Post on 05-Jul-2015
PLUS Haute Farm Chic in the City! Stay-Cool Home Finds > Flower-Powered Furniture > Art Camp For Adults!
SUMMER LIVING!Getaway-Spread Cred Rooftop Gardens Take RootInside Chicago’s Hottest Outdoor Rooms
PLUS Haute Farm Chic in the City! Stay-Cool Home Finds > Flower-Powered Furniture > Art Camp For Adults!
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Director’s NoteSummer
JENNIFER
POLACHEK
Advertising DirectorEvery Chicagoan waits all year for one thing: summer! It’s time to take out the patio furniture and enjoy those decks, rooftops and balconies. Entertaining is one of my biggest passions, and among my close-knit group of friends, I’m knownfor my outdoor soirées. � is year I decided to up the ante by adding customized syntheticgrass to my terrace, thanks to the vision and expertise of Rhett Downing of Rug Zoom. I’m a suburban girl at heart, and his unbelievably soft, grass-like installation has transformed my urban space. � is new issue is dedicated to all things summer, from ideas on sprucing up your own outdoor space to the best planters in the city. If you’re short on space, you’re going to love the latest gardening trend. Check out the story about vertical gardening—gardens climbingup everything from backyard walls to sky-high buildings. We’ve also got the scoop on the latest shop and showroom openings. Fabulous designers Randy Heller and Julia Edelmann have both opened namesake stores, while Kim Chapman works her magic touch on custom window treatments at the brand-new Urban Environments. If it’s glass you’re looking for, you’ve been warned: � e highly
anticipated Trainor Glass Design Center on the corner of Lake and Sagamon in the West Loop spans 5,600 square feet, carrying everything from glass tiles to fi replaces. � is issue is also packed with new designers on the scene and on the rise, from Casey Gunschel and Meghan McGuinness, who are turning out leather-tooled tables that look like fi ne art, to Studio Murmur and Felicia Ferrone, both local multidisciplinary designers who are getting their turn in the spotlight. Studio Murmur’s new line of outdoor furniture is on its way to the showroom fl oor of Room & Board, while Ferrone’s gorgeous glassware is a minimalist showpiece at the store in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing. I love how they fl ip over for wine or water, depending on your mood (I’ll take a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, thank you!). And fi nally, if you’ve ever wanted to steal the décor of your favorite restaurant or hotel, listen up: � e designers behind hotspots like the Elysian, Girl & the Goat, and Hermès dish advice on how to lift the coolest design details for your very own home. I’m loving the staircase at Epic. After all, by the end of summer, it will be time to bring the party back inside. jpolachek@ modernluxury. com
10 | | Summer 2010
For 30 years, our approach has been
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Holden sofa, $1999
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Profile frames, $79 each
Cable rug, $2299 $969 as shown
Planters $299 - 399
Visit us at three Chicago locations:
55 East Ohio at Rush Street, Chicago
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10071 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie
Designed for life
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800.952.8455
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MEGHAN MCEWEN
Editor-in-Chief
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12 | | Summer 2010
Editor’s NoteSummer
We loaded our little ones into the car Friday morning, turning a two-day photo shoot at Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, into a weekend-long family aff air. A half-hour from the sprawling, beyond-beautiful retreat, where creative types of every stripe descended for art camp, the unthinkable happened: We got in a terrifyingly close-call car accident with a UPS truck. We were all miraculously untouched, but our vehicle was not. With a rental car (ours was not drivable) and shaky nerves, we persevered. Instead of dwelling on what could have happened, we decided to spend the weekend in full-force gratitude mode. And I cannot think of a more relaxing or welcoming place to slow down and take stock of every single little moment. Owners David Hernandez, who has been going to Camp Wandawega since he was a baby, and his wife, Tereasa Surratt, have been transforming the idyllic lake-side camp for the last few years, building the kind of backwoods-chic oasis that makes you want to skip off the grid and spend your days picking wildfl owers, baking bread, reading by lantern light, and practicing archery—in a vintage eyelet summer frock and frilly apron. But beyond the natural beauty and vintage cottage-meets-cool lodgings featured in this issue, there were other smaller—but no less important—stories unfolding behind the scenes. Sam from Post Family took my four-year-old fi shing and he caught his fi rst fi sh—a little bluegill—without even using bait. Tyler from Stone Blitzer played checkers with him when an afternoon shower brought us all indoors for a spell. He blew on the antique bugle that signals breakfast, took his fi rst ride on a tree rope swing, and marveled at the eggs of nesting turtles spread across the beach—all childhood-making moments for the
memory books. My 16-month-old toddled around the grounds, pulling grass, picking up rocks and engaging in a lengthy game of peekaboo with talented surface designer Noël Ashby, who I met for the fi rst time, even though I’ve admired her work since we ran a story about her beautiful designs last year. In a time when people are more careful with their money than ever and big-box stores are churning out mass-produceddesign on the cheap, the opportunity tospend a couple of days with some of Chicago’s most talented design minds reminded me what we’re doing here at CS Interiors matters. � ese are some of the people behind our city’s local design scene. � ey’re holding it up. � ey’re makingthings with their hands. � ey’re thinking responsibly and innovatively about materials.And they’re not only prodigiously talented, they’re also really nice folks. � e whole weekend was a working testament to getting outside your everyday. Especially in the summer—when the days are long and the pavement is hot—we all need an escape. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a vacation home in the country like the covetable modern cabins featured in this issue, but everyone can be inspired by the way these homeowners are using their spaces: to decompress and spend time with family and friends. From Jay Franke’s impeccably-appointed midcentury spread to the Eckenhoff family’s modernist prefab in the woods, we off er a peek inside two of the most striking second homes in the area. And then there’s ultimate do-it-yourselfer Dave Albin, who bought and decked out—with salvaged materials and self-made art installations—a creative Indiana retreat for less than $100,000. Now that’s inspiration. mmcewen@ modernluxury. com
kitchen
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upholstery
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300 West Ontario Chicago IL 60610 T 312 640 0066 70 stores world wide
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Departments Contents
DIRECTOR’S NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10EDITOR’S NOTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
HOME FRONT
NOW! � e people, places and products you need to know about now . . . . . . . . . . 24
STYLE Get ready for a whole new spin on the color wheel’s prettiest players . . . . . 32
A triple-decker Bucktown patio goes super sophisto under the agile hand of designer Lukas Machnik . . . . . . . . . . .34
TRENDS! � e next generation of plant containers brings new life to leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
STYLE Looking for some one-of-a-kind interiors inspiration? We’ve snagged the ultimate decorating ideas from Chicago’s top hotspots . . . . . . . . . . 40
TRENDS! Ready to assemble a rainbow coalition? Summer’s coolest home goods channel hues of all stripes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
PEOPLE Straight from the studio of Antonio Citterio, this glassware designer brings her own version of Milan tothe local scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Saddle up! Wallpaper frontwoman Casey Gunschel teams up with a handbag designer for the latest in luxe leather surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
TRENDS! Insider style takes on the great outdoors: Garden furniture grows (way) up . . . . . 50
PEOPLE A massive rooftop garden evolves into an out-of-this-world urban oasis. Landscape designer Patrick Henson mans the mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
DESIGN Bygone mod? An off -the-beaten-path interiors shop grafts a new breed of home cool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
TRENDS! A new take on no-frills fl oral furniture blooms into view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
HOME DIY guy Dave Albin builds a better weekend getaway. Penny-pinching required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
HOUSE PARTY CHICAGO
All of Chicago’s hottest design parties . . 96
MARKETPLACE
Where to get sofas, lighting and glass tile? � e only listings that truly matter . . . . .106
INTERIOR MONOLOGUE
With a new take on the silent treatment, the design minds behind Studio Murmur make a big statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
62
32
120
24
50
52
ON THE COVER
Photography: Tony SoluriStylist: D. Graham KosticHair & Makeup: Christina Culinski for Ford Artists using YSL & DavinesModel: Shara McGlinn at Ford ChicagoPhotographer’s Assistant: Al Froberg Eyelet jacket, $245, top, $125, seersucker shorts, $175, and espadrille wedges, $225, all by DKNY at Bloomingdale’s, The 900 Shops, 312.440.4460 and dkny.com. Back Bone earrings, $345, by Meredith Wendell at Chalk, Evanston, 847.424.0011 and meredithwendell.com.
14 | | Summer 2010
1901 N. Clybourn Ave., Suite 100 • Chicago, IL 60614
Tel 773.388.2900 • Fax 773.388.2916 • www.boconcept.us
Features Contents
16 | | Summer 2010
80 74
68
Cabin Fever! High-flying midcentury-meets-contempo style enters the deep boondocks of the Wisconsin woods 68
OPen Architect Walt Eckenhoff builds a prefab dream house tailor-made for communing with Mother Nature 74
nature Art camp for grown-ups? A former Latvian summer camp evolves into a low-key, high-designed colony for Chicago’s creative set 80
nurtureD
SeaSOn
Publishers of CS magazine
Modern Luxury Regional Offices:
AtlAntA
3340 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1425
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.443.0004
Contact: Chris Van Duyne
ChiCAgo
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Chicago, IL 60654
312.274.2500
Contact: John Carroll
DAllAs
2828 Routh Street, Suite 350
Dallas, TX 75201
214.880.0003
Contact: Louis F. DeLone
hAwAi‘i
2155 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 701
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.924.6622
Contact: Alan Klein
houston
2700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 350
Houston, TX 77056
713.622.1116
Contact: Louis F. DeLone
los Angeles
5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1412
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.930.9400
Contact: Alan Klein
MiAMi
3930 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 201
Miami, FL 33137
305.341.2799
Contact: Leslie Wolfson
new York
7 W. 51st Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10019
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orAnge CountY
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Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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WILLIAM F. COBERTChief Executive Officer
STEPHEN W. KONGVice Chairman
& Group Publisher
JOHN CARROLLPresident, Eastern Division
& Group Publisher
MICHAEL R. LIPSONChief Operating Officer
ANN Y. SONG Vice President Creative
& Fashion Director
SPENCER BECKEditorial Director
ALAN KLEINPresident, Western Division
& Group Publisher
LOuIS F. DeLONEGroup Publisher,
Southwest Division
JOHN PIETROLuNGOSenior Vice President, Finance
Editorial
Editors-at-Large . . . . . . . . . . .CONNIE DuFNER,
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Style Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . D. GRAHAM KOSTIC
Fashion Assistant . . . . . . ISAIAH FREEMAN-SCHuB
Group Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . ELA SATHERN
Contributing Editors and Writers . . THOMAS CONNORS,
LISA CREGAN, AMALIE DRuRY,
TATE GuNNERSON, LISA SKOLNIK,
KATE TEMPLIN
Editorial Intern . . . . . . . . . . . DIANA TYCHSEN,
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dEsign
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Group Art Director . . . . . . . . . SPENCER MATERN
Art Director . . . . . . . . . . ELIzABETH GILMORE
Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GREG GILLIS
Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AGNES CARRERA
Contributing Photographers . . . . BOB COSCARELLI,
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onlinE
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Creative & Fashion DirectorspEncEr BEck Editorial Director
mEghan mcEwEn
Editor-in-Chief alExandria aBramian-mott
National Home Editor
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our offices are located at: 200 w. hubbard chicago, il 60654 | phone: 312.274.2500 | fax: 312.274.2501
©2010 MODERN LuXuRY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
m o d e r n l u x u r y m e d i a , l l c
ABC membership applied for
18 | | Summer 2010
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Publishers of CS magazine
advertising sales
Associate Publisher Howard a. SimS
Advertising Directors,Ancillary & Custom Titles natalie duell,
cHriStian poppert
Midwest Account Director david negaSenior Account Directors melissa green,
beth levyAccount Executives ChristoPher anderson,
Courtney hildenbrand Sales Assistant talia pineS
Executive Assistant emily aguinaldo
Marketing
Director of Marketing samantha saiferMarketing Manager elise sChmittMarketing Coordinator allison Cooke
national sales & Marketing
Vice President/ Managing Director antonio sardinas
Group Publisher Brides amy allen
Vice President Jewelry & Watches deborah tauber
National
Food and Travel Director Christina Carbone
National Home Director david baer
Fashion Director erin Pollard
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships kelly berg
Director of Research
and Sales Administration kristy angellotti
Marketing Manager Chandra Cooks
Sales Assistant hollyn mCmanus
Production
Vice President of Production meg eulberg
Production Manager tim boyer
Associate Production Managers kari grota,
robyn dubinsky
Art Director erin quinn
Designer john frauenholtz
Account Coordinators torey adkins,
beth gammonley, holly PriCe
liz sChwager
Special Sections Coordinator jaquelyn zuniga
digital Media
Director of Production joCelyn fuller
Producers Chris beCk, james mastro
Senior Systems Manager gordon makely
Printing & PrePress
Vice President of Manufacturing sean bertram
Director of Digital Imaging doug ringwald
Digital Imaging Managers sarah gillmore,
doug kisela
Senior Digital Imaging Specialist joe lekas
creative services
Project Manager beCky starr
Art Directors jennifer johnson,
jen kuroki, joshua nathanson
jamie nuzbaCh
Copywriter marquita harris
circulation & distribution
Vice President of Audience Development eriC holden
Distribution Manager heCtor galvez
Circulation Manager mike Petre
Audience Development Coordinator maggie bellDistribution Coordinators santos argueta,
salvador galvez
technology
Director of MIS jeff leisegang
Director of IT sCott brookman
IT Coordinator isaaC rubio
Finance
Controller sam Chang
Director Credit and Collections janet king
Sales Administrator Chris balderrama
Billing Supervisor bryan turner
Accounts Payable Specialist alyson sChultz
Assistant Credit Manager mike eisenburg
Collections Specialists robin asquith,
eriCa howard, matt yabs
adMinistration
Manager of Human Resources mishele baldwin
Executive Assistant to CEO elizabeth ryan
Corporate Receptionists viCki Crain,
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m o d e r n l u x u r y m e d i a , l l c
our offices are located at: 200 w. hubbard chicago, il 60654 | phone: 312.274.2500 | fax: 312.274.2501
©2010 modern luxury media, llC, all rights reserved
Modern Luxury Regional Sales Offices:
AtlAntA
3340 Peachtree road, n.e., suite 1425
atlanta, ga 30326
404.443.0004
Contact: Chris Van Duyne
ChiCAgo
200 w. hubbard street
Chicago, il 60654
312.274.2500
Contact: John Carroll
DAllAs
2828 routh street, suite 350
dallas, tx 75201
214.880.0003
Contact: Louis F DeLone
hAwAi‘i
2155 kalakaua avenue, suite 701
honolulu, hi 96815
808.924.6622
Contact: Alan Klein
houston
2700 Post oak boulevard, suite 350
houston, tx 77056
713.622.1116
Contact: Louis F DeLone
los Angeles
5455 wilshire boulevard, suite 1412
los angeles, Ca 90036
323.930.9400
Contact: Alan Klein
MiAMi
3930 n.e. 2nd avenue, suite 201
miami, fl 33137
305.341.2799
Contact: Leslie Wolfson
new York
7 w. 51st street, 8th floor
new york, ny 10019
212.582.4440
Contact: Stephen W Kong
orAnge CountY
3200 bristol street, suite 150
Costa mesa, Ca 92626
714.557.2700
Contact: Christopher Gialanella
sAn Diego
1055 f street
san diego, Ca 92101
619.849.6677
Contact: Dina Grant
sAn FrAnCisCo
243 vallejo street
san francisco, Ca 94111
415.398.2800
Contact: Steven Dinkelspiel
wAshington, DC
927 15th street, n.w.
washington, dC 20005
202.408.5665
Contact: Peter Abrahams
ABC membership applied for
Matthew Carroll
Vice President, Managing Director
jennifer PolaChekAdvertising Director
For a list of upcoming events that you don’t want to miss, please visit: modernluxury. com
20 | | Summer 2010
william f. CobertChief Executive Officer
stePhen w. kongVice Chairman
& Group Publisher
john CarrollPresident, Eastern Division
& Group Publisher
miChael r. liPsonChief Operating Officer
ann y. song Vice President Creative
& Fashion Director
sPenCer beCkEditorial Director
alan kleinPresident, Western Division
& Group Publisher
louis f. deloneGroup Publisher,
Southwest Division
john PietrolungoSenior Vice President, Finance
Continental divide.Create privacy with our beautiful sliding room dividers.
For more information,
call (312) 494-9494 or visit our
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Walk right inShop the world’s largest collection of premier
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ahalya Stone, ann Sacks, artistic tile, Birger Juell, ltd, chicago tile institute, the chopping Block, christopher peacock home, clive christian of chicago, de giulio kitchen design, ernestomeda chicago, Farrow and Ball, granite & marble resources, hastings tile & Bath, kerns-Wilcheck of chicago, the kohler Store, the nanz company & remains lighting, neFF of chicago, paris ceramics, poggenpohl, poliform, porcelanosa tile/kitchen/Bath, Smartrooms: a Spaces and Views Showroom, Studio Snaidero chicago, Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom—coming Soon, urban archaeology, Valcucine chicago, Waterworks, Woodharbor home, Woodland artisan cabinetry
Bath kitchen tile caBinetry countertopS applianceS lighting hardWare paint
Now! spotlight to-die for design hip deluxe Cool sleek modern
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24 | | Summer 2010
Vintage Edition!
Shopping locally for vintage fashion, art and accessories just got immeasurably easier thanks to Atelier, a smart new River North emporium that is a cross between a sexy boîte and an intriguing artist’s workroom. Its rich red walls and glossy checkerboard fl oor make the eclectic and chockablock panoply of pieces, ranging from signifi cant artworks and couture clothing to captivating little baubles, all the more beguiling. T is is no surprise given its owners: Kathryn Sullivan Alvera and Jason Clark, part of the team from Prosecco next door and formerly of Narcisse and Domaine, and Roberto Pesce, who previously worked at Burberry and Ultimo. Prices range from high to low, and current standouts include a Christopher Makos photograph of Warhol ($3,000), a pearl-encrusted skull made by Clark as an homage to Damien Hirst ($1,500) and a dazzling collection of gilt frames ($250-$2,500, with framing services on the premises). –Lisa Skolnik
MIXED ‘N’ MAXED A variety of fi nds at Atelier.
The pair from Furniture Revival put together a must-buy list for the hardware store.
How good are the guys at Furniture Revival? Good enough that midcentury savant Richard Wright calls on Dan Snyder and Garth Borovicka for pre-
auction prep on his pricey collectables. T e pair also reports that Scout’s Larry Vodak trusts them to refi nish his fi nds while preserving, in Larry’s words, their essential “Scoutness.” Snyder, a serious rock musician, and Borovicka, a talented photographer, came to Chicago for the arts scene and were actively pursuing their creative interests before Angela Finney-Hoff man of Post 27 pushed them into full-time furniture. Proof that restoration is as much art as science, they work magic on anything from Queen Anne to Herman Miller. Below, four items they don’t leave the hardware store without. –Lisa Cregan
DENATURED ALCOHOL
“It’s a solvent for shellac, but it’s
also a good cleaner. We can wipe
a piece before it’s fi nished and
get a good idea of what it will
look like when we’re done. We
don’t use water because it soaks
in and raises the grain and that
can hurt the wood; denatured
alcohol just dissolves.”
MINERAL SPIRITS
“It’s more or less a paint thinner,
a low-odor version. It’s good for
clean-up and won’t smell up the
whole house the way turpentine
does. If you’re using an oil-based
enamel and you don’t want your
paint to dry too fast you can thin
it with this and the paint will
dry slower. And when we use a
special varnish like tung oil, we’ll
use mineral spirits as a base.”
HANDHELD ORBITAL SANDER
“We go through two or three
a year. But we fi nd the Porter
Cable orbital sanders work best
because they don’t burn out
after three months. There’s so
much sawdust in our workshop
between us and our two
employees that it affects
the motors.”
MURPHY’S OIL SOAP
“We’re trying to get people
to stop using silicone-based
cleaners like Pledge. Dust
doesn’t stick to them but nothing
else will either. If you ever want
to paint or revarnish after using
a silicon-based polish, it’s very
diffi cult. Murphy’s Oil Soap
doesn’t leave a harsh residue...
after we’ve refi nished a piece,
we always give it a once-over.”
Prep Schoolers
DECK SET!
Damien Hirst’s
deck chairs.
Well Slung
T e humble deck chair gets an artistic upgrade this summer via Damien Hirst. T e Brit art stud seems to be moving away from his broody skull period and returning to his mod-pop roots with brightly colored, butterfl y-embellished patterns. T e images are digitally printed on sailcloth seats, while wooden frames include Hirst’s signature on stainless steel plaques. $425 at artwareeditions. com. –Alexandria Abramian-Mott
SUMMEr FIND
SHOP SCENE
A®FURNISHING A BETTER WORLD
Club Sofa
$3,499
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HOME FRONT
now!
