By Bradley Lincoln
Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood has a well-deserved reputation for white-hot restaurants, but this zip code also contains a lot of unusual home stores, furniture and art galleries, and boutiques Read more
Tag: Interior Design
By Bradley Lincoln
There are a couple of opportunities to catch Martha Stewart live this Friday, May 1, beginning with her 10 a.m. keynote speaker presentation at the Mart’s International Antiques Fair, where she’ll wax poetic on incorporating storied furniture and accessories into modern milieux. From there, the craftiest ex-con in the world hoofs it over to the State Street Macy’s to do a 1:00 p.m. book signing... Read more
By Bradley Lincoln
Fifty savvy real estate agents have joined forces to put on a massive open house in Michigan's Harbor Country, with over 100 on-the-market properties available for ogling this Saturday, April 25 from 12-4 p.m. (Michigan time). Every price range is available, from charming $100K cottages in Three Oaks to this $5 million lakeside manse in New Buffalo. Aprés house-hunting... Read more
By Bradley Lincoln
The Garfield Park Conservatory turned 100 this month, and they’re transitioning into the second phase of the annual Spring Flower Show, which will be blooming until May 10. So it’s aloha azaleas and hiya hydrangeas—gardeners have installed more than 400 plants, some of which are direct descendants of 1893 Columbian Expo varieties. Tulips, lilacs, and hollyhocks make up the supporting cast. I like taking a time-out visit to these stately old gardens in their fin de siècle setting once in a while, especially when there’s a big show like this going on. A buzz-worthy gift-shop souvenir is handcrafted honey, made by bees that live in the Conservatory and gather nectar from flower Read more
By Bradley Lincoln
Last week, Pagoda Red launched a new site with searchable capabilities—just the thing for anyone with a taste for Chinese furniture and a size-restrictive space to fill. In addition to combing through the collection by category or key words, you can punch in dimensions and see a selection of items that fit the bill. Sign up for the informative newsletter and you’ll get weekly previews of sale items, notices of special events, and monthly editions of the Pagoda Red Book, a journal of Chinese art, culture, and design. Subscribe before May 30 and you’ll also have a chance to win this groovy green-lacquered 19th Century roundback chair, delivered free to anyone in the lower 48. The Web site wasn’t the only birth in the Pagoda family—owner Betsy Nathan just had her fourth baby boy, Nate, and “hands are full and so is life,” she reports. Read more
By Bradley Lincoln
Antonio Lupi, a gran maestro of high-style, innovative Italian bathroom design is coming to River North this week, with a gran opening on April 2. This is the primero Antonio Lupi showroom in the U.S., brought here con amore by Luca Lanzetta and Maurizio Fiori. Lanzetta, owner of the Merchandise Mart’s sexy Italian kitchen company Read more
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
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
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
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