Ad Categories: Home and Garden

Foursided on Clark Street is one of my favorite Chicago framers—they have a great selection of frame options and approach everything with the eye of an artist and the attention to detail of a good contractor. They also have great gifts and cards, and put together window and store displays that make my heart glad. I stopped by the other day, and the store was packed with old toys, games, and the largest selection of vintage educational flashcards that I have ever seen, big and small. Most of the ones in this shot cost two bucks, and for an additional $5 they will spell your favorite name or word and mount it together as a wall hanging. It took me right back to Mrs. Sturtz’s third-grade classroom.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Worth checking out: two new exhibits that feature furniture designers (among other talents): “Voom,” a group show opening tonight at Tojo Gallery including Trevor O’Neil, whose recycled corkboard sofa is shown above. Also, “The Pan Within,” a solo show at Black Walnut Gallery given by furniture designer, sculptor, and owner of said gallery, Robert Wayner (his sculpture is shown above).

—Gina Bazer

The coolest solar lantern we’ve seen. The Soji Modern solar lantern ($40) turns itself on at dusk to cast a golden glow at night. It’s equipped with two high-powered amber LED lights, solar panel, AAA rechargeable battery, and stainless steel hardware. It’s 9-inches round, and available in pure white, pearl motif (white with white floral pattern) and mineral motif (white with grey floral pattern). Buy it at Sprout Home, Gethesemane, Artemisia in Geneva, and Chalet Nursery in Wilmette.

—Jan Parr

The girls from Kelly & Olive were at it again last week, making major improvements to our home in preparation for the South Oak Park house walk June 20. I wish we’d taken “before” shots, but suffice it to say our spaces did not look anything like this. Design lesson #1: group like objects for maximum effect. We had three sad little pieces of art hung randomly around the doorframe on our enclosed front porch; Lauren and Courtney gathered more (all from our home) and arranged it in a cute cottagey way. The final touch? An old hat they found in a closet. Three antique wood crates that were spread around the porch willy-nilly were stacked together to make a place for shoes and boots. In our front office, the decorators moved our desk against the window, closed the shutters, and placed art against them. (Lesson #2: think like a designer!) The room seems so much bigger now (we have room for a bookcase), and it’s a space I actually want to work in. House walk, we’re (almost) ready for you!

—JAN PARR 

This Snaidero display kitchen, which includes all cabinets, gourmet appliances, and granite countertop, can be yours for $30,000—some 60 percent off regular retail. For an extra free, Snaidero’s designers can help customize it for your space.

—JAN PARR

Last Saturday, Chicago Home + Garden braced the crowds at the Laura Soskin for a day of fun, cocktails—and, of course—fabulous design. Soskin, who runs a Wilmette-based interior design firm, created a room entirely from vendor items we found at the Market (plus a few things she brought from home). The result was an eclectic … Read more