Ad Categories: Home and Garden

The Elmhurst-based carpet company FLOR  has just released a line of eco-friendly modular tiles inspired by the textile designs of iconic Herman Miller mid-cent-mod tastemaker Alexander Girard, and they are a sunny delight. The folksy, colorful patterns were based on the interior design of  La Fonda del Sol restaurant, a 1960s New York eatery that was completely envisioned by Girard, from the dishes to the furniture to the napkins. There’s so much to like about FLOR tiles—you can mix and expand (these would be great wall-to-wall in a small space, mixed with solid squares), they fasten to each other so no gunky adhesives are needed, individual tiles can be removed for cleaning or replacement, and they keep things fresh by launching different patterns all the time. Martha Stewart even has a line, and Martha don’t make no junk. The La Fonda del Sol comes in four six-tile designs measuring three-by-five feet, and are available at A Cooler Planet, I.D. Chicago,  and Healthy Green Goods for $159.99.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

PR contact at FLOR: Gina Forst, gforst@flor.com, 630-516-4230

Indie home shops have been hanging up their shingles in Andersonville at a frenzied rate these days, and there’s a brand-new kid in town that really shines. Owner Paul Lechlinski chose this strip of North Clark (5438 North) to open Room Service in part because of its proximity to Scout and White Attic, and there’s definitely a shared sensibility. Lechlinski, a California native, has a background in the luxury apparel industry and moved to Chicago four years ago to head up Oak Park–based Oilily USA. He’s put together a great mix of vintage furniture/accessories and new product lines here, including a collection of Lafco House & Home candles ($52) concocted by fragrance for each room in the house. Cilantro-orange-watercress for the kitchen, fresh-cut grass for the laundry, etc. The mid-century furniture is culled from all over the country, and impeccably reupholstered and refurbished. I was feeling this lacquered blue metal chest ($595) and tubular steel chairs ($250 each). Maybe I can find a denim-blueberry candle to go with them.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Most of our staff came out last week for Trimline Custom Designs, who does a lot with veneers and custom woodworking. He talked about how to trick out standard cabinets,including various hinge options, backlighting options, veneers, etc. (I really like the bar stool prototype on his site as well.)•45 degrees has made four very modern … Read more

Highland Park home décor devotees have probably noticed the relocation of the once teeny (well, 1,200 square feet is teeny when your furniture is scaled for North Shore homes) Jolie Maison at 640 Central Avenue to its roomy new headquarters across the street at 643 in the 6,500-square-foot space of a former Banana Republic (phone number is 847-433-4555). It’s kind of refreshing to see a chain being replaced by an expanding independently owned biz (not that I don’t gladly swoop down on the sale rack at Banana whenever given the opportunity!). For those who don’t live in the HP, here’s the DL: In addition to carrying luxurious traditional-feeling furniture, accessories, and bed and bath wares, the store offers design services and in-home consultations. It is the largest distributor in the Midwest of Burton James furniture (see photo of sofa to get a feel for this swanky line). Jolie also carries hard-to-find brands, including the Parisian line R&Y Augousti, known for its signature exotic skins on everything from purses to furniture. This is a no-minimalists zone.

—Gina Bazer

We’ve heard of lots of fun sales lately: Andrew Hollingsworth is have a “garage sale” at its warehouse at 2021 W. Fulton  and at its showroom at 222 W. Huron. Find contemporary and vintage furniture and accessories marked down 30 to 90 percent off list (such as this Louis XVI armchair for just $250). The deepest discounts will be at the warehouse, an employee tells me. The sale is June 13 and 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pottery Barn on Michigan Avenue is closing and having a blowout sale. Champagne Furniture Gallery is moving to the Mart in August and clearing out everything at 30 to 50 percent off. And Poggenpohl in the Mart is clearing out several of its modern display kitchens at at least 50 percent off.

–JAN PARR

Holly Hunt, center, with interior designers Laura Kirar and Doug Levine (her former staffers, featured in our May/June issue)

It was the biggest design party of the year. That’s a risky statement as I am not the biggest partier at the office, but I’m going to throw it out there ’cause I haven’t been to a party like this in a long time (I blame a certain three-year-old who lives in my house for this). Holly Hunt’s 25th anniversary bash Monday night on the terrace of the Harris Theater was HUGE. Some 1,200 beautifully dressed people showed up to fete the design doyenne, who seemed genuinely touched by the show of support as she addressed the crowd from the stage before introducing the evening’s entertainment, Poi Dog Pondering. Hunt is beloved by the design industry and this showed—as did her long-held business mantra of offering the “best in class.” The food and wine were abundant and delightful, and the setting was classic and perfectly appropriate. Guests looked like movie extras lounging on the Holly Hunt Great Outdoors casual furniture line, displayed in surprisingly un-muted tones, below a gigantic billowing white tent that was illuminated by modern orange-shaded fixtures. Even the day’s iffy weather cleared up just in time. Here’s to another 25!

—Gina Bazer

Photos by Chris Guillen Photography