What is an architectural review and why does it matter?
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.

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

Charleston: Sharing Findings from an Iconic Town
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.

The Artists that Inspire Us: A Perspective from Boulevard Fine Art
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.

Ask an Expert: How do you Prepare for a Smooth Construction Process?
While getting a construction partner lined up is crucial to starting a project, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a crystal ball to know how the process would play out? Continuing our conversation with Derek Funkhouser from DEGROOT CONSTRUCTION, he shares more insights around how they work.

Surviving A Remodel - An Interview with Naperville Magazine
In a recent article by Naperville Magazine, we were happy to answer some questions about our experience helping clients through the remodel process countless times.

Ask An Expert: What are the Top Considerations when Finding a Contractor?
Once you’ve decided to take on a project, chatting with a few builders to get more information usually follows. We recently chatted with Derek Funkhouser from DeGroot Construction about the tips he would offer someone looking to get started.

13 Creative Basement Ideas That Go Beyond Adding a Ping-Pong Table - A Round Up with Architectural Digest
We're honored to be included in Architectural Digest's suggestions for creative basement design ideas! As a collection of ideas from designers all over the country, this article covers so many ways to thoughtfully approach really living in your basement.

A Roundup from Our Favorite Things Gift Exchange
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.

A Major Home Renovation for an Active Family
When undertaking a major renovation for an an active family, the combination of a good design and construction team can have a lasting impact. The design brief was simple - lighter and brighter with improved flow and storage everywhere.

A Letter of Gratitude to 2022
Reflecting on our year at the studio I'm pleased to see the wide range of projects we've worked on. No matter the size of a job, the satisfaction of helping clients fall back in love with their homes is pretty great.

How to Prepare for an Organized Home
Designing a place for everything, so everything can be in its place starts with a lot of questions. Questions about how a family lives and operates within in a home and the ways to keep the items that they use most both convenient and organized.

Family Favorite Holiday Recipes
The holidays are a time full of memories and traditions. This year, we took a minute to capture a few favorite recipes from each family and are excited to share a little bit about what makes then special in the hopes they could become something your family enjoys as well.

Making Merry - Let Your Home Shine this Holiday Season with These Decorating Ideas: A Feature in Naperville Magazine
Rachel walks through her go-to tips from repurposing everyday items to adding real and faux greenery, ribbons, ornaments and other seasonal touches to spread cheer throughout your home.

Our Top Four Basement Design Tips
Creating a welcoming, fun and cozy basement is high on the priority list for many of our clients these days. Folks are wanting the basement to be more useful and more beautiful than ever. Here are a few pro-tips for getting the most out of your underground space:

The What, Where and Why of Wallpaper
Wallpaper is definitely having a moment - from neutral textures to exuberant pattern and color and everything in between. Here is a quickie primer on the what, where and why of wallpaper.

Ask a Real Estate Expert: What Home Updates should I consider for Resale?
When our clients ask for advice on resale friendly updates, we often consult with local realtors for their expertise. Here we asked local Keller William Real Estate Broker, Bridget Carroll to share her guidance.

Window Treatments: The Benefits of Custom vs. Retail Options
A well executed curtain or shade adds a softness and texture that highlights architectural elements and bring a finished and polished feel to a room. From custom to semi-custom to retail, there are a variety of price points on the open market to sort through, in addition to the pros and cons of each approach.

What Makes an Entryway Special?
They say you have one chance to make a first impression. The entryway to any home is a place to welcome guests, provide functional storage and share an introduction to the story the home will tell. When considering an entryway, here are our top 5 design tips.

Four Ideas for Repurposing Empty Bedrooms
Once the kids have launched, your home can feel empty. When you have gotten over that, get to work deciding how you can best utilize your home for a new lifestyle. Here we discuss four ideas for repurposing those empty bedrooms into new spaces.

Ask A Real Estate Expert: Which Renovations are Worth the Investment?
Thinking beyond kitchens and bathrooms, what other renovations and updates make a home more valuable if it ever comes time to sell? We asked 3 local realtors for their thoughts again and hope you enjoy their perspectives as we have.