26 | | Summer 2010
Shower Power
An outdoor shower that harnesses its own hot-water energy? Los Angeles-based KAA Design Group has created an eco-friendly upgrade to the bone-chilling garden hose-off . With solar panels, low-fl ow showerhead and wire mesh privacy walls, the free-standing Allora is the ultimate in hippie luxury. Emphasis on luxury: It goes for about $12,000. At homlifestyle.com. –AAM
Slick and MortarTaking their cue from the likes of Alesandra Branca and Michael Del Piero, more top Chicago decorators are expanding their businesses to include a retail shop. Highland Park interior designer Randy Heller has opened a space in the multi-vendor venue at 531 Bank St. in Highwood. T e self-professed “hunter/gatherer” off ers a range of treasures, from vintage couture furniture and her own custom pieces to a selection of fi ne imported wallpapers. Also getting into the brick-and-mortar game: Julia Edelmann of Buckingham I+D and Debra
Phillips, owner of Scentimental Gardens in Geneva. T e two
have taken a space on Grand Avenue, divided it in half and created a double-punching hotspot for one-of-a-kind home fi nds. At Buckingham I+D (1820 W. Grand Ave.), Edelmann off ers interior design services as well as work by local artist Marilyn Borglum, lighting by L.A.-based Marjorie Skouras, and furniture from the artists of Outdoorz Gallery in Paris. At SG Grand (822 W. Grand Ave.), Phillips—a landscape designer and veteran retailer making her city debut—presents a truly eclectic inventory, ranging from antiques to garden ornaments and inventively repurposed pieces, like a conveyor belt from a French factory transformed into a folding screen. Not the best time to open a business? Phillips says, “I feed on risk and predict this area will become a mecca for the design-oriented.” –T omas Connors
BUrNING QUESTION
“T e Design Deutschland 2010 exhibit was the most interesting of the international exhibitions at the ICFF. T e
newcomer products were all original, fresh and quite clever.
I especially enjoyed items by Formf ord, Reinhard Dienes, and Studio Uli Budde.”
–LOrI OELHAFEN, MOrLEN SINOWAY ATELIEr
“At ICFF, I fell in love with the Deborah Bowness product, New Antique Books Wallpaper.
It was the fi rst booth I wondered upon, and when she
pulled out a vintage suitcase to show me her wallpaper samples, she stole my heart. So much in love. I will be carrying her products at Post 27 in late summer.”
–ANGELA FINNEY-HOFFMAN, POST 27
What was your favorite design from the furniture fair circuit—Milan, Miami, ICFF, etc.—this year? –Diana Tychsen
“One product that I thought was not only beautiful but sensible from
the Milan Fair: Tokujin Yoshioka’s
Memory chair, which is composed of recycled aluminum and changes shape depending on who is sitting on it. T e constantly changing shape makes it almost organic and ‘alive,’ despite its cold metallic look. Is it art? A garden chair? A performance piece? I love the mystery of it.”
–PATrIZIO FrADIANI, STUDIO F
The sleek interior of
Buckingham I+D,
which is fi lled with
style-forward fi nds.
SHOP SCENE
Space Saving with Style
745 N. Wells St., Chicago, 312.787.3358 w w w . h o m e e l e m e n t f u r n i t u r e . c o m
HOME FRONT
now!
TJ O’Keefe designs furniture that would bring a tear to Euclid’s eye. “It’s all based on logic and geometry,” O’Keefe says. Even the name of his one-year-old Helic line of side tables (carried by Haute Living on Kinzie and I.D. on Halsted) is a subtle homage to the twist of a double helix. “By rotating the table against a sofa or a wall you create
private spaces without using drawers. I try to distill furniture down to its essential parts,” says the 28-year-old. An Ann Arbor native, O’Keefe studied graphic design at Michigan and architecture at Penn, but came to Chicago three years ago drawn by what he calls a “nurturing” design community. While interviewing at local architecture firms O’Keefe realized that furniture is his real passion. Tings took off from there. With two Helic tables and a stunning, stripped-to-its-essence chair called Chair IV (available this fall) under his belt, O’Keefe is already on to his next mathematical conquest. He’s thinking cubes. –LC
One To
Watch!
Growing by The Number
At the Gary Comer Youth Center, created by architect John Ronan, design goes hand in hand with a soaring social agenda. Cue the beautiful rooftop garden by Hoerr Schaudt, where 250 kids work, learn and grow food and flowers every year. More roof-raising stats:
The stunning rooftop of the Gary Comer Youth Center.
New-on-the-scene
furniture designer
TJ O’Keefe sits in
the Chair IV of his
own design.
1,000pounds of organic
food each year that is
used by students, local
restaurants and the
center’s café
3,500spring and
summer bulbs
26varieties of perennials
in the garden
75kinds of annual flowers,
vegetables and herbs
85teens involved
in the career
exploration
program
Green Teens
this summer
29planting rows
8,160square footage
of green roof
30height in feet above
street level
Famous by Design
When Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa breezed through Chicago last month for a series of appearances timed to coincide with NeoCon, aesthetes followed his every move like rock groupies. During a lecture at the MCA and a private luncheon at Luminaire, members of the media, fans and fellow design-world stars hung on Fukasawa’s every word. Also at Luminaire, an exhibit of products by the Tokyo-based designer showcased his sensory, solution-based style, from a jointless Boffi bathtub that gurgles water like a futuristic hot spring to a thoroughly modern mini-TV that eschews a thin-as-paper profile in favor of a more nostalgic shape. When Fukasawa outlines a product, he says it’s never perfect the first time but always trying to be: “Like when you draw a circle and you make your pen go around many times.” –Amalie Drury
PASSING THrOUGH
Naoto Fukasawa’s impeccable
Grande Papilio Lounge Chair for
B&B Italia, available at Luminaire.
NUMBEr CrUNCH
Number of square inches of glass in the new Trainor Glass Design Center.100,234,678
28 | | Summer 2010
Snaidero USA o� ers eco-friendly products that qualify towards LEED certi� cation.
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HOME FRONT
now!
1. Knotted Melati hanging chair, $498, at Anthropologie.
2. Mykonos water pitcher made out of recycled glass, $35, at Jayson Home & Garden.
3. Wire shop baskets, $98–$125, at Jayson Home & Garden.
Playing for Space
When design collab Mas Studio entered Architecture for Humanity Chicago’s Street Furniture Competition, they started breaking rules right away. “T e challenge was to reimagine how to use empty lots in the city, but we didn’t want to make something like a lonely bench that would just sit there. We wanted to engage the community,” says Iker Gil, Mas Studio’s founder. Quickly nixing actual furniture, the group created containers made of aff ordable plywood four-by-eights to house native grasses, herbs or even toys. Gil hopes Cut.Join.Play, which won the competition, will inspire future projects that use small objects to make a big impact on a community. –AD
Going Vertical
Following in the eco-conscious footsteps of green roofs, the latest gardening trend has us looking up. Vertical gardens—or living walls, as they’re sometimes called—are fl ourishing throughout the city. “Vertical gardens are about to explode,” says Heather Sherwood, a senior horticulturalist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, who recommends trying them on a south- or west-facing wall. A good
option for urban green thumbs without a lot of space, vertical gardens can
beautify blank or unwelcoming walls. “It doesn’t damage the buildings, because unlike letting ivy run wild, the plants used aren’t ‘suckers’ that grab onto the skin of the building. T ey’re just looking to grow,” says Grace Rappe, a landscape architect with Chicago fi rm Hoerr Schaudt, who’s busy pitching large-scale projects to potential clients like the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and Chicago Department of Transportation. Craig Jenkins-Sutton of Topiarius has installed vertical gardens in the courtyards of several Chicago condo buildings, and cites enviro benefi ts as a top selling point: “T e cooling eff ect that a green wall can have is signifi cant—as much as a 30 percent energy savings—and there’s research on the cleaning eff ect the plants can have on the surrounding air.” Still, he goes on to say, “T e main reason why vertical gardens are becoming so popular is because
A vertical fruit and vegetable island at the Chicago Botantic Garden.
Winner of the street furniture competition, Mas Studio’s containers were built for use in Little Italy.
Net Worth
Boost your bottom line with some of this summer’s hottest woven home fi nds. Upgrade your standard-issue rope hammock with a color-punching, macramé seat that can take prime position on the porch, while a garden-variety water pitcher gets a modern makeover with a chic seagrass cover. And why not swap out that ho-hum grocery tote for a fashionably cool wire bouclé basket that marries drop-dead form with eco function? –AAM
30 | | Summer 2010
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HOME FRONT
STYLE
32 | | Summer 2010
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When Julie Michiels and Iker Gil moved into their Marina City condo fi ve years ago, pink may have ranked as one of their least favorite colors. As architects at Mas Studio (mas-studio.com), the couple is more easily classifi ed as gray and black proponents. But when a 725-square-foot unit with Chicago River views and generous balconies came on the market, they decided to take the chic with the pink: Its original kitchen, complete with ’60s-era General Electric-commissioned fridge, stove and metal cabinets, was all done in a uniform Mary Kay shade of cotton candy. “We’ve had to learn how to work with the color. Now we love it,” says Gil. And while the couple fi rst thought of painting the entire kitchen white or gray, they’ve now not only learned to abide by the shade, but abet it as well. “We’ve learned to embrace the color, which isn’t really a pale pink but hasn’t yet reached Pepto-Bismol either,” says Michiels. “We’ve bought pink oven mitts, pink salad tongs, and, our best fi nd, a Bialetti espresso maker. When we saw it in pink, we had to have it.”
Thinking Pink!Ready to indulge in the color wheel’s sweet spot? Meet the hue’s–who of pink
By Alexandria Abramian-Mott and Meghan McEwen
Shelf Life Contractor and creative décor hobbyist Dave Albin kits out his Logan Square living room with custom paint-covered books and puts literary-chic in the pink!
BIBLIO-STYLE Dave Albin’s bubblegum-colored book covers.
PINK-ALICIOUS! Julie Michiels and Iker Gils’ ‘60s-era kitchen.
Sliding Scale
Barely bubblegum? Full-throttle watermelon? We’ve got the season’s choicest pink off erings in tailor-made shades.
1. Junior Dachshund bookends, $150, at Jonathan Adler, 676 N.
Wabash Ave., 312.274.9920.
2. Basic Ostrich cushion in fucshia, $255, at calypso-cell.com.
3. Addison Chair, starts at $1,495, at Jonathan Adler, 676 N. Wabash Ave.,
312.274.9920.
4. Blu Dot’s Strut table in watermelon, $274–$1,369, at ID Modern,3337
N. Halsted St., 773.755.4343.
PROJECT IMPETUS “I had this
living room on the fi rst
fl oor. It’s the fi rst thing you
see when you walk in, and
I wanted to make a fi rst
impression. But I didn’t
need more bookshelves, so
I thought, ‘What if I turned
the whole wall into an art
installation?’”
COLOR CHOICE “I wanted to mix
the most masculine pink I
could. It’s almost Pepto—but
with a little bit of dark gray.”
HOW Albin realized he needed
glue to prevent the pages
from crinkling and warping.
“If you glue them all together
and smear glue on the page
sides, you can brush the
paint on and then let them
dry. Brush, dry, brush, dry…
I also painted bookends
and fi gurines. I painted
everything pink, then tucked
my art books in between
some of the nonfunction
books.” He picked up the
volumes from resale shops,
yard sales, rummage sales
and a book trade drop-off,
where he would trade in old
paperbacks anytime he could
snag a hardbound. “There’s
maybe about $10 worth of
books there.”
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continued...
34 | | Summer 2010
Forget wicker rockers, wrought iron lanterns and a smattering of geranium-filled flowerpots. When creating a tri-level rooftop lounge/open-air dining space/sundeck in Bucktown, Chicago designer Lukas Machnik took his high-design sensibility and translated it into the great outdoors, bringing in a collection of sexy furniture by the likes of Marcel Wanders and Patricia Urquiola, and let-it-be landscaping by Jayson Home & Garden. To set it
all off at its flattering finest, Machnik added illuminated occasional seating and coffee tables, perfect for after-dark ambiance. Te result: a decidedly Delano-meets-Donald Judd aesthetic with nary a kitschy stripe or floral print to be found. And those bright, summery colors that usually populate a patio? Tey didn’t stand a chance. “By using shades of gray, you really highlight the green grasses and leaves,” says Machnik, a Polish-born minimalist
whose love of Mies van der Rohe brought him to Chicago in 2002. “And when nothing’s popping out, it’s more serene and much sexier.” Te first stop to sexy was creating a sense of privacy on the three decks, each of which stands close enough to the homes on either sidethat sharing a cocktail with neighbors wouldn’t require an invitation, just a slight stretch. “On each of the rooftop decks, you could reach out and touch your neighbor. Space was a challenge,” Machnik says of the project for a 20-something trader who desired a modern, minimalist, party-ready space. To achieve that
urban-retreat feel on the first deck, a dining and entertaining space, Machnik commissioned a dramatic, 16-foot-tall duck-blind pergola—horizontal slats of ebony-stained wood that encase three sides of the 20-by-20-foot deck and serve the dual purposes of shielding the space from next-door neighbors as well as the sun. “Te initial inspiration was the Delano,” Machnik says of the South Beach hotel’s Philippe Starck-designed poolside retreat, which, like Machnik’s project, was conceived as an indoor room moved outside. “Te philosophy is that it’s not just a deck; it’s outdoor living space. I’m using the same color palette and contemporary lines that we’re using inside the house.” Te bunker-like, exterior cinder blocks were painted in Machnik’s signature charcoal gray (“It took years and lots of tests to finalize that shade,” he says), the floors were covered with sandblasted concrete tile (lighter than a concrete pour, the weight of which the rooftop structure couldn’t support), and the space was filled with sleek furniture pieces and planters from Zaha Hadid, Urquiola and Wanders. “It’s moody, kind of depressing, but sexy,” Machnik says of the shades-of-gray space. While design was always top of mind, putting the “fun” in functionality was equally important. “My client loves to entertain, and the first deck will be primarily used as a massive dining room,” Machnik says. A built-in Lutron system offers party-perfect lighting and sound at the touch of a button. Machnik designed and hand-built the 12-foot-long, Donald Judd-inspired slab
Gray GardensThree levels, one color and sky-high design transform an outdoor Bucktown bachelor pad
into a sexy, monochromatic space for all seasons By Kate Templin | Photography by Bob Coscarelli
slat happy Above: Clean-lined
West Elm lounge chairs under
an angular, 12-foot wooden art
installation of Machnik’s own
design. Left: table and benches
designed by lukas Machnik.
HOME FRONT
style
...continued table, which accommodates 10-plus, from reclaimed barnwood with Lonney H. White III (available at Pavilion). Te lounge area will feature Hadid’s lighted modular tables, which also act as additional seating. “Tey kind of look like mushrooms after the rain, sculptural but beautiful,” Machnik says. “And when you sit on them, they’re actually comfortable.” Urquiola’s Canasta armchairs, oversized Fibrestone planters, five-foot-high polished-chrome torches—Machnik’s take on a modern fire pit—and Jayson Home & Garden-designed, low-lying plant boxes filled with tall grasses fill out the first deck. “All the plant life is low maintenance,” Machnik says. “I don’t see my client watering or weeding, so we went for a more wild, less manicured, ‘pretty, pretty’ look.” Lighting was also extremely important to Machnik (“After all, you spend 90 percent of your time at home at night”), who brought in illuminated coffee tables, planters and an organic, wicker-weave fixture to hang over the dining table. “Tis is a sharp-angled, clean-lined space, but I thought it was important to play around with organic elements that add softness while keeping everything very masculine,” he says. And make no mistake about it: Tis is a manly
space—from the private cubes tucked between weeping willows and designed to act as make-out booths, if the need should arise, to the no-wimps-allowed, dramatic spiral staircase that connects the first deck to the second. Machnik hopes his client will use it often. “It was important that each deck had its own purpose. Otherwise, he’d probably end up using only one,” Machnik says. “Te challenge is they’re all separated, so how do you create a functional flow? I introduced elements on each deck that will force him to use one or the other for dining, tanning, lounging, entertaining… It gives him a lot of options without leaving any space unused.” Te second-level deck’s purpose: lounging, specifically on a black lacquered Hadid bench, Kartell plastic Bubble Club Chairs and CB2’s Sawyer eucalyptus wood adirondacks, a sleek, sustainable and economical find at $250 each. “I like to mix expensive and inexpensive, especially in an outdoor space,” Machnik says. “Why spend $3,000 on a chair that will be damaged in a year, when you can find a $300 chair that looks so great?” Design-wise, the second deck continues the gray theme with a concrete fire pit and coffee table from Luminaire and an eight-foot-tall piece of petrified wood. “It almost looks rotten because it has so many holes in it,” Machnik says. “It makes a statement that this is an outdoor room.” And the truly courageous (and hopefully sober) can brave a ladder up to the final deck, a massive, top-floor space lined with green grass and filled with simple loungers designed for sunbathing. Shockingly, Machnik ordered them in black and white.
Private cubes, tucked between weeping willows, are designed as make-out booths, should the need arise.
staCking thE dECk
a quartet of sawyer
chairs from CB2 create
an intimate, clean-lined
lounge area.
36 | | Summer 2010
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TRENDS!
38 | | Summer 2010
Whether you’re greening up your house, balcony or garden, these planters turn a brand-new leaf on out-of-the-box containers. If you’re looking for a high-concept home for foliage, English design collective Vitamin Living has the answer with its IV Planter, a cheeky solution for every forgetful waterer. � e refi llable IV bag with built-in fl ow regulator lets you set watering rates to suit your plant. For the best new eco option, Bacsac off ers the latest in high-tech, lightweight containers made from 100 percent recyclable Geotextile. And if you’re looking for sculptural, brightly colored pots, PAD’s Pod planters are it. Created by RISD-trained designers, the powder-coated pieces will sprout in any room of the house.
Planters Punch!By Alexandria Abramian-Mott
Vitamin Living’s IV planter, $285, at aplusrstore.com.
Bacsac’s Geotextile planters, $36–$275, depending on size, at aplusrstore.com.
Magenta’s 4.5”-tall wood grain herb planters, $55 for a set of three, at magenta-inc.com.
Chelsea boxes made out of fi berclay, $45–$165, at Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773.248.8180, jaysonhomeandgarden.com.
Woolly Pocket’s modular planter, $50–$189, at City Escape, 3022 W. Lake St., 773.638.2000, cityescape.biz.
PAD Pod planters, $164–$174 (steel stand, $48), at Sprout Home, 745 N. Damen Ave, 312.226.5950, sprouthome.stores.yahoo.net.
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French Lit
For a hotel that exudes luxury from its grand French motor court to its Lucien Lagrange-designed mansard roof, designer Lisa Simeone of Simeone Deary Design Group knew the lobby’s first impression had to be awe-inducing. Her crystal chandelier—inspired by an amalgam of Chanel brooches—provides just the explosion of sparkle the Elysian needed. “Juxtaposed with the embroidered wool drapes and marble finishes of the lobby, the chandelier’s glitter is meant to set the tone for what you’ll experience
throughout the entire hotel,” she says. Based on Simeone’s sketches and built by Baldinger in New York City, the chandelier consists of more than 100 polished chrome spiked arms studded with more than 2,000 faceted crystal beads. For a residential setting, Simeone says, it would need to be scaled down by several notches. “I’d take a picture to a custom lighting company and have it made, or peruse antique or auction sites like 1st Dibs or Pavilion. I also always recommend Lightology for its sheer volume and variety of lighting—there’s usually something there that would be close in nature.”
Stair Cased
When designing the showstopper staircase at River North bar and restaurant Epic, architect Jeremiah Johnson of Chicago Building Design approached it “as though, with the right lighting, it could become the ‘chandelier’ of the space,” he says. Scenesters now traipse up the stairs on their way to Epic’s rooftop until the wee hours of the morning, but Johnson says the industrial-chic look could also work in a more Zen residential space. “It would be great in a modern home or as a modern insertion into a period building. It has a rough-versus-refined feel that would also be fantastic in a loft.” If the lines of the staircase seem laser-cut, it’s because they practically were: Johnson used a process called Computer Numerical Controlled design (CNC) to carve the prototype from a block of raw material. Te stairs were later fabricated by Chicago-based Nick’s Metals.
Beaming It Up!
