Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

thanks for

givingOur 2nd Anniversary Issue

n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1

d i g i t a l e d i t i o n

2 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

by Dorothy AnDries , L Auren heist, L Aur A hine, Liz LogAn, susAn b . noyes

AnD L Aur A tiebert

Photogr APheD by John reiLLy

hAir AnD mAkeuP by JuLes ross

thanks forgivingPhilanthropy is more than ball gowns and

galas. it’s finding a cause you believe in, something worth your time and money. Our philanthropists started with a problem:

Why isn’t lung cancer research getting funded? how do we give kids a hands-on place to learn? how can underserved families in Lake County best be helped?

these were problems that kept them up at night. and each of these people decided to stop mulling and start doing. they have given deeply of themselves to improve our communities and the lives of others.

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Children are the messages we send to generations that we will never see,” says Dolores kohl.

Dolores kohl twinkles as she explains the mission and accomplishments of the Dolores Kohl Education

Foundation. Regionally, the initiatives include the Kohl Chil-dren’s Museum, the Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teach-ing Awards and the Story Bus, a traveling pre-literacy skills de-velopment exhibit. it also includes many international arts and education programs.

a teacher’s heart leads Dolores. her charm and executive skills lead others to support her educational vision.

Dolores grew up in Wisconsin, where her brother now serves as a U.s. senator. she raised her two sons in highland Park, taught fourth grade in highwood and launched her foundation in 1972. now a grandmother of six, Dolores also serves as a trustee of her late husband Morris kaplan’s foundation.

her goals include “encouraging as many of the best and bright-est as possible to go into teaching, using great teachers to men-tor others, and promoting whole-child assessment and develop-ment—not just teaching to a test,” she says.

Dolores’ belief that a strong early childhood education is the most cost-effective way to create better futures for all was ahead of its time. Fortunately her vision, generosity and leadership have developed outstanding platforms to accomplish her dream now.

—SBN

Dolores kohlFOUnDeR, DOLORes kOhL FOUnDatiOn

Highland Park

“

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Fritz and tracy souder, and Donna sims Wilson

Glenview

a decade ago, the kohl Chil-dren’s Museum occupied a retro-fitted bowling al-ley on green Bay Road in

Wilmette. today, it’s located on an 8.8-acre parcel of land in glenview and has been named one of the ten best children’s museums in the country by Parents magazine.

kohl would never have grown into such a grand, treasured north shore institution without the help of Fritz and tracy souder, and Donna sims Wilson.

“We first visited the museum when it was on green Bay Road,” Fritz says. his twin boys, now 12, were just start-ing to walk, and they loved it, “as all kids do,” he recalls. at the time, the museum was transitioning from being kohl-family-funded to community-funded, and Fritz was eager to get in-volved. a board member for the past 10 years, Fritz was a major force be-hind the $23 million capital campaign that allowed the museum to move to its current, silver-level-LeeD-certi-fied building in 2005. he has chaired the board for the past two years.

“the challenge was to show the

community we were not trying to do a north shore playland, but an edu-cational center,” says Fritz, managing director and a founder of the private equity firm RCP advisors.

another force behind-the-scenes of that capital campaign was Donna sims Wilson, executive vice president of the investment banking firm CastleOak securities. this fall, she’s taking over Fritz’s role as chair. she has served on the board since 2001, and for many years she put her business savvy to work as chair of the finance committee, mod-ernizing the institution’s finances and “being a good steward,” she says.

Meanwhile, Fritz’s wife, tracy, has her own philanthropic endeavors, serv-ing on several boards. together Fritz and tracy are supporters of the West-ern golf association evans scholars Foundation and this year they chaired kohl’s 25th anniversary “an evening to imagine” benefit in October.

Like the museum, the event was family-friendly, and children were welcomed. tracy says, “We want to tie the generations together, and reinvent the generations of giving.”

—LL & LT

Jill FeldmanPast PResiDent, LUngevity FOUnDatiOn

Deerfield

Jill Feldman doesn’t look or act like the victim of a cruel irony. she lost both her parents and two grandparents to lung cancer

before she was 28. Jill saw the stigma surrounding lung cancer (it’s associ-ated so strongly with smoking that people often assume it’s preventable), so she became involved in LUNGevity in 2001. the organization had just lost four of its founders to lung cancer, be-fore it could even have its first benefit.

“Unfortunately, that’s often the way it goes with this disease,” Jill says. “there’s no time for advocacy when 85 percent of patients are diagnosed in stage iv.”

