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A Chat with Designers behind Chicago’s Merchandise Mart Showhouse
Continue ReadingOn view through September 25 on the first floor of the iconic Merchandise Mart along the Chicago River, the Mart Showhouse is a who’s who of interior design — featuring 13 nationally recognized firms and a world-class assortment of luxury brands. Objects from PAGODA RED are featured in several rooms, so we reached out to […]
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Personal Altar: A Place to Pause
Continue Reading“Beloved objects can be grounding. I have a PAGODA RED meditation stone that I keep in my studio near a window. When the stone’s veining is illuminated by sunlight, it feels like a moment of magic.” – Sarah Coffey, Clearer Collective During the Ming Dynasty, Chinese scholars brought objects such as meditation stones from nature into […]
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Pagoda Red’s 2026 Design Forecast
Continue ReadingAs change accelerates around the world, we are noticing a return to the real. The Year of the Fire Horse marks a transformative shift toward freedom and independence, challenging the status quo. We’re seeing designers from our neck of the woods embrace spaces with emotional depth: objects with soul, materials with weight, and a renewed […]
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Quiet Luxury: Lozano Jolas Interiors at the 54th Cooks’ Home Tour
Continue ReadingWith an eye for sophistication, it’s no wonder design firm Lozano Jolas Interiors was invited to redesign a featured home in the 54th Annual Cooks’ Tour benefit, a one-day tour of four magnificent properties across Chicago’s North Shore in support of the Rush University Medical Center. Partnering with PAGODA RED to create an unforgettable experience, […]
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Blue & White: Designer Suzan Hadaway on Collecting
Continue ReadingOpen a decor magazine, or your design socials, and an encounter with blue & white Chinese porcelain seems inevitable. There it is, on a mantel in London, in an elaborate tablescape in Paris, on the white oak shelves of a sunny loft. The centuries-old craft, with its endless pattern variations and perennially popular colorway, has […]
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Windy City: Michael Thompson’s Kites Soar in Chicago Homes by Laurel Feldman & Lauren Coburn
Continue ReadingWe cherish our global community of designers and artists, but we’re not immune to hometown pride. When two notable Chicago interior designers both gravitate toward one of our favorite Chicago artists – and select his work for their clients’ outstanding homes in Chicago — it showcases the local design alchemy that we’ve cherished since PAGODA […]
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Hints of History: Alice Benjamin & Andrea Schumacher Make What’s Old New Again
Continue ReadingInfusing soul and depth to a space—be it in a contemporary or vintage home—is a top priority for many of our favorite designers. This is where antiquities play a pivotal role, making a home feel collected, thoughtful and, perhaps most importantly, deeply personal. The delicate craftsmanship of Qing dynasty Chinese latticework and vernacular furniture adds […]
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PAGODA RED at Pembroke Lodge: The 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens
Continue ReadingThe Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens is one of our favorite Chicago design events. The legendary, biennial event has been a premier fundraiser for The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago for over two decades, and each and every showhouse is brimming with artistry and inspiration. This year’s featured house is Pembroke Lodge, a 3.5 acre […]
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Kintsugi, Ju Ci, & the Art of Repair
Continue ReadingThe Japanese arts of kintsugi and sashiko have permeated pop culture and fashion, from the kintsugi repairs on Kylo Ren’s helmet in The Last Skywalker in to the sashiko patches on Y3 sneakers and Valentino jeans. Their beauty is the obvious draw, but the philosophy behind these arts also resonates. After all, kintsugi, sashiko, and […]
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Moon Garden Magic with Jeanne Nolan
Continue ReadingJeanne Nolan of the The Organic Gardener is known for creating gardens that are as nurturing as they are beautiful. For Nolan, a home garden can be touchstone of daily life: a source of food and cut flowers, a place of meditation and play, and an endless source of creative inspiration. Like us, Nolan is […]
