Chicago – Francois et Moi

Where to Shop for Vintage in Chicago

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 10 May 2016 14:32:40 +0000

Earlier this Spring, I counted down my favorite spots to hunt for vintage home treasures here in Minneapolis, and today I’m back on the topic, but this time in Chicago, my 2nd favorite Midwest City! #winkwink Summer is practically here, and you know what that means: ROADTRIP! Fellow Midwestern designer/blogger, Claire Staszak, of Centered by Design is here to give us the inside scoop on the best spots to shop for thrift and vintage pieces in her City (A.K.A. Her personal favorites for hunting vintage gems for both herself & clients.) Claire and I met on Instagram, and bonded over renovating our 1930’s era homes + our mutual love for all things vintage, so I was all-in when she suggested we collaborate. Take one look at her site or Instagram, and it’s not hard to see Claire has impeccable style and a love for good design. I knew she’d have the skinny on where to go. If you’re planning a Chicago roadtrip this summer, make sure to pin this map, so you know where to go when you’re there! The South Loop Loft / Canary Lane North Avenue Collective Modern Cooperative / Lost Girls Vintage Divine Consign Coyle and […]

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Andersonville Delight

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 03:46:30 +0000

When I asked my Chicago-native colleagues where we could find, for example, the local, avant-garde furniture-maker’s shop, or the one-off, home curiosities or vintage shop, I was told we had to visit Andersonville, a Swedish neighborhood on the Northside of Chicago with a growing reputation for small, soulful home boutiques. So on Saturday morning after brunch at The Bongo Room, we headed North on Clark Street to explore the neighborhood, and here’s what we found! Our first stop as we headed North on Clark was Foursided, a curiosities shop that I’d compare to Patina here in Minneapolis, only with more vintage gems mixed in. Everything from vintage maps and medical charts to greeting cards to local lithographs and art framing services, we thoroughly enjoyed the mix. Foursided. 5061 N. Clark St. Hallie Borden’s women’s clothing and accessories boutique, Milk Handmade, is an independent designer collective with friendly staff and reasonable boutique prices. Remember my ‘Midwest is Best’ tee that I found at Milk?! I love it not only for the hand screen-printed design, but also because I’m supporting the cause of the local creative community. Milk Handmade. 5137 N. Clark. Brimfield had me engaged from the moment I laid eyes on their store windows. The […]

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Chicago Sleeps & Eats

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:09:49 +0000

A few weeks prior to heading to Chicago, Ken and I really had no real plan for how we were going to spend our time. When I thought of Chicago, what came to mind were the quintessential landmarks: the Bean, the Navy Pier, the Chicago Theatre and the Merchandise Mart. These are all great things to see, but what I really wanted to do was get at the heart of what makes up the fabric of the city in terms of the restaurant scene and the local creatives doing cool things. Since both the food and creative scenes are constantly changing and evolving, it was tough to find good, current recommendations on the web, so thank goodness for the kind and thorough recommendations of our friends and colleagues, who put together the most comprehensive lists two tourists could ever hope for and really helped us discover the side of Chicago we were hoping to find! Here’s the breakdown of where we stayed and the restaurants we loved. Tomorrow I’ll breakdown our favorite neighborhood and local shops. We stayed at PUBLIC Chicago because we loved the historic-modern aesthetic, the great location in the heart of the Gold Coast, and the incredible […]

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Photo Journal: 42 Hours in Chicago

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:03:41 +0000

Ken and I spent 42 hours together in Chicago and created a photo journal from the events our trip. We were lucky to have awesome recommendations from resident friends and colleagues to help us maximize our limited time in this cool city (Thanks guys!). Check back tomorrow for the details on our accommodations, favorite restaurants, and recommended shops!

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Chicagoland Treasures

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 13:01:24 +0000

We had an incredible weekend exploring Chicago! Here’s a snapshot of the loot we picked up along the way: ‘Midwest is Best’ Tee: I came across this crazy soft, hand-screen printed tee by Megan Lee Designs at Milk Handmade, and as a proud Minneapolite, I loved the tee’s sentiment immediately. Milk Handmade is an approachable women’s clothing boutique nestled amongst the Andersonville home shops and was voted “Best New Boutique” by TimeOut Chicago in 2012. Milk Handmade. 5137 N. Clark. Rustic Chalk Pencil: Ken and I picked up this bark-wrapped chalk pencil at Brimfield, a fantastically curated vintage home shop where Mad Men meets Teddy Roosevelt’s Hunting Lodge. Think Pendleton Woolen Blankets, stuffed deer heads donning tartan scarves, and Don Draper approved bar ware. Brimfield. 5219 N. Clark. Public Hotel Notepad: We stayed at Public and enjoyed every minute of it. More on our experience later this week! PUBLIC Chicago. 1301 N. State Pkwy. Jimmy Bar!: Have you guys tried Jimmy Bars? They’re Chicago-made, gluten-free, dairy free and natural bars that pack a protein punch to keep you full and energized when you’re, say, exploring the City of Chicago and walking for hours on end. The Peanut Butter Clutter is loaded with simple, honest […]

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Chicago Underfoot

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:24:11 +0000

Well it was a pretty killer couple of days at the Brentano Sales Meeting last week, and since I was already here in Chicago–and it was Friday, I decided to make myself at home for the weekend. Ken flew in on Friday night, and we took the next 42 hours, equipped with an arsenal of recommendations from friends and colleagues, to hit the pavement and explore Chicagoland. I’d been to Chicago a handful of times either for work or family events, but never on my own terms, so a”play” weekend on our Midwest Neighbor’s turf was long overdue. As we board the plane today to head back to Minneapolis, my only regret is that we don’t have more time to spend here. Chicago you’ve won our hearts! Base photo via Saved.

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Brentano Bound

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 13:25:41 +0000

Today I’m headed to Chicago for the Brentano National Sales Meeting, and I couldn’t be more excited! Brentano Fabrics is a contract, hospitality, and residential textile line I have the pleasure of repping to the Minneapolis design community at Blended Blue. Chances are, if you’ve visited a restaurant, healthcare facility, or casino in the US within the last 10 years, you’ve probably sat on furniture upholstered in Brentano fabric. Brentano’s fabrics are gorgeous, but also extremely durable and performance driven, which make them equally suitable for both commercial and residential applications. The next few days will be a fun opportunity to spend time with the brilliant team behind this innovative line, as well as continue to expand my knowledge and understanding of the ever-evolving Brentano brand. Brentano, here I come!

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