Working as a volunteer, Jill started the organization’s successful golf outing, and began organizing fundraising walks. now, the organization hosts hundreds of yearly events across the country. in 2007, when her friend and LUngevity found-er Missy Zagon died at 39, Jill stepped in as president. But just two years later, the non-smoking mother of four was diag-nosed with lung cancer.

“i said to my board, ‘i did not approve this,’ ” says Jill when talking about the shock of the diagnosis. “it’s still surreal,

but my doctors were closely monitoring me and when a nodule changed, they operated to remove the cancer.”

she left the board last summer, but remains an active volunteer. “the orga-nization needed to outgrow me, and it did,” she recalls.

When we met for this interview, Jill’s doctors had identified a second change in one of her scans. she was scheduled for surgery at the end of september. the nodule they removed was cancer-ous, but Jill notes, “the good news is that it was small and i lost minimal tissue.” her surgeons were also able to use a less-invasive technique than orig-inally planned so her recovery should be faster, but probably not fast enough for this busy mom.

“the real urgency comes with my children,” she says. “i don’t want them to go through losing a parent or get-ting their own diagnosis.” her chil-dren range in age from 9 to 14, and she was about to tell them about her latest scan and her upcoming surgery.

“you have two choices,” she says. “Let the cancer win or do everything in your power to fight it.”

—LH

kim Duchossoisthe DUChOssOis FaMiLy FOUnDatiOn

Barrington

When three generations of a family unite in purpose, great things can happen. For the

Duchossois family, who own a con-glomeration of businesses based in elm-hurst, the desire to make a difference is embodied in their family’s foundation, which is headed by kim Duchossois.

“My father and brother asked me to take this on,” she says. she convened a family retreat with three generations and an outside facilitator to shape the foundation’s mission and best decide how they could make an impact.

kim’s mother died of cancer in 1980, so the family embraced cancer research and patient advocacy as one cause they wanted to support.

“We have a partnership with the Uni-versity of Chicago to research metastatic cancer,” kim says.

Beverly Duchossois was a patient at the University of Chicago Medical Cen-

ter and in her honor, the family provided $21 million to build the Duchossois Cen-ter for advanced Medicine. We wanted to do something significant and transfor-mational,” kim says.

the family also donated $10 million to sponsor the creation of the ameri-can Cancer society Patient navigation services, a nationwide program that serves millions of cancer patients who need guidance and support.

“We wanted to do something signifi-cant and transformational,” kim says. “and we hope to continue these part-nerships into the next generation.”

Part of that next generation is kim’s niece ashley Joyce, who established the family’s relationship with Metro-politan Family services.

“the relationships you build and the people you’re exposed to—it’s a gift,” kim says. “it’s wealth that comes back emotionally when you get involved in a cause you believe in.”

—LH

ellie ClarkeCOFOUnDeR anD Past PResiDent, WOMen’s BOaRD

OF CathOLiC ChaRities OF Lake COUnty

Lake Forest

in 1974, ellie Clarke’s 9-year-old daughter died of a brain tumor. in the wake of her daughter’s death, Clarke says her own life felt meaningless.

“i thought about it a lot. What was i go-ing to do? i wasn’t just going to sit around weeping all day,” remembers Clarke.

so she began volunteering, first at Chil-dren’s Memorial Hospital, where her daughter had passed away, and then at various other organizations.

in 1989, Clarke heard that Catholic Charities of Lake County wanted to start a Women’s Board to increase the orga-nization’s visibility on the north shore, and Clarke volunteered to be the first president, since she had experience on the Women’s Board at Children’s Memorial.

she started by helping to organize a luncheon to educate other women about the need for social services in low-income communities in Lake County.

“nobody thought about north Chi-cago or Waukegan or the areas in the west,” Clarke says. “it was an eye-opener for many of these women.”

at their first benefit, the board raised $40,000. today, the board raises about $250,000 to $300,000 a year. the money

supports four main causes: Samaritan House, a transitional shelter in north Chicago for single women and children; the Emergency Food Pantry in Wauke-gan; the Family Self-Sufficiency Pro-gram, which helps low-income women find housing and jobs; and the Christmas Gift Program, which provides Christmas gifts to more than 13,000 needy families in Lake County.

although the group is allied with the Catholic Church, the programs support-ed by the Women’s Board help people of all faiths.

