One Mag Mall
I recently picked up a few things at Bloomingdale’s downtown Chicago location, and at some point between “Looking for anything in particular?” and “Receipt in the bag, okay?” the skies opened up with one of those awesome, torrential summer storms. So I decided to have a little shop, and wait out the rain. If you haven’t been over to the 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops in a while, you might be surprised at the recent home-design doings, both openings and reinventions. On three, Wolf Home (née the Silk Trading Company) had this glamorous emerald Monroe sofa vamping in the window—it’s part of a new line of handcrafted furniture that the company has introduced. The store also had a plush selection of pillows, lampshades, and window treatments, and shelves of art books, candles, and gifts (I’m happy to see they kept the huge fluffy ceiling fixture made of silk cocoons, through the rebranding). Crosell & Co. has weathered the move from its cute Bucktown cottage swimmingly, and the shop’s looking great, with a heady mix of tableware and furniture from the likes of Michael Aram, Juliska, Vietri, and MacKenzie-Childs. Its neighbor on five, space519, is a funky urban general store stocking everything from cookbooks and foodstuffs to vintage lighting and oddities to jewelry and clothing (it’s currently hosting a small pop-up Topshop for the next month or so, as a teaser for the opening of the British clothing store’s outpost down the street, later this year). On four, the colorful French cookware and whimsical tabletop offerings at the welcoming Genevieve Lethu store got me in a summer state of mind (don’t miss the sale table in the back, s’il vous plait), and made me contemplate just how often I might use a set of miniature terrines. The multilevel browsing had me a tad tuckered out at this point, and I was tempted to crawl into one of the seductive displays of Egyptian cotton linens and goose-down comforters at Scandia Down, but the rain had let up so this itsy-bitsy shopper rallied and made his way home. I’ll be back.
AllSaints Comes Marching In
While you’re Boul Mich–ing it, stroll down the street a few blocks and check out the design of the new 11,000-square-foot AllSaints Spitalfields shop at 700 North Michigan, tucked between Zara and Saks. This edgy British clothing line has a bloody good creative team on staff and a distinct aesthetic, with hundreds of vintage sewing machines lining the front windows, steel beams echoing industrial train stations, antique looms used as display fixtures, and wide weathered wood flooring. AllSaints came on my radar when its equally enticing Santa Monica location lured me in on a recent Cali vacay, and even if you’re a bit long in the tooth for skinny jeans and Clockwork Orange boots, this place is definitely worth checking out for design inspiration.
Salaam, Nadeau
If you’re thinking Devon Avenue is the only Northside destination for Indian, sari, that’s naan-sense. Nadeau’s Chicago store manager, Keith Heric, told me he’s just finished unpacking 250 new pieces of traditional, rustic, and modern Indian furniture at the 4433 North Ravenswood Avenue warehouse location, and, as with all Nadeau’s masala of merchandise, it’s very reasonably priced. If you were inspired by the furniture made with reclaimed materials that’s been shown lately at the Guerrilla Truck Show or various showrooms around town, but aren’t yet ready to chutney-up that kind of money, maybe you’ll find a gateway piece here that will suit your needs. This handsome multicolored cabinet stands 72” high and is 36” deep, and sells for $620. Preview the collection here.
Fish Out Of Water
Sad to report that Forest Park’s Two Fish Art Glass studio and shop is closing, mid-July, after 12 years. Co-owners Tonya Hart and Cec Hardacker cite a faltering economy and the stumbling housing market as reasons for the decision to shutter. The crafty and classy ladies can refer you to other sources for custom stained glass work, lamp repair, and Fish-approved classes, and they are currently liquidating merchandise, store fixtures, and supplies for half off. Two Fish is located at 7401 West Madison Street, and you can get more info and wish them well at 708-366-6800.
Pottery Tent
A lot of people head up to Harbor Country for the Fourth of July holiday, and if you’re one of those happy campers (or B&B’ers, or boaters…), swing by Customs Imports in New Buffalo, Michigan, for their biggest sale of the year. Dee Dee Duhn, owner of both the store and a fantastic name, travels the world on buying trips and sends all manner of rugs, Indonesian puppets, African wood carvings, ethnic jewelry, and candles home to 430 South Whittaker Street, right off Exit 1. Of particular appeal is the collection of frost-resistant Vietnamese pottery she stocks in great variety, and displays in front of the store. The tent is already up and goods are ready to go for this annual event, running July 1 through July 11, 10–8:00 daily (Domestica readers can head over today for presale bargains). Expect up to 70 percent off throughout the store as well, and enter to win a $200 store credit.