I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

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I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

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I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

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Lights Fantastic

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I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Delightful Dana

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I think I will never again stay in a hotel that doesn’t have floor-to-ceiling windows. We went to see the new Dana Hotel & Spa last week, and, standing in a guest room, thought how great it is to feel like you’re floating on the skyline. The rooms are impressively designed with modern and eco-friendly elements by EDI Architecture of Texas. I loved the reclaimed Australian Jarrah wood floors (I can’t recall ever having seen wood floors in a hotel room—it’s so great.) Philippe Starck spa-inspired benches in the double shower are also a great touch.

—JAN PARR

Photos: Craig Dugan/Hedrich Blessing

Bourbon, Make It a Triple

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Basil Hayden scored a hat trick with the last of the debutant parties for their Tastemaker’s design competition. This one was held at Angels and Kings and celebrated Bryan Lump’s winning entry—a sleek coffee table with a mid-century-mod surfer vibe (pictured above). I’m looking forward to seeing all three prototypes at the final fiesta at Crimson Lounge on Oct. 16, where partygoers will pick the winner. If you’d like to mingle with Nate Berkus, snag some swag, and put your own two cents in to help decide who goes home with $10,000, RSVP here.  

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Photos by Frank Failing

A New Shade of Gray

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The best revenge: John Gray parlayed his scant 15 minutes of reality-TV fame into an eponymous showroom on his home turf.   Viewers of the first season of Bravo TV’s Top Design may be surprised by über-dramatic contestant John Gray’s new Lake View furniture showroom, Johnathon. The soothing neutral palette reveals a softer side of … Read more

New Wave in Michigan City

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Stone paths lead up to the front door (bottom right) and around the property. The formerly white house was re-sided in gentle colors to fit in more harmoniously with the natural surroundings.  Photo Gallery::: At first glance, it appears that in summer's floristic exuberance, this garden in Michigan City, Indiana, jumped its boundaries to colonize … Read more

Log On

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In our November/December issue, you will read about Gosia Korsakowski, a local vintage accessories dealer who sells her stylish and quirky finds on Etsy. Since we went to press on that issue, she’s alerted us to her other venture: acting as U.S. distributor for these cool trunks designed by Poland-based Malafor (they, too, can be purchased through her Etsy site). We’ve come across these online in the past and never realized how close to home they are. Each trunk comes in two sizes (12-inch or 14-inch diameter, both 19 inches high) and is made with European oak wood. The underside is lined with felt to protect your floors. Prices start around $520.

-Gina Bazer

So you wanna be on TV?

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HGTV’s new show, “Bang for Your Buck,” is looking for Chicago-area remodeling projects to feature. They’re looking for a “major room”—presumably kitchen, bath, living room, or dining room—that’s been remodeled within the past three years. Of course, if your redo is fabulous, we want to see it as well to consider it for our magazine! So by all means, send photos to us, chicagohome@chicagomag.com. And contact Justin at HGTV if you want to at 303-712-3315 or email jkoehler@highnoonentertainment.com.

—JAN PARR