VARA Design

Chicago Area Boutique Commercial Design Firm VARA Design is an award-winning full service interior design firm servicing the Chicagoland Area.

Our designs consist of both residential and commercial interiors. We offer 3D renderings, construction documentation, fabrication, procurement, purchasing, and art curation. Our designers come from diverse backgrounds including architecture, new construction, retail, fashion, culinary arts, and the wine industry. This multi-faceted foresight sets us apart in the design industry due to our understanding of functionality and real life application.

12/11/2025

Copper Bar Ranch sits in one of the most striking landscapes of the Vail Valley, with the aspen groves at the heart of the property. When we were invited to design their ceremony experience, the goal was to honor that natural rhythm. Tall trunks, shifting light, and the quiet that only happens in Colorado’s high country. These renderings explore a setting that feels grounded, cinematic, and fully connected to the land.

12/01/2025

Renderings tell the story, but install days make it real. At Semper Fi, our team brought final layers to the space. It’s a privilege to shape an environment for a team that leads with such commitment and integrity.

11/14/2025

Touché French Creole in Aurora is more than a restaurant - it’s a true community effort. From hand-painted murals to sculptural details, local artists poured their creativity into the space, shaping an atmosphere as soulful as the menu. We’re grateful for every brushstroke, gilded finish, and handmade detail that brought this vision to life.

Bust sculptures // Elise Hodge ()
Interior Signage // Madeira Designs ()
Mural // Jen Evans ()
Foliage and ceiling installations // Lisa Manning ()
Hand painted window signage // Heart & Bone Signs ()
Branding & Logo // Scott Hodge ()
Wall of curiosities // Joshua Schultz (), Rebekah Axtell (), Anne Wolff ()
Interior Designer // Stefani Whalen ()
Material Sourcing // Rachel Sosnowski ()
Textiles // Theresa Millies (.of.marigold)
Menu Design // Sarah Cervantes ()
Master Craftsman // Joe Sutton ()

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11/07/2025

We’re proud to have partnered with Blue Daring, a woman-owned branding and strategy firm in Chicago, to design their new home. Purposeful, collaborative, and forward-looking, the space mirrors their ethos and amplifies their voice.

From a lounge-style meeting room designed for dialogue to custom furniture by Chicago artist Arlan Derussy, every detail reflects the strength and creativity of the team it was built for.

11/01/2025

Projects like this remind us why we love what we do. Touché French Creole brings big flavor and warm hospitality to downtown Aurora, with a menu that celebrates the rich traditions of New Orleans. The ambience is layered with rich tones, glowing light, and textures that make the space as soulful as the cuisine.

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10/30/2025

Sometimes a project calls for something you can’t just pull off the shelf. That’s when we roll up our sleeves and design custom. From concept sketches to fabrication details, we love creating pieces that fit perfectly into a space - functionally, aesthetically, and economically.

10/27/2025

Giardino Aurora introduces a slice of the Mediterranean to downtown Aurora. Set within the Hobbs Building, its interiors were shaped to feel bright and welcoming - a space for community, cuisine, and connection.

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10/24/2025

Designing a forever home begins with intention. For this Chicago-area residence, our work started with the stairwell and concealed laundry room - the central artery of the home and the threshold for daily life.

An oversized skylight draws in both sun and moonlight, illuminating stone textures and monolithic wooden stairs. Integrated lighting, hidden doors, and curated displays for a vast collection of African art set the tone for the rest of the home, establishing an aesthetic both modern and timeless.

10/21/2025

Aurora’s newest marquee moment.

With a new facade designed by VARA, Stolp Island Theater turned a parking garage into a stage - and Million Dollar Quartet has been stealing the show ever since.

10/19/2025

Our process is built for understanding.

For Cantigny’s clubhouse renovation, we worked in layers: sketches to test ideas, white models to study architecture and light, and renderings to communicate materiality and mood.

These phases help clients see beyond the abstract - to truly grasp how decisions in design impact the feel and flow of a space.

10/16/2025

Service, dedication, and design.

Semper Fi Landscaping has cultivated landscapes for years - now they have a space that reflects their own growth. Their new headquarters, designed by VARA, balances bold form with natural texture, honoring the roots of this veteran-owned business.

10/13/2025

Society 57 in Aurora was designed as both a gathering space and a cultural hub. Coffee by day, events by night, the space adapts with ease - bringing people together in an environment shaped for connection, community, and celebration.

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Address

15 W Downer Place
Aurora, IL
60506

Telephone

+16309077953

Website

http://www.VARAdesign.com/

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