EXTRAORDINARY an place

Caroline Scheeler, owner and curator of CAROLINE in Geneva, is no stranger to a wonderful life. For more than 30 years, she has gained priceless experience and the kind of worldliness only a globetrotter understands.

“I was the co-founder and creative director for Jayson Home in Chicago for nearly 30 years,” says Scheeler. “We’ve lived in Wayne for 26 of those years. I raised a family, did the nearly 100-mile round trip commute and traveled all over the world buying and being profoundly inspired by so many places I visited. The last few years gave me fresh perspective and a desire to start a new chapter.”

Like others, the pandemic lockdown was an opportunity for Scheeler to experience a necessary peace, shifting her center. “For many years, through my travels, I considered moving my family to a lot of amazing places,” she says. “After having a much simpler life during lockdown and working from home, I really started to appreciate where I am from. I was able to reconnect with my midwestern roots and found a great sense of purpose here.

Growing up in Elmhurst, Scheeler was surrounded by love and creativity with a successful architect father and a mother with natural ingenuity. “Our home was this beautiful, curated mashup of modern, antique and vintage,” says Scheeler. “It was special, everything had a story, and I am deeply inspired to this day by them both.”

Working in the city and traveling around the world for years brought clarity and confidence to Scheeler’s business savvy. “At this point, CAROLINE doesn’t feel like a startup, it feels like an evolution of my creative vision,” she says. “I am thoroughly enjoying curating and merchandising in this magical space. My little shop is only 1,000 square feet but I am launching an e-commerce website this spring, so the sky is the limit – tiny but mighty!”

From the beginning, CAROLINE has been a family affair. “What was going to be a gap year for my daughter Stella became a couple of gap years and, for now, she’s my partner at this shop,” says Scheeler. “It was also my husband Joe’s idea to name the store after me. So much that lead me to this point here, in Geneva, feels like kismet.”

The warm reception and bustling downtown Geneva was a delightful revelation to Scheeler. “We opened during the holidays which gave us an immediate boost. Geneva has such a thriving downtown and we were so thrilled to be welcomed by such a lovely and supportive clientele.”

Inside the shop you’ll find an astonishing display of exceptional items carefully curated by Scheeler. “This is who I am. It is my vision and a culmination of a lifetime of hunting and gathering and sharing,” she says. “The shop is a mix of vintage and antique wares, apothecary, pantry goods, personal accessories… unique goods for home and life.”

Offering a bespoke decorating service with unparalleled resources, Caroline works with clients to create interiors that speak to their unique story. CAROLINE is definitely inspired by European cultures and plans to bring inspiring wares from near and far to Geneva. n

HOME FINANCING HIGHLIGHTS:

NEW

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877.463.2610. First Centennial Mortgage Corporation operates with the following licenses: AZ #BK-0928494, FL #MLD160, IL Residential Mortgage Licensee #MB.0004239, WI #43972BA. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend as defined by Section 12 CFR 1026.2 Regulation Z. Interest rates and products are subject to change at any time without notice or may not be available at the time of loan commitment or lock. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. 2471 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506. 83018_2301 he kitchen is a room that nourishes both lives and homes. West DuPage Cabinets and Granite has 30 years of experience in home building and design. Here are some tips and trends for kitchen aesthetics for 2023 and beyond.

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