01/29/10

InBox | Art at Scout

This Sunday, January 31, at 2 p.m., Scout will be showing eight watercolors by the late Chicago architect and artist Robert Tague, courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery. At the same time, a sampling of wine will be served, courtesy of Andersonville Wine and Spirits. Soothing watercolors and wine in a cozy shop. What a pleasant way to spend a cold Sunday afternoon.

—GINA BAZER

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01/28/10

InBox | Porter’s of Racine

After 152 years in business, Porter’s of Racine, a fine furniture store, is closing. North Shore-ites are among the customers who have made the trek over the border for furniture by Stickley, Henredon, Baker, Century, and other big names. Now everything must go, and price reductions are huge. It’s a big blow for downtown Racine, but an opportunity for anyone in the market for new furniture.

—JAN PARR

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01/28/10

Spotted | New Faves at Room & Board

Yesterday we checked out the new collections at Room & Board and let’s just say we were not disappointed. Every year the company introduces a new signature chair, and this year’s Louis is an elegant, well-priced one ($899) that’s stocked in a navy blue and houndstooth fabric (also available in leather for $1,699)—at once modern and classic. Another cool chair: the Tiffany, a lovely polycarbonate—it’s that Lucite look we love¬—number that’s durable enough for outdoor use and fabulous enough for your dining room ($199 for side chair, $249 for arm chair; available in solid colors as well). Moving on from the seating options, I really like felt rugs and I also like square-shaped rugs (so often area rugs only come in rectangular configurations—though you can get custom sizes through R&B), so I fell in love with the Fuller felted rug ($1,715 for 7 by 7 feet), shown above. I was also so impressed by the workmanship of the Munich storage/media cabinet. Available in solid walnut or cherry, the sliding veneered tambour door panels look completely smooth when closed (see photo above). With a stainless steel base and handles, it’s a true beauty ($2,799). I’m off to save my pennies.

—GINA BAZER

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01/27/10

Happy Hour | Table Jewelry

Over the holidays I went to a party at my friend Jeanne’s home (she of Figaro Parisian Interiors) and met Janet Torelli, who makes handcrafted silver napkin rings (featuring semiprecious stones), serving pieces, ice tongs, martini pics, cocktail stirrers, and more. Her designs, some of which have a Michael Aram vibe to them, would dress up any table. Shown here: sterling/semiprecious gem napkin rings ($675 for eight) and a ginkgo bonbon server ($160).

—JAN PARR

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01/26/10

InBox | Lovely Soaps

I just got an email from the Careful Peach in Oak Park about these soaps by Savon de Marseille. Don’t you just want to eat them? Perhaps I felt this way because it was about 4 p.m. and my stomach was growling when they appeared, in all their lusciousness, in my InBox yesterday. Available in five varieties (including unscented, rose petals, and lavender) these guys are made of Mediterranean sea salt, ash from Mediterranean sea plants, olive oil and, in some cases, crushed flowers or herbs. You can use them not only to clean your skin, but to do laundry, and wash your dishes (just don’t eat them). They come in 300-gram bars (unscented $8, with pressed flowers/herbs, $13). What a lovely counterpart to any sink.

—GINA BAZER

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01/25/10

InBox | Pouf!

These fabulous poufs have just arrived at @Work Design in Forest Park. Think of them as throw pillows for your floor. Frank (red), 13½ inch diameter by 15¾ inches high, $617, and Henry (black), 16 by 16 inches, $317.

—GINA BAZER

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01/22/10

InBox | Down Under Design

It's summer in Australia right now and Chicago's Aussies are missing the motherland. That's why this Sunday from January 24, from 1 to 5 p.m., a bunch of mates are getting together at The Trump Hotel for Experience Australia. Dozens of Outbackers will be selling artisanal cheeses, specialty seafood and meat selections, desserts, aboriginal art, and more; there will also be live performances by popular Australian musicians Anthony Snape and Claire Windham. Among the vendors will be one of our favorite Aussies, Jenny Rossignuolo, co-owner of Urban Source, who will display the lovely wallpaper of fellow countrywoman Florence Broadhurst, which is carried exclusively at Urban. Buy a $35 ticket and you'll get a chance to win two rolls. That would make it a G'day!

