CheekyChicago

Some people call them hassocks or footstools, but we love this versatile piece of furniture so much we nicknamed it “otto” and often order it in pairs. Ottos are so much more than a foot rest that they are one of our go-to furniture selections, and our clients are crazy about them. Ottos are lightweight, easy to move and less expensive than chairs. We recommend keeping them neutral enough that they can be reassigned to any room in the house where they are needed. But we’re hardly the first designers to fall in love with these hidden gems. The first mention of an ottoman dates back more than 400 years, and …  Read more

I like stories that unspool slowly, where we get to know the characters intimately through a series of events, and so I’ve never been a big fan of short story collections. But a collection of short stories about Chicago? It had me at ‘Hello.’ Mike Walker’s Chicago Shorts is a series of anecdotes about the author’s experiences of growing up in the Chicago suburbs—a teeny town called Dolton—in the 1960s and 70s. It’s a description that calls to mind the great 1980′s ode to suburbia, The Wonder Years, but the comparison isn’t entirely accurate. For, in Chicago Shorts, Walker digs deep. This isn’t a glossy, idealization of suburban life, but an …  Read more

So you’ve heard us talk about it…winning $2,000 big bucks for your dream idea? Too good to be true? Here’s the DL on everything you need to know. We’re officially partnering with SideCar for Techweek and #PitchMyRide is your chance to get in touch with investors to make any idea (no matter how big or small!!) a reality. Since SideCar and Cheeky were both born from big ideas, we’ve decided to celebrate just that. IDEAS! During Techweek (Thursday, June 27-Saturday, June 29), you’ll never know when you might jump into a SideCar….with an investor riding shotgun. And that’s the beauty of it! So take SideCar often for more chances to play. It’s like Shark Tank and Cash …  Read more