This Week’s Top Story

You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. Instead of starring third-generation brothers Walter III, Tim, and Mark, the new ones put the spotlight on fourth-generation sisters Caitie, Meghan, Maureen, and Colleen.

Introduced to the family business at an early age—“I can recall pigtails in my hair, getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled,” says Meghan—the four daughters of Walter Smithe III have embraced their own roles for the Itasca, Illinois-based company; Meghan is director of marketing, Colleen is director of advertising, Maureen is a buyer, and Caitie is a designer.

Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were “right on” when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. She also sees more demand for curation: “Rather than walking into a store and getting an entire matching bedroom or dining set, people are mixing and matching and getting a look that’s uniquely theirs.”

The new ED Ellen DeGeneres furniture collection (now available at all 11 Walter E. Smithe showrooms) allows for just that—and it includes versatile pieces that transcend their typical use. As Caitie puts it, “There’s no reason you can’t use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.”

Interior Intel

Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. 1E, kneenandco.com) continues to add to its Robbe & Berking assortment with the new Martelé Bar collection, which features bar cart staples like handmade silver tumblers and cocktail coupes as well as bottle openers and nutcrackers. Shop the label.

Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. 1428, hollyhunt.com) has expanded its Great Plains textile offering with the Foreign Affair collection, which has a mix of warm and cool neutrals. Check out the new collection.

Sales

Updating your home theater? Through March 7, EuroFurniture (2145 W. Grand Ave., eurofurniture.com) is offering 15 percent off BDI media cabinets and consoles available in-store, online, and by phone. Shop now.

Receive a 20 percent discount on sofas, love seats, sectionals, chaises, and more at Cassona (5241 N. Clark St., cassona.com) through March 13. Shop the Sofa Sale.

Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). Start shopping.

Bargain-hunters, take note: Artistica (990 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, artistica.com) has gotten a jumpstart on spring cleaning and updated its clearance selection to include more than 600 items (including custom-painted majolica backsplash panels) discounted by 50 percent. Shop the clearance.

Event

Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. between Scott Ave. and Tower Rd., Winnetka, shophwdd.com) hosts a First Friday event on the North Shore. From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. View a map of participating First Friday locations.