–GINA BAZER 

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01/21/10

InBox | Architectural Anarchy

Gosia Korsakowski, an entrepreneur we’ve long admired for her keen eye for vintage home accessories and furniture, has started a new venture with an industrial antiques veteran. The new space is called Architectural Anarchy, and it’s next to Gosia’s booth in the Andersonville Galleria. Her partner is William Rawski, who has run Zap Antiques & Props for more than 20 years, outfitting movies filmed in town as well as many local restaurants. The two met when Gosia started shopping at Zap. Gosia says Anarchy will be home to “funkier, more industrial finds.” Friday would be a great time to visit; that’s the night of Andersonville on Sale, an evening of food, drinks, and discounts at some of our favorite neighborhood retailers and restaurants.

—JAN PARR

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01/20/10

Spotted | Nifty Knobs

Oh, Facebook. What can’t you do? Reconnect me with old friends, make it easier to know what my buds are up to. You’ve also introduced me to new people and things. When I saw that my pal Martin Giese (a talented artist) was in a new relationship with someone named Jude Gries (Giese/Gries: I know, I know!), of course I had to click to see more. Turns out that (among other arty things), she creates custom decorative hand-painted cabinet hardware. The knobs are made of wood and finished so that they look like porcelain or ceramic, but they won’t break, chip, or crackle. What kid wouldn’t love these on a dresser?

—JAN PARR

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01/19/10

InBox | Name Your House

After reading our blog about the elegance of monogramming a few weeks ago, Don Raney and Jaymes Richardson, the duo behind Civility Design introduced us to a new concept. Why not name your residence, they proposed—as in the Vanderbilts’ Biltmore Estate or Nixon’s California estate, La Casa Pacifica—to “add further depth of personality within your home, just as art, family photos, and other personal treasures provide that glimpse into the spirit of its owner.” The possibilities are endless, they say, suggesting putting your home’s name on a cashmere throw, cocktail napkins, stationery, matchbooks, serving trays, and china. Civility Design’s turn-to sources for monogramming are A Little Bit of This and Queen of Cashmere. Like this idea? You’d better really like the name you choose. Raney and Richardson have some tips:

•For a whimsical touch, how about naming your 400-sqaure-foot studio something like “Buckingham Arms?” Think grandiose.

•For an easy option, combine the names of the homes’ owners, a la “Pickfair,” the Beverly Hills estate of film stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.

•Still at a loss? You can always fill in the blanks: “________ more” or “ ___________ haven.” Just insert a portion of your surname and it automatically sounds like old money. Think of “Biltmore,” the famous and legendary home of George Vanderbilt in North Carolina.

Thanks for the idea!

—GINA BAZER

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01/18/10

InBox | Spa Bedding

Our hometown source for down, United Feather and Down, has teamed up with the famed cosmetic company Borghese for a new luxe bedding line. The new comforters and pillows are made of 300-thread-count Italian Tile Dobby Cotton and finished with an aloe vera treatment to make them super soft. All bedding comes with samples of Borghese skin-care products. Villa di Borghese bedding is sold exclusively at Bloomingale’s. A king-sized comforter is $500. Hmmm. Wonder if any of this will eventually find its way to one of United’s popular warehouse sales?

—JAN PARR

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01/15/10

Spotted | Thomas Jolly Antiques

I stopped in to see my friend Tom yesterday (he’s in the midst of revamping his shop to include more mid-century items) and fell for this lamp—the base is a stunning clear blue. It looks like it came from Holly Golightly’s apartment, but it’d look great in yours, I bet. It’s one of a pair. 

—JAN PARR

Posted at 01:56 PM in Spotted | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/14/10

Spotted | New Shop in Winnetka

By popular demand from her clients, Cindy Galvin of Bardes Interiors has opened a new shop in Winnetka called Maze Home, filled with new and antique furnishings ranging from sofas, tables, and chairs to lamps, pillows, and linens—all with a sophisticated-yet-cozy European feel. In addition to carrying her own line of upholstered pieces (in the most amazing, richly embellished fabrics), Galvin also exclusively represents in the area New Jersey–based artist John C. Traynor (a collection of his peaceful pastoral scenes and still-lifes fills a room in the store), along with the Parisian linen company D. Porthault, which was founded in 1920 and is famous for its colorful screen-printed patterns that have graced the beds of Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, and many other luminaries (the company also makes towels, robes, and pajamas).

