Move over Michigan Avenue—from Wicker Park to Wilmette, gifting awaits at these three chic Chicago-area shops.
The Golden Triangle
The selection of goods at The Golden Triangle belies the shopkeeper’s Midwestern roots. Doug Van Tress, a Michigan native who opened his first shop in Chicago in 1989, embarks on trips to source vintage pieces and antiques as well as contemporary goods from Asia and Europe. The West Town shop is a treasure trove, where artful vignettes display club chairs, midcentury coffee tables, sideboards and all manner of lighting in over 10,000 square feet. The store also hosts special exhibitions, such as the current display of Indian Art Deco furniture running through November. “We have an ancient and modern aesthetic that mixes pieces from different periods and places into a coherent whole,” Van Tress notes. “We also have an atelier-workshop where we do restoration and custom fabrication. There is no facility like it in Chicago.” Gift givers would do well to select a vintage wooden bowl for fruit or an Indian papier-mâché vessel ideal for dried flowers.
Marigold Market
Recently opened, Marigold Market offers a curated selection of home goods that aims to inspire soulful living. “Everything has a use or significance so that customers can feel proud of their find and bring an intentional piece of decor into their homes,” says founder Maham Khan. Prioritizing craftsmanship and sustainability, the Wicker Park-based shop works with vendors and artisans who are masters at their practice, including rug weavers, ceramicists and potters from across the globe. For holiday shoppers, Khan suggests gifting a bowl, tray or vase designed in-house and made of marble, onyx or travertine. Almost everything is handmade and limited in supply. “We operate as a true market where what’s available today may not be restocked due to artisan availability and capacity,” she explains. “It keeps curating fresh and exciting.”
Space 519
Designer bags, clothes and jewelry sit alongside luxury apothecary and inspired home and gift items at Space 519’s newest location in Wilmette. Recently opened at the historic Plaza del Lago, the store offers accent furniture, oversize coffee table books and barware from lines such as Fornasetti, L’Objet and Georg Jensen. Owners Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel traverse the globe to bring the very best back to Chicagoland. “We are constantly traveling in search of the coolest brands and are thrilled to share our findings with the lakefront communities,” Lawson shares. After dining at one of the store’s three eateries, Lawson proposes picking up Aerin’s shagreen mahjong set or Reflections Copenhagen’s cobalt crystal bonbonnière as the perfect gift.
