Get Our Newsletter... | Home FurnishingsChicago is one of the most architecturally rich cities on the planet. As a result, we’ve got scores of fabulous home furnishing stores — we have to decorate the insides of these beautiful buildings, don’t we? From the hundreds of antique stores that hold classic treasures to the sleek and shiny European import shops in the River North area, whatever your taste and budget desire, you’ll find it in Chicago. Read on to get more information on some of the best home furnishing retail Chicago has to offer. Home is where the heart is, for sure. But there’s so much more heart when the home is fabulous…
Architectural Artifacts, Inc. (Ravenswood) In a nondescript Ravenswood neighborhood, along an industrial strip parallel to the Metra tracks, lies Architectural Artifacts, an 80,000-square-foot showroom packed with authentic works of art for the home. Nothing is reproduced and everything is for sale, including Argentinean stained glass windows, a terra cotta birdbath from some former English lord’s garden, and more wrought-iron gates than you can shake a bronze candlestick at. Rescued antiques don’t come cheap – those stained glass windows are no less than $28,000 – but with such a huge showroom, there’s bound to be something beautiful and rare and not quite as expensive for everyone. And every December, AAI holds its annual holiday sale, when deep discounts abound. Visit the store's adjoining museum, recently opened, after you’re done shopping. www.architecturalartifacts.com Cassona (Chicago & Evanston) The Chicago area first got a taste of Cassona in Evanston back in 1997. Since then, the unique, comfortably cluttered home store has opened locations in Andersonville and Wicker Park, so you don’ t have to travel as far north to get in on the goods. Most of the home pieces featured at Cassona carry a distinctly ethnic flair, drawing on Oriental motifs and African accents. You won’t find flashy tiger rugs or eight-foot-tall bronze statues, though; Cassona’s merchandise is unique, but not flashy. Stop in for annual bedroom sales, sofa sales, and floor model sales that happen throughout the year. www.cassona.com
Crate & Barrel (numerous locations) For nearly fifty years, Crate & Barrel has been supplying Chicagoans with sturdy but stylish tableware, furniture, and kitchen, bath, and home accessories. The first Crate & Barrel opened in the heart of Old Town in 1962 – these days, the chain boasts over 145 stores nationwide. When you walk into a Crate & Barrel store (especially the four-story extravaganza on Michigan Avenue) it’s almost hard to focus. Dishware in eye-popping colors, huge hand-blown vases, wicker bedroom sets, and hundreds of other home pieces vie for your eye in brightly lit rooms. A big hit with the bridal registry set, there’s something for everyone at Crate & Barrel — both in terms of design and price point. Sales are definitely to be had in-store, as well as through the company’s mail-order catalog and website. www.crateandbarrel.com
CB2 (Lincoln Park & Lakeview) Somewhere between Crate & Barrel and IKEA sits CB2, a little- sister store to the original Crate & Barrel. Targeted to first-time apartment owners, those who appreciate interesting design that won’t break the bank, and anyone who enjoys a little whimsy in their decor, CB2 offers pillows, sofas, modern chair and table sets, candlesticks, and countless bright and quirky home accessories that won’t break the bank. With emphasis on modular pieces and an unspoken tech-savvy attitude, CB2 is a favorite among Chicago's Twenty- to Thirtysomethings. Look for cool wall hangings, retro rugs, and bar accessories – a must for any young professional, of course. www.cb2.com
Design Within Reach (River North, Lincoln Park & Evanston) Formed by a group of “design enthusiasts,” Design Within Reach is the place to go if you’re looking for the freshest, newest trends in interior design elements. The North Avenue store provides over 7,700 square feet of merchandise, including mod sofas, beds, and storage units. The 30-foot ceilings of the space allow for imaginative displays – think paper mobiles hanging overhead. While the price tags can be steep, the salespeople would like you to consider that you’re not just buying furniture – you’re purchasing functional art. The DWR stores downtown and in Evanston echo the same sentiment as all the DWR outlets across the country: “The best in modern design should be available to the public.” Visit their website for a complete profile and get an idea of what’s in store. www.dwr.com
Jennifer Convertibles (numerous locations) With over 177 stores in the U.S., Jennifer Convertibles is the largest sofa bed specialty group in the country. Though you won’t find one-of-a-kind items here, you will find good-looking, serviceable sofas, beds, tables, chairs, and various other home accessories, as well as the perks of buying from a large distributor, such as frequent promotions, floor model sales, financing, etc. Those with tamer design tastes will be comfortable here, but Jennifer’s holds a few surprises, too. End tables and floor lamps often get a funky spin, and the lines of some of the more modern chair and sofa sets are decidedly hip. www.jenniferfurniture.com
Material Possessions (River North & Winnetka) If you’re looking for home furnishings and accent pieces that are the signature of an impeccably tasteful abode, Material Possessions should be one of your first stops. Around every corner in the River North store (and in their Winnetka location) are objects of desire – including hand-carved wood tables, pretty serving platters, ebony bar sets, embroidered throw pillows – that fit the store's “contemporary-meets-old-world” aesthetic. Items for the table are showcased here, so be sure to make time for the store’s dishware department. Don’t expect to find basement bargains, though; the items in Material Possessions are elegant and timeless, and priced to reflect those qualities. www.materialpossessions.com
