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Yaji Gardens: Antidotes to Modern Life
Continue ReadingIn ancient China, elaborate gardens were closely associated with the upper class—who enjoyed palatial estates and grounds stocked with rare flora and fauna. But a new, more intimate garden gained popularity during the Mongol occupation (in the late 13th and early 14th century). In concert with a renewed emphasis upon the arts, the spaces—designed specifically […]
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Wabi Sabi: Real Love & Perfect Imperfection
Continue ReadingRemember the Velveteen Rabbit? In the famous children’s book, a boy takes the stuffed rabbit everywhere: out to picnics on the grass, into the garden, and into bed, where it sleeps with the boy every night. The more love wears off on the rabbit, the shabbier it gets, and the closer it comes to the goal of becoming “real.” The Velveteen […]
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Rest Easy: Sculptural Headrests From Africa to Asia
Continue ReadingWhile modern bedding may be elegant, whimsical, or chic, modern pillows tend to be more functional than artful. They’re comfortable essentials, used by almost everyone. Throughout time and across continents however, people have rested their heads in style, often on one-of-a-kind headrests meant to be as beautiful as they were practical. At PAGODA RED, we’ve […]
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Adler On the Park: A Showcase House in Historic Lincoln Park
Continue ReadingThe Lakeview Avenue Row House District is a dash of London in Chicago: four Georgian-style row houses built by David Adler and Henry C. Dangler in the early 20th century for their storied group of friends. At the Adler on the Park Showcase House this May, design enthusiasts can peek inside these landmark spaces, now converted […]
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Musings of Calm with Past + Present Chinese Art
Continue ReadingMusings of Calm is a dynamic exploration of a timeless philosophy — that art and objects can be catalysts for creating tranquility, especially in times of disruption and turbulence. Featuring thoughtful pairings of contemporary Chinese works from Chambers Fine Art and historical pieces from PAGODA RED, Musings of Calm immerses viewers in a meditation on […]
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Woven History: Meditation & Saddle Carpets
Continue ReadingBeautifully knotted of vegetable-dyed wool, carpets by the nomadic peoples of Tibet, Mongolia, and northern China decorated every aspect of life with bright color and rich symbolism. Unlike those of the Chinese weaving tradition, such carpets were primarily intended not as floor coverings, but as places to sit or sleep. Laid across a bed platform, […]
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PROjECT Interiors: Modern Contrast in the West Loop
Continue ReadingThe most stylish homes evolve and change — even when they’ve been designed beautifully from the beginning. Owners Melissa and Ken Erke were thrilled when PROjECT Interiors completed their West Loop home, full of modern lucite, marble, and metal details. Later, the finished space got an unexpected twist when PROjECT added PAGODA RED reclaimed beam […]
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Collector’s Edition: Creating a Good Life
Continue ReadingIn our 20+ years of collecting extraordinary objects at PAGODA RED, we’ve had the honor of forging deep and interesting relationships with our clients. Exploring things together, we share stories of the hunt — the ones that got away, likes and dislikes, dreams and renovation blunders. Over time, these intimacies build meaningful friendships with mutual […]
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Tracy Boychuk: Tips for Artful & Sustainable Floral Design
Continue ReadingTracy Boychuk is turning sustainability into an art form, one Chicago rooftop at a time. As founder and creative director of The Roof Crop, Boychuk oversees its 13 rooftop gardens, an apiary and shop, and projects for clients across the city. Tracy does it all with an eye for design, whether she’s using a dynamic […]
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Masters of Form: The Timeless Silhouettes of Chinese Vases
Continue ReadingThe forms found in Chinese ceramics, many rooted in the style of the Song dynasty (960-1279), appear to be extremely simple, with wonderfully fluid design, making it hard to know where the neck commences, the body leaves off, or the foot begins. Since a textural history tracking the evolution of a ceramic silhouette is not always […]
