October 2008

Botanica, a newish home accessories shop in Oak Park, last week held a reception featuring the charming ex-owner of Le Magasin (now closed), Didier Milleriot (shown here with me). Milleriot is consulting and advising Botanica's owner, Danah Kozma, on many of the glassware, linen, and candle lines La Magasin carried. Wine and cheese from Marion Street Cheese Market made the night extra fun. Milleriot, who now lives in Paris, says he misses Chicago. “Now that I am back in Paris I see all these things that drive me crazy about Parisians!” he says.

-Jan Parr

Despite all my best intentions, I haven't had the chance to pick up any of decoupage artist/designer John Derian's wares at Target (have any of you?). I think the melamine vases, trays, and picture frames might still be there for a couple weeks longer if they didn't all fly of the shelves immediately last month when they landed (his Web site said they were to be there for six weeks). Oh well, on to the next Derian thing… we just heard that his new furniture line will be available at the end of the month exclusively at Jayson Home & Garden in Chicago. The historically-inspired five-piece collection-two sofas, one loveseat, a chair, and a long tufted bench -is tres chic, though sadly I don't think it will be as easy to just add them to the cart after grabbing a few items in the toiletries aisle. 

-Gina Bazer

Cambium has introduced the Cambium Condo line of sofas, geared toward first-time furniture buyers but made to be better quality than starter furniture. A three-seat sofa runs $1,988 to $3,238. The company says the sofas are made “with the same high-quality care and bench-made approach that all of our sofas are given.” Have your couch upholstered in one of more than 40 new fabrics the company is carrying.

-JAN PARR