Blu Dot are designers, manufacturers, and distributors of modern furnishings and accessories. Founded in 1997 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the American company was started by three college friends who dreamed of bringing good design to as many people as possible. Almost thirty years later, the business is still led by co-founder and CEO John Christakos, and has expanded to include retail locations across the United States, Mexico, and Australia. Blu Dot's approach to design has always been guided by practicality, accessibility, and a healthy dose of irreverence. While our offering has expanded and diversified to satisfy the needs of both residential and commercial customers across multiple categories, every design we produce out of their Minneapolis headquarters demonstrates the same level of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and purpose. For this, we were recognized in 2018 with a National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. As we continue to grow, our focus remains unchanged: to inspire a more creative way of living through good design that’s good to everyone.
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This beautiful modern home already had a lot going for it. From reading-corner-ready lounge chairs to deceptively simple bookshelves, the owners chose designs that kept the vibe chill while still serving up serious sophistication. Explore the project highlight at: https://lnkd.in/ghdsYSJe
For Pride Month, we're spotlighting four books that explore LGBTQ+ identity, visibility, and creative expression through the lenses of photography, art, architecture, and design. Thoughtful, visually rich, and full of fascinating characters, they uncover overlooked histories, offer fresh perspective, and challenge a few assumptions along the way. - Pictures for Charis by Kelli Connell: https://lnkd.in/g7ap4NbJ - Queer Histories Edited by Adriano Pedrosa and Julia Bryan-Wilson: https://lnkd.in/gfsyynjd -Amanza Lee Meredith Imagines Herself Modern: Architecture and the Black American Middle Class by Jacqueline Taylor: https://lnkd.in/g9XE8g2Y -Bruce Goff: Material Worlds Edited by Alison Fisher: https://lnkd.in/gQrjdW9t Want to join hashtag #BluDotBookClub ? Sign up for our email list: https://www.bludot.com/
Thanks to everyone who joined us aboard the Blu Dot Showboat during NeoCon. We loved sharing our new graded-in program and making strong connections with the design community along the Chicago River. As Blu Dot Co-founder and CEO John Christakos put it, commercial spaces are increasingly prioritizing “comfort, warmth, flexibility, and a more human-centered experience”—an evolution that aligns closely with the design direction Blu Dot’s always taken. We’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful to everyone who came aboard.
Big Chicago Design Week for Blu Dot. We debuted Blu Dot Graded-In—our expanded contract offering—and the folks took notice. Graded-In brings our contract lineup to a new level with premium upholstery options from Maharam and Kvadrat, and gives designers and specifiers more choice without sacrificing the approachability we’re known for. Coverage includes: 📐 Surface: https://lnkd.in/gT2dr8uT 🪑 Furniture Today: https://lnkd.in/gSvVeyPh 📰 Business News This Week: https://lnkd.in/g4GvRX-d #NeoCon2026 #ChicagoDesignWeek #BluDot #GradedIn #ContractFurniture #InteriorDesign
If you’re into design, good news: we’re hiring! Looking for a workplace that values creativity, collaboration, good design, and good people? Check out our latest opportunities: bludot.com/pages/careers?
Dog Days proves outdoor furniture can be equal parts relaxed and refined. With all-weather rattan, architectural aluminum frames, and high-performance Sunbrella® cushions, it's designed to elevate outdoor living season after season. Through the Outdoor Sale, Trade members receive 25% off outdoor furniture, making now an ideal time to specify for upcoming projects.
With durability, style, and comfort top of mind, the MOV Hot Yoga team turned to Blu Dot to help create a space that worked just as hard as their community does. Designed as a place to gather post-workout, the studio and restaurant encourage people to linger—cooling down with tea, grabbing lunch or coffee, and settling in with good Wi-Fi. With many gathering areas doubling as high-traffic zones and event spaces, flexibility was key. Furnishings needed to move easily and adapt without disrupting the design. Bumper Ottomans, Chip Stools, Decade Chairs, and Chair Chairs with Cozy Cozy backs flow seamlessly throughout the space, supporting everything from daily drop-ins to book clubs and private events. The result is a lively, welcoming environment members often call their second home. Designing a space of your own? Join the Blu Dot Trade Program for exclusive pricing, dedicated support, and resources tailored to design professionals. https://lnkd.in/gbpJNEGQ
The cruises may be fully booked, but there’s still time to come aboard. Join us dockside for one of the Blu Dot Showboat Open Houses on Monday, June 8th — Breakfast Open House from 10:00–11:30am or Afternoon Open House from 2:00–3:45pm. Explore a whole boatload of Blu Dot, connect with fellow design professionals, and enjoy light bites and cool drinks along the way. Spots are limited, so reserve yours before they’re gone. https://lnkd.in/gFJ_qUH8
Set within an adaptive reuse renovation of a former limousine garage not far from our HQ in Northeast Minneapolis, Midway Art offers a unique haven for experimental, research-driven contemporary art. The nonprofit pairs rotating exhibitions and robust programming with a freely accessible library of 12,000 volumes on art, design, architecture, and theory. In honor of Midway’s 25th anniversary—and ahead of a new library annex designed by Berlin’s bplus.xyz , who also led the previous renovation—we invited founder and curator John Rasmussen to select this month’s books from Midway’s s shelves. His picks center on the intersection of art and books, and the role collections and libraries (both as physical spaces and as containers of human experience) play in shaping and holding culture. - Architecture For Reading in Public by Neil Levine: https://lnkd.in/gFmdF4MA - Baskerville's Teardrop Explodes by John Morgan: https://lnkd.in/gVSNeZhp - Ex Libris by Emily Jacir: https://lnkd.in/gbJdQ-gS - Nothing Could Prepare Us for This - Everything Could Have Prepared Us Edited with text by Florian Ebner, Olga Frydryszak-Retat: https://lnkd.in/gRgTSB9B Want to join #BluDotBookClub ? Sign up for our email list: https://www.bludot.com/
Even though our cruises are fully booked, we’d still love to see you at one of our dockside open houses on June 8th. Join us for a Breakfast Open House from 10:00–11:30am or stop by the Afternoon Open House from 2:00–3:45pm. Light bites, cool drinks, and a whole boatload of Blu Dot will be waiting. Spots are limited, so don’t miss out. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gMwV-Apm