Over the last 22 years, Clarke has been heavily involved in the group’s fundrais-ing efforts, and she’s done hands-on vol-unteering for the programs. “i loved being with the people,” she says. “that’s where you feel like you’re making a difference.”

in addition to her efforts with Catho-lic Charities, Clarke also volunteers with Camp Independence, a summer camp in ingleside for children with spina bi-fida; Horizon Hospice in Chicago; and, of course, Children’s Memorial.

“i feel it’s very important to give back,” Clarke says. “i’ve always been blessed and had a wonderful life.”

—LH

Jane LepauwFOUnDeR anD PResiDent,

BenJaMin MaRshaLL sOCiety

Northbrook

this is a love story: the story of a couple who fell in love with the beauty, the balance and the philosophy of a Chicago-

based architect who died before either of them was born. their enthusiasm became the catalyst for establishing the Benjamin Marshall society.

Jane Lepauw, who grew up in north-brook, and her Parisian husband Di-dier Lepauw, became enamored with Marshall’s work in 2001 when the two realtors landed the listing of Landsd-owne estate, a nine-bedroom home de-signed by Marshall in 1911 on 21 acres along Lake Michigan in Lake Bluff.

as they researched the property they discovered the man behind the geor-gian mansion. “his architecture was bet-ter known than he was,” Jane says, tick-ing off Marshall-designed buildings like the Drake and Blackstone hotels; the Blackstone (now Merle Reskin) theatre; south shore Country Club; the edge-water Beach hotel, razed in 1967; and the apartments, which still stand.

“his home studio across from the

Baha’i temple in Wilmette is gone,” Jane says, “but in 2012 we mark the 100th anniversary of 1550 n. state Park-way, which he designed and owned.”

Born on Chicago’s south side, Mar-shall was inspired to become an architect by Daniel Burnham’s White City at the 1893 Columbian exposition. his firm, Marshall & Fox, embraced neo-classical style and its Beaux-arts principles of beauty, balance and embellishment.

the Lepauws founded Benjamin Marshall society in 2002. after a few small teas at the Drake, the society held its first black-tie benefit there last March. attended by 370 guests, it raised $256,000.

“Our first goal is to create a coffee ta-ble book about Marshall,” Lepauw says. “then we plan to give a scholarship to a student at the University of notre Dame to research Benjamin Marshall.”

she smiles, adding, “We want the name and legacy of this wonderful Chicago ar-chitect to be as well known as his build-ings. We love him and are sure when oth-ers get to know him they will, too.”

—DA

60 second solutions: 6 Quick tips for tech Support Mamas

By Kimberly Carroll

extend Your WiFi range at Homeif you’re wishing your home wifi had a little more reach, say that corner of the family room that doesn’t quite work, try moving your wireless broadcast-er to a higher loca-tion, such as the top of a bookcase. the elevation will help your device throw its signal further.

Find Your iPHone (or iPad)tech Mama admits to using this tip to lo-cate devices inside her own home, but it’s equally useful when forgotten in a restau-rant or if swiped by an evildoer.

if you’re already a MobileMe user, simply activate Find My Phone. Go to Settings > Mail, contacts, calendars > .Mac > and turn Find My iPhone on.

For the rest of you, you will need the Apple id and password you use to sign into itunes. Go to Settings > Mail, con-tacts, calendars > and tap Add Account. choose MobileMe and use your Apple id login and password, then follow the on-screen instructions.

to find your device, login to MobileMe at me.com and click Find My Phone. Your phone’s location will show on a map, and you can lock it, wipe it, or send a message and activate a loud sound that evokes a subma-rine homing pitch, even if it’s on silent mode.

trutH, Scam or Hoax?When you see a Facebook post, urban legend or email with a suspicious sounding claim, it’s easy to see if it’s for real. Go to snopes.com and search for the claim. For example, last month’s flurry over the “new” Facebook fees for users was not real. Source material is posted along with detailed backup on the true or false decision.

makeitbetter.net n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 1 7

1 8 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

take a Screen SHotScreen shots come in handy, whether capturing an odd error message or saving something cool from the web.

WindoWS uSerSLook for the PrintScreen button on your keyboard. Pressing this key makes a copy of your entire screen to your clipboard, which can then be pasted into an email or word document. to get only the front win-dow, add the ALt key.

mac uSerSYou will need to press 3 keys: command key + shift key + 4 key. this will turn your cursor into a + sign. Now press the spacebar and the + turns into a camera. click on the win-dow you want to capture and you will hear a shutter sound. the file is saved to your desktop.

get cuStomer Service on tWittercomcast acting up? Wondering how the power outage is coming along? Avoid the long phone hold-times and head to twitter for system updates and direct assistance.

