Chicago winters are brutal to homes, and smart homeowners are preparing in advance to help avoid costly repairs. “Take preventative action,” says Jeff Hester, vice president of Hester Painting & Decorating. “A little effort now will save you time and money.” Hester suggests homeowners inspect the five following “hot spots” before the first snow hits […]
Make It Better Founder and Publisher Susan Noyes is joined by family fun expert and frequent Today Show guest Donna Bozzo to talk about great Shop For Good products to give as gifts. Buy these products now! Chelsea Carry-All from Vintage Nest, $18 Kohl Children’s Museum Bangle Bracelet from Burdeen’s Jewelry, $40 Pleece Jacket from Skandal, $295 […]
The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to decorate. Here are some tips to make your home festive inside and out! Ribbon and Bows Bows with long tails are an inexpensive way to create a fresh look. Bows are standard decoration for wreaths and swagged roping and can even be used as Christmas […]
“Almost as soon as we walked in the door, I realized that this was the right house,” explains the owner of a nearly 8,000-square-foot brick bungalow adorned with columns and other Georgian architectural elements in Wilmette. Although the interior was dark and derelict, he was impressed with its solid construction and could envision a lighter, […]
“I’ve always thought of Christmas as a magical holiday,” interior designer Ruthie Ryan explains from the Lincoln Park row home she shares with her husband, Rich. “It’s a moment to relax, decorate and be with family.” The couple, who returned to the city in 2009 after raising their three daughters in Glenview, is famous among […]
Sherwin-Williams and Hester Painting & Decorating invite you to an exclusive unveiling at the Merchandise Mart on Friday, Nov. 6. Passionate Pursuit is the theme for 2016. Fresh mindfulness. Vintage workmanship. Social engagement. And technology and materials that seem to come from out of this world. We’re taking the best of everything life has to […]
It’s time to say goodbye to summer, but you can get into the spirit of fall by decorating your home with some seasonal panache. Try a DIY approach and collect fallen leaves, brilliantly colored and textured pumpkins and gourds, and even long tree branches to bring the warmth of the season indoors. Visit a garden […]
If you are considering a home remodeling or renovation project, now could be a good time to start the process. Financing is at historic lows, home values are steady or rising, and fall is a perfect time to plan for a spring project start. Many Chicagoans – especially those on the North Shore – opt […]
Have your kids flown the nest, leaving behind unused bedrooms filled with wayward stuffed animals, dusty trophies and tattered posters? Rather than keep a room as a shrine to your kiddo, consider transitioning it into a chic guest room or another room you’ll actually use – a home office or workout room, perhaps? Taking a […]
“This was my dream come true,” says Elaine Eisen Heuberger, of the modern three-bedroom home that she shares with her husband, Rich, and their dogs, Cooper, a Portuguese Water Dog, and Stella, a Labradoodle. “I went to Northwestern and always wanted to live in Evanston,” she explains. “I like the mix of people a lot, […]
