Articles

Anything but jaded

Add unparalleled texture to vertical surfaces with this Robert Kuo Chinese white-marble tile in intricate designs made using traditional jade-carving techniques. annsacks.com

Dyed in the wool

The Bernhardt Aubree chair is available in an unlimited array of colors because of wool's superior ability to accept dye. Hypoallergenic, breathable, mold- and mildew-resistant, and flame-resistant, wool is an outstanding, multi-use natural textile for upholstery, drapery, bedding, and more. Be sure to look for the Animal Welfare logo when shopping for wool. bernhardt.com

Shock the monkey

Hand-carved from a single piece of sustainable monkey pod wood, this sculptural end table in a mocha oil finish adds interest and doubles as a stool. houzz.com

Rhapsody in blue

Go beyond grass cloth and sea-spray your walls with this gorgeous manila hemp natural fiber-textured wallcovering. phillipjeffries.com

Top banana

Tightly woven for satiny texture and fantastic durability, this twisted abaca rug, made from a species of edible banana, finishes a room with distinctive style. serenaandlily.com

Karbon bar faucet

Add a bar focal point with Kohler's Karbon deck-mount bar faucet. Its black tube design features two articulating pivot points for total range of motion. us.kohler.com

Atlas apron bar sink

Carved from a single block of stone, this R.W. Atlas apron bar sink with its center drain, in Arabescato marble, is the perfect blend of American ingenuity and European craftsmanship. waterworks.com

Metal-wrapped stone tile

Luminous and refined, these 6" x 6" square metal-wrapped stone tiles display etched beams of light that create the perfect backsplash. artistictile.com

Nanz cabinet pull

Simple and elegant, this modern T-shaped Nanz #8180 cabinet pull, composed of two simple shapes, is available in a variety of plated and patinated finishes. nanz.com

Sub-Zero humidor

Hold up to 100 fine cigars in this cherry wood humidor accessory unit, complete with a custom hygrometer to guard against moisture damage and movable dividers for convenient storage. Exclusive to Sub-Zero's 30" wine units. subzero-wolf.com

Regarded as one of history's greatest architects, Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) is considered a pioneer of modern architecture. This former Director of the Bauhaus came to Chicago in the late 1930s as the newly appointed head of the architecture school at Chicago's Armour Institute of Technology (later renamed Illinois Institute of Technology).

Known for its extreme clarity and simplicity using modern materials to define interior spaces, proving that less is more, Mies's "skin and bones" architecture lives on. A look at a few Miesian masterpieces close to home.

S.R. Crown Hall

A modern masterpiece designed in 1956, and called "one of the world's most influential, inspiring and astonishing structures" by Time magazine, Crown Hall is considered one of the most architecturally significant buildings of the 20th-century Modernist movement, because of its basic steel-and-glass construction style, emphasizing simplicity and openness with a column-free open floor plan that creates universal space. It is widely regarded as Mies's finest work, and the definition of Miesian architecture. IIT Campus, 3360 S. State Street, Chicago

Barcelona Chair

Designed in 1929 by Mies and companion Lily Reich, this iconic chair, which has been manufactured by Knoll since 1953, is made of steel and leather. Said to resemble a Roman Curule seat, it was designed as a German pavilion entry for Spanish royalty to oversee opening ceremonies during Barcelona's 1929 International Exposition. Knoll Chicago, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Space 1111

Barcelona Table

Created in 1930 for the Mies-designed Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic, and known for its exquisitely refined details, the Barcelona Table, sometimes called "Architecture in Miniature," is made of polished chrome steel and ¾" thick-plate glass. Knoll Chicago

McCormick House

Built in 1952 as a residence for Robert Hall McCormick Jr. and a prototype for steel frame row houses, the McCormick House is composed of glass, steel and brick on a concrete slab using a framework of peripheral columns and ceiling beams, which allows for an open and adaptable interior with movable partitions. The house was moved in 1994 from its original location at 299 Prospect Ave. in Elmhurst to Wilder Park, after being sold to the Elmhurst Fine Arts and Civic Center Foundation in 1992. 150 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst

Farnsworth House

Designed in 1945 as a weekend retreat along the Fox River in Plano for prominent Chicago nephrologist Dr. Edith Farnsworth, this all-glass enclosure influenced the creation of hundreds of modernist glass houses, most notably the Glass House by Philip Johnson, located near New York City, because of its revolutionary design using a wood-paneled fireplace (also housing mechanical equipment, a kitchen and toilets) within the open space, creating living, dining and sleeping spaces without using walls. A site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 14520 River Road, Plano

IBM/AMA Plaza

Completed in 1970, Mies's last American building, the IBM/AMA Plaza, is set on an elevated plaza on the north bank of the Chicago River, and positioned to capture views of the lake. This 52-story skyscraper, known for its strength and clarity of form with a banked intelligent elevator system, was designed with client-specific raised floors to support large computing centers and integrated climate control mechanisms. Declared a Chicago landmark in 2008 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, it is the newest building in Chicago in terms of its age on both lists. 330 N. Wabash, Chicago

Gem Sconce

Dramatic in shape and size, the Gem Sconce from the Kevin Reilly Collection is available in four sizes and ten stainless or steel-metal finishes. Indoor/outdoor use. Holly Hunt, 222 Merchandise Mart, Suite 1428, Chicago

Loop Outdoor Fire

A focal point for any outdoor space, the Loop Outdoor Fire is wrapped in two-inch-thick marine-grade nautical rope, and offers optional add-ons like a protective glass screen and matching stools. Uses butane or e-NRG bioethanol with an adaptor. Brown Jordan, 222 Merchandise Mart, Chicago

Arrow and leaf chandelier

Neoclassic in style and the quintessential club chandelier, this large EF Chapman fixture in antique burnished bronze casts a gorgeous glow. visualcomfort.com

Display case

Tall, dark and handsome, this classic mahogany Glover display case with an exotic painted-forest interior, adjustable glass shelves and touch lighting beautifully displays trophies, awards and the like. bakerfurniture.com

Wing chair

The iconic club chair is present in virtually every clubhouse — especially near the fireplace — because of its "wings" mounted to the back of the chair to protect it from drafts and trap heat from the fireplace. This Pascal chair takes on modern lines in stylish fabrics. bernhardtfurniture.com

Bar cabinet

A mainstay at every club, elegantly store your "water of life" and barware in this Clarendon Vienna walnut bar cabinet with steel metal collars and center stretcher. bernhardtfurniture.com

Drink table

The perfect wing-chair companion, this shiny and sleek Lexicon black lacquer and polished-bronze drink table styles classic lines with up-to-the-minute design techniques. bakerfurniture.com

Wool wallcovering

Indulge in unsurpassed texture on your walls with this wool wall covering in antique on grey from Phillip Jeffries. phillipjeffries.com

Kline candle holders

Hand-crafted by skilled metal artisans, these Kline hexagonal pillar candle holders in polished nickel create the perfect candlescape. rhmodern.com

Humidor cabinet

Subtle and warm wood tones come through in this art deco inspired alder wood humidor cabinet with an innovative charred finish and natural stone top. bakerfurniture.com

Mercer log holder

Keep firewood in style with this sleek and shiny stainless steel Mercer log holder that includes a spacious black steel basket. williams-sonoma.com

Cleo chaise

Classic lines and modern forms make the Cleo chaise by Thomas Pheasant the perfect spot to cozy up. bakerfurniture.com

Sheepskin rug

Luxurious and plush, this natural sheepskin rug from RH Modern elegantly warms any space. rhmodern.com