Above: Eclectic furnishings and décor at State Street Salvage

Chicago’s main gallery district in River North is justifiably well-known and is within walking distance of all of my recommended hotels in the city. I love browsing this neighborhood, but this time, I ventured farther afield to the up-and-coming “Grand Avenue Design District” west of downtown on Grand between Wood Street and Oakley Boulevard. The streetscape of warehouses and storefronts looks unremarkable, but several of the shops have enticing collections of salvaged architectural elements, antiques and edgy contemporary furniture.

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