Whether you’re in denial about summer’s conclusion, or you’re excited for cooler weather and the all-pumpkin-everything that makes fall, well, fall, making several tweaks to your home decor can help ease the transition between seasons. A few small accessory updates will help you crave extra time at home, as the days become shorter and the temperatures dip.

These tips will create a retreat to enjoy the longer upcoming nights, by incorporating rich textures, a neutral palette, and cozy accessories.

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Kids’ sticky hugs, gummy smiles, and belly laughs are the best parts of your family’s home. Their oversized and generally clunky colored gear, however, is not so endearing. Whether you are settling in your new home, or you are staging your house to sell, avoid letting the space become overrun with brightly colored plastic. These tips will help blend your children’s belongings into your home’s aesthetic, without compromising your personal style.

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When decorating your new home, it often pays to invest in higher-end pieces. However, expensive doesn’t always mean better; sometimes it is smarter to go under budget and re-allocate those dollars to items worth the investment.

Below is a guide on where to spend and where to save, when turning your new house into your forever home.

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The summer heat shows no signs of dipping anytime soon, so imagine cooling down in one of these five @properties listings. These on-the-market homes boast secluded backyard retreats to enjoy when it’s too hot to consider doing much else.

Dive into the below to imagine yourself stepping out of your back door into your own tranquil sanctuary — or better yet, make an appointment to see them in person.

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With only a month left of summer, everyone wants to spend every second they can outdoors. Here are some fun ‘indoor’ activities you can adapt to the outdoors to end your summer with a bang.
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If you’re lucky enough to have an expansive backyard, live down the road from a nature preserve, or spend your summers at a beach house, then this advice is not for you. In fact, the only words of wisdom I have for you are to enjoy every bit of our short summer in your heavenly outdoors space (slathered in SPF, of course).

But if you are like many Chicagoans who have to squeeze one metal folder chair on a postage-stamp balcony to get some air or if your modest yard is covered in concrete or organic veggie beds, then this is your post and I am your people.

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Finding unique housewarming gifts is tricky, especially when it comes to first-time homeowners. Long gone are the days of cliche toasters and cheese boards. So what should you bring if you’re invited to a housewarming party?

Here are just a few gift ideas for the different kinds of people in your life:

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If you’re one of the million or so parents in the Chicago area like myself, you’ve been so busy shuttling kids to camps and activities that you can barely comprehend we are already halfway through the school break and great weather. Rest easy! There’s still plenty of time and many places to take your children to make the most of the warm-weather months.

Why not start by swinging by a few neighborhood festivals, where bouncy houses, salty corn on the cob, face painting and maybe a beer tent will keep everyone in the family happy for a few hours? Here are a few family-friendly fests you can’t miss in the last half of summer.

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Every summer has a story, and thanks to social media your adventure is completely shareable. Whether you’re just looking for something beyond the ordinary to do or looking to never forget your stunning surroundings, these postcard-worthy hot spots around Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan are sure to pack a punch on your Instagram feed.

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Want to have a good laugh that quickly turns to a look of horror? Play a little game of Worst Neighbor Story Ever with a few fellow Chicagoans. That one time the guy downstairs faked a robbery and then had a four-hour fest smashing the remaining furniture in the middle of the night (yeah, that really happened) will look like absolutely nothing, I promise. But be prepared, because the look of horror might come when you realize that you yourself have committed some of the Worst Neighbor crimes, without even meaning to.

On the slight chance you’re looking to get back in the good graces of those living around you, or if you’re looking to start off on the right foot after moving into a new home, give one of these ideas a go.

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