Material Possessions

My mom’s friend saw a gorgeous mirror at a hotel in OH and wanted to know where she could find it. After inquiring at the hotel, she found that the only place in IL that had it, and on special order, was Material Possessions. The mirror is amazing and the customer service my mom’s friend received was outstanding. That’s when I decided to stop in, thinking I would be another one of the resident lookielou’s; when there was so much in my budget and things I envisioned looking absolutely stunning in my home. Gorgeous furniture, beautiful simple pieces and artsy, eclectic stuff to adorn furniture that’s either boring or seen better days, stunning accessories. It’s like an art lovers best find. While some of the furniture and home décor is outrageously priced, I’d say more than ½ of everything in Material Possessions is affordable or worth a slight splurge. This isn’t your local Home Goods and has lovely pieces for oneself and for special gifts that speak «special» all by themselves. There were many unique home decorating items that rival the Anthropologie style and quality, and for the same price. No one would need to twist my arm to shop there exclusively for my home décor!

Beautiful furniture. However was in store for 10 minutes walking around. Salesperson behind the counter was doing nothing. Never once asked if we needed help or even a hello. Just watched us walk around. We left and they lost a sale. It’s the second time this in difference happened. It will be the last. Evidently they don’t need the sales.

Just added photo of my new vase; love it! Thanks for the fun service today! Love this store!

Material Possessions is a hidden gem in the Gold Coast! There is something for everyone and at every price point. There are so many unique, high quality pieces and the store is so beautiful. I will definitely make this a regular stop for gifts and home accessories! They even have a great jewelry selection!

What a horrible place! Beautiful things, very expensive. I bought a 50% off gift for my mother. While being wrung up, I asked for a gift box. The clerk said they didn’t have them for the 50% off items! I said may I buy a box then, and she replied no, they don’t sell them !! I was penalized for buying an item on sale. Terrible cutomer service. I will never shop there again… so NOT worth it.

like others, i have been there over the years since it does have some unique merchandise
most of the inventory is ridiculously overpriced with poor return policies. their management and some staff have been generally rude or un-​available except to special customers.
it is sad that chicago has limited availability of unique merchandise

THE ABSOLUTE RUDEST STORE IN CHICAGO.
I have been to this store about 10 – 15 times in my life, and I have been CONSISTENTLY ignored by the staff of the Chicago store every single time!
I have several friends who have registered for their weddings at this store, and I really enjoy their merchandise. I have wanted to purchase something for my friends and also for myself on several occasions, but every time I visit the store, I cannot get any help. The employees prefer to help certain other customers (maybe they appear richer than I do?) or just talk to each other behind the huge counter.
I am going to get married in the next couple of years, and I COULD have registered for my wedding at this store and brought them some serious business. It really is a shame that a store with such beautiful merchandise can keep a staff that is so unbecoming.

Are you seeking a $ 175 4×6 photo frame that is identical to one you could find at Marshall’s for $ 16.99? Material Possessions is your joint!
Many, many of their items are awfully generic at quite a high price. However, there are some nice, unique pieces and their service and complimentary wrapping is stellar.
For general shopping and decorating, you can do better for less. For gift-​giving, if you happen to find the right piece, you can’t go wrong here.

I want to like Material Possessions because I think Oprah would want me to. Anyway, I am convinced she must be the one buying all these capiz-​shell-​covered waste baskets with coordinated Kleenex cosies. Nate Berkus: If you have any say in the matter, please tell her to stop. Not unlike the O herself, the accessories here are just a bit TOO MUCH. Visual overkill, get it?
To give them a little credit, they were one of the first shops to carry Michael Aram, but that was a very long time ago.
Also, not that their demographic cares, but a lot of this imported stuff (even the stuff with labels) can be found elsewhere for slightly less money. The mark up here is a little too steep.

This is probably Chicago’s answer to San Francisco’s Gump’s store – a store where you can find beautiful handcrafted accents, hard to find gift items and elegant housewares… except that Gump’s has a nationwide reputation and Materials Possessions is barely known outside Chicago’s Gold Coast or the North Shore. They have a great selection of knick-​knacks and have an eclectic mix of contemporary decorative and antique furnishings.
Having wrote all that, I just don’t find myself going back month after month or even year after year. For the feeling of high priced and hand-​crafted merchandise, Material Possessions has a cluttered, bazaar approach to displays – not what I’d expect from a place trying to entice me to buy a $ 600 vase or a $ 275 lacquered waste basket. Their displays of merchandise run from Lincoln Park girly-​girl to North Shore Madam of the House in appeal. Their buying tastes are uneven and run from hidden treasures down to slightly above Pier1 quality. I also don’t get that warm and fuzzy glow from their salespeople. Oh sure, they’re friendly once they figure out I’m not there to shoplift or waste their time asking for some flower pot that’s less than $ 30. To be honest, I think the store, in general, is a little full of itself – like they’re the only place you can find crafty tribal motif crap or hand-​blown glass bric-​à-​brac.
Sorry. Perceptions and sensitivity are part of who I am, and Material Possessions makes me feel like I’m not part of their demographic, nor do they have a very compelling selection of merchandise I’m all that interested in.

OK, a ‘guys take’ — this is a must-​shop-​at-​store. Material Possessions has both a unique approach and a cool selection of stuff for your home that I just never saw anywhere else. I was introduced to them through a registered bride, so I had to go buy a gift from the registry. I started on the website, but then decided to stop in as they are right in the Gold Coast. When I got there I discovered that I could actually shop there for myself; they were extremely helpful and really knew how to coordinate items that I liked = great experience. For you brides-​to-​be, it is THE place to register for your wedding gifts. You will not be disappointed.

If you’re looking to decorate your apartment you must check out Material Possessions. They really have the most beautiful stuff and it’s unique… unlike the same stuff everyone seems to get at Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc. It’s a little expensive, but definitely worth it because everything is beautiful. They also have some really pretty purses in here as well!

I agree with Andrea that the stuff they have at Material Possessions is really great. When I bought my apartment I came here to decorate my apartment… they have great picture frames, dishes and anything you could possibly need. I decorated my entire bathroom with stuff from material possessions and I probably get more compliments on my bathroom than the rest of the apartment!