Posts with tag 'home green'

In addition to popular rooftop bars, restaurants, and event spaces, many homes in the metro area come with a rooftop space for outdoor relaxation — it's one of the best ways to maximize your greenspace in an urban setting. If your rooftop space could use a refresh, or has felt like more of an afterthought, our real estate agents are here to help with inspiration that's both stylish and budget-friendly.

• Install a hanging chair, swing, or hammock. 
  Capture that breezy, relaxing vibe by installing a modern hanging chair or swing. Look for models with self-supporting stands if your rooftop doesn't allow for ceiling mounts. It's an easy way to add a playful, lounge-ready touch to your rooftop setup.
  
  
• Add planters with tall greenery.
  Even if you don't have soil to dig into, you can still enjoy greenery above the city streets. After all, certain plants will enjoy the direct sunlight, can thrive in this rooftop envir...

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• Replace heavy drapes with breezy curtains
  Gone are the dark winter months. Embrace the longer daylight hours by stashing heavy drapes for the season. In their place hang up some light, flowy curtains that let more sunlight in. It won't be long before the days are warm enough to open the windows. 
  
  
• Rearrange your bookshelves
  If your bookshelves have looked more or less the same for several years, now is a great time to liven them up! Instead of alphabetical order — or, more realistically, no order at all — try arranging your books by color, assigning a specific palette to each shelf. Thinning out your books and displaying just a select few...

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With warmer days ahead and Chicagoland starting to thaw, one thing is clear — spring is on its way! Daffodils will pop up, robins will return to nest before you know it and our real estate agents want to ensure your home's outdoor space is ready for the changing seasons. 

• Check Faucets and Reconnect Hoses
  Spring is the time to inspect your outdoor spigots for any damage. Ideally, you should have turned the water off to these faucets last fall, and you can now turn them back on as soon as the worst of the winter cold has passed. Reconnect the hoses and check the nozzles and sprinklers to make sure they're all in good working order. 
  
  
• Clean and Retouch Your Deck
  Outdoor decks and patios take a beating throughout the harsh winter months, and they often need a little T...

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Daylight savings time has come and gone, and we're officially in the darkest season of the year. 

Don't get us wrong. Our real estate agents love winter in Chicagoland, but we could all use a little more illumination this time of year. These tips for improving your home's lighting will help you live in a brighter, cheerier space just in time for the holidays. 

Let In More Natural Light

Natural light is more important than ever during the season when there isn't as much of it to go around. Depending on your home's layout, you could take advantage of sunlight from every angle, but the south-facing portions of your home tend to get the most light. Use lighter curtains for privacy, but keep thick drapes open as much as possible during daylight hours. You could als...

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Spring is here, which means many green-thumbed Chicagoans are dreaming of the gardening season ahead. Rest assured that no matter how big or small your outdoor space may be, you have room to grow some beautiful plants. 

Container gardening is a great option for smaller spaces. Anyone with a deck, patio, balcony or stoop can easily grow a thriving container garden in Chicago or try their hand at indoor gardening! 

Whether you're interested in growing vegetables and herbs for the table or simply cultivating some charming annual flowers, our real estate agents are here to share some gardening tips for container growing in the Chicago area. 

• Choose Your Container
  First things first, pick out containers...

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