Colorful Living in Chicago: Designing Intentional Summer Moments

In the GG Magazine Summer 2025 feature “Colorful Worlds” (“Bunte Welten”), a global aesthetic shift is on full display — bold, unapologetic, and joyfully saturated. From a kaleidoscopic retreat in São Paulo to an Ibiza villa drenched in terracotta and turquoise, the message is clear: color is back, and it’s not just about design — it’s about emotion.

This isn’t about following trends. It’s about creating spaces that reflect how we want to feel. Inspired. Connected. Awake.

And while the homes featured in GG span the globe, the ethos lands firmly here, in Chicago, where summer is short, golden, and worth celebrating.

The Art of Outdoor Living: Local Meets Global

In our own story on embracing Chicago’s seasonal beauty, we talked about how the city transforms the moment the weather turns. Balconies become brunch spots. Rooftops turn into sanctuaries. Even the smallest courtyard takes on the energy of a European piazza.

“Bunte Welten” echoes that, showing how terraces and gardens are now extensions of self-expression. Patterns clash playfully. Color palettes take risks. Outdoor spaces are no longer designed to blend in but to speak out.

We see that same spirit alive and well in the most desirable Chicago properties. Outdoor fireplaces, statement planters, café string lights, layered textures — these are not just aesthetic choices, they’re lifestyle signals. We’re no longer just staging homes. We’re staging aspiration.

Sip with Intention, Live with Color

In another recent story, we explored curating summer moments through ritual: the idea that your drink, your setting, and your company are all part of a larger, more intentional design for living. “Bunte Welten” builds on this idea — suggesting that joy is something you craft, not wait for. A turquoise cocktail glass. A yellow linen napkin. A playlist that sparks nostalgia.

Every detail becomes a color on the canvas of a well-lived life.

Bringing It All Home

Here’s the takeaway: homes — whether in São Paulo or Streeterville — are no longer static boxes. They are stage sets for our memories. Color is the connective tissue. Outdoor space is the new living room. And curated moments, big or small, are what luxury looks like now.

The best homes don’t just look good. They feel right.

Let’s find the one that feels right for you.
Whether you’re dreaming of a colorful rooftop in the city or a serene sanctuary by the lake, we’re here to help you live your own Colorful Worlds.

— Craig Hogan & Rudy Zavala
Hogan Zavala Group | Engel & Völkers Chicago

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