Unison neighbor Metric Coffee has been brewing unique, well balanced, and clean coffees since 2014. We’ve recently teamed up with them for a fall giveaway, and wanted to learn a little more about the coffee shop we visit every day, so we chatted with Matthew Steinbrecher — Manager of Metric West Fulton & Workshops Educator.
Q: How did Metric get started?
A: Metric Coffee Co. started in 2014 as a shared project by co-owners Xavier Alexander and Darko Arandjelovic. After purchasing a vintage German Probat roaster, the two began roasting out of a Humboldt Park garage, and soon moved into our current location on West Fulton Street. It didn’t take long for the company to grow, as our work with chefs, restaurants, and cafes in the region quickly drove our wholesale accounts; since 2014 the company has grown to fourteen people.
Q: What are the advantages of your West Fulton location?
A: Since we were already occupying our current space on West Fulton, it made sense to put our first cafe location within our headquarters. Doing so not only provides visitors a direct view of the entire operation, but allows the cafe to become a ‘test lab’ of sorts – what is happening up front is a direct reflection of the work being done in back, with new offerings constantly coming in.
The space certainly presents some unique challenges; as any visitor to the cafe knows, it’s a small space. It forces our team to work efficiently and creatively to maximize our space while providing what we’d consider one of the most sincere, hospitable, and excellent coffee experiences in a city flush with quality coffee. The cafe tends to function largely as a grab-and-go operation for the working crowd along the Fulton corridor, but we love it when folks are able to stay a while and engage a little further.
Q: You actually offer coffee workshops, like how to brew better coffee. How did these come about, and what are you hoping to offer in the future?
A: Offering public workshops and classes was integral in opening our space up to the public.
The premise of the Home Brewing and Espresso workshops is simple – how do the different variables at play come together to form the final brew that we drink? How do we talk about what we taste, and how did we arrive at that? Coffee and espresso preparation can easily be seen from the outside as unnecessarily complicated, frustrating, and maybe a little pretentious. I love breaking it down in a way that is easy to understand. For the more experienced crowd, we can get into the specifics of coffee extraction and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) on the numerical level. It all depends on who is participating and what would actually be useful to them in a home setting. being able to teach these workshops is something that brings me a lot of joy, and I love sharing the tools to understanding coffee available to others.
Down the line we’re looking to bring back our weekly coffee cuppings, Home Brewing workshops taught in Spanish, latte art classes, and more roasting tours and demos.
Q: What makes Metric different?
A: Here at Metric West Fulton we take an incredible amount of pride in making amazingly delicious coffee as approachable as possible. Both Gabby and Connor, the wildly skilled (and kind) baristas on the cafe team, take a great deal of initiative in helping me shape our offerings, constantly refining our ways of working and preparing drinks. Being a part of the Metric team allows us to witness the huge amount of work it takes to bring coffee from seed to cup, which only makes us do what we do (as one of the final steps in the chain) with care and close attention. I like to think that we tend to the social life of that product — watching it play out into the daily lives of our neighbors, friends, and partners.
Hosting has been a part of humanity’s global culture for millennia. Everyone wants their home to have a comfortable space for a guest, so we’ve selected our favorite items to make a house guest feel at home and taken care of.
A bench provides both function and comfort. Your guest can drop their bags on the modern and stylish Mesh Gray Bench. With its striking but subdued pattern that goes well with any decor, this solid pine bench will withstand the test of time. We suggest the Natural Nido Basket as an attractive and easy way to store extra blankets or pillows underneath. Speaking of which…
Minnesota-woven wool from one of the last vertical woolen mills in America, which means these blankets are made entirely in the mill, from raw cotton to finished product. They’re machine washable, fade resistant, and the best part? Wool is an active material which reacts to changes in body temperature, so it will keep your guest warm when they’re cold and release heat when they’re hot.
The pillows are the Unison Chambray Stone and Flannel Indigo, both made of 100% Portuguese cotton and guaranteed to make anyone staying overnight want to cozy up to them.
What better way to welcome your guest than with unique and cozy bedding. Made of 100% cotton and reversible from navy blue to light gray, this quilt is warm enough for winter and cool enough for summer. If you’re in Chicago, then this has an extra benefit, as it is an exclusive Unison collaboration with the city’s iconic Inn at Longman & Eagle.
