Product Spotlight . . . Z Gallerie's Rhino and Hippo

Z Gallerie small leather rhino and hippo - $16. Dork Alert - the hippo is seriously the cutest thing I've ever seen.

As I mentioned before, ever since I first stepped across Beth's threshold for our recent home tour, I've been trying like mad to incorporate a bit of her aesthetic into my interior (I'm a design vampire).


Beth's old apartment (she recently moved). Sniff . . .

My absolute favorite item in her apartment is a vintage leather rhino footstool. Made popular when Abercrombie & Fitch started distributing them in the 1950's and 60's, the footstools were manufactured in a variety of animal shapes. It's functional, masculine, a bit whimsical and in an ideal world, vintage. I've coveted them for years, but they're pretty rare and when I do stumble on one online, they seem to sell for about $2000, which is, unfortunately, not in my budget. (BTW, Beth found hers on Ebay as an "archery target" for under $100. I've tried but no luck so far).

If you share our enthusiasm and you have the means, 1st Dibs has a variety of vintage ones (including an elephant) or for a newly manufactured selection, North River Outfitter has a variety of animals (Labs, Elephants, Bulls and more) for $900 or less. One of my favorite stores, Mecox Gardens also carries a selection of new footstools.

And finally, Z Gallerie carries small leather rhinos and hippos more suitable as mantel accessories but still a cool way to bring the general look and feel into your home. At $16 each, Z Gallerie offered the best way to incorporate a bit of Beth's excellent style into my home design scheme.

What do you think of them?


Mecox Gardens - Online and in River North.


Bear footstool from North River Outfitter - $895


1st Dibs and Modern Designs - $2200


1st Dibs and Modern Designs - $1800


1st Dibs Paris - $1577


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Russell Johnson Stole My Life !!!!!!!!

I'm not sure how this happened, but this dude, Russell Johnson of Russell Johnson Imports (aka Art Thang) has made away with my life (at least a good chunk of it). His company (and I use the word "his" loosely) sells restored vintage phones, seltzer bottles and apothecary bottles, among other things. I've always loved that stuff, so I'm not sure if he stole one of my journals or has my password or what, but all of a sudden, he's on the scene. Great!!!! Next think you know, Russell will be writing Strange Closets and I'll be pumping gas in Joliet.

And there's more - he buys these goodies from Buenos Aires! I've been fantasizing about moving to Buenos Aires for months (maybe a year - ask anybody). Russell spends part of the year living in Argentina where he contracts with local families to buy and restore the phones. The families prosper, he prospers, we get very cool stuff and he uses his profits to help kids in South America with his foundation. See what I mean? The guy's practically a saint (who is clearly emulating me).





But back to the products - they're cool like school. Can you ever look at a boring cordless again after seeing those Technicolor callers? True, it might take you a bit longer to dial. Russell said he's gotten calls from people who ask for directions. Seriously. Apparently people are like phones - they don't make them the way they used to.

Look for Russell Johnson's imports (marketed as Art Thang) at Chicago's very own Zella Brown and P.O.S.H., among others.











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Product Spotlight . . . Mustard Lamp from Lum

I am surprisingly in love with this vintage mustard lamp available at Lum. It's $850. Ouch.

If I saw this at Brown Elephant or another second-hand store, I'm not sure I'd look twice at it. Or I might think it was interesting, glance at the $18 price tag and then decide to think about it.

It's interested how putting a high price on a product literally creates value, it gets our attention. If I were less indoctrinated, more enlightened, maybe I'd know for sure if I like this because it's genuinely cool or do I like it because it's rare and costly. In my current state, I'm not sure.

What do you think of the lamp? And what's the most you'd ever spend one?

Internet Special - Subscribe today for free (a $850 value).

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Company Spotlight . . . Blu Dot Furniture

Do you love that large globe in the corner? Scout, in Chicago's Andersonville, has one available now. Hurry.

Furniture manufactured by Minneapolis-based design collective, Blu Dot, is showing up with increased frequency in my favorite design magazines and in stores like Haus in Chicago. You may recognize Blu Dot's clean lines and pops of color from the set of TV shows like Real World and Friends (finally an explanation for how they could afford those giant Manhattan apartments). It makes sense that Blu Dot's pieces are showing up in the media; they're stylish, contemporary and affordable.


This Blu Dot, inspired by McCobb's Origami chair, is available at Haus and I.D. and costs under $100.

So what's next for Blu Dot? The company is set to introduce 23 new pieces, including sofas, chairs and tables at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York next weekend. To coincide with the release, Blu Dot is releasing their new catalog which was photographed by LA-based rocker photographer, Dan Monick. The catalog's funny, a quality sometimes (ok, usually) missing in the world of high design. Next up, Blu Dot's teaming up with Dwell magazine to sponsor a Furniture Design Competition; put your thinking caps on.

