Chicago winters are brutal to homes, and smart homeowners are preparing in advance to help avoid costly repairs. “Take preventative action,” says Jeff Hester, vice president of Hester Painting & Decorating. “A little effort now will save you time and money.” Hester suggests homeowners inspect the five following “hot spots” before the first snow hits […]
Make It Better Founder and Publisher Susan Noyes is joined by family fun expert and frequent Today Show guest Donna Bozzo to talk about great Shop For Good products to give as gifts. Buy these products now! Chelsea Carry-All from Vintage Nest, $18 Kohl Children’s Museum Bangle Bracelet from Burdeen’s Jewelry, $40 Pleece Jacket from Skandal, $295 […]
The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to decorate. Here are some tips to make your home festive inside and out! Ribbon and Bows Bows with long tails are an inexpensive way to create a fresh look. Bows are standard decoration for wreaths and swagged roping and can even be used as Christmas […]
Just as you need to periodically give your closet an overhaul, the same rules apply for your accessories. Pro stylists and closet organizers Emily Simon and Debbie Kahn of Deco recommend doing a clothing and accessories purge seasonally to keep your pieces fresh and wearable. This rule also applies to makeup and shoes. Use a one-in-one-out […]
“Almost as soon as we walked in the door, I realized that this was the right house,” explains the owner of a nearly 8,000-square-foot brick bungalow adorned with columns and other Georgian architectural elements in Wilmette. Although the interior was dark and derelict, he was impressed with its solid construction and could envision a lighter, […]
“I’ve always thought of Christmas as a magical holiday,” interior designer Ruthie Ryan explains from the Lincoln Park row home she shares with her husband, Rich. “It’s a moment to relax, decorate and be with family.” The couple, who returned to the city in 2009 after raising their three daughters in Glenview, is famous among […]
Sherwin-Williams and Hester Painting & Decorating invite you to an exclusive unveiling at the Merchandise Mart on Friday, Nov. 6. Passionate Pursuit is the theme for 2016. Fresh mindfulness. Vintage workmanship. Social engagement. And technology and materials that seem to come from out of this world. We’re taking the best of everything life has to […]
Open houses are stressful: rooms need to look like a magazine and smell like fresh laundry, but appear approachable enough not to scare off prospective buyers. Forget old tales about cinnamon sticks in the oven and try out these fresh tricks from some of Chicago’s most successful real estate professionals. Alan Berlow, Coldwell Banker Get […]
A while back, a friend mentioned that she had swapped out all of her mainstream cleaning products for ones without hazardous chemicals or toxins. I had invested in an organic mattress and plant-based disposable diapers for my son, so why wasn’t I using safer products in my home where my entire family spends most of […]
You wake up in a cold sweat. You have a vague feeling that all of your belongings are gone and the kids are missing. Your eyes scan the room and as they adjust to the light, you breathe a long, hard, sigh of relief. It was just a terrible dream. Unfortunately, as far as nightmares […]
