Home Improvement Partner

Last week I visited Matthew Lew Gallery to catch his show, Chicago Pop, before it ends at the end-of-March. Lew’s vibrant paintings are a nice reminder that there’s plenty to love about Chicago, which can feel kind of gray and especially punishing at this time of year. Lew’s paintings might also change the way you ‘taste’ the city. He blended actual corn syrup into the paint for his depiction of Marina Towers (i.e. the corn cob buildings), and I won’t spoil the other whimsical touches, but after more than a decade living in Chicago, it made me consider the city in an entirely different way. My photos, while exceptional, don’t do the show justice, so check out Chicago Pop before it closes on the 31st.

Matthew Lew Gallery. 415 N. Sangamon St., Chicago, IL. 312.929.2593<

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No garden shed? No problem. With some re-organizing, you can turn your garage into a lovely, functional shed for all your gardening tools and accessories.

Check out this great DIY project — one of our favorites from the brand new April issue of Country Living!

Tools lined up in satisfying rows, scissors and twine within arm’s reach, a sink just for arranging flowers-the potting area ranks up there with the mudroom as the ultimate country fantasy. Don’t think you have space for one? You may want to think again. Connecticut contractor Arnold M. Karp devised this dream “garden shed” by taking full advantage of the wall space in a suburban garage-with shelves, cabinets, and peg rails. A poured concrete floor pleases the eye and provides a practical surface for parking cars. Read more…

This is the latest in a long line of self-centered posts, but I’ve made some changes to my den and wanted to keep you appraised about the situation. For many months, I’ve been watching Ebay and Craig’s List for a Pollock executive chair, which Knoll introduced in 1965 and still manufactures. For environmental and cost reasons, I prefer vintage, but I had a heck of a time finding the right upholstery in the right condition for the right price. That is, until last week, when I spotted this gorgeous specimen, which had been newly listed on Ebay at a very reasonable price, which included delivery from Ohio (in a hydrogen powered truck no doubt). Athough I’d heard horror stories about dealing with freight shipping, I took a chance on Buy It Now and was surprised when the Pollock arrived at my front door, in nearly mint condition, less than a week later. Not jus

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In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of … cleaning? Yep, 82 percent of Generation Y men—and women—say that they’ll be spring cleaning this year, according to the American Cleaning Institute. That’s 15 percent more than the national average. Hey, maybe having your 18 to 29 year-old move back in after college isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Actually, only 20 percent of those surveyed still live at home with Mom and Dad. The rest live with roommates or a spouse and 16 percent live alone. According to more than three-quarters of the women, just the change in the weather makes them want to clean. Only two-thirds of the men felt that way.
Women also edged out men in most cleaning tasks and were more likely to declutter, reorganize and clean floors and countertops. Men only eq

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Throughout the world, modern buildings and interiors are clean, crisp and impressive. Many are constructed from structural glazing and are incredibly architecturally impressive. Anything from buildings, homes, shop exteriors and interior features can be created from structural glazing, and it offers stylish, yet functional and long term design solutions. There are many modern landmarks throughout the UK which use structural glazing, such is the Gherkin building in London, UK, and these buildings have become famous throughout the world for their magnificent architectural properties and innovative design. Not only does glazing look exception, it is also extremely functional and durable and can be a cost effective, and importantly, environmentally friendly construction method, which is quickly becoming the horizon images of the modern time.