Fall always feels like a bit of a contradiction to me: Cool weather and crisp, colorful leaves remind us that the year is coming to a close, yet the air practically buzzes with the excitement of new beginnings as the kids head back to school. Mixed in with the wistfulness of time passing is a […]
When this Highland Park homeowner finished her master bedroom, bath, and dressing room renovation, all she could say was, “This project totally changed my life!” The proud owner of a 1924 red brick Georgian-style home worked with her architect to reconfigure a tiny master bath into a grand spa-like space without moving structural walls. In […]
More and more people feel comfortable designing with their own personal style in mind. Instead of just the basics, you will see lots of hand painted cement tiles (or porcelain that mimics the hand painted look), wide distressed wood planks, and decorative 3D (dimensional) tile used as accent walls. Marble and cement looks in quartz […]
When summers are as short as they are in the Midwest, it’s important to make the most of them. It was in that spirit that Winnetka residents Jared and Christy Vegosen hired Chalet Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center (Make It Better’s Best of 2018 Best Landscaper winner) to create a luxurious spot for alfresco dining, […]
Bold coffered ceilings and echoes of traditional boiserie lift a classic but timeworn Russian Hill pied-à-terre. When a couple from a leafy Chicago suburb who needed to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren in San Francisco found a worn fourth-floor flat in a 1924 Russian Hill condominium building, they took it. “It had bay […]
In a city as vibrant as Chicago, making everyday decisions — where to order dinner, get a haircut, push your kids on the swings — can feel downright dizzying. Enter our (eighth annual!) Best Of awards: You shared your favorite spaces and places, we tallied the votes, and together we’ll celebrate all that makes our […]
We all love a little change of color, pattern, or style in our homes, but sometimes “brand new” isn’t the answer. “But how do I make changes without it being brand new?” you may be asking. Well, that is when it is good to know a company that doesn’t just employ painters, they employ true […]
A kitchen renovation can seem like a daunting task, but for local novelist Stacey Ballis it was truly a labor of love. “I walked in,” she says of the first time she visited her house, “and the building gave me a hug. It felt like home in such a warm and visceral way.” That was […]
For many homeowners, the staircase is the central focal point in their entryway. It sets the tone for the entire house. It can be dramatic, dynamic, and practical. Plain wood stairs can be cold and stark, while adding a carpet runner can warm up the space and add an element of design and character. Not […]
The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller will be auctioned at Christie’s in New York City May 8-10 — and every cent from the sale (anticipated to fetch a record-breaking $1 billion) will be donated to charity. Beneficiaries include Harvard and Rockefeller Universities, the Museum of Modern Art and the Council on Foreign Relations. Steven Zick, senior […]
