Renowned fragrance expert Francis Kurkdjian was in town last week at Neiman Marcus to promote the debut of his new line of home fragrances, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The recently knighted but entirely unassuming Kurkdjian, who has created more than 20 of the world's bestselling scents (for Christian Lacroix, Giorgio Armani, YSL, and others), talked about and passed around samples of his candles, perfumed incense papers, and laundry detergent, as well as perfumed bubbles inspired by his six-year-old niece (the bubbles were floating outside the store as we arrived). Besides Neiman Marcus Chicago, the collection is available only at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, as well as his new boutique, Maison Francis Kurkdjian in Paris. By the end of lunch, I was convinced that my home should smell wonderful, and that Kurkdjian was the man to help me.
-JAN PARR
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Renowned fragrance expert Francis Kurkdjian was in town last week at Neiman Marcus to promote the debut of his new line of home fragrances, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The recently knighted but entirely unassuming Kurkdjian, who has created more than 20 of the world's bestselling scents (for Christian Lacroix, Giorgio Armani, YSL, and others), talked about and passed around samples of his candles, perfumed incense papers, and laundry detergent, as well as perfumed bubbles inspired by his six-year-old niece (the bubbles were floating outside the store as we arrived). Besides Neiman Marcus Chicago, the collection is available only at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, as well as his new boutique, Maison Francis Kurkdjian in Paris. By the end of lunch, I was convinced that my home should smell wonderful, and that Kurkdjian was the man to help me.
-JAN PARR
" />
Renowned fragrance expert Francis Kurkdjian was in town last week at Neiman Marcus to promote the debut of his new line of home fragrances, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The recently knighted but entirely unassuming Kurkdjian, who has created more than 20 of the world's bestselling scents (for Christian Lacroix, Giorgio Armani, YSL, and others), talked about and passed around samples of his candles, perfumed incense papers, and laundry detergent, as well as perfumed bubbles inspired by his six-year-old niece (the bubbles were floating outside the store as we arrived). Besides Neiman Marcus Chicago, the collection is available only at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, as well as his new boutique, Maison Francis Kurkdjian in Paris. By the end of lunch, I was convinced that my home should smell wonderful, and that Kurkdjian was the man to help me.
Renowned fragrance expert Francis Kurkdjian was in town last week at Neiman Marcus to promote the debut of his new line of home fragrances, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The recently knighted but entirely unassuming Kurkdjian, who has created more than 20 of the world's bestselling scents (for Christian Lacroix, Giorgio Armani, YSL, and others), talked about and passed around samples of his candles, perfumed incense papers, and laundry detergent, as well as perfumed bubbles inspired by his six-year-old niece (the bubbles were floating outside the store as we arrived). Besides Neiman Marcus Chicago, the collection is available only at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, as well as his new boutique, Maison Francis Kurkdjian in Paris. By the end of lunch, I was convinced that my home should smell wonderful, and that Kurkdjian was the man to help me.
In anticipation of the upcoming Halloween festivities, I spent last Saturday trying to scare myself silly, with varying results. First up: Braving River North’s District Bar under strange and unusual circumstances. District is usually a see-and-be-seen kind of place, with a mix of youngish guys and girls watching... Read more
It’s no secret that a whole lot of people who love home design also love their pets. Interior designers Todd Haley, Susan Fredman, and the owners of Hudson Home are all gaga about their dogs; I just came across this interview with Nate Berkus about living with furry friends in Tails magazine. Seems like the pros don’t worry too much about dog hair on their furniture or paw marks on their floors. (Cats are a different story… if you’ve got clawing kitties, we’ve got tips here. If you truly love your pet, then perhaps you need a plaque made in its honor. Made by local artist Kristen Romaniszak (out of gouache and ink on paper, glued to wood) these quirky portraits are available through Asrai Garden ($60 for 4-by-4 inch size; $140 for 5-by-7). All you need do is provide a photo of your beloved; delivery time is about two weeks.
List Price: $1,175,000 The Property: This two-level penthouse unit is at Aspen 6, a Bucktown building. Its distinguishing feature (not visible from the street) is an enclosed second-story courtyard, shaped approximately like an eye, that all the condos look into. Read more
Pollack’s Quick Hit Jason Paskewitz’slatest home,Gemini Bistro(2075 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-525-2522), is a comfortably sleek corner spot with lots of dark wood to make it feel intimate and Edison bulbs so you know it’s hip. And Paskewitz (621 Diner, Wave, JP Chicago) is right in... Read more
Don't-miss picks for 10.21.09 through 10.27.09:Frankenstein plays it avant-garde … Steve Martin plays it straight … Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard play it cool … plus, Michael Chabon, Aleksandar Hemon, Augusten Burroughs … and more Read more
If you’re a regular on the charity gala circuit, or attend a lot of fancy-pants weddings and dinners, you’ve probably seen and admired the work of BBJ Linens... Read more
Hailing all the way from Valencia, Spain, sculptor Ernest Massuet, who creates pieces for Lladro (such as Sunset at the Pier, shown above), will be demonstrating how a Lladro creation is made at Pierce Interiors at 6177 N. Lincoln on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The auctions of a couple of big-ticket properties—the old main post office and a Burr Ridge mansion—have been getting lots of press lately, but there are many other, less pricey properties up for auction in Chicago and the suburbs. By my count, auction houses will... Read more
Posh Pair While growing up in Winnetka, sisters Jennifer and Maggie Gelber always joked about opening a boutique together in Chicago. “It wasn’t a serious plan. We’d just say, ‘Yeah, one day we’ll open a boutique.’ We came up with names [for the shop] and talked about designing clothes,” Maggie says. But the plan became real after Maggie graduated from the University of Iowa in May 2008 and... Read more
