You update your wardrobe each year by adding key pieces — a killer pair of jeans in the cut du jour, the must-have boots or tote of the season, a statement blouse in a trendy pattern. Keep your home as fresh and on-trend as your wardrobe with some strategic updates. We asked local design experts […]
If you haven’t been to Navy Pier in a few years — perhaps since the last time you brought out-of-town visitors there — you might be surprised to find a bounty of new restaurants, shops and green spaces, as well as the recently opened Centennial Wheel, a 196-foot Ferris wheel that is 50 feet taller […]
If you showed up to a job interview with an ill-fitting suit, an outdated resume and bad breath, you probably wouldn’t get the job — no matter how qualified you are. The same principle applies to selling your house. Even if a house has great bones and is in a prime location, staging can make […]
If you had to guess the home renovation projects that add the most value to a house, you’d probably say “kitchen remodel” or “new bathroom,” right? In all likelihood, “fiberglass attic insulation” wouldn’t be at the top of your list. But, as it turns out, that is the project with the greatest return on investment, […]
Sometimes, investing in the stock market can feel so nebulous — where is your money really going and how is it being used? Dave Miller, a former finance and real estate executive, started seriously pondering those questions about a decade ago after he purchased some farmland in Iroquois County, Illinois. He converted the land to […]
If you want your children to do well in college, the answer may lie not in what you give them — but in what you withhold. A recent study found that as parental financial support increases, students’ GPAs often decrease. University of California, Merced sociology professor Laura Hamilton, who conducted the study, says that when parents […]
Want to feather your nest and make somebody else’s corner of the world a bit brighter? Here are seven socially conscious shops where you can buy stylish furniture bedding, rugs and accessories. Parachute Home Sleep more soundly knowing that your bedding purchase is helping a child in Africa rest safely. Parachute Home donates a life-saving […]
A new baby brings So. Much. Stuff. into your house. A lot of it is impractical (infants do not wear shoes!) or inconvenient to use, and so it ends up collecting dust in the nursery closet. But, there are those few fabulous items that busy parents rely on day in, day out — the ones […]
Is there any sound more festive than a bottle of Champagne popping? We think not! Admittedly, it’s hard to improve on a crisp glass of chilled bubbles. But we found 12 drink recipes in which fresh herbs, sweet fruit, tart bitters (and all kinds of other good stuff) make Champagne even more delicious. Grab a […]
The mudroom (or entryway, as the case may be in your house) is arguably the most high-traffic area of the home, yet it is often one of the most overlooked when it comes to design. Give some thought to your family’s mudroom needs — Does sports gear need to be corralled? Do you need a […]
