Whether you believe what’s old is new again, subscribe to the green mantra repurpose and reuse, or just need to find a doorknob to match the others in your 1920s bungalow, we’ve got the best places to go. Al Bar Wilmette Platers, Wilmette In business since 1937, Al Bar has the go-to-guys for anything from […]
Looking to spice up your humble abode? Venture to the city to check out the latest and greatest home stores. Here are our favorites and why we love them. Susan Fredman at Home One of the coolest spots for a modern collection of tabletop items, glassware, home décor, furnishings, and gifts curated with the eye […]
It’s summer outdoor entertainment season and people want their homes to look spic and span for outdoor parties. Here are some tips to make your house gleam before hosting an occasion outside. 1. Clean! Jeff Hester of Skokie’s Hester Painting and Decorating suggests attaching a low-pressure power washer to your garden hose to clean off […]
Meet Joyce Romanoff, President of Skokie-based wall coverings company, Maya Romanoff. She is focused on thoughtfully growing the company’s line of products without sacrificing its culture of cooperation and connection. Romanoff also serves on the Exhibitions Committee for the Museum of Arts & Design in NY and on the Advisory Boards for HD Expo and […]
While growing up in the Philippines, Joaquin Franco discovered a special talent that none of his friends possessed: decorating. “It all started at home,” says Franco, who started by selecting the paint and fabrics for his own bedroom before branching out into the rest of the house. “I grew bored of seeing the furniture in […]
Chicago’s top designers transformed Thorndale Manor for the 2011 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. Our Home Editor, Tate Gunnerson, visited the mansion and found takeaway lessons you can use in decorating your space. Parisian Library by Jeannie Balsam, LLC. Using dark purple walls and sumptuous fabrics such as wool flannel, velvet and mohair, Jeannie Balsam […]
Few things can enhance or detract from a beautifully designed interior more than window treatments.
In the ‘90s hit movie “Father of the Bride,” Steve Martin has a beautiful family; a loving wife, a successful business, and a daughter about to be married. After a busy day at work, he pulls up in a roadster, to a picturesque white colonial on a shady tree-lined street. What dad wouldn’t want to be […]
If you’re like me and made a pact not to acquire any more tchocthkes, here’s inspiration to stop buying and start using what you already have this summer. Sharing the tricks of their trade, prop stylist Hilary Ashlund, and Stephanie Cook, a party planner from Lake Forest with SPC Events, give us the will […]
When a Chicago-area family completed construction on their five-bedroom lake home, they hired Stephanie Wirth and Georgeann Rivas, of Leo Designs in Chicago, to help them create an open, airy retreat with fun pops of color. In this conversation with Make It Better, Stephanie Wirth explains how they tackled the project. What did the homeowners […]
