Midwest design is alive and kicking. One of the highlights of last week’s Chicago Design Show, held at The Merchandise Mart, was the emergence of good, solid, contemporary home furnishings from a number of heartland designers and fabricators, a group of people who have been largely overshadowed by the hip design consortia rising on both coasts. Now it’s our turn. Take a look at some of our favorite Midwestern things.
AT THE HELM
Richard Bennett created the Helm Chair in honor of Star Trek’s Capt. Kirk, who sat at the helm, “making everything happen,” according to the Detroit-based designer. Trained as a welder, Bennett taught himself art and design and is known for his public sculptures in the Motor City. The leather chair has stainless-steel accents and costs $3,200. Call 313-862-5574.
AND NOW, SOMETHING NEW
In his 10-year career, Joseph Jeup has designed and made a lot of furniture for a lot of other people-designers, architects and even companies like Bexley Heath Ltd. Now the Michigan-based designer has launched his own line of New Furniture. Pieces are simple, classic, architectural. His Spandrel coffee table is shown in Honduras mahogany with a caramel finish. It costs about $3,000. Call 616-669-0427.
More Top Picks Wire Landscape
LUNAR LANDING
Think oil lamps and objects in outer space, actually moons of distant planets. Emily McLennan, a Minneapolis-based sculptor-turned-lamp designer, combined the two references in her cast ceramic, lunar-themed wall sconces. A Plexiglas lens shades the bulb. Lunalites start at $390 net to the trade through architects and designers at Holly Hunt 17, 1728 Merchandise Mart, 312-661-1900.
TRADITION, WITH A TWIST
“We are Modernists. We are trying to make quilts ex-pressive of “our time,” says Weeks Ringle, who, with her husband, Bill Kerr, is FunQuilts. In their Oak Park shop, the two draw contemporary patterns and fashion them into quilts using state-of-the-art equipment. “Starry, Starry Night” (above) costs $1,000 for a 3-foot-square wall hanging, $2,750 for a twin-size quilt, and $4,750 for king. Call 708-445-1817.