Sarah Magnuson Contributor Sarah Magnuson is a Chicago-based, Rockford, Illinois-born and bred writer and comedian. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Sociology and a master’s degree in Public Service Management. When she’s not interviewing real estate experts or sharing her thoughts on laundry chutes (major proponent), Sarah can be found producing sketch comedy shows … Read more
Housing styles are ever-changing in line with demographic, cultural, and social trends. But, although American architecture has seen a dramatic shift over the last 450 years, some elements have stayed the same. American Home Shield produced a series of renderings that depict the same home designed in the most popular architectural styles of the last … Read more
It’s a common refrain in interior design, thanks to designer Rose Tarlow: If eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows are the eyes into the soul of a house. Still, windows can be easily overlooked. In fact, almost everybody looks directly through them. But their importance to the built environment doesn’t go unnoticed … Read more
Along the outskirts of Chicago, wrapping around the city in an arc, there’s such a thing as the bungalow belt — a ring of bungalow homes built in the 1910s and 1920s. The Arts and Crafts-style houses all share the same unique features: brick construction; large leaded glass windows and oftentimes, art glass; one and … Read more
A Craftsman home is easy to spot: a big porch with columns, architecture that showcases the beauty of natural materials, a gable roof with exposed beams, large windows, and typically, wood siding. These story-and-a-half high homes are gorgeous and often historical. They were built as part of the Arts and Crafts movement from the 1900s … Read more
When you think of leading examples of Art Deco architecture, big cities probably flash to mind. Take, for instance, the sunburst-patterned steel spire on the iconic Chrysler Building that dazzles and defines New York City’s skyline. Or, along Ocean Drive in the heart of Miami’s South Beach, Art Deco architecture is abundant, with eye-catching design … Read more
Many homes are decked out in Halloween regalia this season, but for some older houses, there’s a spooky feature that sticks around all year: alternate-tread stairs, also known as witches stairs. You can blame urban legend for the eerie nickname of these unusual steps, which feature half treads that you must carefully ascend or descend … Read more
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Name: Annabell Ren and Steven Karvelius Location: Lincoln Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 900 square feetType of Home: Condo Years lived in: 2 years, owned Creative couple and designers Annabell Ren and Steven Karvelius are two thirds of … Read more
Like Architecture & Interior Design? Follow Us… As the future home of a designer couple, this project came into the hands of TIES architects with some very specific homeowner requirements. The couple wanted to integrate their daily working environment as a fundamental piece of the puzzle, where it would merge with the regular routine at … Read more
During the early days of the pandemic, in the absence of bar hopping and returning things at the mall, I became especially interested in houses. On walks with my dog and drives to the grocery store, I began habitually taking stock of the distinctive mix of window treatments, timbering, brickwork, and roofing details separating one … Read more