An al fresco feel was the inspiration behind the unique beamed ceiling at Fred’s restaurant in the new Barneys New York store on Rush Street. “It’s meant to evoke a garden lattice,” says David New, the executive vice president of creative services who works with architects, designers and contractors to build out Barneys stores nationwide. “We used teak wood, and the light fixtures are somewhat randomly placed and residential,” he says. Achieving the terrace look is not overly complicated, New insists. “It’s just nice materials used in a simple way. Tis format could succeed in almost any room of a home.” If working in a space with less natural light, New would consider choosing a lighter ceiling color than the dark stain used at Fred’s.
Stealing HomeHOME FRONT
style
fred’s
tHe elysIAN
epIc
The luminary Lisa Simeone in the Elysian lobby.
continued...
BARE MARKET The rustic-chic
exposed ceiling at Fred’s.
ON THE RISE The industrial staircase at Epic.
Forget HGTV. We tapped the designers behind six of Chicago’s coolest hotspots to give up the goods on some of the city’s most snag-worthy decorating ideas By Amalie Drury
40 | | summer 2010
At Fa u x D e s i g n s t u D i o 101 North Swift Road | Addison, Illinois 60101 | 630-627-1011 | www.fauxdesignstudio.com
c o l l e c t i o n
P h o t o b y A d A m J A b l o N S k I
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...continued
The Flame Game
“I own the complete 1969 Playboy After Dark series,” says Robert
Polacek of San Francisco-based design firm Puccini Group. “It was filmed at the Playboy penthouse in Chicago, and in almost every scene, Hugh had a fire roaring in the background to set the mood.” For the interior of new River North restaurant Sable, Polacek and his team decided to go for a modern take on the cozy vibe by teaming up with Strike Anywhere Films to create a digital fireplace for the space. “You can buy fireplace videos online, but most of them are just films of a gas burner. No sparks. No jumping fire.” Polacek and Strike Anywhere filmed an actual six-foot burning log over cocktails in Napa one night, and the difference, he says, “is exceptional.” When translating the look at home, Polacek recommends, “Don’t just think about where you’d expect a fireplace.” And though he knows it would be a stretch for someone with traditional sensibilities to incorporate a digital fireplace into a classic design scheme, “It would look outstanding,” he says.
Finish Language
Design magazine photos of burned cedar planks—a traditional Japanese building material still used by modern architects—were hanging on the tackboard in designer Karen Herold’s office for two years before she had the opportunity to translate the
look in one of her own projects: the high-profile Girl & the
Goat restaurant just opened by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard. Herold, the vice president of design at Chicago-based 555 International, felt it described the restaurant’s “rustic with an edge” aesthetic perfectly. “We burned them ourselves in our parking lot,” she says. “It was the most fun I’ve ever had creating a finish.” Te burned cedar covers a brick wall dividing two rooms in the restaurant, and Herold says she’s already had at least one request from a residential client to cover his entire fireplace in the planks. But the project could easily be do-it-yourself, she says. “Anyone with a torch and some cedar is good to go.” To finish the look at Girl & the Goat, Herold and her team added a layer of resin to give the wood sheen, then lit the wall from the top with LED lights.
Tile Style
Te new, 6,000-square-foot Hermès store in the old Barneys New York
space was Chicago’s most anticipated retail opening of 2010. Like all Hermès boutiques since 1976, it was designed by Parisian firm RDAI, the architectural group founded by Rena Dumas, the late wife of former Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. A section of mosaic tile at the foot of the store’s centerpiece white spiral staircase is an ooh-la-Hermès touch that has been echoed in the brand’s worldwide flagships for decades. “It would be perfect in the home of anyone who loves the art of travel,” says RDAI artistic director Denis Montel. “It looks best in an entryway, hallway, foyer or any specific space the individual would like to personalize.” As seen from a distance, the mosaic’s woven pattern tips its hat to Hermès’ long tradition of sumptuous leather goods—an effect that can be achieved by choosing a small tile size and light, closely contrasting colors.
FAKING IT A digital fire at Sable.
BURN, BABY Charred cedar walls.FLOOR’D! Hermès’ signature mosaic at its new store.
Hongtao Zhou’s Spinning Table.
42 | | summer 2010
sAble
GIrl & tHe GoAtHermes
Residential Design
360 W Superior St
Chicago, IL 60654 USA
312 640 8300
garyleepartners.com
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44 | | Summer 2010
Pierre Paul’s Pumpkin chair, $2,100, at Ligne Roset, 440 N. Wells St., 312.222.9300, ligne-roset-usa.com.
Multicolored Wall Clock, $89, available this fall at Bo Concept, 1901 N. Clybourn Ave., 773.388.2900.
Karmelina Martina’s Helix chair for Moroso, price upon request, at Luminaire.
Dransfi eld and Ross’ fl ower tables, $115–$140, at Elements, 741 N. Wells St., 312.642.6574, elementschicago.com.
Piero Lissoni’s The Dark Side of the Moon coffee table, $6,589, at Luminaire.
Dransfi eld & Ross’ Louis XV upholstered Ribbon Chair, price upon request, at dransfi eldandross.biz.
Forget all about monotone décor. � is season the focus is on bringing a rainbow’s worth of hues into every room of the house. Designers from all over the globe are celebrating the spectrum with a series of stripes, dots and swirls. Designer Piero Lissoni’s latest is a polychromatic table made out of colored glass, while Karmelina Martina gets color crazy with her super cool seating for Moroso. Even classic design is getting a multicolored makeover: Pierre Paulin’s classic Pumpkin armchair was originally designed as a one-colored seat for Claude and Georges Pompidou in 1971. Now, Ligne Roset is off ering a limited number of the chairs in shades of gradating red and blue. But is there a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow? You be the judge!
Over the Rainbow!By Alexandria Abramian-Mott
Represented by
Christina Lucas
Lucid Collections
P 312 972 3110
christina@lucidcollections.com
lucidcollections.com
Shown: Ion table
Showroom
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza
Suite 1689
Chicago, IL 60654
P 312 644 8484
F 312 644 8444
chaimingstudios.com
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Glass ActFrom the studio of Antonio Citterio, a globe-trotting designer returns home to ignite Chicago’s design scene By Lisa Cregan | Photography by Maia Harms
Felicia Ferrone has had one foot in Chicago and one foot in Milan for most of her adult life. But hallelujah: � is world-traveling young designer—whose glassware has been added to the Art Institute’s permanent design collection and touted in Wallpaper* Magazine—seems to have settled her heart on a 606 area code. A native of River Forest, Ferrone snagged a position right out of college (Miami University of Ohio, architecture) in the studio of Milan-based architect/product designer Antonio Citterio—a name that sends little shivers of joy through all card-carrying modernists. “I experienced architects there who were not just creating architectural products, but were creating graphics, designing showrooms and furniture. Always playing with diff erent scales,” says Ferrone. “� en the Milan Furniture Fair came along and that altered my life. I saw design in a whole new way.” Pumped after observing all the edgy brio at Milan’s famous Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Ferrone says she began rethinking the whole “building thing.” “My real love was product design, I just didn’t realize it,” she says.
In 2000, while living in Italy and working, by this time, for starchitect Vittorio Gregotti, Ferrone became fascinated by the whole messy enterprise of table settings—the diff erent heights, shapes and sizes of water and wine glasses off ended her sense of order and discipline. So she set about creating her own design solutions, the result of which is her Revolution Collection: clear glass cylinders that can accommodate a generous goblet-sized pour of water at one end, or fl ipped over to receive a more abstemious serving of wine at the other. “� ey’re meant to be used two to a guest. Each place setting gets a pair, one with the wine side up and the other with the water side up. It makes for a clean tablescape,” says Ferrone, who modestly admits the glasses were an instant sensation. “I was published in Elle Décor Italy, Surface, Dwell, Abitare.” But, she says, it took until recently to iron out the manufacturing to her satisfaction. “� ey’re simple, but very diffi cult to make. � ey have to be made by hand by expert glassblowers. I fi nally found a manufacturer in the Czech Republic, so I’m manufacturing them myself.” In April, ff errone design was born, with an online store where the Revolution glasses can be purchased along with her exquisite glass bowls and champagne fl utes. Currently, Ferrone is working with Corian on a new shower design, and this October, she’s headlining a solo exhibit with Volume Gallery. “I’ll be showing all new work, from a kinetic chandelier to a rug. Really, my designs are all across the board. � e glassware collection is just the beginning.” Let’s all buy one and raise a glass to homegrown Chicago design.
Designer Felicia Ferrone at home
with her Revolution Collection.
POUR HOUSE
46 | | Summer 2010
j u l i a b u c k i n g h a m e d e l m a n n
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p h o t o g r a p h y : e r i c h a u s m a n
b u c k i n g h a m
i n t e r i o r s + d e s i g n l l c
48 | | Summer 2010
Leather Forecasters
After launching the city’s coolest wallpaper biz, Casey Gunschel teams up with a local handbag designer to give leather a new grooveBy Thomas Connors | Photography by Maia Harms
“When people hear we work with leather, they immediately think S&M stuff ,” says Casey Gunschel, a wallpaper designer who recently took up a new medium after apprenticing under a saddle maker in Oregon. Using traditional leather-tooling techniques to achieve almost painterly eff ects for high-end custom furniture and interior installations, Gunschel and her partner, local handbag designer Meghan McGuinness, will make you rethink that glass-top coff ee table. Celebrating the beauty of a natural material and an ages-old craft, Gunschel and McGuinness create singular patterns—intertwined snakes against a botanical backdrop; a composition of old penmanship fl ourishes—that project a decidedly modern aesthetic. Gunschel, owner/designer of Palacepapers, was living in rural Oregon a few years back when she got the itch to try something new. “� ere wasn’t much going on where I was and I just needed a creative outlet,” she relates. “And I’ve been a horse person my whole life.” Her longtime friend McGuinness, who was back in Chicago making belts and bags, asked Gunschel to tool some straps for the hand-crafted, easygoing creations she sells online (cope-and-drag.com). “My handbags are meant to be well worn,” says McGuinness. “We aren’t trying to make the next ‘it’ bag, but more a timeless bag that gets better with age. I have known Casey for years and we share a similar aesthetic and work ethic. I respect her eye for design.”
When California interior designer Erin Martin asked McGuinness to apply her leather crafting skills to furniture, she asked Gunschel to collaborate. � e two dove in, fashioning a tabletop (inscribed “Zins of the Fathers”) for a California winery. More projects followed. One entailed executing an astrological theme across a homeowner’s bedroom walls. “We’re not interested in Western motifs,” says Gunschel. “What’s interesting to us is taking a traditional craft and giving a modern twist to it, making it contemporary.” For one designer, the two fashioned a large coff ee-table top depicting an octopus, its tendril-like arms unfurling, a uniquely dramatic piece that sold for $18,000. � ey get tanned hides from Argentina, treat them for durability, and hand-dye them with an oil- and spirits-based dye they often mix themselves. “It’s been a real learning process,” admits Gunschel. “Even old saddle makers tell you it can be hit or miss, because you’re dealing with an organic product that can take dyes diff erently. And no one works on the scale we do.” Gunschel’s leather endeavors aff ord her a new kind of freedom. “Wallpaper is more intrusive in an interior and I have to appeal to a wider audience. Furniture can be more unique and personal. And leather is so interesting because it’s kind of alive. I never would have guessed that what started as a hobby in rural Oregon would become a growing business.”
Meghan McGuinness
(left) and Casey t)) aa
Gunschel team up to
design beautiful leather-
tooled furniture.
LEATHER AND GRACE
HOME FRONT
PEOPLE
A glimpse of what we offer:
Kitchen: Countertops, backsplashes, cabinet inserts, kitchen sinks, glass tiles
Shower & Bath: Framed and frameless shower and tub enclosures, shower screens, steam showers, shower door hardware, mirrors, sinks, countertops, faucets, backsplashes, glass tiles, glass towel warmers
Glass Fencing & Handrails: Around pool areas, patios, balconies, stairs, interior & exterior spaces
Doors: Interior & exterior, mirrored closet doors, door hardware
Modular Walls: Home offices, loft spaces, portable room dividers
Landscape Glass: Glass bricks; translucent and glow in the dark
Interior Extras: Hidden mirror televisions, glass fireplaces, glass flooring, custom cast glass service ware, glass magnetic marker boards, glass shelving, glass stairs
Green Ideas: Solar panels, recycled & pure glass countertops
Free Estimates & Design Consultations!
Chicago Design Center939 W Lake StChicago, IL 60607
312-870-9660
Chicago Design Center
www.trainordesigncenters.com
Digitally printed glass
Store Hours Tues- Sat 10-6, Sun & Mon ClosedAfter hour appointments available
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HHOOMM EE FF RR OO NN TT
TTRR EE NNDD SS !!
Patricia Urquiola’s Tropicalia daybed, price upon request, at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312.664.9582.
Patricia Urquiola’s Tropicalia chaise, $3,032–$3,880, at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312.664.9582.
Charles Long’s Untitled, 2009 ceramic bird feeder, at cumulus-studios.com.
Tord Boontje’s Sunny lounger, $2,763, at morosousa.com.
Emmet sofa made from 100 percent recycled plastic, $649, at Room & Board, 55 E. Ohio St., 312.222.0970.
Lebello’s Chumy chaise, $1,325, at lebello.com.
Big Sur lantern, $78, at Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773.248.8180.
KAA Group’s ceramic bird feeder, $325, at homlifestyle.com.
Don’t even think about putting patio standards in the garden. � is season, it’s all about importing insider style to your outdoor areas with big color, bold shapes and out-of-the-box ingenuity. Some of the world’s top design talent is taking it outside, from Patricia Urquiola, whose Tropicalia chaise and daybed are the ultimate in multicolored, plein-air chic, to Tord Boontje, who created the ultra-swank Sunny lounger. And for the birds? We’ve got two takes on high-fl ying style, from artist Charles Long’s limited-edition ceramic bird feeders to KAA Group’s super-sleek and pointy take on sowing new seeds of outdoor change.
Out Fest
By Alexandria Abramian-Mott
50 | | Summer 2010
Bespoke Wallpaper
See what great decorative painting can be.
DesignRed | Decorative Painting
Showroom
114 North Aberdeen
Chicago, Illinois 60607
T: 312 841 0100
www.designredstudio.com
HOME FRONT
PEOPLE
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The Eccentric Gardener
Designer Patrick Henson outfi ts a 4,000-square-foot rooftop with everything from foo dogs to rare fl owers to create a mind-bending ride of an urban oasis By Lisa Cregan | Photography by Jason Robinette
Hey kids, don’t try this at home! Unless, of course, you have an enormous penthouse on top of your sprawling warehouse complex with 4,000 square feet of rooftop garden to trick out. Landscape designer Patrick Henson of Chicago’s Handsome Designs is the pro who was handed this once-in-a-career assignment. His clients own an old-time manufacturing facility on the banks of the newly scenic Chicago River and decided it would be fun to live above the shop. What ensued was a fabulous fourth-story aerie with long views of the city’s glimmering skyline, while immediately below lies that other Chicago—the one of husky, brawling, big-shouldered fame. Maneuver past skittering forklifts, around clattering heavy machinery and through gigantic spools wrapped in lord-knows-what to an industrial elevator that eventually spills you out facing a massive steel door. Swing open that door to a wonderland of sculpture, planters and trees that seems to go on forever. How much space is there? Well, let’s put it this way: ere’s a tennis court. e mind boggles.
Henson’s task here amounts to hand-to-hand seasonal combat with Mother Nature. ere’s a reason most landscapers don’t do rooftops. Henson has to battle desiccating wind, scorching sun and, let’s face it, non-existent soil depth. Not to mention needing to work around a sculpture collection that’s constantly expanding and morphing at his clients’ whims. Just when things seem laid out for the season, Henson suddenly fi nds himself looking for spots for Buddha and his companion foo dogs. And the Astroturf? At least Henson wasn’t expected to grow a suburban rooftop lawn. A perpetually green carpet was already in place when he arrived—a welcome, no-maintenance, faux-sylvan backdrop. Now in his fi fth year on the roof, Henson seems to take the tumult and trials in stride. “ is garden’s been a labor of love,” he says. “I’d rather do rooftops all summer long. I enjoy the challenge, it’s closer to God, and the views are spectacular. You can see the whole skyline, the entirety of Chicago.” e scale of
1. There’s an unobstructed view of the skyline from almost every angle of this enormous warehouse rooftop garden 2. A brass pyramid was manufactured right in the
homeowner’s factory two stories below 3. The homeowner personally designed these fi ber-optic globes that periodically change colors 4. A copy of a sculpture currently at the
Weizmann Institute in Israel 5. Sand sculptures engage in a staring contest atop driftwood pedestals.
52 | | Summer 2010
312-642-7379
www.hickmaninteriors.com
Hickman Design Associates
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this installation is almost as vast as the views. Currently 27 planters line the outer perimeter and a fl eet of rolling aluminum boxes of boxwood can scoot around to accommodate any eye-popping sculpture that suddenly appears. “� e crabapple trees and forsythia in planters bring in bright spring color,” says Henson. “� e fi berglass planters I fi ll with fragrant viburnum and nemesia. � ey’re actually hiding some vents.” Henson even makes the Astroturf a little more visually palatable by growing tufts of pretty lime green sedum in gaps in the carpet. Nothing pays greater tribute to Henson’s creativity, though, than the endless line of planters edging the vast terrace. Henson employs them like some citifi ed Gertrude Jekyll to create the eff ect of an English border garden. � e planters are an exercise in controlled chaos, bursting with delphinium, lilies, poppies, roses and heather. “Carnival colors. We made that our color palette: purples, blues,
coral, pink,” says Henson. Despite the harsh growing conditions, it’s an expert plantsman’s Eden that softens the hardscape of rooftop parapet and the stone and steel sculptures that pepper the garden. “I can’t say I completely understand how things come and go here,” laughs Henson. “I’m just working on the garden and I love working around all these wonderful things. Like these four gigantic candelabra with light bulbs, gigantic menorahs. All of a sudden they were up here. � ings just appear.” Once they do, Henson enfolds them in nature’s embrace like the vintage washtub he’s fi lled to overfl owing with petunias. He says he’s learned to have confi dence in his clients’ mad methods. “On my third year working here I went to one of the owners and I said, ‘You know, I don’t really understand these orange triangles,’” Henson recalls. “So she pointed out the Star of David inside them and suddenly they made sense. Now? I love them.”
...
6. The 30,000-square-foot penthouse features a large deck rimmed by Henson’s plantings 7. A sculpture by local artist Stephanie Wilke 8. This piece anchors a corner of the
terrace “like a crossroads of molded aluminum,” says Henson 9. Garden designer Patrick Henson inside a salvaged architectural remnant. Framed in the distance is a globe
sculpture by Brian Sperry 10. Sun chaises, also designed by the homeowner.
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HOME FRONT
DESIGN
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What seems like one more little blink-and-you’ve-missed-it burg along Michigan’s Red Arrow Highway, Harbert is actually a town with a long history of nurturing creative risk-takers. Back in 1928 a young guy named Carl Sandburg set up house in Harbert’s dunes with a plan to raise goats (and maybe write a little poetry on the side). Seventy years later, Brian Overley and Alan DeBaugh lit out for the small lakeside town from a cramped Chicago apartment and launched their own creative eff ort, a genre-defying interiors shop named Marco Polo Antiques. Pause on the threshold of Marco Polo (about 75 miles around the lake from downtown Chicago) and prepare to be blown away. Arrayed against the walls are pieces of farmhouse furniture with perfect patinas and mysteriously beautiful obsolete machinery. Call it “agrarian modern” or maybe “haute farm.” Every pristine,
Destination StationA home design junkie’s dream summer outing: Less than 80 miles from Chicago, two city transplants turn an old party store into haute-farm headquarters By Lisa Cregan | Photography by Jim White
iN TuNe alan DeBaugh
and Brian overley in
their harbert shop.
clean-lined piece stands in crisp relief against walls painted smoky gray or alabaster white. A burnished steel machinist’s toolbox here, ancient spikes of hayforks there, mysterious bits of defunct equipment, clouds of wire baskets, even quirky oversized factory lighting fi xtures. In Overley and DeBaugh’s chic hands the industrial grime falls away to reveal the beauty of the form and the romance of the wear, and the fl otsam of rural American life becomes covetable tables, chairs, consoles, lamps—even sculpture. “T is is about our personal vision of beauty. If something’s not beautiful when we get it, we ask ourselves, ‘What does it need?’” says Overley, who has a degree in fi ne arts from Indiana University. T e pair maintains a separate studio they laughingly refer to as “hair and makeup,” where Overley works his magic on their fi nds. “Sometimes it’s about changing the fi nish,” he explains. “Sometimes it’s about refurbishing, sometimes repurposing, but it’s always about maintaining the fl avor of age.” For example Overley points to a piece he says was once an old tavern table in some rural 1950s Michigan saloon. “I cut it down to make a
uNDer scruTiNY
at marco Polo,
where every detail
is art-directed, a
microscope is used
as an interesting
design piece.
