Ila's

At the heart of ILA’s is a question: What does it mean to belong? Inspired by the owner’s mother and her journey as an immigrant from India to Chicago, we were asked to create a space that honors both heritage and place.

Our approach took its cue from the existing architecture—peeling back the layers and adding only what was needed to reinforce the original spirit. There’s a quiet strength in old Chicago buildings, one that reflects the strength of the people who live here. Our role was to preserve that character, not erase it.

We layered in softness where it mattered most: curved, domestic-forward seating that invites you to stay; floor-to-ceiling drapes and privacy screens that offer comfort and pause; and collected art that reflects a worldly point of view. We call these soft values—and they’re vital in a hard world.

The result is a space that holds the tension between cultures—between the comfort of home and the energy of a night out.

This is what it looks like when design helps people feel like they belong.