The 50-plus real estate agents that organized and participated in last year’s premiere Harbor Country open house were so enthused by the results (over $3 million in properties were sold because of that single event)…
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There’s a new vintage store in town—West Town. Seek Vintage opened this weekend at 1432 W. Chicago Ave. Pals and diehard vintage hounds Chris Hunt and Audra Yeomans feature a mix of vintage fashion, jewelry, and home accessories in their 1,300-square-foot space. Buying a gift? They’ll put it in a groovy box handmade from vinyl record covers.
—JAN PARR
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Jonathan Adler, the king of happy chic, stopped by his eponymous Chicago shop and threw a swanky little soiree last week. He sold and signed 84 pieces of pottery and 10 books in two hours. He was wearing his new Jonathan Adler/7 Jeans collection, sipping a cocktail from his new line of paper goods, and shaking hands with his fans, including a few who drove in from Peoria. I caught up with him the morning after.
Welcome back to Chicago. What do you think of our city?
People are just nicer here. Seems like less stress. In New York everybody has an agenda, here they are just living life. The architecture is so groovy. I fantasize about a Mies apartment on a terrifyingly high floor with arresting views on the lake. Oh, and The Art Institute, please!
Are you monogram obsessed?
In this super-clutter mass world, everything that cranks up the personalization is alright with me. I strive to make memorable items that heirs with fight over. We’re special. I have a desire for specialness in what I make.
What’s with all the whales?
Who doesn’t love a whale? Such a beloved sea mammal with cultural resonance, and their shape is nifty. They evoke a preppy patrician too.
Are you preppy? Not authentically. I dig the look and accouterment of preppydom and old money W.A.S.P.s. But I am proud to be a nouveau-riche Jew.
The Union Jack gets saluted lots in your collections, what’s up with that?
I am a raging Anglophile. It’s a nifty, mod icon. Rare that you can find something so graphic and recognizable that you can play around with—I love toying with the colors graphically and culturally.
What’s new at JA?
Nifty new pots, pillows. The baby line, Jonathan Adler Junior. I have two new books coming out as part of a series: Happy Chic Color and Happy Chic Accessories. Neat how-to’s with nifty pics.
—Barri Leiner Grant
A rooftop garden in Wicker Park is a home (ever so slightly) away from home
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The mid-century modern furniture dealer Converso has moved to the Merchandise Mart and on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. will host an interesting show in his suite, 1709—a collaboration between that showroom and Balloon Contemporary gallery. The two parties invited British artist Karen Ryan to use the medium of design to communicate her perception of Chicago. Using pieces from Converso augmented with finds from local thrift shops, Ryan has created a pretty cool homage to our town. If you miss it at Converso, catch it later at the NEXT exhibit, part of Artropolis, April 30 to May 3, also at the Mart.
—GINA BAZER
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Thousands of tulips and daffodils greeted guests at The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair this weekend. My heart really gets racing for the display inspiration here. The dealer booths are packed with enough ideas to send you straight home to reconfigure and recover your furniture, rehang your artwork, and spruce up the tabletops arrangements in every room and on your patio. A vintage baseball mitt collection, shell assortment, even ‘40s swimsuits became art when framed. A pristine pink Salterini wrought iron patio set from Martha Peck was a show stopper. Ginsing root burl chairs from Pagoda Red were also faves. Michael Del Piero conducted a standing-room-only tablescape demo that had everyone swooning. William Heffernan Landscapes created a yards-long French picnic complete with white kites, moss covered stone benches, and baguettes that was beyond perfect. Molly Flavin floral design of Lake Bluff is a new favorite for her custom arrangements. Just think—just 11 months til next year’s show!
–Barri Leiner Grant
Charting the growth of Junior no longer means marking up a door frame, thanks to Studio 1a.m.’s MeasureMe Stick, $159. The modern, wall-mounted, oversized bamboo ruler is handmade in Chicago and comes in gray, red, or yellow. No kids? You can still enjoy the ruler as clever graphic art. At @Work Design, 7500 W. Madison … Read more
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These fun vases and coasters are made of recycled—and recyclable—cardboard by New York artist Cathy Henszey of cardboardesign.com. They’re new at Sawbridge Studios, and as the PR-man there says, they’re the modern-day Slinky. Prices range from $15 for a set of four coasters to $45 for a curved-edge vase.
—JAN PARR
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I had a lot of fun helping to judge The Painted Lady’s design contest, in which customers entered photos of their living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. We saw some great stuff, and it’s inspiring to see how non-professionals take their homes seriously. Cindy Rand’s dining room, shown here, was a winner. See the others on The Painted Lady’s Facebook page.
—JAN PARR
This Friday, April 16, the Merchandise Mart opens the doors to its sixth annual DreamHome event, with this year’s theme “Cool Elegance…”
