"Bringing true artistry into the design process through handmade objects, weaving and alternative methods will always be the thing I get most excited about," shares designer Elise Metzger of Forward Fruit Design. From "getting a little weird" with upholstery and lighting to dyed millwork beyond her wildest design dream, the Chicago-based talent, who is featured in the LUXE NEXT Class of 2026, loves to encourage continuous discovery in her designs. And her clients, she happily reports, are equally excited to expand their comfort zone. Metzger's polished interiors are both modern and grounded in an East Coast aesthetic, but she's not afraid to layer in other influences, and even a bit of humor. Learn more about Metzger and explore the full LUXE NEXT Class of 2026 at the link in bio.
Interior Design: @forwardfruit
Headshot Photography: @heathertalbert
Diving deeper into this palette late this week (probably 😜) but for now I’ll leave you with the *ideal* sitting area of your primary suite.
Photo @rymcdon
#forwardfruit #forwardfruitdesign #Home #interiordesign #deco #decor #homedecor #decorations #sodomino #traditionalhome #elledecor #fortheloveofvintage #interior4all #homeinspiration #homeinspo #modernhome #dwell
This is the vignette we were after the whole project. A snoozy soffit glowed up to a glorious archway, “looking out” to @phillipjeffriesltd Secret Garden mural in a custom, bathroom-friendly vinyl. The whole design revolves around the palette of the cipollino ondulato, the first must-have decision for the space. Not shown in the “after” shot - a skylight that brings in a beautiful diffuse light throughout the day.
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Photo @rymcdon
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #forwardfruit #forwardfruitdesign #Home #interiordesign #deco #decor #homedecor #decorations #sodomino #traditionalhome #elledecor #bathroomdesign #mainbathinspo #tile #waterworks #artistictile
I have been styling all my own shoots… until now! What a huge step and if you know, you know. It’s always hard to outsource something you know you CAN do, but that doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Everyone has their dreams, and mine was to finally give up styling the shoots. Combining different perspectives is something I really value and it felt so so good. FWIW, I never would have brought whole watermelons. Thanks @kimberlyswedelius
📸 with @heathertalbert
Interior design, interior photography, kitchen design, kitchen inspo, chicago interior designer
Installs moving forward for our Pensacola project, where we created 4 distinct “zones” in an open floor plan “situation”. We really went all-in with @mollymahonblockprinting on this one!
Chicago interior design, block printing, pattern on pattern, colorful millwork, storage inspo
Exciting to see our primary bath featured in the latest edition of @luxemagazine as they celebrate the Chicago #LUXENEXT folks ! And also proof that Allison and I made our way to LA this winter 🤣 @jilleditsluxe
Photo @rymcdon
Chicago interior design, luxe magazine, bathroom design
Let’s talk about pistachio & walnut kitchens!! Is it a trend or a classic?? Come with me an we travel through time and space to Victorian era Paris when this calm green hue became forever linked with food spaces and finishes like wood and marble.
Shout out to @studio_roene , @studioashby , @michellerago and Morgane Sézalory @sezane
Kitchen design, chicago interior design, paris, Ladurée, pastry, kitchen trends
When I was younger, my parents gave me a folding screen with 3 panels, each with space for 3 photos. I’d swap them out with artwork or photos, and always kept a robe hung from one of the panels. It made me feel like a very sophisticated tween, and I after designing my very own screen last year for the @lakeforestiws , I can confidently say I still feel the same.
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Slide 1,2&3 Design by @forwardfruit , built by @trimtech , embossed leather by @animalhandmade Photo @heathertalbert
Slide 4 @ambelie_gallerie Mother of Pearl inlay folding screen
Slide 5 @prinsheerlijkantiek
Slide 6 @dimoremilano
Slide 7 Jean Lurçat textile folding screen, 1925 repost from @annagloverinteriors
Slide 8 Town and Country, 1951. Screen by Tony Duquette
Slide 9 @gergeierdei Photo @wanda_martin
Slide 10 @darrell_dean_antiques Piero Fornasetti folding screen
Checking in on the staircases and kitchen refresh at our Elmwood Oak Park project. Our clients went moody and full of pattern with the design on this one! Can’t wait to show you the rest once the window dressings are layered in.
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Everyone loves a powder room for stretching the limits, but let’s do staircases too!
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Interior design, staircase inspo, staircase design, wallpaper, grasscloth, chicago interior designer, oak park interior design, old house design
Sometimes we design a room around a piece of art (something I’m aiming to do more of these days!) but more often, we source art in the design development process. Here are a few paintings, prints, and photographs that came into the picture at various stages - all the way up to the final styling.
Slide 1: This butterfly was always part of the plan, but for me, it was the styling of the flowers and pillows that made it soar. Photo @heathertalbert
Slide 2: This horse photo had to live on this wall due to its size, so we built the black and white story around it. Photo @geneyoon
Slide 3: We brought this painting in at the tail end of the process. It was a vintage find from an estate sale. We actually painted the frame to match the decor! Photo @rymcdon
Slide 4: Brought in during styling as the perfect way to anchor the red detail in the wallpaper. Photo @rymcdon
Slide 5: Sourced during the design development stage - this is actually a pink resin coated mirror. Totally stole the show! Photo @heathertalbert
I’m looking for some new directions to go in tile, and took a quick exploration through my phone to reference images I’ve snapped when out and about. I searched “tile” and got 2,452 results. Don’t worry! I’ve narrowed it down to the 8 you see here. From zigzag pool tile, to chunky Italian terrazzo, to a simple checkered porcelain, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