—GINA BAZER

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01/13/10

InBox | Win a Bathroom Makeover

Got a bathroom in need of serious revamping? The Tile Shop is holding a contest to find the ugliest bathroom in the area. When they find it, they will bestow upon the owner tile, cabinets, fixtures, lighting, paint, and professional design and installation advice. Find all the details and enter by February 4 here.

—JAN PARR

Photograph: Courtesy HGTV.com

Posted at 02:17 PM in InBox | Permalink | Comments (2)

01/12/10

InBox | Enter Turquoise

Just the other day I blogged about the staying power of yellow, but the folks at Pantone have other ideas. The color authority has selected 15-5519 Turquoise as the 2010 color of the year. Come to think of it, I have been craving a turquoise purse lately, and I got a scarf in that color last year, and have been happy to have it this season. Stop controlling my mind, Pantone! Still, for my home, I'm not loving this hue. Too harsh, I think. (Although Kartell's Frilly chairs by Patricia Urquiola, shown above, are pretty fun. So is the floor in this Nantucket boathouse kitchen, featured in the current issue of House Beautiful.) Any other opinions on the matter?

—GINA BAZER

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01/11/10

Scoop | Spurlock Antiques

Spurlock Antiques & Decorative Arts, a relative newcomer to the antiques scene in Chicago, is offering discounts on existing inventory (such as this unique desk made of Jasper stone) and consulting services. Serena Newmark Mout, who has done stints as Alessandra Branca’s art and antiques assistant and at Carswell Rush Berlin in New York, opened her business last year. She’s offering 30 percent off all merchandise in her small warehouse (open by appointment at 1645 N. Francisco Ave.) and is charging $30 an hour (down from $50) for consulting. Wondering if grandma’s couch is worth reupholstering? Looking for a specific type of painting or furniture? Mout can help. She works with designers, collectors, and architects to quickly locate pieces and give advice. The sale runs through February 28.

—JAN PARR

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01/08/10

InBox | Pier 1?

I admit that I don’t think of Pier 1 first when I think of great design, but a couple of items recently made my head turn. Everyone on staff wants the 8 Ovals Mirror ($129), which is 35” wide by 3” deep and 21” high. And this Hayworth console ($350) is a glam piece that would sex-up any living room or entryway (buffet available for $800). Yes, Pier 1!

—JAN PARR

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01/07/10

Spotted | Need Some Industrial Edge?

If you are looking for pieces that are significantly rough around the edges, check out Urban Remains. This messy but charming hole-in-the-wall salvage shop in West Town has a great selection of any—and everything you can imagine ever coming out of a factory circa 1940. Stools, tables, lamps—all with great patina. Come on, grunge things up a little. The mixing of clean and contemporary (or even polished and more traditional), with anything old, rusty, and metal is a trend that’s not going away soon.

—GINA BAZER

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01/06/10

InBox | Monograms

There’s something classy about putting your stamp on your stuff. And if you can work with a designer to create a seal all your own, that’s even better. Sarah Drake, one of our favorite local designers of paper products, has expanded her collection to include monogramming services for custom bedding, ceramics, and table linens. A set of six machine-embroidered heavyweight Belgian linen napkins (22 by 22 inches), such as the ones shown above, is $195. Drake offers a pleasing choice of neutral colors and provides detailed proofs showing you how the final product will look before she sends it off to be embroidered. How chic.

—GINA BAZER

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01/05/10

InBox | Pagoda Red Warehouse Sale

Pagoda Red is moving its warehouse from the West Loop to one closer to its Bucktown store, and before it does, Pagoda’s owners are looking to lighten their load. On Saturday and Sunday from 10–5, find discounts of up to 80 percent on all merchandise at 30 N. Racine. For an advance sale preview, subscribe to Pagoda’s email list by the end of Wednesday.

—JAN PARR

Posted at 02:29 PM in InBox | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/04/10

InBox | Still Loving Yellow

Is yellow the new light blue? While I (along with many others) fell hard for light blue several years back, it's been a good long while since I've wanted that color in my home or wardrobe. Now, I want yellow. Can't get enough of it, whether it's lemon, canary, citrine or shades in between. We covered the yellow trend in September, but as I clicked through the latest West Elm looks online, I noticed yellow is still going strong and I'm right there with it. How does this work? How do we all collectively become smitten with the same colors? I understand that fashion houses and textiles manufacturers are determining the trends long before they reach our living rooms, but it still amazes me when they succeed.

-GINA BAZER

Posted at 02:22 PM in InBox | Permalink | Comments (1)