5/28 Week-long Giveaway!!!

Guess what Saturday is.  5/28!!!  We're so excited that we're giving away awesome gifts for the next FIVE DAYS!!

Here's how it works.  From now until Saturday, you can enter to win an awesome item from the Apartment 528 Store.  Every day at 5:28pm we'll choose a winner at random to win that day's prize.  If you don't win at first, don't worry, each entry will be carried over to the next day so you have up to five days to win!

TUESDAY'S PRIZE

"DRINK" and Punctuation Coasters by Diffraction Fiber 

WEDNESDAY'S PRIZE

Set of 2 Owl Tea Towels by Branch Handmade

THURSDAY'S PRIZE

"M" Magazine Holder by Paperdoll Woodshop

FRIDAY'S PRIZE

$10 Apt528 Store Credit

SATURDAY'S PRIZE

$28 Apt528 Store Credit

To enter, use one (or more) of the following methods to tell us what you'd buy if you won the $28 Apt528 store credit:

1. Comment below.  Each comment counts as one entry.
2. Tweet us at @apt528.  Each tweet counts as 2 entries.
3. Like us on facebook and leave a comment on our facebook page.  Each facebook comment counts as 3 entries.

Enter as many times as you want.  Remember, if you don't win at first, your entry carries over each day or until you win.  However, once you win, you're out of the running for the rest of the week's prizes.

Good luck!

Used Friday: The Salvation Army

I've been searching long and hard for a good thrift store since we moved to Chicago.  Yes, people have recommended stores like The Ark and Village Thrift, but none of them matches the low prices that I'm used to back in Boston or Ohio.  I want REAL thrift store deals!  Unfortunately, it's been hard to find them here in the Windy City.  I blame it on the hipsters, but that's another story.

Just when I was about to give up on my thrift store search, I stumbled upon the Salvation Army on North Ave (Humboldt Park).  It's a huge building with three floors of hidden treasures.  Major score!  There's no train that goes out there, but you can easily hop on the bus or drive down...I always find street parking on the block.

The first thing I do when I go to the Salvation Army is hit the basement.  It's FULL of furniture.  There are 2 main rooms each with a second room off of them.  When you walk down the stairs, the first thing you notice is the smell.  It's definitely not a pleasant one.  Don't get discouraged, just push on because there are goodies ahead!

I wanted to take this couch home so bad and reupholster it but alas, our apartment is full to capacity!

The first room has books, couches and  lamps with a side room showcasing suitcases, large toys, and more.  Keep going and you'll be in the main furniture room which features isle upon isle of furniture stacked on top of each other.  Need a chair?  They've got plenty.  The whole back of the room is packed with every type of chair you can imagine.  There's even a second side room with baby furniture, bed frames and such.

Cabinets, desks, dressers, hutches, tables...whatever you want, they've got it.

So many chairs!

These theatre seats have been here for awhile.  I wish I had a use for them.  Maybe someone with a home theatre setup will take them.

Such a great selection of mirrors.  Just remove the dresser attachments from the one on top and you've got the perfect mirror.

These tables are SO adorable but we don't have any room.

DISCLAIMER: I'm pretty sure there's a serial killer living in the basement.  This isn't based on anything other than the fact that I have an irrational fear of dark spaces and always assume someone's out to get me.  I keep my basement trips short if I'm by myself and I stay out of the side rooms altogether...the basement is usually kind of deserted and every time I go there alone, I have this feeling I'm going to be dragged off to some dark corner.  Still, the furniture selection's so good, it's worth it :)

The main floor is loaded with clothes.  I'm not the most patient person so I rarely buy thrift store clothes...the time it takes to sift through the racks is dizzying to me.  Still, if it's your thing then you'll be happy to know there are enough clothes here to keep you searching for hours!

Multiply this space by 3 and that's how many racks of clothes they have here.  I wish I was patient enough to look through them.

The top floor is my favorite place.  Here they keep all the housewares and electronics.  It's not the largest bric-a-brac section I've seen, but they always have something good, like the vintage Pyrex bowl set I got this week.  I still can't decide whether to keep them or add them to the store.  We'll see!  Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the upstairs...I'm afraid of falling through the floor so taking pictures is the last thing on my mind.  I get in, and get out!

DISCLAIMER 2: I have a panic attack every time I go to the second floor.  Literally.  I'm terrified of heights and greatly distrust physics and man-made structures.  The slightest slant or weak floor board has me going nuts.  While the rational side of me is sure the Salvation Army will be around for years to come, I still have a serious fear that the sloping, creaking floors that move under your feet are going to come crashing down any day now.  There are ALWAYS kids running around upstairs, scaring me half to death each time I take a step.  This just goes to show you how much I love the finds there...I'm willing to risk my life just for a few minutes of browsing around!

What are your plans this weekend?  Any thrifting or garage sales?

Salvation Army
4141 West North Avenue 
Chicago, IL 60639

Fun at the Vintage Bazaar!!

We had a blast at the Vintage Bazaar this past Saturday.  We met lots of awesome, interesting people and got to scope out the hip and fashionable of Chicago.  Thanks to Felix of Avoision for including us in his Bazaar roundup and for the video of our laserdiscs...as someone commented, laserdiscs are the new vinyl!