Do you own Blu Dot pieces? What do you think?




I love practically everthing about this image - the tile, the art, the chandelier, the yellow table, Robin's Egg Blue shoes and the goofy people.

Curiously enough, this image from Blu Dot catalog photographer, Dan Monick's website, brings to mind the famous "Pale Blue Dot," photo of Earth taken by Voyager from 4 billion miles away as it left our solar system (below).

Guest Commentary. . . Spotlight on Monocibec's Mono Tile

Robert Grillo of Robert Grillo Creative (and Strange Closets friend and logo designer), will be doing occasional guest commentary on the world of design. Today, he writes about one of his favorite tile lines, a heavy-duty commercial grade porcelain floor tile from Italian manufacturer, Monocibec's Mono collection (you can find it at Tileworks in Chicago). Instead of using the tile on the floor, Robert used it as his kitchen back splash (you may recognize it from the recent Strange Closets Open House photo tour of his West Andersonville gut rehab.) So, without further adieu, it's over to Robert Grillo:



"For me the Mono tile line is a fascinating play on a primitive-modern dynamic. On the one hand the dot pattern mimics ancient forms of calligraphy, more specifically accounting practices that used a similar dot pattern inscribed in stone tablets. On the other hand, it makes me think of data streams, streams of light or Pacman. I know the last one is a stretch but I do have a vivid imagination. The other cool feature of this tile is that the dots are actually inlaid with some kind of metallic ink or substance, while the surface of the tile itself is matte. What's kind of amazing about this tile is that it looks so different in different light and different settings.

From a distance and when the light shines on it from an angle, the tile in my kitchen looks like corrugated metal. Up close, you can actually see a crackle pattern with brown behind the bluethat is never seen just a few feet away. It resembles the fine crackle you see in Chinese porcelain. These photos were taken directly from Monocibec 's catalog, and I love the 'film noir' style."

Thanks Robert. And if you have ideas about design, please contact me. I'm always looking for contributors to Strange Closets.

Help!

I. must. have. that. desk.

Help. Do you know who makes it? If you do, please email me.

The x is so . . . please help.

Fridges With Windows?

Chicago Home + Garden May/June 2008

While this is altogether quite chill aesthetically (or in other words, wow!), I eat this strange organic material called food, which is messy. The only thing that prevents my borderline OCD personality from scrubbing the fridge furiously in the middle of the night is the absence of a window.

Our forefathers had the foresight to not add windows to this particular kitchen appliance, and I don't think we need to start messing with their Betty Crocker Constitution now. And by the way, did you actually look at this image? What sort of person subsists on the occasional apple and like, a bottle of Pellegrino? Diet coke I get, but Pellegrino? That's just nuts.

What do you think? If your cold box looks like mine, my advice is to save your energy and close the door on this product.

This Week At . . . Eboniste

Eboniste, the Arizona based design, manufacturer and retailer, carries not only their own architectual line of end tables but also that of some of my favorite companies, including Bungalow 5, Emeco and Visual Comforts (which manufacturers an excellent selection of lighting from designers like Thomas O'Brien.)

But you're busy and there are a million stores vying for your attention, so why shop at Eboniste? The pieces are unique and stand out like a mirage in a design desert of sameness - but it's not a mirage, it's real (plus you can shop from work). More importantly, you'll be supporting real people who are doing what they love. That's good for your karma, which means next time around, no mating with flies.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces. I'm always on the lookout for new companies with a distinct creative visions, so email me the ones that excite you.

Product Spotlight . . . Azure Plum Blossom Bowl from Lille

I guess I'm going color crazy, because I was immediately drawn to this piece currently available at Lille.

Asian accessories and accent pieces add a touch of interest and glamor to any room. What do you think?

According to Lille's website:

Asian fusion would best describe Oliver Bailey fine bone china. Asian influences intermingle with Western design, artistry, and functionality. Traditional motifs and contemporary style combine to create distinctive table art. Hand painted.

Product Spotlight . . . Pencil Bench

I immediately loved this pencil bench from Boex, a UK company that focuses primarily on retail display solutions. But as comfy as this would be for sitting and trying on new pair of Manolo's, I'd rather have one somewhere, anywhere in my house.

And even better, rumor has it that relaxing on the bench after Thanksgiving dinner is an easy way to erase the associated weight gain. Sign me up (or buy me the bench, and I'll use it to sign up myself).

I give this a big thumbs up; I love the inspired use of any everyday object, the bright pink bubblegum color and the straight lines which call to mind a heavenly bed of nails (if the dungeon industry becomes as ultra competitive as that of hotels).