How a Neutral Space Can be Beautifully Layered
While I prefer to live with a fair amount of color and pattern in my own home, I can appreciate the beauty of a well-done neutral space. When opting for a neutral space, pulling together the following components will help the space sing.

Our Top 3 Considerations when Planning a Home with Kids and Pets
From the littlest people in our families to our furry family members, designing a space often calls for taking into consideration the little luxuries that will make everyday comfortable for each and every member of the family. Here we breakdown our approach to designing with kids and pets in mind.

Western Horizons - An Exclusive Feature in Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago
This contemporary custom built home in Wheaton has been a beautiful place for our clients' to welcome family and friends and is now also gracing the pages of Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago with a 10-page feature.

Invited Back for An Office and Game Room Refresh
One of my favorite things about our business is when we get invited back to our clients’ homes for ongoing work. This project reveal is a great example of that - having already tackled a kitchen, living and dining room refresh several years ago, it was time for the dated wet bar and office to be addressed.

Go Green (on Green)!: A Feature in Good Housekeeping
Our love of vivid colors and layers of interest takes center stage in this Good Housekeeping feature. Opening the Home Section of the July issue, we are thrilled to share a few tips with their millions of readers.

Our Top Four Kitchen Design Tips
There are some universal tips for kitchen design that we consistently revisit to inform every stylistic setting. Before diving into a design, these are our top four tips.

Ask A Real Estate Expert: How do Kitchen and Bath Renovations Impact Home Value?
When renovating, we usually hear that kitchens and bathrooms are worth the investment to update as well. We asked 3 local real estate experts to explain how those renovations can impact a home’s value and are excited to share their thoughts here.

Building A Clean and Collected New Home
The homeowners came to us with plans in place and a strong vision for a clean and contemporary home. Playing with the light and dark finishes throughout the home brings energy to a calm palette and the neutral paints and allows the texture of the wood to shine.

Recipe for Success: A Kitchen Feature in Beautiful Kitchens and Bathse
Transforming an outdated kitchen without the desired flow was a joy to help with and is now featured in Beautiful Kitchens and Baths, a Traditional Home publication.

In Good Company: A Renovation Feature in Naperville Magazine
In a recent interview with NAPERVILLE MAGAZINE , Bryn shared an example of how good design can help maximize and make the most of a home's footprint.

10 Bath Trends Making a Splash: An Interview with West Suburban Living
Along with other area designers, Rachel shared her insights and experience on the latest desired features in bathroom design with West Suburban Living.

Ask A Real Estate Expert: When do you Recommend Renovating vs. When is it time to House Hunt?
Is your home meeting your family’s needs? And, if not what is the best way to fix that? We asked 3 local real estate agents this very question and are excited to share their expertise.

A Flexible Dining Room Designed for Everyday or Special Entertaining
We first gave a teaser about this space last fall, after our clients approached us for some help making their seldom-used dining room into a cozy cocktail lounge. Check out this space to see how we shuffled around the furniture to go from a lounge to a dining room.

Mood Boards: When Inspiration Becomes A Plan
Often times, we start by taking that inspiration and turning it into a mood board. This translates colors, textures and tones into tangible design elements. Here we’ll answer some common questions about mood boards.

How to Update Decor as the Seasons Change
When making seasonal updates, there are a few simple swaps that we always go back to. Here are our tried and true ways to add seasonal touches.

An Expression of Style in a Colorful Library
A few years ago we designed a really dynamic space with a client who had a vision, great taste and energy for the unexpected. Fast forward and we’re circling back to document and share this project post-pandemic - with the lovely gift of their new baby girl in the mix.

An Introduction to Our Resource Journal: The Recommendations From Around our Table
In the spirit of our community table - we’ll be sharing our random but honest list of recommendations, and perhaps a few things to avoid. These recs may be as varied as the conversations around our table, but trust that they come vetted and worthy of sharing.

