St. Patty's Day and Project Pics

The luck of the Irish is upon you at Room 363, where you'll enjoy 20% off anything GREEN, all weekend - and there's enough green in the shop to excite even the grumpiest of leprechauns!  Take a peak at some of the shop's emerald treasures:

Most people have no trouble recognizing a cool piece - interesting chairs, sofas and tables or unique accessories - but sometimes it's hard to envision those items in your own space. The way Room 363 is arranged helps customers get ideas on how to put these items to use, sometimes in nontraditional ways.  How cool is the concrete bench repurposed as a coffee table?  It's the perfect answer for a small space where you'd still like a spot to prop up your feet or set down your hot toddy.  The layering of trunks at the end of the bed could help with any shortage of storage, giving you space to store blankets or extra bedding. 

Although it may seem as though Mark spends his every waking hour at the shop, he does get out to beautify the homes of his customers.  He recently worked on this playroom for two lucky princesses.  He provided them a cork board to add their own touches to the room, as well as spaces to study and host their friends in style.  

Mother Nature, and her delivery of a steady March snowfall, provided Mark the perfect opportunity to close up shop and focus on his new-ish digs in Naperville.  His snow day was spent cozying up his guest room.  Although, it looks like Ella has already staked her claim on the space - guests may find themselves on the sofa.

Or, maybe she was just there to get ideas for the renovations she's started in Mark's house. 

I'm no inspector, but that electric does NOT look up to code, Ella.  

Enjoy your Saint Patrick's Day weekend with friends, family and maybe just a little bit of green beer! 

-Maria

Girls Weekend (Part 2)

Today is the second day of Naperville's Girls weekend and fun, Spring shopping is in the air!  The energy in town is back after a long cold stretch that (finally!) brought us the main ingredient for snowman making, snowball fights, and sledding - SNOW!   Napervillians are coming out of hibernation and downtown is ready for them.  Here's a link to all the happenings in Downtown Naperville this weekend:  Click Me!

Come in Saturday, March 9 or Sunday, March 10 and receive 10% off the entire store!  Pick up a new charm for your Room 363 charm necklace.  Don't have one yet?  This is the perfect time to make one!  For purchases over $20, receive a FREE infinity scarf - perfect to keep you warm while you shop your way through Naperville. 

Enter today's drawing and 2 lucky winners will receive a $50 gift certificate good for the remainder of 2013 (no purchase necessary).  

Make a Room 363 date with your girlfriends on Sunday!  Alicia from Alicia's Photography will be waiting with camera in hand to take a photo of you with your besties, FREE of charge.  Come dressed for the occasion or be creative with it!  Try on a fun new outfit, accessorize with a scarf or necklace and SMILE!  New Facebook profile picture - done!

While you're here, say hi to the newest members of the 363 family.  (Go to Alicia's Facebook page for unbelievably adorable shots of these fellas.)

Have a fabulous Girls Weekend - wherever you are!

-Maria 

Exciting New Arrivals and Projects

I'm very excited to show you the newest addition to Room 363.  Drapes!  The colors and textures are fabulous and the quality of fabric is excellent.  You must check these out next time you're in the store.

Beautiful reconditioned love seat, Bulldog pillows, vintage-inspired man bags and cool animal heads are just a few new items you'll see when visiting the store.  Let me tell you, the picture does not do this love seat justice.  It is a fantastic piece.  It would be so cool at the end of a bed as place to sit down to put on shoes or cozy up with a fantastic book.

I had to zoom in on the "Nourish Your Soul" pillow for you, too.  Isn't it great?  The colors are so vivid and pretty.

Mark has also brought in some new really talented local jewelry designers to showcase.  The pieces are so unique, no worries about showing up wearing the same thing as your girlfriends. 

Not only is Mark constantly stocking his shop with unique furniture, jewelry, clothes and accessories, he's also working on set designs with Alicia's Photography.  He recently designed a set for her Valentine's Day mini sessions that he also used to shoot pictures for Room 363 marketing materials. Here's a quick peek from the shoot.

