North Shore Exposure
Taking a meandering drive up Sheridan Road to the North Shore is a splendid way to spend a summer day, especially if you are listening to ’80s music in tribute to John Hughes along the way. If you go, don’t you forget about checking out these new shops. (Don’t! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t!). Robert Bryan Home, 894 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 773-294-3031, is brought to you by interior designer Robert Levine and abstract artist Bryan Boomershine. Find eclectic accessories, furniture, lots of Boomershine’s artwork and full upholstery and design services. Another fun one is E.G.G. (Eclectic Gorgeous Goods), 378 Park Ave., Glencoe, 847-226-0626, a new vintage shop full of glassware, platters, mirrors, candlesticks, and curiosities. In July, Skändal (shopskandal.com) will open at 907 Green Bay Rd. in Winnetka. Don’t you love the name—I’m going there just so I can walk in and gasp, “Quel Skandal!” (That’s exactly what they want you to do, by the way.) The store will carry all things Scandinavian, from clothing and jewelry to home accessories, including pieces (such as the Barbara Carafe by Nina Jobs, shown here) from the fabulous Design House Stockholm. —Gina Bazer
The Market Days Aren’t Over!
What’s a summer weekend without some sort of vintage market? The newest on the block is Vintage Garage, coming to Uptown (5051 N. Broadway) the third Sunday of each month, starting June 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and going through October. How is this market different than all the others? For one, it’s only $3 to get in; also it’s held in a parking garage, so the haggling will go on rain or shine. Find furniture, home accessories, clothing, and jewelry. —GB
Resale Value
The Economy Shop in Oak Park is having its last sale of the summer Saturday, June 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Situated in an old Victorian house with offerings—including lots of home goods—in every room of three floors, this resale shop is a true original. Also in the area, Divine Consign always has great deals on gently used designer furniture (and a generous three-day return policy—a rarity in the used-stuff arena). Recently the shop has gotten in the contents of several model homes, as well as some pieces from French designer and Oak Park resident Hughes N’Cho-Allepot. If you have the energy for one more pit-stop, hit the Brown Elephant Resale Shop, where you might find granny-style living room chairs with a lot of potential, along with some stuff I dropped off last week. —GB
On Your Garden
Does your backyard look more boring than breathtaking? Start plotting how to fix it by taking a free tour of five gorgeous gardens next Saturday, June 23rd in Mundelein. Organized by the Gardeners of Central Lake County, the tour showcases towering old oaks, a serene waterfall, curving paths, and gorgeous lily ponds, like the one seen here. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas for how to mix perennials, ornamental grasses, vegetables, and other plants in the space you have available. Print out the map and directions from gclcil.com/2012GardenWalkMap.pdf or pick them up at the Cook Memorial Library (413 N. Milwaukee Ave.) and the Fremont Library (1170 N. Midlothian Rd.) in Mundelein. The tour is self-guided, so just go at your own pace any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., rain or shine. And while in Mundelein, swing by Thybony Blinds & Design—it’s one of our favorite places to find designer wallpaper. —Alice Oglethorpe
Simple Green
Let’s say you want to redo a room in your home, and you’d like to use materials that are as good for the environment as possible. Do you know how to distinguish the truly eco-friendly products from those that talk a green game but don’t really deliver on their promises? If you don’t (and who does?), head to Green Home Chicago on Saturday June 23rd from 2 to 4 p.m. Amanda Mahon, a LEED consultant and interior designer, is hosting a class called “New Trends in Green Design and Products.” She’ll take you through the store, which is packed with beautiful eco-friendly interior furnishings and finishes, and explain what will work best for your needs. You’ll hear about soy-silk rugs, recycled leather tiles, cork flooring, recycled glass countertops, and 100 percent mineral-based paint. With Amanda’s clear explanations of the different sustainable materials available, the hard part is going to be sticking to renovating one room and not your entire home. To register, click here. —AO