15 Best Home Organization Hacks on Pinterest

If you’re fresh out of get-organized ideas, Pinterest is here to the rescue. These hints and hacks will make every room in your home a little bit more organized, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the office and beyond. Since everyone could use a little pinspiration, start with these easy, low-cost ideas to conquer clutter and […]

3 Types of Green Cars that Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Understanding the options available is important for today’s car buyers looking to save money and the environment. Driving a green car is like playing an exciting video-game for Wilmette native David Sloan. He likes to see how far he can go before visiting a gas pump. “I don’t know if I’m green or cheap,” he says. […]

8 Products to Turn Your Backyard into an Outdoor Oasis

  With the polar vortex still fresh in our memories, we’re creating beautiful outdoor spaces that will help us hang on to the fleeting days of summer. “We love sitting outside on cool nights with our blankets and enjoying the fire on our patio,” says Highland Park resident Julie Baum, who last year installed a […]

Form that Functions: Design Resources that Stand Up to Living

Wine and milk spills, kids, pets and life in general make for messy living. Gone are the days when the living room and even dining room were reserved for special occasions. People want to enjoy every room in their home, realizing that precious interiors don’t make for rich living. Luckily, there is a wealth of […]

5 Reasons to Restore Your Windows this Summer

If you’re thinking about updating the look of your home, and want to save on your energy bill as well, consider window restoration. Newly restored windows will do more than just improve the look of your home from the outside; they can lower the risk of water damage and energy bills. The team at Get […]

10 Hostess Gifts for Summer Soirées

Summer means cookouts and garden parties galore. What better way to show your appreciation for a fun summer get together than a hostess gift? Make a point to avoid boring hostess gifts this year—pass on the candles or basic bottle of wine. Your host or hostess will use these 10 creative yet thoughtful gifts all […]

6 Ways Summer Should Inspire Design

Summer couldn’t have come soon enough. Growing up in Chicago, HGTV and DIY Network star and the first female host of the popular “Crashers” series Alison Victoria knows all too well that sunny skies and warm lake breezes are something to cherish all year round. With her usual do-it-yourself approach to interior design, Victoria offers some […]

Best of 2014 Winners!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But for Make It Better’s Best of 2014, we wanted to build a little consensus. So we asked you to share your opinions, from your favorite pizza to your preferred spin class; from the hair salon you most frequent to your go-to spot for gala wear. And, wow, […]

Tour the 2014 Merchandise Mart DreamHome

Chicago’s top interior designers bring their fantasies to life in the 2014 Merchandise Mart DreamHome. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Merchandise Mart DreamHome. Judging by this year’s spaces, the neutral tones and clean, modern aesthetic that has been so predominant recently in interior design may be giving way to a more layered look characterized by interesting, bold colors and classic […]

Best of 2014: Home & Design

The voters have spoken! Thousands of readers took the time to tell us what they find best about the North Shore and Chicago. This year, over 90,000 verified votes were cast in over 11 categories in our annual Best of 2014 awards, and we couldn’t be prouder you responded in such numbers. Here are our […]