Go visit our friends Larry and Judine over at Scout. They do exceptional work, and if you're looking for interesting furniture and decor or interior design services, they're lovely people to curate with. I have not been to the showroom in a bit as I was living in LA. But now that I'm back in Chicago and living here in the GC, I need to make my way back over to Andersonville! The Gold Coast is not far from there but hard to leave your bubble during a pandemic! Hopefully, change is coming to the community soon. Anyway, just wanted to give a "Scout out" to some great people. See what I did there? Haha. Love visiting the neighborhood; for design inspo, the eateries and great local showrooms. I'm a modernist at heart and have been in the industry for over a decade. So having a wonderful conversation with people who enjoy the same trade like Larry, are the best! Very grateful for the relationship with Scout and I look forward to more interaction and learning, and being a larger part of the Chicago design community now that I'm home. Be well Larry and Judine. See you guys very soon! Stay warm with this Chicago snow. I definitely don't miss this weather and constantly seem to have palm trees on the brain. See you both soon! Take care. read more

Interesting random things here and there like a lot of stores nowadays it seems. Like a high class thrift store, hats were bomb but starting at $200 and up bomb. You might find something there either way nice to peruse read more

A wonderful and powerful business team these 2 ladies. With great skills and a big following of loyal regulars!!!

One of the best stores in Chicago. Everything in this shop is so unique and has a story behind it. Larry Vodak - the owner - is a treasure. He's warm, effusive, and provides outstanding design advice and service. He's allowed me to carry a chair home to see if it would fit in my space, offered to lend me his van to transport a purchase home, and even let me "try" a rug before buying. If you see something you like, you gotta pounce! Stuff moves quickly. I bought a set of chairs and after I laid claim to them, 3 different people asked about buying them within 5 minutes. Inventory constantly changes. It's always worth popping in just to browse. read more

If you value unique furniture and accessories for your home or special gifts for friends & family, Scout should be your go-to source. Larry has a tremendous eye for quality pieces that you'll want in your home for many years to come. Scout is one of the local, home-grown businesses that is so deserving of our support. read more

Scout is fantastic!!! I ALWAYS stop in here because: 1. The merchandise is authentic and curated 2. They sell local artist works 3. The employees are always friendly and helpful 4. You can 100% find a piece that no one else has Yes the prices are higher than most stores but what you receive is quality hand picked and/or designed design goodness!!! read more

Scout - Home Decor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

So I hadn't been in here in a looong time, and as you can see I wasn't really impressed in the past. But we were hitting the vintage shops along Clark so I figured, "Why not, everyone deserves a second chance." Well, their door says they open at 11 a.m. and it was nearly 3 p.m. I tried the door and it was locked. After a moment of testing we figured, "We tried," and moved on to Brimfield next door. When we finished with Brimfield and were headed back north the door of Scout was open. As in propped open. So we went inside. No one seemed to be in there. The place was also a cramped mess! While we were in there two other guys came in but I couldn't tell if they were shopping or staff; if they were staff they didn't say anything to us. If there was any other staff we didn't see them in the whole time we were in the store, which wasn't long. Just a weird experience, and we didn't see anything to buy at any rate. The place needs to be better organized or perhaps a bigger space. Guess I haven't been missing anything since my last review. read more

The people at Scout are extremely friendly and helpful. Their furniture and art work are top quality and style. If you want something unique, this is the place to look. Older pieces have been tastefully restored. I used Scout to find some outstanding core pieces to work around, but there are also many things to purchase to add to an already established room. It's a pleasant place to browse, and I return periodically to see what new items have been added. While upscale pieces are never cheap, this place is fair and much better than stores that sell only newly mass manufactured pieces available anywhere. Huge shout-out for Scout! read more

Hands-down, our favorite home shop in all of Chicago. Larry and his team are incredibly warm, generous, creative and helpful. We hardly ever leave empty-handed. The prices are good and the shop seems to turn over weekly with new and beautiful things. Put Scout on the tip top of your list! It seems at this point, half of the furniture in our home is from Larry and we couldn't be happier. read more

Meh is about right. I don't hate Scout. I definitely don't love Scout, either. The pieces are really hit or miss for me, but it's rare day that I find something I absolutely have to have...something for which I'm willing to pay their inflated prices. The worst part for me, though, is the staff. I've found them to be consistently rude or just plain cold, even the owner! I've also had the experience that when the owner is away, the staff has no idea how much things sell for if they don't have a price tag. It's poorly run, in my opinion. I think you really need to give your customers something to love when you're selling high priced, unusual pieces. There are plenty comparable furniture stores in Chicago...hell, in Andersonvile for that matter. I'll generally take my business elsewhere. read more

