Ad Categories: Home and Garden

Is your yard full of demanding, design-conscious finches? Are you in need of a very cool, artist- or architect-designed birdhouse? This one, made of wood and aluminum by architect Sig Froelich, is one of 50 to be auctioned off June 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. at artist Wesley Kimler’s studio, 2046 W. Carroll Ave. Tickets, which cover an open bar and appetizers, are $20 in advance through the Friends of Pritzker. Proceeds will go toward the building costs for a preschool and kindergarten playground at the Pritzker School. Your local feathered friends are guaranteed to sleep better.

—JAN PARR

Decorating is fun! Or so the legendary decorator Dorothy Draper reminds us. We were channeling Dot last night at Bedside Manor, where the linens boutique was welcoming its new partnership with Kindel furniture, and in particular, the Grand Rapid, Michigan company’s Dorothy Draper Collection. Draper’s painted chest was featured—in black and gold—in Vogue’s offices in the Sex and the City movie. Also shown here: the Dorothy Draper chair. The folks from Grand Rapids were in attendance to celebrate and tell their story—the firm was founded in 1912 and continues its commitment to traditional styles, with hand-carving, bench-assembly, and hand-finishing. See samples of Kindel’s furniture, available to order, in all Bedside’s locations.

—JAN PARR

I got a big white metal beverage tub at the Target Bullseye Bazaar yesterday, but what I really wanted was one of those French market baskets that were stacked up in front for shopping purposes. I asked one of the salespeople if I could buy one, and the answer was no. I asked her to ask the manager, and the manager, too, said no. No? How could that be? I was willing to pay for one! I felt like my four-year-old son: helpless in the face of authority. I didn’t throw a tantrum, though. After a quick Web search I found Medina Baskets, which carries plenty of similar totes. Also, I thought about it, and let’s say I really wanted to buy one of the big red shopping carts they have at the regular Target, the answer would also probably have been no. C’est la vie! Now if only I could teach my son that concept.

—Gina Bazer

Green Home Chicago is the only local distributor of Eleek, a lighting company that uses recycled material to make energy-saving fixtures. Love the industrial look of the Starlight and Normandy pendants, shown above.  They also make sconces, floor lamps, flush mount fixtures, and more. GHC is offering 10 percent off any Eleek product through June 30th.

—Gina Bazer

What’s more fun that Target? Target, edited! Bullseye Bazaar is a Target “pop-up” store (a boutique open for just a few days; they’ve done this in L.A. and New York; this is our city’s first), with a great selection of home goods, fashion, and accessories from Target’s design partners (some things are exclusive to the Bazaar). I got a sneak peek at a press preview today. In my shopping bag (or on my wish list): Smith & Hawken for Target lights for the yard, green floral melamine plates, DwellStudio’s grey bath towels and grey-and-yellow floral pillows, and upholstered Jolie chairs (to see and order) like the one shown above. But the main target of my affection: Blu Dot’s Real Good powder-coated steel chair, in super-fun colors (shown above in white), for just $99 (it’s $129 elsewhere). Find home accessories from Thomas O’Brien, Michael Graves, and Victoria Hagan, too. Shop May 7-9, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 445 N. Michigan Ave.

—JAN PARR