Every Inch Counts - A Look Behind the Kitchen Renovation in Rachel's Home: A Feature in This Old House
It isn’t every day you see your kitchen in the pages of This Old House and get to share the design decisions that led to your family’s favorite room with an editor!

What is "Grandmillennial"...and is it really new?
First coined in a House Beautiful article from 2019, the term generally references a return to classically traditional interiors. “Grand” as a nod to new found appreciation for grandma’s old furniture and the “grand” nature of some traditional design in terms of scale and formality.

What Lies Beneath (Yes, we're talking about basements): A Feature in This Old House
As inspiration for inviting basements remodels, This Old House featured a 1,200 square foot basement renovation in Glen Ellyn that we had the pleasure of designing.

Turning the Page into a New Year
I tend to write these journal posts in the early morning - harnessing the quiet before the house is buzzing. As we move further into winter, I’m by the fire with my cup of coffee and the dogs - who are sort of chill while they wait for all the morning action to commence.

Custom Contemporary Home Designed and Built with Soul
Contemporary with a soul became the defining mantra guiding the design process for this stunning home. Contemporary in that the clients wanted clean lines, modern lighting and subdued and sophisticated material selections.

Holiday Decorating Tips Shared with MyDomaine and USAToday
C'Tis the season for adding festive touches in both big ways and small. We were excited to share some of our go-to holiday decorating tips with readers near and far.

Holiday Entertaining Tips: How to Set up a Festive Bar Area
It is that time of year when we typically welcome family and friends into our homes for some festive evenings full of catching up, reminiscing and toasting to all that the holiday season brings. Setting up a beautiful bar in your home just takes a few simple steps and we’ll dive into them here.

Dining Rooms - for occasional entertaining or everyday use? A guide to creating a flexible space for both.
The dining room is used so infrequently for entertaining, but meanwhile, office space and additional lounge spaces are popular needs among our clients these days. This combination has us flexing our design muscles to create hybrid dining room spaces that can adjust to meet all sorts of needs.

Contemporary Meets Classic in a Kitchen and Family Room Renovation
When a family with contemporary taste moved into a beautiful traditional home, they knew their kitchen and family room would need at least a few updates. In weighing the options, the costs of making updates twice, and the present needs of the family, a complete renovation became the clear path forward.

Rachel Alcorn is swooning over sunbaked cinnamon fabrics, pale pink trims and classic key motifs: A Featured Mood Board full of Inspiration
It is such an honor to share what's currently inspiring our designs with our fellow interior designers in a feature with Business of Home.

Building a New Home From Across the Country: How this Modern Farmhouse Welcomed a Colorado Family to Glen Ellyn
Moving across the county is a big deal, but moving across the country and building a home from the ground up before you actually move is a really, really big deal. Our brave and ambitious clients did just this in their journey from Colorado to be closer to family in Glen Ellyn and Chicago’s surrounding suburbs.

Five Tips for Styling Bookshelves
Integrating bookshelves into a home can make a big difference. Not only do they add to the overall appeal of a room, but bookshelves provide the space to add personal touches, display meaningful souvenirs and add layers of interest.

Turn Your Bedroom Into the Cutest Place on Earth: An Interview with Girls' Life Magazine
For designing rooms for our youngest family members, we shared some tips and insights with Girls' Life magazine as a feature in their back-to-school issue.

Small Spaces - Make Every Square Inch Count with These Genius Ideas: An Interview with Good Housekeeping
Check newsstands for the September 2021 issue of Good Housekeeping! We are thrilled to share a few tips from a recent attic renovation.

The Design Lessons Found in Nature
Recently I’ve had one of those late afternoon carpools that lands you just far enough from home that it makes sense just to bide your time until pick up instead of more drive time. I’ve been finding different local forest preserves where I can take a walk and I’ve been reminded just how much nature inspires my design work.

Considerations when Designing Kids Rooms
When designing a room for a child, we take into consideration their unique needs and style while balancing how to keep the room in line with the aesthetic of the home and letting it reflect the interests of the child. These are the top considerations to keep in mind.