56 | | Summer 2010
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...continued
Call it “agrarian modern” or “haute farm.”
Every pristine, clean-lined piece stands in
crisp relief against walls painted smoky
gray or alabaster white.
farmhouse-chic!
clockwise from top: a
muted white-on-white
corner mixes clean lines
and vintage charm;
a display featuring a
vintage truck; shades
of yellow makes this
perfectly curated
vignette pop.
cocktail table,” he says. “It was sanded, painted, then I tapered the feet so it would feel elegant.” Te table has the quirky integrity of age but, paradoxically, it also feels very modern. “Rural farmers were more concerned with function than decoration so their pieces have an inherent modernity,” explains Overley. “I think these pieces have an almost Bauhaus feel, where form follows function. Even an old farm washstand, today, looks so beautiful, clean and contemporary.” DeBaugh points to a swirling floor-to-ceiling plume of yellow-speckled steel: “I love that. It was part of a combine that rotated the corn and then spilled it out into a wagon—purely functional, not trying to be beautiful at all, but you isolate it away from the machine and it becomes a piece of sculpture.” “But not all farm machinery is created equal,” Overley laughs. “We have to see something in the proportion and lines, and that spiral is strangely poetic.” Te poetry carries over into a line of very limited-edition furniture Overley has begun designing: ash shelves in an iron frame, his interpretation of some creaky painter’s scaffolding he spied in a World of Interiors magazine, and a steel version of a folding wooden campaign table he once admired. He’s even conjured up a line of Adirondack chairs with a uniquely Marco Polo silhouette. But for the most part, no two pieces here are alike. So here’s a word of advice: If you see something you love in Marco Polo, buy it. You’re probably never going to see it again. A few years ago the store’s growing reputation forced Overley and DeBaugh to move from their intimate space in Harbert’s former post office. “We just kept selling out all the time,” sighs Overley. True to form, the pair saw something graceful in the impossible ugliness of a discount party store down the street. It had yellow vinyl siding and tiny blackout windows that made it look more like a roadside porn shop than a place to plan a celebration—unsurprisingly it quickly went belly up. Overley and DeBaugh pounced and transformed the building into their fantasy of elegant converted stables. “We changed the surface of everything,” admits Overley. “My inspiration was a quasi-Swedish barn crossed with Kentucky horse barn. A rural flavor but more classical.” If this is a barn, next life we’re coming back as a Holstein. Sandburg wrote that “the secret to happiness is to admire without desiring.” Obviously Carl’s Harbert years were pre-Marco Polo.
58 | | Summer 2010
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Paging all petal pushers: A modern take on fl oral design is sprouting throughout the house. Channel your inner wallfl ower with a variety of new wallpapers, including Amy Butler’s drop-dead-gorgeous Field Poppies paper and Osborne & Little’s granny-gone-groovy Foxglove pattern. And if you’re feeling like sprinkling some seeds of change a bit further, Slovenian designer Nika Zupanc’s 5 O’Clock Chair for Moooi takes those traditional climbing roses into postmodern turf. Your garden variety of fl oral patterns this is not.
Bloom Service!By Alexandria Abramian-Mott
Obsorne & Little’s Foxglove wallpaper, $140 per 11-yard roll, at Workroom, 1906 W. Belmont Ave., 773.472.2140.
Nika Zupanc’s 5 O’Clock Chair for Moooi, price upon request, at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312.664.9582.
Amy Butler’s Field Poppies wallpaper in midnight, $80 per double roll, at grahambrown.com.
Madison and Grow’s Michelle wallpaper, $150 per 15-foot-long roll, at Urban Source, 1432 W. Chicago Ave., 312.455.0505.
La Tête au Cube’s Tank U porcelain vase, $75, at aplusrstore.com.
Kartell’s Bloom lights, $890 each, at Orange Skin, 223 W. Erie St., 312.335.1033.
60 | | Summer 2010
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HOME FRONT
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continued...
Chicago contractor Dave Albin is a human divining rod when it comes to scouting killer deals on art, furniture and building materials. T ere’s no better example of his ingenuity than his new La Porte, Indiana summer home—a former schoolhouse he bought for a song and renovated over the course of 10 months. His handiwork speaks for itself: from the salvaged tin ceiling he bought on Craigslist and installed himself to a sprawling outdoor oasis with DIY sculpture and garden cabanas. “I didn’t keep track of my labor, but I spent less than $100,000 altogether,” says Albin, who includes furniture and art in the fi nal tally, along with the reno and serious landscaping eff ort. His secret? T e jack-of-all-trades sources materials from Craigslist, consignment shops and even alleys, where
he got nearly every piece of art that hangs throughout the house as well as much of the furniture. Take the beat-up, four-drawer dresser he found in an alley and had “dip-stripped” before staining ebony black. He spruced it up with stainless steel handles and new legs to complement the contemporary look of his master suite. Albin is also the master of design shortcuts. Above the dining room table, he hung fi ve modern globe pendant lights at varying heights to save time leveling. Reinforcing the pleasingly off -kilter eff ect, he made no attempt to center each fi xture in the round, chartreuse decals he stuck to the ceiling. Creative touches of the DIY variety abound: a shadowlike chandelier decal that mimics the chandelier hanging in the dining room and an art installation
TO dIy-FOr! Clockwise from
top left: a salvaged tin ceiling
makes a dramatic statement
in the kitchen; dave albin in
his lush backyard; graphic
decals and random placement
create an interesting lighting
installation over the dining
room table.
Weekend WarriorThis ultimate do-it-yourself deal-seeker creates a style-packing weekend retreat for less than $100,000 (real estate included!) By Tate Gunnerson | Photography by Jim White
Leonard Goldberg (Geneva Seal), Amy Wimer (Eye Bank Gala Chair), Alex Kats (Geneva Seal), Greg Hyder (2010 Man of Vision)
Geneva Seal Fine Jewelry & Timepieces
1003 N Rush Street, Chicago IL 60611 312-944-3100 866.281.TIME Leonard@genevaseal.com
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64 | | Summer 2010
...continued fashioned from homemade shadow boxes and spray-painted trophies. When Albin first toured the 2,400-square-foot brick building, it had already been gutted and outfitted with a new roof and windows. Making the deal even sweeter, the sale price included piles of rough sawn lumber stacked throughout the building, which the former owner had left after clearing a dense thicket of trees in the backyard to make room for an addition. Instead of completing the project, Albin filled the foundation hole (with dirt he dug up to create a koi pond) and used the lumber to handcraft a long, narrow dining room table, as well as the home’s baseboards, window frames and front porch. But Albin isn’t all save and no splurge. He used the money he saved with freecycling and penny-pinching to pay for hand-carved mahogany flooring throughout—a decision that lends a certain richness and continuity to the space.
When it came to the sprawling backyard—where he envisioned both intimate gatherings and big soirées—it was all about making a statement. Near the house, Albin created a chic outdoor dining room decorated with two industrial mirrors, and three tall pieces of tempered shower glass, which he painted blue and green and hung side by side. Ten, farther back toward the edge of the property, he built a small wooden pergola and hung an unexpected Ikea clearance sale chandelier made of plastic balls. “It was really important for me to have a design for all four seasons,” says Albin, who favored plants like berry bushes and red twig dogwoods that have bright red leaves all winter. “I knew I’d be having people over all year long, and I wanted it to be as interesting as possible,” says Albin, who scored deep discounts at end-of-season sales. One thing he didn’t anticipate: “Tere’s an extremely exotic South American bird in my backyard—a Purple Gallinule—a mating pair. Tat’s never happened north of the Everglades.” Albin’s backyard is full of wonders. Unable to resist adding a little bling, he created a dramatic outdoor sculpture by smearing concrete over two-inch Styrofoam pieces he glued into a giant cube. Reaching nearly six feet and standing in the middle of a patch of burning bushes, the DIY piece—with a price tag totaling less than $20—is the perfect representation of how little money it takes to create cool.
Albin used the money he saved with freecycling
and penny-pinching to pay for hand-carved
mahogany flooring throughout, which lends a
certain richness and continuity to the space.
yard games From top: albin
painted panels of shower glass to
create instant art in the outdoor
dining room; the backyard
sculpture was homemade with
cement and styrofoam.
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Features
Summer 2010
home / design
Summer 2010 | | 69
Cabin Fever!A pair of Chicago design lovers gives an old-growth groove to a brand-new getaway house tucked far in the Wisconsin woods
By Lisa Skolnik | Photography by Tony Soluri
Jay Franke’s driving directions to those visiting the weekend retreat he shares with his partner, David Herro, are emphatic and concise: “Look for the house that’s different. Really different.” Te directions help, since GPS is erratic in the boondocks of North Lake in Hartland, Wisconsin. But just when it seems that Franke’s instructions are a bit too cavalier, there’s a break in the protracted row of prosaic little houses and a handsome cedar, glass and Lannon stone house with several soaring pitches in its broad roof bursts into view. With its oversized glinting window walls, spectacularly engineered slopes and natural materials, it’s a state-of-the-art architectural dazzler for today with its roots in the mid-20th century. Yet its demeanor and scale respect the rustic, idyllic setting. Te couple planned it that way, interviewing a handful of well-known architects for the job in 2004 before settling on Bruce Jackson in nearby Milwaukee. “We never wanted a harsh glass box. We didn’t want to be the goofy
FEEDING THE MASSES For the open living/dining area, the couple found a set of 12 matching vintage Scandinavian chairs (at Collage 20th Century Classics in Dallas) to pair with their contemporary Hugo França dining table. Right: Franke made the installation over the bed using dozens of ceramic pieces he bought at George Lowell in Chicago.
guys from Chicago who built an über-contemporary that stuck out and upset everybody,” explains Franke. Inside, the design program cleaves to the same standard of moderated drama. A towering central stairwell that rises 60 feet from the home’s lower level to its third-floor loft organizes spatial flow and sports an impressive steel-and-oak floating staircase that was technically challenging to fabricate “and required an engineering feat to get it installed properly,” says Franke. Te house’s layout is tailored to the couple’s lifestyle. Herro, an international fund manager, and Franke, a freelance dancer and artistic director of the Chicago Dancing Festival, are both big-hearted, gregarious extroverts who are involved in myriad
philanthropic ventures. It’s no surprise that the two love to entertain, which translates into a constant stream of weekend guests. On the main level, an L-shaped, two-story living space that transverses almost the entire structure is punctuated by a gigantic Lannon stone hearth and lined with a glass curtain wall overlooking the lake. Te curtain wall extends into the enclosed kitchen, equipped for entertaining with banks of sleek white Bulthaup cabinetry and high-performance stainless steel appliances. A trim, window-lined loft holds a very private yet airy master suite and office for the couple, which feels like a secret tree house thanks to the branches right outside the windows. Meanwhile, a rambling, walk-out lower level below offers four guest rooms, an intimate
“We never wanted a harsh glass box. We didn’t want to be the goofy guys from
Chicago who built an über-contemporary that stuck out and upset everybody.”
Above: In the study,
a zigzag West Elm
rug adds even more
verve to spirited
vintage pieces, as well
as Jonathan Adler’s
repro of a Curtis Jere
sculpture and a funky
driftwood coffee table.
Opposite page: The
central stairwell has
300 works and is still
growing. All the pieces
relate to the couple
and their family, and
none of the clocks are
operative, save the one
that is easy to reach.
Summer 2010 | | 71
72 | | Summer 2010
den and a huge multipurpose room that features an 82” flat-screen monitor and projector, lots of cushy seating and enough hidden sleeping for four more, thanks to additional sofas and a queen-sized Murphy bed. Franke, a self-proclaimed “vintage junkie” who has always had a passion for interior design, outfitted the entire home with a mix of pristine midcentury and sure-to-be-classic contemporary furnishings. “I had a starter kit of generic pieces at first, then slowly upgraded everything. I dance all over the country so I’ve had access to some amazing sources,” he explains. He scored a new Hugo França dining table and BDDW sideboard from now-closed Chicago atelier Abode, and the prized set of 12 vintage Kai Christiansen dining chairs and an impressive array of significant pieces by big-name designers (think Vladimir Kagan, Jens Risom, Florence Knoll and Robsjohn Gibbings) came from near and far. Yet if you look past the state-of-the-art architecture, sumptuous fittings and significant furnishings, the place is a bona fide throwback to the idyllic midcentury that the house references in so many ways, for it was conceived as a place to embrace family first. “David is from Wisconsin, and his brother had a home nearby. We’d come up here every weekend, then realized we wanted a more permanent place than the guest bedroom. So he found us this property, we came to see it and were hooked,” says Franke. Herro has five siblings, Franke has two and all those guest rooms and spare sleeping spots were
designed to accommodate the couple’s parents, siblings and 16 nieces and nephews. “David’s family lives within driving distance, so they’re here every weekend. Mine is in Utah and Texas, so we have Frankeder’hey Day for a week every summer, complete with organized activities and T-shirts,” jokes Franke, explaining that the name came from the local slang. Te close-knit clan also inspired what both men consider the heart of their home: the picture-encrusted stairwell. Franke got the idea to cover all the walls in pieces that reflected their families from the well-known Brooklyn silhouette portrait artist Carter Kustera, whose work he admires. He asked every family member to take a snapshot of their profile (and their little ones and pets), and painted his own versions from the photos. Other pieces hang between the silhouettes and play to guests’ interests: Tere are racecars for David, pansies for his sister and pirates for a nephew. Installing them was another DIY production, complete with scaffolding that Franke convinced his builder to erect. It took him a week to get the wall just right, but the effects of the statement-making installation were immediate. “Everyone loves to come over and see themselves on the wall,” says Herro. And Franke is considering a new venture. “All dancers have second careers. Mine just might be in interior design.”
From top, left: Barware and pottery from several decades in the dining area; a pristine corner of the living room, outfitted with a Knoll sofa, Jens Risom lounge chairs, Hans Wegner-inspired chaise and vintage coffee table, is pure midcentury Opposite
page: Choice pairings include a contemporary BDDW sideboard, Thomas O’Brien lamp and Hugo França dining table with vintage chairs and a Curtis Jere sculpture in the dining area.
Summer 2010 | | 75
Open SeasonA nature-loving architect creates his own pre-fab dream spread that’s all about al fresco family dinners, earth-first building materials and picture-perfect lake views
By Lisa Skolnik | Photography by Tony Soluri
Jodi and Walt Eckenhoff have been through enough major renovations over the last 30 years to know that rare is the building project that runs smoothly. Gaffes and spats are routine. Yet none of the glitches they experienced on their four former DIY efforts kept the two-tool belt couple from tackling a stupendously original fifth to build a sleek, eco-friendly second home—from scratch and mostly themselves—on a small lake outside Buchanan, Michigan. “I grew up going to our cottage in Door County and always dreamed of having our own. And I always like to have a project in the works. So doing this was right up our alley,” says Walt, principal of Eckenhoff Saunders Architects in Chicago and a self-admitted chronic tinkerer. Fortunately Jodi, a physical therapist, has “always been pretty decent with a hammer and saw,” she notes. If that hadn’t been the case, they would not have had much together-time during the 18 months it took to build the home on weekends.
GREEN SCENE
Common, inexpensive
building materials
surpass their humble
provenance in the
interiors of this pre-
fabricated cabin. The
Bunch Vase by Naoto
Fukasawa for B&B
(from Luminaire) sits
on a harvest table,
which was milled from
a tree felled to make
way for the house.
Right: A soaring skillion
roof underlined with
windows floods the
home with light.
Summer 2010 | | 77
Walt got the opportunity to fulfill his dream when a client offered him a 20-acre lakefront parcel in 2006 that she decided not to use. Te couple fell in love with the site—rife with gently rolling hills and statuesque, old-growth trees—and acquired it immediately. Deciding what to build took a lot longer. “Walt played with the design for a couple of years,” confides Jodi. “It started out large, then shrunk to a one-bedroom box. But we have three girls. Tey’re sure to have families someday. So I negotiated two bedrooms and a sleeping loft.” Te final 2,300-square-foot design “is rooted in the aesthetic of the barns, sheds and cribs that are so common here,” explains Walt. It has glassy rear walls that permit panoramic views of the lake, sports three decks that add another 1,500 square feet of outdoor living space; and is topped with two soaring skillion-style roofs, one on top of a jutting silo that contains the sleeping loft at the home’s highest level.
It is also mindful of a new reality to be sustainable and economical. For starters, Walt consciously tracked down aesthetically and economically smart building materials, such as construction grade one-by-six pine planks for the walls and third-grade one-by-six maple planks for the floors. Both are inexpensive but beautiful, especially the maple “because it has a lot of figuring that makes it interesting instead of bland,” Walt explains. Equally economical is the far-more-costly Garapa Gold planking that clads the decks and master bathroom. “It’s an ultra-durable hardwood that can weather sun and water, so I won’t have to redo them in 10 years,” explains Walt. Te home is also loaded with money-saving green features. Tese include a closed loop geothermal HVHC system; strategically sited glass curtain walls and “low-e” windows for passive solar heat; super-insulated construction; a layout and overhangs
Above left: All of the
doors are hung on
barn door hinges and
painted rustic colors
in deference to the
vernacular architecture
of the area. Above right: Stair treads are also
made of wood recycled
from felled trees, and
support columns are
painted maple leaf green
to blend into the foliage
outside. Opposite page:
The cabin is nestled in
a grove of old-growth
trees and sports glass
curtain walls that allow
access to the decks
outside and maximize
the view.
“It’s the only project where I’ve been the owner, architect, general contractor,
machine operator, carpenter’s assistant and interior designer.”
78 | | Summer 2010
designed to foster air convection for cooling; and a reflective corrugated steel roof to deflect sunlight and retain heat. And finally, he came up with an extraordinary building plan that deflated their construction budget to less than $200 a square foot. “Tat’s not counting the area of the deck. If we did, it would be about $120 a square foot,” Walt points out. “We decided to do as much as possible ourselves,” he says. So they rented a North Chicago warehouse from January to June 2007, and prefabricated all the framed components of the house with the help of their friend, Angelo Roncone, who is also a professional construction manager. “He was the mastermind behind the scheme to prefabricate the parts and erect it on-site,” says Walt. In June, they rented two flatbed trucks and hauled the completed floors, walls, beams and roof 120 miles to the site, where the driveway, concrete foundation and power had already been completed. “I leased a forklift with a 30-foot telescoping boom, and we lulled the house sections and steel beams into place. We had it up in four weeks,” says Walt, who admits to a fondness for operating the machine. Te couple spent the rest of the summer supervising the subcontractors who installed the plumbing, HVHC, curtain walls, deck and electrical systems, then put on the roof themselves. Weekends the following winter were devoted to the interior finish work, often with
the help of their daughters. To respect the house’s vernacular design, Walt used sliding barn doors in every room but gave them definition and personality with paint. Tose in public spaces are yellow in deference to a nearby yellow barn the couple admires; bedroom doors are white; and bathroom doors are red. Steel structural support columns are coated with “maple leaf green so they vanish in the spring and summer against the trees outside,” says Walt. Tey splurged on Wood-Mode kitchen cabinets, and saved—ecologically speaking—by recycling furniture from their Glencoe home and reclaiming maple and walnut trees to make way for the home as stair treads, bathroom vanities and a majestic, monolithic harvest table. A black granite slab for the hearth got the same treatment when it arrived from China undersized. “I had it made into a coffee table,” says Walt. In retrospect, Walt got his wish to do it all. “It’s the only project where I’ve been the owner, architect, general contractor, machine operator, carpenter’s assistant and interior designer,” he laughs. Now that the work is done, they live on the front deck facing the lake, even when it gets nippy. Tey even eat out there almost every night they are there. “Te only thing that keeps us off the deck is rain and snow,” says Walt, who learned one lesson the hard way. Sleep inside. “It’s so beautiful under the stars that I camped out on the deck last May,” says Walt. “But I got drenched when it started raining at 2am.”
Left: Topping the
coffee table (made
from marble that
was originally meant
for the fireplace but
came in the wrong
size), beautiful white
plate and vase from
Luminaire. Right: The
entire home rises
over five levels and
incorporates three
decks. The largest,
shown here, wraps
around the main living
level, which is faced
on three sides with
glass and fitted with
sliding doors.