@comcastcares@comed@Attcustomercare@ VzWSupport

A handy user to follow is @downrightnow, which monitors many popular services including Gmail, Youtube, Netflix and Facebook and will broadcast outages. Not a twitter user? You can also find them at downrightnow.com.

email a grouP, keeP emailS PrivateWhen sending invita-tions, or forwarding messages to a group of friends, you can keep their email addresses private by putting your email address in the “to” line and putting their email addresses in the “bcc” line.

more tecH mamaFor more tech mama tips, visit makeitbetter.net/tech-mama

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

2 0 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

backyard ice rinkA hockey fan’s dream come true

By Beth Engelman

Photos by Nathaniel Perry

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Looking for a unique way to fight cabin fever this winter? Consider building a backyard ice rink. For Wilmette resident

kevin smale, having his own ice rink has become a dream come true.

“i’ve always wanted an ice rink,” says the Canadian native and father of three, “but i never thought about making it happen.”

smale acquired his backyard rink after at-tending a fundraiser for his children’s school. “i didn’t go to the fundraiser thinking i’d buy an ice rink,” he says. “But when it came up for auction, i jumped at the chance.”

For smale, the best part of having the rink is doing something he loves with his children, Paulina, Clark and Raquel. “sure, it’s great to get them outside and away from

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

the tv,” he says, “but for me, the best part is just being with them on the ice. at night, we turn on the lights, turn up the music and play.”

in addition to the ice rink, smale also won an afternoon practice session with for-mer nhL player and U.s. Olympian, ted Drury. During the practice, smale’s chil-dren, along with their friends and neigh-bors, had a chance to play against the hock-ey great, which included a “nail-biting” shoot-out with Drury as goalie.

When i asked smale’s wife, Michelle, if she ever imagined that one day she would watch her children play hockey in their own back-yard, she gave me a knowing smile. “Well,” she says, “i’m married to kevin, so nothing surprises me when it comes to hockey.”

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Sizeconsider how much open space you have in your backyard or front yard. to ensure there is enough room to skate comfortably, the ice rink should be at least 20-by-40 feet.

acceSS to WaterWater is needed for filling and resurfacing the rink, so be sure to position the rink near an accessible water source.

diStance From HouSe Flying pucks happen, so it’s a good idea to position the rink away from the house. experts suggest placing the rink parallel to the house, making it less likely for stray pucks to hit your home.

levelneSS and PitcHYou want your rink to be level, so it’s best to make sure the pitch of your backyard is less than six inches. however, it’s possible to build an ice rink on a steeper pitch depending on how much water you want to use and how much siding you’ll need. coStSmall starter rinks can cost between $300 and $800. custom-made rinks are more expensive, easily costing $10,000 or more.

Thank you to Signature Contractors for helping us with this list. For more information about the company, visit signaturecontractors.com

5 tiPS For building Your oWn backYard ice rink

interested in building a hockey rink in your backyard? it’s not as hard as you think. Just be sure to consider these issues before

moving forward with your decision.

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Photo bY NuhAuS

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

tricks of the trade:the master bath

B y k R i s t i n a t O B e R

how many of us really love our master bath? We asked three design experts for their advice on how to make the master

bath the tranquil, functional and fabulous space you deserve it to be. as with any sce-nario, there’s the dream and then the reality.

if you’re lucky enough to redo your mas-ter bath, here are some rules for renovating.

3 0 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

Choose what you want—not what you think a prospective homebuyer wants.

“you’re going to use your bathroom every day and if you are making the investment in renovation, make it a room you will love every single day,” insists Peggy schweller, an independent design consultant in Lake For-est. instead of the standard double vanity, one client asked for a single sink. By adding a marble apron and adding heft with furniture styling, she was able to give the single van-ity ample substance while saving space for a larger shower and commode with a door.

Think outside the box.victoria Lidstrom and Carol Carani of

Leggy Bird Designs encourage taking a

second look at your floor plan to maximize space, natural light and comfort. Where can you add or enlarge a window? Can you bump out a wall to make room for a larger tub? Can you transform dead space in a wall into a built-in dressing table or inset shelving?

Put your money where it will have the most impact. And remember, quality first, since this is one room that gets a lot of use.

