Winter can be pretty gloomy especially in Chicago where I am based.  Waking up in the dark and getting home in the dark doesn’t help.   Light or the lack of it, affects how we feel, our mood and energy levels.  There is even a medical condition called SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which  is caused by the disruption […]

Christmas is a time for celebrating our traditions and honoring memories while gathering with friends and family.  I love to incorporate the old with the new in my holiday table decorating, weaving in vintage pieces which have meaning to my family and recall the past.  I also like to add some element of the outdoors into […]

Are you happy with your fireplace? Is it the focal point of your room?  Whatever the season and whatever the style, a fireplace beckons and draws us in. The fireplace has long been thought of as the heart of a home and a commanding presence in most rooms. This makes it a natural focal point. What exactly is a focal point […]

For this week’s blog post I want to share with you some highlights from my guided tour of a high end custom furniture maker in Chicago.  As a designer I am always interested to know how furniture is made to determine its quality.  It is hard to know what quality of construction lies underneath the fabric […]

Now that Fall is here, the unique organic shapes and patterns of nature come into sharper focus. Fall means cooler weather, warm spiced pumpkin lattes and being cozy inside our homes. Just because the weather is getting cooler outside does not mean you cannot enjoy the visual appeal and feeling of being outdoors inside! We here at […]

Rugs add comfort underfoot and create a defined area in our rooms.  They create cozy and inviting seating areas while breaking up an expanse of hardwood flooring. A common problem many people face is finding the right sized rug for their room, especially large rooms.  You don’t have to shop for a pre-made rug in the perfect […]

This blog post is not like all those other blog posts about decorating your dorm room.  For all those students starting or going back to college this fall and their anxious parents, I am going to give you some insider tips from the design world that will help you transform your dorm room so that it […]

  This week’s post is about a subject many people find difficult.  If you have large blank walls, it can be challenging trying to think how to decorate them with artwork, even if you have pieces ready to display.  You may think the artwork you have is too small or too big.  If you group […]

Are You Traditional, Transitional or Contemporary? Many of my clients have difficulty describing and expressing their preferred design style.  Sometimes it is hard to know what the terms Traditional, Transitional and Contemporary mean, especially when shelter magazines talk about “the New Traditional” or “updated Traditional”.   A classical fireplace design, combinations of different patterns both […]

I have not seen the Secret Life of Pets movie yet, but I bet their homes don’t feature some of these great ideas for designing your space to work around their baskets, litters, bowls and bedding!  We love our pets but we often forget to think about them when planning the layout of our furniture and kitchens. […]