Our art director, Megan Duffy Rostan, and I went on an unusual shopping spree today. Our mission was to find great holiday gifts at the 900 North Michigan Shops. We were selecting items for a lunch I will be hosting to promote shopping at the mall. I’ll post our finds later on this blog, but one thing that really impressed us today was Silk Trading Company. We wrote about the company’s “Drapery Out-of-a-Box” collection when it debuted, but neither us of had ever been in the showroom. We loved the teal blue ottoman displayed at the foot of a bed, and really admired the furniture styles, such as the chairs shown here (I don’t care for the striped fabric on the one chair, but the chair itself has great bones). All furniture can be made in any one of the hundreds of fabrics Silk Trading carries.

—JAN PARR

—JAN PARR

Friday night I hit Andersonville for dinner at Hopleaf (love!) and to check out the work of Meriellen Johnson at Scout, where owner Larry Vodak was hosting a reception for her. I’d seen her primitive yet somehow sophisticated and very endearing charcoals and pastels of plants and flowers before at Scout, and was eager to see more of her stuff. The pieces, many in vintage frames from Argentina from Architectural Artifacts were vivid and wonderful and the place was packed. There are still some left, so be sure to check them out. Across the street at Las Manos Gallery was another great exhibit by a local artist: Chuck Meyers (shown at right). Most of the paintings there were of scenes in Andersonville. How appropriate for a night out in this always fun hood.

—Gina Bazer

The Jewish marriage contract, or Ketubah, is something every couple that gets married before a rabbi must sign. It’s also something many newlyweds like to turn into art for their homes. Plenty of Web sites and Judaica shops offer services that will transform your Ketubah into a “work of art,” but few (if any) offer a modern sensibility (which is in large part—the other part is pure laziness—why my own Ketubah is on 8½ by 11 Xerox paper, folded up, in a drawer). Mod Jewish couples listen up: Jason Pickleman of JNL Graphic Design (see our story about his home here ), the creative mind behind all that cool lettering on the walls at the Montrose station on the Brown line and much more, just emailed us about his latest venture, CoolKetubah. His hip designs would really fit into any decor.

—Gina Bazer

If you haven’t already checked out our November/December story “Great Gifts Under $50,” click here for some great ideas. And for a few more, may I also suggest hitting up the MCA’s gift shop? The quirky selection is perfect for small gifts that pack a punch and don’t deplete the pocketbook. Here are two fun ones: These cutely packaged acetaminophen tablets ($7.50) crack me up and would probably put a smile on my face even if I had a headache. I also love notebooks of any kind, and the MCA store has plenty! This fun 160-page journal is only $12.  See more clever options here. Does anyone else have favorite places to shop for cheap and chic gifts?

—Gina Bazer

Cycle two of Bravo’s Top Design competition has come to an end, and the esteemed judges picked Nathan as the winner of the $100,000 cash and the four-page spread in Elle Décor magazine. Woo hoo. It seemed like the contestants were picked for their annoying laughs, celebrity relatives, or ability to perform shirtless, not for any great discernible design vision, and I mostly just watched to see what that crazy Kelly Wearstler would be wearing (a glitter beret and ankle socks with heels—cool!) and to hear Jonathan Adler’s snarky comments (these people were obviously working on his last, bare-ankled nerve by finals) rather than for design ideas. For the last challenge, the final three playas were given some cash and set off to furnish a townhouse. Beefy, Baldy, and Boho ran around L.A., and I was pleased to see them make a stop at Nadeau Imports. I’ve been a fan of the Chicago branch since it opened—they have a jam-packed warehouse full of solid wood furniture and accessories at unbelievable prices. One of the pieces Nathan picked was a huge Indian chest made of reclaimed wood, and Nadeau’s Midwest manager Keith Heric tells me they have one in stock that’s very similar (pictured above, 60” x 33” x 37”, $646). Using it in a smallish room with neutral furnishings almost cost Nathan his tiara (probably didn’t help that he referred to it as “an S&M sarcophagus”) but I think it’s got a great goth look, and would make a swell table base in a more suitable mise-en-scene. See you later, decorator! 