From heated floors to detailed edging on your stone, find a balance between function and aesthetics. kathleen nelson, senior design-er at nuhaus, helps clients achieve their design goals within budget. For example, instead of using a custom paint finish, she’ll suggest fur-niture detailing and distinctive hardware. Or

makeitbetter.net n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 3 1

she might recommend a freestanding tub in-stead of a decked whirlpool.

Don’t skimp when it comes to the tile guy.Water can be your worst enemy, so make

sure to use a reputable tile and stone installer. ask them if they’re using the proper wall-board behind your shower walls. are they pitching the shower flwwwoor to ensure good drainage? is the veining in the marble being book-matched so it flows at the seams?

But what if you don’t have a renovation in your future? There’s still hope …

start with the knobs and move on to the faucets.

even if you’re committed to your cabinets and countertops, changing out your vanity, tub and shower faucets and fixtures can trans-form dated and faded to classic and clean, and rarely involves more than a couple of hours of the plumber’s time. keep it simple by noting the current faucet setup (for example, single-hole mounting versus three; wall- or deck-mounted) and sticking with it. same goes for the cabinet knobs or pulls, and all you’ll need is a screwdriver.

Paint is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to make a major design impact.

When choosing your paint color and finish, nelson stresses the importance of connecting the materials in your bathroom through tone and substance. For example, pair creamy mar-ble with a soft paint finish to keep the space serene and give it a timeless quality. take into account the colors in your marble or granite,

and think about the effect this color will have when you look at your face in the mirror.

After paint, lighting could be the easiest thing to switch out or add in.

From a functional standpoint, nelson adds that you need more than just overhead light-ing that can cast shadows on the face. side lighting is important for shaving and apply-ing makeup. and always use dimmers.

Feel free to choose lighting that adds glam-our and impact, and remember that unless the light is in the shower, you can expand beyond bathroom fixtures. For one client, schweller chose an oversized polished nickel lantern to add formality and sophistication to a mas-ter bath. she paired this with simple candle sconces above the tub, making sure to stick with the same finish for her lighting, plumb-ing fixtures and cabinet hardware to ensure a clean look.

Add a personal touchthe gals from Leggy Bird Designs like

to balance hard and slick bathroom surfac-es with softer textures. Ditch the bathroom mat and lay a luxurious rug in a style that complements your bathroom. Wallpaper the back of your linen closet in a fun pattern, even hang a precious oil painting above the commode. if your kids use your tub, make sure there’s a comfortable chair for you to sit on while they’re soaking. and don’t forget to dress your windows for more than just privacy. if you’re concerned about moisture, use an outdoor fabric—there are hundreds to choose from.

3 2 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

thinking about updating your bathroom?

check out these resources from our better List:

airoom847-629-49096825 N. Lincoln AvenueLincolnwoodairoom.com

aPex kitcHen and batH847.965.83307946 N.Waukegan roadNilesapexkitchens.com

coda, llc847.920.9700631 Lake AvenueWilmettecodallc.net

delta c. conStruction, inc.847.482.18001212 ranch roadLake Forestdeltac.us

lYncH conStruction847.295.1825100 N. Skokie highwayLake blufflynchconstruction.biz

nuHauS kitcHen & batH deSign847.831.13301665 old Skokie roadhighland Parknuhaus.com

Stuart d. SHaYman aSSociateS847.441.75551780 Ash StreetNorthfieldshaymanarchitects.com

SutHerland builderS847.446.6523605 happ roadNorthfieldsutherlandhomes.com

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

the house whisperersA Wilmette couple tackles their largest home renovation project to date

Story and photos by Tate Gunnerson

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

standing in the handsome formal entry of Brian and tami Quinn’s five-bedroom spanish Revival home in Wilmette, it’s difficult to believe

that the 1920s-era house looked like a tear down when they first toured the place less than two years ago.

“Water had been seeping into the inte-rior walls from leaking gutters, so plaster was crumbling, wallpaper was sagging and floors were buckling,” tami says. But the formal layout, spacious room sizes and solid brick construction convinced the serial ren-ovators to overlook the home’s dilapidated condition. “We knew that this place could really be something special and we decided to save it,” tami says.

in this conversation with Make it Better, tami Quinn shares their story.

With so much visible damage, were you worried about problems that might not be so obvious?

in an old home, you never know what they’re going to find when they take down the walls, so we brought in a con-tractor who confirmed that the house was built like a fortress and had a good founda-tion. Plus, the basement was bone dry—no cracks, seepage or effervescence, and it had a 9-foot ceiling, so we knew we wouldn’t have to dig down into the foundation in order to finish it.

makeitbetter.net n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 3 5

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Did you have a plan for dealing with poten-tially unexpected budget-busting issues?

it’s so important that renovators get multi-ple bids and contractors. your contractor will be your best friend for the next 12 months, so you better like him. Can you trust this person? Will he deliver? Will he be the type to nickel and dime you? We found a con-tractor who seemed hungry for the job and was willing to meet us halfway.

