Fun Ways to Break the Ice at Your Next Party

When you’re throwing a party, whether it’s a small gathering of friends or a blowout bash to celebrate a milestone, you want your guests to have a great time and truly connect with one another. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to get even the most articulate and friendly adults out of their comfort zones […]

What You Need to Do Now for a Beautiful Yard This Fall

Crisp weather may signal the end of summer, but it shouldn’t mean the end of enjoying your outdoor space. It’s easy to overlook fall landscaping while we’re reeling in hoses and storing ceramic pots for cooler months, but the season brings our most vibrant colors and our best opportunity to prepare for the seasons ahead. […]

Modern Twist: Inside an Award-Winning Home in Evanston

“This was my dream come true,” says Elaine Eisen Heuberger, of the modern three-bedroom home that she shares with her husband, Rich, and their dogs, Cooper, a Portuguese Water Dog, and Stella, a Labradoodle. “I went to Northwestern and always wanted to live in Evanston,” she explains. “I like the mix of people a lot, […]

10 Best Coffee Table Books of 2015

There’s no better conversation starter—or home décor accent—than a good coffee table book. Whether you regularly page through it or it’s a permanent fixture on your bookshelf, these beautiful books are much more than that; they’re works of art. Here are 10 gorgeous books we want on our coffee tables. 1. The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with […]

Pros Reveal Their Best Home Organization Secrets

Getting your home organized (finally!) doesn’t have to be overwhelming—as long as you use strategies that actually work. We called on some of our favorite local organization and home experts to share their top tricks for keeping busy families (and their homes) running smoothly. With these clever tactics, you might find that organizing can be […]

5 Entertaining Trends to Try Now!

Burlap table runners, cupcakes, flowers in mason jars, food trucks—trends in entertaining come and go, just like trends in fashion. We asked some of the best local event planners for the inside scoop on this year’s hottest entertaining trends. Here’s what the in-the-know hostesses will be doing at their parties this season. Trend #1: Drop-Off […]

How to Design a Home That’s Great for Entertaining

Most of us can feel it when we’re in one, yet can find it difficult to identify the specific elements that make a home great for entertaining. What gives a space its warm, inviting ambiance? Is it the lighting? The size of the space? The availability and arrangement of seating? To get to the bottom of what makes a space ideal for hosting, we […]

Best of 2015 Winners!

We asked and, boy, did you answer! Make It Better’s Best of 2015 drew more than 105,000 verified votes across 10 categories. It’s obvious that you, our readers, feel strongly about the North Shore and Chicago businesses you love and are eager to help promote them. We were excited to see businesses asking their loyal […]

Best of 2015: Home & Design

Make It Better’s Best of 2015 drew more than 105,000 verified votes across 10 categories. Share your thoughts with us on social media using the hashtag #MIBBestof2015. Handyman Get Dwell Need help with that home repair checklist? This four-time winner’s got you covered. 1046 Gage St., Winnetka, 847-922-3418 Interior Decorator Jeannie Balsam LLC A second-time reader […]