Mig & Tig (River North) 540 N. Wells St. This high-end furniture seller has two locations; one is downtown in chichi River North, while the other is right at home in the classy suburb of Winnetka. Sofa and dining options at Mig & Tig usually involve a vintage concept updated for today’s home. With model names like “Vegas,” “Paris” and “Mallorca,” the furnishings at Mig & Tig suggest a clientele with several homes to decorate in cities across the globe. Simple but elegant, the pieces found in Mig & Tig will allow home decorators to enjoy comfort and class of fundamentally great design. www.migandtig.com
Orange Skin (River North) Remember that cocktail party in that fabulous house owned by that European couple with funky, modern furniture and awesome lighting fixtures? Those people shop at Orange Skin. With the help of one of the store’s attractive sales associates, you can purchase home accessories that will make lovers of all things post-modern drool into their macchiato. From conversation-piece glass vases that actually do get people talking, to entire design “systems” for the home or office, this place is not for the unimaginative (or the budget-conscious), but definitely a place for someone who wants to know how wealthy people living the 21st century might furnish their pad. www.orangeskin.com
Pavilion Antiques (Bucktown) 2055 N. Damen Ave. Located in the trendiest of Chicago hoods, this smallish Bucktown shop specializes in unique antique items for your abode. Pavilion is owned by two graduates of the School of The Art Institute, so every piece that comes into the shop has been approved by a pair of highly-trained eyes. Their eclectic tastes show through in the Euro-style end tables, lighting fixtures, and various other home accoutrements that stock the shop. Check for rare Scandinavian-designed bowls and vases, and striking 18th and 19th century pieces hanging out amongst the more modern chair and table sets. Pavilion is particularly good for accessories and accents, but unique larger pieces are certainly worth checking out, too. www.pavilionantiques.com
Pottery Barn (numerous locations) If you live in a major U.S. city or suburb, you’ve probably been in a Pottery Barn. What started as a little shop in Lower Manhattan in 1949 has grown into a nationwide chain known for paying homage to classic American interior design and furnishings. You’ll find lots of leather sofas, twill-covered ottomans, earthenware place settings, and four-poster beds in every Pottery Barn store you visit, though the merchandise can vary slightly from region to region. Sales can definitely be had at a place as big as Pottery Barn, so try shopping here for big-ticket items during those sales events and through their website, too. Pottery Barn offers catalogs, special promotions, and lots of website-specific goods, so look beyond the stores themselves and see what else you can find online and in print. www.potterybarn.com
Roy’s Home Furnishings (Lincoln Park) 2455 N. Sheffield Ave. For over 30 years, Roy’s has been quietly upgrading the look of Chicago homes, piece by well-chosen piece. If you see something you like at a larger chain store, chances are good that a comparable piece can be found at Roy’s with a little more character – and a whole lot less cash. The furnishings offered at the little store on Sheffield (including mod leather sofas and chairs, groovy wall art, carpet/textile options, etc.) all vary in style and theme. One shopper’s treasure is passed over by another, ensuring that everyone’s taste is met at prices they can afford. Roy’s doesn’t have a website and doesn’t do much advertising – the success of this store is strictly due to word-of-mouth recommendations.
Shabby Chic (Lincoln Park) Designer Rachel Ashwell showcases her soft, feminine designs in only six stores in the U.S. – Chicago is one of the lucky cities to have our very own Shabby Chic. When you enter the shop on Halsted, you’re nearly blinded by all the white: white sofas, white poplin bedding, distressed white furniture, and even white chandeliers. But make no mistake; Ashwell’s designs aren’t austere or cold, they're quite the opposite. The pieces in this store are cozy but stylish, clean but not sterile. Stop in for large armoires or linen sheet sets – your home will feel instantly, "shabbily" chic-ed up. www.shabbychic.com
Urban Archaeology (River North) Luxe Home - Merchandise Mart In 1978, Urban Archaeology opened its first store in Manhattan’s très chic Soho neighborhood with a trove of rare goods: salvaged and restored “artifacts” from buildings around the world that had been slated for destruction and demolition. The washbasins, faucets, lighting fixtures, and bath accessories they've restored have informed their own line of home furnishings, which blends 19th and mid-20th century American design elements to create new, modern classics. You can still get actual salvaged/restored pieces from Urban Archaeology, including such items as an antique surgical operating room lamp and a Parisian mermaid statue – straight from Paris. These items are rarely under the four-figure mark, but other home accents and details can be had for less. When you consider the history behind what you’re paying for, your sticker shock will be short-lived. www.urbanarchaeology.com
Urbanest (Andersonville) 5228 N. Clark St. If you haven’t noticed already, Andersonville has become quite the home furnishings district. Along Clark Street, north of Foster, shops like Urbanest will keep you home shop hopping all day long. This large space opened its doors in 2006 and offers sectionals, accessories, armoires, cabinets, and various other home pieces, from teensy-weensy vases to huge Chinese buffet tables. The items in Urbanest aren’t always one-of-a-kind (some of the baskets look a little on the mass-produced side, for example) but if you’re looking for ethnic twists on basic pieces and prices that aren’t outrageous, this is a good pick. A couple steps up from your average Pier One, Urbanest brings a slightly more yuppie flavor to its north side neighborhood’s furnishings district and it’s a welcome addition to the mix.
SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer - M. Fons We recommend checking with stores for product availability, prices and store hours. Suggested prices may change without notice. SeeMore Shopping is not responsible for errors or omissions. Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ. 02/07. |
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