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Don’t miss the St. Chrysostom’s Day School Holiday Faire this weekend, offering home accessories, jewelry, clothing, and more from dozens of local vendors, including interior design doyenne Alessandra Branca (witness her gorgeous taste in photo at left) and Home + Garden’s own style guru, contributing editor Barri Leiner, whose jewelry line, M&B Vintage (examples shown at right), is about as charming as it gets. The fair also offers free activities for kids and entertainment for adults. 1424 N. Dearborn Pkwy., 312-642-3422.

—Gina Bazer

Dining by Design, DIFFA’s big annual fundraiser, roared into town again last week at the Mart. At the cocktail party on Thursday, designphiles munched on crab cake, chicken, and shredded-pork sliders, sipped cocktails and Beringer wines, and took in the designer-designed tables. Shown here: Kara Mann’s goth forest space complete with Nymphenburg china, a mod and totally happy table by the students at Harrington College of Design (the trend of mixing modern chairs with traditional wood tables is one we’re seeing everywhere—these vintage chairs were donated by a faculty member), Sheri Zeman of Faux Design Studio’s faux-finished space (table, table base, walls, and floor are all faux-finished), and Susan Fredman Design Group’s elegant entry. Delicious.

—JAN PARR

Credit: Fredman photo by Nick Novelli, Novelli Photodesign. 

—JAN PARR

Vintage wallpaper rollers become candle holders. Chicken coops become light fixtures. A vintage sieve becomes a mirror. Found objects find a new home as furniture and accessories in the hands of Philip Sassano and his crew at Refined Rustic Studio & Gallery. Last week Sassano threw a party for the opening of his new showroom at 3924 N. Milwaukee Ave. (he has a studio in Harvard, too). He also does design consultations and is the exclusive area retailer for Romo, a fabric and wallcoverings company out of England with fantastic designs that would work equally well in modern or more traditional interiors.

—JAN PARR

I went down to Grant Park to cheer on a friend who ran the Chicago Marathon last month (way to go, Franklin!), and stopped by the last day of the Wired NextFest since it was right there, in a big ol’ tent. Maybe because the show was in its waning hours, nothing seemed to be working. I busted out my best Marcel Marceau–moves in front of a robot that was supposed to mimic human gestures, but all I got was public humiliation. Plus it was hella hot up in there...color me nonplussed. Then I came across an elegant display of futuristic sculptures, which turned out to be custom serving pieces designed for Grant Achatz’s Alinea restaurant. Did a little research, and discovered they are made by Crucial Detail, a Chicago design studio headed up by Martin Kastner. Kastner’s a Czech who trained as a blacksmith, and he offers these “delivery systems” for sale on his Web site. I’ve never been to Alinea, but I’m guessing that most of its foodie fans are usually celebrating a birthday, popping a big question, or toasting a momentous life event—at any rate, it’s not the sort of resto you’d go to when feeling vaguely peckish. A gift of some of these contraptions would make a great remembrance of the occasion, maybe even paired with the luscious Alinea cookbook that just came out. Shown above (counterclockwise) are: the Antiplate (put a spoon in the middle of it with an amuse bouche, $15), Squid (balance food in the middle of the wires, $35), Bow (hang food off of it, $35), and Sectional (a little pedestal for a bite, $10). After all, if you’re going to the trouble of hollowing out a grape, stuffing it with truffle foam, and balancing it on a frozen bubble of unicorn tears, you don’t want to plop it on Chinet, now do you?

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Photos from Crucial Detail

Need some ideas on how to go green in the kitchen? DDK Kitchen Design Group in Glenview has installed an ecofriendly kitchen in the ABT Electronics showroom. The kitchen features solid bamboo cabinetry, stools of renewable monkey pod wood, Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops, Paperstone tabletops, recycled leather wall tiles, low-VOC paint, and LED undercabinet lighting, which uses virtually no energy. DDK’s president, Dan Thompson, says the kitchen meets and exceeds the LEED program’s standards for green kitchens. He believes it could be the greenest display anywhere.

