… and our recent Memorial Day road trip proves it!
Three-day weekends are meant for soaking up sun, escaping from reality and … antiquing! So for Memorial Day this year we road-tripped up to Wisconsin for some R&R and stopped at an amazing antiques shop along the way. We loved it so much we wanted to share our photos here.
The shop was Lloyd and Leota’s Antiques & Restoration in Hebron, Illinois. It doesn’t look like much from the outside — but isn’t that a sign of a true hidden gem? We had a hunch it would yield a bunch of treasures. And we were right.
While our daughters scampered around, exploring the maze of aisles stocked with furniture and nostalgia (to them, it must have seemed like they were exploring a larger-than-life dollhouse!), we snooped around and looked for design inspiration. Our favorite find was the below Harvest Table with contrast bright blue legs. Isn’t she a beauty?
Other gems included a gorgeous original-finish cupboard (shown below), glass book unit and large hand-painted armoire — all quite affordable (around $500-$1,000). We love antiquing because you’re almost always sure to hit the jackpot and discover well-made, entirely unique furniture, often at lower prices than new or Ebay.
On our trip, we also stopped at the Woodstock Farmers Market in historic Woodstock, Illinois. If you haven’t visited this charming burg, be sure to do so! It has galleries, shops and a famed Opera House. Of course we couldn’t leave the market without picking up homemade cider donuts. And speaking of food, let’s not forget our quick trip to Anderson’s Candy Shop in Richmond, Illinois. Again, we made some serious food splurges here. But seeing as everything was homespun and made by hand, we’re more than okay with that!
Here’s wishing you a summer filled with incredible road trips and new discoveries!
Meet Laura Rose Davis. She’s a Chicago stylist and photographer and has been behind the lens at Unison store events, perfectly capturing our design-minded mixing and mingling. While we’ve long admired her rich, expressive photos, we also love her fresh approach to personal style. That’s not to mention the blog on her site, Everyday Charming, which is full of inspiration for parties, home and fashion.
We’re beyond excited to team up with Laura for a special summer in-store only promotion: Curate your home with favorites from our kids and baby department! With your purchase you will be entered to win a photo session with Charming Child. We will select a winner at random each month for a photo session with Charming Child to celebrate your well designed space!
It’s the perfect time to get to know this up-and-comer. Read our Q&A with Laura below!
Unison: What inspired you to start a business as a photographer and personal stylist?
Laura: My father has always fostered my creativity and love for aesthetics. He taught me a principle that I’ve carried with me in each creative endeavor — that it’s not just about taking beautiful photos; it’s about everything else around taking a photo. The textures, the colors, the hidden details waiting to spring forth.
Unison: Your business names, Everyday Charming, Charming in Love and Charming Child, are adorable. Why did you pick these names?
Laura: It began with Everyday Charming. I wanted a name that would further my belief that charming moments happen in everyday life. From the view of a trained eye, photography has the ability to freeze everyday moments. It made sense each time I’ve expanded my brand to carry on this compelling theme, from portraits to children’s lifestyle and then sophisticated nuptials.
Unison: You mention on your website that “style is a personal expression waiting to be discovered.” We love this! Tell us more about why you think this is so.
Laura: This circles back to our name, Everyday Charming. It’s difficult for somebody to truly recognize his or her own natural charm or style. I teach my clients to do this in an individual way that is most flattering to their unique bodies and the single dimension a lens portrays them in.
Unison: How do you help and inspire your clients to discover who they are and what they want to show to the world, from a style perspective?
Laura: Listening is my most valuable tool. I ask very specific questions about what they feel best wearing. Photography only shows one dimension. Often people forget this when dressing for a photo. An outfit that has endless motion and angles may photograph poorly at only one of these angles. It’s my job to help my clients recognize their best features and feel confident in their own skin and clothes. If a client doesn’t feel amazing they will never appreciate a photograph of themselves no matter how incredible it is.
Unison: You’ve said that a beautiful location and the right look are essential to great photos. What do you think is crucial to finding that perfect location and look?
Laura: I see a beautiful location and the right look as second and third to a client feeling confident. I believe that confidence leads and is followed by style and location.
Unison: A home is highly personal and also very telling about a person’s loves, interests and inner self. Why do you like photographing people in their own spaces, and what is the process like for you?
Laura: A home is the most intimate of places. And documenting a family has even more significance if it can be done in a place of meaning. You may see LEGOs scattered around and a sink full of dishes, but I insist there is a beautiful image here … an image someone will cherish years from now, reminding them of this fleeting time with their kids. There is charm in every home and it’s my job to show it off and celebrate it.
