Jun 1, 2009

Soskin Design

Last Saturday, Chicago Home + Garden braced the crowds at the Randolph Street Market Festival to team up with decorator Laura Soskin for a day of fun, cocktails—and, of course—fabulous design. Soskin, who runs a Wilmette-based interior design firm, created a room entirely from vendor items we found at the Market (plus a few things she brought from home).

The result was an eclectic mix of exotic, earthy pieces alongside some stunning vintage finds. Soskin, of course, executed her trademark move: unexpected scale.

By implementing unique, oversized pieces into the room—an industrial-style console table (Kara Fogerty, Studio F, Fenton, Missouri, 636-326-2118) and old-world fishing traps (Scott Estepp, Cincinnati, Ohio, 513-237-6927)—Soskin surprised us all with her dramatic use of the stage.

A display of moose antlers, arranged carefully atop a rustic platter, were by far one of the most-asked-about finds. These babies were snatched up well before 10 a.m. and were, unfortunately, the only ones the dealer Denise O’Dell (Bleeker Street, 847 W. Grand Ave., 773-419-2862) had on hand.

Other must-haves included an abstract painting by Soskin’s husband (David Soskin, 847-525-9955), hand-made zebra pillows, mercury glass bottles, and a wooden log that doubled as a small end table (not shown).

If you can’t wait until next month’s Market to get this organic look, here are a few easily obtainable items to tide you over:

Caribou Antlers, $165 each at Scout, 5221 N. Clark St., 773-275-5700

Medicine Bottles, $38 each at Post 27, 1819 W. Grand Ave., 312-829-6122

Needlepoint Zebra Pillow, $250 at Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-8180

Gold Log Stool, $450 at Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-8180

–Elizabeth Riley

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