CHICAGO – A dark and dismal Christian Science Reading Room in the Chicago suburbs may not have warranted a second glance by most passers-by, but for interior designers Kurt Miller and Luke Mack, it was a diamond in the rough and the perfect place for the retail store they had long dreamed of.
Jacob Lukas Design is a well-established interiors firm with experience in luxury hi-rises, townhomes and sprawling suburban homes, but Miller said they struggled with the same issues most designers face: Where is my next project coming from? My next client? What is the best return on investment? They would take out a full-page ad in a glossy pub, but it wouldn’t lead to anything, Miller said.
Miller said he had always dreamed of having a cute retail shop. So did Mack. In December 2024, the stars aligned for the couple. Mack inherited money from his family’s sale of their 81-year-old restaurant in Chicago, and the Christian Science Reading Room came on the market in Elmhurst, Ill., a tree-lined, close-knit walkable neighborhood about 16 miles from downtown Chicago.
The space ticked all the boxes, according to Miller: it was on the first floor, had a good storefront window and good bones, and was centrally located in a square radius of nonstop monied foot traffic all day long and late into evening, according to Miller. It stands about 100 feet from a Metro stop, catching the eye of scores of professionals who catch the commuter train into the city every day.
The pair bought the space, completely renovated it in three and half weeks, and opened Wanderlust the second week of May. It carries home décor and grab-and-go gifts, like candles and cloth napkins, as well as antiques and brand-new upholstered pieces from brands like Hooker, Lexington Home and Caracole.
“We wanted new, contemporary, edgy, fun accessories. One-of-a-kind accessories,” Miller said. “We didn’t want people to walk in and feel like it was an interior design firm.”
It may not feel like an interior design firm, but it is so inviting and captivating that it opens a dialogue about the pair’s full-service design capabilities. Old-school storyboards of projects they are currently working on are scattered across a round dining table in the store, which also sparks conversation about their design work. And at the cash wrap, they would casually mention the free at-home consult they offered in the first two months of their business. For people who came in and loved look of store and the vibe, it was a zero commitment to learn more about Jacob Lukas Design.
“Daily sales might not be astronomical, but we have gone on six consultations in our neck of woods, and landed all six jobs,” Miller said. “Having a brick and mortar allows people to come in, look around under the radar, meet us and gauge our personalities.”
Miller and Mack are juggling client calls while running Wanderlust, but Mack’s family is willing to pitch in and mind the store. Nonetheless, Miller said, “We’re starting to get to the point where we need someone.”