Speaking of hotels, this bench, with its color and humor, would fit in extremely well in the lobby at the Soho Hotel in London, one of my favorite spots to stay (and which brilliantly uses color and made me reevaluate my whole relationship with pink, electric blue and lime green).

Am I crazy? You bet, crazy in love. What do you think? Cool? Or like bubblegum, will it quickly lose its sweet pop?

Product Spotlight . . .

Reclaimed comic decoupage chair - 225 BPS, notonthehighstreet.com

Well before I spotlighted the work of Giuseppe Canevese, I'd been dreaming of decoupaging a piece of furniture with my favorite comic books (yes, I'm a geek if you couldn't discern that already). Scooped again. What do you think of this piece? Is it a cool accent or kid stuff?

Now that I see how it looks, I'm less enthusiastic about the concept. It doesn't have the punch I'm looking for, the panels are too small and the dialog balloons make it look busy. While this concept has potential, the execution suffers a bit.

In other words, that chair is pretty damn ugly.

Do you agree?

Product Spotlight . . . CB2 Vases

Speaking of CB2, they are offering a wide selection of vases that, in the right setting, could add a punch of drama. I'm imaging a grouping of them on top of a buffet or holding one long-stem flower every few feet on a long dining table.

And am I wrong that these would be fantastic in white milk glass? Can one paint glass? Hmm . . .

And they're cheap too. Check out their entire selection.

West Elm Vs. CB2

West Elm's antler table lamp - $149


West Elm's round back chair + cushion- Now on sale for $160

Taking a page from Ikea's play book, both Williams Sonoma (owner of Pottery Barn) and Crate and Barrel have, in recent years, introduced their own brands offering modern design at affordable prices (what's next Restoration Dormitory?)

So which is better, Williams Sonoma's West Elm brand or Crate and Barrel's CB2?


Antlers, antlers everywhere. West Elm's zen side table - $179

On the whole, I've been impressed with their efforts and find myself enjoying their catalogs. Unfortunately, a visit to either store suggests that the reality may not live up to the illusion. Discovering the formula that brings quality + comfort into their high design + low cost = $ equation is reducing more chalk to dust than finding the grand" theory of everything" that physicists believe will unite the realms of quantum physics and relativity.


Hey, peace out man. CB2 Hippie arm chair - Now on sale for $169 (cute but is it comfy?)

For the most part, their upholstery isn't worth talking about (if there's one place to spend your money, it's on the sofa; a cheap one will usually wear out quickly, looking lumpy, misshapen and faded within a year.). And while their chairs are cool, if you're using them daily, your ass might scold you for not spending a bit more or just buying comfortable and second-hand.

However, both stores offer a number of exciting accessories, accent tables, artwork and rugs to add interest to your apartment for a relatively small amount of money.

So which one is better? Until one of them cracks the quality / comfort code, I call it a draw but give CB2 and edge for being headquartered in Chicago. They're also making strides toward improved quality by using materials like marble and incorporating them without significantly raising the cost.

What do you think? Have you purchased furniture from either one of the stores? And have you been satisfied with the experience?


CB2 - smart marble top coffee table - $299


I love the table, especially with the dark wood top. CB2. $249


West Elm's overlapping squares chair - $189

Yes? No? Discuss.

This Giuseppe Canevese cabinet features he artwork of Guido Crepax. I think it's fantastic and would add a much needed POP! to practically any room.

But I, a lifelong reader of sequential art (ok, comics), am biased. More importantly, dear readers, what do you think?






















Thanks to Cubeme for this image

Teco Pottery . . . Now Available at Room and Board

Room and Board's Teco Pottery line

Room and Board, the Chicago based retailer of contemporary furnishings, mid-century classics and home accessories, exemplifies the trend toward mixing styles, time periods and lines in an eclectic and pleasing way. A common room setting in their large and airy stores might include a Kilim rug, Eames lounge chair, a contemporary sofa and African masks as wall art. Somehow it works.

Recently, Room and Board began offering Teco Art Pottery, a collection of distinctly arts and crafts inspired vases. I collect white or cream pottery, and I do like Arts and Crafts, so I was immediately drawn to the pieces (which Room and Board also offers in yellow and green).

In contrast to other Arts and Crafts or Mission style pottery such as Ephraim or Door, Teco's work is a bit cleaner, and thus blends well with more contemporary styles.

I like Teco's work and think it's a good addition to Room and Board's line. It may even help attract new customers to a store they may have overlooked.

What do you think?


Door Pottery


Ephraim Pottery

These are a few of my favorite things

All this Jayson talk sent me back to their website today, which is often as engrossing as the store itself. Unlike many independent retailers, Jayson has an excellent website, so enjoy.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

Product Spotlight . . . Ecosmart Fireplaces

The only thing I miss about my charmless cinderblock-encrusted condo is the wood burning fireplace (sorry old upstairs neighbors). While wood burning fireplaces rank just behind ice cream makers as the most underused home accessory, I used mine nearly every night in the winter.

