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In the Press: Architectural Digest on the Best Decor Shops in Chicago
Continue ReadingThank you, Architectural Digest for recognizing PAGODA RED as a top design destination in Chicago. We are honored to be a part of this community of designers, collectors, and gallery owners. In the article, some of our favorite designers weighed in on their favorite local shops. We’re especially grateful to Mick de Giulio: “I never […]
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Mark D. Sikes: Mastering Blue and White
Continue ReadingWe’ve long admired the work of interior designer Mark D. Sikes. Besides producing beautiful, timeless interiors, the prolific creative is an esteemed author and furniture designer, who recently launched his own fashion line of preppy, women’s sportswear. Mark is widely known for his masterful use of blue and white, and his love of the pairing […]
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James Thomas’ Clever Approach to Details & Display
Continue Reading“We go from macro to micro,” says Thomas Riker, explaining the process that powers James Thomas, the Chicago-based firm he co-founded with James Dolenc, his partner in life and work. Known for the extra layer of finish they bring to their projects, James and Thomas are experts at helping clients highlight personal items to tell the […]
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5 Steps to Styling a Bookshelf
Continue ReadingPAGODA RED’s resident design concierge Laurene Sutko is our go-to for styling bookshelves. Designers and architects often pull her in to add finishing touches, bringing the last ten percent of a project to completion. Here, she shares her top 5 tips for bringing soul, meaning and style to a bookshelf. 1. Make it monochromatic. Laurene […]
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How to Renovate & Design with Antique Architectural Elements
Continue ReadingVintage architectural elements might not make the top of every renovation resource list, but for those who want their space to tell a story, they should. Antique materials bring a higher level of quality, craftsmanship and authenticity to a project. Plus, they’re already proven to weather well. Whether using a 19th century door for its original purpose, or tiling […]
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Refurnishing & Revisiting the Farnsworth House
Continue ReadingDesigned by Mies van der Rohe in the late 1940s, the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois distills Mies’ modernist ideals into a clear expression of uncluttered structure. Over the years, it’s become shorthand for Miesian “less is more” design — so much so that the more nuanced story behind the home has been eclipsed by […]
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Designer William Cullum Delights in Details
Continue ReadingNo two Jayne Design Studio projects look alike. Each, in its own surprising way, tells a story that weaves together the house, its location, and its owners. Founded in 1990 by Thomas Jayne, the studio prides itself on understanding the history of objects, creating rich and rewarding dialogues between them. “Every project is very personal […]
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Susan Ferrier: Layering with Light
Continue ReadingOf all the tools in a designer’s kit, from color to texture, natural light is one of the most misunderstood. Often considered the province of architects, light in the hands of the right interior designer casts a spell over a room, transforming it from a space that is simply used and seen, to one that […]
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Donna Mondi: Enduring Style with an Edge
Continue Reading“I love vintage properties and the character they naturally possess,” says Chicago-based designer Donna Mondi. The catch? Many of the firm’s projects are new builds and luxury condos that don’t necessarily come with built-in character. In a renovation, Mondi frequently contrasts classical features with modern art, but in a new build, the reverse often occurs. […]
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A Shared Sensibility: Maya Romanoff & PAGODA RED
Continue Reading“Kindness and generosity,” are the words Joyce Romanoff uses again and again to describe her late husband, Maya. “It was important to him to create a community of people from all walks of life,” she recalls. “The heart of our company is our people.” Today, Maya Romanoff is the largest manufacturer of handmade wallcoverings in the […]
