Ad Categories: Home and Garden

I couldn’t be more pleased with the job a local leather restorer did on this 1940s Vatne Mobler chair and ottoman my husband found years ago at a sale. It was stained (see particularly the back of chair in the before shot), worn, and a few cushions were missing. The folks at Leather Solution made new cushions that match perfectly, and beautifully restored the old leather. See more before/after examples on their web site. The whole bit cost about $800-well worth it, we thought. Thanks to Romann Custom Upholstery for recommending this place!

-JAN PARR 

You’re French country, he’s leather and chrome. What’s an engaged couple to do? Call in a mediator. A style mediator. Susan Fredman’s At Home in the City is launching a bridal home collection and registry, and they’re offering professional design solutions for these and other dilemmas. The store has been expanded to accommodate an additional 500 square feet dedicated to bridal registry and 60 new place settings. Pictured here: place settings from Reed Barton and Michael Wainwright, and Kim Sebert table linens. To kick things off, the store will hold a bridal event on April 21 from 5–8 p.m., featuring a presentation by Fredman’s firm’s designers about how to merge styles. RSVP for the event at 312-587-8150 or jmaremont@susanfredman.com.

—JAN PARR

A lively line-up of artists and crafters will be exhibiting at Architectural Artifacts’ curated Spring Show this Sunday, April 19, from 10–5. Sixty-plus, as a matter of fact, and with all that jewelry, handmade paper, ceramics, textiles, and glassware on display it should be a cinch to find a standout Mother’s Day gift. I’m intrigued by these Olive Kraus hand-carved doorknobs set in sterling silver, and there’s nothing crunchy about the kiln-formed fused glass pieces of Sandra Schwarzbeck. (Or you could always splurge on some Fer Forgé ironwork from Stuart’s inventory-it’s all good.) Vella Café will be onsite with sammys and snacks, there’s no admission charge, and you’ll find ample free parking along Ravenswood.  

-BRADLEY LINCOLN

I previewed the auction at Susanin’s that’s going on the block this Saturday morning, April 18, at 10:00, and found a lot of great stuff among the 883 lots. Love the gothic vibe of these Michael Aram aluminum and steel skeleton chairs, lot 1097 (although I wouldn’t want to curl up and watch a mini-series on one), estimated to sell for $600–$800; this hefty Indian carved wooden panel, lot 3013 (at six feet tall, it would be impressive mounted as a door, huh?), $1,000–$1,500 estimate; and, for any remodelers out there, this carved white marble fireplace surround, lot 1008, $1,000–$1,500. 

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

A few of us here at Home + Garden attended a media preview of this year’s DreamHome at the Mart (open to the public April 17 to December 18). This year’s entries were just as polished as ever, with a bit more of a traditional bent than in past years (at least I thought so). As usual, many inspiring ideas where shared by the designers. I liked the nature-meets-sparkle ambiance in Laurel Feldman’s foyer and Mick de Giulio had the most wonderful antique tapestry-like painted wood panel framing the chandelier above the chunky table in his kitchen. Larry Boeder loves a nice desk in a living room, which I found interesting. And the lush, deep-rosy color of the wallpaper in Missie Bender’s European-inspired bedroom had us all hailing the return of mauve! Here are some other favorites from our gang.

Jan Parr: “Loved the vintagey pivoting screens in the bathroom by Christoper Michiels and the mink-like rug in the TV
 room/study by Denise Antonucci and Jerry Sanfilippo. Also the farmhouse-meets-industrial vibe of the kitchen and the grouping of Nyphenburg plates as art in Leslie Jones’ fab dining room.”

Barri Leiner: “I heart the ‘Art in Motion’ video that was created by local design collaborative Thirst to play on a loop on the TV in the family room, the rug with the constellation map design in Janet McCann’s home office, and the extra space provided by the cool undersink drawer that Mick de Giulio designed for the kitchen. Also the general idea of kitchen as dining room—love that!” 

Bradley Lincoln: “I liked the bathtub fixtures, the constellation rug in the home office, the big, round dining room table chosen by designer Leslie Jones, the engraved floating marble shelf in the kitchen with patterns inspired by Art Deco details on the exterior of the Mart, and the Ann Sacks marble-tile-covered floor in the welcome lobby.”

Tate Gunnerson: “I thought the office constellation rug was interesting and I really liked the shag-rug-style pillows on the chairs in the TV room/study.  They remind me of my favorite dish at Lula Café in Logan Square, the Pasta Yia Yia.”

And the winner is…. That constellation rug! Check it—and all the other winning designs—out for yourself when DreamHome opens this weekend.

—Gina Bazer

If you know your contemporary design, you might just be able to win a free piece of amazing furniture by entering Orange Skin’s upcoming design contest. Sign up for their newsletter on their Web site and you will receive a photo and some clues about a special piece—identify what it is, and, who knows? (The coat racks above are by Paola Navone—they’re not necessarily in this mysterious contest.)

—Gina Bazer