Unison: You have mentioned being a fan of The Selby and The Glow. What do you like about these blogs and where else do you turn for inspiration for your own life and home?
Laura: They remind me of my purpose with Charming Child: documenting real and, at times, raw moments. With Charming Child I focus on kids being their crazy-cool selves instead of looking picture perfect. I also photographed in Europe for a year and gathered so many inspiring experiences with my clients — no matter the dialect or language differences — that resonate with me and now inform my work in Chicago.
Unison: How would you describe your personal style? How about the style of your home?
Laura: My style and wardrobe is ever changing. I believe in fewer, better things. I try to practice this mantra in my home, too. I prefer my home and workspace to be decorated in neutrals and on the minimal side. This allows my mind to be clear and creative! I’ve just moved from a walk-up in Wicker Park to a fourth floor West Town condo with my husband. Our goal for this summer is to finish decorating our new space. I’ve hired a painter and have plans for a nearly black bedroom. (I’ve heard it’s like hibernating!) My eye is on dark floral wallpaper by Ellie Cashman. Our goal is to be finished by the end of June so we can apply for a membership with www.behomm.com, an international home exchange for creatives.
Unison: What are a few things in your own home that you’re loving right now?
Laura: I relish lazy evenings on our Walter E. Smithe leather sofa. I’m a big believer in beauty sleep, so my Cultivar French linen bedding and Unison’s shapes champagne pillow are high on that list. Does my Maltipoo, Stella, count? I’m smitten with her.
Unison: You keep a very active Pinterest board and Instagram feed. What, to you, makes for the most compelling photos?
Laura: I love an image that allows me to feel the moment. My three Charming brands are very different but the thing that they have in common is a sense of honesty. We work hard at coaxing out the best in our clients. However, my biggest goals are achieved when my subjects are confident and the emotion is real. These are the things that truly draw me into a photograph.
Thanks, Laura! And heads up to you Unison store shoppers: Don’t forget to take advantage of our summer promotion — shop our kids’ and baby collection, fill out a Unison loyalty card, and you will be entered to win a free at-home photo shoot with Laura. Spots will go fast!
Color, color, everywhere! That’s what you saw if you attended our free kids’ art workshop on May 16. If you couldn’t make it, we’ve got some photos here to recap all the fun.
The event was created to inspire kids to get creative and stir their imaginations. No better person to do it than Chad Kouri, a multi-discipline artist and co-founder of creative collective The Post Family.
Kouri sat down with a crowd of kids and parents and taught them how to make their own original collage with colorful paper and fabric. It was pure cutting and gluing fun — with lots of smiles along the way.
There were budding creative talents in the bunch: Unison co-founder Robert Segal brought his daughter, Abigail; and fellow creative (and Unison collaborative designer) Cody Hudson attended with his daughter, Birdie.
Parents found time to shop while the kids worked on their masterpieces. And it wasn’t just Unison’s summer collection of outdoor pillows, planters and vases, and tableware up for grabs. Kouri had an array of his own original pieces there for sale, too.
You can expect big things from this up-and-coming artist, so keep your eyes on his website or details.
Here in Chicago, Garfield Park Conservatory is one our few respites from the long, cold winters (besides Lincoln Park Conservatory – and, of course, just heading south for a while).
Garfield Park Conservatory was designed by Jens Jensen in 1908 and went through a traumatic remodel after a huge hail storm destroyed a lot of the windows.
Many of the plants there are as old as the building. It’s become quite the treasure.
And since they are open to photo shoots, the conservatory trees and plants became the backyard scenery for our summer collection. The traditional Moroccan fountain is also amazing and set the backdrop for our new water buckets.
Working in the Unison studio and office every day is so inspiring and fun. But we couldn’t pass up the chance to duck out for a week over spring break this year. The idea of warmer temperatures and new scenery (besides snow!) sounded really good after a long Chicago winter.
Our Founder/Designer Alicia Rosauer and Marketing Manager Daisy Hoeft packed their all-weather bags and headed out to Florida and Tennessee, respectively. They were so excited about their trips that they shared some vacation pics here. Scroll down to check them out.
Alicia’s Trip: Hobe Sound, Florida
The Sunshine State delivered on its promise. There was lots of sun and fun for Alicia, her husband Robert Segal (Unison’s other founder), and their two daughters.
