Design Inside | Chicago Interior Designer & Decorator

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A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. – Douglas Adams Every time we start off a new project for a client we always ask them to find photos of spaces they like or dislike. This process is extremely important because it [...]

A Tiny Apartment Transforms into 24 Rooms

This is an amazing video that shows how a man in Hong Kong transformed his tiny 300 square foot apartment into a fully functional space with kitchen, bedroom, bath tub and many other amazing features.  It goes to show what some clever thinking and high quality materials can accomplish.  Some outstanding features that I loved [...]

Hunting for a Wingback Bed

I have spent a good portion of the day hunting for a new wing-back bed for one of our projects that we are currently working on.  While on the hunt I have searched through hundreds of different bed styles and have finally found a bed from Lexington Home Brands that have really knocked my socks [...]

RCA Airnergy = Wireless Electricity to Charge Gadgets

As a business owner, Kathryn and I are constantly on the road going from meetings, to job site and to manufacturers.  A big part of our day involves us spending time on our smart phones (iPhone for Katy, BlackBerry for Bill).  The biggest problem we run into is when our phone batteries die during the [...]

5 Fresh Untraditional Decorating Ideas for the Holidays

The snow is blowing and it’s time to decorate for the holidays. Most of us have the tree covered, but like in any well designed room, it’s all about the accessories. Here are a few items that we here over at Design Inside love, and we think you will too. 1.) Scottie Dog Candle Holders [...]

2009 Chicago Housing Prices

In Chicago, like much of the rest of the country the housing market is grim.  Chicago Magazine, recently released housing prices for Chicago and the surrounding suburbs broken down by neighborhood.  It’s an interesting article that will quickly help you determine the true impact of this economic crisis on your neighborhood.  Below, I have listed [...]

Is Your City Still In a Recession?

According to this MSN article, the recession ends in 79 metro areas.  Check out this article which includes a interactive chart which charts if your state or city was in a period of growth or a recession in certain years.  It’s a great guide to help you better understand the current economic status in your [...]

Get Paid (by the Fed) To Save Energy at Home

As winter approaches and the thought of a $500+ heating bill frightens you, saving energy really starts to become a concern for everyone.  This year, the US Government has really stepped it up a notch and is offering a lot of incentives to weatherize your home, replace outdated appliances and make home improvements that help with [...]

10 Myths About Being Green at Home

This Old House recently posted a great article listing 10 myths about being green at home.  Here are a few of the myths that I find a lot of my customers saying on a daily basis: Myth: Bamboo is always a good alternative to wood Myth: If it plugs in, it’s an energy vampire when [...]