05/16/08
Happy Hour
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Alessandra Branca Opening
 Alessandra Branca threw a party to celebrate the opening of her new home furniture and accessories store at 17 E. Pearson St. last week and it was quite a bash. The place, which is set up much like an elegant home, is full of fun finds (like the African feather headdresses pictured here) and antique glass radiometers on pedestal bases, along with china, silverware, Branca's favorite design books, antique chairs recovered in modern fabrics, and tons more. Her PR guy, recently relocated here from New York, said he didn't know of another store like it in this area, and I had to agree (maybe the just-opened Michael Del Piero's Good Design; see our May 7 blog entry)? Or Elements... But it's true that this is one store truly curated by its owner, with a great mix of old and new things that all seem fresh and modern, even if firmly grounded in the traditional. Elegant and charming—just like Branca herself. —Jan Parr
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05/16/08
InBox
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Lovely Lanterns
Interior designer Kara Mann just sent over pics of some new lanterns from Casamidy that she is carrying at her showroom. They are so cool, I want one in every room of my new house (about which I will soon be sharing—so exciting!). They are meant for the outdoors, of course, but I like the idea of pretending that I live in a medieval French castle. (At least for now, while the electrician is updating some of the wiring in our new, um, old place). —Gina Bazer Photos courtesy Kara Mann
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05/15/08
It’s always fun to drive west on Grand Avenue and discover a new storefront. The good stuff always pops on this strip of old warehouses and invariably (at least in my case) leads to a near-collision. A recent discovery is Post27 (1819 W. Grand Ave., 312-829-6122; you’ll read more about it in our July/August issue) in the old location of Olde Good Things. With a cool mix of vintage (lots of mid-century Scandinavian pieces) and new American-made accessories that all have a cool, eco-stylish slant, the place feels very indie and hip. Here’s a decorating tip: they have Thomas Paul rugs hanging on the walls as art. Love that for a loft space! —Gina Bazer
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05/15/08
InBox
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The New Bronze Age
Two great local companies have teamed up to produce a new line of cabinetry with gorgeous hardware. Jill Salisbury of el: Environmental Language has partnered with New Bronze Age Tile to come up with sustainable new cabinet doors in her el: Kitchen line. These fab new doors—in sustainable rift-cut oak or walnut—feature custom metal inlays and handles. —JAN PARR
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05/14/08
Happy Hour
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Green Design Party
Sit down, relax, and don't worry about global warming. (Well, worry about it a little.) You'll be helping the environment when you lounge in Roscoe Jackson's new line of recycled plastic outdoor furniture (look for these cool chairs in our July/August issue!). Also try on some eco-conscious attire from Pivot boutique, and check out the much-talked-about Smart Car. Get a 25-percent-off discount on an item from Pivot when you purchase the guilt-free lawn loungers or make a Smart car reservation. If you are already the proud driver of one of these groovy tiny new automobiles, pull up in yours and feel extra cool. Hors d'oeuvres from Carnival will also make an appearance. May 15, 5 to 8 p.m., at Pivot Boutique, 1101 W. Fulton Mkt. Click here for more details. —JACKIE HUNZINGER Photo courtesy of about.com.
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05/13/08
Scoop
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Color My World
The magazine House Beautiful hosted a “Color Institute” last week at the Mart. It featured a panel with HB’s editor, Stephen Drucker, local design maven Alessandra Branca and Windsor Smith, a designer from Los Angeles. Here’s what I learned about color from each:
Stephen Drucker on color trends:
- “The new femininity.” Pretty, flirty colors such as apple green and pink, especially used on strong shapes.
- ”The new globalism.” Lots of rich colors that reflect homeowners’ travels.
- Neutrals. “A lot of people talk color but only use neutrals.” The today factor: lots of distressing and metallics.
- Tropical greens and browns.
- Water and sky blue colors brought to life with metallic shimmer, texture, and mixed with greys (see photo above).
Windsor Smith’s tips and observations:
- She loves dark, dark brown—nearly charcoal black, with light salmon
- Acknowledge the landscape. If your home has a lot of art, you need to create a neutral backdrop for it.
- When you paint windows dark, what’s beyond it (trees, shrub, flowers) pops. If you paint them white, your eye stops at the white.
- Teenagers inexplicably love purple. Naturally, this very strong color is hard to work with (and isn’t everything hard with teenagers?).
- Go-to Colors: Benjamin Moore Rock Harbor Violet, Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
Alessandra Branca’s observations:
- She wakes up to “spring every day” in a room that’s apple green and white
- Black balances… it’s as much a color as any other.
- No color is bad unless it’s overused.
Find lots of other great color tips from House Beautiful here:
—JAN PARR
Photo courtesy House Beautiful
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05/12/08
We went to see the Museum of Science and Industry's new Smart Home last week, a fab pre-fab that's all green. Our colleague Cassie Walker from Chicago magazine was also there, and posted this item about it.
