Destination for Inspiration

Material Possessions celebrates 30 years of retail success! Discover a store with unique ambiance and warmth, nestled in the middle of a big city and in the heart of its North Shore. At Material Possessions, it's been their pride and pleasure to open their doors every day for the past 30 years and welcome clients and customers as if they were guests in their own homes.

Take a journey! Make it an adventure or a much needed reprieve; it's all at your fingertips and at your leisure in Material Possessions. Welcome to linger, take it all in and be inspired. This is the place to cultivate your unique sense of style and express its pride.

These decorative boxes are sculpted by hand and cast from impressions of nature. They are man made pieces and each box is hand-detailed and finished. Opens to store your treasures and keep them safe.

This stunning plush object is an exercise ball. How clever, you would of never known! These beauties are made from eco-friendly materials. The functional balls can be decoratively covered in array of fabrics and colors. The exercise balls are available in two sizes. The outer cover can be taken off to be cleaned.

Definitely worth an afternoon venture to satisfy your earthly desires, surrender to your mortal longings and surround yourself with Material Possessions.

Material Possessions offers Bridal Registry both in-store and on-line. They also offer At-Home Accessorizing Services.

Material Possessions

954 Green Bay Road

Winnetka, IL 60093

(847) 446-8840

www.materialpossessions.com

Material Possessions have been an active supporter of the The Glencoe PTO Housewalk for years. Their unique products will be featured as a table top in one of the houses. Material Possessions offers ravishing home accessories from silverware to chandeliers. A definite staple to find gifts for that special person and occasion.

Wallpaper Done Right

When looking at the above picture, you would never guess it is a wallpaper room. You must see it in person to believe it and appreciate how much warmth it creates for this family room. I, and I'm sure many others have been apprehensive about wallpaper. Monica David gave us some helpful advice when picking wallpaper for our homes and how to make it work, so we love it and can live with it:

• Look at everything in the room when deciding. Put the sample by the floor, how do they look together? Consider what kind of window treatments are/will be used.  
• Make sure there is consistency throughout the house. Try to keep the same wallpaper through the foyer, main hallway, along the stairs to the upstairs hallway.
• Go through all the wallpaper possibilities. That way, when you can narrow it down, you feel confident about your choices.
• Consider wallpaper as art. When you use wallpaper, it adds character and definition to the walls. It gives you something to look at.
• Wallpaper will give you the most bang for your buck when re-doing a room.

Monica uses Paper Dolls in Highland Park. It is also crucial and the most important factor to process to find someone with experience and knowledge when hanging wallpaper. 

If you chose a strong solid hue with texture, this one is of a crocodile texture, use it in a room that catches a lot of light. This will help show the details of the wallpaper and give the room a glow. Imagine this room lit up at night time with that beautiful chandelier!

When the family moved in, there was a wall separating the living room and office. Whenever Monica sat in the office, she felt claustrophobic. She suggest opening both rooms by adding french doors. Because the rooms are small, pocket doors were install to give more space in each room. Now, the doors can be completely open to adjoin rooms or closed for privacy. Note how well the wallpaper moves easily from one room to another.

This is Monica's favorite wallpaper. I have to agree! The geometric pattern is fun, yet classy. It is the perfect wallpaper for a small space such as a powder room. The chandelier screams glamour!

With 2 girls and 4 bedrooms, the family did not need an extra bedroom. Instead of traditionally turning it into a guest bedroom, they turned the extra room into a lounge. What a great escape from the main floor and conveniently located on the second floor for late night TV.

In one of the bedrooms, to bring the blue out from the wallpaper, a blue chandelier was hung and the ceiling was painted the same color. The once upon of time pink lamp shades were change to blue ones to help the color pop even more.

On her daughter's wall hangs a collage of pictures of memories, family and friends. Monica vowed to make these collages for her girls when they turn 10 years old. She's working on the 2nd one for her youngest daughter who will 10 this year. What a gift to cherish.

Designer Chat Tickets SOLD OUT!

