Let’s talk art. Not paintings on a canvas art or marble bust of George Washington art; I’m talking furniture in your living room art. Now, a lot of the run-of-the-mill sofas and dining room tables aren’t going to be particularly arty, but that’s where Eau Claire’s new furniture and decor shop Urban Galleria comes in.

“A lot of the designs are elegant, streamlined designs,” Scott Rugotzke said. “They’re not overstuffed. They’re refined. And they cater to the urban crowd.”

“A lot of the designs are elegant, streamlined designs. they’re not overstuffed. they’re refined. And they cateR to The Urban Crowd.” – Scott Rugotzke, urban galleria

Scott and Robin Rugotzke opened Urban Galleria in November as a place to showcase unique, modern design in furniture and decor –  something the Chippewa Valley hasn’t always had great access to. The pieces that flow through Urban Galleria are often one-of-a-kind to the Eau Claire area, if not the world.

“We’re finding that – really in the Eau Claire area – we’re the first ones bringing retro-modern into the mix,” Scott Rugotzke said. “Obviously it starts on the West Coast and East Coast and makes its way to Wisconsin, so we think Eau Claire is ready for modern, more European looks.”

The modern furniture offered is punctuated by bold design, with bright colors, sharp edges and luscious curves, but also benefits from a superior quality. Rugotzke said he looks for pieces that offer 100 percent top-grade leathers, single-pieces of certified fine woods and small manufacturers that he can get to know. Urban Galleria has exclusive contracts with a number of small furniture makers from around the Midwest, guaranteeing unique pieces of handmade furniture.

Urban Galleria’s ever-changing collection is the perfect fit for modern, urban apartments. Rugotzke said the shop always has a collection of smaller pieces that work better in the sometimes small and awkward spaces that come with a downtown loft. Items such as pub tables and small sofas are perfect ways to expand the space in your home and make a small room seem more spacious.

So what are the hot trends to keep up with?

“We’re seeing young people really embracing color, away from your traditional brown sofa and having fun with color,” Rugotzke said. “It’s really fun with contrasts, accenting pillows and accenting cushions.” He said there’s also a push for organics, like reclaimed products and woods, which can be contrasted with bright colors and abstract patterns.

The nice thing about Urban Galleria is the custom possibilities. Many of the pieces are customizable and made to order, allowing you to branch out and get something truly unique to you and your home’s style. It also lets you break the norm and have an interesting arrangement.

“The days of buying a loveseat, sofa, and chair are gone,” Rugotzke said, explaining that – especially in an urban environment –  functional pieces that can be moved and changed and reutilized are popular.

Urban Galleria’s modern design sense certainly isn’t for everyone, but it fills a niche in the Chippewa Valley for people who want a functional, modern, European-style in their home.

“When you step into our store it’s pretty obvious what we’re all about.” Rugotzke said. “Some folks come in and say, ‘Well, this is fun but it’s not really me.’ and that’s fine. We’re pretty edgy and people figure that out themselves after a couple seconds in the store.”

Urban Galleria is located at 2839 Mall Drive and is open at 10am Tuesday-Saturday and at 12pm on Sundays. You can find more info at EauClaireFurniture.com.