Antiques + Modernism Show co-chairs Cindy Monnig, of Winnetka, and Annie Challenger, of Northfield. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Gone are the days when a living room would be furnished with floor-to-ceiling antiques, or a dining room outfitted with a matching suite of china cabinet, table and chairs.
Today’s most inspiring interiors blend traditional and modern pieces, curated and layered to create a classic, timeless style.
Nowhere on the North Shore is this artful marriage of new and old more beautifully showcased than it is at Winnetka’s annual Antiques + Modernism Show, scheduled for November 2-4 at Winnetka Community House (WCH).
During the three-day 2018 A+M Show, 43 Antiques Council-vetted dealers will set up shop inside WCH, transforming the 107-year old building into a bustling treasure trove of fine art, home furnishings, jewelry and vintage clothing.
This year, a sizable collection of new dealers joins a long list of returning dealers like Julie Harris, Elliott & Elliott and Finnegan Gallery.
More than 1,000 collectors, designers and shoppers are expected to attend the A+M Show Weekend as well as a sneak-peak Preview Party scheduled for the evening of November 1. The A+M Preview Party is both a fundraiser for WCH and a chance for the show’s donors and devotees to walk the show while enjoying cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
“That first night is typically when you spot the best finds,” 2018 A+M Show Co-chair Cindy Monnig says.
As a corporate underwriter for the Preview Party, Lincoln Experience will showcase two of its 2019 car models on Lincoln Avenue, just outside the entrance to WCH, including the popular Lincoln Navigator and newly launched Lincoln Nautilus.
“It’s a perfect partnership,” Monnig says. “Lincoln on Lincoln.”
Produced each year by WCH’s Woman’s Board, the Antiques + Modernism Show has a long, storied history dating back more than 60 years. Once two separate shows, the events merged more than a decade ago as popular design shifted and evolved.
A display from a past Antiques + Modernism Show
As a tribute to the A+M Show’s longevity, WCH staff members have gathered photos of past show chairs from the Winnetka Historical Society and Winnetka Talk archives. The images will be projected on a loop during the Preview Party on November 1.
The roots of WCH’s Woman’s Board also run deep — as far back as the 1970’s — when WCH fell into a state of disrepair. It was then that longtime Winnetka resident, Timmey Challenger — who died in 2008 — founded the Woman’s Board and successfully campaigned to save the nonprofit Community House, now a thriving recreational, social and cultural hub on the North Shore.
Timmey Challenger’s legacy at WCH lives on today; her daughter, Annie Challenger, a resident of Northfield, is both a Woman’s Board member and co-chair of the 2018 A+M Show.
“My parents loved this show,” Annie says. ‘They were avid collectors and brought items home from their travels abroad. It was something they did together.”
The Challenger family’s outplacement company, Challenger Gray & Christmas, Inc., joins Lincoln Experience as a sponsor of the 2018 A+M Show, along with Social Media underwriter Compass Real Estate and North Shore Community Bank, the sponsor of the Speaker Event November 2.
Among the show’s scheduled weekend events is a breakfast on November 2, featuring speaker Carla McDonald — founder and editor in chief of The Salonniere — who joins renowned designers Alessandra Branca and Michael Devine. McDonald plans to share her pro tips on home entertaining.
On the morning of November 3, Julia Buckingham, a veteran A+M Show speaker, will take the stage to discuss her signature Modernique decorating aesthetic, a style that blends pieces from different price points and eras.
“Julia is an expert at mixing contemporary pieces with the old family pieces her clients already own,” Monnig says.
As in years past, A+M Show shoppers will have access to free design advice: all featured speakers will walk the show prior to their appearance, tagging “must-have” recommended items with a yellow star.
“Our speakers’ picks are typically the first to sell,” Monnig says. “I recommend shopping early.”
For more information about the 2018 Antiques + Modernism Show and to buy tickets, please visit thewinnetkashow.com.