Things got a little dirty on set when Alicia brought out a HUGE cupcake for sweet little Elsa.  The adorable pink jumper and CAKE banner is from Room 363.  I could probably lose weight a little faster if I'd be willing to sit on my cupcakes instead of eating them.  You might be on to something here, Elsa!

Mark and Alicia have another collaboration coming up very soon that I can't wait to share with you - one that you can be a part of.  Look for another post soon with details!

Have a great week!

-Maria

Ladies Brunch this Saturday!

Room 363 is hosting a Ladies Brunch, Saturday, February 16, from 10am - 3:30pm.  What a perfect excuse to get out with your girlfriends, sisters, moms and daughters!  Enjoy great food, check out the trunk show by an amazing artist, Jeannie LaBelle of The Crown Jewels of Art, who makes beautiful jewelry out of vintage finds, and see Carla Bryant's demonstration of Rodan + Fields at-home Macro Exfoliator.

All participants will be entered into a drawing for FREE merchandise, sponsored by Carla (purchase NOT required) and will receive 15% off the entire store.  Saturday only!

Hope to see you there!

-Maria

New Jewelry, Clothes, Sneak Peeks and a New Arrival

Hands down, the most popular item at Room 363 this month HAS to be the Jewelry Bar Mark created.  It's fun to dig through the charms and build your own necklace.  Just when you think you've seen every charm, you find one more that you just have to have.  Make sure you stop in soon with your girlfriends or daughters to create your own.  

Mark is also carrying a new line of vintage inspired handmade charm necklaces.  You can see them below with the bird and butterfly charms. They are stunning in person.

**FREE** Leading up to Valentine's Day, Mark is giving away a free "Made with Love" charm when you make a necklace at the Jewelry Bar (while supplies last).  

Now to give you a peek at what you'll see in Room 363 this week.  Punxsutawney Phil says Spring is coming and Room 363 is prepared!  Take a walk through the shop and you'll find lots and lots of birds, nests, greens and fabric flowers.  It's time to get rid of those winter centerpieces and replace them with something that shouts SPRING!  (Don't tell Mark, but my dining room centerpiece is still shouting CHRISTMAS!)

It's just about time to prepare for those Spring Break trips, and Mark has just the tops you'll need.  My favorite item right now has to be this turquoise blazer that shows a bit of orange when you roll the sleeves.  It's a great Winter to Spring transition piece and brings a fun pop of color to your wardrobe.

In addition to the new items in the store, Mark has been working on client homes as well.  When does this guy sleep?  I'm not sure that he does.  The massive amounts of Monster energy drinks he consumes probably plays a role.  This first group of photos are of a dining room he just finished.  Mark utilized a mirror that has been in this client's family for years to bring height to the buffet area.  He also had a mirror cut to size to turn an old farm item into a really cool one-of-a-kind centerpiece.   I'm loving the double chandelier look. 

Take a look at these pictures of the office he just completed.  Where do I start?  I can't pick a favorite between the cow-skin chair or the vintage wooden desk.  Notice all the really cool black and white family photos on the shelves.  It's nice when clients have these mementos to personalize a vintage look.  Dig out those old postcards and family letters to display - don't hide them away in a box. My favorite treasure in my house is my grandparent's old love letters (if you can call the way my grandpa teased my grandma in writing about her big feet a "love" letter). 

Mark also just finished this bedroom where he was able to incorporate branches, vintage wooden shutters and lots of candles for a very cozy feel.  Looks like a room where I could curl up for hours and read a good book.

I have an exciting upcoming new arrival to tell you about!  Room 363 is now a proud retailer of Tru Blooms.  Tru Blooms is naturally and locally grown eau de parfum, sold in limited quantities and at limited Chicago retailers. You'll find Tru Blooms perfume gardens in public parks, on North Michigan Avenue, in urban farms and in sections all over the city of Chicago.  Tru Blooms Chicago is the first-ever fragrance made from indigenous-sourced ingredients grown by the residents for whom it's created.  It smells amazing, too! Stop by the counter next time your in Room 363 and check it out.

-Maria

Check out What's New and Coming Soon!

