Haute Living At Haute Living, chairs with a modern spin (left) and Bosa’s faceted Cut Series ceramic bowl and other tabletop items (right). This operation has definitely raised the bar on design in Chicago. With pieces by Vladimir Kagan, Piet Boon, Hans Wegner, Marcel Wanders, and other iconic designers, Haute Living constantly wows us. 222 … Read more
Grasshopper 510, Green Home Chicago For gifts and home accessories for the tree-huggers in your life (or your oh-so-virtuous self), Grasshopper 510 is the place go. You’ll find trays ($85) and platters ($400) made of recycled street signs, organic pillows ($74), reclaimed-felt bowls ($75), log bowls made from reclaimed trees and high-gloss acrylic paint (shown … Read more
Pavilion Ceramic oil cans by contemporary Dutch designer Aldo Bakker In the past few years, this Bucktown shop (which once offered everything from antique mirrors and chandeliers to 18th-century French chairs) has become particularly well known for its wonderful selection of post-war design, primarily from France and Italy. The owners, both graduates of the School … Read more
P.O.S.H. P.O.S.H. is known for its vintage diner-style dishes (love the cute logos) and silver-plate serving pieces from hotels and restaurants, but it’s also our favorite place for gifts, from tea towels to a hot chocolate pot with two mugs to perfectly charming old paintings from the Netherlands. The free gift-wrapping is a super-nice perk. … Read more
De Giulio Kitchen Design Kitchen design virtuoso Mick De Giulio has a real understanding of details, even about such seemingly mundane things as the kitchen sink. His multitiered, multi-functional sinks can be made in any size (in stone, stainless steel, polished nickel, or other materials), and customized with teak cutting boards and other accessories, including … Read more
Michael Del Piero Good Design Wave Lengths salvaged-metal chandelier by Lucy Slivinski, 18th-century burled wood dresser, steel-and-reclaimed-wood nesting table, and pots collected from around the world This Bucktown storefront/design studio opened last year by decorator and tastemaker Michael Del Piero is the best design-portfolio-come-to-life in town—and it’s open to the public. She fills her store … Read more
Crate & Barrel This chain’s North Avenue location has a small floral department that’s out of this world. Michelle C. Salazar, an experienced floral designer, took charge of the department five years ago; she stocks it with architectural plants and unusual flowers that complement C&B’s modern vases and accessories. You’ll see everything from lilies, … Read more
Brimfield US Keeping her many male customers in mind, Julie Fernstrom, owner of Andersonville’s Brimfield, devoted the lower level of the shop to a new concept: Brimfield US, where she focuses on Swiss Army signage, mid-century furniture reupholstered with U.S. Navy blankets, and pillows made from old Marine uniforms. She also reconcepted Brimfield’s sister shop, … Read more
Mariani Landscape Frank Mariani, Jr.’s own vegetable and cutting garden We don’t hide vegetables in the backyard, we design them into the garden,” says Mariani client representative Shari Precht. The key? Structure. Well-defined beds might be bordered with boxwood and separated by pea gravel or crushed granite walkways. Alliums, thyme, and other “steppable” plants add … Read more
Maxalto A sumptuous chaise longue from the Febo collection The furniture in James Bond’s hotel room at the (fictional) Grand Hotel Bolivar in Panama in his last movie was by Maxalto. It’s a B&B Italia line by Milanese architect Antonio Citterio, inspired by French designs of the 1920s through the 1940s. The pieces are glamorous, … Read more
