Shown above: The Lake Forest Showhouse, 2009, courtesy of karamanndesign.com

We just heard that Kara Mann is closing her Chicago showroom after four years to focus on the design side of her business. Good for Mann and her ever-growing list of clients, but we’re sad we’ll no longer be able to browse her edgy and elegant River North space for inspiration. Always a discoverer and nurturer of fantastic talent (she brought Chicago Jean de Merry and Blackman Cruz), Mann’s great taste will just have to live on in the homes of some lucky folks. We’ll keep you posted on any floor sample sales.