Room 363 now has a fun new way to show off your creative side. Check out the new Jewelry Bar! Pick from a selection of chains and charms and make it your own! A visit to the Jewelry Bar would make for a fun outing with your girlfriends.  Come in and express yourselves!

Mark just returned from AmericasMart Atlanta (wholesale marketplace located in Atlanta) where he shopped for new items to showcase in Room 363. While there, he sent great pictures for me to share on the blog.  Some of these items you'll be seeing in the store, some were inspiration shots that caught Mark's attention.

My favorite item has to be those amazing tufted headboards!  Did you notice the legs on the patchwork bench at the end of the bed that's headboard looks like a sofa? I've never seen one where every leg was a different style/shape. 

I don't have pictures to share yet, but Mark also ordered linen drapes that will be carried in the store. He'll have sample panels on display and the drapes will be shipped upon purchase. As soon as the samples arrive, I'll share pictures on the blog.  

He did take plenty of lighting pictures from the show to inspire:

Here's a closer look at the three lamps from above. Notice the industrial elements?  I've never seen anything like them - so cool!

Coming this Spring, you'll find adorable pieces for those sweet little girls in your life.  These clothes would make for jaw-dropping Easter outfits or would be perfect for family portraits. We'll update you as soon as they arrive.

More Swan Creek candles arrived this week in both the pottery container Room 363 carried over the holidays and a glass jar version. Also new is the vintage-inspired bar soap by Boîte a Savon.

See something you like but don't live near Naperville?  Call the store and Room 363 will ship it to you!

New items from Mark's Atlanta excursion will be arriving weekly.  Make sure you follow him on Facebook to keep tabs on new arrivals!  

Don't wait to long to visit the Jewelry Bar! I have a feeling it's going to be quite popular.

Enjoy the rest of your week!
-Maria

Spring has Sprung at Room 363

The holidays have come and gone and the cold, grey winter that Chicagoans endure is in full swing.  How tempting it is to stay in your pajamas, wrapped up in a blanket next to a cozy fire working your way through OnDemand - watching back-to-back episodes of all those shows you never had time to watch.  I managed to make it through Seasons 1 and 2 of Homeland this winter break, peeking out from under a pile of wool and fleece. The cozy fire part wasn't as successful since my husband forgot to open the flue and instead of roasting chestnuts on an open fire, I was opening all the doors and windows and evacuating the kids to another part of the house.  Upside is we got to practice the fire emergency drills the kids learned at school. 

I did manage to make it out of the house one of the days to see how things had changed at Room 363 since the New Year. I knew Mark was eager to rid the store of glittered holiday decor and was curious to see how he'd transformed the shop.

Here's a shot of what you'd see walking in the front door:

The store definitely has a feeling of Spring in the air.  For just a little bit, you can forget about the bitter cold outside and lose yourself in thoughts of the warmer days to come. (Can you tell I'm not a fan of Winter?)

You'll find fresh plants, fun mossy rocks, lanterns, butterflies, birds - everything to bring that refreshing Spring feel to your home.

You'll notice when you come into the store, Mark has the creative ability to use items in different ways.  He's constantly moving the store around and showing how you can use one piece in several different ways. You can make your house feel newly decorated just by repurposing something you already have.  It's not always about buying everything new, it's about being creative in using what you already have and supplementing with the new here and there. For instance, in the Fall Mark had this mirror made out of a recycled tire on the wall. Now, he's using it as a fun table centerpiece:

Think about ways you can change up your home just by reconfiguring what's already there. It'll keep you from getting bored in your space.  Have you ever read fashion magazine's that show you 5 different ways to wear one shirt?  It's the same theory. Buy timeless pieces you can accessorize and throw in pops of trendy every once in a while. 

For those of you who visited us at {theNOOK} Holiday Pop-Up, I wanted to share a picture of the transformation that has happened to that space in the last few weeks.  Alicia's Photography was kind enough to let us borrow her space before she moved her studio from 5th Avenue Station to 32 W. Chicago, Naperville. Here's how her studio looks now:

Can you believe it's the same place?  She did a great job of make it feel warm and inviting. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

-Maria