Do yourself a favor, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by Scout. Even if it's just to browse, you won't regret the trip indoors. Some really beautiful pieces that make you wish you (ie me) weren't so darn poor. I'm telling you, if I'm ever not so darn poor, I may well be returning to Scout as more than just a salivating onlooker. read more

I almost hate to add Scout to the list. I am such a major fan of Larry Vodak's unique, one-of-a-kind store that it is shooting myself in the foot to let the word out. Larry literally scouts the nation for interesting items with great lines, color, texture, etc... He returns with treasures for the home that will help you define your style and separate yourself from the Pottery Barn/Crate and Barrel fashions of the world. Stop by frequently to check it out yourself. Good thing and bad thing is that he rarely finds two of anything - so that super cool thing is your super cool purchase so long as you are there to discover it. Larry doesn't overstock his one room store - just enough to allow you to browse and discover new things with each pass through. Did I mention that the prices, though rising, are reasonable? If Larry's taste compliments your own, then you'll agree it is the best shopping in Chicago. read more

Hi Larry, You're awesome! Always have loved your store (and you too), your unique and one of a kind selections make each visit a surprise. I love my tables and will be back for more tasty finds! read more

This review is based on my standing outside of the window, salivating over dressers and tables and night stands that I can't even afford to touch, much less take home with me. So based on that... I love love love Scout. LOVE! I want to shout it from the rooftops, and I only wish they accepted all of this love and enthusiasm in lieu of credit cards or cash. read more

A friend told me many good things about Scout so I was looking forward to checking it out. To keep things brief: not everything was my style, but I was very impressed with the curated selection of pieces. I like how they displayed pieces I wouldn't have normally considered. I did not expect to make a purchase but did end up making one. I am surprised to see so many mentions of how expensive the shop is. I found it very reasonable, and I'm from Detroit. We know cheap. I suppose many people are not aware of the cost of reupholstering or refinishing. They should look into it before making the "pricey" call. To anyone used to shopping the vintage market or the designer market, this place is quite a good value. Overall a very nice shop with great quality vintage merchandise at very competitive prices. read more

Love. The prices are high. And no, I haven't bought anything here. But everytime I walk in the door to Scout, I want to buy everything in the store. I love their finds. So much wonderful furniture! The folks at Scout are super nice and will answer any questions you have. Someday, when I am a millionaire, I am going to buy out the store on a weekly basis. But for now? Window shopping. read more

I have bought many pieces from Scout. It is pricey yes. But unlike other stores on the street that just sell beat up, falling apart furniture, Larry actually pays to have these pieces refinished, reinforced, restored before he puts them on the floor. They are actually functional. You don't have to worry about your bookshelf falling apart under the weight of books or of your guests crashing to the floor in a chair from Scout. Larry is always nice to me and was well before I started buying pieces from him. I don't have a lot of cash, but I'll spend it on a good store, with a really nice owner, and great business ethic instead of the other stores on this street who are just hocking crap and don't care about the life of their goods. read more

Love love love love love love me some Larry! Love me some Scout! Every thing in this store is beautiful. For some people who have said it's overpriced...not to be rude, but maybe if you buy faux antiques from Target it would be expensive but not for real vintage items. I bought two old railway lanterns early this year which were $60 for the pair. I've seen them sell for $45 for just one so I feel great about my purchase. They are heavy and industrial-looking, and everyone always comments on them. The owner has impeccable taste and vision. You never know what you'll find here. If you need something in particular I bet they would find it for you. read more

Larry - your shop has great one of a kind pieces of art and furniture. But as I am sure you have heard.... your sales force and welcoming attitude have not infected many who enter your gorgeous store. the prices can be leaning towards the higher end. I have been in this store more than 20 times and have purchased items from this store - the inventory moves pretty quickly and some days have more to like than others. Scout still has some of the finest pieces you would want to own! even if the service is backwards! and the prices are up there!! If you are looking for the special one of a kind piece! they may have it! when you are doing the antique swing in Andyville! this is one of the key stops on the trek! read more

Subject: Scout/Larry Vodak (non-payment of intellectual property) I am a single mother of 2 children. I spend 100's of hours on the computer locating old factories to purchase items from. Against my advice, this information was shared with Vadak thru my Chicago counterpart. Vadak stated he owed money to another store and wanted to share this "find" with that store. He was given the okay with the understanding that he was responsible for compensation for our work. The other store made a huge purchase the next day. Scout kept that a secret and never paid for the information. Would you like my kids milk money too, Larry? read more