Our Top Picks for Summer Reading
Whether it is pool side, lake side, beach side or just in between carpools, we are hoping for a few slower moments this summer to sit and read - to get to our “to be read” pile. Here is a range of serious, heartbreaking, fun and funny reads.

Studio Renovation Progress - Slowly but Surely
Back in December when we first started putting elbow grease, love and money into our new studio, I had grand visions of a completed space in time for summer. We’ve come a long way - but there is a ways to go.

A Look Inside the Advantages of the Collaboration between Designers and Builders
When we help clients through a major build, there are so many pieces of the puzzle that are simplified thanks to a synergy with a building team. This synergy is honestly worth its weight in gold and we’ll explain how it helps here.

The Artists that Inspire Us: Laddie Nei
Through a group on Instagram, we found a young artist from South Carolina, Laddie Neil. She paints abstract landscapes with fresh and uplifting color stories. We were drawn to her work because it is both compelling and peaceful.

5 Tips for Outdoor Living
As the flowers pop up in the spring, so too do the casual outdoor gatherings, the back yard barbecues and the family get togethers that this year - just feel safer outside. No doubt, gathering outside this year is even more appealing than in years past. And, with the temps climbing, we’re hoping to spend more and more time outside.

Kitchen Confidential: Featured in Modern Luxury CS
Modern Luxury CS interviewed our clients and our team about this beautiful kitchen remodel that blends a modern Italian aesthetic with a Craftsman style home.

The Artists that Inspire Us: Marissa Voytenko
Rachel first met Marissa through mutual friends at a holiday party years ago. After learning about her work and process, she asked to borrow a piece for our studio. We are excited to share her insights and several of her beautiful pieces here.

A Peak Behind The Lead Times in the Design Industry
We’ve spent a lot of time telling our lovely clients that their furniture, wallpaper, lighting - you name it - is backordered or delayed. If it helps you to understand the vagaries of the marketplace and how Covid has complicated the supply chain, please read along!

An update on our studio renovation

As we shared at the end of 2020, our plans for 2021 include a new studio for Two Hands to call home. We have officially moved and are in the midst of making our new studio into all that we know it can be. Here, we’ll share with you all the fun of Phase I.

Mid-Century Modern Country Club Vibes Bring Style and Function to an Unfinished Basement

This newer build home provided a wide open playground with tall ceilings - and of course, plenty of HVAC runs to accommodate. When the client shared her style hopes for the space, we knew the potential and inspiration could come together for something special.

Living with Color: Tips to Weave Color Throughout Your Home

When it comes to how much color you prefer to live with in your home, there are maximalists and minimalists and then a whole lot of in between. Saving the minimalist’s approach for another post, let's dive into how to use color throughout your home.

designer friday: an aspire exclusive interview with rachel alcorn

In an interview with Aspire Design and Home, we get to learn more about Rachel's past, her passions and her perspective – a fun delve into getting to know Rachel better.

how to shop for furniture: tips shared with consumer reports

Along with other interior design experts, Rachel shared her tips and suggestions to help anyone shopping for furniture and precautions for certain pieces that are better suited for seeing in-person.

how to prepare for an organized home

Designing a place for everything, so everything can be in its place starts with a lot of questions. Questions about how a family lives and operates within in a home and the ways to keep the items that they use most both convenient and organized.

A Reflection on 2020 and Exciting News for 2021

You guys, 2020 has been a doozy. Much has been written about this truly crazy year - it’s been fodder for great memes, hilarious insta-posts and unending metaphors about dumpster fires and the apocalypse.

How Best to Set up your Home as the Pandemic Drags On: Interview On MPR Radio

Providing tips, tricks and insights into how to make our homes work harder for us this year, Rachel chatted with Angela Davis of MPR on her live radio show. Tune in to hear Rachel share advice on all things decorating.

deck the halls with holiday decorating ideas

Adding holiday cheer to our homes is one way we celebrate the season and sprinkle all the good vibe reminders throughout our daily lives. In this post, we pull together our 12 days of Holiday Decorating Tips and hope it helps inspire some joy.

