AK Studio » chicago http://akstudioblog.com Behind the Scenes of Alexandra Kaehler Design Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:56:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 Chicago Restaurant Guide http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-restaurant-guide/ http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-restaurant-guide/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/chicago-restaurant-guide/
Throughout my time blogging I’ve had quite a few requests for a Chicago restaurant guide. There are so many amazing restaurants in Chicago, sometimes its hard to find exactly what you want. These are my go-to favorites for each category, I hope its helpful!! If there’s something that is missing, let me know, I’ll fill it in!
Favorite BYOB: Butterfly
Favorite Roof Deck: Zed 451
Favorite outdoor patio: Piccolo Sogno 

 

Favorite “drinks with a view”: Sixteen at the Trump
Favorite brunch with reservations: Prasino

 
Favorite brunch with a line: Yolk
Favorite Dive Breakfast: Sark’s in the Park (but you can only order “The Loretta”, I can’t vouch for anything else on the menu)
Favorite fancy lunch: Fred’s at Barneys
Favorite easy lunch: Southport Grocery
Favorite cozy spot: Gilt Bar

 

Favorite local Italian: Trattoria Sapori or Tarantino’s
Favorite fancy Italian: Prosecco 
Favorite special date spot: Le Colonial
Favorite cupcakes: Sweet Mandy B’s
Favorite group spot: Quartino’s 

Favorite fun weekend dinner: Hub51
Favorite Mexican restaurant: Zocalo
Favorite scene on a weekend: Sunda

Favorite nice BBQ: Q
Favorite no-ambiance but amazing food BBQ: Smoque

Favorite Burger: The Counter or DMK

Also, my dad happens to be hosting a giveaway via his Twitter, where he is giving away two round trip tickets on American Airlines to anywhere in the continental United States. To enter all you have to do is retweet the giveaway (make sure to tag him in your RT). Thought I would spread the word!
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-restaurant-guide/feed/ 27 Chicago! http://akstudioblog.com/chicago/ http://akstudioblog.com/chicago/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/chicago/
Today I am over at Breakfast at Toast sharing some of my favorite Chicago restaurants and activities! Best of all, there are tons of other Chicago bloggers over there doing the same thing. Between all of us, you’ll have Chicago recommendations for life!

Head on over to check it out! Hope you have a great weekend. xo
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/chicago/feed/ 14 Introducing: Dana Rebecca http://akstudioblog.com/introducing-dana-rebecca/ http://akstudioblog.com/introducing-dana-rebecca/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/introducing-dana-rebecca/
I know there’s been a lot of earring talk here on TTS, but I had to share this find.
I’ve always loved the jewelry line, Dana Rebecca. And love it even more because it is based out of Chicago. But recently, I came across her new line on Facebook and well, I fell in love. Especially with the earrings….

I love when jewelry can completely make an outfit. And these earrings could do that pretty perfectly. I don’t even want to know the prices though. Just let me stare.
Also, have you entered my Stella + Dot earring giveaway yet? Do it here! Only one more day!
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/introducing-dana-rebecca/feed/ 23 The Art Institute http://akstudioblog.com/the-art-institute/ http://akstudioblog.com/the-art-institute/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:34:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/the-art-institute/
So as you know, I went to The Art Institute this weekend. It was the perfect day for some inside activity with a beautiful weather report of 40 degrees and rain. So along with the entire city of Chicago, we went to the museum.
At your requests… here are some of my favorite pieces in the new modern wing:

Franz Kline

One of the only Cy Twomblys left from the opening exhibit

Light installation in front of Millenium Park on a disgusting Chicago day.

You better all really love this one, because I got in trouble for taking this picture! 

We also ate at Terzo Piano, the new restaurant in the Modern Wing and it was unbelievable. I had a FEAST for lunch, so unnecessary. Thank you to City Girl Chicago for the rave review that pushed me to try it!

And Things That Sparkle now has a Facebook page, come “like” us! 

