Although many experts recommend holding big events at reception halls, hotels or restaurants, there’s nothing like throwing a fantastic party at home—if you’re prepared. Think Through the Basics Seating, lighting, space. Is there room for 100 of your nearest and dearest to mingle, talk and laugh? A room, like this one, which was designed by […]
Visiting my grandmother as a young girl in the hot and humid south, I discovered her famed front porch swing on a lazy summer day. Every time I sat down on that swing and took in the world around me, a calming presence arrived. Now today, whenever I see a beautiful old home with a […]
Strange Closets sounds like name of a Michael Jackson expose, but it seemed an apropos title when I started writing my interiors blog two years ago, because strange closets and I go way back. Growing up, I had two, room-sized walk-in closets: inside the first was a full-sized door to a second closet built into […]
Here we go again … it’s the beginning of a new year, which means resolutions all around, especially for homeowners. It’s not just about losing weight or eating healthy…some people resolve to finally paint that bedroom or get those window treatments done. Lofty goals, yes, but that’s what a new year is about after all. […]
Decorating in December can be ho-hum or ho-ho-ho! Here are a few ideas to keep things fresh. Visit retailers for ideas Retailers are both the problem and solution. Large chain stores hire a cadre of visual merchandisers to make sure their displays grab eyeballs, so use them for ideas even if you don’t buy the […]
Yasmin Mekki, a Lake Forest resident, recently opened Kenzy Gifts and Décor, a store full of unique North Africa-made additions for your home. Mekki designs her product lines and then has the pieces made in North Africa, including tabletop items and furniture, as well as gifts for friends and family. The name Kenzy means […]
Autumn’s mild weather allowed maximum procrastination of this year’s snow removal decisions, but snow’s coming; so wait no longer. Here are the key considerations for buying a new snow blower or shovel or hiring a snow removal service. Snow blowers “Snow blowers are a back saver,” says Libertyville Ace Hardware Store Manager Paul LaRoche, who […]
If you’re wondering what a “Chicago Bungalow” exactly is, you can find a charming street lined with them in Wilmette, just west of Green Bay Road. Drive west on Wilmette Ave to Oak Circle, then turn south. This cobblestone, curvilinear street, is lined, almost exclusively, with Chicago Bungalows. Fifteen to be exact. As you walk […]
Designing your holiday table, like getting dressed up for any event, is an opportunity for you to express your personal style.
This was no assignment for a novice. In 2009, Jeannie Balsam was selected to design an awkwardly long and narrow rear entrance hall and small powder room for the bi-annual Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, which benefits the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Designed by Benjamin Marshall and built in 1911 for a Rand McNally […]
