Bang & Olufsen
609 N. State St.
312.787.6006
Monday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday 11 to 5
bang-olufsen.com
For 80 years, groundbreaking aesthetics coupled with sci-fi features have set this Danish manufacturer apart from the electronics fray. Renowned for
its distinctive, high-end electronics, products are intended to reflect cutting-edge industrial design in appearance and function.
COUNT ON FINDING: Visually stunning, supremely distinctive products. The maker unveils only four or five new products each year, such as state-of-the-art speakers, touch-screen remote controls and a plasma-screen television so striking that customers joke they enjoy watching it when it's off, too.
WHAT'S NEW? Electronics as art takes on new form with the recently launched BeoVision 8. Like most of the Danish company's products, the jaw-dropping 32-inch flexible LCD television is almost impossibly sleek and modern, but also adds new functionality at an entry-level price point.


Bloomingdale's Home & Furniture Store
600 N. Wabash Ave.
312.324.7500
Monday – Saturday 10 to 8, Sunday 11 to 7
bloomingdales.com
The historic Medinah Temple provides an impressive, multistory residence for the exclusive specialty home and furniture store. Expect a wonderful mix of price points and styles as well as an “At Your Service” specialist offering complimentary personal shopping along with a comprehensive Bridal Registry department.
COUNT ON FINDING: Designer wares to outfit the home in the style to which you are accustomed. With a merchandise assortment that is in sync with the latest
seasonal trends, expect to find a sophisticated selection including an expansive collection of Wedgwood china and Waterford crystal.
WHAT'S NEW? Whether you are shopping for a wedding gift or simply looking to make your grill sizzle, the well-stocked store is brimming with attractive options. In addition to the array of fine housewares,
visitors to the city can receive information about the store and other local attractions as well as a complimentary gift with purchase when they stop by Customer Service on Level 2.


Champagne Furniture Gallery
65 W. Illinois St.
312.923.9800
Monday – Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 11 to 5
champagnefurniture.com
The upscale furniture gallery specializes in traditional-style furnishings. Its exclusive selection is often sought out by independent interior designers looking for magnificent European-style pieces such as library bookcases, large dining tables and sofas custom-made in silks, mohair and leather.
COUNT ON FINDING: A collection of handcrafted Italian furniture, namely Provasi, which is exclusive locally to the showroom. Offerings also include accessories from across the world in porcelain, bronze, crystal and rare varieties of stone.
WHAT'S NEW? New items are constantly arriving, and hot sellers for summer include a new collection of original Impressionistic oil paintings by a variety
of artists, and stunning porcelain and bronze accessories.


Christofle
900 N. Michigan Ave., Level 1
312.664.9700
Monday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday 12 to 6
christofle.com
Having been the preeminent supplier of fine sterling silver, crystal and china to the European aristocracy, Christofle continues to create a variety of
elegantly sophisticated products from gold and silver tableware and dining table accessories to decorative pieces of silver, crystal and porcelain.
COUNT ON FINDING: Ornate candelabrum gleam inside the softly lit space while entire sets of sterling silverware and delicate crystal pieces shine in display cases. Designs range from traditional to modern, detailed to simple, and all are painstakingly fashioned using centuries-old techniques.
WHAT'S NEW? Christofle is increasingly broadening its collection to include more gifts and decorative objects for all those occasions that call for a beautiful present. From desk, bar and smoke accessories to delicate cups and saucers for children to Adam Tihany-designed martini glasses, each is a sure treasure.


Chiaroscuro
835 N. Michigan Ave., Level Two 312.988.9253
Monday – Friday 10 to7,   Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5
www.chiaroart.com
Part gift shop, part gallery, Chiaroscuro offers handcrafted housewares, decorative items and art pieces with a fanciful bent.
COUNT ON FINDING: Elegant hand-painted Romanian stemware sharing space with goofy nose-shaped eyeglass holders. With items for travel, home and hearth by 200 artisans from all over the world, from brightly hued painted cabinets to rhinestone-encrusted compacts, there are plenty of options for unique personalities. Custom pieces can be arranged as well.
WHAT'S NEW? Holiday “Critters,” individually handcrafted stuffed figures that add a country touch to winter decoration.


Crosell & Co.
1922 N. Damen Ave., 773.252.9010
Tuesday – Saturday 11 to 7, Sunday 12 to 5, Monday by appointment
crosellandco.com
Find an ideal lineup of European designers for the home inside this quaint Bucktown two-story cottage.
COUNT ON FINDING: Shoppers should look here for refined yet distinctive home entertaining items and décor. Owner Dianne Crosell stocks unique furniture finds, decorative accessories, tableware and glassware and gifts for all occasions to adorn and enhance the home.
WHAT’S NEW? Handcrafted by skilled artisans, the marbelized glass-and-pewter serving ware from Arte Italicia balances function and art and creates a one-of-a-kind table. Juliska's new addition to its pottery line, Jardins du Monde, features intricate detailing that celebrates the splendor of the most beautiful gardens in Italy, France, Spain and England.


