Ad Categories: Home and Garden

Paging Bob, Carol, Ted, and Alice: The funkiest bed I’ve ever seen—a large round vintage number that converts to an oval—is on display at Uber Modern, a great little store in the burgeoning Grand Ave. design district (of COURSE I forgot to get a photo of it; you’ll just have to go see for yourself). I was there for a little holiday cheer (Brandon, the owner, poured champagne into cool vintage glasses he’s selling) and fell hard for this bar cart. There’s also wonderful glassware, pony-skin end tables/benches, and tons more authentic midcentury treasures.

—JAN PARR 

How cool is this industrial metal chair, circa 1920, part of a new shipment from France that’s just arrived at The Golden Triangle? Or the club chair, circa 1930? Co-owners Chauwarin Tuntisak and Douglas Van Tress took a few trips to Paris markets recently, and filled a crate with some amazing vintage furniture and accessories, all at nice discounts over last year’s prices (the combo of a lower Euro and widespread discounting). While in Paris, they tapped the connections and expertise of, among others, Didier Milleriot, our favorite Frenchman, who operated Le Magasin here til he moved back to Europe a few months ago. These new pieces are set in the shop amid the “Exposed” collection of modern, reclaimed wood pieces. “It’s a dry, angular backdrop to the curviness innate to the French things,” says Van Tress. “The intent is not to create a French shop in my store, but to create powerful, earthy, often industrial” items that are complementary to the rest of the store’s merchandise. We think he’s done it!

—JAN PARR

Greg Steffens of Haus in Andersonville just emailed with a smart alternative to traditional holiday décor: these porcelain logs from the Brooklyn-based art studio KlienReid, he says, are not only perfect for putting in your non-functioning fireplace, but also make for a cool-yet-cozy centerpiece for your dining room table or a sideboard. Evoke the spirit of the holidays in less predictable way.

—Gina Bazer

One of our favorite local design studios, Unison Home, is holding a Holiday Market, the next two Saturdays (Dec. 13 and 20 from noon to 6 p.m.) and also from Dec. 16 to Dec. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2000 W. Fulton St., 312-492-7960. This is a rare chance to shop straight from the source (Unison’s fun wares are sold at CB2 and a few other local retailers) and get your hands on some exclusive items (Unison aprons, Christmas tree skirts, holiday table runners, and ornaments). The Greater Chicago Food Depository will receive 15 percent of all sales.

–JAN PARR

The Raul Carrasco showroom on Hubbard is closed. A few days before Thanksgiving, a spokesperson who was packing up told us that there had been some sort of dispute with the landlord, and that the company was securing a new location. We’ve tried to follow up, but have not had calls returned and the voicemail for the Chicago showroom (the firm started in Miami) gives no information.

—JAN PARR

After several years at his Lakeview location, home enhancer George Lowell has joined the Andersonville pilgrimage and opened up shop at 5123 N. Clark Street. This stretch of Clark south of Foster (I can’t bring myself to call it SoFo, I just can’t) is developing into quite the lively design district, with shops like Baan Home, Marguerite Gardens, Foursided, and now Lowell’s emporium of sharp and eclectic furniture and accessories. Things are going swimmingly, reports George, who has tripled the size of his store and packed it with creamy ceramic urns, Adler-esque pillows, oversized Romanesque statuary, and lots more me-approved merchandise. Mostly new, with the occasional antique in the mix. He’s also an experienced interior decorator who brings a fun formality to his work, playing with scale and using unexpected artwork to liven up spaces.

-BRADLEY LINCOLN

Casamonte, a great off-the-beaten-path showroom that offers a mix of high-end products from Australia—including EcoSmart flueless fireplaces and Omvivo wash “planes” and other unique bath accessories, such as the Le Cob tub (both shown above)—is gearing up to close its doors. Discounts of up to 50 percent are available until the merchandise is all sold. Owner Paul Fiermonte will still represent these vendors in the U.S.

—Gina Bazer

My mom loved wrapping presents, especially at Christmastime. She was obsessed with it, and even set up a designated section of the basement, with a folding table and ribbons sorted by color. She would spend days making puffy bows, folding origami tags, and collaging works of art that really were a shame to tear open. She also had a wicked sense of humor, and loved to trick us by putting gifts in inappropriate boxes. She’d tuck a doll for my sis in a power-tool package, my Mork rainbow suspenders in a cigarette carton—that sort of thing, just to see our (momentarily) disappointed faces. She would have slapped her knee silly with these fake boxes that the Onion store sells: “Visor-ganizer—turns your hat into another pocket” and “KleenStride—the personal debris removal system.” They have six Onion-y designs, they’re 12 in. by 9 in. by 4 in., and $7.99 each. Watch out! 

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

We can think of no more festive boutique this time of year than Branca, set in a townhouse on Pearson Street. Stop by Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for cider and treats, and feel good knowing that 15 percent of all sales that day will be donated to Children’s Memorial Hospital. Need some gift ideas? Branca’s gorgeously designed new website has a few excellent suggestions. Love the faux croc credit card pouch for $40 (even better with a Branca gift card inside); the faux bois glass hurricane for $175; and the set of four garnet lowball glasses for $120; the striped are $80 for a set. 

—JAN PARR