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Bradley Lincoln
Vintage Posters, Modern Market, Win at CB2
By Bradley Lincoln
The International Vintage Poster Fair is back in town this weekend at the Cultural Center, with a high-flying featured exhibition of aviation and airline posters such as this nostalgic gem from United. (I wouldn’t be surprised if Mad Men’s Don Draper had a hand in the campaign.) Chicago’s own Poster Plus and the Chicago Center for the Print are among the 25-plus dealers who will be offering more than 10,000 posters for sale Read more
Mart Sample Sale, Smart Home, and More
By Bradley Lincoln
There’s a lot of buzz about this weekend’s sample sale at the Merchandise Mart, with more than 40 high-design rollers participating in the event, held Saturday and Sunday on the 8th floor. The admission price of $10 for a weekend pass (refundable with some purchases) also includes access to participating showrooms on the hallowed halls of 6 and 15-18, which are typically to-the-trade only. Expect luxe bargains from Mike Bell, Holly Hunt, Bright Chair, Henredon, and lots more. Why not pimp your patio with this outdoor set of Boca Isles resin wicker furniture with Sunbrella cushions from Anacara? It’s $2,418 for all five pieces, down from $6,200. Odegard promises a large selection of hand-knotted rugs (regularly $3,000 to $14,000) for $700 to $4,500, and should you need some Read more
An Auction, Sales, and Table Manners
By Bradley Lincoln
Sean Susanin is having a big sale this Saturday at his cavernous Clinton Street auction house, with close to 700 items on the block, including this asymmetric Harry Bertoia chaise manufactured by Knoll, estimated to sell for $1,000 to $1,500. The eclectic sale also includes a nice selection of rugs, paintings, jewelry, silver, rare books, sports memorabilia—everything but kitchen sinks, really (unless I missed that aisle). Since opening in 1994, Sean has been into making the auction process fun, comfortable, and a piece of cake, especially by developing sophisticated, searchable online viewing and bidding systems. Every Friday morning is Discovery Day, by the way, where potential sellers can bring in up to three items or photos for free appraisal, consignment, and maybe even an outright purchase. Read more
Inside Job
By Bradley Lincoln
An old-fangled Chicago home gets a dramatic new lease on life with a complete gut rehab Read more
Redmoon on the Block; Lighting Deals; Antiques
By Bradley Lincoln
Redmoon Theatre is known for wildly inventive productions staged all over the city, from the Jackson Park Lagoon to the façade of the MCA. The shows always have great trompe l’oeil sets and props, and now you can bring home some fakin’ (as well as other donated artwork, vacation packages, etc.) courtesy of an online auction. View the lots and bid online from now until March 11. The live event will be held at Spectacle Lunatique, their annual fundraiser, March 13 at Redmoon Central, 1463 W. Hubbard St., but absentee bids are welcome. This three-foot puppet, used in Cyrano, reminds me of something from designer Julia Edelman’s house that we profiled recently. Other auction co-stars include a Tony Fitzpatrick painting, colorful Mardi Gras headpieces, props from Moby Dick and The Golden Truffle, and outsider art. Read more
Caste, One Year Later; Flor’d; Orchid-palooza
By Bradley Lincoln
It seems like only yesterday that we introduced y’all to Brad Rowley and Ty Best’s West Town home design boutique Caste, but it’s actually been 17 months since these Montana boys hung their shingle up at 521 North Halsted Street. We checked in with Brad to see how the yearling’s doing, and were happy to hear things are going swimmingly. Read more
Sales, photography, Jayson Home & Bargains
By Bradley Lincoln
The Chicago design community is buzzing about this weekend’s warehouse sale at Jayson Home & Garden, and judging from some preview items and installation shots I’ve seen, rightly so. A $3,000 sofa for $899? A chunky bluestone end table for $399, down from $1,195? 2,000 square feet of accessories and furniture, all marked 50 to 80 percent off? See you there. They’ve always had good sales in the basement at the Clybourn Avenue shop, but this is the first big warehouse event off-site. To make the deals even more enticing, Jayson’s throwing in free delivery, and will send someone over to rub your feet and pour you a Diet Coke as you relax in your new chair. (Not really on the majordomo action, just seeing if you’re paying attention.) The shindig starts on Friday and runs through Sunday, at 1740 W. Webster (corner of Webster and Elston). Read more
Mid-Century Macbeth, Alessi love, and Mad Men Style
By Bradley Lincoln
I went over to Alessi’s Tree Studios branch to see if the annual sale is worth checking out (it is and you should—there’s a nice selection of shiny happy silly on sale for up to 75% off through February). I also got a kick out of these (not reduced) miniature versions of iconic Alessi tableware designs, sort of along the lines of the mini Vitra chairs that show up in museum shops and high-end home boutiques. All the 1980s superstars are represented in the collection, including the Michael Graves shrieking bird teapot (this version about 3” in stature, $45), Philippe Starck’s Juicy citrus squeezer ($45) and that Anna G. chrome-plated corkscrew (4” tall, $32)—just the ticket if you’re trying to cut back on your drinking. Read more
Audrey, Art, Valentine’s Day, and more
By Bradley Lincoln
Don’t wait for a proposal to venture through Tiffany’s doors—they have terrific, modern, not-as-pricey-as-you’d-think home items as well as the jaw-dropping gems on which the store built its reputation. I popped in the Michigan Avenue store to shop for a gift the other day, strolled right past all the quintuple-digit diamonds settled on their first-floor, and took the stairs at the back, up to the gifts floor. Elsa Peretti has a sexy new collection of sterling-silver picture frames that look like liquid mercury, and the store is offering free engraving on them until Feb. 9. Her crystal vases, candlesticks, and vessels are pretty spectacular too, and you’ll also find crenulated Frank Gehry bone china bowls... Read more
Rug Sale, New Design Showroom, and more
By Bradley Lincoln
Oscar Isberian Rugs and Leslie Hindman Auctioneers have joined forces once again for a wall-to-wall winter rug sale at Hindman’s West Loop gallery. More than 500 carpets in an array of sizes and styles will be available for instantly gratifying purchase starting this Friday, Jan. 30 through Sunday, Feb. 8. We knighted Isberian owners Oscar and Sarkis Tatosian “rug czars” in our Best of Chicago Design issue, and here’s your opportunity to pick up a few of their greatly reduced carpets. Rug reps will be on hand to answer questions and help flip through the plush piles. Read more