Scientists study animal characteristics to help them develop useful new technologies. For example, observing how geckos climb walls is yielding new advances in materials, which may soon enable firefighters to leave the ladder at home. As it turns out, looking to nature for your decorating inspiration is also a terrific way to spice up a […]
These days, I’m a lucky girl. I snoop in interesting homes and beautiful shops filled with surprises, and I meet fascinating people, folks blessed with right-brain abundance and a knack for living the interesting life. Sharing the discoveries from my snooping excursions is the other half of the fun. Which is why the Snoopster […]
Homeowners have come to accept the fact that hiring a painting contractor often brings surprises—and sometimes not the good kind. “The timeline can last weeks longer than originally agreed upon; the price can escalate faster than the blink of an eye; and the finished quality can leave much to be desired. But this isn’t how […]
From the Garden of Eden to the hanging gardens of Babylon, mankind has long appreciated a good garden. Fortunately, one need not channel King Nebuchadnezzar to cultivate an outdoor space. As the rise in container gardening illustrates, where there’s a will (or a terrace), there’s a way. Fortunately, many North Shore homes stand on large […]
Trapped inside a tired décor? With a few simple tricks and a handful of dollars, you can wake up any room in your house.
With all the rain (not to mention my wallet’s dearth of dinero), I just haven’t done a lot of entertaining out in my backyard this summer. You too? Well, heck, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Let’s do something about this. After getting your guest list together and before pulling out your favorite recipes, […]
Are you one of the many North Shore residents trying to sell your home right now? Then you know—only too well—that it is a challenging time to sell real estate. Anyone affiliated with this segment of the economy is affected, including mortgage lenders, builders, brokerage firms, real estate agents, home inspectors, title companies, real […]
If you’re planning a birthday party or summer get-together, your mental list probably looks like this: Guest list? E-mail invites already sent. Menu? Delicious, but still deciding on dessert. (see our Summer Blondies story) What are you going to wear? Working on it! Decorating your table? Not so much . . . You want to […]
Who better to get advice from than someone who has just been there, done that? Enter Lauren Handler and Taylor Anderson. Lauren, a De Paul University junior (and former Trevian from Winnetka), has an apartment now but well remembers her days at the 1237 West dorm in Lincoln Park. And Taylor, a Glenbrook North grad […]
A talented bloggist and interior decorator with the right mentality for our challenging times has joined our community. Genevieve M. Ferraro, creator of , advocates to “forget the McMansion” and embrace the charm of smaller homes. A talented bloggist and interior decorator with the right mentality for our challenging times has joined our community. Genevieve M. […]
