There is a reason why a spacious laundry room is high on the wishlist of any prospective home buyer. Dorm residents, first—apartment renters and city dwellers all know the joy of an en suite laundry experience. Beth Boyd of Wiley Designs in Highland Park has rewritten the rules on the traditional laundry space for the Lake Forest […]

Part of the thrill of doing a showhouse as an interior designer is the freedom to fashion a true fantasy. No client musts, no negotiating styles, handling heart-pounding requests or crazy midnight calls: Showhouses only ask for originality and unbridled inspiration. Kenneth Walter, principal of Gray & Walter in Chicago, fully luxuriated in the indulgences  of […]

Realtors will insist that curb appeal is everything, but we tend to believe that the entryway is the true first impression of a home. Elizabeth Krueger, whose Chicago-based namesake design firm created the most talked-about entry at the Lakeforest Showhouse in recent memory, is of like mind. Her moody take on the entrance area merged pattern, […]

Call it what you will—the center, the heart, the hub of the home—the kitchen is undoubtedly everyone’s favorite space to gather. Leslie Martin and Kim Meardon designed the kitchen and sitting room of this year’s Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens keeping modern life in mind without sacrificing style. The sisters and co-principals of M and M Interior […]

Just a short drive north of the city, the scenery changes dramatically in Lake Forest. Surrounded by acres of greenery, you find ambling side streets populated by pristine and architecturally gracious homes. One such residence has the distinction of being the site of this year’s Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. The home was designed by architect Howard […]

Who hasn’t gotten lost searching mood boards, stylish rooms, beautiful vignettes and even desserts that look like works of art on Pinterest? Not only a source for inspiration, it’s also become a barometer for what’s next in the design world. The company has revealed key trends for 2017 based on searches and user activity. Here’s […]

Though many people think that a beautifully designed kitchen is for people who don’t actually cook, I would say 90% of our clients do use their kitchens avidly. Quality has to be felt at every level, and artistry is essential — we’re always trying to figure out how to make the functional beautiful. — Mick […]

To design for oneself in the home, the inspiration must come from something personal and worthy of expressing through design. Find a story and then seek out the tools to tell it. — Campion Platt Campion Platt’s concepts are the kind that reveal themselves slowly. Every detail holds a great deal of depth, but you’d […]