You’ve envisioned your family room or a guest suite above your garage as a splendid addition to your home. But before you get so much as a hammer out, you’re troubled to know that your town needs construction site permits. Suddenly, doing that design doesn’t seem as important as obtaining those permits. Building permits in the Midwest advanced 1.4% to
If you run a restaurant, you already know how hard it is to stand out. Every guest you serve has endless options, and the competition around the corner is working just as hard to win their loyalty. That’s why more owners are rethinking what’s possible beyond their four walls. Outdoor patios and rooftop areas have become one of the most
Open and connected spaces are synonymous with modern living. That’s why so many homeowners consider removing a wall to achieve that airy, expansive feel. But not every wall can come down without consequences. Some are “load-bearing,” in other words, supporting the house’s structure. Doing the wrong thing can ultimately pose a risk to both safety and property value. However, when
You are prepping dinner on a crowded countertop, elbowing someone reaching for the fridge. The oven door doesn’t quite clear the island, and those once-trendy cabinets now just seem to belong to another decade. If this is the experience of your kitchen, more like an obstacle course than the heart of your home, it is clear that you will have
A luxury kitchen remodel in Illinois can transform your home, but it’s also a significant investment that can go sideways fast if you’re not prepared. Harvard reports that U.S. homeowners are expected to spend $526 billion on renovations by early 2026, showing just how much is riding on these projects. That’s a lot of money at stake, and the last
Anyone who’s ever stared at a half-renovated room knows the fear of getting it wrong, whether it’s surging costs, prolonged timelines, or choices that age poorly. What keeps most homeowners up at night isn’t picking a tile or paint color but wondering if they left something important unasked. Did you know that nearly 80% of homeowners go over budget on
