Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/715605
PhotograPhy by Maria Ponce (royers); siMPly by suzy (Monica + andy); John thoMPson (interior define) From living rooms to little ones, entrepreneurs Rob and Monica Royer (shown) have conquered the marketplace through innovative concepts Interior Define (bottom) and Monica + Andy (top) —and now both are adding bedding to their respective résumés. "This is a rare sight," says Monica Royer, whose husband Rob sits beside her on this Monday after- noon. "We spend a lot of time together in the evenings and the weekends, but during the day we rarely get together." It's no surprise considering the pair's busy schedules: Monica is the founder and CEO of Monica + Andy, the organic baby and children's wear e-com- merce label headquartered in Lincoln Park (and also sold on nordstrom.com), which is now expanding into bedding; Rob, mean- while, is the founder of Interior Define (just down the street and around the corner from Monica + Andy), a made-to-order sofa e-tailer that is also growing at lightning speed, and will soon expand its offerings to customized beds. Do the two ask each other for advice? "Monica has really strong judgment in general," says Rob, "so I probably run too many ideas by her." In particular, Rob is inspired by his wife's ability to build a team, while Monica admires Rob's marketing savvy. Their biggest collabora- tion, though, is five-year-old daughter Bella. "Our life basically [revolves] around her," says Monica, "and then these two other 'kids.'" Monica + Andy, 2038 N. Halsted St., 773-697-7968; monicaand andy.com. Interior Define, 833 W. Armitage Ave., 872-802- 4119; interiordefine.com . EntrEprEnEurs Monica and Rob RoyeR hElp Each othEr think outsidE of thE box both on and off thE clock. by Meg Mathis HOME GROWN 138 michiganavemag.com Space partners in crime