One peek inside this great little shop and you either get it or you don't. More treasure hunter, designer and curator than shop keeper, Larry Vodak's diligence and exquisite taste are evident in every inch of the place, with each item in the ever changing collection chosen and placed with care. The store's creed is that every item in one's home should be chosen with care, a refreshing antidote to the Crate & Barrellification of American decor. (Hell, the fact that it HAS a creed is refreshing.) Scout is eclectic and fun, filled with found and re-purposed items, yet there's a clearly identifiable aesthetic that runs through everything (though it's a challenge to define just what it is.) Larry keeps the prices reasonable to keep things moving... refreshing when compared to the dozens of overpriced antique stores that have the same stock month after month, not to mention little or no rhyme or reason as to why the items are there, other than the dealer got them cheap. If you care about design and the items you put in your home, stop reading and get thee to Scout asap. Even when I don't buy something, I find inspiration every time I enter. read more

Larry, thank you for all of the wonderful pieces that you have helped me select for my small space in Andersonville. The credenza is just great, the desk is spectacular. and all of my wonderful Teddy Harris lamps are just perfect! I need your help with storage Ideas!!!! You are the best! Andersonville is lucky to have you! I would love to treat you to a cup of coffee sometime or a beer. Your biggest fan, Luis read more

Interesting collection at this store, really friendly gentleman at the front, but prices seemed high for some of the vintage pieces. I also realized some of the stuff here wasn't unique to this store. read more

Scout is unique and has some amazing pieces. We fell in love with some local urban Chicago paintings and a chandelier made of old lamps. Unique with an industrial flair. Very cool. Prices seemed reasonable to me, but I live in California where things are often pricier. read more

Welcome to the mid-century of my dreams! Billed as an urban antique shop, Scout aims to make familiar elements--simple and unadorned--interesting again. You'll find vintage furniture and industrial accessories, reclaimed, reused or repurposed, all with a mid-century modern aesthetic. Visit often, as the inventory rotates on a revolving door. Although most of Scout's wares are out of my budget, I recently stumbled across a pair of gently weathered Bertoia side chairs--two of dozens that formerly sat outside at the Chicago Botanic Gardens--at a bargain price. I had to snatch 'em then and there! read more

Scout is the coolest. We check in about every two weeks, and every time they have a whole store of new stuff. And I want all of it!! The only thing that makes this shop less than perfect is the amount of sold signs you see on the furniture! I kick myself all the time for not just buying things I see on the spot, because their stuff is so great it flies out of the store and then I have whatever the opposite of buyer's remorse is. I still daydream about a medical cabinet I saw in there one day. read more

I have a flip side to the reviews that have been left here. When my husband and I moved to Andersonville from Providence, RI. we had amassed a great deal of antiques that we simply couldn't fit into our small apartment. As we lived in the area, we strolled into Scout and met the owner, Larry. Not only is Larry a gem, but also a really good egg. We sold several pieces to him; he paid a fair price for them, and the items we sold were things that he simply would not find in the Midwest, so we were thrilled to ease up our load a bit. We have been in and out over the years and always think fondly of our days in Andersonville, and the way that Larry did and does business. Yes, his prices may be high. But as a business owner to a business owner, those who don't own businesses truly don't understand or factor overhead into pricing. To stay in business, you need to make a certain margin. On some pieces you score! On some you don't and I believe that Larry's pricing speaks for supply/demand and reasonable costs of running a business. read more

Fantastically gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces. I can't really afford anything here, but I love to use it for inspiration and as a sort of design museum. There are these old card catalogs from some long ago library that are so exquisite they make me want to cry. I like to go in and visit them every once in awhile, at least until they're sold. read more

Nice store, nice rotating selection but I feel Scout has gotten a little to big for its own good. The prices continue to rise to the point where it's amusing. Do yourself a favor - check out antique stores and flea markets. You'll find that steel filing cabinet your looking for, and for a fraction of the price and have the same look. read more

Okay so anyone who says that Scout charges too much for things that they themselves could find cheaper at a thrift should just GO OUT AND FIND THEM. Does that make sense? What sets this place apart is the way it presents vintage and refurbished/redesigned pieces in a contemporary context. I would much rather spend a couple hundred on a side table here than on one made in China from Pottery Barn. The owner is always engaging and friendly. The good stuff moves quickly here, so if you love it, buy it now! read more

