Click on a photograph to view original, unique pieces custom-designed exclusively for Cannon Frank clients.

In this Chicago pied-a-terre, the living and dining rooms are incorporated into one space with a brilliant John Cannon custom-designed coffee table that rises to make the area suitable for both dining and entertaining.

This cabinet is one of the most challenging designs John Cannon has ever created for a client. The round space imposed demands not usually associated with cabinets and as a result, the piece is the centerpiece of the room yet blends effortlessly with its surroundings.

In this hidden sanctuary, the client presented Cannon Frank with the challenges of showcasing a very important and valuable paperweight collection featuring a collection of over 358 pieces. Cannon Frank collaborated with the Art Institute of Chicago with regards to the lighting and ventilation aspects in order not to diminish the value of the collection while giving the client the ability to add or change the pieces with an adjustable bracket and mounting system. The cabinet was then designed to fit the décor of the room in a Louis XVI style in French walnut with Amboina burl interiors in a French polish finish with 24 carat gold leaf trim. This cabinet will also allow the addition of other treasures.

The clients wanted their guest bedroom to whimsical and fun (the “regular” guests are their grandchildren). To achieve this goal, John Cannon custom-designed the headboards to resemble flowers. The bedroom faces southeast, so the colors were chosen to offset the morning sunrise. The rich tones of the playful, chinoiserie coverlets balance the pastel palette of the headboards and matching window treatments.

For the master bedroom, John Cannon custom designed this cypress log bed with walnut “finger sliced” for the headboard. All the wood for this piece was grown on the 225-acre property.

The client really loves his collection of artifacts; however there was a huge discussion about whether to display all or part of the collection. John Cannon created two coffee tables in Macassar ebony, with trays upholstered in light silver silk. The tables each have three trays, so the clients can interchange them to showcase different parts of the collection at different times of year or to suit the occasion.

The client, an avid model train enthusiast, wanted to create a custom cabinet in which to showcase his most prized possessions. Cannon Frank consulted with the Art Institute of Chicago on how to best curate the precious paperweight collection, and together they decided how best to light the interior of the cabinets so as to not accidently “etch” the pieces. Other considerations were creating temperature controls and a filtration/venting system within the cabinet so the interior would not get too hot and create problems for the custom millwork or the collections. There are also security features on several of the cabinets in this residence.

The request was to ultimately create a lightweight, glass kichen table. However, Cannon Frank commissioned a glass artist who was able to carve the globe, the constellations and the birth signs of each resident in the house in the ¾” glass. Upon completion of each layer of carving, the artist sealed and painted each layer to add the perception of depth….which made the piece an art piece and something the clients could eventually pass on to their children.

The bed in the master bedroom was created by Frank Pollaro. To complement this beautiful piece, John Cannon designed a pair of Art Deco nightstands in the same wood and finish as the bed, which fits the space and contour of the bed as well as the functional requirements for the client. Additionally, a narrow slide pull-out at the top of the nightstand holds hot liquids.

The millwork in this apartment was designed to display a large collection of Asian artifacts throughout the home.

The cabinets in this kitchen were designed to provide unobstructed views into Lake Michigan.

John Cannon designed cantilevered and cherry wood floating treads with a brass and steel handrail for this custom staircase and railing.