Year: 2009

I stopped by Green Home Chicago in the Fulton Market District the other day and my eyes (and fingers) were drawn to the same Tibetan Naturals handmade rugs I gravitate toward every time I stop by. These impossibly soft rugs are designed by Kurt Meinecke (who also designs rugs for Herman Miller) and made by Nepalese artisans out of various combinations of wool, silk, and/or yarn from plant fibers. No dyes are used; color variations depend on the breeds of the sheep used. The results are warm and wonderful, but not cheap—about $2,500 to $3,900 for a 5-by-7-foot size—and they must be special ordered. Small samples are on display at GHC, but for $250 you can order a 2-by-2-foot strike to get a sense of what the real thing would look like. Available exclusively at Green Home Chicago.

—Gina Bazer

The new Artistic Tile showroom at Luxe Home at the Mart is beautiful. If you’ve walked by you’ve probably noticed the wavy tile display in the window: it’s the Ambra Collection by Giovanni Barbieri. It undulates and reflects light—who knew stone could do these things? All hand-carved out of one piece of stone, each piece is a work of art and makes me think, once again, that stone does not just belong in the bathroom or kitchen. Ambra retails for $40.00 per square foot and is available in two sizes: 24 inches by 24 inches and 12 inches by 12 inches and three colors: Gris, Lake Blue, and Moss Green. Above are some more shots of the space (the gorgeous Taif chandelier, $2,200, is by Barovier & Toso, inspired by a similar design made in 1980 for the home of a Saudi king).

—Gina Bazer