The working fireplace also gave me a sense of security; I felt safer knowing that if I missed the rapture, I could burn the oak hardwood floors to make it through the nuclear winter. So when I moved into my 2 flat and discovered that the vintage brick fireplace was decorative only, I was understandably terrified, and I thought my only option was ventless gas, which didn't appeal to me for 3 reasons:

1. They don't look good.
2. They don't smell good.
3. They make the space way too hot.



But lately, I've been thinking about a new alternative, the Ecosmart fireplace inserts. The units only burn renewable denatured alcohol (making them an environmentally friendly option) and they don't require any venting. While I need to make an existing fireplace functional, the Ecosmart line actually enables me to put a fireplace anywhere (i.e. in the middle of a room, hanging on a bedroom wall or to warm up a modern kitchen).

My question is, have you used this product? If so, what do you think? Does it feel like a fireplace? Ecosmart's products are not exactly inexpensive, but then again, neither is buying and installing a ventless gas insert or rebuilding the chimney to allow wood burning.

This Week At . . . Design Within Reach

From DWR:

With the North South Project, Canadian designer Patty Johnson is extending the positive effects of globalization to places that have yet to benefit. In the case of her Maun Windsor Chair (2004), that place is Botswana, Africa. To create the Maun, Johnson went to Peter Mabeo, the founder of the Mabeo Furniture factory in Gaborone, Botswana, with a design brief for a collection of high-quality wooden furniture that could be produced by hand. The Maun Windsor is a new interpretation of a classic American chair. Its Shaker-inspired clean lines meld with the abstract quality of African wooden sculpture, and the tight linear grain of the white oak further emphasizes the chair’s form. Handcrafted from wood that’s harvested from well-managed forests, it’s finished with an all-natural soap flake finish. The Maun’s design and manufacture is ecologically, aesthetically and culturally sustainable, while bringing long-term benefits to the local craftspeople and community. Made in Botswana.

Product Spotlight . . . Vintage Prints

Ok, I really like Williams Sonoma Home (although it seems like they're veering off into more traditional territory lately), but the price of their artwork (and everything else) gives me pause. I'll tell you what; if you want a vintage print (or any type of personal artwork really) and you don't have $395 to blow on one from WS Home, take the following steps and save yourself some money:

1.) Pick a subject that interests you. If you're really into seaweed for some reason, go for it. I'm into astronomy, so I picked that.

2.) Buy a book on Amazon.com on whatever subject interests you. For a number of vintage prints, check out "The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities" or do some research and find your own. Amazon often has new and used books starting as low as $1. Or, some of these can even be found on Google books but I would never advocate just re-sizing and color printing for free ;-)



3.) Find a vintage image that you like. Cut it out. If you need to, you could even take it to somewhere like FedEx Kinko's to color copy and re-size. (You may also pick an almond colored paper to mimic an aged look.)

4.) Google "cheap frames" and purchase one. Target and many other stores also sell relatively inexpensive frames.

5. Total Cost - Less than $50. Owning something unique that reflects your personality - Better (not priceless, don't be so predictable).

6.) Take that extra money and sponsor a child. Despite our day to day issues, we all have the time to read something as frivolous as this blog, and so many people need so much help. Check out the Christian Children's Fund where you can sponsor a child for $24 / month. I did a little research, and they appear to be a good group. They believe in helping, not preaching.




I've always like vintage prints, and I'm a bit of a space buff, so I bought these and framed them myself. If they show up at Williams Sonoma Home, they're going to have some serous splaining to do.

Product Spotlight . . . Pottery Barn Moorish Tile Rug

I criticize Pottery Barn frequently, so I feel it's only right to give them credit when they do something right. My relationship with PB is complicated; I'm drawn into their stores and am initially intrigued but inevitably wind up bored.

Their furniture represents my first foray into decorating or having any interest in design. I still remember myself, a senior in high school, browsing through my mom's catalog and wondering if I'd ever be able to afford the furniture that seemed so upscale at the time.

When I started my career, I promised that my first good check would fund a Manhattan leather chair. While the chair is very comfortable and well-made, it's also everywhere, which is part of the problem; their products have become ubiquitous, seen in the background of every TV design show, TV set and even my own home.

But I saw this rug hanging in the window the other night, and I have to say, I really like it. I'm a sucker for orange generally and geometric patterns are my favorite. And it's a pretty good deal ($149 - $799).



Sister company, Williams Sonoma Home, also has some interesting and fairly inexpensive (for them) rugs.





What do you think of stores like Pottery Barn? Or do you eschew mass merchants for independent retailers and antiques?