A soft sand beach gave views as far as the eye could see of the crystal waters of Saint Lucie Inlet.Modernism follows Alicia and Robert wherever they go! Here is a cool shot of The Kimpton hotel in Palm Beach — a Cubist gem with spotless glass reflecting the palm trees.Back at the beach! (How could they possibly stay away?)Spring break is all about simple pleasures. So taking advantage of those cool ocean breezes to fly a kite was definitely in order.
Daisy’s Trip: Knoxville, Tennessee
Daisy and her travel mates had never spent much time in Tennessee and really wanted to get a taste of the culture and meet the people.
An excursion to “The Lost Sea Adventure” near Knoxville was “amazing,” says Daisy. “We hiked down 14 stories and learned about stalagmites and stalactites and how the Native Americans used the caves as shelter from the colder months and as burial grounds.” At the end of the cave, they boarded a boat and took a picturesque tour around the lake.A hike through Great Smoky Mountains National Park was on their bucket list — and it was beautiful!Quiet roads and tunnels dug out of the sloping forest were welcome changes from the Kennedy Expressway.What could be a John Constable painting was the real-life view Daisy enjoyed while traveling the mountainous outskirts of Knoxville.
What did YOU do over spring break? Tell us in the Comments!
This season, we are launching a striking variety of standout ceramics. Each piece makes a bold enough statement to stand on its own, but the collection still made us want to know more. So we cornered founding designer (and my husband) Robert Segal for some insight into choosing, using, and loving this new selection of offerings.
Alicia: Why are you introducing a new ceramic line?
Robert: We feel ceramics complement our core line of bedding, throw pillows, and table linens. They merge in any room of the home, and we want to offer a selection from planters to dinner plates, to capture the unique perspective of our modern aesthetic. Having done one-of-a-kind and smaller runs with designers abroad and local, we’ve come to love what can be created with the material.
Alicia: What is it about ceramic(s) that draws you in general?
Robert: The sculptural quality and material. And the fact that glazes are so similar to printing, yet more variation can occur. I also find the contrast between ceramics and textiles appealing: hard and soft, cold and warm. It’s an interesting dichotomy.
Alicia: What about the factories you worked with to make these? Why Portugal?
Robert: We have been producing our bedding collection in Portugal since 2006, so it was very accessible for us and easy to meet in person. Having known the quality from Portugal, I was excited to find various ceramic factories offering different ranges and technique. The collection reflects this, with some vases and plates hand made with reactive glazes, while others have been done with slip casting – more minimal and industrial. As we became familiar with new materials and design processes, I was taken back to the excitement of working through this process with textiles.
Alicia: The line is a mix of dinnerware, vases, and centerpieces. Is there one from the collection that you like best?
Robert: Perhaps the Strata Black Centerpiece Bowl. I love the contrast between interior and exterior, along with the dimension the material creates. It feels very solid and industrial, even tough it’s created from such a fragile material.
Alicia: What’s next in new products that you helped design and develop?
Robert: I’m looking to expand our range of ceramics for the Fall collection, with more texture and pattern involved. I’m also excited about using new colors with existing shapes, playing with the ways color can change the feel of an object.
We have had the pleasure of working with artist Hillery Sproatt in the last couple of years on collaborations with Unison. Last fall we hosted a launch party at our Chicago store featuring the Harvest pattern (as table linens, knit blankets and pillows and hand printed cotton pillows) and were pleasantly surprised that Hillery’s mom, Debra Weiss, was there too. We knew that Debra is not only Hillery’s mom, but that the two have worked closely together since Hillery was a teen on her women’s apparel brand, Rebe. Currently Hillery helps with marketing for Rebe and curating their online shop, but it is evident their relationship is exceptional so we thought it nice to give a little tribute to their success and find out: what’s their secret?
Hillery, we love that you have had such an amazing relationship with your mom and textile artist, Debra. Weiss. Can you tell us about your professional and personal life together?
H: My mom and I are very close, she is one of my dearest friends. For as long as I can remember we have shared a love of art, textiles, hand work, laughing and exploring new cities.
Starting Rebe 15 years ago seemed like a natural progression. My mom valued my creative sensibilities and Rebe was a platform for us to put our skills to work. Although I was only 15 years old when we launched our first collection of handbags and women’s apparel, my mom treated me like a partner. We worked closely designing the collections and learning how to market and sell our wares. Within a few years Rebe handbags and women’s apparel were in hundreds of stores all over the country.
Since then, much has changed. I went off to school where I earned my BFA in fine art and I began my own art practice. I no longer have a hand in any of the designing for Rebe, but I do help market and sell her beautiful wearables. Together we run a curated online shop that specializes in fine handmade goods called, Specks & Keepings and we travel to craft markets throughout the country selling our goods.