Summer 2010 | | 79
Nature Nurtured
A former Latvian summer camp in Wisconsin, Camp Wandawega gets reincarnated as a creative playground for Chicago’s art and design set
By Meghan McEwen
Photography by Bob Coscarelli and Greg Gillis
David Hernandez was an infant the first time he slept at Camp Wandawega. Te Latvian summer camp located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is also where he learned to swim, climb trees and fish. More than 30 years later, when he took his then fiancée (now wife) Tereasa Surratt back to see the magical setting of so many childhood memories, they left with a parting request to the 80-something-year-old owner/priest: “If you ever decide to sell this place, call us first.” Te call came five years later, and Hernandez and Surratt couldn’t resist. Tey snatched up all 25 acres: the main lodge; a three-story hotel; two cabins; an archery range; basketball and shuffleboard courts; a garage; two piers; horseshoe pits; and all the furniture inside.
Te lure of the place, which sits directly on a quiet 800-foot stretch of Lake Wandawega, is undeniable. Sunshine streams through a canopy of majestic oaks, silver maple and cottonwood trees; winding gravel pathways crisscross through lush hostas and patches of wildflowers; and it’s not uncommon to stumble across a family of blue heron cranes or find eggs on the shore from nesting turtles. Welcome to the scenic backdrop of Camp Wandawega, where nature, culture and art go hand in hand, and big, freewheeling ideas fuel the creative currency that has transformed a former Latvian summer camp into a weekend playground for Chicago’s creative set.
From the first summer Hernandez and Surratt took ownership, Camp Wandawega’s transformation has
FIRST-CLASS CABIN
Art camper Tyler
Petersen walks past
a two-bedroom cedar
cabin from the ’30s
carrying a silkscreened
print. Left: David
Hernandez and Tereasa
Surratt stand on a pier
from the ’40s while their
dog, Frankie, dries off.
80 | | Summer 2010
taken the form of a non-stop work/play party. Both ad execs for Ogilvy, the ambitious pair enlists friends, who in turn enlist their friends, who trade skills and manpower—from building a new floating pier to landscaping a lakeside hill—for enviable weekend stays in the beyond-charming lodge and cottages. “It’s very rustic, like camping indoors. Tink chipmunks running wildly down the halls, ladybugs on your pillow,” says Surratt. But the tall, stunning brunette and author of the new book A Very Modest Cottage (published by Hearst, documenting the rescue and decoration of a one-room cabin she transported from her hometown Beardstown, Il) is far too humble.
Yes, it still has all the trappings of a bona fide, no-frills camp: Tere are shared showers, creaky wooden floors, rickety piers
and plenty of wicker. But make no mistake: Tis is no ordinary backwoods affair.
Camp Wandawega reads like a curated thrift store paradise, where even the bathroom doors are decorated with paint-peeling vintage oars. Te rooms are outfitted with well-worn furniture that came with the place, but Hernandez and Surratt have added another layer to it all with a beguiling mix of flea market and garage sale finds: a stack of leather suitcases in one corner, weather-worn water skis in another; Hudson Bay blankets folded neatly across beds; and vintage radios, alarm clocks, Coleman thermoses, and antique lanterns as finishing touches. Te interiors, put together like a page from Te World of Interiors, play a crucial part of the camp-as-creative-outlet experience—with
Surratt as the consummate set designer, stylist and storyteller.
“Every room is kind of a joke—we call this one ‘Brokeback Mountain room,’ because there are cowboys on the sheets,” says Surratt, who gave the main living area a decidedly hunting-lodge-2.0 spin with taxidermy overload, grommeted vintage leather sofas, and enough plaid to outfit a band of bagpipers. It’s an approach that takes every nook and cranny into account: old photos hanging by wooden clothespins, a cluster of framed paint-by-numbers, a collection of pitchers, an old fencing mask mounted on a plaque she picked up in Argentina.
“It’s hard when you’re cheap. I don’t pay much for anything,” says Surratt, who’s currently working on her second book—this one about collections. “It makes it more interesting when it’s filled with junk. It was never intended to be fancy. It’s disingenuous to do anything else.”
Tere are moments when you wonder if Hernandez and Surratt actually relax. In the two-bedroom cedar cottage, they recently spent a weekend ripping out the ceiling to expose peaked roof beams, whitewashed the entire interior and added French doors—yes, in one weekend. Over one of the beds, the wall is decorated with a simple row of fishing lures they found all over the property, imparting a tangible sense of history and place.
Given Surratt’s affinity for vintage odds and ends, art and the stories behind both, her friendship—and collaboration—with Post 27 owner Angela Finney-Hoffman seems inevitable. After stopping by the beloved West Grand Avenue store (just a few blocks from her city digs) the week after it opened in 2008, Surratt and Finney-Hoffman became fast friends. It wasn’t long before Finney-Hoffman was a Wandawega regular. And it was there, around the communal kitchen island—a massive butcher block-topped vintage metal rolling cart—where Finney-Hoffman had an idea: Art Camp for adults! Te next morning, “we were up before 8AM with clipboards and coffee, plotting activities” for the annual weekend combining nature, communal art projects, and a group of talented artists and designers.
Above: In the two-
bedroom cottage, a
room is decorated with
lanterns found on the
property and a collage
wall of framed pieces,
including a promotional
piece that reads
“Wisconsin’s Finest”
that Surratt scanned and
blew up; a ceramic deer
head; and an ink-drawn
hunting poem. Opposite page: Steven Teichelman
relaxes on a World
War II barrack bed in a
100-year-old Boy Scout
tent that Hernandez and
Surratt bought from an
old camp in Jamesville,
Wisconsin. The Boy
Scout bedding rolls and
manual in each room
were found on eBay.
Summer 2010 | | 83
“We have so many creative friends, from graphic designers to textile artists—it just made sense,” says Finney-Hoffman as she dribbles white paint down a piece of scrap wood with intentional haphazardness. “Tere’s this great energy here,” says Finney-Hoffman. “And we’re all like a family now because of it.”
Te roster of campers who have made appearances reads like a who’s who in the art and design community: the guys from Post Family; surface designer Noel Ashby; furniture designers and woodworkers Tyler Petersen and Shaun Owens-Agase of Stone Blitzer; textile designer Linsey Burritt; designer and design blogger Margot Harrington of pitchdesignunion.com; furniture designers Steven Teichelman, Bladon Conner and Aaron Pahmier. “We’re not making fine art,” says Finney-Hoffman. “Te setting doesn’t lend itself to that. We’re working on craft with reclaimed and found objects. We didn’t want it to offset the environment here. And we wanted it to be organic, because that’s how great art happens.”
Huge pieces of reclaimed wood spread out across a field for a collaborative painting—individual painted works on pressed board and salvaged doors are configured into a giant collective work that will later be
Above, left: A peek
through barkcloth
curtains at the bar in
the card room, which
used to be a parlor for
“working girls” (before
Wandawega became
a Latvian summer
camp). Above, right:
Sam Rosen (front)
and other art campers
work on the collective
field painting. Opposite
page, clockwise from top
left: Margot Harrington
takes a swing break;
Steven Teichelman
works on a birdhouse;
the rehabbed one-
bedroom cabin; art
project sign; flipping
through a vintage book
for inspiration; shelves
of Fiestaware, which
was discovered when
they knocked through
a wall; a boat on Lake
Wandawega; a cigar
box full of materials; an
original life preserver.
exhibited at Post 27, with various components either sold, given back to the artist or donated to a gallery wall at Wandawega. A buzz saw hums in the distance. Up on the hill, some of the furniture guys are working on birdhouses—creations they construct from scraps. “We don’t worry about the quality or variety: It could be from the firewood pile, blowdown trees from our own woods, demolished houses, you name it. So far, the birds haven’t complained,” says Hernandez.
Art buttons are designed with help from Kristen Carter from Busy Beaver, the local company responsible for button vending machines at spots like Nightwood and Empty Bottle. Sam Rosen and Chad Kouri from the Post Family lead a workshop on silkscreening, and the frame-worthy results are hung by clothespins on a piece of twine strung between the trees. Mini collages are an unexpected favorite that have emerged from the activity lineup. “It’s like the art version of scrapbooking,” says Finney-Hoffman. “Tey really geek out over this stuff.” A din of paper shuffling, scissors cutting and tape pulling are the sounds of creative concentration. Tables pushed together and covered with paper, wood scraps, markers, tubs of rubber cement, rolls of twine
84 | | Summer 2010
and X-Acto knives, are an explosion of color, texture and pattern. Everyone brings huge wooden crates and their cigar boxes full of magazine clippings, vintage papers and visual graphics. “Te purpose isn’t to go out and buy a bunch of new materials. It’s about the art and getting people out of the city—getting them off the grid to a setting that’s open creatively,” attests Finney-Hoffman.
Last summer, a collective brainstorming and improv sketching session laid the groundwork for an unbelievably cool tree house that’s currently in the works—a modernist-meets-camp cabin in the sky. And when they aren’t creating, campers have their run of the pleasure grounds, including access to a sports room packed with mostly vintage recreation equipment:
rackets, balls, bows, fishing poles, tackle boxes. Along the hallway hangs a row of adorable plaid vintage life vests—all fully usable—including a tiny faded orange one that belonged to Hernandez as a kid.
At the end of the long days, the group heads up the hill, where a huge farmhouse dinner awaits. Surratt and Hernandez often recruit chef friends to come for the weekend to prepare food for their guests. Another friend, DJ Ed Menacho spins music during dinner and throughout the evening, and then again in the morning, when dreary-eyed campers reconvene for a big communal breakfast. Surratt sashays around with trays of food, perfectly wrapped silverware and towering stacks of color-popping Fiestaware (discovered in the lodge when they knocked down a wall in the breakfast
Above: The wood-
paneled living room
in the lodge is where
guests come to relax
indoors on cushy
upholstered furniture.
At the other end of
the room, a pool table,
dartboard, piano and
a collection of old
instruments keep
everyone playing music
and games. Opposite
page: Art campers eat
a big farmhouse dinner
on the hill and under the
trees at dusk.
86 | | Summer 2010
room), while delegating responsibilities with the charm of a practice-perfect hostess. She points to a kitchen wall covered with brightly colored, patterned vintage aprons on hooks: “Tose aren’t decoration. When we have big, communal breakfasts, everyone has something to do—that’s why I have so many aprons.”
Hernandez, who can be found at any given hour climbing on the roof to fix a leak or scaling trees to work on the electrical, is famous for his giant bonfires—at least 15 feet high—which light up the dark, starry night. And at least once during the weekend, the art campers file into the old wooden pews in the outdoor chapel for a projected movie screening in the woods—either an Eames art film or the finale slideshow of the weekend’s events.
By the time Sunday morning rolls around, old-timers wander in for the weekly outdoor Latvian Catholic service that has continued uninterrupted for more than 50 years. “We have vestments that are 100 years old and hand-painted with gold silk—they’re like artwork. Tey donated it with the property, because they knew we would continue to let the community come for service,” says Surratt, who takes as much pleasure in preserving long-standing traditions at Wandawega as she does creating new ones. “David’s mom showed me old photos of traditional Latvian craft competitions—basket weaving, pottery, cute little old ladies who could crochet like nobody’s business. Te art camp is bringing it back. It feels like part of the tradition.”
“We’re not
making fine art,”
says Finney-
Hoffman. “The
setting doesn’t
lend itself to that.
We’re working
on craft with
reclaimed and
found objects.
We didn’t want
it to offset the
environment
here. And we
wanted it to be
organic, because
that’s how great
art happens.”
Summer 2010 | | 87
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
abouttown
ChiCago “City Style”
houSe tour
The 22nd Annual “City Style”
House Tour gave over 350
guests the opportunity to view
six extraordinary residences
in the Belmont Harbor district.
Chicago’s finest came out to
support Chicago City Day School,
dine on bites from Fortune Fish
Company, Erwin, and N9ne
among others and tour the
amazing interiors of these historic
Lakeview homes.
KitChen Bath &
induStry Show
CS joined Chicago’s finest
kitchen and bath designers and
professionals for the annual
Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.
The premier industry event
showcased product trends and
new design concepts from Brizo,
Kohler, Jenn-Air and many more,
while guests had an opportunity
to mingle with top manufacturers
and attend presentations on
upcoming design innovations.
CaSSona CeleBration
Cassona Home Furnishings &
Accessories welcomed guests
to their Clark Street store to
celebrate Latin-inspired furniture,
jewelry and art. They displayed
everything from functional
and exotic furnishings, to
contemporary hand-made
jewelry and artwork. Guests
dined on authentic Mayan
cuisine prepared by Xni - Pec
De Yucatan.
Luisa Romo, owneR of Kni-Pec de Yucatan RestauRanteLsa munoz, dubhe caRReno, aLma GutieRRez and maRta medina
hafele KitChen &
Bath opening
A stylish crowd came out for
Hafele’s signature event to
browse the latest remodeling
styles from the city’s elite
designers. Talented Chicago
chefs served savory snacks as
guests mingled with the best in
the business and listened to the
lovely Elaine Dame Jazz Quartet.
The Grabill Cabinet Company
and Kessebohmer also showed
their support for Hafele. caRRie Johnson and daRRiLL andeRstonY LambLos, micaeL sRecKou and sonJa mosKLiK
nataLie sPadaccini RosenbeRG, GaLeta KaaR cLaYton
and KRistine KindeR chefs fRom n9ne steaKhouse
dininG Room of a RestoRed 1893 Queen anne done
bY inteRioR desiGneR maRiette himes Gomez
chRistian PoPPeRt and david KohLeR JennY PoLacheK and amY hiLLsmanLenoRa camPos fRom toto
Luxury CoLLeCtion
Stop looking, start finding® atproperties.com
Luxury CoLLeCtion
Welcome To Luxury.Ten East Delaware
A boutique renaissance building with only the finest finishes.
MARISELA HoLdER
Real Estate Advisor
Phone: 312.505.5141mariselaholder@atproperties.com
PERsonAL sERvicE WiTh An
inTERnATionAL fLAiR.
Start with a broad business background, add
a specialty for home decorating, mix in some
International Trading knowledge, plus the ability
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10 East Delaware #20E
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3 bed, 3.5 bath$1,660,900
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3 bed, 3.5 bath$2,260,900
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Stop looking, start finding® atproperties.com
Over 130 homes and counting...Environs Development has been building exceptional homes in Chicago’s most desirable
neighborhoods for over 19 years. Te Environs team brings a unique expertise to every
stage of the home creation process, acting as architect, builder and contractor.
Kevin Wood773.382.4310
Kevin@KevinWoodGroup.com
Built to your Expectations.
1 9 0 5 N o r t h h o W e
Remarkable 7,200 square foot
home on extra-wide lot with elevator,
exquisite finishes and atached,
heated garage. $4,400,000
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Elegant 5,200 square foot residence
with gorgeous limestone façade and totally
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baths throughout. $2,900,000
to start a conversation about these two properties, or to find out more
about Design/Build opportunities in Prime locations, please contact:
Luxury CoLLeCtion
Stop looking, start finding® atproperties.com
Jennifer Johnsoncertified luxury home marketing specialist
certified negotiation expert, cne@properties and car residential top producer
773.255.7163
jenjohnson@atproperties.com
Whether you’re buying, selling, investing or building Jen’s expertise can fit
your needs. Since beginning her real estate career in 2006, Jen has been an
@properties and Chicago Association of Realtors® Top Producer.
“Jen Johnson was absolutely the perfect real estate agent. She took the time
to listen to our wants and needs regarding housing and understood completely
what we were looking for. She was always available (even late at night)! She
was very patient with us since this was such a big decision. Most of all, Jen
was honest and wanted what was best for us. This was the third house we
have purchased and we have had issues with unexpected mishaps, building
concerns and hidden fees. None of that occurred with Jen. I will recommend
her to any person I meet in search of a new home in Chicago!”
– Donald and Renee W.
NorthwesterN
UNiversity AlumnA
Experience, business sense, market expertise, a proven track
record in a challenging market, unmatched customer service
and an appreciation for the finer things in life...
This is your home. Why settle for less?
Peter ConstanceCertified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
773-501-2222 peterconstance@atproperties.com
Recently voted “Best @properties Agent
to Work With” by my peers
DeCo elegANCe WITh lAke vIeWS
2920 north CommonweAlth
3 bedrooms /3 baths
Expertise - Excellent Service - Every Time
Paul a SuSman J.D., realtor®
toP ProDucing broker
312.296.4166
paulas@atproperties.com
gARDeN oASIS IN lINColN PARk
2745 north kenmore
4 bedrooms /3.5 baths
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6 NoRTh MIChIgAN3 bedrooms | 3 baths
3408 NoRTh BoSWoRTh Ave3 bedrooms | 1 bath
30 eAST huRoN ST uNIT #34011 bedrooms | 1 bath
Patrick ryan
..7 | Patrickryan@atproperties.com
www.ryanresidential.com
ranked in the top 1% of realtors | #1 in sales for millennium park/east loop 2009 | $15 million+ in sales 2009
multi-million dollar development experience applied on an individual basis
experienced and trained to analyze, advise and assist buyers/sellers on making the right residential decision
make a move to the East Loop...
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OTered at: $498,000-$1,484,000
312.506.0205gregeldridge@atproperties.comwww.superior110.com
Greg Eldridge
110 West SuperiorA 27-story glass masterpiece by JFJ Development Company! 58 exceptional corner, ½ fioor and full fioor residences housed in an iconic structure of glass and steel. �ese spacious boutique condominiums feature only the flnest flnishes and incredible attention to detail plus sweeping panoramic views through expansive fioor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows. Building amenities include 24-hour doorman, fltness & business centers and dog run. Deeded parking included.
full floor Custom units AvAilAble
Full Floor units from $2,768,000 · Half Floor units from $1,199,000 · Corner residences from $449,000
Jamie John and Sarah Busbnitz
house party chicago | Florense
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A BrAziliAn BonAnzA
The PArTy: Florense celebrated its two-year anniversary by
throwing a Brazilian-themed bash in the sleek River North
showroom. Te event also served as the kick-off to NeoCon
2010, so attendees were awarded with an impressive preview
of new pieces.
The PlAyerS: Owner Jon Fante made the rounds, welcoming
design-types and local designers like Jennifer Sweas and
Jerry Sanfilippo.
The ProViSionS: Food for Tought provided
Sen Chang and Will Lee
continued...
400 West Erie Street, Suite 503 Chicago
www.KneenandCo.com 312.787.7003
Bring joy to everyday living
Porcelain Crystal Sterling Silver Stationery Jewelry
gifts & accessories Antique Fireplaces
While shopping The Mart, enjoy the LuxeHome Open House on Saturday, October 2,
and get inspired at DreamHome.
four days of FABULOUS fi nds
BEVERLEY R. FINE ANTIQUESARTS 220 BEVERLEY R. FINE ANTIQUES
OCTOBER01-04
at The Merchandise Mart
The world’s most exquisite antiques
welcome the city’s most eclectic fi nds.
The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair
introduces Emporium, a vintage pavilion at The Fair
showcasing cool and unusual items from dealers
specializing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Learn
fi rst-hand from all the antiques experts about
the story behind their unique pieces.
PARTNERS
RICHARD NORTON
Be sure to join us
for a keynote address
by Leigh and Leslie Keno
of the PBS award-winning series
Antiques Roadshow.
Presented by Traditional Home.
www.mmart.com/fourdays
Preview Party September 30, Benefi tting
INTRODUCING
house party chicago | Florense
Kelly Drinnan, Jon Fante and Lee Oko
Jennifer Hawn, Samantha Terry and Heidi Fromm
tempting South American
treats, such as sweet melon with crisp prosciutto,
lemongrass chicken on sugarcane skewers, and a
refreshing cocktail list starring flavors from Brazil.
–Diana Tychsen
...continued
tile light fire
PROPERTY OPTIONS online www.proctorshop.com cell 773.517.6026
CS Interiors magazine recently sat down with Jeff Proctor of Property Options for a candid
conversation on real estate in Chicago.
Matt Carroll: How did you get started in the real estate industry?
Jeff Proctor: Real estate has always been an exciting industry. For me it was my mother, who
has been in real estate for over 20 years, and had inspired me to learn the business. After a year
working part time, I turned my focus full time and expanded my services offered along with areas
of specialty. Since day one I have had a passion for the business. From marketing to consulting,
acquisition to development, I have found a desire to perfect every aspect of the business.
MC: What makes clients seek you out as a realtor?
JP: All of my clients are 100% referrals which is my proudest accomplishment. Every year my
business has increased in volume and this is to the credit of my past clients and the continual
referrals they send over. I have worked with a large array of clients and properties, so there is
an overall knowledge and wealth of experience that can assist every client.
MC: What approaches do you take that give you a unique edge in the market?