]]> http://akstudioblog.com/the-art-institute/feed/ 30 DreamHome 2011 http://akstudioblog.com/dreamhome-2011/ http://akstudioblog.com/dreamhome-2011/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/dreamhome-2011/
Yesterday I went to visit the new DreamHome at the Merchandise Mart.  DreamHome is a staged home set up inside the Mart and twice a year they choose different designers to design each room. 
I took some pictures on my phone but they were so terrible and grainy I decided to share these (from the website) instead, still not the best quality.
This was a close second for favorite. The foyer. Up close the wainscoting had the most beautiful texture, almost like an antique tin and the most beautiful chandelier.
Loved this space. Industrial and rustic.

Liked this. Mix of neutrals, pink and blue but it still didn’t have a wow factor to me.

Bedroom was pretty, nothing crazy exciting.

Dressing room was by far the highlight. Check out that gorgeous artwork.

The kitchen was beautiful but a little formal and traditional for my taste. But the marble dog bowls (far right) are incredible.

It’s so much fun to see all the different designers takes on these spaces. If you’re in the Chicago area I definitely suggest checking this out in person, its free and open to everyone.
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/dreamhome-2011/feed/ 25 Chicago Finds: Antique Malls http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-finds-antique-malls/ http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-finds-antique-malls/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:44:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/chicago-finds-antique-malls/
This past weekend I finally went out and really explored Chicago’s antique shops and I am so glad I did. I can’t believe it took me this long… I only bought a couple small things for myself, but I am seriously considering going back for the lucite chandy at the bottom.
Here is what I got for myself:
a little metal “a”

A precious little bowl I plan on filling with moss balls

Here are some of the goodies I sadly had to pass up:

How amazing would this piece be with a new shade and painted base?

The ikat upholstery was in perfect condition, and lucite?? Amazing.

Over a powder room sink? Yes please.

 And here are some I am still considering…
I am still dreaming of this piece.
 
And this guy… a lucite chandy. I need this. Problem is, I want it for my closet and its a little bit more money than I’d like to spend on my closet. Still considering.
 Best of all, the prices were really pretty reasonable. So happy to have discovered these gems. What are your favorite antique shops in Chicago? I need my next fix this weekend!  
And if you haven’t entered my Tilly Maison Giveaway, tomorrow is your last day! You don’t want to miss this!
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/chicago-finds-antique-malls/feed/ 35 House Beautiful at Arhaus http://akstudioblog.com/house-beautiful-at-arhaus/ http://akstudioblog.com/house-beautiful-at-arhaus/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/house-beautiful-at-arhaus/

On Monday night I attended the House Beautiful party at Arhaus. And want to hear the best part??? My blogging friend Cara from An Urban Cottage won/found one of the chairs that was hidden around the city! Here is her chair….
Isn’t it UNREAL? Her precious puppy loves it too!

I just had to share the rest of her apartment too! I love the pops of color

 ANYWAYS…

Here are some of my favorite picks from the Arhaus store

And I bought this mirror for only $90!
I’m planning on painting it, but still not sure what color. Might be really boring and do black…. They had the frames of these painted pink all over the store!
I wish I had the chance to search for a chair around the city, but this mirror was a nice little present!
And for those of you who have asked… I took ZERO pictures in New York. I’m so so sad, but I just kept forgetting. Bad blogger. Bad bad blogger.

**Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for some seriously gorgeous earrings! Enter here!**

]]> http://akstudioblog.com/house-beautiful-at-arhaus/feed/ 22 Power of Pink: Chicago http://akstudioblog.com/power-of-pink-chicago/ http://akstudioblog.com/power-of-pink-chicago/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:45:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/power-of-pink-chicago/
So last week I got an email from Public Relations at House Beautiful saying that they read my blog (gasping…) and wanted to let me know about an event they have coming up next week. Yes. And it involved pink. Yes.
I got the details and although I’m actually out of town this weekend, I wanted to share it with any local readers who might wan to participate! 

