Dr. Robert Geller’s home in
rural Wisconsin is so iconic it needed its own name: The Field House. But this
modern box is a far cry from any little house on the prairie you’ve ever seen
before.

Source: Dwell

The briskness of fall hasn’t completely set in, which means summer crafting is still in style!  When cool weather does arrive, these do-it-yourself macrame chairs are stylish enough to transition from the patio to inside your home. See how to make them yourself here.

 Source: Deuce Cities Hen House

Take pomegranate oil,
macademia nut oil and Nordic sea buckthorn and what do you have? Skin
moisturizer, naturally. L’Étoile’s
resident “Rogue Epicurean,” Anthony Enright, makes a foray into the world of
facial oils and reviews some of his favorite products.

Source: L’Étoile
Magazine

Michigan is home to dozens
of artisan distilleries brewing homegrown libations ranging from craft beer to
limoncello (vodka with a lemon zest twist). A small, but robust and
well-reputed community, distillery won the top prize out of 250 entries for
their aged rye whiskey. Cheers, Michigan!

Source: Record Eagle/Michael Stump

Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall is set to get a facelift. This week, three design teams presented their visions to revitalize the space.The winner? A team from New York that proposed to divide Nicollet Mall into three sections: live, work and play. Get the details on the team’s plan to transform the downtown Minneapolis area into a more green and sociable space.

Source:  MPR News

Need a sci-fi fix? Take a
gander at these architectural renderings making an adventurous foray into the
world of speculative design. These futuristic skyscrapers turn vertical
architecture on its head and re-imagine how the high-rises of tomorrow may
interact with the natural and built environments surrounding them. Way cool.

 Source: Cannon Design

Craft brewers and
wholesalers are butting heads in Michigan. Beer, touted as a recession-proof
commodity, is a $6 billion industry in Michigan, with craft breweries rapidly
increasing their share of that billion-dollar pie. Their skyrocketing
popularity has not gone unchallenged, however. The Wall Street Journal discusses
the challenges facing Michigan’s craft beer industry.

Source: NASDAQ

Who doesn’t love a period house? Especially when that period is mid-century modern, and everything – and we mean every fantastic mid-century mod piece there – is for sale. We’re talking Eames, Milo Baughman, Paul McCobb and DUX (among others). The Golden Valley, Minn. home (designed by the architect/home owner) starts tomorrow.

Here’s a drool-worthy preview of what to expect:

Omforme is a Norwegian word meaning “to transform.” It also happens to be the name of a new space opening in Minneapolis tonight where – wait for it – craftsmen and women take old, previously old furniture and transform it into something modern and new. Clever. Omforme started out as a refinishing shop for case goods and upholstery, but quickly morphed into a collection of artisans creating one of a kind objects. Consider yourself invited.

Source: Omforme

There’s a lot of talent
in Detroit these days. Celebrate some of city’s best independent and
design-forward makers with Artifact Makers Society (set to officially launch
this December) this Saturday. Get a look at awesome Detroit-made products and
talk to the people who spend their time creating them.

Source: Detroit Design Festival

These days, it seems Detroit has so much new talent that it’s hard to keep up with it all. Luckily, there’s a five-day festival dedicated to celebrating it all, and a handy guide from the Metro Times detailing how to enjoy the third annual Detroit Design Festival (seriously, read their guide or peruse DDF’s website – there’s something for everyone). The fun starts September 17. 

Source: Detroit Design Festival/ Metro Times

Interior design showrooms will clear out their stock at International Market Square for the annual ASID MN Sample Sale. For three days, designers from the organization will be roaming around, ready to answer your most burning design questions and to give advice on everything from accent colors to design concepts.

Source: ASID MN

Perhaps one of Minnesota’s best kept secrets, The Bridge House Retreat in Litchfield puts an unexpected twist on the classic cabin-getaway: the house is a bridge. Far off the beaten path, this cabin straddles a narrow, lazily streaming creek and offers a cozy interior with novel touches including a lofted room accessible by a spiral staircase and a free-standing fireplace perfect for roasting s’mores.

