Cambium Conversations

Store Closing Sale

2009-07-15T12:39:00.002-05:00

Dear Valued Customers,
After fourteen years we are closing. But, don’t be sad. Come in and celebrate the years of uncommon quality and service with equally stellar savings. Everything in the store is reduced by forty to seventy percent. We thank you for your years of support, and hope to see you for the savings. We only have a few weeks left, so come see us soon.

The Owners and Staff of Cambium

KEEP THE CASH IN THE COUCH

2009-05-20T12:40:00.004-05:00

Are you a recessionista? Then what better way to find luxury goods than at a floor sample sale. Our biggest sale ever has begun and we are offering discounts better than our trade courtesy and bigger than we imagined. But that is recession chic. Not into floor samples? This summer you can get custom and new orders for 30% off, art and accessories for 40% off and floor sample furniture for 50% off!!! Download a pdf of many of these items from our website.

AGA - A Day In The Life

2009-05-02T14:49:00.004-05:00

The Day in the Life of an AGA demo went great. We cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner in about an hour while talking about this very unique kitchen king. There is still room to sign up for the MAY 16 event. Hope to see you there.

What the Chiffonade

2009-04-27T13:19:00.005-05:00

A great tip for chopping leaf herbs and other foods like basil is to stack your leafs in a pile and role them up before chopping. This technique is know in fancy circles as a chiffonade, but is really just a simple stack, role, and chop anyone can do easily at home without any special tools. The result is fine curly strings that look like they came from a professional chef or restaurant. You can keep the strips in roles or fluff them up and sprinkle them about. Either way the chiffonade is a great way to improve your food presentation.

Granite In All It's Glory

2009-04-16T17:59:00.003-05:00

Some folks out there would like you to think that marble and granite are trends and that they are without a doubt going to be replaced by man made materials, but thats just plain CRAZY! The beauty of natural materials is yet to be truly matched and a stone can set the tone for your kitchen making it an entirley unique space.

Earth Week Starts Now

2009-04-15T18:08:00.004-05:00

Earth Day 2009 (April 22) is right upon us and has us thinking about how we live and the impact we make. It has us celebrating our products for being eco-friendly and sustainable materials, manufacturing, and attitudes. This time of year reminds us that furniture should be lasting as supposed to ending up in land fills. Take time away from your spring cleaning and go for a walk. Enjoy our "mid-spring fall" and consider whats in your home. If it is time for something new remember that it should be lasting. For more Earth Week Ideas check back daily all week.

May Aga Demo Dates Announced

2009-04-09T12:11:00.003-05:00

Win 1 of 3 trips for two to England!
May 2 & May 16, 1pm-3pm
CONTEST DETAILS:
Contest period: April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009
To enter for a chance to win, registration for an AGA Cooker One-To-One Demonstration must take place online.
Confirmation of registration for the One-To-One Aga Cooker Demonstration will be sent via email in the form of a voucher. This voucher must be brought to the AGA Cooker demonstration and given to the demonstrator.
Registrants must attend a full AGA Cooker Demonstration or they will not be eligible
Simply registering online does not qualify nor complete the contest requirements
Limit one entry per person per AGA Cooker Demonstration regardless of the email address of an entry. A maximum of two (2) entries per person for the duration of the contest period.
Contest void in Quebec, Puerto Rico, Guam and all other U.S. Foreign Territories and Possessions.
To view the full official rules and enter the contest visit the AGA website.
www.aga-ranges.com

AGA England Trip Spoiler

2009-04-02T10:29:00.003-05:00

Win 1 of 3 trips for two to England!

The Ultimate Aga Experience contest is on!

It's time to get to know your AGA.

Details and Dates Coming soon.

Fresh From France

2009-04-02T10:22:00.003-05:00

The Grange Louis Philippe Bed is back. Come by Cambium to check it out dressed in Garnier-Thiebaut bedding.

Ready for Summer?

2009-03-06T10:45:00.002-06:00

It has been such a long winter here in Chicago, we are all ready for summer. Time to cut loose and lay out in the sun. Be ready for summer with the Grange outdoor furniture collection. Stop in to Cambium to learn more.

DINING IN THE KITCHEN

2009-02-17T11:09:00.003-06:00

Attaching dining to a kitchen can add valuable purpose to a space. Whether a place for children to do homework while a meal is being prepared, a nearby location to eat, or as an additional station to sit and contribute who doesn’t want their own in home chefs table?

Cambium Love

2009-02-06T10:45:00.003-06:00

Let us know what you love!

Everyone Loves Instant Gratification

2009-02-03T17:14:00.003-06:00

On occassion we have floor sample sales where we sell many pieces off the floor (at very attractive prices) to make room for new product. Eventhough the economy has been challenging to say the least, we are continuing to keep our product fresh and new. So if you love getting your needs met immediately, check out our sample sale. Many products are being sold at 20-60% off and can be in your home as quickly as our freight companies can get them to you-usually within the week.

Love Your Dog

2009-02-02T14:25:00.003-06:00

For the pet lovers out there looking for a little something your dog will love check out this double bowl off the floor dog bowl. Available in crackle colors, speckle gold, raw metal, and rust these are great for traditional and transitional homes.

Nesting Tables - Any Tables Nesting

2009-01-31T13:56:00.004-06:00

Create your own layered look! Whoever said nesting tables need to come in a set, should have seen this. Nesting various tables together is a great way to bring multiple textures and colors into your space.

Kerzen Candles Are In!

