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It's the first day of spring, and we're celebrating responsibly: by getting our act together for some major spring cleaning. Along with scrubbing up surfaces and putting our bulky coats in storage (well, soon), we're craving some home design inspiration. And below, we've mapped out a guide of where to find it.
From a Humboldt Park shop that stocks vintage kitchen goods to a River North store that slings wall-hangings from Alexander McQueen, here are this year's picks for Chicago's best home and furniture stores. Our criteria? Variety, thoughtful curation, and good style—and your tips went a long way, too.
This is how we picture the set of a film shot by Tory Burch. Owner and interior designer Cindy Bardes Galvin stocks the shop with lighting, furniture, and accessories; some of the goods come from Parisian flea markets. [Photo: via Maze Home]
This Clark Street shop sells refinished vintage furniture from the 1900s to 1960s. The inventory's colors are updated seasonally with low-VOC paints, shoppers can design their own lamps at the Lamp Bar. [Photo: via Facebook]
Billed as an urban antiques shop, Scout specializes in bringing new life to familiar objects. Customers may pick up a lamp with an oversize Tootsie-roll base or a chair with a wildly fuzzy goat-hair seat. [Photo: via Scout]
Owner Stuart Grannen has a deep fascination with "objects of a lost world." The 80,000-sqaure-foot showroom holds curiosities such as a zebra-skin drum table and an Art Deco fire screen. An onsite Museum of Historic Chicago Architecture is in the works. [Photo: via Yelp]
Owner Crystal Blackshaw refinishes vintage and antique furniture using what she loves: "bold colors, glamorous hardware, and fun fabrics." Along with furniture, the boutique features accessories (think owl lamps), and other services include interior design. [Photo: via Chic Antique]
With a combination of antiques and original designs, Mecox offers goods for outdoor and indoor living spaces. You'll find vintage Italian magazine holders, velvet chairs, nesting bowls, and more. [Photo: via Mecox]
The elegant and airy tabletop shop and bridal registry stocks fine china, everyday dinnerware, and home accessories. Merchandise comes from international brands including Astier de Villatte and Reichenbach. [Photo: via Facebook]
Jayson Home staffers bill "beautiful things" as their number- one obsession. Indeed, a common thread of good taste runs through the selection of modern and vintage furniture, lighting, pillows, textiles, and tableware—there are even beautiful ceramic candles edged in gold. The store's annual fall flea markets are legendary (and, sometimes, disco-ball-flecked.) [Photo: via Facebook]
Salvage One's mission is to save architectural elements "from the wrecking ball." The space—which is a popular backdrop for weddings and events—holds curiosities ranging from an antique post office's mail sorter to a Skee-Ball arcade game. [Photo: via Salvage One]
One of four Rug Company showrooms in the United States, this airy River North spot showcases beautifully designed rugs made from high-quality Tibetan wool. There are also beautiful wall hangings from designers like Alexander McQueen. [Photo: via The Rug Company]
This gorgeous, lantern-decked spot feels like an exotic wonderland of Asian and European antiques. Offerings include rare and ancient artifacts, an elm wood chair from 17th century France, and a British Colonial bed from 1930s Thailand. [Photo: via Golden Triangle]
Okay, so it's less a store than a gargantuan wonderland of showrooms. The Merchandise Mart—which spans two city blocks—has first-floor boutiques that are open to the general public (not just the trade.) Those "Luxe Home" showrooms showcase kitchen and bath fixtures, tiles, sinks, counter tops, and more. [Photo: via The Merchandise Mart]
This is the retail arm for Fredman's residential and commercial interior design firm. Billed by a reader as a "hidden gem" just a stone's throw from the Merchandise Mart, the shop stocks decor and contemporary furniture. [Photo: via Susan Fredman at Home]
Owners Jeannine Dal Pra and Toby Glickman scour the globe for the items they call "objets s'art." Find branch candlesticks, Tibetan lamb wool stools, and a black porcelain Buddha tray with 24-karat-gold accents. [Photo: via Facebook]
Known for its refreshingly reasonably prices, Nadeau stocks handcrafted, hardwood furniture from around the globe. Pieces have natural and painted finishes. [Photo: via Nadeau Furniture With a Soul]
Every piece tells a story at P.O.S.H. The welcoming shop is filled with hotel silver, reclaimed restaurant china, and flea-market finds including vintage canning jars and a painted oyster plate from France. [Photo: via P.O.S.H.]