What is the one thing that you love most when it comes to working together on Rebe?
D: I love the excitement Hillery and I bring to our work individually and together. We inspire each other. It brings us great joy to work together in part because we love each other, but also because we have been doing it for so long that we make a great team. We both enjoy wearing my designs daily and we love working closely with our customers so they feel beautiful and comfortable in their everyday wear. There is great joy and ease for me in being able to present my designs to the world with Hillery by my side.
H: I love the freedom our work affords us, the freedom to be creative, travel and to affect the lives of our many wonderful customers. It is amazing to watch people light up when they feel beautiful in their clothing or stumble upon an artwork that resonates with them.
Do you have a favorite story or sentiment to share about a product or product line that you were involved with at Rebe or Specks and Keepings?
H: I look forward to the new Rebe collection every season. I feel most beautiful in my mom’s clothing and I wear it nearly everyday. Perhaps this is why I enjoy selling her work. It is wonderful to share with others that which you love yourself. I especially love living with my patchwork quilt she made me. Every season she completes a few of these blankets using her cutting room scraps. Some are simple and others more complex, but each is so beautiful with her sampling of past season fabrics side by side.
Rebe Maggie Blue DressRebe Rose Garden DressRebe Lena Wrap Dress
D: There isn’t one particular story that comes to mind. I think one of the things I love most about our work is all our wonderful customers. Many visit us each year at our craft shows. Through them I hear the stories of my clothing. I design with beauty, functionality and durability in mind and I am always overjoyed to know that customers get stopped when wearing my designs and they have pieces they love and wear that are now many years old.
What do you love about working with your mom? What might be certain knowledge that you feel she has given to you and really helped.
H: My mom is very hard working. She raised myself and my two sisters on her own. She inspires me to follow my heart, even when things appear tough and she is a wonderful example of the joy that comes with being a kind person.
Tell us about your recent works, whether it’s on paper or fiber, and what you love about both media.
H: I have been enjoying painting very much. It is a quiet practice and the immediacy of mark making excites me- in this way it is very different from embroidery.
Paintings by Hillery SproattHillery working in her studio
D: I got my degree in textile design in 1977, but for many years I have struggled to find the time to cultivate a fine art practice while running Rebe. Just recently I have begun to carve out time to sit and work on my textiles. It is slow work, so I have to be patient with myself and the medium, which is challenging and wonderful.
I began a series of Fabric Works last year, which are fabric collages that I treat almost like painted compositions. I use my fabric scraps, careful not to cut them in order to keep the integrity of their found shape. Like much of my other work, this is an exercise in responding to material. Most recently, I have been enjoying working on larger latch hook pieces as well as my small macrame wall hangings.
Fabric Work 16 by Debra WeissFlower Fields by Debora Weiss
You are also a master at nail art and have developed a loyal following. What brought you into this area? Do you have a favorite style, color or fun story to share?
My dear friend and wonderful artist, Annika Blomberg inspired me to paint nails. At the time, she was inspired by friends who painted nails long before I. For years we just painted each others nails for fun, but it has increasingly become a part of my art practice. I find painting nails gratifying in large part because I consider them to be small artworks that are the result of an intimate exchange and intuitive process that is sensitive to material, surface and scale.
So far we have collaborated on several projects with you – My Lady and Gentelmen dolls, Dolls of the World, and the Harvest pattern which came out as several products. What collaboration so far has been your favorite and why?
I loved our textile collaboration, the Harvest Print. It was fantastic to see my work large, graphic and functional. I have wanted to translate my paintings to textiles for many years and this was my first experience seeing the impact they have as cloth- I was very pleased.
H: I continue to paint daily and I just started taking my very first hand-building ceramics class, which I love.
Do you have wise words for anyone else who might have a great mother-daughter relationship – be it just personal or also professional?
H: To remember to be grateful and good to each other. It is a very special gift to be able to work closely with a parent.
D: I have been given the amazing gift of Hillery as a daughter. It is such a pleasure to be able to work together. I think we both learned early on the importance of allowing for space and time to cultivate our own work, as this is one of the most fulfilling things you can do for yourself as an artist or designer.From there, we were able to come together to showcase both of our work beautifully side by side. I have always tried to encourage all my daughters to go after their passion in life and to nourish each of their talents.
To see more of Hillery Sproatt and Debra Weiss’ work visit:
Just two weeks ago we launched the beautiful new coffeemaker from Manual at our Chicago store, attended by the creator Craighton Berman and a round of intrigued customers and coffee tasters. Craighton is the designer and producer of this amazing line Manual, and also an artist and professor here in Chicago. Manual’s goal is to produce not only aesthetically beautiful products, but also ones that ask the user to slow down while making food.