—JAN PARR

-Gina Bazer

Grasshopper 510 just got some cozy—and green—throws from Yumi & Laurie. Made of organic cotton and bamboo, they are just right for fall and winter. After all, this unseasonably beautiful weather won’t last forever.

—Gina Bazer

I just checked out Bucktown’s Mongo Home (1753 N. Damen Ave., 773-486-6200), a joint venture between the owners of Architectural Artifacts and Urban Remains, both of which are very cool but pretty messy and unedited salvage shops. This more-polished destination is amazing! It has unique pieces galore, from a working vintage foosball table ($2,400) to a great little pair of knee-high nude iron statues ($4,800 for both) that would be great in a foyer. There is a lot of furniture, too. I just about flipped when I saw the low, wide vintage vaulting bench from the Czech Republic shown above (and not because I was channeling my gymnastics days—I cannot even do a cartwheel!). I’ve been on a hunt for an unusual (and unusually large coffee table) for months now and this one was perfect for my needs, though at $4,800 a little out of my price range. Still, there was plenty there that was affordable, including a whole pile of charcoal sketches on charmingly yellowing old paper for $55 a drawing. Mongo Home also offers free consultations by on-site interior decorator Kara O’Connor, who will come to your home and help you figure out if the piece you are considering will work for your space.

—Gina Bazer

Interior designer Susan Fredman's new shop, At Home in the City, celebrated its grand opening last night with a crowded bash. The River North space-part store, part design workshop-features tabletop items, kitchen accessories, throws, and all matter of home accessories (love the Bon Bon ottoman of looped wool), including about a dozen private-label items available only here. I really loved the small dog paintings by Bruce McGaw (affordable at $50 each) and the way they were grouped on a wall. I also loved the chairs that look like chicken wire by Design Workshop ($362 each). This is the second retail venture for Fredman (pictured here); her other is a more resort-home-oriented store, At Home With Nature, on Red Arrow Highway in Union Pier, Michigan. 

-JAN PARR

What you gotta love about the world of design is that even something as mundane as a trashcan can become a status symbol for its clean lines and functional simplicity. When the sleek Vipp catalog arrived in my InBox, I had an inkling that perhaps my own stainless steel push-pedal bin from the Container Store was a knock-off or, if not that, then it was simply very pedestrian compared to the Vipp, which will set you back $280 for a 14-inch high size at Waterworks. Then I checked out Vipps’s website and read about how the company was founded in 1939 by a Dane, followed by a press release about how a Vipp that Bono had co-designed for a charity auction drew $30,000 (granted Bono could get a cool grand for a hanky he’s sneezed into). Well I have to say, I like these status bins—and the company just came out with a cool push-pedal laundry basket ($625). The toilet brush is pretty darn cute, too; for $200, it better be. Available at Waterworks.

—Gina Bazer

The French were out in full force last week at Golden Triangle, famed showroom of Asian furniture. That’s no typo, the genius of Golden Triangle’s merchandise is that it mixes so well with so many other styles. The interior designer Martial and his pal Didier Milleriot, who owned Le Magasin, were among those at this party to celebrate Golden Triangle’s new line of modern furniture handcrafted from ancient woods, called Exposed  (see table in photo). We also spotted furniture designer Jill Salisbury of EL: Environmental Language. If you haven’t been to Golden Triangle’s relatively new location, this is as good a reason as any to stop in. The showroom is a stunner and this collection is great.

