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In The Press: Frank de Biasi & PAGODA RED in the WSJ
It’s always fun to spot a favorite piece from our gallery floor in print. In this case, interior designer Frank de Biasi used one of our antique lacquer cabinets to create a baroque, over-the-top “man cave” for The Wall Street Journal. Mr. de Biasi, who says he prefers his clients brave, pulled together exotic pieces […]
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Susanna Salk: At Home with Dogs and Their Designers
If there’s one word that best describes design expert Susanna Salk and her work, it’s soulful. Everything she does is personal and poetic, from her storied interiors to her thoughtful Facebook posts. (Yes, she can even bring deep meaning to social media — no small feat!) True to form, her latest book — At Home […]
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Show & Tell: The New IIDA Headquarters by Gensler
A truly global organization, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) represents 58 countries and more than 15,000 members. Recently, they relocated from their old offices in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart to a 17,000-square-foot space on the second floor of a Mies van der Rohe tower downtown, lined with windows overlooking Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River. The […]
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Martin Margiela and Hermès: Unlikely Allies
From 1997 through 2003, Belgian haute couture designer Martin Margiela created twelve consecutive collections for iconic Parisian brand Hermès. Margiela, like his contemporary Rei Kawakubo, used his influence to push against the luxury fashion world. He famously deconstructed luxury objects, stitching them back together by hand, and he often turned high fashion’s aesthetic inside-out, introducing details like […]
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Current Moodboard: The East Hampton Antiques Show
This month, PAGODA RED will be participating in the East Hampton Antiques Show, hosted by the East Hampton Historical Society. While we’ve presented there in the past, this time we’re invigorated by a different, more soulful and collected mood, inspired by the place where wind-swept natural beauty is underpinned by the residents who give it that […]
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Five Favorites from Douglas Hoerr
There’s a reason why students are told to study the masters. What could be better than spending time in the company of true expertise (in real life or in books) to understand a craft? When it comes to designing outdoor spaces, we often look for inspiration overseas or on Instagram—both of which are satisfying from afar […]
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The Butterfly Effect: One Trend’s Timeless History
Butterflies have lately been touching down across the cultural landscape, alighting on wallpapers, fabrics and the pages of shelter magazines. These colorful creatures have long fascinated the design world. In the Victorian era, they elicited curiosity and graced the cabinets of stylish parlors. Papilio Pattern by Harlequin In the 1960s and 70s, revered Italian architect and designer Carlo Mollino had […]
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Show & Tell: Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens Part 4
There is a reason why a spacious laundry room is high on the wishlist of any prospective home buyer. Dorm residents, first—apartment renters and city dwellers all know the joy of an en suite laundry experience. Beth Boyd of Wiley Designs in Highland Park has rewritten the rules on the traditional laundry space for the Lake Forest […]
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Show & Tell: Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens: Part 5
Part of the thrill of doing a showhouse as an interior designer is the freedom to fashion a true fantasy. No client musts, no negotiating styles, handling heart-pounding requests or crazy midnight calls: Showhouses only ask for originality and unbridled inspiration. Kenneth Walter, principal of Gray & Walter in Chicago, fully luxuriated in the indulgences of […]
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Show & Tell: Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens: Part 3
Realtors will insist that curb appeal is everything, but we tend to believe that the entryway is the true first impression of a home. Elizabeth Krueger, whose Chicago-based namesake design firm created the most talked-about entry at the Lakeforest Showhouse in recent memory, is of like mind. Her moody take on the entrance area merged pattern, […]