Random pics of our booth:

Jerome working the booth!

Some chairs from our new furniture selection.

Laserdiscs and storage containers...what else do you need?

We have no clue what this piece is.  People guessed everything from a nightstand to a large coffee table to a small dresser.  We just call them drawers!

All the kitchenware you could ever want!

For more pics of our booth, head over to our facebook page.

Now that the bazaar's over, we have tons of new stuff to finally add to the shop.  Hopefully everything will be up by this weekend if I can get my camera battery charged.  It has yet to be seen!

Thanks to all who came out to the Vintage Bazaar.  We can't wait to meet you again soon :)

The Votes Are In!

You voted for which Valerydesignwrks pillow cover you wanted to see in the Apt528 Store and now the votes are in.  The winner is:

The Pit Pat Pillow Cover, available in brown, black, and white.  The pillow will be up in the store later this week.  In the meantime, shop other Valerydesignwrks products!

8 Questions With: Valéry Goulet of Valerydesignwrks

Valery

Yesterday, we showed you Valerydesignwrks, the new indie Canadian brand currently available in the Apt528 Store.  We invited you to vote on which VDW pillow makes it into the store! Today we're introducing you to Valéry Goulet, the uber talented illustrator/designer behind the pillows, plates, and decals we've come to love.  So grab a drink, sit back, and get to know our new friend!


Q: What's your favorite piece of furniture in your house?

Valéry:  I actually really like my dining room set. It reminds me a lot of the set that my parents had when I was born. They also had a similar lamp but it was bright orange. I like the rounded table and the molded chairs.

Of all the materials you work with, which is your favorite?

I love to work with fabric. Fabric is as interesting than paper because it comes in different colours and textures. The same illustration printed on silk and on an heavy textured fabric will look totally different and it is nice to play with this aspect. 

I have an upcoming project, which I will keep secret until it is completed, that is made with fabric. I am really excited about it. 

Design trend you hate the most?

I am trying to think of any current trend I dislike and none of them are coming to mind. I think most of the trends are very interesting but you have to be able to replicate them properly. 

There is a style of lamp I don't like that a lot of people have in their place. The Torchière style floor lamp. I am not sure why but I haven't found one that looks good or brings something great to the room (other than light).

Valérydesignwrks is all about being eco-friendly. What's the best green tip we can use around the house?

It is quite easy to get rid of things and I am a person that won't keep things just because. But when I get rid of something, most of the time I will offer it to someone I think might be interested or a non-profit organization. Garbage is always my very last option. 

What's your favorite color to use in your illustrations?

Lately, I have been using more yellow in my illustrations but it might be because I am so looking forward to the summer and the bright and yellow sun. The colours I use are often related to the way I feel. Today, I feel red. I have a lot or energy :).

Many of your designs feature animals. Which animal is your favorite?

I don't have a favorite animal since I find them all interesting. I like the ones that I don't know very much. Those weird creatures that I am not used to and I can learn a lot about. At home, I have a dog, a parrot, a tortoise and a snake.

What music's playing in your studio while you work?

Lately, I haven't listened to a lot of music while working. My bird is often with me and we whistle together. 'Whistle while you work Ta dada da da da da' 

You've illustrated and designed everything from water bottles to wall decals. What's next on your list?

I am currently looking into multiple options. I need to find a product that is affordable for me and my clients and doesn't require to be mass produced. I would love to be able to illustrate on furniture such as chairs, tables, desks and couches. 

I don't know about you, but I love Valéry and hope we eventually get to meet her tortoise!  For more on Valerydesignwrks, read Valéry's bio and shop her line of products featuring original illustrations and designs! You can also vote on which of her fun pillow covers makes it into the Apartment 528 Store!  Click here to vote. Meanwhile, I'll be trying to figure out how to get an accent over my "e" so I can properly spell "Valery" without having to cut and paste...

Handmade Designer of the Month: Valerydesignwrks

Today, the Apartment 528 Store is happy to welcome our first Handmade Designer of the Month, Valerydesignwrks!

Pit Pat Plate

Valerydesignwrks was founded by Valéry Goulet, an illustrator and designer with a passion for green living.  That's right, not only are their plates, wall decals, and pillows the perfect accessory for your apartment, but they're also made of recycled and/or recyclable materials and created on demand to eliminate waste!  That means you can shop guilt-free :)

As part of our Designer of the Month series, we're asking you to help us decide which product from our featured designer goes into the Apartment 528 Store!  While we've already selected several awesome  Valerydesignwrks products, we'd like you to help us pick which pillow makes it in.  

Take a look at the three pillow designs below (available in multiple colors), then vote in our poll at the bottom.  The poll will close Sunday night and I'll post the results Monday morning.  Happy voting!

Dinoz-O Pillow Cover (in both yellow and turquoise) 

Oiso Pillow Cover (front and back)

Pit Pat Pillow Cover (available in Black, Brown, and White)

Which Valerydesignwrks pillow cover would you like to see in the Apt528 Store?