A Historic Craftsman gets a European Influenced Update

When two childhood sweethearts reconnected and created a new blended family of 8, the search for the perfect home began. This home needed to accommodate their large family for everything from an everyday family dinner to a special holiday event.

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

While Thanksgiving may be a little different this year, we’re always excited to have our family around the table. For a little inspiration, we’ve pulled together a few tables that we’d love to gather around.

The Art of Creating a Beautiful Interior While Keeping the Budget in Check

An unlimited budget is of course an interior designer’s dream - it simplifies things dramatically. No limits, the world is your oyster and you can focus on thrilling the client and hitting the timeline. But, let’s be real - nobody really has an unlimited budget - it’s all relative.

Art Selection’s Impact: An approach to bringing art into your home

Much has been written throughout history about the purpose and power of art. While it is simple to acknowledge “great” art and its importance in expressing our humanity, deciding how we bring art into our everyday lives can be overwhelming.

How Houseplants Can Help Make a Happy and Healthy Home

Before we jump into chatting design in the midst of a global pandemic, let’s acknowledge the stress, anxiety and uncertainty we are all living in. I truly hope reading this journal brings you a moment of inspiration, or at the very least, distraction. Know that while our team is happy to be designing, we hold space for the challenges we are all facing.

A First-Floor Refresh: Featured in Naperville Magazine

Naperville Magazine recently interviewed us and our clients about a first-floor refresh. We hope this kitchen refresh reminds many to consider what inspires them at the outset of any home project.

Interior Design in a Covid World

Shopping Vintage Tips and Tricks of the Trade

Vintage pieces bring so much character, story and interest to a space. It is hard to rival a piece that comes with history and built in patina. Not to mention the thrill of the hunt for vintage collections never seems too dull. So put on your comfy shoes, check out the following tips and be sure to let us know what you find!

Preparing for a Fall Semester Unlike Any Other

To say that our calendars and rhythms have been upended in 2020 is an understatement. When will school start? What will school look like? Will we be working from home this fall? What will our day-to-day family lives entail? To that end, we are sharing a few tips for helping our homes flex to meet all the new demands.

4 Ways to Give Your Bathroom a Fresh Facelift

Bathrooms have certainly come a long way in the past several years - they’re no longer neglected when it comes to design and have even become some of our favorite rooms in the house. While there are so many ways to spruce up our bathrooms and give them a luxury facelift, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming on your own.

6 Ways to Create a Collected and Curated Home that Reflects your Family

Our homes are elemental to our lives, and as such should serve us well. Interior design sometimes gets a bad rap for selling the fantasy that a good home is a perfect home that is perfectly on trend. No so! A good home is one that uniquely expresses the people that call it home.

A Well-Loved Kitchen gets a Classic Update

This 20 year old kitchen had hosted more than its fair share of birthday parties, holiday gatherings and everyday family dinners. It had worked hard for this hard working family and was ready for a refresh. Well, more than a refresh, it was ready to start new again and comeback to life - all shiny and ready for the next 20 years of gatherings.

A Former Playroom Turned Tween Hangout Destination

The 3rd floor of this home was a playroom that this sweet family’s kids had outgrown. It offered some extra storage space, but there wasn’t much else luring the family to venture up there often. When tweens have the choice of where to hang out, having a spot to invite friends, snuggle up for a movie or just retreat with a good book is golden.

Working with a Talented Maker

The creative synergy between a designer and a talented maker can result in something truly special for a client. The opportunity to go custom on furniture is appealing for obvious reasons - perfect sizing, control over finish and look, and of course enjoyment of the process itself.

An Unfinished Basement Turned Hostess Dream

The unfinished basement - we all know it well. Cold concrete floors, dusty concrete walls, the sounds of the HVAC equipment and so many, many ways the space could be more useful. Don’t get us wrong, an unfinished basement can be great - but after the kids are over rollerblading down there, it's time to convert it to a space that can host more than playdates.