More shopping options are available when visiting two favorite stores. Mario Villa Gallery has added four new artists from New Orleans, and J.C. Licht Co. is building on its paint business by offering the chance to do more than change a room’s wall color.
All that jazz
A visit to the Mario Villa Gallery, 500 N. Wells St., is a way to sample New Orleans’ jazzy style in all its shapes, forms and colors.
The gallery, which is owned by designer and New Orleans resident Mario Villa, has a stable of furniture designs by Villa himself, as well as other notable furniture designers, including Angele Parlange. And the playful and romantic design found in tables, chairs, fabrics and decorative accessories continues in the work of the four new artists featured in the gallery’s “Southern Accents from New Orleans.”
Featured are whimsical lamps by Paul Gruer, industrial-style furniture designs by Thomas Diel, “techno-romantic” jewelry and mirrors by Thomas Mann, and mixed-media works on canvas by Andree Bezou Carter.
“Artists are easily inspired (in New Orleans) by the history, the colors, the food, the music and the buildings,” says Villa. “Parts of the city look as though it’s falling apart; but in that fading beauty, there is charm.”
Gruer’s lamps cost $500 to $1,500 and chandeliers, $3,000 to $10,000; Mann’s aluminum, brass and steel sculptures range from $750 to $2,800; Diel’s side tables cost $750 to $900, larger coffee tables, $1,500, large conference tables, $3,400 to $5,000; and Carter’s range from $500 to $3,000.
Call: 312-923-0993.
Beyond paint
J.C. Licht Co. has specialized in home-decorating supplies with an emphasis on paint for the 90 years it has been in business.
And, although paint still is very much part of the business, the new 3232 N. Clark St. store “isn’t just a paint store anymore,” as one shopper was overheard saying.
New features include decorative accessories (bowls, vases and lighting fixtures) that give the finishing touch to a room.
Although J.C. Licht stores have been moving in this direction for the last few years, the change is more noticeable at this new Lincoln Park store, especially with mini-vignettes of decorating ideas that include window treatments, pillows and fabric swatches.
The store also is the first of Licht’s 18 Chicago-area stores to offer full-service interior decorating. Designers are available in the store or will come to your home with samples and fabric swatches from the store. Maria Eriksen, director of marketing, says the initial shop-at-home consultation is free. If more time is needed, the charge is $35 an hour.
Even though Licht is showing that it knows more than paint, its range of paint colors and custom-blend shades remains popular. Licht still offers its private label paint, maintains its ongoing partnership with paint giant Benjamin Moore and sells Ralph Lauren paints.
Call: 773-868-0400.