JP: Consistent contact, being extremely available and incredible attention to detail.
There is not a property, building or location downtown that I have not encountered and
do not have knowledge of, so knowing the detailed information for my clients is key.
MC: What’s new in the Chicago real estate market today?
JP: The Chicago market has been consistent. For myself, I have seen business remain
consistent as well, despite the downturn in the housing market. Buyers are looking for the
best deal—they simply are taking more time to fi nd that option. Yet Sellers are reluctant
to sell and take the loss, so fi nding the right connection and situation is the key. The
overall market is still moving and we continually get referrals for all clients looking to
take advantage of the market.
MC: What changes in the real estate market can Chicagoans expect?
JP: The Chicago market will continue to move forward in real estate. There are more
individuals and families now moving into the city instead of the suburbs; from buying
an in-town to raising their families downtown, people overall are enjoying the city and
surrounding neighborhoods more and more. Chicago is a great city to live in and people
have really noticed this over the past 10 years during the real estate boom. This has really
driven the desire to live in the city. So although we are in a market downturn for real
estate, individuals fi nd it a perfect time to take advantage and move to the downtown area.
MC: Why do you think people choose to make Chicago their home?
JP: Chicago is continually regarded as a great city and a “fun” city to live. The
individuals that reside or relocate to Chicago are excited to be in Chicago. Whether
it is the Cubs games, street fests, sporting events, Lake Michigan, North Ave. beach;
the city is an exciting place to live.
MC: What steps do you take to help fi rst-time owners feel comfortable?
JP: Educate them on the overall market via trends, expectations, type of housing, and
neighborhood options. Living in the city personally with my family, it allows me to speak
fi rst hand on our experiences downtown. We have lived in Wicker Park for over 7 years
now and have experienced every area of the city. Making fi rst-time owners feel at home
and comfortable living downtown is very important.
MC: How do you incorporate digital tools in today’s real estate environment?
DW: Technology is extremely important. Instant information and contact with clients and
others in the business is vital. From my laptop to my BlackBerry, staying in contact 24/7
is vital to keeping your clients as well as yourself up to date on downtown market.
MC: How do you make a house more marketable?
JP: The interior design and keeping your home up to date. Make use of the space in
a condo or home wisely; de-clutter as much as possible. We all live in our own certain
way and we certainly collect objects over time—my family is the same way. Yet, when
a buyer walks through your home you must have the home in perfect condition and
nicely decorated throughout. Removing items that are unnecessary and take up space,
repainting or remodeling certain rooms to ensure they are up to date with today’s market
desires is extremely important and vital to the resale of your home.
MC: What is the most rewarding part of being a real estate agent?
JP: The individuals I get to meet on a daily basis and clients that I get to work with
everyday. My clients are consistent clients and have become friends as we continue our
working relationship. The contacts and relationships created will remain for years to come
which are also great friendships as well.
with JEFF PROCTOR
There is not a property, building or location downtown that I have not encountered and do not have knowledge of.
house party chicago | Luminaire
Chloe Langfeld, Ashley Floyd
and Laura Boruta
Jennifer Brunner and Angela Finney-Hoffman
Neil Rosario and Patrick Boyle
Vrinda Agrawar and Avika Bhansali Douglas McClellan and Manuel Butzbach
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Spring BoArd
The pArTy: Luminaire teamed up with CS
Interiors to wave goodbye to winter and
celebrate the new Spring issue with three
floors full of guests, who turned out to
sip cocktails, mingle and appreciate new
outdoor furniture designs from Roda,
B&B Italia and Paola Lenti. Designer anke
loh’s fashion collection was also on display.
The proViSionS: Chef Stephen Wambach of
Epic and chef Dirk Flanigan of Te Gage
restaurant prepared tasty, on- and off-the-
menu munchies, including fresh hamachi
with artichoke and blood orange, and
venison carpaccio with quail egg. –DT
T wo of the world’s finest beds are now found at only one purvey or.
O ur passion is life-changing sleep achieved only by all-natural
materials, beautiful craftsmanship and bespoke pillows.
OUR COLLECT ION
L U X U R Y G A L L E R Y & o n l i n e D E B U T
CHICAGO LUXURY BEDS
440 North Wells Street
+ 3 1 2 527 5 3 37
hästens beds winnetka
976 Green Bay Road
+ 847 44 1 5 3 37
chicagoluxurybeds .com
V i- S pring, in se l e c t gue strooms a t the E l y si a n H ote l C hic a go
Mobili Möbel | 549 N Wells Street | Chicago | IL 60654 | phone 312.329.9669 | www.mobilimobel.com
Natural
solid hardwoods
High-quality
craftsmanship
Award-winning
design
sustainablestyle
10ID_03
nox table | Design Jacob Strobel
girado chair | Design Martin Ballendat
LESLIE RHODES
773.213.5433
spaceinteriordesign@gmail.com
www.spaceinteriordesign.com
RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL
CONSULTATION, DESIGN
AND PLANNING
OFFERING DIRECTION
AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
house party chicago | Evan Lewis
Jeannie Lampasso and
Cassie Flandermeyer
Morlen Sinoway and Melissa Green
Tabb Lemons and Doug Levine Evan and Sandra Lewis
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RosCoe ViLLage ReVeLRy
The PaRTy: On June 3, Evan Lewis hosted a high-class bash to celebrate the
fifth anniversary of the opening of the Roscoe Village showroom.
The PLayeRs: Guests in attendance included Chicago designers Douglas
Levine of L Corp and Aimee Wertepny of Project Interiors, along with a
handful of collectors who have commissioned custom pieces by Evan Lewis.
The PRoVisioNs: Cuisine was provided by J & L Catering, and included
citrus-grilled jumbo shrimp with cilantro-chipotle dip and pepper-
crusted beef in a petite popover, accompanied by Champagne and
Chardonnay from Château Ste. Michelle. –DT
The Häfele ShowroomExperience
MEET.Conference rooms with A/V, free Wi-Fi and refreshments
EVALUATE.Solutions for kitchens, closets, furniture, offices and more
EXPERIMENT.All the newest sliding systems displayed
SELECT.Expert staff and technical consultants
LEARN.Continuing education classes each month
New York: 25 East 26th St. • 212.897.4460
Chicago: 154 West Hubbard St. • 312.467.2225
Architects • Builders • Remodelers • Interior Designers
Bosch Appliance 4 piece
packages under $4000.00
Kitchen packages with Bosch
appliances, granite counter tops,
and mosaic backsplash installed
under $10,000.
Ask Us About Our To The Trade Program
• Bathroom Vanities In Stock
• Glass Subway Tiles $5.95
• 18”x18” Marble Tiles From $4.95
• Onyx Mosaics From $8.95
Hours: M-F 10-8PM SAT 10-6PM SUN 12-5PM • Free Parking
2743 N California Ave • Chicago, IL 60647 (Just off the Kennedy) • 877.376.8453 • www.DesignerStoneOutlet.com
DESIGN • FABRICATION • INSTALLATION
Visit our online portfolio @
www.iron-wire.com
For consultation or appointment call
773.255.2672
ORIGINAL WORKS
IN WOOD & METAL
4720 W. Walton St Chicago, IL 60651
house party chicago | FLOR
Taylor Littrel and Andres Malo
Cristina Englund, Robin Blank and Laura McDaniel
Heather and Troy Zimmerman
Chip DeGrace, Paul Larson and Tim Reilly
Diane Redding and Gerry Licea
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CUTTING A RUG
The PARTy: FLOR’s Summer Soirée event was held June 2 to showcase the
sizzling 2010 Summer Collection and to highlight the vibrant new store
design. With a new customized area for rug, runner and wall-to-wall
compilations, the store was unveiled to more than 125 guests.
The FOOD: Stefani Catering provided the fare, which included light
appetizers and drinks. –DT
Visit our showroom at
3368 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago
773.539.0402 evanlewisinc.com
Custom furniture, lighting and accessories
Chicago 312 587 8150 • Union Pier 269 469 9640
www.SusanFredman.comBridal Registry • Gifts • Accessories
INTERIOR DESIGN WITH A
POINT OF VIEW
chicago
773 404 2020
hinsdale
630 655 0497
lake forest
847 295 8370
winnetka
847 441 0969
www.shopbedside.com
With our Private Label linens,
you’ll understand
the beauty of sleep.
106 MARKETPLACE
m o d e r n l u x u r y
MARKETPLACEART
AddingTon gALLERy
Addington Gallery features a wide range of talented contemporary artists
working in various styles, subjects and mediums. In addition to this, the
gallery offers expert services such as installation, painting restoration and
conservation, framing, and corporate curating. 704 N Wells 312.664.3406
or www.addingtongallery.com
CoLLETTi AnTiquE PosTER gALLERy
Offering one of the world’s finest collections of antique posters and
decorative arts, as well as furnishings and artwork from the late 19th to early
20th century. Belle Époque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modern periods are
represented. 67 E. Oak St. 312.664.6767 or www.collettigallery.com
dARRyLL sChiff
Besides photographing celebrities like Robin Williams, Tea Leoni, and
Jason Patric, shooting assignments for Rolling Stone, Stern, and Pepsi, this
internationally known commercial and fine art photographer’s work is in
the collections of museums from California to New York. 1039 N LaSalle Dr.
312.944.6163 or www.schiff-art.com
dEsign foR A CuRE
Colon Cancer is 90 percent preventable and Design for a Cure is a foundation
that spreads the word on prevention by integrating art and design through
colon cancer research/awareness. Check out DFAC’s website for more
information on prevention, and how founder Lauren Schreyer is inspiring a
cure. 2 E. Erie, Ste. 3109 312.266.CURE or www.designforacure.net
gALLERiE MK
Self-proclaimed as an art gallery by artists, for artists, MK Gallery features a
variety of artistic styles ranging from abstract to contemporary and beyond.
This is also the only gallery in the River North art district to give emerging
artists the opportunity to hang inside such a prestigious space. 750 N
Franklin St. Ste 105 312.643.5545 or www.galleriemk.com
giLLis finE ART
Artist Samuel Gillis is a master of classical painting techniques. His work is
comprised of a realistic style that uses modern art, landscape and both still life
and figurative artworks. Visit his website or contact personally for purchase
information. Elmwood Park 708.583.1255 or www.gillisfineart.com
hoLby gALLERy
This River North gallery offer’s the finest American art from the 18th
through the 20th century. While they have steadfast supporters of well
known American artists, they’ve also managed to balance their passion
for championing the talent of lesser-known artists. 222 West Huron Street
312.280.8888 or www.zholbyamericanart.com
josEf gLiMER gALLERy, LTd
Serious fine art collectors who are passionate about art will find this River
North gallery most amusing. By only selling what they love, the owners pride
themselves on not only offering work from esteemed artists, but work that
they feel passionately about, and chances are, you will too. 207 W. Superior
Street 312.787.4640 or www.josefglimergallery.com
KEvin LAhviC gALLERy
This gallery is located in the Flat Iron Arts Building and features the renowned
works of Kevin Lahvic. From illustrations and drawings of faces and hearts,
to unusual paintings and more, this gallery features a colorful cache of work.
Check out the website for more info on events and opportunities to visit. Flat Iron Arts Building 708.415.6370 or www.kevinlahvic.com
nEw disCovERiEs
Owner Laura Davis has an eye for scoping out unique finds. In addition to
selling gifts, this Roscoe Village gallery represents a bevy of new artists and
artisans who are either new to the Chicago market or already established.
The art represented often embodies the spirit of the owner’s many travels. 2236 W. Roscoe St. 773.360.8564 or www.art-artisans-you.com
PRACTiCAL AngLE
Practical Angle offers a vast variety of custom framing options, from
mounting and matting to custom corner frames. Choose from over 2,000
different moulding choices available in metal, hardwood and designer. They
specialize in framing mirrors, artwork and shadowboxes. 161 E. Erie St.
312.280.8118 or www.practicalangle.com
sAPERE ART
Located in the historic Flat Iron Arts building, this contemporary art gallery
showcases the art of both emerging and established artists in Chicago. In
addition to having a rather impressive selection, the gallery also serves as
the owners studio, where often times clients get art lessons as well! Flat Iron
Arts Building 312.208.1504 or www.SapereArt.com
ThoMAs RobERTELLo gALLERy
This gallery represents a broad scope of talented emerging and established
artists both locally and from across the pond. Not focusing on one artistic
medium, you’ll find a interesting collection of artwork including sculpture,
video, photography, installation, drawing and painting. 939 W. Randolph
Street 312.421.1587 or www.thomasrobertello.com
ThREE PEAs ART LoungE
Three Peas Art Lounge is a gallery that supports burgeoning and established
visual artists and cultivates a consortium of new art collectors. Showcasing
artists such as Hebru Brantley and Amanda Williams, this gallery features
artwork that is hip, contemporary and forward-thinking. A full, top-shelf bar
for you to enjoy while perusing the artwork is also available. 75 East 16th
Street 312.624.9414 or www.threepeasartlounge.com
ugLy sTEP sisTER ART gALLERy
Located in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop, Ugly Step Sister is an art
gallery located in the Fulton Market Arts District. In addition to showcasing
talent near and far, the gallery also sells vintage furniture, vintage items from
the 1950s and other items. Children’s art classes are also available. 1044
W Fulton Market 312.927.7546 or www.uglystepsisterartgallery.com
vALE CRAfT gALLERy
Vale Craft Gallery features and sells contemporary American fine craft and a
variety of sculpture. The River North—based gallery also has colorful textiles,
handcrafted furniture, glass objects and ceramics. Owner Peter Vale’s knack for
showing eclectic, affordable collections from local and national artists is also a
highlight. 230 W. Superior St. 312.337.3525 or www.valecraftgallery.com
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
Asid iLLinois
ASID is the leading organization representing the interests of professional
interior designers. They provide knowledge and information, education
and training, advocacy, support for business, recognition and leadership
opportunities to more than 40,000 members in a network of 48 chapters in
the United States and Canada. 222 Merchandise Mart or www.asidillinois.com
S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S E M E N T
CCHH II CC AA GG OO CCHH II CC AA GG OO ARTS GALLERYTTSSTTSS GGAA LL LL EE RR GGAA LL LL EE RR GGUU II DD EE GGUU II DD EE
Gillis Fine Art
LAKEVIEW
For the love of Art
Samuel Gillis Specializes in Contemporary
Modern Works of original fine art. His work
is in collections around the world and has
been on television and published in several
magazines. Meet the artist and view his work
at the Lake View East Maison Rouge Gallery.
(708) 583-1255
gillisfineart@gmail.com
www.gillisfineart.com
VALE CRAFT GALLERY
RIV
ER
NORTH
Owner Peter Vale has selected an affordable,
eclectic collection of contemporary fine craft
by local and national artists. Textural fiber
art, beautiful glass, handcrafted ceramics,
mixed media sculpture, colorful wall pieces,
and unusual jewelry are presented in an
inviting gallery setting. Let our artists design
something unique for your home or office.
Tue-Fri 10:30-5:30 Sat 11-5
230 W. Superior St.
(312) 337-3525 peter@valecraftgallery.com
www.valecraftgallery.com
Richard Parrish, Tapestry 19 (detail), fused glass, 42” x 12” x 2”
Art Mirrors Framing
Peterson Picture Co.
www.art-impact.com
www.peterson-contract.com
773.463.8888
Peterson Picture co.
LAKEVIEW
Art consulting / Custom framing
Residential / Commercial
Family held since 1954
2720 W. Belmont Ave.
Mike spear
(773) 463-8888 x10
Jim simon
(773) 787-5303
New Discoveries
RO
SC
OE
VILLAGE
stop in and discover something new!
New Discoveries sells one-of-a-kind home
accessories, wall art, gifts, and jewelry.
We represent over 50 artists from all over
the US and Canada. All items are hand-
crafted using media such as ceramics, glass,
photography, metal, paper, and wood.
Mon-Tue by appointment Wed-Fri 11-7
Sat 11-6 Sun 11-5
2236 w. roscoe st.
(773) 360-8564
contact@art-artisans-you.com
www.art-artisans-you.com
HOLBY GALLERY
RIV
ER
NORTH
Our inventory of American paintings,
sculpture and works on paper includes
examples from the Colonial and Federal
periods, the Hudson River School, Tonalism,
Impressionism, Post-impressionism,
Modernism, and Regionalism. Whether
you are a new or seasoned collector, we
will assist you in bringing the heritage of
American art from our walls to yours.
Tue-Fri 10-6 Sat 11-5
222 W. Huron St. (312) 280-8888
info@holbygallery.com
www.holbygallery.com
Three Peas arT Lounge
SO
UT
H LOOP
Three Peas Art Lounge defies the white-
cube gallery model, featuring emerging
and semi-established local and national
artists. Artwork is contemporary and hip
and presented in varying mediums. Enjoy
Three Peas Art Lounge’s full, top shelf bar
while perusing the artwork. Inquire about
space rentals for private events, private
consultations, art installation and art
education.
75 e. 16th st. (between Michigan & Wabash)
(312) 624-9414 info@threepeasartlounge.com
www.threepeasartlounge.com
Josef Glimer Gallery, ltd.
RIV
ER
NORTH
Featuring contemporary artists
Sheila Finnigan, Mira Hermoni-Levine,
Thom Kapheim and Brian Divis. Also
featuring masterworks of the 19th and
20th Centuries; including works by Renoir,
Toulouse-Lautrec, Chagall, Picasso, Miro,
Rivera and Zuniga, among others.
Tue-Sat 11–5 or by appt.
207 W. superior
(312) 787-4640
info@JosefGlimerGallery.com
www.JosefGlimerGallery.com
Sapere art
WICKER
PA
RK
Sapere art in the Flat Iron arts Building
Sapere Art is a contemporary art gallery
featuring emerging to established local artists.
Created and owned by an artist who wants to
make a difference for others, Sapere Art in the
Flat Iron Arts Building of historic Wicker Park/
Bucktown, features over 20 artists and more
than 400 works. Join us for WPB First Friday,
or see our website for hours and other events
1579 N. Milwaukee, Studio 341
(312) 208-1504
www.Sapereart.com
Pixelization Fields - Erin Waser, 16” x 16”, oil on board, 2010
108 MARKETPLACE
fAux dEsign sTudios
Faux Design Studio is known as being one of the city’s premier decorative
arts schools. Their recently expanded offerings of faux finishes and paints
features cutting edge techniques and products. They’re also a certified
training center and retail distributor of Faux Effects International®.
101 N Swift Road 630.627.1011 or www.fauxdesignstudio.com
MusEuM of sCiEnCE And indusTRy
This museum is housed in the only remaining building from the 1893
World’s Columbian Exposition and is the largest science center in the
western hemisphere. The museum features an ever-widening scope of
modern exhibitions that inspire and intrigue. 57th St. and Lake Shore Dr.
773.684.1414 or www.msichicago.org
DESIGN CENTERS
MERChAndisE MART
4.2 million gross square feet of space dedicated to retail shops, luxury
home boutiques, furnishings showrooms, and a host of community
events. As the world’s largest wholesale design center, The Merchandise
Mart is synonymous with high design and luxury goods. 222 Merchandise
Mart Plz., 312.527.4141 or www.mmart.com
MMPi (dEsign CEnTER)
The Merchandise Mart is home to six floors constituting the world’s first
and largest design center. The Merchandise Mart Design Center offers
the largest presentation of home furnishings worldwide. Boasting 200
showrooms that feature more than 2,500 product lines, it’s the ultimate
resource for a range of luxury home goods. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz.,
800.677.6278 or www.merchandisemartdesigncenter.com
MMPi (LuxEhoME)
Located on the first floor of the landmark Merchandise Mart building
and open to the public, LuxeHome features 30 boutiques spanning
100,000-square-feet of space devoted to your kitchen and bath. Each
boutique offers knowledgeable designers ready to answer questions and
assist you with your next design project. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz.,
800.677.6278 or www.luxehome.com
TRAinoR gLAss CoMPAny
Trainor Glass Company has been an industry leader since 1953, providing
exceptional design, installation and project management services for
residential and commercial markets. At Trainor, no job is too big or too
small. They are a single source for everything glass. 11901 South Austin
Ave., Alsip 708.388.5700 or www.trainorglass.com
DESIGNERS
bEdRooMs by bRynnE
Bedrooms by Brynne imagines and fuses the best version of who you
are into your bedroom. Services include anything from customized
bedding, furniture selection and lighting design to suit any mood, to
full bedroom renovations. Brynne will design your bedroom interior
for restful sleep, repose and a place to be playful. 773.960.8619 or
www.bedroomsbybrynne.com
bouTiquE hoME
This full Service interior design showroom specializes in the custom design
and sewing of European inspired drapery, Bedding and upholstery at
wholesale pricing. They also offer discounted fabric, trim and antique decor.