The essential nightstand. Imagine dropping your bags after a weary day of travel, sitting on the bed and seeing cheery flower cuttings and a glass of water (or whatever you prefer), already waiting for you. Bring the look together with an appropriately sized tray and add the final touch with a classically elegant table lamp for easy nighttime reading.
Bring sophistication to the table with the Canal White Table Lamp. The Canal has an elongated dome, adjustable shade, and metallic finish to provide just the right touch of style. We love the Gather vase collection for its simple lines and thin but durable design. They’re the perfect size for a side table or nightstand accent. The Grid Tray pairs a classic Unison pattern with form and function, as maintaining a tidy table with it is a breeze. The table itself? Modern design, minimal footprint. Save space and look chic with the Tri Side Table (available in white or black).
There it is! Pick your favorites and check “cozy guest room” off your list.
Now she’s paired Unison cook and dinnerware with cozy recipes for fall. Her weekend takeover of our Instagram yielded some beautiful photos and delicious dishes, including Sweet Potato Poblano Soup, Acorn Squash Salad, and a Pear & Almond Tart. Enjoy!
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes until they start to soften. Stir in the poblano peppers, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and stock. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
Carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender to puree. Return the soup to the saucepan to reheat. Divide into bowls and top with cilantro, pepitas and drizzle with yogurt.
For squash
1 acorn squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For dressing
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
For salad
5 ounces mixed baby greens
Seeds of 1 pomegranate
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Cut off the top and bottom of the acorn squash. Halve it lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Thinly slice the acorn squash and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange the squash slices in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan. Roast the squash for 25-30 minutes until tender.
While the squash is roasting, make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, sherry vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil until fully combined.
For crust
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for work surface
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For pears
3 cups water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
3 Bosc pears, peeled
For almond filling
6 tablespoons butter at room temperature
3/4 cup slivered blanched almonds
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Confectioners’ sugar for serving
For the crust, pulse the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the yolk and vanilla extract and mix until the dough forms. Pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick disk, cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the tart shell for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
For the pears, bring the water, lemon juice and sugar to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the pears, reduce the heat and simmer until the pears are tender, about 15 minutes. Let the pears cool in the syrup. Slice the pears in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and stem and cut crosswise into thin slices. Press the pear halves to slightly fan out the slices.
For the almond filling, mix the butter, almonds, flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and almond extract in a food processor until smooth. Spread the filling into the tart shell. Place the fanned pear slices on top. (It helps to use an offset spatula to keep them together.) Bake 45-50 minutes until the almond filling is set and golden brown. Cool the tart on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
This summer we asked students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) to submit their pattern designs for consideration in our #ArtInUnison contest. The winning design would be made into wallpaper for our Fall 2017 collection. We narrowed the entries down to three and asked you to vote on your favorite, and you picked Kelsey deLisser’s Diamond Graphite Design.
We caught up with Kelsey to ask her a bit about her own studio practice, and what her inspiration was behind her wallpaper design:
1. How did you learn about the #ArtInUnison contest?
A friend of mine heard about it in class and knew how obsessed I was with wallpaper and got a flyer for me. I was super excited to hear about this opportunity because it felt so tailored to me and what I love to do.
2. What influenced your design and color palette for your wallpaper submission?
This pattern strays from what I normally design. For this contest I decided to make a graphic tiled repeat. I tried all different shapes, sizes and line thickness until I found something that felt right. The color palette I chose came from me trying to get this luxurious look of gloss ink on matte paper digitally rendered.
3. Your current focus as an SAIC student is in Fiber & Material Studies, with an emphasis on Screen Printing, what is your personal studio practice like? Is your work similar to the design you submitted for the contest?
My personal studio practice is primarily hand screen printed fabric. I grew up in Miami, FL where greenery was a big aspect and became a theme I like to work with. With my major I have access to a lot of customization and get to play with my patterns a lot more. I get to play with color by dying my own fabric and mixing my own inks.
Interning and then working at Relativity has defiantly influenced my work. Ive spent a year working with these luxurious metallics and gloss colorways that, when you see in person are just so satisfying that I tend to try similar colorways in my work.
