Apartment Hunting
You can shop India Shannon’s online stock of handmade housewares, vintage furniture, and quirky gift items any time of the day or night, or make an appointment to visit her space at 2023 W. Carroll Avenue at your convenience, but she opens up the Apartment 528 studio for a public sale/party only once a month, and next Wednesday, the 28th, is March’s madness. (Shannon’s designer mom, who inspired her to get into the business by taking her to fabric stores and showrooms as a kid, was born on May 28; hence the 528 moniker and the date of the monthly sales.) During the sale all in-studio purchases of $50 or more will be discounted by 28 percent, and if you can’t make it over on Wednesday you can reap a 15-percent discount online now through the 28th if you punch in DOMESTICA as a coupon code at checkout. Who couldn’t use a new chalkboard skull or wall art from Chicago’s iamhome, a DIY screen-printing kit from Teeny Screenies, laptop sleeves from Latvian designer Mika, or a new perch like this swivel chair? Did I mention there’ll be pizza and drinks?
Puff Piece
Inspired by a post-wedding trip to India, last year Lincoln Park resident Paula Queen launched Pyar, a luxe textiles company that specializes in colorful silk pillows crafted in Calcutta by locals with access to more than 1,400 sari-licious fabrics. Pyar means “love” in Hindi, and the Comfort Me boutique (651 W. Armitage) loved Queen’s designs so much, it invited her to stage a trunk show next Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30–7:30. You can pillow talk over wine from the Poison Cup, and order custom cushions if you’re persnickety about your pillows.
Flying Down to State Street
Macy’s is waxing Brazilian for its annual flower show this year, transforming the ninth floor of its State Street location into a tropical paradise, complete with ten-foot toucan topiaries and multiple installations riffing on the country’s landscapes and neighborhoods (from Amazon rainforests and colorful Brasilia to crowded inner cities and stark modern architecture). The show opens on Sunday, March 25 and continues through April 7, with daily bouquet demos from local florists like Hello Darling, H. Bloom, Larkspur, and Sweet Petals, and tours and talks from master gardeners from the University of Illinois and bug experts from the Brookfield Zoo. If you get a little estofumeado, stop by the Walnut Room for special Brazilian entrees—grilled flank steak with chimichurri and pork churrasco with mango sauce. (It’s not your grandma’s Walnut Room.)
Mart Parts
The high-end kitchen and bath showroom Smartrooms is remodeling its Luxe Home space in the Merchandise Mart, and selling a bunch of fancy display setups at great prices. The Orient Express bathroom pictured here, for example, is a $17,920 value (including sink, cabinets, faucet, wall granite, and honey onyx countertop), reduced to $5,000. You can preview the displays here, and call 312-380-1965 if you have any questions. Prices include dismantling but not reassembling, and if you’re at all interested, get over there posthaste.
Hometown Homegoods
The Golden Triangle’s got four on the floor next Thursday night, and I’m not talking transmission. The River North showroom, which usually concentrates on Asian antiques and furniture, is mounting a show of Chicago artists and artisans, beginning with a wine-and-cheese reception March 29, 6–8:30. Furniture maker Jacob Wener of Modern Industry will be debuting a collection he made exclusively for Golden Triangle, and he’ll be joined by jewelry designer Margaret Harris and artists Andrew Ek and Jackie Kazarian. Reservations to matt@goldentriangle.biz are appreciated, and the show’s up through April 14.
Spring Fever
It seems like we skipped right from winter to summer this year, but the calendar’s contradicting the thermometer, and we’re in for a couple more muddy months for sure. Spring’s awakening at this weekend’s Randolph Street Market, where the theme is the season. In addition to the dozens of antique object, fashion, and jewelry dealers (it’s been called “the Barneys of vintage” for good reason), expect tulips, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and Easter eggs up the wazoo (and these colorful rabbit pencil sweaters, available at the Winding Road booth for $5 each). If you’re a regular Domestica reader, you’ll know the RSM drill by now: Free parking, lots of fun people, good local food vendors, and a two-buck discount off the $10 admission if you get tickets in advance. Shop Saturday 12–6 and Sunday 10–5, inside Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington.
Domestic Trade
It’s bittersweet to report that after more than three years of weekly delivery, I’m going to be passing on the reins of the Domestica newsletter, and April 19 will be my last edition. It’s not you, it’s me — I’m loading up the truck and moving to Beverly. Hills, that is. Swimmin’ pools and movie stars. I’ve truly enjoyed getting to explore and report on Chicago’s diverse, eclectic, world-class design world, and meeting and becoming pals with some of the wonderful, crazy characters that drive it has been a real pleasure I’ll fondly cherish. I wish I could keep going, but it’d be rough to get the design dish served hot from 1,700 miles away. My friend and colleague Gina Bazer will be helming a newly formatted Domestica 2.0 after I leave, so please start sending those tips, events, sale notices, and questions to her at bazergina@gmail.com. And, most importantly, thanks to all you readers for the nice feedback and loyal following, and for putting up with my silly puns. I’ll miss you most of all, scarecrows!