Teco Suave
The PrairieMod Design Group’s lease is up on their Wheaton offices, and they’ll be moving to a smaller location in Lisle at the end of this month. The new space doesn’t have room for the product inventory they stocked for the PrairieMod outlet store, so prices on a large selection of Teco pottery have been slashed by 40 percent. I’ve always been partial to that creamy classic green glaze, but after checking out the other colors available in the discounted section of their site (and the super sale prices, with inexpensive shipping), I am thinking some desegregation of my collection is in order. This dark brown Double Gourd vase, for example, is 13” high and reduced from $185 to $111 (plus $14 shipping). Teco (an abbreviation of TErra COtta) was originally produced from 1899–1920 in Terra Cotta, Illinois, by the American Terra Cotta and Ceramics Company, in case you’re wondering. Sign up for PrairieMod’s engaging, informative lifestyle blog and you’ll learn a lot more facts about all things Arts and Crafts, Prairie, and Modernist.
Yards of Style
This Sunday is the 51st annual Dearborn Garden Walk, and it’s one of the toniest tours in town, granting you access to over 20 Gold Coast neighborhood private rear gardens. Live classical and jazz music wafts through the air as you drift in and out of yards at your own pace, or take one of the popular guided walking tours, scheduled for 1:30, 3:30, and 5:00 (tours are included in the $35 ticket price; $30 in advance through the site or at 312-632-1241; kids under 17 years old are free with adults.) This year, the North Dearborn Association sweetened the pot by asking top designers to create vignettes inspired by literature, and Michele Fitzpatrick of Verde, Brian Snow of Semel-Snow, Soucie Horner, and the Susan Fredman Design Group all accepted the challenge, and will be channeling everything from Alice in Wonderland to Paradise Lost. Mention the Garden Walk next week July 20–25 when you make a purchase at participating Oak Street businesses (can be a cupcake from Sarah’s or a tiara from Lester Lampert, your call) and you’ll be entered in a contest to win prizes such as Sofitel stays and dinner at Spiaggia, the Obamas’s favorite resto (Barack loves the scallops).
Knoll for Kids
Just because they’re children, it doesn’t mean the little nuggets have to settle for silly seating. If a home has a strongly modernist vision that would be compromised by a Dora the Explorer beanbag chair, or a wee home office setup is needed for a junior executive, Knoll has just the tot ticket that is anything but juvenile—iconic furniture classics scaled down in size by up to 75 percent, but made with the same exacting standards as their all-grown-up authorized Knoll versions. Man, are they cute—I like the Noguchi Cyclone Table pictured, measuring 20 inches high, $1,069 (prices aren’t quite as kid-friendly as the dimensions). The Knoll kids collection includes designs by Harry Bertoia, Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Jens Risom, and even Maya Lin, and is available locally at Luminaire, Home Office Solutions in Glenview, and Design Within Reach. For more youthful design inspiration, refer to this article from our last issue.
Where the Sidewalk Vends
Wind your way to the North Shore this Saturday and Sunday for a jazzed-up Winnetka sidewalk sale, taking place in three shopping areas and featuring DJs, summer-centric foods such as root beer floats and brats, games and prizes, and a kid’s corner with homemade crafts for sale, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. As for home shopping, some of our favorites will be participating. Head to the northernmost Hubbard Woods business district to save on stock from Material Possessions (which is also having a semiannual sale at both locations—up to 50% off selected items, including special orders, now until July 26), Bedside Manor, Duxiana beds, Pagoda Red, Village Carpets, Sawbridge Studios, and the Provençal-iscious Pierre Deux.
Think Pink
Bright Pink, the national non-profit organization dedicated to educating young women about breast cancer, is taking over the 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops this Sunday, July 19, 12-6:00 p.m., with A Day of Pink—a shopping event offering discounts from participating clothing and home boutiques and a rosy itinerary of activities: free mini-manicures, yoga classes, and jewelry polishing. A $20 ticket ($25 at the door) lets you snack on complimentary pink cupcakes, Teuscher champagne truffles, and fro-yo, and all-day parking is available for $10. Of special interest to Chicago Home + Garden readers will be bargains at Genevieve Lethu, The Silk Trading Co., Christofle, Bernardaud, and Scandia Down.
Bonus From Bo
The summer design sale at BoConcept starts Friday, July 17 and runs through August, offering up to 60 percent off floor samples and overstocked items. If you have your eye on something already and need a little more incentive, bring in this coupon to the VIP sneak peek event on Thursday and take an extra 10 percent off already reduced prices—that ain’t diddley.