28 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART designchicagomag.com Postcard is a modern cafe and lounge in Chicago’s West Loop, where music defines the experience. Conceived with travel brand Monos, the space unfolds around sound: Ste Marie shaped monolithic timber panels, buttery leather, and sheer drapery into an atmospheric space that is balanced between openness and enclosure. Part listening room, part cafe, Postcard incorporates analog elements such as records, vintage monitors, and projected archival imagery, all contributing to the sensory experience. Bar stools by Pedrali. Designer Chad Dorsey created this music area just off the dining room of a client’s home in Dallas, Texas. “We tucked it in front of the memoir wall—curated with the homeowner’s prized possessions and featuring artwork centered on human rights and equality,” says Dorsey. “This family built their home around gathering people, whether it’s a dinner party or a fundraiser for a cause they care about, so it mattered to me that the space gave people a reason to get up from the table and keep the evening going.” Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake adorns the walls, with Pale Oak on the baseboards. photography by cody ulrich