Strange Closets

Once when they were in first grade, Lois and Lola disagreed about which dress to wear to school. The identical twin sisters had always dressed alike, but neither was in a very compromising mood that day, so they decided to do their own thing for a change. But the novelty of their newfound individuality wore [...]

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society hosted its annual House Walk in early May, and it was a particularly good one, highlighting notable homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including units in the Park Castles and Park Gables buildings. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had a more fun and interesting afternoon. Longtime [...]

When Martha Muholland and boyfriend Ben Chappell moved into their Wicker Park ‘duplex down’ apartment, she was excited about having a lower level to decorate. True to her formal southern roots, the Kentucky native decided to stage the first floor as a more formal receiving / guest area. The lower level serves as the couple’s [...]

Living above the store may sound old-fashioned, but it’s not so difficult to figure out why it still holds appeal. For one thing, it sure cuts down on the commute. Just ask my good friends, partners Arthur Swirgon and Wyatt who live above Arthur’s fantastic showroom on California Avenue in West Garfield Park. If you [...]

Friends come and go. It’s just the ebb and flow of life, and it’s perfect. Because people change over a lifetime, sometimes dramatically, and sometimes the new you doesn’t get along with your old friends. But my friend Marla and I didn’t evolve away from one another. Circumstances just got the best of us; life [...]

This week’s Open House is so good, I’m breaking it up into two pieces, so check back in at Noon for part two. When a native Chicagoan returns from Manhattan, every apartment looks spacious. So Dan Santow, a public relations executive and the mind behind the popular writing blog, Word Wise, was smitten when he [...]

Mark and Linda Heister, who divide their time between their Near North Side co-op and their dream home in LaPorte, Indiana, know a thing or two about design. The couple run Mark Heister Designs and Mark is an icon in the fashion industry, well-known for his elegant designs, unbridled creativity and business acumen, having spent [...]