In addition to the renovation, you also remodeled the kitchen and added a family room, correct?

the existing kitchen was a very small, traditional 1920s space with aluminum cabi-nets, which just didn’t make sense for us. We added a small box to the back of the house that became the new kitchen, and we added 80 square feet to the existing kitchen, which became an adjacent family room.

How did you manage to finish such a large project in less than one year?

We were very clear about our expectations and timelines. Because we were so strict, we had people working late nights and week-ends and calling in favors. having said that, if it weren’t the worst economy in 30 years, we

We knew that this place could really be

something special and we decided to save it.

makeitbetter.net n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 3 9

4 0 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

never could have finished the renovation in nine months.

You have renovated several properties in the past. Why do you enjoy it so much?

When you start to live in the world of possibilities, it becomes very exciting. Brian and i feel that our creative ex-pression comes through in our homes. at one time, Brian was working at “This Old House” and i was working at Martha Stewart Living, so we always laughed that Brian would ren-ovate the home, and i would decorate it.

Did you decorate this place yourself?

i did. i always say that i’m going to hire a decorator, but i don’t know that i’m ready to special order expensive fab-rics. i still like to value shop. sometimes it feels really good to shop the Crate and Barrel closeout sale.

How do you feel about the house now that you’ve finished?

it has good energy. it’s a hap-py house now.

The Quinn’s Renovation checklist:

re-stuccoed and repainted the exterior.

replaced the copper gutters.

refinished fixable windows and replaced others with exact replicas.

Sanded and stained the original wood beams throughout the house.

Stripped and refinished walnut interior doors and original hardware.

enlarged the kitchen and created a new adjacent family room.

converted mezzanine-level atelier into master bedroom, bath and laundry room.

converted basement into family area and home theater space. “the theater is my guilty pleasure,” tami says. “the other night we watched the White cliffs of dover.”

Painted and decorated: “don’t be afraid to experiment with paint color,” tami says.

“even if you think a color looks horrible, once you move in the furniture and hang your paintings on the wall, it kind of disappears.”

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

From lavish furs to eye-popping hues to sheaths of sparkles, autumn’s fashion is

candy for the senses.

We’ve gathered some of the best looks from our favorite local fashion shows, including

Northwestern Settlement’s Style Under the Stars, the Joffrey Ballet’s Couture and

Cocktails, Neighbors of Kenilworth’s Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show, and Macy’s

Glamorama, to show what the chicest north shore women are wearing this fall.

Written by Kathryn Achenbach

living out luxe

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

svelte peltsFur stoles, vests and other accents add sumptu-

ous texture to formal gowns and casual jeans alike, and couldn’t be more practical as the tem-

peratures drop.

from left:Fur vest and skirt, chalk; brunello cucinelli jacket

and pant, 10022 boot, Saks Fifth Avenue, high-land Park; suit and fur stole, Lake Forest Shop;

foiled denim pants and blouse, Nicole Miller, faux fur jacket and necklace, stylist’s own

4 3 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

4 4 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

shine onMetalliic leathers, lustrous lamés and se-quined dresses put a sparkle in anyone’s eye.

from left:Sonia rykiel Fall 2011, Macy’s State Street; Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2011, Macy’s State Street; leather jacket, top and pants, carlisle; david Meister Fall 2011 sequin gown

4 6 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 makeitbetter.net

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

hit printJackets with menswear inspired plaids and

tweeds and other dynamic patterns stand out amidst a sea of black peacoats.

from left:Plaid coat and pants, three Sisters; tweed jacket,

shirt, skirt and bag, carlisle; python print coat, country classics; chevron jacket, shirt, gloves and

pants, Lake Forest Shop

Pho

to <

cr

edit

>

blues cruiseJust because the days are getting darker, doesn’t mean your clothes have to. turn heads in shades of bril-liant blue.

from left:Akris Punto jacket and skirt, Saks Fifth Avenue, highland Park; david Meister Fall 2011 gown and blue fur stole; burberry trench and J brand blue denim, Saks Fifth Avenue, high-land Park; david Meister Fall 2011 blue snakeskin gown