2009-01-12T12:15:00.003-06:00

Cambium now carries Kerzen Candles. They are made with only the finest, highest-quality materials to ensure a refined and completely non-toxic product that is safe for you and the environment. Through texture, shape, color and aroma, Kerzen Candles are a unique, hand-made art form that can say just what you want them to, while naturally conveying their personality to the environment and elements that surround them.

* They never drip, smoke or stain
* Put themselves out
* Live an optimal burn time of up to 90 hours
* Are made with full-bodied colors and essences that never fade
* Comply with international ASTM safety standards and the RAL-GZ 041 German Quality Control Guidelines for Security.

More designs can be seen at www.kerzencandles.com

Giving More

2008-12-22T17:03:00.003-06:00

For those of you who like to give a little extra consider wrapping small gifts in Garniet Thiebaut Tea Towels. The towels are all Jacquard Woven patterns and colors and make for an unexpected addition to any gift.

Cambium Holiday Hours

2008-12-22T17:01:00.001-06:00

All of us at Cambium want to wish you a very happy holiday season and thank you for stopping in this year. Please be aware that we have a few days this winter with special hours.
12/24 we will be closing early at 3pm
12/25 & 12/26 we will be closed
12/31 we will be closing early 3pm and will reopen 1/3/09 with our normal business hours.

Don't forget the holiday sale with savings up to 40% ends 12/31/08 at 3pm.

Gift Giving

2008-12-12T10:36:00.003-06:00

The holiday season is all about giving. Gifts are a great way to show affection and thanks, so what does "it's the thought that counts" really mean? The best gifts not only put a smile on the recipients face, but also remind them of the person who gave it to them. Gifts for the home, such as serving pieces, books, blankets, art, and other unusual home accessories are a great way to say, "I Love You" year round.

Holiday Gift Under $50

2008-12-11T14:46:00.006-06:00

Aquiesse Candles are fantastic gifts. The scents have compleatly won me over into the realm of loving candles. My personal favorite is Rioja, but stop in and choose one for yourself.

2008-12-11T14:33:00.003-06:00

Cambium is having a storewide sale. Items range from 25%-40% off. Come in and find a really great deal for the holidays.

Your Dream Kitchen Part 3

2008-05-31T13:47:00.003-05:00

When you start considering appliances for your kitchen, consider function as well as aesthetic. Efficiency and lifestlye are imperative in deciding what to put into your kitchen. If you go to the market everyday for fresh ingredients, then you probably have a quick food turnover rate so you won't be needing that huge 48" side by side refridgerator and freezer. Or, if the extent of your cooking is boiling water for pasta, the added expense of a double oven may be unnecessary. Look into your day to day needs and be pragmatic about what purposes your kitchen will serve. So, please don't ask your designer to create a room that you'll only utilize for a single large annual event, ie. Thanksgiving.

Moving on to aesthetics; your kitchen is part of a larger whole, that being your home. Think about choosing materials that flow with and complement the rest of your house. Trends come and go, but a cohesive look lends itself to longevity. A hand-brushed traditional English Country look may not appeal to you in a stark contemporary steel building down the road. You don't to end up with buyer's remorse. Paint is a fairly simple thing to change while kitchen cabinetry and appliances are not.

The best way to turn your dream kitchen into a reality is to do your homework! Be sensitive to the rhythm and needs of your life and family. Take the time to really get acquainted with your family and yourself, and the once daunting process is suddenly more fun and manageable!

Your Dream Kitchen Part 2

2008-05-15T17:11:00.005-05:00

To pick up from last week...

When you're looking into hiring a design professional, personality is key. Much like a swim coach, their goal is to motivate you towards an optimal finish. They take your initial ideas and finesse them with technique and experience; with this education the end result should be an Olympic gold. Professionals should be able to assess what your needs are for you and your family no matter how great or small, and how these needs play into the family dynamics.

Interviewing different designers is a great way for you to assess them. By looking at their portfolio you should be able to see a good indication of the designer's creativity. Do keep in mind that you are looking at other people's homes, and that their choices may not be yours. If you notice a theme running throughout a designer's portfolio, then this designer may not be able to stray too far from their own comfort zone.

As your coach, your designer will play an integral part in fostering the wants and needs that you have. And, together you should be able to create an overall theme and game plan. This professional should, again, be able to help you reach for the gold - making your dream kitchen a reality!

Your Dream Kitchen Part 1

2008-05-08T17:14:00.005-05:00

Do you find yourself in the middle of your kitchen short of breath and panic stricken, crazed and foaming at the mouth wondering what you've gotten yourself into? If the answer is yes, then cahnces are that you're in the throws of remodeling your kitchen.

No, (take a deep breath now) your dream kitchen is not a myth but a reality yet to be fully realized.

In the last 20 years I've seen the same glazed-over and confused look time and time again. Often when remodeling kitchens people dive head first into the shallow end of the pool eager to finally have their end goals met without having taken swimming lessons. What I mean to say is that with a little bit of patience and education, the process will be fruitful.

When rehabing your kitchen, you're not just putting in new cabinets, you're assessing your lifestlye. This means that you shouldn't get caught up in the competition of what Betty down the street will like. Make the choices that will be best for you and your family.

To avoid the mouth foaming and glazed expressions described earlier hire a professional. I find that people function best in these projects when they have some sort of guide that's deeper into the process and more experienced than they are. This doesn't mean relinquishing control-- a good professional will be able to take the information that you give them (so be honest) and put it to good use.