Two different homes with the desire to make their basements a family friendly extension of their first floors, yet two very different style preferences.  Both families were looking for a place their kids could retreat with friends, a destination for entertaining all ages and a place where play is welcome. 

In a fun full-circle moment for me - Two Hands Interiors has been engaged to help with the historic renovation of the  Athenaeum Theater in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood!

This year has us completing two brand new homes from the ground up.  While they are very different projects - a custom lake home and a semi-custom row home - both properties offer a glimpse into the pros and cons of new construction.

This dream project began with a long-standing relationship between our clients and introducing them to one of our favorite construction teams - and then convincing everyone we could make this new home nestled into the dunes of Lake Michigan a reality!

People often ask what kind of clients we help at Two Hands Interiors.  Residential?  Commercial? We actually help both.  The Two Hands team loves the mix of having both residential and commercial clients because each have their unique traits and design goals.

Every once in while, a piece of advice (whether solicited or not) comes across your path and it hits home. Reading the blog, Cup of Jo, the advice to “‘Don’t bite the hook,’” was such a great reminder to pause and realize that not everything warrants a reaction.

A little while ago, Bryn was explaining the details for a fabric decision to an intern and he suggested that she start a YouTube channel.  We had a good chuckle in the moment and ever since, we've tossed around YouTube channel ideas for all the passions our team has extending through and beyond design.

How do we define logical and intuitive in regards to the home?  Intuition guides us to know what feels good and right, and logic is hopefully there to remind us of the pros and cons of any intuitive approach.

Our client had a good foundation of quality furniture and hoped to finish up some rooms, introduce a few completely new pieces and showcase some fabulous new art. Learn how we mixed new and exisiting design.

The color choices impact every surface and every feature - the walls, ceiling, trim, doors, furnishings and accessories. Take a look at what we consider when creating our designs.

After working with us previously to renovate their kitchen and keeping room, our clients were ready to tackle their adjacent family room. Read more about the process.

This winter has been tough, but we are surviving. This month we are sharing a few ways the Two Hands team coped with the longest month of the year.

I asked everyone to share a highlight from 2023, as well as something to leave behind, and we closed with what we are looking forward to in 2024. 

When we started to think of 12 traditions we could share as a team, everyone pulled out their phones and flipped through pictures. We’re hoping that by sharing some of our team’s family traditions you may find something in common, a new idea or just a little mood boost.

Our clients have a dreamy in-town row house perfect for empty nesters who still have kids bouncing home frequently for visits.  Fresh off a trip to Europe, they were inspired by the allure and appeal of so many details from the Parisian apartment they had called home on their travels.

Third time's a charm for this fabulous client! We loved being invited back to the “Preppy Vintage Charmer” -  this go round was to finally address a never-used office that had become a dumping ground for all the stuff of life. The design brief: No television needed and comfy, moody and eclectic were top priorities.  

Fall in the Midwest is one of my favorite seasons - crisp, clear days and nights that can be enjoyed outside for a few sweet weeks. Entertaining during this weather likely means a mix of indoor and outdoor areas for guests - here are a few quick tips from around our table of seasoned hosts.

Local folks in Glen Ellyn and LaGrange know the magic of Blackberry Market - fast and healthy fare, yummy indulgences and great coffee.  "Local" will soon include Oak Brook with a new location opening December 2023. Here are some take-aways from our process with a few sneak peeks.

The approach of fall brings transition - back to school, resetting routines and rhythms and sometimes facing new challenges. I’m aware in new ways of how much home means to us - safety, comfort, memory and the familiar.  Many of our clients are renovating, building or decorating with that sentiment as the guide as well. 

Second-hand shopping is in my DNA I suppose, and it’s carried over into my interior design work. From the Goodwill to high-end on-line vintage vendors, there are places to shop that hit everyone’s preferred budget. Here is a brief run-down different types of vintage shops.

A lake house surprise, yes please! This home was turned upside down in a matter of eight weeks to be ready for a summer on the lake.

When is a sofa the right choice for a room? When is a sectional the right choice? Our team debated the pros and cons of each and shares our thoughts.

Some of our best family memories are created when traveling. When we’re away from the everyday those moments become dear, yet fleeting. However, there are many ways to bring home those memories and use them to personalize our homes.

The opportunity to be involved in a restaurant or event space is always a treat. So when the folks behind the new members' only whiskey bar in downtown Wheaton tapped us to help out we were stoked. 

Building, renovating and decorating at second home locations have different parameters, and our experience over the years has taught us a thing or two - here are some top considerations for life at the lake!

Needing more space for their growing kiddos, but loving their neighborhood, our clients embarked on a major renovation of their quaint 1950’s cottage. 

Hiring an interior designer to review your architectural plans can be a helpful layer of feedback to ensure that the end result of your new space is everything you hoped for.

Stepping into a fine art gallery can be like can be like a kid stepping into a candy store. There are so many options, tons to see, it is a little bit intimidating, a lot a bit exciting and often times, you don’t know where to start.

This fall I took my daughter, a senior in high school, on a whirlwind college tour in the south. We were lucky enough to spend a quick 2 days in Charleston with a good friend who knows the city inside and out.  Here a few gems from our brief time there.

Our second annual holiday gift exchange brought so many favorite ideas around our table.  With each team member bringing a favorite thing to give and leaving with one from another, our table was filled with great ideas and fun and thoughtful gifts.