HomeOpen House: Strand Design
19. Nov, 2009 
6 Comments
At the suggestion of Room Service owner Paul Lechlinski, I recently visited the West Loop loft where his friends Ted and Sharon Burdett operate their start-up design company Strand Design. It’s Randolph Street location was once home to butchers, grocers and flower suppliers, and a few of those remain interspersed among event restaurants with trendy names, famous chefs and budding socialites seeking a venue (preferably print). Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios is just a few blocks west across the street from expensive lofts and condos, and if you head just another few blocks, there’s a big porno shop. It’s Houston-ian. My point is, I didn’t know what to expect from Strand, so I wasn’t that surprised that when I arrived, Ted was holding what looked like a cup of beer. The first few minutes of our conversation are a fog, because I couldn’t focus on anything but that cup of beer. So I felt positively silly when after we’d already talked for a bit, Sharon refilled Ted’s cup and offered me a cup of tea as well.
While Ted and Sharon don’t live in the building, they might as well move in, because the entrepreneurs spend most of their time there. You might find them on the first floor constructing one of their furniture designs. Ted and Sharon handcraft the pieces using reclaimed oak floorboards, and when I was there they were working on a project commissioned by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Or they might be upstairs burning the midnight oil while they work on a branding and design project for one of their clients. Or perhaps you’d find them in the basement where they store the large billboards Ted and Sharon use to make their Tree Theory line of recycled bags.
Continued . . .
The bags, which are sold at the MCA gift shop and Green Heart Chicago, are made of folded billboard material and old car seat belts for straps. What’s more, each bag can be customized by folding it in different ways. I believe I’ll make mine into a butterfly. My point is, If I had that many irons in the fire, I’d need a cold beer at 2:30 pm too. Or tea as it were.
Ted and Sharon setup the second floor as their office, and the large area allowed them to stage a seating area with Danish modern furniture they found at a garage sale. Their uncluttered work space feels fresh and light but serious, interesting and well-spoken (like them). But it’s true what they say about first impressions, because even though I know logically they were drinking tea, in my memories they’ll always be drinking beer.
Be sure to visit Strand Design or Tree Theory.
Thanks Ted and Sharon!
God, that workshop is the stuff that dreams are made out of. Ironically, I have a few of their plastic seat belt bag things and really like them. Every time I see large expanses of space and light it makes me want to clear out my cluttered apartment and move to Pilsen.
Really cool product. Very innovative.
This whole concept is so cool. I love the bag idea and the space seems very hip. It has the feel of a shop that is taking off. Congratulations Strand!
Hi Strand! Lovely to finally check out your space, even virtually. I’ll have to make it out there IRL soon! Looks beautiful & y’all are adorable.
Thanks for posting Tate!