DESIGNER CHAT TICKETS 

ARE SOLD OUT!

Don't delay, make sure you get your 

Housewalk Tickets for May 19, 2010 on

 The Glencoe PTO website.

click above to be directly linked to the website


To put your name on a wait list to attend the Interior Designer Chat, 
please e-mail Julie Hayes at teamhayes@yahoo.com.  
Include a phone number where you can be reached 
at the evening of March 18.

The Organic Gardener

I met Jeanne and Sara for a half hour on a Monday afternoon and left feeling completely motivated to start planning a vegetable garden for my family. Jeanne is the owner of The Organic Gardener, right here in Glencoe. They are a full service gardening team who consult, design, install and educate families on vegetable gardens.

They start planning with families in March and April and continue their work through the end of the season, in October. A garden can be as small as 20 square feet to as large as 4,000 square feet. Their work doesn't end when the seeds are planted. They continue to visit the family every 2 weeks for 1-2 hours. With this time, they help with the maintenance of the garden and provide continuing education.

Some of the most popular vegetables that are planted are tomatoes, basil, green beans, peas, peppers and cucumbers. A new favorite is edamame! Because planting organic vegetables should be fun and interesting for everyone, Jeanne suggests getting the little ones involved by planing vegetables, like green beans in a variety of colors including yellow and purple.

I asked Jeanne what inspire her to become "The Organic Gardener". She shared that it's "become a lifestyle, a full circle experience" and that she wants to "share that with others." With two kids, she's grateful she can provide organic produce for her daughters from the garden to table. She notes that gardening with children provides them with a connection to nature, something modern day kids are less and less aware of.

One of the benefits to organic gardening is that it simply creates healthy eating habits. We are 2 times as likely to eat more fruits and vegetables when it comes from our own backyard. The taste and quality of the organic produce are far more superb compared to what we buy at the grocery stores. All the reasons in the world to get started on your own vegetable garden! 

Jeanne and Sara kindly gave us an insight on their gardening must-haves:

Hunter Boots

A Straw Hat

Organic Seeds and Plants

Wipe-Off Plant Markers for Kids

The Organic Gardener

110 Maple Hill Road - Coach House

Glencoe, IL 60022

847-636-2720

jeanne@theorganicgardener.net

www.theorganicgardener.net

The Organic Gardener is helping The PTO Housewalk by graciously donating beautiful centerpieces that will be featured on the Housewalk. These centerpieces will be constructed with vegetables and herbs.

Prufrock, a gem in Hubbard Woods

When you enter Prufrock, you almost feel transported to another land. The shop's merchandise is uniquely staggered around and the organic displays of nature, texture and subtle colors give you a nice pause before moving on to the next timeless piece.

You are greeted by both Sam and Randy, owners of the business of 8 years and their three Jack Russell Terriers: Nip, Tuck and Gracie.

Prufrock offers a variety of plants, pots, home decor, flowers and ribbons galore.  The French ribbon collection is available by the yard ranging from $3/yard to $20/yard.  All the ribbons are from Paris and can be use for array of projects: accenting vases, used for trims, add to a collection and some are even sewing quality.

Prufrock also offer classes and can host private parties.  They teach classes around the North Shore.  As I am writing this, they are teaching a class tomorrow to a group of 25 women planting in sea shells.  What a creative idea!  They can open their space to host private parties up to 10 individuals. Need their help elsewhere? They also do events, most recently a baby shower from a past wedding. A true testament that these guys and their dogs know what they're doing.

Prufrock

897 Green Bay Road

Winnetka, IL 60093

(847) 784-3400

Store Hours:

Monday - Friday 10-4

Saturday 10-3

Closed Sunday

Prufrock continues to support The Glencoe PTO Housewalk by donating flower arrangements to be showcase in one of the houses on this year's Housewalk.