—JAN PARR

There’s a terrifically clever furniture and design show going on right now at the Cultural Center that’s going to put a smile on your face, I guarantee it. Deceptive Design was organized by a collaboration between the Chicago Chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America and the Chicago Furniture Designers Association, and consists of 18 objects that play with our conceptions of furniture. The trompe l’oeil living room includes a chair (“Caveat Sittor”) with what appears to be a thumbtack sticking up out of the seat, a dresser with drawers that only open from the back, and “Wolf in Sheep’s Lighting”—a sweet little sheep lamp that casts a menacing shadow when it’s turned on. I really liked this adaptable shelving unit by Mark Kinsley that forms art when you fold it flat against the wall, Andrew Peerless’s  “Herd” Table, and Craighton Berman’s “Coil Lamp,” made from an industrial extension cord. The show is up until Jan. 4.. Don’t miss it.

"Herd Table", above left. "Riveli Shelves", above right, "Coil Lamp", right.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Crimson Lounge was packed for the final event in the Basil Hayden Tastemakers competition, where Nate Berkus presented an oversized $10,000 check at the end of the evening to crowd favorite Rion Stassi for his chandelier, and gave a heartfelt speech about the effect such an award can have on the trajectory of a young designer’s career. I was impressed by the quality of the prototypes that he, Sarah Tranum, and Bryan Lump crafted—each semi-finalist got $2,500 to bring their Berkus-selected designs to life—and they’re all winners in my book! 

BRADLEY LINCOLN

PHOTO: Frank Failin

The Ambiente Collection, the River North shop that specializes in contemporary European (mostly German and Swiss) furniture is clearing its merchandise and shuttering in January. The manager informed me that he just sold a couch for $900 that would normally go for about $3,800. As sorry as we are to hear of this news, more good buys are waiting. 

-Gina Bazer

Botanica, a newish home accessories shop in Oak Park, last week held a reception featuring the charming ex-owner of Le Magasin (now closed), Didier Milleriot (shown here with me). Milleriot is consulting and advising Botanica's owner, Danah Kozma, on many of the glassware, linen, and candle lines La Magasin carried. Wine and cheese from Marion Street Cheese Market made the night extra fun. Milleriot, who now lives in Paris, says he misses Chicago. “Now that I am back in Paris I see all these things that drive me crazy about Parisians!” he says.

-Jan Parr

Despite all my best intentions, I haven't had the chance to pick up any of decoupage artist/designer John Derian's wares at Target (have any of you?). I think the melamine vases, trays, and picture frames might still be there for a couple weeks longer if they didn't all fly of the shelves immediately last month when they landed (his Web site said they were to be there for six weeks). Oh well, on to the next Derian thing… we just heard that his new furniture line will be available at the end of the month exclusively at Jayson Home & Garden in Chicago. The historically-inspired five-piece collection-two sofas, one loveseat, a chair, and a long tufted bench -is tres chic, though sadly I don't think it will be as easy to just add them to the cart after grabbing a few items in the toiletries aisle. 

-Gina Bazer

-JAN PARR

—Gina Bazer 

Want to get Nate Berkus in your bedroom? This week, he launched his partnership with the Home Shopping Network and will be peddling his pillows, sheets, furniture, and accessories on a five-week series of live, hourly interactive home design-driven shows presented by Elle Décor. Other participants include the MoMA Store, John Robshaw, and Colin Cowie. If there's no time for telly, you can view and buy the collection online here.

-BRADLEY LINCOLN

Tree table and bedding set photos from HSN.com

Jill Weinberg of Refind Interiors recently hosted a panel discussion on home remodeling at Pauline Grace’s showroom. Local experts in lighting, kitchen and baths, tile and stone, and home furnishings gave tips on how to successfully tackle a renovation project. Here are some tips I picked up from the panel:

Jill Weinberg’s pre-construction tips:
-Before you even start, flip through magazines and keep a file of looks you like.
-Determine how you want to use the space you’re renovating
-Prioritize and set budget.
-Build in a 15 to 20 percent cushion for those inevitable unforeseen costs.

Kate Solovio of Materials Marketing on trends in stone and tile:
-Natural stone tiles cut in an elongated plank size to mimic wood floors are the new hot thing (see photo).
-Also look for beveled and stainless steel tiles.
-Add interest to your room with bamboo and wood mosaics.

