Candice Wagener
Covetable items at Chauette.
“Chauette,” French slang for “cool” or “great,” is an apt name for this Middleton home store that concentrates on contemporary products, whenever possible made in the United States, Madison and surrounding communities.
“My big initiative when I first started was to focus on local or Etsy artists and unique things you can’t find anywhere else,” says co-owner Samantha Annen.
Chauette began as a women’s clothing boutique in the Paoli Schoolhouse. It moved into downtown Middleton three years ago, and when more space opened up next door, Annen and her mother, Sue Bakke, expanded their inventory to include fine housewares and gifts under the name Chauette Home.
Candice Wagener
Move over, Left Shark. Pendulum clock from Paul Ocepek.
“I’ve always loved home goods and home decor,” says Annen, who’s worked at upscale design shops in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, the Midwest’s mecca for culture and trends.
The store carries an extensive line of fine tableware from top brand Juliska (more often found in big retail stores like Saks Fifth Avenue). The unusual, state-shaped cast iron skillets from American Skillet Company, based right here in Madison, are also in stock.
In April, the shop will become one of a very limited number of retailers to roll out a brand-new line called Wolf Gourmet, consisting of cookware, cutlery, blenders, toaster ovens and toasters, all created by another company located in Madison: Sub-Zero/Wolf.
Chauette stocks a nice selection of gifts for parents-to-be, with everything from pacifiers adorned with mustaches to legwarmers with padded kneecaps (for those crawlers), kitschy animal clocks, and onesies emblazoned with hometown pride by local artist RosyMade.
While a trip to Middleton is always nice, out-of-town gift-givers can easily access both wedding and baby registries, via the shop’s website. Local goes global — it’s a win-win.
Chauette Home
7466 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, 608-836-5366, chauettehome.com, 11 am-4 pm Mon., 10 am-5 pm Tues.-Sat.