Here are the details:
On Saturday, Feb 26 through Monday, Feb 28, House Beautiful will hide more than 30 pink chairs ranging from $10 to $3,700 in multiple locations around the city – everywhere from tourist spots like the Navy Pier to trendy neighborhoods like Ravenswood.  By following House Beautiful on Twitter (@House_Beautiful) people will receive clues to the chair locations and the first person to find the chair, gets it for FREE.  
 House Beautiful secured gorgeous pink chairs from a variety of companies including Crate & Barrel, The Container Store, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Arhaus, Pottery Barn, and more. 
The chairs will be placed one at a time over a period of the three days. Whether it’s someone who reads their tweets or just a stranger passing by, these beautiful freebies are sure to capture some interest and generate a lot of excitement.
In addition to the pink chairs, House Beautiful will also be painting the city pink in these ways:
* Mon, Feb 21 – Sat, Feb 26: Pink window displays in Crate & Barrel and The Container Store
* Sat, Feb 26 – Mon, Feb 28: Pink chair drops around town (as mentioned above)
  
* Sun, Feb 27: Ravenswood Pink Art Walk and reception (12pm to 5pm – pink chair drops will happen in the neighborhood):
o        House Beautiful is partnering with the Ravenswood Art Center to create the first Ravenswood Pink Walk on Sunday, Feb 27 – it’s going to be epic. More than 100 local artists are expected to create pink art to benefit the Ravenswood Elementary School art dept. 
More info is available here. 
]]> http://akstudioblog.com/power-of-pink-chicago/feed/ 17 P.E.R.F.E.C.T. http://akstudioblog.com/p-e-r-f-e-c-t/ http://akstudioblog.com/p-e-r-f-e-c-t/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:59:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/p-e-r-f-e-c-t/

Summer Thornton is one of my favorite designers. She is unbelievably talented and her spaces are always glamorous, unusual and perfectly eclectic.

Her new office was recently featured in CS Interiors and then again, on Apartment Therapy, and even though you may have seen it at both or either of these locations, I just had to share.

My thoughts:
1. That wallpaper? Unreal
2. Burled wood file cabinets? Yes, please
3. The exposed brick in a space not decorated like a man pad? Perfection
4. Floor to ceiling inspiration board? Done and done
5. Amazing light fixture? Always
6. Colorful, abstract art? Heaven

So not only does she create spaces like this… but shes based out of Chicago! Wow is all I can say.

]]> http://akstudioblog.com/p-e-r-f-e-c-t/feed/ 13 dress for dresses http://akstudioblog.com/dress-for-dresses/ http://akstudioblog.com/dress-for-dresses/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:38:00 +0000 Alex Kaehler http://akstudio.coreytenold.com/dress-for-dresses/

Isn’t it incredible the purposes that clothing can serve? We wear it. We design it. We study it. We lust after it. We LOVE it.

But it can also be art…








These photographs are not only incredibly beautiful pieces of editorial artwork, the dresses that are in them, are pieces of art on their own.

Can you imagine if these women were just wearing a tank and jeans? Sure, they’d be pretty pictures, but COME ON, the dresses just totally and completely make it.

I really do love dresses more than any other article of clothing. I wear them at every single opportunity I have. Casual, dressed up or formal, love them all. It is a very serious addiction.

Here are some I’ve been watching recently:


Nicole Miller (I know, right?? I was surprised too)

So these dresses might not be editorial worthly, but I really love them. I actually tried on the last one at an incredible shop in Chicago, Sarca but by the time I decided I want to buy it, they sold out. But now, I’ve found it online, and I think I have to own it. Its actually incredible in person. Exposed zipper in the back, totally asymmetrical neckline, crunchy scrunchy black perfection (I am not a fan of the cuts in the sleeves, definitely sewing those up).

Sorry for the rambling post, but dresses are worthy of a serious rambling.

* Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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