Barbara Bernick believes people are always searching for new decor items to freshen up their homes.
And Bernick, who owns Update Interiors on North Marion Street, “always” has pieces she’s excited about. A current favorite: wicker and fabric side chairs with unique designs.
“I love everything,” she said with a laugh.
Bernick opened the 1,500-square-foot store in May 2014 in downtown Oak Park, and sells accent furniture, rugs, lighting, frames, decorative pieces and more.
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“Every piece in here is handpicked, which makes it a little more special,” said Jen DeMarie, the shop’s general manager.
When Bernick and her husband moved to River Forest a few years ago and embarked on a home renovation, she enjoyed the process of filling the space with furniture, lighting and other decor items she was attracted to.
“After I finished decorating the home, I sort of missed the process,” she said. “I thought this would be a cool way to still be able to do it and not break the bank.”
Noticing a lack of local stores offering the selection she envisioned, Bernick — who has degrees in business management and nonprofit management — decided to open a shop herself. She aims to offer the community a fun, eclectic selection of home decor items that provide a room or home with a fresh update at a reasonable price.
“We want to sort of encourage our customers to step outside their comfort zone a little bit,” she said.
The shop sells everything from small trinkets that cost less than $20 to a Brazilian-made table retailing for $4,500. Bernick said most items are around $100.
Similar to the fashion industry, home decor trends are ever-changing, Bernick said.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so much fun,” she said. “We try to stay on top of it.”
Currently, Update’s stock features lots of neutrals and gilded items, and pieces that pair luxury with a touch of whimsy, said Bret Burdick, the shop’s interior decor consultant.
“You need to take a lap or two to take everything in,” DeMarie said of the store’s stock.
Bernick and DeMarie attend trade shows across the country in search of unique pieces for the shop. Although they don’t sell antiques, Bernick said the shop offers many one-of-a-kind and reclaimed pieces like tin lunchboxes from 1800s India.
While she believes everything should be functional, a functional stool can be found at any store, Bernick said. She loves items that pair functionality with style, like a stool reminiscent of a golden tree log.
“To get something unique, you need to go that extra mile,” she said.
Building relationships with customers has been rewarding for Bernick and her staff.
“People are starting to come to our store when they’re looking for something,” she said. “I think we really provide very nice, high-quality merchandise for people that they feel good about.”
Update Interiors also offers in-home consulting services. Burdick fills that role and said he enjoys assisting customers and offering suggestions on fresh, modern pieces to revamp a space.
“Barbara’s got a right way of sort of curating items,” he said.
Burdick finds the shop’s selection of home decor truly unique and said so many of the pieces Update sells “look like found objects.”
“It’s something that has a story behind it,” he said.
Update Interiors, at 122 N. Marion St. in Oak Park, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit updateinteriors.com or call 708-358-0770.
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