NeoCon Presentation Description: Forward-thinking designers are increasingly blending residential warmth and commercial functionality, creating spaces that feel both inviting and operationally rigorous. This session explores how boutique hospitality, commercial, and high-end residential projects borrow from one another, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of crossing disciplines. Leading designers share insights on staffing, timelines, materials, budgets, and contracts, emphasizing that expertise in one sector does not automatically translate to the other. Attendees will learn strategies for translating residential sensibilities into commercial projects and vice versa, while balancing client expectations, brand identity, and operational requirements. Through case studies, attendees will gain practical guidance on approaching mixed-use and transcdisciplinary projects while maintaining design excellence, emotional impact, and a sense of place.
Sarah Goesling
Owner + Principal
Goesling Group
Sarah Goesling is a Chicago-based interior designer, project manager, and business developer with over 16 years of experience delivering design-driven spaces with precision. As Owner and Principal of Goesling Group, she leads a luxury firm known for its studied focus on color, material, and finish (CMF), cultural deep diving, and future forecasting. Her work spans custom residences, boutique commercial projects, and highly specialized interiorsâfrom indoor pools to jewelry stores and tattoo parlors. A certified general contractor, Sarah has collaborated with KOHLER, Airoom Architects, and Fredman Design Group.
Mike Shively, AIA
Founding Partner
En Masse Architecture and Design
Mike Shively, AIA is Founding Partner at En Masse Architecture and Design in Chicago, a firm recognized for its community-driven, cross-disciplinary approach. For Mike, En Masse represents the culmination of a lifelong passion for architecture. After founding Mike Shively Architecture in 2015, he began to refine the whole-team approach to architecture which led to the transition to En Masse in 2020. Empowered, whole-team creativity informs Mikeâs leadership and is synonymous with his approach to En Masseâs clients and projects: listening and collaborating come first, leading to design that brings joy to daily life.
Sarah Kuchar-Parkinson
Owner and Creative Director
Kuchar Studio
One of Interior Design magazineâs â20 Inspiring Female Designers to Know,â Sarah Kuchar-Parkinson is the owner and creative director of Chicago-based interior design studio Kuchar. Specializing in commercial, residential, and hospitality projects, Kucharâs portfolio spans offices, showrooms, restaurants, and luxury homes across Chicago, Austin, Amsterdam, London, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, and Singapore. A Harrington College of Design graduate, Sarah began her career at Perkins&Will before launching Kuchar in 2016. Nearly a decade later, her firm continues to deliver boundary-pushing interiorsâfrom award-winning academies and experiential showrooms to restaurants and custom homesâblending personality, function, and global impact.
This content will not be available until 06/07/2026 at 8:00 AM (EDT)
