Giving the green light
Green home Chicago, Karen Kalmek’s new River West home furnishings showroom, makes it possible to get green with style, originality, economy and ease. Find cabinets, tiles and countertops; flooring, carpeting, fabrics, wall coverings and window treatments; paints for every room; and vintage furniture. Our favorite: Kalmek’s 10-point classification card that sums up product attributes, such as whether it is local, non-toxic, recycled, reclaimed or certified. “All the green ratings and terms are confusing. This tells is like it is,” Kalmek says. Green home chicago is at 213 N. Morgan St., Suite 1-D, Chicago. ghcdesigncenter.com
–Lisa Skolnik
AN ARTIST WHO FRAMES ART
When photographer Victor Skrebneski, furniture magnate Holly Hunt and designer Douglas Levine frame fine artwork, they head to Kyle Bretland at Chicago’s Armand Lee. So do others in the know. “Kyle creates singular frames that capture the essence of a piece . . . complement it . . . but don’t steal the show,” says Levine. “When you look at their subtleties, they’re a work of art themselves.” Bretland credits her background in painting and knowledge of art history. She can intellectualize; we chalk it up to an impeccable eye. 840 N. Milwaukee Ave. armandlee.com
–Lisa Skolnik
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Q&A
BRITTNYE DOUGHERTY
Blogger on the homefront
Interior-design-obsessed, her Brown Turtleneck Sweater blog gets 600 to 700 hits a day
OK, for starters-“brown turtleneck sweater”?
When my brother asked, “What will you post about?” I said, “Things I love.” He said, “Well, you should post about that brown turtleneck sweater you wear constantly.” He was kidding, but I thought, why not? It sounds warm and cozy, and that’s my style.
You’ve got a day job. What drives you to fire up and start posting?
Travel-Portland and Seattle, specifically. And everything in Wicker Park-the small shops and the food. And Jayson Home & Garden is the best place for inspiration. There’s this guy there, Leland, who loves to talk about what’s new.
Do you ever buy stuff, or is your blog just an online shopping fantasy?
I just moved into a new apartment so I buy at Vintage Pine a lot. I go to the Sandwich flea market (60 miles west of Chicago) to look for the charcoal sketches I collect, and I also go onto Etsy.com for great little drawings. But my next big purchase is going to be a Madeline Weinrib rug.
Who would you say are the blogger’s bloggers?
Orange Beautiful, Design Boner and I love Housemartin.
And if you were allowed to choose one single design hero?
I’m completely obsessed with Francine Turk, an artist who did all the art for the apartment in the movie, “The Breakup.”
What’s next?
I’m thinking of an online store for vintage finds I stumble across. I love being a hunter-gatherer.
Her Web site: brownturtlenecksweater.typepad.com
–Lisa Cregan
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