Community Home Supply’s Julie Bower on kitchens and baths:
-Go green!
-By January 1, 2010, high efficiency toilets, or toilets that hold 1.28 gallons of water per flush, will be required. Consider installing these and low-flow faucets.

Jeff Wonsetler from Lightology:
-Today’s standard lightbulb is being phased out for more energy-efficient version.
-Screw-in, dimmable LED fixtures are the future.
-Compact fluorescent bulbs are will soon be required, so don’t buy fixtures that won’t accommodate them.

Pauline Grace’s Megan Hinchsliff on design trends:
-There’s a lot of chocolate brown out there, and a bright, chrome yellow seems to be accent color of the moment.
-Vinyl is a popular right now—it wears like leather but is less expensive, and it’s easily cleanable.

—JESSICA LINN

If you’re jonesing for some Gallic gifting this year but can’t swing a trip to the Paris fleas, the Lycée Français de Chicago can hook you up this weekend at their annual Fall Market. The Northside French language school has rustled up more than 40 dealers and creators of antiques, linens and tabletop items, jewelry, and food and bath specialties, all with a French twist, including local faves Marguerite Gardens (see chairs above), Vintage Pine (we especially love Jeanne Steen’s Figaro Antiques), Heather Gentile Designs (see paintings above), Katherine Anne Confections, and Virtu. Get a sneak peek for a sawbuck this Friday, Oct. 19 from 7–9 at the opening, with nibbles, bubbly, and an appearance by Chicago appraiser Gary Piattoni. The fair runs through Sunday with cooking demos, supervised activities for les enfants, and an onsite café. (The $5 admission fee aids the école.)

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

I think I will never again stay in a hotel that doesn’t have floor-to-ceiling windows. We went to see the new Dana Hotel & Spa last week, and, standing in a guest room, thought how great it is to feel like you’re floating on the skyline. The rooms are impressively designed with modern and eco-friendly elements by EDI Architecture of Texas. I loved the reclaimed Australian Jarrah wood floors (I can’t recall ever having seen wood floors in a hotel room—it’s so great.) Philippe Starck spa-inspired benches in the double shower are also a great touch.

—JAN PARR

Photos: Craig Dugan/Hedrich Blessing

Basil Hayden scored a hat trick with the last of the debutant parties for their Tastemaker’s design competition. This one was held at Angels and Kings and celebrated Bryan Lump’s winning entry—a sleek coffee table with a mid-century-mod surfer vibe (pictured above). I’m looking forward to seeing all three prototypes at the final fiesta at Crimson Lounge on Oct. 16, where partygoers will pick the winner. If you’d like to mingle with Nate Berkus, snag some swag, and put your own two cents in to help decide who goes home with $10,000, RSVP here.  

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Photos by Frank Failing

In our November/December issue, you will read about Gosia Korsakowski, a local vintage accessories dealer who sells her stylish and quirky finds on Etsy. Since we went to press on that issue, she's alerted us to her other venture: acting as U.S. distributor for these cool trunks designed by Poland-based Malafor (they, too, can be purchased through her Etsy site). We've come across these online in the past and never realized how close to home they are. Each trunk comes in two sizes (12-inch or 14-inch diameter, both 19 inches high) and is made with European oak wood. The underside is lined with felt to protect your floors. Prices start around $520.

-Gina Bazer

—JAN PARR

—JAN PARR

Through October 5th, check out MoSS (Museum of Sustainable Style) on Fulton Market, a show curated by Jessa Brinkmeyer, owner of Pivot, a clothing boutique specializing in eco-friendly fashion. Look for sustainable furniture and objects by Chicago Home + Garden subjects such as Ted Harris, Roscoe Jackson, Sean Scott, Jill Salisbury, and more. (Shown above, Sean Scott’s lounge and ottoman and Robert Wayner’s “Aardvark” bench.)

—Gina Bazer