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05/09/08
InBox
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Not Your Neighbor’s Sunbrella
SilverState just sent along samples of its newest Sunbrella collection of outdoor fabrics, called Casual Elegance by Joe Ruggiero. Still packed with all the good no-stain-no-fade-couldn’t-wrinkle-if-you-tried properties of its well-known past. But, wow. Yes, WOW. It’s soft. The patterns are swanky. The colors are sophisticated. Why leave it outside? Bring it on in! Make a shower curtain. Cover a small bench for the bath. Heck—cover the whole family room in the stuff. If it resists mold and mildew, surely it can stand up to a stampede of messy kids. Available through designers only (it’s about $50 to $70 per yard). —BARRI LEINER Images courtesy of SilverState
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05/08/08
A quick check reveals Maya Romanoff doesn’t make the list of claimants to the Russian throne, but in the world of glam wall coverings (think gold leaf and mother-of-pearl) he’s unchallenged royalty. Last Thursday night Maya and family hosted 200 guests from 14 countries (and me) at the opening of Maya Romanoff Corp’s new 40,000 square foot inter-galactic headquarters in Skokie. Seems the company burst from its old downtown Chicago space when sales doubled between ’05 and ’07. Maya, his brother, and son-in-law held court in crimson czarist-era sashes while the Romanoff women (representing the Czarina and Princess of Wallpaper) wore Swarovski tiaras that would have brought tears to a Bolshevik’s eyes. Champagne flowed, and from somewhere deep in the warren of cubicles the fabulous Maxwell Street Klezmer Band belted out the swinging sounds of old Odessa. This warehouse/workroom/showroom is open to the trade only, but judging from the babel of languages at the party the pros are already wearing a path to the new door. (Party chatter had it that the walls of Dubai’s newest palaces are lined in Romanoff.) —LISA CREGAN David Seaman (left) and Maya Romanoff
Credit: Photos courtesy AngelaSwan.com
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05/07/08
Scoop
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Budget Design
If unearthing cheap and chic home stuff and Target and T.J. Maxx gets your adrenaline running, stop by the new shop Home Accents in Andersonville (5653 N. Clark St., 773-754-8466). Owner Kevin Idlewine is a wholesaler who decided to open his own storefront, while still selling to retailers such as Home Goods and Marshalls. He goes to the Maison d’Objets trade fair in Paris regularly, notes the trends, then calls on his manufacturers in China and India to reproduce them for less. Find vases (including some pretty good Jonathan Adler knock-offs) for $25 to $50 and pillows ranging from $20 to $25. The most expensive item in the store is a $225 chandelier-style lamp covered with a string shade (it’s made with real crystals). He also has a good selection of pots and ornaments for the garden. Everything in the store is conveniently arranged by colors.
— GINA BAZER
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05/07/08
“Welcome!” an enthusiastic and happy Michael Del Piero greeted us at a party to celebrate the opening of her new design showroom, Good Design. “The best part is this,” she said, motioning to the back, where her desk is. No more working from home. For us, though, the best part is the front of this Damen Avenue storefront, where Del Piero has arranged a selection of stylish, earthy, and often oversized accessories that just wowed us. It was no surprise to us that in attendance were stylistically compatible friends who included Larry Vodak of Scout and interior designer Laura Soskin.
—JAN PARR
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05/06/08
I’ve been going to a sporadic series of lectures at the Museum of Contemporary Art called “People Who Shape Our World,” featuring various muckety-mucks of the design and art communities. Recently it was Arik Levy, an Israeli-born designer who lives in Paris and has collaborated with firms like Ligne Roset, Baccarat Crystal, and Zanotta to market his furniture, tableware, jewelry, and lots of other stuff, some of which is ending up in pretty prestigious museum collections. Levy gave a charming, cerebral slide presentation that made me think about how people connect to what they fill their houses with. If you put a light bulb in a chair, does that make it a lamp? Hmmm...thinky. I really like this origami-inspired coffee table for Baleri Italia, and these tables for Zanotta. I’ve spotted his furniture at Orange Skin and Luminaire. You can also find his candleholders at the MCA gift shop. —BRADLEY LINCOLN Baleri Italia table image courtesy unicahome.com; image of wire tables courtesy Zanotta
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05/05/08
InBox
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Pretty Pottery
We’ve written about the history of Teco Art Pottery, which is now being reproduced in Carol Stream by Prairie Arts. Two new shades, aqua and orange, have been added to the palette of glaze colors. This “Kiss” vase is my favorite shape. And love the new modern shades. —JAN PARR
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05/02/08
InBox
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Ann Sacks Rocks!
Just got a press kit from Ann Sacks featuring all of the incredible new designs the company introduced at the recent Kitchen/Bath show. The colorful Paccha line (see red and white tile above) is the real Moroccan deal, handmade in Marrakech. I’m not sure where I would put this bold flooring—perhaps in a powder room? Kitchen? Probably a small space to pack a punch. Also love the carved stone by Robert Kuo (see the Hua, or “bunches of flowers,” design above). It’s marble hand-chiseled with subtle Chinese motifs that feel both modern and ancient at the same time. Finally: the Perennial line of ceramic mosaics (see the royal blue and white photo above). What a cool alternative to wallpaper. —GINA BAZER Photos courtesy of Ann Sacks
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05/01/08
InBox
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I Dream of Teepees
Two long months. Two hundred–plus listings. (Shelia Starr from Baird & Warner deserves two million gold stars for patience alone!) A two-block radius to stay within the desired school district. Two exhausted kids. Two losing bids. Too many grim rentals to even consider. Then, one fine just-when-you’re-not-looking-day, the answer arrives by way of email. Leave it to Orange Skin, that bastion of hip furnishings. They call themselves a “complete resource for modern design,” but who knew they had entered the real estate game? My girls are so excited when they see the snaps of the modern wigwam designed by Jose A. Gandia for Gandia Blasco. Comes complete with a small interior mattress made of nautical plastic. We’ll add some Piramide portable lamps (see the lighting leading up to the teepee in the photo) and be done. What more could a girl ask for? I think we’ll take three. Hope Nettelhorst school will let us put up our teepees on the playground. You can’t get more chic—or in-district—right? BARRI LEINER Images courtesy of Orange Skin
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