'Rustic Elegance Redefined' at Spring Valley Trading Co.

The promise at Spring Valley Trading Co. in downtown Libertyville is that customers can find something new there every day.

It's a promise that owner Brooke Adler is determined to keep.

On a recent Tuesday, an employee was busy creating sachets, packaging them with ribbon and then carefully displaying them on shelves for customers to enjoy.

"Since we make everything locally, we haven't had a problem meeting that promise," said Adler.

Spring Valley Trading Co. is a rustic décor lover's dream. The store's motto is "Rustic Elegance Redefined," and Adler said the goal is to offer largely locally-crafted rustic contemporary furniture and décor.

She opened the store Oct. 5. Adler, a Wadsworth resident, said she selected Libertyville because of its love of art and support for those artists.

"I grew up in a family of artists and crafters, so this is what I know. This is my life," said Adler, who attended art school.

The majority of items sold at Spring Valley Trading Co. are created locally out of Adler's Gurnee workshop, while some are refinished/repurposed pieces she has found. A refinished dresser, for example, was modernized with new hardware.

Something Old Becomes Something New

One particularly eye-catching piece is a table made of pieces of painted wood that form a chevron pattern. She loves to use reclaimed wood and old barn wood, and the chevron end table has both.

Adler also created various display boxes using reclaimed wood. Some are painted in a festive candy cane pattern, perfect for displaying poinsettias down the center of a dining-room table, Adler said. She also used reclaimed wood to create Christmas trees.

Adler used a long strip of 1890s barn wood to create a piece that now holds several votive candles.

There are plenty of other interesting items to be found at Spring Valley Trading Co. She is using windows from the old Central School—now being converted into the SchoolStreet condos—and using them to create headboards. She swaps out the glass for other material, like burlap.

A chair in the store is covered in pages from a 1912 textbook that includes mentions about Chicago. Nearby, there are handmade, customizable coat racks hanging on the wall.

There is even furniture for dolls. Adler creates doll beds—loft style or canopy—that can be customized to match the colors of a girl's room.

"Even though I'm an artist, I'm still collaborative," said Adler.

Original Art

All of the art in the store is original, Adler said, including a modern-looking piece that consists of painted circles of wood.

"It just works together," said Adler. "In my house, I have modern paintings and rustic furniture. It works."

She also creates chalkboards in wooden frames, and paints ceiling medallions that can serve as a focal point around a light fixture.

Those searching for gifts might like the handmade Lazy Susans, Adler said, or the popular Felted Soap line she carries. The store also offers Kathy Horton Designs jewelry.

"I really enjoy when someone gets excited about buying something," said Adler.

Spring Valley Trading Co. is located at 526 N. Milwaukee Ave.