Source: Lakeplace.com

Sure, you think between Cold Stone Creamery and that
specialty neighborhood ice cream shop that you’ve seen all there is to see
when it comes to unique ice cream flavors. Think again. Delicias Natural in
Chicago has them all beat. We’re talking about a Mexican scoop shop that serves
up cones and dishes with serious flavor. How about avocado, or a cold twist on
the processed-classic, the Twinkie? Did we mention you can also get your
Tequila fix in ice cream form, too? With 36 flavors in all, there’s a good
chance you can find a flavor to fit each course of your meal.

Source: Thrillist

Detroit’s Nora store appeared recently on Herman Miller’s Lifework blog. The owners of modern design store shared their musical playlist. Click here to see the full article.

Source: Herman Miller

Keep the tap flowing! Tote around your mini tasting mug (a
souvenir with your ticket) to try 12 different local pours from on-site
brewers at Brewed in Michigan on September 27. Sample a few bites from local restaurants, and round out the night as
you rock out to the sounds of Wheelhouse. Bottoms up!

Source: Brewed in Michigan

Talk about a two for one deal. Detroit’s Art Deco Society and a2modern team up to give you a tour of two Cranbrook exhibits. First, take a peak at “Anders Ruhwald at Saarinen
House: The Anatomy of a Home.” Then, head over to “Michigan Modern: Design That Shaped America.”

Source: Brown Paper Tickets

Drinks x Design is an ongoing event the second Thursday of every
month that opens up studios around Detroit to let you explore. This month,
Display Group (who designs and creates both temporary and permanent
environments) opens up their first floor for the event. Get a tour their 200,000
square foot facility, including stops at Pluto (a group of creatives making
content for companies around the world) and Spot Welders (a film and television
editorial house).

New and old merge at the Renegade Craft Fair, an indie marketplace where artists take old (and new) craft techniques and give them a modern design spin. The craft fair started in Chicago in 2003, and now hosts events in six cities around the country. This year’s Chicago festival is along Division Street in Wicker Park today and tomorrow. Get a peek at the 300 artists selling cutting-edge jewelry, artisan foods, contemporary furniture and more, here.

Source: Renegade Craft Fair

Ever considered putting
Cinnamon Toast Crunch in your mole sauce? How about mixing Thai basil,
mulberries and some elderflowers in a cocktail? These are just a few tips from
Chicagoan artists when they get creative in the kitchen.

Source: Chicago Magazine

There’s a new speakeasy in
Motown. Celebrating its grand opening in mid-August, Lock & Key is the
newest purveyor of Prohibition-era environs and absinthe-tinged drinks. Tucked
away behind the Oxford Inn in Royal Oak, and marked by a solitary red door,
this bar boasts the largest selection of Kuhnhenn beers, second only to the
Kuhnhenn brewery itself. You can follow them on Twitter at @LockKeyRO to get
insider passwords unlocking secret drink menus.

Source: Drink Michigan

Biology serves as the muse
for both Trevor Nicholas and Ryuta Nakajima—two Minnesotan artists whose works
are currently on exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Salt crystals,
bubbles and rock formations inspired Nicholas’ large-scale installation
(pictured), while Nakajima’s vibrant objects d’art are modeled after
cephalopods re-imagined in bold patterns, loud colors and even Swarovski
crystal. These contemporary pieces will be on display through September 19.

Source: L’Etoile

Who says college
dorms have to be dreary? Take a look at La Casa Student Housing in
Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Read author Lee Bay’s full article here,
and discover what makes this building special.

Source: wbex.org

Last night Batch Brewery beat out three other finalists to become this year’s Hatch Detroit winner. The budding brewery will receive $50,000 from Comerica Bank to help bring their idea to life. These beer aficionados hope to bring nanobrewing to Detroit, as well as support other small breweries through their “Brewery Incubator” program.

Source: Detroit Free Press

This is one collaboration you don’t want to miss. Who doesn’t love ice cream? Doughnuts? Chicago’s Black Dog Gelato and Glazed & Infused are teaming up to combine their two delicious specialities into one fantastic treat: doughnut-gelato sandwiches. But they’ll only be available one day – Thursday, August 29. Get ’em while they’re…cold.

Source: Time Out Chicago