Form Over Flower
The bloom’s off the rose: Create a modern garden out of minimalist containers and architectural foliage
Ad Categories: Home and Garden
Q. I've decided to upgrade my old light-switch plates. Any suggestions?
A. Scratch a designer and she’ll say, "Lutron." Lutron (lutron.com) is a company that makes lighting control equipment, such as dimmers. Dimmers need switch plates, hence Lutron makes them, in both metal and plastic. With the unusually large selection of sophisticated colors and elegant finishes, it’s easy to find plates that blend in with your … Read more
Viva La Cucina
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
Five Uses for . . .
We asked interior design students at Harrington College of Design, how they would turn galvanized-steel parts bins into useful home accents.
We Love Lucy
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.
Mozer Made
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?
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?
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?
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. Can my granite countertop be repaired?
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