Tiger Beat
It’s out with the ox and in with the tiger, Chinese New Year–ically speaking, and to celebrate, Pagoda Red’s owner Betsy Nathan has generously extended a grrrrrrrrreat offer for the rest of the month. Anyone who mentions Domestica at either the Bucktown or Winnetka locations of this Asian emporium will receive a 25 percent discount off his or her purchase (no other discounts apply). This 19th-century Korean folk painting of tigers is included, even though it’s one of Betsy’s favorites. “Tigers are symbolic of courage,” she says, “so we hung this painting front and center in the gallery to ring in the new year and build up the strength we all need to defeat the beasts that reigned during the Year of the Ox.”
Bottle Service
I’ve seen and admired the work of Chicago glassblower Kit Carlson at some of Renegade Handmade’s craft fairs, and she recently e-mailed me with some new pieces. In addition to having a cool name right out of a 1940s pulp-fiction novel, Kit has a great eye for colors and textures, a deft hand when it comes to spinning gazillion-degree molten glass, and a modern, humorous approach to an ancient art. I like her line of etched flasks, ($35 each) especially this Alice in Wonderland–inspired cuteness, and she said she’s been working like crazy during this slow winter season to make a lot of new pieces and think up new ideas. “I’m working on a line of glass water bottles for everyday use,” she says, “as an alternative to those pernicious plastic ones.” Sounds like a smart and stylish way to hydrate, and I can’t wait to check them out. Glare at the glass menagerie on her website, and see what’s available at her Etsy shop.
Sprout Buds
Tara Heibel has added cut flowers to her offerings at the hip home and garden store Sprout so now you can pick up single stems and arrangements. Why don’t you get a few bunches this weekend, when you can also scoop up some bargains at the big floor sample sale? It runs Saturday and Sunday, and prices are up to half off on teak and metal plant stands, concrete pieces, tables, stools, and other odds and ends. I like this rough-hewn, chunky monkey of a wooden bench.
Love for Sale
Valentine’s Day has hit the road, but love is still in the air (and on the wall) at Design Studio Furniture, the modern River North showroom in the shadow of the Merchandise Mart. (They also have another showroom in Northbrook, and a warehouse in Elk Grove Village with limited hours or by-appointment.) This subtle, shiny signage is part of the Italian Love Letters collection, and measures 64 by 24 inches. It’s got a fun, Pop Art attitude that I’m hearting, and it’s currently part of a storewide sale that’s going on until March 15, (marked down to $1,084 from $1,505). DSF is also knocking 10 percent off all custom orders ordered in that period, and has a large selection of showroom samples at more substantial savings. Visit the design outlet on the third floor of the Hubbard Street showroom anytime, where you’ll find discounted floor samples of European and domestic leather and upholstered furniture, dining and bedroom pieces, etc., some of which have been used in local film and television productions.
Added Advantage
The highly rated, high-end kitchen and bath showroom Advantage Kitchen & Bath Gallery in Niles is flush with excitement about their upcoming Big Splash luxury surplus and sample sale, starting on Monday, February 22 and continuing till all sale merch has flowed out the door. Expect brands such as Dornbracht, (think pink with its Lulu fixture, basin, and pedestal, pictured here) Duravit, Hansgrohe, Jacuzzi, and Toto, at deep discounts. Advantage has been around for nearly 20 years, and offers design services and project management tools as well as a swell selection of product.
Check Your ID
The ultramodern Halsted Street eyeglass, furniture, and accessories (slightly odd combination, yes, but it works, trust me) shop I.D. is hot in the midst of a top-design garage sale, clearing out floor samples like this Tord Boontje ceramic cookware piece from his Witches Kitchen line at bargain basement prices (it was $1,200, now $300). Other steals spotted included a Chimo ventless fireplace (was $1,850, now $925) and a Strut dining table ($660, from $1,099). The sale will continue until items are gonzo—they are really cleaning house to get ready for spring inventory, as are a lot of home design and clothing stores this time of year. It’s a great time to get some new stuff!