Especially with this pattern I was trying to emulate this glossy feeling that I get when I install our gloss colorway into a space. It’s funny because I find that after so long of working on these patterns at Relativity I often find my doodle sessions turn into just variations on patterns I have worked on previously. So I definitely think Relativity Textiles has made an impact on my work.
5. What are your plans for the coming year, and what do you see yourself doing post graduation?
For the coming year I will be back in the studio at school producing as much fabric as I can in our silkscreen studio before I graduate. I will also be working for Relativity Textiles part-time and freelancing designs for a company called Polychrome. After graduation I really just want to design textiles for the home. I have an infatuation with pattern and I love the way it feels to fill a space with your ideas.
Thanks Kelsey! Stay tuned for more #ArtInUnison blog posts this fall!
This season we’re so excited to expand our collection of lighting from SEED Design. We caught up with Evelyn Lee from SEED to talk design, company history + of course, the importance of lighting in a space. Here’s Evelyn:
1. Your designs really value simplicity, yet remain very distinct and contemporary, can you talk about some of the design influences?
We are proud of our very talented and awe-inspiring SEED design team. Our designers draw inspirations from all over the place. But regardless of the wide array of influences there remains consistency amongst all of our lines. SEED products are always simple and practical, yet they are still interesting and refined to the very last detail.
SEED Design was found in 1991, by an innovative and tenacious designer, Meiric. With just a few sketches on hand, he was certain he had what it took to create an entire lighting line that would be superb in construction, striking in aesthetics, and pioneering in concept. By 1992, his first lamp, UFO made its debut in Europe. Trailing just a few years behind, JOJO, a height adjustable pendant followed in its footsteps. By 1997 Meiric decided that he couldn’t just design and sell, he had set up his own factory so that he could better guarantee the quality and ensure the end product exceeded every expectation.
3. Can you talk about the importance of lighting when decorating a space?
The lighting is like a finishing touch to any canvas, it’s the final piece of jewelry a women can put on after she’s all dressed up and ready to go. The lighting doesn’t need to be an attention grabber, where it is the first thing you see when you enter a grandiose lobby, or the first thing you spot when you walk into a restaurant. But the lighting can set the tone or mood in a very subtle way. A wall sconce can set the ambience in a dimly lit hallway.
The lighting can make a space much more practical and usable. A small niche in your house, paired with an adjustable pendant can convert that corner space into a reading corner, ready for you to cozy up with your next great read. A Table Lamp that has a USB port allows you to keep your phone charging without having to take up yet another plug. Lighting can not only beautify spaces, and enhance what is already there, it can serve practical purposes as well.
4. Are there any exciting plans for the future at SEED?
From commercial spaces to residential projects, to the big screen, we are spotting more and more Seed products pop up. With the tremendous amount of success, we look forward to what the future may hold for us.
Summer time is upon us, and the wedding invites are rolling in! We’ve picked some our favorites from our new summer collection that are sure to please any newlyweds.
The simple-meets-exciting line of these short tumblers will have them celebrating the ever-inventive versatility of thoughtful modern design. With a line that is eye-catching and comfortable, this glass is a lovely resting ground for your favorite short cocktail as well as your hand.
As simple as it is striking, the Rondo Black Barware forges oh-so-industrial stainless steel into a smooth-as-satin circle, for a look that’s one part classic modern, one part trendy, all parts flat-out handsome. Use it on your bar, your coffee table, or tied up with a bow for your favorite couple.
The Grace Gray 3pc Dinnerware set is crafted with a special grade of high-quality stoneware that’s close to porcelain. Hand glazed with a reactive glaze that varies from piece to piece, the finish features darker gray flecks on a pale gray background. The resulting look is truly versatile: formal and casual all at once – elegant, graceful, and highly refined, it’s the perfect set for newlyweds.
In typical smart-modern style, Magisso’s black terracotta barware is as practical as it is pretty. Simply soak them in cold water, and the naturally cooling ceramics will cool your favorite beverage, or cheese platter to perfection. For a bit of extra personalization, pull out a piece of chalk and mark the surface of the Wine Cooler or Champagne Bucket for the occasion.
Gift them dining in high drama with the never-seen-anything-like-it Galvin flatware collection. Forged of titanium electro-plated 1810 stainless steel, it’s not only built for standout style—it’s built to last. After all, black works with everything, including your head-turning tablescapes.