As he puts it: “We think the effort of preparing food is just as pleasurable as the food itself. We think there’s pride in making something yourself. We just aren’t all that impressed with gratuitous features. When it comes to food—we’d rather take it slow.”.
Craighton demonstrated the process of the Manual Coffeemaker (truly easy) and how to pour the hot water correctly to achieve the coffee bloom which is an important piece in order to extract the flavors from the coffee. The coffee used was from Gaslight Coffeeroasters, also here in Chicago. We are so thrilled to be offering this gorgeous coffeemaker in our store and now online. As for Craighton:
“I’m thrilled to be partnered with Unison as one of the first retailers to carry the Manual Coffeemaker Nº1—they truly understand how to bring together an amazing collection of modern home goods that strike a balance between function and form. I’m honored to be among so many objects that I appreciate (and desire).”
Where traditional interiors rely on heavy texture and ornamental flourishes, the modern movement looks to clean, straight lines for its aesthetic building blocks.
Let’s take a closer look:
Back to Basics
To help achieve its hallmark of breathtaking simplicity, modern design relies, in large part, on the sharp and spare lines of its architecture, furnishings, accessories, patterns, and so on. But how did this passion for clean geometry evolve?
Modern style grew from a desire to bring function into lockstep with form, which meant setting aside unnecessary decoration in favor of crisp lines.
In the early part of the 20th century, as industrialization swept the globe, the modern movement embraced the functionalism and new technology of its time. In light of the increasingly machine-driven global culture, much art and design in fact began to reflect the aesthetics and utility of machines themselves.
In light of all this, simple geometry quickly came to center stage. Economical, adaptable, and efficient to construct, geometric forms became a defining characteristic of the modern aesthetic—and left an endless field of play available to those of us who would embrace modern design long into the future.
Making Space for Strong Geometry
When applied decoration went out the window, new materials stepped in, and creative expression turned to a streamlined, almost futuristic look. Today, modern interiors rely on strong edges, simple curves, and geometric angles as much as ever.
At the same time, industrial materials like chrome, concrete, glass, stainless steel, and other polished elements dominate the modern interior scene—materials that seem to lend themselves naturally to strong geometric forms.
In fact, at its core, modern style is a form of extreme precision. So in many cases, the movement strives to illustrate the simplest forms: squares, rectangles, or rounds—all heightened to a new meaning and elegance by virtue of careful placement and emphasis.
Which brings us to the all-important factor of space. Much inspiration for modern design has come from the clean, geometric features of the Japanese style. In Japanese design, space is not seen as an emptiness or lack of something. On the contrary, it is considered an important design element.
Hip to Be Square at Home
You can establish a sense of structured, clean geometry in any interior space. Start with the bare bones of the room.
For flooring, walls, or other surfaces, consider clean white, oversized tiles with rectified edges, or wood floors sanded down to minimize the grain.
To highlight the natural geometric lines of a room, skip moldings or trim around windows, doors, and walls.
Think organization from the outset, but try setting bookcases and shelving into the walls, rather than letting storage elements protrude into the space.
Now for furniture. Clean and spare is the name of the game here—but don’t think that this means boring. More often than not, modern furnishings can best be described as bold, striking, and often flat-out fun. Look for clean lines at every turn, and let yourself be picky.
Finally, accessorize with flair and drama. This is a great place to begin playing with asymmetry—an effect that’s achieved by combining dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or eye attraction. Today, asymmetrical balance is one of the defining characteristics of a modern, geometrically minded space.
While more casual in feeling, asymmetry can be quite difficult to achieve. So think about starting small: on your coffee table, balance an eye-catching, radial metal bowl with a neat, straight-lined stack of boldly colored books. Whatever your attempts, it’s worth experimenting until you nail it. Asymmetry suggests movement and can lead to very lively interiors.
When you’ve achieved new heights of gorgeous geometry, post your own tips in the comments below, or share your pics with us by mentioning @UnisonHome when you share your style on Instagram. We love to see how you’re incorporating the essentials of modern design into your own interior spaces.
In December, our Float Graphite Sheets were featured in Babiekins Magazine! The shoot turned out great and as always, it’s a thrill to see our bedding styled by others, especially in such a whimsical fashion as seen here.
Babiekins Magazine, print issue 5. Photography by Priscilla Barbosa and styling by Gina Munsey
Here’s wishing you a summer filled with incredible road trips and new discoveries!
