Last Friday night, Primitive threw a phancy phiesta to launch Phuture Primitive, the second chapter of its With Primitive series, the in-house quarterly invitational in which local designers use the shop’s inventory to set up living environs in small spaces. For this installation, Lukas Machnik of Florense and Jennifer Sweas of Jennifer Sweas Design transformed…
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Lake Forest–based Brimar, a to-the-trade trimmings, hardware, and textiles company, has just come out with a slick line of drapery hardware inspired by modern architecture called Manhattan. Instead of a typical cylindrical rod, this one is flat and narrow and the finials that go with it have the same streamlined quality. Sold through Kenneth Ludwig Home (Merchandise Mart, 312-467-0530), and Chicago Design Team (Arlington Heights, 847-394-1800).
—Gina Bazer
Three years ago, Stephanie and Bob Walker paid $799,000 for a three-bedroom house on a ridge in the Silverlake section of Los Angeles with a view of the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Park Observatory. This summer, they were camped out in the Barrington home of Stephanie’s mother, having lost a yearlong struggle to hang onto their house in…
After spending much of the earlier part of the year under construction, the new, reshuffled Oak Street holds on to its crown as the city’s most prestigious shopping destination. Here is our guide to shops that are new or have moved or that are simply favorites worth a revisit
Just in time for the height of bike season, an everything guide to two-wheeled fun
Two Birds, One Stone
When north suburban twins Mary Sirois and Molly Kiefer decided to create their own business, they kept family and unity in mind. The result: Mia Sorella (104 S. Cook St., Barrington; 847-842-5009, mia-sorella.com), or ‘my sister’ in Italian, a relatively new combination salon and boutique located in the heart of downtown Barrington. “We wanted to make a place where you felt like you were shopping and getting beauty tips from your…
Who loves public corruption? Defense attorneys.
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Once an off-the-beaten-pather in Ravenswood, Patina, an urban cottage–style antique shop, has joined The Andersonville Strip (at 5137 N. Clark St..), jumping on the Clark Street bandwagon with other great shops of its kind like Scout, White Attic, Brimfield, The Cottage, Room Service, and Roost. For other great finds in Andersonville check out our guide.
—Gina Bazer
Gold Coasters scored a new spot to sip this weekend, when the neighborhood standby Luxbar launched its new second-floor, Saturday-nights-only hangout, Luxlounge, touted for an all-female staff of servers and DJs. Our photographer—also, we note, a woman—was on the scene…
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The dog days of summer are always a great time to stock up on furniture and accessories at reduced prices. One of our favorite shops, the charming Crosell & Co. is holding its annual floor sample sale, with furniture and lighting on sale from 25 to 75 percent off. Find upholstered furniture, tables, lamps, chandeliers, pillows, and more from Cisco Brothers, Arteriors, Ankasa, Luna Bella, Kelly Rauch Designs, Soleil de Provence, and Arte Italica. In conjunction with the floor sample sale, accessories such as Lawrence Essentials hand-carved resin serving pieces, L’Object nickel and gold serving bowls and trays, Casafina Portuguese stoneware, Michael Aram, Riedel, Kim Seybert, and more are on sale. Shown here: A cast aluminum Louis 14th chair upholstered in black patent leather for $2,000 (down from $3,000) and Preston Bailey for Egizia crystal from Italy, $20 each or four for $60 (originally $60 each). Save through the end of August.
—JAN PARR
