It's been awhile since I've written. I only realized that fact when a new client wrote me about his upcoming project in Grant Park and then expressed concern that we were no longer in business. We are most certainly in business; I've just too busy to write about it. However, we've done a lot of … [Read more...]
12 Top Kitchen Design Pointers
January 28, 2014 By ·
I like to talk about kitchens because kitchens are chock full of possibility. I have found that kitchens reflect the philosophy, personality, and essence of the client or family, as every kitchen is as unique as the people who occupy the space. And so, creativity runs rampant in a … [Read more...]
Infuse Spaces with Warmth Using Salvaged House Parts
July 19, 2010 By ·
Several of my most enjoyable renovation projects were houses that were totally violated: everything worth anything ripped clean out of them. In fact, I live in one of those houses now so I’ll talk about this one. We bought this house after watching it sit vacant for 7 years--of course, that’s not … [Read more...]
Not Just for Salads: Vinegar Does Wonders for Wood Floors
May 21, 2010 By ·
If you mix pets, children, entertaining and simple day-to-day life with your beautiful wood floors, you know that what you get is floors that are less than pristine. I am speaking from experience as my 100 year old pine floors bear the brunt of the feet of many sub-contractors, my daughter’s garden … [Read more...]
How Little Bug Bodies Give Trim that Warm Historic Look
May 18, 2010 By ·
My favorite old house finish is made from the scraped bits of bug secretions. And when first harvested, the finish is a tempting amalgam of scraped bark, bug appendages, and sticky-lac resin. The female lac bug is the one responsible for this resin and she lives in the trees of India and … [Read more...]