Housed in a landmark building that was constructed in 1912, this location of Design Within Reach offers multiple floors of workspace furniture, lighting, accessories, and more. [Photo: via Design Within Reach]
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Room & Board specializes in modern furniture and home goods. Inventory highlights American brands, and many goods are handmade by artisans. [Photo: via Room & Board]
This mega-chain gets a spot on our list for its hometown roots: The first Crate & Barrel shop opened in a converted elevator factory in Old Town in 1962. These days, the store still stocks well-designed pieces—ranging from furniture to glassware—and relatively reasonable prices.[Photo: via Facebook]
Enclosed in glass, this 20,000-sqaure-foot showroom has products displayed on catwalks that wrap around a central atrium. Lightology is known as the largest U.S. distributor of high-end contemporary and transitional lighting. [Photo: via Lightology]
With locations in Winnetka and Chicago, Material Possessions specializes in hand-crafted pieces of functional art. Owners pride themselves on adding a bit of whimsy to the inventory, so look out for unusual items such as the Pebble Exercise Ball. [Photo: via Facebook]
With the tagline "live who you are," this lifestyle showroom offers a wide range of services. Included: design, optical services, and real-estate brokerage. The retail section stocks modern furniture, lighting, and conversation-starting accessories such as artist Harry Allen's shimmery blue pickup truck. [Photo: via I.D. Chicago]
Founded by two architects back in 2001, Orange Skin offers modern design from international artists. Staffers consult on several aspects of design, including space planning and interior design—the showroom also offers rentals for commercials and films. [Photo: via Orange Skin]
Rome-born designer Alessandra Branca oversees this by-appointment showroom. On display: porcelain dinner plates edged in rich wood patterns, a scallop-framed canape upholstered in rich red velvet, and cocktail napkins embroidered with stag heads. [Photo: via Facebook]
Housed in a restored, Moorish-style temple, the four-story shop is stocked with furniture, home accessories, and registry items—there's also an in-store Nespresso boutique. [Photo: via Yelp]
True to its name, this charming shop offers custom-painted vintage furniture along with new pieces. In the ever-changing inventory, you may find industrial lanterns, vintage quilts, and French dining tables. Look for the four-legged (and bone-chewing) greeter, Babbs. [Photo: via The Painted Lady]
Owner Mary Garvey James constantly shakes up her inventory, which offers what she calls: "distinguished design for all budgets." Find mirrored trays, Italian leather chairs, and a sunburst chandelier. [Photo: via Classic Remix]
With locations in Highwood and Chicago, the Find offers antiques that range from vintage Swedish pillows to a pair of 1930's metal Foo dragons. [Photo: via The Find]
Stocking Mid-Century-style furniture and accessories, this welcoming shop sources its products from Midwestern and eco-friendly vendors. [Photo: via Neighborly]
This design studio and shop stocks furniture and accessories alongside its carefully curated collection of artisan-made jewelry, ceramics, and glass. [Photo: via Morlen Sinoway Atelier]
Billed as a "vintage modern shop," this Humboldt House store has a great assortment of textiles and vintage kitchen goods; there are also backpacks, jewelry designs, and more from local artists. [Photo: via Humboldt House]
This funky shop stocks previously owned goods for home and garden, and has a noble mission: "to connect good people with great stuff." Items include original artwork, saddles, chests, tables, chairs, and more. [Photo: via Stuff]
This father-son business cuts prices and inefficiency by shipping directly to their Chicago store (which also makes them eco-friendly.) The categories on their website give a good indication of their style: "Art of Kilim," "Chicago Flag Swag," and "Amazing India" are among the options. [Photo: via Wrightwood Furniture]
This gallery-style store carries a wide range of unusual antiques. Bonus: The owners also curate a top-notch vintage jewelry collection stocked with Chanel and more. [Photo: via Douglas Rosin]
Inside Home specializes in two distinct flavors of retro: the glitz of 1930s Hollywood Regency style, and the sleek and arty "Mad Men" look of midcentury modern. [Photo: via Inside Home]
This multi-floor showroom in the West Loop offers a mix of modern and antique furniture and decor from some 100 international cultures. Of note is the in-house "Five Elements" library and book store, which offers tomes on history, culture, and design. On the second floor, the richly detailed Buddha room is a popular spot for private events. [Photo: via Primitive]
The Pilsen store, which has a new home in Thalia Hall, constantly updates its selection of modern-vintage and handmade finds. On our wish list: handwoven pillows and adorable, Chicago-themed artworks from Emmy Star Brown. [Photo: via Facebook]
Housed in the Bridgeport Art Center, the 12,000-square-foot showroom is billed as Chicago's first furniture consignment warehouse. Arranged in striking vignettes, the furniture selection rotates constantly. [Photo: via Coyle & Herr]
This is how we picture the set of a film shot by Tory Burch. Owner and interior designer Cindy Bardes Galvin stocks the shop with lighting, furniture, and accessories; some of the goods come from Parisian flea markets. [Photo: via Maze Home]
This Clark Street shop sells refinished vintage furniture from the 1900s to 1960s. The inventory's colors are updated seasonally with low-VOC paints, shoppers can design their own lamps at the Lamp Bar. [Photo: via Facebook]
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