaranda could thrive. “It was important to me that our flagship be in a place that values both community and small businesses,” she said. “Clarendon Hills stood out immediately — its welcoming downtown has the intimacy of a small town paired with the sophistication of a community that embraces art, culture, and design. When I discovered the space at 5 S. Prospect Ave., it felt like the perfect match.” Along with those who live in Clarendon Hills, Cuevas said she anticipates having customers from Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Western Springs, Naperville and beyond. “For design services, our reach will be even broader, as we work on hospitality and residential projects both across the country and internationally,” she said. “My hope is that Jacaranda becomes both a destination and a gathering place — a boutique where clients can discover extraordinary pieces, and a studio where we bring design dreams to life.” Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
