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Chicago: CB2 Adds Hipster Cred

Crate and Barrel is not exactly what we'd call an up-to-the-minute design emporium. Nor does it have any currency to speak of among the important PYDS (Penniless Yet Design-Savvy) demographic.

Enter CB2, the younger sibling of Crate and Barrel. CB2's products are less expensive, more colorful, and altogether more exciting than Crate and Barrel's loot. Stocked mostly with an in-house line of products, CB2 also carries some Marimekko and Tord Boontje products. Such inclusions allow CB2 to project a bit of cool design store vibe over its budget-friendly message.

Most interestingly, CB2 can be found in only two locations, both in Chicago: 3757 N. Lincoln Avenue and 800 W. North Avenue. An employee at the North Lincoln store this weekend didn't know what CB2's future expansion plans were, though he thought that NYC and California were the next markets for the store.

Our first glance verdict: A step up from Ikea, but we need to see more. We spied a $999 couch and worry that price tag creep will cancel out the appeal of CB2. Cheap and well-designed is great, but a thousand dollars for a middling couch is not.