Design Inc.
1359 W. Grand Ave.,
312.243.4333
Wednesday and Friday 10 to 6, Thursday 10 to 9, Saturday and Sunday 11 to 6, or by appointment
designinchicago.com
Art lovers of all tastes are drawn to Bill Bruss' near west side boutique for its eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary fine furniture, sculpture, art and creative home accessories. A force in residential and commercial interior design as the founder of BBD Design, Bruss's talent for transforming dreams into reality is showcased via offerings that feature exotic upholstering, rich colors, and unique works of art in all mediums.
COUNT ON FINDING: Unique, artfully-designed pieces in an accessible, customer-centered retail environment. Art collides with function in a diverse stock that draws on design talent worldwide including multifunctional modular sofas, whimsical chaise lounges and sculptural wine racks.
WHAT'S NEW? Put a twist on the traditional interior with a unique sofa systems designed to be taken apart and put back together in a myriad of functional ways. As Bruss prepares to move into a larger storefront in the fall of 2008, he has expanded his range to include new estate lighting that can be customized to any size and shape.


Embelezar
1639 N. Damen Ave., 773.645.9705
Monday – Friday 11 to 7, Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5
Stepping into Suzanne Rafenstein's 10-year-old home-décor boutique, whose name in Portuguese means “to embellish or become beautiful,” feels like walking into your well-traveled friend's living room that's stocked with rare souvenirs from everywhere from Africa to Vietnam.
COUNT ON FINDING: Fortuny hand-painted silk light fixtures from Venice, antique Chinese cabinets, Maria Yee cabinets, armoires, benches, Kevin O'Brien accent pillows, French soaps, beeswax candles, hand-painted Peruvian mirrors, pulley chandeliers, vintage frames made with antique lace.
WHAT'S NEW? One-of-a-kind hand-dyed and hand-woven wool rugs from the Belouche and Soumak tribes of Afghanistan, stone pendants from New Zealand, metal end tables from Morocco, Tatar cabinets from Pakistan and Afghanistan, Asian cabinets.

Home Element
600 N. Michigan Ave., Level 3
312.787.3358
Monday – Friday 10 to 7,
Saturday 10 to 6,
Sunday 12 to 5
homeelementfurniture.com
Distinctive contemporary furnishings and well-crafted case goods share the spotlight with authentic Chinese antiques in stunning room-after-room
collections at this Michigan Avenue
showroom.
COUNT ON FINDING: A wide variety of modern, sleek furniture for the urban- living environment including living room, bedroom and dining room selections. Popular items include sectional sofas, customizable wall units and attractive storage units by makers like Natuzzi, Rossetto and Calligaris.
WHAT'S NEW? Design and function merge in innovative Italian-made wall- bed systems. The unique space-saving units make a handsome addition to a loft or modern apartment and provide an open space by day and a comfortable bed by night.


Kachi Bachi
2041 N. Damen Ave., 773.645.8640
Monday – Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5
www.kachibachi.com
Claudia Pareja's full-service store/studio/ gallery space specializes in creating custom window treatments, bedding, shower curtains, throws and accent pillows, but she's recently added “Kachi Bachi for her” —a collection of women's clothing from Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
COUNT ON FINDING: Embroidered fabrics for home design, handmade accouterments from tissue boxes to pillows and curtains embellished with fringe, fabric, buttons and ribbons. A seasonally rotating and well-edited collection of South American women's clothing designers that range from $18 to $1,500.
WHAT'S NEW? New South America designers like Patachou, Aha and Amissima, long, wool sweater dresses by Tacklers, embroidered coats with vintage buttons, heavy knit wool coats, every-season ruffled cotton blouses, high-waisted cigarette pants. Pareja redesigns and repaints the store to reflect her latest inspirations; this fall look for yellow, pewter and purple tones to be reflected in the store's fabrics and apparel.

