If you live in the Chicago area, you know that our weather is anything but predictable. We experience everything from sweltering, humid summers to bone-chilling, dry winters where the "Polar Vortex" becomes a household term. While we can retreat indoors and crank up the heat, our homes: and specifically our floors: don't have it quite…

If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest or HGTV over the last decade, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Gray was the color. From the walls to the cabinets and, most notably, the floors, "millennial gray" took over the world of interior design. It was the ultimate neutral: modern, sleek, and a massive departure…

For many Chicago homeowners, the thought of refinishing hardwood floors brings a mix of excitement and dread. On one hand, there is the promise of restoring the timeless beauty of natural wood. On the other, there is the legendary "dust storm": that fine, pervasive powder that settles into every cabinet, vents, and bookshelf, lingering for…

If you’ve ever gone through a traditional hardwood floor refinishing project, you probably still have "dust PTSD." You remember the weeks spent finding fine, powdery wood dust inside your kitchen cabinets, on top of your ceiling fans, and even inside your refrigerator. It’s the stuff of home renovation nightmares. But things have changed. In the…

For years, a persistent myth has circulated among Chicago homeowners: that engineered hardwood is a "one-and-done" flooring choice. Many believe that once the surface gets scratched by a rowdy golden retriever or worn down by the heavy foot traffic of a busy household, the only option is to rip it all up and start over….

If you live in Chicago or the surrounding North and West suburbs, you know that our homes are our sanctuaries: especially during those long winter months. For many of us, that sanctuary includes at least one four-legged family member. However, there’s a common myth floating around the Chicagoland real estate and renovation world: that if…