JOURNAL
In an interview with The Spruce, Rachel explains how this living room is now a sought after room for entertaining guests or a family game night with a thoughtful layout, updated vintage piece and layered neutrals.
Our client had a good foundation of quality furniture and hoped to finish up some rooms, introduce a few completely new pieces and showcase some fabulous new art. Learn how we mixed new and exisiting design.
The color choices impact every surface and every feature - the walls, ceiling, trim, doors, furnishings and accessories. Take a look at what we consider when creating our designs.
While also embarking upon refreshing his living spaces, our client was ready to finally take his sleeping quarters to the next level - sophisticated, masculine, comfortable and refined. Enjoy our latest room reveal!
After working with us previously to renovate their kitchen and keeping room, our clients were ready to tackle their adjacent family room. Read more about the process.
This winter has been tough, but we are surviving. This month we are sharing a few ways the Two Hands team coped with the longest month of the year.
We’ve been honored to be included in a variety of Houzz recognitions - from Best of Houzz featured basements, top 10 kitchen styles and most popular kids’ spaces. Find them all here.
Clients often come to us with kitchens or baths that are "good enough" in regards to finishes or age and wear and tear - but they just weren't designed well for the space they inhabit. See what our exploratory space planning came up with!
I asked everyone to share a highlight from 2023, as well as something to leave behind, and we closed with what we are looking forward to in 2024.
For this recent project, our client came to us for help in transforming her room (a large space with a fireplace - valuable real estate!) into a place where family and friends would enjoy gathering.
When we started to think of 12 traditions we could share as a team, everyone pulled out their phones and flipped through pictures. We’re hoping that by sharing some of our team’s family traditions you may find something in common, a new idea or just a little mood boost.
Our clients have a dreamy in-town row house perfect for empty nesters who still have kids bouncing home frequently for visits. Fresh off a trip to Europe, they were inspired by the allure and appeal of so many details from the Parisian apartment they had called home on their travels.
Third time's a charm for this fabulous client! We loved being invited back to the “Preppy Vintage Charmer” - this go round was to finally address a never-used office that had become a dumping ground for all the stuff of life. The design brief: No television needed and comfy, moody and eclectic were top priorities.
Fall in the Midwest is one of my favorite seasons - crisp, clear days and nights that can be enjoyed outside for a few sweet weeks. Entertaining during this weather likely means a mix of indoor and outdoor areas for guests - here are a few quick tips from around our table of seasoned hosts.
Local folks in Glen Ellyn and LaGrange know the magic of Blackberry Market - fast and healthy fare, yummy indulgences and great coffee. "Local" will soon include Oak Brook with a new location opening December 2023. Here are some take-aways from our process with a few sneak peeks.
The approach of fall brings transition - back to school, resetting routines and rhythms and sometimes facing new challenges. I’m aware in new ways of how much home means to us - safety, comfort, memory and the familiar. Many of our clients are renovating, building or decorating with that sentiment as the guide as well.
Second-hand shopping is in my DNA I suppose, and it’s carried over into my interior design work. From the Goodwill to high-end on-line vintage vendors, there are places to shop that hit everyone’s preferred budget. Here is a brief run-down different types of vintage shops.
A lake house surprise, yes please! This home was turned upside down in a matter of eight weeks to be ready for a summer on the lake.
When is a sofa the right choice for a room? When is a sectional the right choice? Our team debated the pros and cons of each and shares our thoughts.
Some of our best family memories are created when traveling. When we’re away from the everyday those moments become dear, yet fleeting. However, there are many ways to bring home those memories and use them to personalize our homes.
The opportunity to be involved in a restaurant or event space is always a treat. So when the folks behind the new members' only whiskey bar in downtown Wheaton tapped us to help out we were stoked.
Building, renovating and decorating at second home locations have different parameters, and our experience over the years has taught us a thing or two - here are some top considerations for life at the lake!
Needing more space for their growing kiddos, but loving their neighborhood, our clients embarked on a major renovation of their quaint 1950’s cottage.
Hiring an interior designer to review your architectural plans can be a helpful layer of feedback to ensure that the end result of your new space is everything you hoped for.
Stepping into a fine art gallery can be like can be like a kid stepping into a candy store. There are so many options, tons to see, it is a little bit intimidating, a lot a bit exciting and often times, you don’t know where to start.
This fall I took my daughter, a senior in high school, on a whirlwind college tour in the south. We were lucky enough to spend a quick 2 days in Charleston with a good friend who knows the city inside and out. Here a few gems from our brief time there.
In a recent article by Naperville Magazine, we were happy to answer some questions about our experience helping clients through the remodel process countless times.
While getting a construction partner lined up is crucial to starting a project, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a crystal ball to know how the process would play out? Continuing our conversation with Derek Funkhouser from DEGROOT CONSTRUCTION, he shares more insights around how they work.
We're honored to be included in Architectural Digest's suggestions for creative basement design ideas! As a collection of ideas from designers all over the country, this article covers so many ways to thoughtfully approach really living in your basement.
Once you’ve decided to take on a project, chatting with a few builders to get more information usually follows. We recently chatted with Derek Funkhouser from DeGroot Construction about the tips he would offer someone looking to get started.