Mary Mary
706 N. Dearborn St.
312.654.8100
Monday – Saturday 11 to 7, Sunday 12 to 5 and by appointment
marymarygifts.com
This inviting, slightly off-the-beaten-path shop is the type that inevitably has something delightful and not too expensive for the home or the closet (or the last-minute birthday). You'll feel like you discovered a secret stash of frames, bags and quirky decorative items chosen especially for you.
COUNT ON FINDING: Exotic handblown glass perfume flaçons, shiny lacquered bowls, embroidered straw bags and mounted antiques from Asia. Kids will squeal over tiny tea sets, unique wooden toys and even a wigwam. At the high end, hand-carved armoires transform even the simplest abode into a castle.
WHAT'S NEW? Go green this summer with eco-friendly finds such as mango-tree bowls and wooden toys for the home. Cute and colorful watering cans will have you asking Mary Mary, how does your garden grow?


Michaelian & Kohlberg
401 N. LaSalle St., 312.467.1490
Monday – Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5
www.michaelian.com
Award-winning rug designs from India, China and Nepal in a head-spinning assortment of colors, styles, size and materials.
COUNT ON FINDING: A rug to suit virtually every taste: contemporary, transitional and traditional styles to please minimalists, sensualists and everyone in between. Patterns include simple stripes, intricate Oriental motifs and abstract graphics. Traditional methods like time-intensive hand-knotting techniques and materials like natural dyes and handspun wool result in heirloom-quality pieces. To add even more Asian flair to an abode, there are antique painted chests, wooden tables and polished horn boxes.
WHAT'S NEW? The Gibraltar collection, carpets of hand-spun Turkish yarn whose rich colors and contemporary graphics recall Moroccan and mid-century design.


P.A. Larkin
118 W. Kinzie St.
312.527.1217
Monday – Saturday 10 to 5 or by appointment
palarkin.com
Sleek Asian furnishings of enduring design and detail are handcrafted here using authentic methods that have withstood the test of time. Owners Anne Larkin and Peggy Jones sell one-of-a-kind antiques and an expanding group of furniture collections in the store.
COUNT ON FINDING: High-end bedroom, living room and dining room furniture that include both antiques and new collections from contemporary Asian furniture designers. Each of the solid wood pieces are made using traditional tongue-and-groove methods and are available for customization in a number of finishes, sizes and different woods.
WHAT'S NEW? Bring the unique design elements of the Far East to your home and get picky with cabinets, tables and multimedia entertainment centers. The options don't end there—after you've selected your piece, choose the size, wood and finish.


Pauline Grace  
1414 N. Kingsbury St., 312.280.9880
Monday – Friday 9 to 5:30, or by appointment on Saturdays and evenings
www.pauline-grace.com
At this River North contemporary furniture showroom the name of the game is instant gratification—a good selection of the artwork and furniture can be purchased right off the floor.
COUNT ON FINDING: A wide selection of art and multi-functional furniture including upholstery, seating, bar stools, dining and bedroom case goods, wall systems, lighting and accessories. Original paintings by four local Chicago artists are also available for purchase directly off the floor.
WHAT'S NEW? An Italian “Poly” chair by Karim Rashid, renowned in Milan, new upholstery pieces by Della Robbia and chenille throws by Textillery. Also look for pieces in exotic woods, such as macassar ebony (a zebra-like wood) by Cent'Anni, new to the store this fall.

P.O.S.H.
613 N. State St.
312.280.1602
Monday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday 11 to 5
poshchicago.com
A year-round European flea market in the heart of Chicago, P.O.S.H. offers the experience of wandering into a small storefront in Paris or Provence.
COUNT ON FINDING: Pieces for the kitchen and home with an evocative history: vintage hotel silver, restaurant china and flea-market picks such as vintage Swiss Army blankets and colorful seltzer bottles from Argentina. But there are also plenty of new treasures including cute breakfast plates adorned with pineapples and guidebooks to help you plan your own Grand Tour.
WHAT'S NEW? Local sports enthusiasts and history buffs will have their plates full with more than 2,000 pieces of vintage silver and china formerly belonging to the Chicago Athletic Association. Stamped with the social club's distinctive emblem, it's a not-to-be-missed opportunity to own a piece of the city's unique and treasured past.


Pratesi Linens
67 E. Oak St.
312.943.8422
Monday – Saturday 10 to 6
pratesi.com
You'll never know what you've been missing until you've spent the night on a bed fitted with Pratesi luxury. The Chicago store—the only U.S. location to be remodeled to reflect the classic elegance of the brand—offers some of the most beautiful cotton confections around in a soothing contemporary setting.
COUNT ON FINDING: Peerless linens that will keep you in bed. Known for superior thread count and softness, the Italian maker also offers lavish bathrobes, beachwear, wool and cashmere blankets and accessories.
WHAT'S NEW? A day at the beach becomes a luxury experience when you dry off with Pratesi's famous collection of beach towels. Beach bags and accessories add to the experience. Exclusive items also include exceptional Egyptian linens in several new styles, colors and thread counts.


