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Elemental: Designing With Water
Continue ReadingIn the practice of Feng Shui, the element of water is deeply symbolic. It serves as a physical metaphor for a person’s Qi, or life force, and plays a critical role in the creation of a balanced, harmonious space. After all, the words Feng Shui translate to mean “wind and water” in English. Though we […]
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Chinese Gardens: The Heart of the Home
Continue ReadingCourtyard gardens are the literal and figural heart of the Chinese home. In a classical house, the main rooms open into a private garden that not only fills the home with sunlight but also serves as a space for contemplation and meditation. These natural spaces are often referred to as “scholars gardens,” used by artists […]
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Shipping & Delivery: Modern Trade Routes
Continue ReadingWith over 20 years in business, and clients from nearly every corner of the globe, we’ve become experts at shipping, handling and white glove delivery. Remote locations, strict delivery windows, ultra-delicate artifacts, and objects weighing more than a ton—we’ve seen and shipped it all. We asked PAGODA RED founder Betsy Nathan to share some of […]
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In The Press: Treasure Trove Part 2
Continue ReadingIn our last post, we shared a behind-the-scenes look inside of PAGODA RED founder Betsy Nathan’s North Shore home. For this installment, we’ll tour the outdoor spaces and hear from Landscape Architects Craig Bergmann, of Craig Bergmann Landscape Design Inc., and Drew Johnson, of Rocco Fiore & Sons. Both masters at their craft, the designers […]
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Kengo Kuma: Redefining Light
Continue ReadingHere at PAGODA RED, we are always on the lookout for design projects that re-use architectural elements in innovative ways. Handmade Chinese roof tiles are among our favorite such materials, and this inspiring project by legendary architect Kengo Kuma has us seeing them anew. Born in Yokohama, Japan, Kuma established Kengo Kuma & Associates in […]
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Tilescapes: Designing with Roof Tiles
Continue ReadingCeramic roof tiles have been used in China for thousands of years. Practically, they’re long-wearing, water-resistant, fireproof, and they can be stacked in endless combinations. Symbolically, they’re associated with dragon’s scales—auspicious talismans used to control water, rain, typhoons, and floods. In Longsheng, an area in Guangxi Province that translates into “dragon’s spine,” ancient rice terraces wind […]
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Marguerite Rodgers: A Celebration of Craft
Continue Reading“We’re always looking to incorporate the hand.” So says interior designer Marguerite Rodgers, of her eponymous Philadelphia firm. While many designers are known for discovering and celebrating fine craftsmanship, Marguerite is an accomplished maker in her own right. Already a skilled seamstress by the time she enrolled in college, she planned to become a fashion […]
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Chicago Botanic Garden: Asia In Bloom
Continue ReadingWe’re continually inspired by the Chicago Botanic Garden’s mission to ‘cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life.’ Today we’re looking back on Asia in Bloom, a special exhibition from 2018. Here, we had the honor to show a collection of taihu spirit stones, vessels, and sculpture. “You can’t tell the story of orchids […]
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Claire Staszak: Centered By Design
Continue ReadingClaire Staszak believes that a person’s home should be their sanctuary. Informed by a decade spent teaching yoga, her unique approach marries wellness principles with full-service interior design. “People think the only place they can feel centered is in the yoga studio or on a mountain top,” says the Chicago-based designer. “I want them to […]
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Welcome to the Year of the Dog
Continue ReadingAccording to Chinese astrology, which operates in 12 year cycles, 2018 is the Year of the Dog. If you were born in 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 or 2006, you were born under this sign. The list of positive attributes is a long one — dogs represent loyalty, honesty and intelligence, and “dog people” are […]
