The gift of Smaller Spaces By Amanda Goossen Photographs by Mike Baxter, Baxter Imaging

Cathy Hayes is Arcadia. To discover that she actually grew up in a small suburb of Chicago is like finding out that the tooth fairy might be a childhood fantasy. It doesn’t seem possible. Hayes Inc. Architecture and Interiors is responsible for some of Arcadia’s most beloved institutions. La Grande Orange wouldn’t possess its well known coolness factor, Chelsea’s Kitchen wouldn’t feel like a bustling home away from home and Sanctuary Resort and Spa would be missing many of its key elements, without the hard work and vision of architect and designer, Cathy Hayes. Growing up in River Forest, a community closely tied to the larger area of Oak Park in Chicago, Illinois, Cathy was surrounded by architectural inspiration. Beautiful ranch-style homes were the foundation, while a local celebrity, Frank Lloyd Wright had a home and studio just blocks away from where Cathy grew up. “I connect with Arcadia because it reminds me of where I grew up,” said Cathy. “I knew I would live amongst similar minded people.” Cathy felt such a pull to the community, in fact, eleven years ago she would purchase a 1,500 sq. ft. home on a 7,000 sq. ft lot just blocks away from her office, next door to LGO. And then she would transform that home, using everything she knew, to design a living space encompassing her every architectural belief. For Cathy, smaller is better and she proved that by “i connect with arcadia because it reminds me of where i grew up.” Continued on page 12