Hi all! I live in the Chicago burbs (far west) and am looking for a some places to take the significant other furniture shopping. I am very partial to modern designs, which I attribute to growing up around antiques on a farm. I am trying to sell her on the look and want to take her to some shops. I was familiar with one shop in Mundelien(sp?) on Townline road but that was sometime ago and have not been able to confirm if they are still there. I like vintage but any type of place would do. Thanks for any help.
Josh
edit to clarify: When I say modern I mostly mean mid century classics... eames, nelson, Noguchi and such. THANKS!
Several places in Chicago
like ours, Pegboard Modern. There is also Urban Artifacts, Modern Times, Casati, the Antique Malls on the northside, Wright Auctions, etc. if you are looking for vintage. There are also places to get new modern, both classic and contemporary. Look at Luminaire, Orange Skin, Lightology, and Modernica (while they are still there, they are closing their Chicago showroom soon). Check around on line then plan on spending a long day visiting several shops.
http://www.pegboardmodern.com
Chicago vs. Minneapolis
You're damn lucky to live in Chicagoland....all we have up here in Minneapolis is Design Within Reach. We've got Room and Board too, but it's like DWR...they pick and choose and carry very little.
What about going to the Merchandise Mart and sniffing around the wholesale showrooms?
PegBoard
Pegboards suggestions are spot on. BAM (Broadway Antiques Mall) wayyyy north at the end of Lake Shore Drive carries a hefty selection of MCM, great start for discovering diversity in style and prices. Moderntimes is a great smallish specialty store. Prices are debatable, but they have wonderful pieces that should solicit and encourage appreciation by your wife.
The others Pegboard suggested, I've yet to visit. Good luck!
There was an interview in...
There was an interview in one of the last two issues of Atomic Ranch with a dealer in Denver whose wife wasn't into modern. She quickly changed her mind when, they joined houses, she sold off her pottery barn and particle board stuff and took a giant loss while her new husband would buy modern and, when he wanted a change, sell the old pieces at cost or with a hefty profit. Might want to find that article for some opinion swaying tips.
My Chi-town picks line up...
My Chi-town picks line up with pegboard. I have seen the pegboard website... its quite good.
I am a real bargin shopper, and rarely buy from the mentioned shops, because I know the ebay prices are many times 30-50% of walk in retail. If you can be patient, buy low and sell high (when your collection changes).
If I was to sell someone on modern, I would take them to Modernica's store (but it just closed). The Knoll showroom is still a good stop, see the classics from the studio line. Visit the whole Merchandise Mart on a weekday, and esp check the Knoll and Maharam stores.
Modern Times is a favorite stop of mine (allow 30 minutes). A preview to Wright's auction house and modern sales is the big time. Treadway has great modern sales also. Broadway Antique Mart is also a great stop. Allow 2 hours at BAM! We just missed the Winnetka modernism show, and the Dolphin modernism show is usually in June.
The Atomic Ranch mag is great for ideas, as is Modernism.
have fun
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