Strange Closets

Just a reminder that entries are due this Friday, June 25th for the My Favorite Room contest sponsored by The Painted Lady in Bucktown. Simply snap a photo of the favorite room in your own home and email it to me (strangeclosets at yahoo). So far I’ve received ten gorgeous entries, and methinks we’re looking at [...]

While reading this post, I recommend that you dim the lights, take off your shoes, settle into a comfortable chair and sip your favorite cocktail or beverage. And don’t forget about the music, because creating a splendid environment takes more than optimal furniture layout and killer color coordination. It’s about ambiance, a lesson I first [...]

Grand Avenue in West Town is rapidly developing into another furniture / design destination. Salvage house Urban Remains just moved next door to Post 27, Julia Buckingham Edelmann is opening a new shop and of course, there’s MCM Grand, which would be worth a special trip even if it weren’t surrounded by so many great [...]

Having a shop like Scout in the neighborhood can be dangerous for the pocket book, but I’ll gladly accept the risk when it means access to owner Larry Vodak’s terrific finds. My favorites this time around are the Ted Harris lamps, the wall desk salvaged from the shuttered writing collective and somewhat surprisingly, the fish! [...]

For added emotional resonance, try reading this post about wing chairs while listening to Survivor’s hit single I Can’t Hold Back. ↓ ↔ Designer / decorator extraordinaire Stephanie Wohlner recently took me to see one of her projects, a newly constructed Lincoln Park home featuring three floors, a grand hall entryway with vaulted ceilings and [...]

Carpet and textile company Renata Bonfanti was the final stop arranged by the Vicenza Chamber of Commerce during my recent trip to Italy. The business was started by Mrs. Bonfanti herself in 1954, and she and several family members still work at their facility outside Vicenza. The building is just large enough to house every [...]

Congratulations to Emily, whose tabletop earned 17 votes, slightly edging out Geyer (15 votes) and Jessica (11 votes). Emily wins a copy of Tereasa Surratt’s Country Living book A Very Modest Cottage. (Send me your address Emily). Second and third place contestants Geyer and Jessica win my presence at one of their future dinner parties. And seriously, [...]