Do you have a favorite sort of furniture?
I think my most favorite pieces of furniture are desks or secretaries first, and then chairs. To me, desks and chairs are an invitation to linger, to ponder, and to contemplate or study something that is interesting to you. Chairs and desks {including tables, or any horizontal surfaces that are translated into desks} take up very little space and can add personality and depth to a room. Even if they are rarely used, I love seeing chairs perched at the water’s edge, benches near a window, or interesting desks in a entryway, these just to suggest that one could perch there for a period of time, if you could slow down for just a few minutes.
Did you know that Ralph Lauren has a restaurant in Chicago? Whenever I make it to Chicago, I always try to make it to this wonderful restaurant. The food at RL is, as they describe it “modern~city club cuisine”. To me, it feels like a very special Chicago version of the 21 Club in NYC. Chicago is also home to his largest store which is adjacent to the restaurant, a 4~story mansion on Michigan Avenue, decorated and merchandised as only Ralph can do such things, dripping with authentic elegance and styled with the perfect blend of the rustic and refined.
This restaurant offers more of the ambiance of a warm inviting home, filled with an intriguing assortment of items that the owners may have carefully curated over the years. With all of the unique details, if it weren’t for all of the other people clamoring for seats, it would feel as if one were walking into the Lauren’s own personal dining space. Due to said “other” guests, I was a little restricted on the photos I dared to shoot, but I was able to snap a few shots, mostly of empty chairs, that will give you a sense of the scene.
These shapely, thickly padded, dining chairs in thick Cognac leather with nail~head trim were reminiscent of classic French Club chairs. Encircling the white linen topped tables, they provided a rich and warm consistency throughout the large major dining area.
Inviting corner booths were also upholstered in Cognac leather. The chocolate brown walls and deep colored wood molding provided an ideal backdrop for an eclectic collection of art.
Elegant oil paintings snuggled up with sepia toned and black and white lifestyle photographs and they all looked perfectly harmonious together, including a great close~up of Mick Jagger belting out what I’m sure was a fabulous performance.
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I’m sure these dogs must be relations to Arabella and Ezemé |
I wanted to take a shot of the best seat in the house, a small round table situated in front an elegantly carved marble fireplace mantle. Above the fireplace is a giant mirror, framed in zebra hide. But, each time I tried there were people sitting or standing there {of course}.
But here’s an elegant zebra chair from the store, just to give you a little suggestion of the image.
On a nice day, one can sit outside in these chic navy bistro chairs. This would be a perfect place to while away an afternoon hidden by the shelter of the flower topped walls, watching all of the elegance and eclectic~ness of the people strolling about Michigan Avenue.
If you’re going to Chicago, I highly recommend a meal at RL, they have a great first~come, first~served bar, but you really should make a reservation because it is very popular with the locals {do ask for the table in front of the fireplace if your party is only 2 or 3}.
Okay, so tell me, what is your favorite type of furniture?
Chairs are my absolute favorites! (even more than desks, which I always seem to pile with stuff no matter how hard I try to keep them organized.) It's been a long time since I've been to Chicago, but Ralph can do no wrong. I'm sure RL is amazing. Happy weekend, Emily! XO