Tips On Maintaining and Preserving Your Orchid's Full Potential

Orchids are one of the loveliest plants we can have in our homes. They offer beauty and can last up to 3 months. They can also be intimidating, having such delicacy and us not having the proper knowledge to care for them. Brooke, Designer and Manager of The Flower Shop in Glencoe, shares some helpful tips on taking care of Orchids so they can thrive in our home environment:

• Place 2-3 ice cubes of water in the pot every week. This is enough water for a 6 inch orchid. The ice cubes are the perfect portion of water. The melting of the ice cubes also help water the orchid slowly without over saturating it.
• Because orchids naturally grow on trees, they like humidity. You'll see the ones placed in bathrooms do the best.
• Orchids do not like direct sunlight. Place the plant indirectly from the sun in a well-shaded area.
• These plants do not like drafts, so best to keep away from doorways and vents.
• Orchids can last for 2 - 3 months with the proper care.

Walter (owner) and Brooke (designer/manager) are available to answer any of your questions at The Flower Shop in Glencoe. The flower shop offers floral arrangements, flower deliveries, silk flowers, installations, event planning, outdoor urn design and sell gifts and potted plants. They offer an array of orchids to be purchase and can place special orders upon request.

The Flower Shop of Glencoe
693 Vernon Avenue
Glencoe, IL 60022
(847) 835-5390

Store Hours
Monday-Saturday 9 am - 5pm

The Flower Shop in Glencoe has been in business with Walter as the owner for 15 years. He has participate in The Glencoe Housewalk for as long as he can remember. They have graciously donated floral arrangements that will be featured at this year's event.

Antique and Lighting Fixtures

Antique and vintage lighting fixtures are a great way to add charm, a whimsical effect and uniqueness to your home.  If you know where to look, you can find great buys that will make your rooms extremely distinctive.

Check out consignment stores and antique malls in the area.  Anna's and The Find in Highwood are good places to start.  When you travel, check the stores in the cities you are visiting.  Urban Totem in Evanston has a wonderful selection of vintage chandeliers and sconces.  Visit websites such as ebay and 1stdibs.  1stdibs can be expensive.  You may want to contact the dealer directly if a piece catches your eye.  In NYC, visit ABC Carpet and Home.  This iconic store is my favorite.  During sales you can get the best deals. You also save on sales tax when you ship your purchases.  A website definitely worth checking.

If you find a fixture that is the right price, shape and size, but the wrong finish, just change it.  I changed some brass chandeliers to a nickel finish to match my decor.  Bellows in Hubbard Woods and International Silver Plating in Glencoe can clean and change the finish of your fixtures.

    

Think outside of the box.  I have seen some interesting and whimsical lighting that originally started out as baskets, balls, bottles and lanterns.  The two large lanterns hanging over the island in my kitchen, were originally for candles.  Bellows electrified them for me.

     

I had so much fun hunting for fixtures for my house, that I now volunteer to help friends.  My next shopping trip will be at the Chicago Botanic Garden Antique and Garden Fair, starting Thursday, April 15th.  Every year I go, and come home with great pieces.

I changed the finish from brass to nickel on this unique vintage fixture.

This amazing chandelier was purchased from Anna's for quite a deal. 

Fits perfectly in the powder room

We wired these large candle lanterns for one of the kitchen islands. 

The glass gives off a wonderful glow on the ceiling.

We call this the gumdrop light.  It was purchased at an antique mall in NYC.

I found this chandelier at Urban Totem. 
The owner says it is from France.  It is one of my favorites.  

It hangs in my older daughter's room.  It has the glam factor.

This brass deco chandelier has the most unique crystals.

This vintage fixture hung in Marshall Field's cosmetic department.   I changed the finish to nickel.  The glass is a beautiful blue/turquoise.  This light was found at Urban Totem.

This single sconce was found at The Find.  It was also a bargain.  

You can often get great deals on single sconces.

This vintage garden wall light was purchased on ebay.  It was a BARGAIN!  Saw similar ones  at the Botanic Gardens Antique Show for more than triple what I paid

All front porch fixtures are antique black iron.  Found at Bellows.