Trying to Sell Your Home? Avoid These 5 Deal Breakers

Looking to sell your home, or determining which upgrades are best for your property’s resale value? Here are five design details that could jeopardize your sale. Real estate brokers Anne West, who specializes in the lakefront communities of Chicago’s North Shore with Coldwell Banker, and Terri McAuley, city luxury expert with KoenigRubloff, share advice on how […]

3 Nurseries So Cute You’ll Want Another Baby

When you have a new baby, you spend a lot of time in the nursery — feeding, rocking and playing with your little bundle of joy. So the baby’s room should be just as stylish and refined as the rest of your home. A nursery need not be all pastels and cartoon characters to be […]

Community Celebrations: January/February 2016

In our January/February 2016 issue, we introduced a new section to highlight local businesses’ anniversaries and awards. If your company is celebrating a milestone in 2016, we want to know! Email anna@makeitbetter.net and your business may appear in our print magazine. Jewell Events Catering 2016 marks Jewell Events Catering’s 49th year in business. Jewell Events […]

100 Things to Do This Winter

Updated Jan. 10, 2018 Sometimes it’s hard to get out of that winter blues funk. Without the excitement of the holidays, snow and sub-zero temperatures lose their appeal and winter quickly becomes monotonous. Luckily, Make It Better has a wealth of ideas to keep you occupied — some indoors, some outdoors, some a little out there, and some that take no […]

Decorate Your Home With Décor That Gives Back

Want to feather your nest and make somebody else’s corner of the world a bit brighter? Here are seven socially conscious shops where you can buy stylish furniture bedding, rugs and accessories. Parachute Home Sleep more soundly knowing that your bedding purchase is helping a child in Africa rest safely. Parachute Home donates a life-saving […]

11 Mudroom Must-Haves for a Clutter-Free Home

The mudroom (or entryway, as the case may be in your house) is arguably the most high-traffic area of the home, yet it is often one of the most overlooked when it comes to design. Give some thought to your family’s mudroom needs — Does sports gear need to be corralled? Do you need a […]

Treat Yourself Today with Shop For Good

Why not take a minute on #TreatYourselfTuesday to gift yourself during the season thats all about giving and giving back. These items from Shop For Good, our e-commerce site that gives back 10 percent of the proceeds to a carefully vetted nonprofit, are the perfect way to treat yourself but not feel too guilty. 1. […]

Shop For Good With These New Boutiques

It’s been a busy month for Shop For Good! Here are some of the new products and vendors that have joined our online shop within the last month. 1. J.McLaughlin J.McLaughlin has added all new clothing and accessory items like the Petra cloak and Regina Pant shown below. 2. Twisted Trunk Specializing in high-end pre-owned […]

Housewarming: 10 Beautiful Accessories for a Cozy Winter Home

Throw another log on the fire, pour yourself a warm (spiked!) drink and cue up a great movie. Winter in Chicago is the ideal season to slow down and spend more time at home. For happier hibernating, feather your nest with the softest rugs, the plushest pillows and the coziest throws. Sheepskin Rug Plush sheepskin […]