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Growing a garden to call home
The lush gardens at the Midland Condominium Association, 723 Hinman Ave. in southeast Evanston. Credit: Wendi Kromash The Midland Condominium Association, at 723 Hinman Ave. in southeast Evanston, is home for 27 families. The nearly 100-year-old building is also home to a vibrant, colorful and visually interesting garden. The garden is locally renowned, so much so that next year it will be one of the featured stops on the Evanston Garden Tour. The garden extends from Hinman Avenue east into the courtyard area that serves as the communal point of entry and departure for every homeowner. This labor of love is nurtured and tended by many people, but one central…
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Liz Weston: Should you tap your home equity as real estate values rise?
Soaring real estate values mean many homeowners are awash in equity — the difference between what they owe and what their homes are worth. The average-priced home is up 42% since the start of the pandemic, and the average homeowner with a mortgage can now tap over $207,000 in equity, according to Black Knight Inc., a mortgage and real estate data analysis company. Spending that wealth can be tempting. Proceeds from home equity loans or lines of credit can fund home improvements, college tuition, debt consolidation, new cars, vacations — whatever the borrower wants. More from Liz Weston But just because something can be done, of course, doesn’t mean it…
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How to Prepare Your Home for Fall
Fall is just around the corner, and many homeowners are transforming their homes for the colder months ahead. Unfortunately, decorating your house can be tricky, especially if you haven’t tried it before. Some of you may consider placing ostentatious fall decorations, like using various shades of orange. However, this idea may result in a tacky appearance. Remember, you need to create a cozy atmosphere for your family and friends to prepare your home for the autumn season. To give you a better, you can try these home décor inspirations for fall. 1. Place a Rug A simple way to add texture and warmth to a room is to place a…
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Eco-Friendly Home Improvements That Make a Difference
The promise of green energy home improvements is long-term energy savings in exchange for one up-front cost. These eco-home renovations are designed to lower your carbon footprint and save you money, benefitting both your bank account and the environment. What’s not to like? What’s more, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which offers funding designed to help Americans reduce energy costs and adopt clean energy, is making eco-friendly home improvements more affordable. The new law includes incentives — rebates and tax credits — to transition to green energy, helping owners save money both over the short term and the long term as well. Still, some eco-friendly home improvements are…
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A Guide To Hotels, Rooms, & Costs
Quick Links Conrad At Resort World Las Vegas – Rooms & Suites Crockfords At Resort World Las Vegas $4.3 billion have gone into developing Resorts World Las Vegas, making it the costliest resort property ever built in Las Vegas. It took several years of planning to construct this world-famous casino resort. Sandwiched between Hilton Grand Vacations and Trump International Hotel, on the Las Vegas Strip’s North end, Resorts World Las Vegas is the first new resort developed in the area. An advantage of staying at this resort is easy to access to some of the city’s most famous attractions. Offering 3,500 guest rooms in three of its lavish hotels, Resorts…
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You’ve been storing your “good” butter the wrong way
I first learned to really love butter in a suburban diner called Corfu. Located about 45 miles outside of Chicago, the restaurant looked like someone had gutted an old Denny’s, saved the furniture and then painted a large-scale mural of coastal Greece before finally putting the chairs and tables back on the dining room floor. My mom and I went there for lunch so often that we eventually established a kind of routine. We’d go around 1 p.m., after the bulk of the lunch rush, slide into the merlot-colored pleather booths and peel the vinyl menus off the freshly wiped tables. Our orders remained unchanged for years. She’d get the chef’s…
