Welcome to Chicago North Shore Moms weekly Meet a Mom series where we feature one local mama, what they’re up to both personally and professionally.
Ten years ago, ellie Nottoli launched a business planning dinner parties and small events from her own dining room table. Today, she’s celebrating a decade of elliestyled in a bright and styled space that serves as her team’s headquarters as well as a fully aesthetic private event space; Atelier by elliestyled is a full-service design studio and venue in downtown Highland Park. In between, ellie raised a family, built a team, and turned a niche skill combination of design, celebration and organization into a North Shore trusted business producing beautiful, meaningful gatherings for life’s biggest milestones—weddings, mitzvahs, birthdays, and celebrations of life alike.
Get to know ellie, what grounds this busy mother of five, what this North Shore community means to her and the services she and her team can provide from concept to cleanup and literally everything in between. Welcome, ellie Nottoli!
Photo credit: Victor Hilitski
Hi ellie Nottoli! Give us a quick snapshot of you and your life right now. Where you live on the North Shore, what your days look like, and what keeps you busy?
I live in Lake Forest with two of my 5 children and start my days slow and early. I was never an early riser until I discovered how magical the mornings are before the sun, before the chatter and before the leaf blowers. I get to my studio in Highland Park by 9:00 am and spend the day with my team dreaming up events, solving problems, styling spaces, and bringing ideas to life.
This is a wonderfully busy time of year for us, producing summer events while simultaneously preparing for the holidays and planning ahead to 2027 celebrations.
My off time is spent with my children, supporting their sports, careers, and adventures. I know how quickly this season goes, so I’m really intentional about being with them while I can.
Photo credit: Turning Leaf Photography
ellie, where are you from originally and why did you move to the North Shore (or stay) on the North Shore?
I am from Lake Bluff originally. Moved to Lake Forest a bit over a decade ago. We live close to town, and I love the proximity and intimacy with the city center, shops and restaurants.
Tell us about your family. What does motherhood look like in your house these days?
Constant dynamic changes in our household! I have a Son in Denver, another finishing college in Virginia and two at home. One building his gaming career and my daughter a Junior in high school. I love this era, watching my kids discover who they are as they enter adulthood and realize they are in charge of their destiny!
Photo credit: Momoko Fritz
When you’re not soaking in the morning calm or revving up for a busy season of events, what’s something about you that might surprise people, outside of your work and mom life?
I think it would surprise people to know that I am truly a homebody. I don’t love to shop, I’m not interested in going out too often, and I really just love being at home. I am often client facing or managing a team at work, always “on”. I cherish the quiet time.
I stopped drinking alcohol almost eight years ago, and it’s changed the way I spend my free time. Yes, I value slower mornings, quiet evenings, meaningful conversations, and being fully present much more than I ever expected.
When you do head out of home and office, what are your go-to spots right now?
My favorite treat lately has been a stop after work at the newly opened The Barn in Highland Park for dollar oysters and a dirty sparkling water with blue cheese olives.
As an event planner, what’s something you cannot leave home without?
My basket…a literal basket I carry as a catch all for client files, my laptop, a tape measure, makeup bag, mentos gum, lip gloss (at least 2 options), and my phone.
It’s time to get down to business! Please introduce elliestyled and ATELIER by elliestyled.
elliestyled is our event design company. We are celebrating 10 years in business this year! I started at my dining room table, planning small events and dinner parties, Today we’re a full-service planning and design company producing weddings, mitzvahs, corporate events, and celebrations of all sizes.
Photo Credit: Turning Leaf Photography
We have launched a rental program, and opened a venue in downtown Highland Park. Atelier by elliestyled serves as our showroom, production studio as well as our venue.
ellie, we last interviewed you in May 2021. What has changed about your business since then?
Wow! elliestyled has evolved in many ways. The biggest change has been opening Atelier. Having our own space completely changed the way we work. It’s a beautiful environment where my creative team can collaborate in a communal work environment surrounded by our rentals on display for inspiration. We have expanded our team and offerings to include more a la carte services and deepened our rental inventory.
elliestyled offers both full-service planning and à la carte styling. For those of us who feel challenged by event planning, what is the difference?
One of the things that’s important to me is making great design accessible. Not everyone needs full-service planning. We can do as much or as little as needed for support. Some clients feel overwhelmed by the planning process, and some like to be really engaged. We offer various price points and engagement to offer support however it’s needed, to suit any budget.
We are happy to be fully engaged from the very first moments of conceptualizing, until the lights turn off after the event. We also offer rentals through our website for independent shopping. In between would be a consulting or styling fee billed at an hourly rate.
Photo credit: Turning Leaf Photography
How does having your own space (Atelier) influence the creative process and overall guest experience compared to styling events at outside venues?
Hosting events at Atelier by elliestyled feels different because we already have a base of decor. The shelves are styled with our rentals, the lounge and bars are already in place. Often, we accentuate the existing decor with installations, tablescapes and backdrops. Offsite events often require us to pack a truck and bring an entire event with us. At Atelier, so much of the beauty already exists, which lets us focus on layering in the personal details that make each celebration unique.
And that kitchen space! Aside from being a fully functioning kitchen, what is this space used for?
The kitchen sealed the deal on this space for me. It is BEAUTIFUL, and functional. Our catering teams use it to prep for events held at the space, and we have also had cooking classes and small gatherings out of the kitchen. It’s also rented for product photography, the afternoon light is incredible!
Your event rentals collection feels intentionally curated rather than overwhelming. Walk us through how you source and select pieces.
A lot of my collection was inherited pieces from my family. I have both of my Grandmothers’ china, that inspired me to appreciate and collect beautiful things starting at a young age. I collect wherever I am…estate sales, antique shops, Facebook marketplace, and the woods.
I have a wide range of interesting collections that are often seen sprinkled at our events. Natural curiosities, to contemporary tabletop, to antique treasures I have been sourcing for years.
Photo credit: Elaine Melko
You’re well-known on the North Shore as a super community-minded professional. Why is this so important to you?
Both personally and professionally, my community has shown up for me time and time again. It’s a small act of gratitude to engage and support local community. We all need a village.
ellie, what do you want our readers to know about elliestyled or Atelier that we have not already covered?
I didn’t realize when I started elliestyled that this work would become so much more than designing beautiful spaces. Families invite us into some of the biggest moments of their lives, and over the years we’ve celebrated weddings, babies, birthdays, mitzvahs, anniversaries, and even celebrations of life alongside them. It’s incredibly humbling to be trusted with those memories. Long after the flowers are gone and the rentals are packed away, those are the moments people remember. Knowing we played a small part in that is what keeps me inspired.
Give us your dets! Where can we connect, ask questions, book a consultation with you, etc.?
We genuinely love when people stop in. Even if you’re just curious, come browse the rentals, see Atelier, and say hello.
We are present on all socials, and if you’re interested in planning an event together, please email us [email protected].
About Our Spotlight Partner
Chicago North Shore Moms is supported in part by Mary Gregory Gifford, a Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