Straight-lined glass base, beautiful acacia lid…these jars are ones they won’t want to hide behind cabinet doors. With a generous mouth opening that allows for easy access and a rim fitment that creates a firm lid fit, the Plateau Jars are perfect for storing baking essentials in the kitchen, cookies in the office, or dazzling jewelry on the vanity.
We recently invited Chicago artist Chad Kouri known for his colorful collages and drawings to lead a Kid’s Collage Workshop at our Wicker Park store. Chad is Co-Founder of the Chicago-based art and design incubator,The Post Family and his work has been exhibited at many notable institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts and the Mission Cultural Center of Latino Arts in San Francisco.
We love Chad’s bold, graphic sensibility and we have collaborated with him on a number of unique projects including hand screen-printed greeting cards and most recently, a limited edition beach towel based on one of his Risograph prints, Tanlines.
At the event families were invited to work with Chad, and use Unison scrap fabric along with brightly colored cardstock to create their very own collage masterpiece.
Some favorite Unison fabrics of the day included our Charcoal Sailor Stripe and Shapes Black patterns, perfect for pairing with the bright primary-colored papers that Chad chose for the event.
Kids and parents alike worked hard on their collage creations. Unison co-founder Robert Segal collaged the day away with his daughters Emily and Abigail.
The result was a great selection of gallery wall-worthy collage works! Special thanks to Chad Kouri for leading the event and thanks to all of the families who came out for this fun Saturday at our Chicago store.
Special thanks to Ben Speckmann for photographing the event.
At our recent Father’s Day Store Event: It’s Marbleous! we demonstrated the technique of marbling using nail polish as a quick and easy way to customize almost any household item, including mugs, coasters and office supplies. With endless color combinations and items to marbleize you’ll find this technique is your new go-to for a great gift idea that won’t disappoint.
Follow along below for a step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own marbled creations at home!
What you’ll need:
nail polish (pick your favorites!)
bamboo skewers or toothpicks
plastic container filled with water (deep enough submerge the items you want to marble)
parchment paper
painter’s tape
Step 1: Pick the items you’d like to marble. I suggest anything with a fairly smooth surface: ceramic, plastic or even cork seems to work well.
Step 2: Tape off the sections of your item that you don’t want marbled with painter’s tape. Here we decided to make a striped pattern.
Step 3: Choose the nail polish colors you would like to use, I recommend 3-4 to get a nice range of color. Pour nail polish into the container filled with water, the polish should sit on the surface of the water. Using the bamboo skewer, gently pull the polish through the water to get your desired pattern.
Step 4: Carefully dip your item into the water making sure to fully submerge the area you want to marble. Pull item out of the water and set to dry.
Step 5: Let dry for 10-15 minutes, or dry to the touch. Remove the painter’s tape and you’re all set!
I love the generous size and shape of this bowl – great for salads to come to life, especially combined with the Hammershoi wood salad servers. Both casual and smart, all in one.
These have a terrific shape and design that will give your plants a layered place to live, a subtle place to stand out. It is multifunctional, you can use it for a selection of your favorite products too.
The Cabana Sprinkles Bedding package offers a clean, modern look with a fun pop of color. I love how this pattern play serves as an ode to the neo memphis trend while remaining versatile for the bedroom. The mix of horizontal and vertical stripes in a classic black and white color combination paired with a hint of playfulness from the sprinkles makes this item a must have for any customer!
As a lover of all things mini, I couldn’t think of a more perfect addition for my home. These vases are finished with an organic yet modern stripe featured in 3 colorways, and just the right size for a small bud. The best part is that they come as a set of three, so you don’t have to stress about picking your favorite color!
I love the combination of ceramic and cork. It is very modern and natural at once with these materials. This is also our first full bath set we are offering. Finding a set with all components looking good as well as functioning well can be a struggle to find. Kera achieves these both.
Beyond a laundry basket, it’s function has endless possibilities. It can hold blankets, logs, magazines, toys and even in necessity a great toddler washtub while traveling! The Two Hands Bucket was Konstantin Grcic’s first design with Authentics from 1996. It has proven to be a lasting and iconic design.
Logan towels are also a perfect fit for my aesthetic and the comfort and quality is fantastic, 100% organic cotton crafted in Portugal. I can’t imagine stepping out of the shower into something else.