Okay... I cant figure out if you can give half stars on reviews but I'm trying to give Scout 3 1/2 stars. Here's why... So Scout. I first read about it in my favorite Home Decor magazine Domino. They had endlessly nice things to say about it and I really wanted to check it out for myself. The first time I went in I seriously felt as if I had stumbled in on a private club. Any time you go on chances are the owner and or their employees are talking to some close friend who just stopped in to say hello and honestly it always feels like maybe they're closed or something. I have bought a piece from here--during the sidewalk sale-- and they were very nice that day but every day since even though they've nicely said hello I feel this air of pretentiousness. Now...The actual furniture is definitely a huge 5 stars. All of you who say that you can find these pieces anywhere don't understand home decor at all. These may be listed as antiques here but they are not. These pieces are redesigned, I repeat REDESIGNED and to be honest. They are not simply antique pieces. If you look through a magazine like Domino you see pieces that are slightly weathered and just seem to have an air of a certain type of home design. That furniture is designed by people like Scout. It's masculine very Americana with an edge. BUT I must admit that these pieces can be VERY hard to place. I bought an interesting piece that has shelves and it still looks a bit weird in my apartment, so be warned you might have a bit of a hard time placing it in your place. Overall verdict. Great design but their attitude and customer attentiveness really needs an adjustment. read more

I love commerce. It is really the most moral system humanity has developed to this point. With that in mind, Scout fulfills a specific niche on the Clark Strip in A'ville. One reviewer below notes that they are not certain if this place is selling art or furniture and the answer is both. I think it may cater to a clientele that believes furniture is art. This is not your grannies' bar-co lounger, and if you are of that demo you will be disappointed with Scout. The fellow- who kind of resembles Sean Connery- features unique, restored pieces and I daresay even veers into adaptive re-use. Earlier this year he featured a WWII era aeroplane nose cap as home decor. This does not come for less than dear, but would you image this comes cheaply? read more

Great reclaimed and restored furniture and accessories. Wonderful craftsmanship and generously priced. The time and energy spent restoring these pieces is definitely not reflected in the prices. I've seen similar items around the midwest and country for double to quadruple the cost the owners of Scout have placed on their exquisite merchandise. The only problem was that my wife and I are from Minneapolis and couldn't bring the restored workbench and custom made stainless steel table home with us on the plane. However, Larry (the owner) assured us that he could find us a great price for shipping and said that he'd never loose a sale due to the cost of shipping. Looks like we'll get our items after all. Thanks Larry! read more

I won a gift certificate to Scout in a silent auction, assuming that would be the only way I could afford any of the things I had lusted for in the windows as I had passed by. When I went in to actually redeem the certificate I was pleasantly surprised. Amid all the fancy lamps and big furniture pieces, there were some amazing, reasonably priced finds. Sure, some stuff is way out of my price range, but overall, for an antique store in Chicago, they are pricing stuff at its value rather than at the "what rich people who are into vintage things," price point. The woman managing the store was incredibly nice and not at all pushy, even after I made her rearrange an entire display so I could investigate something a little closer. Great shopping experience. I am excited to go back. read more

Love it. Got a deal on a couple of sweet chairs for my home office. Will be checking back in regularly.

This is too good to be real, I saw a table I loved but wasn't sure would actually fit in my house, I asked the clerk if I could put down my credit card to bring it home and he said no. He said I could take the table home, hold it for three days, borrow his car with only an e-mail address, name, and phone number. So I brought the table home, it fit, I am writing this review on it right now. Larry, thanks, but please protect yourself a little in the future, people don't mind if you take their cc information. BTW this table was only $225, unique, and will be a part of my life for decades, thank you Larry. read more

Scout has beautiful comforting artifacts for the home. I live in the neighborhood and love to stop by often since they are always changing their merchandise. Very creative space and love to go in to be inspired and shop! The owner is very nice and I have seen employees help pack things into people's cars if you need help with a large purchase. Their prices have gone up since they first opened but there are still many affordable pieces and a variety of price points. read more

Scout sells art that is disguised as furniture. The store is amazing and constantly evoloving which is sometimes a pain. I mean, I just wanted to go around the block and decide if I really want the piece but by the time I come back, the piece is sold! The items he sells create such a visceral response that you have to purchase it right then. Don't over think it; don't worry about the price because you will not be able to contain your smile when you see the piece in your home. I know I can't and happiness is priceless. read more

Picked up some industrial shelving over the weekend. They cleaned it up and clear sealed over a wonderful patina. Got a small discount for buying multiple items. Helped me load it in my truck. Will be back often for more urban finds Larry has a great design sense and recommend stopping in when looking for stylish, unique, urban design elements. read more

Outstanding collection of meticulously curated furniture lighting accessories and curiosities. Larry is a genius. Scout is a must see.