It seemed like fate when Mark and Wendy La Varre first toured the single-story mid-century house on a lush lot in Glencoe. Designed by architect, Samuel Abraham Marx, and built in 1953, the light-filled main living areas boasted floor-to-ceiling windows and a breezy layout that wowed the soon-to-be empty nesters. To say nothing of its […]
Clean your place, clear your headspace.
The end of summer — and the beginning of a new school year — is usually our siren call to return to our routines and busy extra-curricular schedules. But this year, back to school means back at home for another season (or three) of work and school from home. Breathe some new life into the […]
Building a custom house from the ground up is not for the faint of heart, but Glencoe residents, Barry and Natalie Slotnick, have done it twice in the last decade—not to mention a major remodel of an Evanston bungalow 16 years ago. “Design is my hobby and passion,” says Natalie, a former Spanish teacher turned […]
If there were ever a time to invest in your dream home, it’s during a pandemic. Despite the easing of some restrictions this summer, most of us are still spending an unprecedented amount of time at home. With limitations on beaches, public pools, and even trips to the lake if you’re headed over the border […]
With this year’s stay-at-home orders, we have had more time to tend to our homes than ever before. With no more obligations and excuses, we made our DIY lists and set out to make our home our sanctuary from the outside world. For me, this included planning my very best vegetable and herb garden. I […]
COVID-19 didn’t yet exist when Jason and Alexis Beckwith decided to buy a 10-acre partially forested property just an hour’s drive from Chicago in Chesterton, Indiana, a rural community known for its art galleries, antique shops and annual festivals. But especially after sheltering-in-place for the past few months, the former Chicagoans are grateful they followed […]
Crafting the perfect home happens with many iterations. The Sullivan-Newman family’s journey started in 2016, with a significant remodel of their home’s interior. Now, four years later, they have completed the finishing touches — the expansion of their outdoor living. After they put their two-year old son, Axel, and one-year old daughter, MJ, to bed, […]
If you’ve eaten at a restaurant designed by Chicago-based Siren Betty Design, you remember it. The firm’s principal designer and founder, Nicole Alexander, has made full-throttle, go-big-or-go-home impact a hallmark of her hospitality projects. “I tend toward a sort of lived-in maximalism — lots of layers, textures and colors, a sprinkling of vintage, and one-of-a-kind […]
During a typical week, we would be sharing our top picks for events and festivals to check out this weekend. But as you know, this is not a typical week. Events are postponed, everything is virtual and we are all trying our best to keep things positive. In our effort to help us all stay […]
