Modernizing the Historical Home

At the turn of the 20th Century, the Neoclassical Revival was in full swing. Chicago deeply embraced the movement. It represented stability and rebirth after a devastating fire ripped through the city. A style that was once reserved for public buildings trickled into residential homes. From Hyde Park to the North Shore, our team has […]
Vintage Rugs: Semikah Textiles

I will forever have a soft spot for vintage rugs. But at one point in time and perhaps in a near future they will all be collected and sold. They will be gone. It has been harder to and harder to find the special ones that stand out from the usual. Here are a couple […]
Playroom Ideas Kids Can Grow Into

In my early career, I started by doing solely kid’s spaces, so when I get an opportunity to create one for a client it’s a natural place to slip into creatively. My biggest goal is always a room the child can grow into. Mixing fun, educational, interactive elements that can be swamped out for a […]
Tips on How to Style Accessories for Any Room

Accessories are the key to rounding out a space. It is a critical piece to create a “well lived in” feeling and to personalizes a room. Accessories are much like a great pair of heels or chunky cuff bracelet to punch up a look. We are forever on the search for great accessories and have […]
Truth about Restoration Hardware’s Cloud Sofa

Author: Sydney Piwowar Endless times have clients requested the cloud sofa. While the 100% down feather filled cushion wrapped in your “custom” choice of upholstery sounds lovely on paper, it does function as lovely in real life. Clients are often drawn towards the modern and relaxed look of the cloud. While there is nothing wrong […]
5 Tips to Custom Furniture and Millwork

Author: Sydney Piwowar Often for whom this is their first time working with an Interior Designer freak out at the idea of custom furniture. They want to see in front of them exactly what they are paying for, before they pay for it. This is often not the case in our practice. Nearly all of […]
5 Best Outdoor Hanging Chairs

Author: Sydney Piwowar In the spirit of summer, I wanted to share a few of my favorite hanging chair options to jazz up your patio! Take a look at my top 5 faves below! The Boho – $548 The Modern – $619 The Classy – $989 The Youthful – $698 Rustic – $901
5 Tricks to Make Your Sofa Last Longer

Author: Sydney Piwowar Early in our lives have we all overpaid for a sofa that barely lasted 5 years. We all felt the cushions start to cave in after a year in our favorite spot… its heart breaking to waste the money. As designers, we have been trained in this knowledge to make sure you […]
Design Details: Contrast Piping

Author: Sydney Piwowar Many of you may remember Jen’s previous post with her Hope for Autism submission. If you didn’t see it, I want to remind you to check it out, here. I bring it up because Jen and I are obsessed with contrast piping. It is such a simple, uncommon, and genius way to […]
Exposed Edge Backsplash

Author: Sydney Piwowar I have been secretly waiting for this trend to gain popularity for years! Because seriously, who actually likes bullnose? It’s not exactly an inspiring way to end tile. To prove how amazing exposed edge-tile can be, I have curated a few of my favorite applications below. See more inspiration here, on my […]