HBF and Mohawk Group: Craft as Common Ground
Interior Designer: Ware Malcomb
Location: Chicago, IL
Project Type: Showroom
Products: Rhine Seating, Social Seating, Mod Seating, Bao Seating, Double Take Tables, Carousel Table, November Table
Photography: Dan Banko
Completion: November 2024
Walking into Mohawk Group's Chicago showroom is an exercise in revelation. Visitors arrive through a dimly lit corridor before emerging into a naturally light-filled space overlooking Fulton Market, where sweeping views of the city meet carefully layered flooring, richly textured furnishings, books, artwork, and archival pieces. Every detail feels considered.
For Jackie Dettmar, Vice President of Marketing for Design and Product Development at Mohawk Group, every design decision begins with purpose.
"Everything throughout the space is very, very intentional," she says. "Every piece you see on the shelves, the books, the artwork, the archive materials—they all tell our story."
At the heart of that story is Techne—the ancient Greek concept encompassing art, craft, and skill—which serves as the foundation for Mohawk Group's design vision this year. More than a theme, it reflects a philosophy that explores the relationship between craftsmanship and innovation.
Craft, after all, has always been part of the company's DNA.
It also explains why HBF became a natural collaborator—not because the company simply offered furniture and textiles, but because both organizations approach design through a remarkably similar lens. In an industry often driven by product launches and seasonal introductions, Mohawk Group and HBF share a quieter ambition: to create work guided by curiosity, craftsmanship, and care.
"We always recognize HBF as a partner because you share the same values that we have about craftsmanship, about making, about valuing the labor that goes into making things," says Royce Epstein, Senior Director of Design Insights. "The end result isn't just a widget."
Casey Baxter, Vice President and General Manager at HBF, sees the partnership much the same way.
"The best partnerships don't start with products—they start with a shared way of thinking," says Casey Baxter, Vice President and General Manager at HBF. "From the beginning, it was clear that Mohawk Group approaches design with the same curiosity, respect for craft, and commitment to creating meaningful spaces. That's what made this collaboration feel so natural. As our industry continues to evolve, it's worth remembering that innovation is at its best when it's guided by shared values, thoughtful making, and a deep respect for craft."
Explore Mohawk Group Showroom
Neither company talks about products as isolated objects. Instead, they speak about process, relationships, materials, and the people behind them. Furniture, flooring, and textiles become expressions of a broader design philosophy rather than ends in themselves.
That relationship has been decades in the making. The two companies spent years as neighbors in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, while many members of their respective teams have worked alongside one another throughout their careers. Professional familiarity gradually evolved into mutual respect.
"We've always been good neighbors," Dettmar says with a smile. "Having a like-minded partner made a big difference."
Inside the Chicago showroom, that philosophy is evident in every detail. More importantly, it reveals why the partnership between Mohawk Group and HBF feels so effortless. Their collaboration wasn't built around a specification. It was built around a shared belief that the most enduring design begins with craft, is strengthened by innovation, and ultimately serves the people who experience it.