You Midwesterners are certainly lucky. Alessandra Branca, doyenne of snappy and snazzy design with a lot of sizzle, has just opened a new retail shop in Chicago (17 East Pearson to be exact). The shop, called Branca, is filled with things that Alessandra both loves and actually uses. Table accessories, furniture, books, candles, and African feather headdresses are all here, much of it in Branca's beloved black, white, and RED color scheme (the red is what gives everything the sizzle.)
Travel plans aren't taking you to Chicago this summer? No worries, because currently a limited selection of items are available for sale via the website (you'll need to call the shop at 312-787-1017 to actually place the order, but online shopping on the website will be up and running this summer.) While you're visiting the site, you can also view some images from Alessandra's gorgeous portfolio.
Here are a few items from the website that caught my eye (also available in the store for those of you lucky enough to visit in person!):
Pair of 19th century German Neoclassical style fauteuils (the fabric is vintage red Turkish ticking)
White glass optik glasses- highballs, lowballs, and stemless champagne glasses
Branca Signature Candles: I-Mint, Musk, & Tea; II-Tomato Leaf, Basil, & Black Currant; III-Fig Tree; IV-Green Tea with Lime
Branca Red Hide Rug
Images at top: A view of the new shop, and one of the shop owner herself.
Great post-- love Alessandra! She has much joie de vivre.
ReplyDeleteMichael- I agree, and that spirit comes through in her design!
ReplyDeleteLove the chairs, love the glasses. AB really has a terrific eye and a terrific sense of spirit and enthusiasm. She truly loves design and its attendant joys.
ReplyDeleteJennifer -- thanks for the scoop. I'm in love with that Turkish ticking, especially the way she used it here.
ReplyDeleteCourtney- Me too!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS website and beautiful items! I just took a peek and bookmarked the site! Can't wait until they start posting more in June. Thanks for the great find! Lynn
ReplyDeleteJust a 45 min. plane ride for me - I've gone out and back in a day before. Chicago is great fun - thrilled to have another terrific stop while I'm there.
ReplyDeleteOh my - I have a red hide rug tucked into storage as I've never really known how to make it work in my apartment. This is making me think I need to pull it out and reconsider.
ReplyDeleteLynn- I know. I bet there will be lots of great items on the site later this Summer!
ReplyDelete*sigh*
ReplyDeletemust...have...red and white chairs...must...have...red and white...must...
Tristan
Patricia- Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteBoy, that fabric was made for those chairs! The repeat fits perfectly.
ReplyDeletept
Tristan- I think those chairs are just exquisite. They're calling your name!
ReplyDeletePT- So true. You can't stop looking at them because they're just so pretty.
ReplyDeletePT- So true. You can't stop looking at them because they're just so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThat red skin is such fun. I could see it in an old library in front of the fireplace.
ReplyDeleteDying to know where the wall paper behind the Todd Romano candles in your photograph is from ?? The candles sit on a Hermes box but I LOVE the paper behind or is it a screen ? Or ?? Thanks so much......Jackie
ReplyDeleteHello Jackie! That photo was taken very hastily! For lack of a better place to take the photo, I propped the candles up on the Hermes box in one of my chairs! (How bad is that, but I just love that fabric!). The fabric is a discontinued Clarence House print, but the same print has reappeared as Scalamandre's "Ping", only done in linen. My fabric is a glazed cotton. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteI just visited there site and LOVED everything they have. Thank you for the post!!! I love all the items you posted!
ReplyDeleteTrying to find salvage or new-vintage typical french stone tiles - the ones that are slightly aged yellow with black squares - they are installed in a diamond shape with black squares as an accent- I have seen them a million times but have no words to describe - does anyone know what I mean ???
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