In many industries, casual Fridays have gradually given way to casual every-days, but putting your best foot forward never goes out of style in the wine business. I was reminded of this fact during a recent visit to Tangley Oaks, the historic Lake Bluff estate where Terlato Wines International houses their executive offices. Designed by […]
Tired of the gray already? Although the grass is greener on the other side of winter, you can get a jump on Mother Nature (MoNa) by incorporating houseplants into your home. Whether you choose ferns, orchids or just a vase of lucky bamboo, plants will add a dash of spring to your home and clean […]
Touring the splendiferous homes on the North Shore has been loads of fun and a terrific source of decorating inspiration. I’ve also been able to glean information about local design resources, which interior designers and homeowners alike speak about in secretive, hushed tones. Don’t worry, it’s just between you and me,” I whisper, as my […]
For the past three years, I’ve spent my days photographing the homes of people whom I’ve never previously met. Afterward, I use my photos and interview notes in an attempt to weave an interesting narrative along with a few takeaways for readers who are interested in gussying up their own pads. After touring so many different […]
“A house isn’t worth anything if you can’t make it comfortable to live in,” explains Thomas Wesely. Wesley is an Evanston-based interior designer who set out to do just that for his friend when she bought a 1920s-era Tudor-style home, which is located on a leafy street in Evanston. Tell us a little about the […]
Sylvia Cardenas relied on instinct and advice to decorate her Highland Park home. When George and Sylvia Cardenas first bought the Highland Park lot where their home stands today, the surrounding area was mostly farmland. “We used it to park the trucks for our business,” explains Sylvia Cardenas, of George Cardenas Landscape Design in Highland […]
Standing in the entry of Brian and Tami Quinn’s five-bedroom Spanish Revival home in Wilmette, it’s difficult to believe that the house had been marketed as a tear down less than two years ago. “Water had been seeping into the interior walls from leaking gutters, so plaster was crumbling, wallpaper was sagging and floors were […]
Alessandra Branca’s lush, textured interiors have been featured in many publications, including House Beautiful, Elle Decor and House & Garden. Never content to rest on her laurels, in 2008, Alessandra opened her Gold Coast boutique, Branca, where she makes available the kind of one-of-a-kind pieces that have graced her projects, and in 2009, she published […]
George and Sylva Cardenas of Highland Park share their garden retreat with Make It Better. George and Syliva Cardenas have been landscaping North Shore homes since they founded George Cardenas Landscape Design in Highland Park in 1976. Although running the business keeps the couple busy, they carve out time to maintain their own garden retreat […]
Evanston resident Heather Hancock spends her days creating glass mosaics in her Evanston studio. It’s a destiny she would never have imagined for herself ten years ago when she had a much different career as a speech pathologist specializing in helping patients with traumatic brain injuries. What prompted you to transition from speech pathology to creating […]