Quinlan's
2211 N. Elston Ave., 773.394.3433
Monday – Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 11 to 4
For those looking for unique pieces of furniture or hoping to breathe new life into a dated piece, this Lincoln Park mainstay has specialized in restoring or custom-building furniture for more than 40 years.
COUNT ON FINDING: Shoppers can expect plenty of help from a highly trained staff of talented furniture restorers, along with designer fabrics from Kravet and Robert Allen. Look, too, for retro-chic colors and innovative shapes that are pop-art perfection à la Andy Warhol.
WHAT’S NEW? If you want brand-new, Quinlan's also does custom work from sofas to ottomans; headboards to lavish window treatments.

Scandia Down
900 N. Michigan Ave., 312.981.1776
Monday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday 12 to 6
www.scandiadown.com
Luxurious European linens and cloud-like comforters transform a blah bedroom into a welcoming sanctuary.
COUNT ON FINDING: Cunningly embroidered linen hand towels, 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton Italian-made Jacquard linens, snug light-, medium- and ultrawarmth comforters to keep the winter chill at bay. When you shop here, you're shopping for the next generation: signed and numbered pillows are meant to last a lifetime and beyond. The experience doesn't end after you've signed your receipt: the store will “adjust” comforters and pillows (adding or subtracting down) after a month or two of use and also offers expert restoration and cleaning services. The only drawback? Your reputation as an eccentric when you start bringing your own bedding everywhere.
WHAT'S NEW? Unique linens in contemporary patterns from Italian producers.


The Silk Trading Co.
900 N. Michigan Ave., 312.664.7600
Monday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday 12 to 6
www.silktrading.com
Discover sumptuous silk and embroidered draperies, custom bedding, upholstered furniture and a dizzying selection of other types of textiles, from burlap to velvet.
COUNT ON FINDING: Items to make texture and color an integral part of the domestic landscape like silk pillows in ice cream hues and elegant slipper chairs in intricate damask patterns. Adorn the home with wood side tables with an Asian flair, topped with Thai silk jewelry boxes and Slatkin & Co. candles in scents like Bamboo and Jasmine. Get inspired with the selection of coffee-table–style books.
WHAT'S NEW? Expect a new selection of fine fabrics and furniture styles for the fall season.


Thos. Moser
607 N. State St.
312.867.4900
Monday – Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 11 to 5
thosmoser.com
Thos. Moser brings the lost art of fine woodworking to Chicago with clean-lined, distinctive handcrafted furniture that celebrates the natural beauty of hardwood. Appropriately housed in the historic Tree Studios, the showroom displays a broad selection of its award-winning designs, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff is on hand to assist in your selection every step of the way.
COUNT ON FINDING: Well-crafted furnishings that epitomize understated elegance made of American black cherry. Moser furniture ties the discipline of classic Japanese joinery to the functionality of other styles such as Arts & Crafts, American Shaker and German Bauhaus.
WHAT'S NEW? Summer brings new additions to Moser's well-established Edo collection with pieces such as the Edo Rocker and Edo Cantilevered Side Table. Like what you see? The showroom's exclusive “Take It Home” policy allows eager customers to purchase and carry away nearly every piece currently on the floor.


Workroom
1906 W. Belmont Ave. 773.472.2140
Tuesday – Saturday 10 to 6 by appointment
www.workroominc.com
Joel Klaff and John Diekmann, the men behind the curtain at this high-end drapery and upholstery showroom, make current looks jump from the pages of magazines into clients' homes.
COUNT ON FINDING: Silk, linen, wool and velvet fabrics in a variety of colors, textures and styles. Inventive window treatments, custom bedding collections and contemporary home accessories and furniture are creatively combined and sure to inspire ingenuity.
WHAT'S NEW? The same stylish staples in neutral palettes with hits of unexpected color.


Wow & Zen
1912 N. Damen Ave., 773.269.2600
Tuesday – Wednesday 12 to 6, Thursday – Friday 12 to 7, Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 11 to 4
www.wowandzen.com
Owner RJ Seidel makes frequent trips to China, Tibet, Burma and Mongolia to fill his store with a well-edited and well-priced array of antiques from 1850 – 1950.
COUNT ON FINDING: Jade and horsehair calligraphy brushes from China, Chinese wedding cabinets, Tibetan trunks from the 1900s, wooden window screens, grain baskets, hand-painted document boxes, bronze Buddha heads.
WHAT'S NEW? Home design elements that mix the antique and modern. Think low hand-painted wooden bench to accommodate a flat-screen TV or dropping a new sink into a hand-carved Mongolian cabinet.


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