Mother of all Antiques Shows in Chicago, Oct 3 - 6

Lauren Finch recently emailed Dumpdiggers some kind of praise to compliment the overall caliber of writing and high quality appearance of this blogspot. Turns out she's the Public Relations Manager of the Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc and she would like everyone in North America to know about the next Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair™ which features more than a hundred antiques dealers in a wide range of categories, including: 20th Century Design, Americana, Architectural Design, Asian Art & Antiquities, Barometers, Books, Ceramics, Clocks, Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Furniture, Glass, Jewelry, Paintings, Posters, Prints, Maps, Sculpture, Silver, Textiles and Tribal Art.

California designer Kathryn Ireland will be the keynote speaker at this year's Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair. This famous west coast interior decorator launched her design business in 1997, and has since worked with Hollywood A-listers David Mamet and Steve Martin (and many others). Kathryn Ireland’s keynote speech will be at 10 a.m. on October 3, the first day of the Antiques Fair.

From what I understand the Merchandise Mart is a huge historic building in downtown Chicago that's absolutely stuffed full of 'sets' that have been built by top designers to show antiques blending into everyday decor. This is meant to show sophisticated consumers how to best incorporate antiques & collectibles into their lives. The stuffy living room set pictured here looks like something from the Munster's... So this is an example of ornate furnishings blending into a genteel decor.

Personally I think the lamp with the white shade has to go. Who put that there? It ruins everything.