Viva La Cucina Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be room for another Italian kitchen showroom at LuxeHome, Ernestomeda appears, scheduled to open its first U.S. outpost in June (with another opening in Los Angeles at the same time). What makes it different? "We offer a very wide range of styles, from transitional to … Read more
We asked interior design students at Harrington College of Design, how they would turn galvanized-steel parts bins into useful home accents.
Lucy Rose Singh recently opened a showroom on the second floor of Crosell & Co. in Bucktown, where she offers—exclusively in the United States—fabrics, wallcoverings, and rugs.
Jordan Mozer created a whole line of cast metal and cast resin accessories for the East Hotel in Hamburg, Germany.
Q. I’m not a fan of traditional ceiling fans. Are there any other options? A. We don’t blame you. The omnipresent five-bladed ceiling fan with a limp pull cord is a bore. "[Traditional fans] are very bulky," says Lori Bohner, a sales consultant at Lightology (215 W. Chicago Ave., 312-944-1000), which carries fans as well … Read more
Q. I sometimes see cracked and stained claw-foot bathtubs at salvage shops. How big a deal is it to get one looking like new?A. Restoration is a semi-big deal but can be worth it if you love your tub, says Brian Schacht, who operates Advanced Refinishing (877-562-8468; www.advancedrefinishing.com), a nationwide tub restoration business, out of … Read more
Q. I’m hoping to grow tomatoes in containers on my sunny balcony. What are my chances?A. Your chances are very good, says Alana Mezo, a senior horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Although it’s too late in the season to start growing from seeds, tomato transplants can prosper on your balcony with regular watering and … Read more
Q. After years of abuse, the granite countertop in our kitchen is all scratched up and has a thin crack in one corner. Can it be repaired?A. First, determine whether you really need the crack fixed. Granite often has natural veining or spider cracks, but that doesn’t mean it’s broken, says Filippo Carlini, manager at … Read more
Q. With winter coming, what can we do to protect our patio furniture from the elements? A. If you don’t have a garage or basement to store it in, your furniture inevitably will suffer a bit in the winter. To minimize damage, give your table and chairs a good going-over before cold weather strikes. If … Read more
Q. There are blotches of black showing through the silver of my nice old mirror. Will I ever see my full reflection again? A. Black splotches appear when a mirror’s protective coating breaks down and air gets to the silver, causing it to tarnish. There’s no do-it-yourself solution here’silver paint won?t do the job. If … Read more
