Tricks of the Trade: How to Blend Decorating Styles
Sticking to any single style can be predictable and boring.
Mid-Century Modern Home Renovation
Designer Tom Ferguson combines arts-and-crafts style with mid-century modern architecture in this Winnetka home. You just might hear music when you pull up to Bob Scales and Mary Keefe’s mid-century modern ranch-style home in Winnetka. Bob has been playing guitar for nearly four decades and enjoys the blues; their son, Emmet, 17, has been at […]
Freshen and Clean Up Your Spring Home
Throw off the end-of-winter doldrums—at least in your home. We’ve rounded up 8 great ideas to get you going. 1. Start with a Clean Slate After you’ve swept out the last of those leftover pine needles from Christmas, open up the windows and let the fresh air in. Before beginning any redecorating project, get to […]
Treasure Hunting at Chicago Home Stores
Is it time to do some updating in your home? You may be looking for a fresh take on an entire room or just changing out a few accent pieces. And while we love our North Shore stores, if you’re looking for something new, consider a quick trip to the city. Here are our favorite […]
Lighten Up Your Window Treatments
The days of heavy-handed window treatments are over. It’s time to lose the hefty cornices, ornate hardware, overdone tassels and trim, and opt for window treatments that offer warmth and style, and still let the light shine in. So whether you revise or redo your window treatments, here are some decorating ideas from local interior […]
Before and After: A Look Inside Our Editor in Chief's Home
Ceding control is never easy, especially when it comes to something as personal as the design of your own home. But as Make It Better’s Editor-in-Chief Laura Hine recently learned, sometimes it pays to bring in a professional, in this case, Chris Garrett, of Garrett Paschen Interior Design in Evanston. “I feel like this house […]
Style Shortcuts for a Beautiful Bed
Just as a suite of furniture is boring and predictable, the same goes for your bed. It’s time to ditch the “bed in a bag,” and think of your bedding like your wardrobe. For inspiration, we asked Meg Carroll of Bedside Manor and Leslie Spitzer-Blesius of Jolie Maison, to share their tricks to making a […]
What Are You Waiting For? Make Your Home Your Own
No more excuses. When it comes to decorating, the time to act is now. Decorating isn’t about hiring a designer or buying fancy or expensive things. It’s about ripping the brown paper wrappers off your pictures and hanging them anywhere. So unpack your pictures already! Because let’s face it: You moved in five years ago. […]
Lighter, Brighter Interior Design
There’s nothing like our cold, gray winter to inspire lighthearted design.
3 Formulas to Cozy Up Your Winter Home
With the end of holiday distractions, dwindling daylight and chilly temps, it’s easy to feel cranky and sluggish in January. Instead of feeling dreary, why not embrace winter? Use these three formulas to cozy up every room of your house, and appreciate how beautiful this season can be. 1. Pillows + Throw + Fireplace […]
