The Better Letter

Intrigued by word of the vast and deep collections in Linda Crispell’s Highland Park home, I ventured her way to find out how one can pick up bride-and-groom cake toppers here and an old herb drying rack there—and avoid becoming the décor equivalent of the cat lady.

When I was 12, my mother renovated the attic and allowed me to have a say in the decor of my new bedroom.  Under the heading of no good deed goes unpunished, her willingness to collaborate resulted in an epic battle about whether or not to buy an expensive hunter green wallpaper I loved.

"Good design involves a lot more than picking out materials," says Mick de Giulio.

If you ask Maclund Gallery co-owners Ro McLaughlin and her sister Barb Lund, they'll tell you their lovely downtown Winnetka shop specializes in 19th century British antiques and art.

Now that Chicagoland has had its first couple snows, it’s time to ensure that your house is protected against all the severe weather that’s still to come.

Take that New Year’s resolution to get organized, and make it happen with these tips.

Amassing a front closet collection of post-holiday clutter including 17 scented candles, three pairs of fuzzy pink slippers, five packages of sparkle pens, two juicers and a Snuggie, all still in boxes with the tags attached? You’re not alone. Here's where to donate post-holiday clutter.

There isn’t anything in your home that better represents resiliency than an antique or vintage find. Resiliency and more. These things also represent times gone by—maybe a time from your own past, maybe a time we’ve only heard or read about.

The real estate market is improving, homes are beginning to sell and you’re thinking once more about that long-delayed remodeling project. With the recent plummet in home prices, is it a safe time to invest additional monies into the luxury bath you’ve always wanted? Howard Miller of Howard Miller Kitchens, Baths, Additions in Northbrook, would answer with a resounding “yes!”