Chicago designer, Shari Cornes and her staff share a passion for design.
1645 N. Clybourn Ave. 312.867.9119 or www.boutiquehomeonline.com
THREE GENERATIONSOF
Factory and Showroom3000 ST. CHARLES ROAD, BELLWOOD
Mon–Sat 9:00–5:00 971 N. MILWAUKEE AVE., WHEELING
Old School House at Sale Barn Square
Fri & Sat Noon–5:00
Sun Noon–4:00 1048 W. FULTON MARKET, CHICAGO
"The Montalbano Gallery"
WED–FRI 2:30–7:00
SAT Noon–5:00 or by appointment
866-664-3876
www.montalbanofurniture.com
www.restorationfactory.com
OOOOFF
Craftsmanship
Since 1929, Chicago's Oldest
and Finest Furniture
Manufacturer, Restorer,
Refi nisher, Reupholsterer,
and Importer.
Previous Awards
2008, 2007, 2006, 2003
ii AA
161 East Erie Chicago 312-280-8118
Whatever you bring us - poster, print or prized possession - you can trust that our material and procedures exceed industry standards.
Our passion is bringing your vision to life.
1158 W. Dickens Avenue Chicago, IL 60614 312.231.5084 312.268.6245 fax
erica@ericagail.com www.ericagail.com http://ericagail.blogspot.com
Interiors With Style by Erica Smith, ASID
Erica Gail
110 MARKETPLACE
buCKinghAM inTERioRs And dEsign
Based in Chicago’s West Town Neighborhood, this full service interior design
firm specializes in historic renovations, residential and commercial interior
design. They are more than enthusiastic about taking on projects both large
and small. 1820 W. Grand Ave. 312.243.9975 or www.buckinghamid.com
dEsign REd
This Chicago based decorative painting company recently opened
a showroom in the West Loop displaying a full range of finishes from
custom color washes and striaes, to sprayed metallics. DesignRed’s
forte of specialized finishes include faux bois, gilding, and églomisé, in
addition to custom handpainted designs. 114 N. Aberdeen 312.841.0100
or www.designredstudio.com
ERiCA gAiL dEsign
After nearly a decade working for top U.S. residential designers, Erica Smith
brings a sense of layered sophistication and warmth to her designs. Within
her clients’ preferred aesthetic, Erica delivers a signature textured look to
elevate their interiors from commonplace to supremely comfortable, well-
styled homes. 1158 W. Dickens Ave. 312.231.5084 or www.ericagail.com
gARy LEE PARTnERs
Gary Lee Partners believes that every project is an opportunity to create an
integrated environment that reveals the spirit of the location, the personality
of the client, and the power of design. Essential solutions-where every
design decision contributes to a sense of wholeness have always been their
priority. 360 W. Superior St. 312.640.8300 or www.garyleepartners.com
hiCKMAn dEsign AssoCiATEs
As principal, Tracy Hickman works closely with clients to accommodate
lifestyles. Her sophisticated, tailored interiors are driven by texture and
comfort. From Chicago to South Carolina to the Caymans, Hickman’s
singular, detailed vision has left beauty in its wake. 3105 N. Wolcott
312.642.7379 or www.hickmaninteriors.com
iRon & wiRE
Iron & Wire places a strong emphasis on architectural and ornamental
ironwork. Their design professionals utilize a broad scope of materials
and finishes to ensure a beautiful end result. Their team can design and
fabricate custom designs in metal and wood to suit any space. Call for a
consultation today. 4720 W. Walton 773.255.2672 or www.iron-wire.com
KARA MAnn dEsign
With a focus on high-end residential spaces, KMD approaches every
project as a creative collaboration between design team and client,
creating spaces with personality and sophistication. From Lake Shore
Drive penthouse to Mexican beach house, KMD produces warm, layered
interiors. 119 W. Hubbard St., 5th Fl. 312.893.7550 or www.karamann.com
LAuREn sChREyER, Asid
Understated elegance and sophisticated style are the hallmarks of Lauren
Schreyer’s design company, Schreyer & Associates. From residential
interiors and vacation retreats to executive offices, Schreyer’s design
process will always reflect your style and desires, while catering to your
comfort. 2 E. Erie, Ste. 3109 312.953.0316 or www.laurenschreyer.com
MiChAEL AbRAMs LiMiTEd
Michael Abrams creates refreshing interiors that are truly a reflection of
his clients. Education in both fine arts and architecture, and extensive
corporate experience in managing every aspect of a project sets him
apart from other designers. Michael’s full service, high-end residential
practice has completed projects throughout Chicago and nationwide. 1901
N. Clybourn Ave, Ste. 204 773.248.3039 or www.michaelabrams.com
Featuring the S.Julian™
custom collection
3312 N. LincolnChicago, Illinois
773.281.8800
www.rexxrug.com
If your rug could talk, what would you want it to say?
featured inJan.–Feb. 2010
Chicago Home+Garden
BEST OFCHICAGO
DESIGN2010
fabrics by
clarke & clarke
www.workroominc.com
1906 W Belmont ave 773.472.2140 | Tues-Fri 9-6 | Sat 9-3
custom drapery | window treatmentsfurniture | roman shades | bedding
wall coverings | carpets
A full service home interior store and design studio
Making Beautiful Home
MARKETPLACE 111
MiChAEL dEL PiERo good dEsign
Michael Del Piero’s diverse aesthetic is complemented her meticulous
attention to detail and her strong belief in communicative designer-client
relationships. In addition to design services, Del Piero offers furniture,
antiques, home accessories, textiles and more in her on-site boutique.
1914 N. Damen Ave. 773.772.3000 or www.michaeldelpiero.com
MiChELLE’s inTERioRs
This full service interior design group does it all: new construction,
renovations, space planning, consultations, project management, window
treatments and custom furniture designs. Michelle’s Interiors Design
Group specializes in residential design, creating a unique and timeless
space for each client. Simply. Fabulous. Design. 150 N. Michigan Ave.,
Ste. 2800 312.291.4466 or www.michellesinteriors.com
ModERno dEsign & buiLd, inC.
This interior design and construction firm specializes in turn-key delivery
of high-quality interiors, for both new construction and renovation
projects. Their services include interior design, construction, custom
furniture, woodwork design as well as fabrication in their shop and
complete decoration of residential and commercial spaces. 520 W. Erie
Place 312.951.6079 or www.moderno-db.com
RAndy hELLER inTERioR dEsign
Pure, simple, interior design with a dose of sophistication is what
makes Randy Heller Design a force to be reckoned with. Every detail
is addressed, with a specific focus placed on the individual. A range of
lighting options and furniture are also available. Check out the warehouse
location at: 531 Bank Lane in Highwood Illinois. 2919 Twin Oaks, Highland
Park 847.207.7789 or www.randyhellerdesign.com
RjA dEsign, inC
Richard Abrahamson of RJA Design effortlessly balances old with new,
intricate with simple, sophisticated with comfortable. His collector’s eye and
vast knowledge of the decorative arts lend his interiors timelessness, while
modern practicality gives them ease and livability. richard@rja-design.com
Geneva: 630.262.9474; Chicago: 312.531.2646 or www.rja-design.com
sPACE dEsign PLAnning
Leslie Newman Rhodes’ 35 years of renovation experience helps
her to identify and implement her clients’ visions. As both an artist
and gallery owner, she serves her clients from the consultation
process to the furniture arrangement and floor plan. 312.642.2031 or
www.spaceinteriordesign.com
sTACEy CohEn inTERioRs
Leed-AP certified, Stacey Cohen Interiors captures the essence of
sophistication and originality for residential and commercial projects.
With careful attention to detail and respect for each client’s individuality
and lifestyle, SCI will complement your design vision from concept
to completion in a timely manner and within budgetary parameters.
360 W. Illinois 312.480.0989 or www.staceycoheninteriors.com
susAn fREdMAn dEsign gRouP
Designer Susan Fredman and her team of design professionals count
client individuality among their biggest inspirations. Maintaining a
sense of luxury while working with many different aesthetics, their
interior design services can include everything from space planning and
extensive remodeling to selecting accessories. 350 W. Erie St., 1st Fl.
312.587.8150 or www.susanfredman.com
suzAnn KLETziEn dEsign
From commercial and residential design, to space planning and personal
shopping, designer SuzAnn Kletzien can do it all. With an acute attention
to detail and a knack for blending classic touches with comfortable
stylish design, she can transform any room into a livable work of art.
831 W. Wrightwood 312.835.1551 or www.suzannkletzien.com
name of planter
The Adler Urn
New Address, Same Elegant Design,
Same Commitment To Service
3372B Commercial Avenue Northbrook, IL 60062
847.784.6910www.trellisandtrugs.com
By Appointment Only
112 MARKETPLACE
wiLEy dEsigns
At Wiley Designs, interior design solutions reflect the client’s need and
interests while creating spaces that are sophisticated, functional and
balanced. The firm focuses on residential renovation including space
planning, custom cabinetry, material finishes and furnishings. They
are also happy to direct clients to sustainable options. 416 Ravine Dr.,
Highland Park 847.266.8991 or www.wileydesignsllc.com
DOORS
MARvin dEsign gALLERy by EsTATEs windows, LTd.
With a specific focus on windows and doors, Marvin Design Gallery by
Estates Windows, Ltd., is a premier supplier in Chicago. They sell a vast
selection of wood, fiberglass and steel entry doors in addition to Velux
skylights. They will also assist you in selecting the perfect windows and
doors for your next project. 930 North Shore Drive 847.615.1003 or
www.marvinbyestates.com
sLiding dooR CoMPAny
With the Sliding Door Company options seem endless. Choose from a
variety of glass types, finishes and much more. Their vision is a complete
package designed to work with your home, whether you’re seeking a
major interior overhaul or a simple upgrade. 221 W. Ohio St. 312.494.9494
or www.ilslidingdoor.com
FABRIC, LINEN, BEDDING
bEdsidE MAnoR
For 25 years, Bedside Manor Ltd has provided Chicago with a timeless
selection of sophisticated linens and home décor from the best brands in
the industry. They create bedding ensembles that make houses feel like
homes and bath luxuries that titillate the senses. Additional locations in
Hinsdale, Lake Forest and Winnetka. 2056 N. Halsted St 773.404.2020
or www.shopbedside.com
ChiCAgo LuxuRy bEds
Chicago Luxury Beds is a new store concept carrying Hastens Beds,
VI Spring, and Pillow Bar custom pillows. With Hastens Beds and VI
Spring in the same store Chicago Luxury Beds sells the finest beds in the
world and now offers twice the selection of luxury mattresses as before.
440 N. Wells St 312.527.5337 or www.chicagoluxurybeds.com
woRKRooM CouTuRE hoME
This full service interior design showroom features a vast couture-style
selection of drapery, roman shades, wall coverings, duvets and bed
coverings as well as architectural hardware and shutters. Located in
Roscoe Village, their friendly staff and wide selection are available to both
professionals and non professionals. 1906 W. Belmont 773.472.2140 or
www.workroominc.com
FURNITURE
AKbiK gALLERy
AKBIK Gallery prides itself of having unusual antique, new and custom
ordered hand-inlay furniture with mother of pearl. The beauty and the
quality of the pieces they carry are beyond the norm. Their items add
a touch of paradise to your home and interior. 2644 Green Bay Rd.
847.328.7777 or www.akbik.com
ARhAus
Founded in 1986 Arhaus turns your four walls into a full-on inspired
living experience. With a commitment to minimizing their carbon
footprint, they provide a broad range of items for your home, including
furniture for various rooms, bedding, upholstery and home accessories.
773.248.3071 or www.arhaus.com
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park, UrbanEnvironments offers a full design atelier. Our staff has over adecade of experience in consulting and design.
Here’s one place where we don’t discount quality and service.Getting value means more than low price. It means quality,service, and confidence knowing your satisfaction’s guaranteed.Find it all at our Hunter Douglas Gallery™, stop in and see ustoday!
M-F 12-6Sat 12-5
Sunday-by appointment
urbanenvironments.hdwfg.com/sb.cn
MARKETPLACE 113
boConCEPT
This international design firm based in Denmark, produces modern design
for urban-minded shoppers. They also offer customized, coordinated and
affordable options for furniture and home accessories. 1901 N. Clybourn
Ave 773.388.2900 or www.boconcept.us
CAssonA
Cosmopolitan, vibrant and serene, this unique store carries a huge
selection of furniture, home accessories, lighting, rugs and wall art for
every room in the home. Contemporary pieces sourced from all over the
world. 5241 N. Clark St. 773.506.7882 or www.cassona.com
ChAi Ming
Chai Ming Studios affirms the power of understatement. With exquisite
lines, minimalist detailing, and sumptuous materials, the Chai Ming
Studios furniture collection perfectly suits diverse aesthetics—from the
ultra modern to the traditional. 222 Merchandise Mart 312.644.8484 or
www.chaimingstudios.com
dEsign sTudio
Design Studio offers a huge selection of European and domestic
furnishings for the home and office. Characterized by clean lines and
monochromatic color schemes the look is one of purist modernism.
40,000 square feet of showroom space in two locations. Additional
location in Northbrook IL. 225 W. Hubbard St. 312.527.5272 or
www.designstudiofurniture.com
EvAn LEwis
As a sculptor and furniture maker, Evan’s showroom sits next to his
studio, where he and his team create one-of-a-kind work. His handmade
studio furniture is totally unique, and the use of burnished metals give
his pieces a contemporary look. 3368 N. Elston Ave. 773.539.0402 or
www.evanlewisinc.com
fLoREnsE
Committed to producing high-quality products with preservation of
the environment and quality of life in mind. One of the largest furniture
companies in the world, offering products for kitchens, baths, bedrooms,
offices, dining rooms, home theatres and more. 300 W. Ontario St.
312.640.0066 or www.florense.com
gEoRgE sMiTh fuRniTuRE And fAbRiCs
George Smith is the manufacturer and purveyor of handmade furniture,
featuring seating and fabrics of the highest quality in both design
and craftsmanship. Multiple locations across the country, but Chicago
location is open to trade only. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 1879A
312.464.0242 or www.georgesmith.com
hAuTE Living
Owners Jeffery Smith and Tatjana Ozegovic have created a place to
display the exquisite furniture they find from around the world not
readily available in the United States. They’re also the exclusive Chicago
retailer for Fendi Casa, Vladimir Kagan, and Piet Boon. 222 W. Kinzie St.
312.329.9000 or www.haute-living.com
hoLLy hunT
With showrooms across the United States, design entrepreneur Holly
Hunt produces a large collection of furniture, textiles, rugs, lighting and
outdoor furniture. The company designs, manufactures and distributes
classic, modern and transitional furnishings. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz.,
Ste. 1728/1844 312.661.1900 or www.hollyhunt.com
hoME ELEMEnT
With a mix of contemporary chairs, tables, bedroom suites and
accessories, Home Element features pieces from Natuzzi, Calligaris,
Jesse, Bontempi and more. Also featuring custom floral arrangements,
wall art and vases to complement antique and contemporary furniture.
745 N. Wells St. 312.787.3358 or www.homeelementfurniture.com
Nature’s Beauty
At Your Fingertips
Celebrating 25 Years
303 Happ Road Northfi eld, IL 60093 877.249.2626
info@peachtreeplaceonline.com www.peachtreeplaceonline.com
Bridal Registry • Gifts • Decorative Accessories
ANNA WEATHERLY, HAND PAINTED IN HUNGARY
BALC O NY LAN D S CAP I N G
Decks - Terraces - Roof-tops - Yards - Patios - Pergolas - Gazebos - Trellis - Custom Pots, Stones, Pavers, Lighting -
Plants - Trees - Flowers – Synthetic Grass - Foliage
We create highly unique, durable and very low maintenance landscapes for Chicago residences.
For more information or to schedule a FREE ESTIMATE find us @
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RUGZOOM | 1446 S. Michigan Ave. | Unit D | Chicago | 312.545.6550
114 MARKETPLACE
j RobERTs AnTiquEs
This 25,000 square-foot Parisian gallery specializes in fine European
17th - 21st century furniture and objects d’art. Their 2nd floor features
hundreds of items with savings of at least 50 percent off. Sip a glass
of wine and enjoy the atmosphere as you browse the collection.
149 W. Kinzie (1/2 block East of Merchandise Mart) 312.222.0167 or
www.jrobertsantiques.com
LuMinAiRE
Specializing in modern furniture and accessories from the world’s most
renowned designers, Luminaire’s philosophy is to maintain a devout
focus on design and quality. Many of the lines offered are exclusive.
301 W. Superior St. 312.664.9582 or www.luminaire.com
MAxALTo
Maxalto is a B&B Italia Brand. Opened in Chicago in 2008 as the very
first stand alone Maxalto store in the United States (the other in Paris)
Maxalto is modern Italian furniture revisiting classic themes. It is designed
and coordinated by Antonio Citterio. 309 W. Superior St. 312.664.6190
or www.maxalto.it
MAxinE snidER inC.
Designer Maxine Snider blends elegant, refined style with a modern
sensibility to produce her eponymous furniture line. Her growing
collection includes beds, seating, storage and tables and custom work
is available. Showroom at Merchandise Mart. 116 W. Illinois St., Ste. 7E
312.527.4170 or www.maxinesniderinc.com
MobiLi MobEL
Only the finest contemporary furniture and home accessories - from
40 different lines around the globe - are presented here. With a focus
on the European modernist school, expect to find sleek pieces that
combine beauty with function. 549 N. Wells St. 312.329.9669 or
www.mobilimobel.com
ModLifE inC
Modlife specializes in 20th century vintage modern home furnishings,
including furniture, art, lighting and more. Their Lakeview showroom
features the finest in original American and Danish Modern 1940s to
1970s furniture as well as Hollywood Regency pieces that have been
reupholstered and reinvented to fit aesthetically into contemporary
living. 3061 N. Lincoln Ave., 773.868.0844 or www.modlifehome.com
MonTALbAno
For over 80 years, Montalbano Furniture Factory has made custom
carvings and furniture, and also refinishes, restores, and reupholsters
furniture. Known as the Rolls Royce of carved wood French Provincial
and Baroque furniture. A bevy of unique restored antiques are available.
1048 W Fulton 866.664.3876 or www.montalbanofurniture.com
MonTAuK sofA
Montauk Sofa provides chic, comfy sofas that are above all environmentally
friendly. With an emphasis on greenhouse gas reduction, clean
biodegradability and closed loop recycling, Montauk Sofa sticks true to
it’s ‘Take a Seat, Take a Stand’ motto. Custom design and objects d’art are
also available. 401 N. Wells St. 312.951.5688 or www.montauksofa.com
niEdERMAiER
With contributing designers such as Nate Berkus, Vicente Wolf and Mark
Demsky, Niedermaier has evolved into a design powerhouse. Offering
the utmost professional service to clients, who choose from a stellar
collection of modern furniture, fine art and the debut of Theo fabrics to
the marketplace. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 1742 312.467.7008 or
www.niedermaier.com
who do youthink will
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Art Mirrors Framing
Peterson Picture Co.
www.art-impact.com
www.peterson-contract.com
773.463.8888
MARKETPLACE 115
PETERson PiCTuRE Co.
Choose from an assortment of matting and framing options at this
flagship framing facility. Whether you’re an artist needing to beautifully
display your work or an interior designer looking to place a mirror, they
can assist. Expert, individual customer service is also available. 2720 W.
