Strange Closets

John Gray from USA Today Johnathon owner, Interior Designer and former Top Design Season One contestant, John Gray, has moved beyond the world of reality TV and created a fantastic showroom in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. You can read my profile of Johnathon here.

The first thing I noticed about Lazy Dog Antiques is that the store, which is located on Belmont in what used to be Antique Row (but which has been disrupted by the onslaught of new condo development), doesn’t get much foot traffic. The second thing I noticed is that Lazy Dog is one very cluttered [...]

Earlier we saw Dan’s Living Room, Foyer and Bedrooms, and now we’re going to take a look at the prolific writer’s kitchen and dining room. To me, the space feels very Manhattan meets Chicago circa Paris (or something like that), which is appropriate for this ex-New Yorker and self-professed Francophile.

Publish Post I had the pleasure to meet Brad during one of my lunchtime Mecox Gardens excursions. But when he’s not helping Mecox clients find the perfect piece to complete a room, he’s a working artist. I am especially attracted to his portraits, which have a thirties, post depression-era ambiance. A graduate of the School [...]

This week, I’m kicking off, “Expert Advice,” a semi-regular column written by experts in their field. You’re probably thinking, “I thought you knew everything?” And that’s a very smart (brilliant, really) assumption, because yes, I do know everything. But I’m also very tired, and I relish turning the keys over to somebody else for the [...]

If Decoratus Absurdum is your drug, RR #1 is the friendly neighborhood dealer, which is appropriate because the store inhabits a large space that began life as an old school pharmacy (think leaches and other treatments Medicina Absurdum), complete with vintage tin ceiling, tile floor and the original built-in cabinets and drawers.