Belmont Ave 773.463.8888 or www.peterson-picture.com
REARRAngE
Ready from some home improvement? Then let REarrange take the
reigns. Their team of experts will help you get the maximum benefits out
of the home items you already have. They also offer a line of furniture
produced locally in the city. The shop also offers great gifts. 2064 N
Damen Ave 773.904.8713 or www.rearrangeyourhome.com
RooM & boARd
At Room & Board, great design is more than a trend. It’s the combination
of everything we’re passionate about. Timeless, American-made home
furnishings created for modern living. Discover furniture and accessories that
reflect your style and fit the way you live. Visit them in Oak Brook, Skokie or
Downtown. 55 E. Ohio St. 312.222.0970 or www.roomandboard.com
sAn juAn vEnTuREs
This exclusive showroom in Chicago’s West Loop is like stepping into
a chic, upscale Bali hotel combining the aura of reclaimed woods
with high design. Kandis Wrigley’s FSC Certified company imports
their exquisite handcrafted flooring, slabs, custom furniture, sculpture
and accessories from Indonesia. 664 W. Hubbard St 312.612.1054 or
www.sanjuanventures.com
ThE goLdEn TRiAngLE
This 23,000-square-foot gallery specializes in antiques and home
furnishings from China, Southeast Asia and more recently, Hungary and
France. A line of modern furniture made from ancient and reclaimed
woods has also been added and a spectrum of furniture services are
available. 330 N. Clark St. 312.755.1266 or www.goldentriangle.biz
ubER ModERn
Located within the MCM Grand Showrooms, this company provides
quality examples of vintage modern design items (circa mid 1950s to late
1970s). Various design movements spanning this period are represented,
including Danish Modern and Hollywood Regency. While designer names
are offered, its quality, function and form that take precedence. 2219 W
Grand Ave 312.666.3376 or www.ubermodern.com
GENERAL CONTRACTORS
PowERhousE hoME buiLding & REModELing ConsuLTAnTs
PowerHouse Advisors is the division of PowerHouse delivering consulting
expertise to business owners in the luxury home industry. Check out their
website for a list of PowerHouse Platinum Professionals. PowerHouse
Home Building & Remodeling is the consumer division delivering
personal buyer representation in remodeling and home construction
projects. 2494 Shoal Creek Court, Riverwoods 847.236.1502 or
www.powerhouseadvisors.com
GIFTS, ACCESSORIES
gEnEvA sEAL
Custom jewelry is Geneva Seal’s forte. Offering distinct jewelry and
watches from small shops in France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as
antique European estate jewelry. Their ample, European-style boutique
has been a Chicago staple for over 25 years. 1003 N. Rush St. 312.944.3100
or www.genevaseal.com
531 Bank Lane | Highwood, Ill.
Inside Anna’s Mahogany
randy@randyhellerdesign.com
www.randyhellerdesign.com
847.207.7789
a w a r e h o u s e o p e n i n gi s l a u n c h i n g
s h o w c a s i n g
vintage and custom furniture,
fabulous decorative lighting
and accessories
“Work with what you own”Interior Design
2064 N. Damen • 773.904.8604 • rearrangeyourhome.com
REARRANGE
Furniture
Artwork
Lighting
RRRR
116 MARKETPLACE
KnEEn & Co
Kneen & Co. presents exquisite and exclusive home wares that are truly
considered among the world’s finest. From Nymphenburg porcelain and
Lobmeyr crystal to The Printery bespoke stationery, Kneen and Co. only
offers the most esteemed collections. Custom designed place settings,
glassware and silver flatware are also available. 400 W. Erie St., Ste. 503
312.787.7003 or www.kneenandco.com
PEAChTREE PLACE
Peachtree Place has brought a taste of Southern Charm to Chicago’s
North Shore for 25 years. The shop features elegant gifts and accessories
including exquisite lamps, pillows, tabletop, crystal stemware, personal
care items and an ever changing selection of jewelry. Beautiful gift
wrapping is complimentary. 303 Happ Rd., Northfield 847.441.7585 or
www.peachtreeplaceonline.com
KITCHEN, BATH
buiLdER’s CAbinET suPPLy
For over two decades Builders Cabinet Supply has crafted top-notch
cabinetry for both design industry veterans and the many others who
appreciate quality craftsmanship. Their build-to-order services are
excellent for kitchens, as they commit to making your space function to
work with your lifestyle demands. 401 N. Western Ave 312.829.4300 or
www.buildmykitchen.com
dE giuLio KiTChEn dEsign
Owner Mick De Giulio has gathered an impressive group of architects,
interior designers, artisans and craftsmen to create stunning kitchens.
Specializing exclusively in kitchen interior architecture, de Giulio has spent
nearly 25 years personalizing kitchens for his clients. 222 Merchandise
Mart Plz., Ste. 121 312.494.9200 or www.degiulio.org
ERnEsToMEdA ChiCAgo
Dramatic lighting, free-standing pieces and frosted glass are some of
the features Ernestomeda brings to modern kitchen design. Gorgeous
woods combined with stainless steel and aluminum create stunning,
efficient kitchens—both modern and inviting. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz.,
Ste. 128 312.329.0229 or www.ernestomedachicago.com
hAuTE Living
Binova Kitchens at Haute Living has a rich and diversified catalog that
repeatedly earns them Italy’s Compasso d’Oro design award for kitchen
systems in timeless designs; a perfect fit for Chicago’s residential market.
Binova is exclusively available in the United States through Haute Living.
222 W. Kinzie Street 312.329.9000
KohLER
Featuring a comprehensive mix of kitchen and bath merchandise. The
store features a broad range of styles, colors and faucet finishes. Kohler’s
interactive products are completely functional so customers can see
the products at work in the store. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 100
312.755.2510 or www.kohler.com
nEff KiTChEns
NEFF of Chicago is a custom design boutique, featuring the exquisite
cabinetry of NEFF Kitchens. Old world craftsmanship meets innovative
technology to create design Nirvana — a vast array of exotic wood grains,
colors, metallics and finishes. That’s why NEFF cabinets adorn some of
the finest homes of distinction throughout the world. 222 Merchandise
Mart Plz., Ste. 144 312.467.9585 or www.neff-of-chicago.com
PoLifoRM
Poliform embodies the best of Italian design, with luxury finishes and
uncompromising quality. Varenna, the kitchen division of Poliform, is highly
sophisticated, with elegant designs that feature timber, stone, glass and steel.
222 Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 110 312.222.8465 or www.poliformusa.com
MID CENTURY MODERN
FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS SHOWROOM
MMMMII DD CC EE NN TT UU RR YY MM OO DD EE RR NN
2219 W. GRAND AVE. 312.666.3376 BROWSE OUR INVENTORY AT
UBERMODERN.COM
CHICAGO’S LARGEST SELECTION OF VINTAGE DANISH MODERN FURNITURE
MID CENTURY MODERN
FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS SHOWROOM
Let Us Design A Grand Statement For Your Home.
Custom Rails, Gates, Furniture & Accessories
MARKETPLACE 117
PoRCELAnosA usA
Beauty, refinement and function play equal roles in this kitchen and bath
company’s vision. For more than 30 years this innovative company has
continued to raise the bar in design, offering technologically advanced
products and acquiring advanced solutions. 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza,
Ste. 149 312.204.6220 or www.porcelanosa-usa.com
snAidERo ChiCAgo
Snaidero offers luxury Italian cabinetry for kitchens and baths. The company
brings European modernism to its showroom through sleek cabinetry.
Snaidero offers a wide variety of colors and finishes in contemporary and
traditional styling, which provides clients with customizable options. 222
Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 140 312.644.6662 or www.snaidero-usa.com
ThE sub-zERo woLf showRooM
Your dream kitchen can found in the official Sub-Zero/Wolf showroom.
In a no pressure non-sales environment, their showroom consultant is
committed to outfitting your kitchen with the Sub-Zero refrigeration,
Wolf cooking appliances and Best by Broan ventilation products that will
work strategically for your kitchen. Schedule an appliance consultation
today. 196 Exchange Blvd. 630.872.5100 or www.subzero.com
vEsTA
Kitchen and lifestyle furniture with an emphasis on clean, contemporary
design is Vesta’s specialty. Leicht and Plain & Fancy cabinetry are
among the brands featured. Recently they’ve begun selling EcoSmart
fireplaces and sleek Fuego Grills. 1357 W. Concord Pl. 773.252.7300 or
www.vestachicago.com
LANDSCAPE, OUTDOOR
CiTy EsCAPE gARdEn & dEsign
City Escape offers a comprehensive range of design and build landscape
services, creating unique and inviting spaces. A newly opened 16,000 sq.
ft. garden and design center is a feast of botanical delights and gorgeous
garden accessories. 3022 W. Lake St. 773.638.2000 or www.cityescape.biz
RoCK CAbinETRy
Innovative and sustainable, Rock Cabinetry creates custom built options
using a variety of materials including, stone, brick, aluminum, wood
and more. They pride themselves on creating cabinetry that’s strong
yet lightweight. Finishes of natural stone, reclaimed historical brick,
tile or wood are all available. 10104 Forest Hills Rd., Machesney Park
815.979.8400 or www.rockcabinetry.com
RugzooM
RugZoom specializes in synthetic grass and landscaping in the
Chicagoland area. This premier company offers a bevy of options for
grass, trees, flowers and other plants. Free estimates are also available.
1446 S. Michigan Ave., Unit D 312.545.6550 or www.rugzoom.com
TRELLis And TRugs
Trellis & Trugs is a one-stop shop for garden ornaments. Garden antiques
as well as reproduction planters and fountains are available in a variety
of materials. The company also provides custom design services to
accommodate all of your garden ornament needs. 3372B Commercial
Avenue, Northbrook 847.784.6910 or www.trellisandtrugs.com
LIGHTING
hinsdALE LighTing
This premiere lighting design resource and fixture provider offers a
knowledgeable staff and endless options for residential and commercial
lighting. Offerings include exclusive designs and both traditional and
historic fixtures. A talented designer/architect team offers customized
plans for recessed and specialty lighting. 777 N. York Rd., Ste. 9, Gateway
Plaza, Hinsdale 630.734.0662 or www.hinsdalelighting.com
2644 Green Bay Road • Evanston, IL
1.800.963.7224
www.akbik.com
Furniture from Paradise
118 MARKETPLACE
OTHER/MISC
häfELEHäfele’s Chicago showroom is a popular destination for architects,
designers and the woodworking industry. Visit them and view examples
from all their product categories, like their famous sliding systems, access
control, furniture fittings, home organization and decorative hardware.
154 W. Hubbard St. 312.467.2225 or www.hafele.com/us
iMAgE PiLoTsKnown as being global event navigators, Image Pilots is a virtual and
live special event firm, specializing in trade show and destination
management, incentive travel and more. The company also includes The
Randolph Street Market in Chicago’s West Loop. 47 West Division St.
or www.imagepilots.com
LEE LuMbERWhether you are looking for custom cabinetry, a certified installer or an
architect, Lee Lumber can help. Founded in 1952, it has grown to become
the largest lumberyard in Chicago. Second location on the Southside.
See website for various Chicago locations. or www.leelumber.com
nEiwEEM indusTRiEs, inC.This steel fabrication and design company does it all. They design and
install catwalks, mezzanines, staircases and other random fabrications for
plants and production lines. They also produce a wide range of custom
ornamental railings, fences and gates for residential and corporate
use. Contact us at 1.800.969.8142 or www.neiweemindustries.com
21 Greenview Rd. 800.969.8142 or www.neiweemindustries.com
ThE big PiCTuREThis home entertainment specialist designs and installs dedicated home
theaters, media rooms and game rooms, as well as family room makeovers.
The company’s single-room and multi-room systems emphasize high
performance, reliability and ease of use—all executed with passion and
style. 1211 Wilmette Ave 847.256.1882 or www.thebigpicturestore.com
REAL ESTATE
AT PRoPERTiEsKnown as Chicago’s number 1 real estate brokerage firm, At Properties
specializes in buying and selling some of the city’s most luxurious
homes and spaces. Browse through numerous options on their website
and receive extensive information on various neighborhoods. Decision-
making is a breeze. 618 W. Fulton Market or www.atproperties.com
bAiRd & wARnER (dEnnis shAffER)Hard work and determination has made Dennis Shaffer of Shaffer
Group a top Producer with Baird & Warner. Whether you are buying
or selling, total client satisfaction is his main goal. 4040 N. Lincoln Ave.
312.316.4240 or www.dennis.shaffer@bairdwarner.com
EMiLy sAChs wongAn impressive sales record quickly made Emily Sachs Wong a member of
Koenig & Strey’s President’s Club. Her sales have continued to skyrocket,
offering clients unparalleled real estate options along the lakefront
and in Lincoln Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park. 1940 N. Clark St.
www.emilyknowschicago.com
EnviRons dEvELoPMEnTInteresting architecture, skilled construction and savvy development
combine to produce luxurious homes. Environs has built over 100
exceptional homes in Chicago’s most desirable neighborhoods since 1991.
3060 N. Lincoln Ave. 773.665.8170 or www.environsdevelopment.com
fLAiR TowER LuxuRy APARTMEnTsThis LEED certified, luxury residential property is located in the heart of
River North. With a modern art deco design, Flair Tower offers residents
full-time concierge services, a fitness center, coffee bar, business center
and more. 222 W. Erie St 312.397.1050 or www.flairtower.com
RUGS, CARPET, FLOOR COVERING
bEsT vACuuM And APPLiAnCESince 1983 Best Vacuum has provided Chicagoland with superior quality
vacuum and floor care products. Their commitment to sell and service
only the best brands like Miele, SEBO and Dyson has made the company
Chicago’s first name in floor care. 2646 N Lincoln Ave 773.348.4500 or
www.bestvacuum.com
fLoRFLOR provides stylish, modular-designed carpet with easy-to-coordinate
colors, textures and patterns that allow you to create area rugs, runners
or go wall-to-wall. Crafted to fit any space, this simple eco-friendly
option is easy to install and maintain, making it perfect for your home or
small business. 1873 N Clybourn Ave 773.325.0733 or www.Flor.com
oRgAniC LooMsOrganic Looms is passionate about bringing the finest, sustainable,
handwoven Tibetan rugs to the market. Each item is hand-knotted to
produce heirloom quality. The new showroom carries many standard
designs, and works with each client to produce a one-of-a-kind rug,
bound only by your imagination. 1019 W. Fulton Market 312.733.8187 or
www.organiclooms.comwww.cassona.com
5241 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60640
t. 773.506.7882
cassona
MARKETPLACE 119
PEERLEss iMPoRTEd Rugs
For 70 years, three generations of the same family have offered decorative
area and traditional Oriental rugs from top national brands. Special
needs, such as trimming, binding and fringing, can be accommodated
in Peerless Rugs’ own workroom. 3033 N. Lincoln Ave. 773.525.0296 or
www.peerlessrugs.com
RExx Rugs
A favorite of Chicago area designers, Rexx stocks thousands of yards of wool
broadloom carpet deeply discounted to the public. Their S. Julian custom rug
collection offers a limitless number of designs and colors in wool, silk and
other natural materials. 3312 N. Lincoln 773.281.8800 or www.rexxrug.com
STONE, TILE, GRANITE
dEsignER sTonE ouTLET
Designer Stone Outlet is a leading importer of the finest natural stone
tile and glass tile products at discount prices. For more than 35 years
they’ve offered a wide scope of natural options using materials like
marble, onyx and slate. A bevy of glass tiles including antique cut glass
and bubble glass are also available. 2743 N California Ave 877.DSO.TILE
(877.376.8453) or www.designerstoneoutlet.com
ECosMART
EcoSmart Fire is an environmentally friendly and easy way to warm
up your lifestyle. Fuelled by clean-burning denatured alcohol, these
distinctive fireplaces and burners are free-standing and require no venting
or chimney. Fireplace in your condo? Yes you can! Please contact Vesta,
The Tile Gallery or Green Home Chicago for more information. 225 W.
Ohio (at The Tile Gallery) 312.467.9590 or www.ecosmartfire.com
gRAniTE & MARbLE REsouRCEs
This company travels the world to bring stone and glass treasures to
your own floors and walls. One thousand year warranty and you are
the witness to limestone, marble, quartzite, seashell, onyx, glass mosaics,
and large stone tiles. We’re naturally proud to reside in your home,
aesthetically forever. 222 Merchandise Mart Plz., Ste. 115 312.670.4400
or www.maestromosaics.com
MosAiCos inC.
Mosaicos Tile offers custom mosaics, glass tile, Talavera, natural stones, hand-
painted tiles and other exclusive products. Superb sales associates pay close
attention to each project, one at a time, resulting in outstanding customer
service. 4948 N. Pulaski Rd. 773.777.8453 or www.mosaicostile.com
sTonE CiTy
Stone City is brimming with marble and natural stone products for the
kitchen and bath. Over 300 varieties of domestic and imported marble,
granite, limestone, travertine, slate and more are available. They also
carry both Kohler and Omega products as well as a variety of hand-
carved stone and wood fireplaces. 3053 W. Grand Ave. 773.4.MARBLE
or www.stone-city.com
ThE TiLE gALLERy
The Tile Gallery carries a wide selection of artisan-made tiles, including glass
and metal along with exquisite stone mosaics. A broad collection of lighting
and fireplaces can also be found, including the full EcoSmart Fire collection.
555 North Franklin St. 312.467.9590 or www.tilegallerychicago.com
WINDOW TREATMENTS
uRbAn EnviRonMEnTs (ChiCAgo)
Located in the heart of Lincoln Park, Urban Environments offers Hunter
Douglas window treatments as well as custom drapery and wall coverings.
Owner and interior design expert Kim Chapman, offers guests a wealth of
knowledge and reasonable pricing for any repairs on Hunter Douglass items.
1712 North Halsted St. 312.846.6721 or www.urbanenvironments.com
D A R RY L L S C H I F F D I E G O K A H L O
www.SCHIFF -ARt . com | www.DIEGOKAHLO . com
C H I C A G O R E p R E S E n tAt I O n : Dar r y l l S c h i f f F in e Ar t
3 1 2 9 4 4 6 1 6 3
Darryll Schiff
Diego Kahlo
The 1,500 square foot space offers a warm and
inviting casual atmosphere to view Mr. Lahvic’s
recent works, mingle with friends, and experience
the famous “Flat Iron Energy.” Expect to be offered
a drink or two, and plan to stay a while.
The artist is always in attendance.
Visit website for full show schedule
www.KevinLahvic.me
Flat Iron Arts Building
1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. #222
Chicago, IL 60622
708.415.6370
kevin@kevinlahvic.com
Hours: First Fridays 6-10 pm and by appointment
Kevin Lahvic Gallery
INT
ER
IOR
MO
NO
LO
GU
E
From Michael Graves to Studio Murmur, designers TJ Thomas and Audra Bielskus are building buzz, one sustainable piece of furniture at a time By Kate Templin | Photography by Maia Harms
TJ � omas and Audra Bielsksus—the duo behind multidisciplinary design fi rm Studio Murmur—don’t believe that innovative design should come with a side of drama. “We’re in a business that is very trend- and fashion-oriented, but people are starting to slow down and reassess the value of the things in their lives today,” says Detroit native � omas, 44. “We’re trying to drill into that and fi nd what it is about certain objects that brings joy. So often, it’s in the simplicity of the design.”
Used to working on projects like a functional soap pump with sponge holder for Target, the former Michael Graves Design Group designers decided to open their own studio last year in order to hone their contemporary-meets-practical aesthetic: functional minimalism across furniture, lighting, kitchen and industrial design. “Our passion is for those everyday things that can bring unexpected pleasure,” � omas says.
� eir fi rst big project, which debuted at ICFF this spring and was picked up by Room & Board, is a study in utility-chic. � e No. 9 outdoor furniture collection
STUDIO MURMUR’S HOTS
Julius Meinl, bicycles, � e Stooges, Bi Bim Bop, farmers markets, Patricia Urquiola, origami, linoleum prints, Ravenswood corridor
STUDIO MURMUR’S NOTS
Distracted driving, TV sports bars, leaf blowers, Shape-Ups, ironic facial hair, decorative antlers, Tea Partiers
Object Worshippers
Designers TJ Thomas
and Audra Bielskus.
LOOKING UP!
120 | | Summer 2010
for Loll Designs is a stylish, modern take on plastic, yes, but it’s also made from recycled milk jugs and shipped fl at. “It’s made from a new generation of high-density polyethylene that holds color really well and lasts for years and years,” � omas says. “You think of plastic furniture and it doesn’t sound so hot,” adds Bielskus, 26. “But the philosophy behind the collection is that it looks so
good that you’re probably going to want to bring it indoors. We’re not creating plastic products you throw away after a year; you’ll want to pass these pieces down.”
While recycled milk jugs sound the epitome of eco-consciousness, Bielskus and � omas are quick to point out that their sensibility is more global than green. “We don’t want to market ourselves as eco-designers... that’s just the way we roll,” relates Bielskus, who says they recently partnered with Sielaff on a line of tables made from bent metal and glass, and are also working with a West Coast architectural lighting company. “� at’s the way the industry is going to roll,” adds � omas. “It won’t even be called ‘green’ anymore.”
home entertainment done right.
1211 Wilmette Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091
847-256-1882 TheBigPictureStore.com
Free In-Home Consultation
Home Theaters • Media Rooms • Whole-Home Music
UNI EN ISO 9001 System of Quality ManagementUNI EN ISO 14001 System of Environmental ManagementOHSAS 18001
Health and Safety Management System
Design Marc Sadler
CarrÉ
for dealer inquiryinfo@ernestomedachicago.com
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza Ste. 12860654 Chicago, IL USAphone (312) 329-0229www.ernestomedachicago.com