You might be taking the holiday season as an opportunity to add some ‘cheer’ to your interior decor. But the truth is, revamping your interior could probably use some refreshment at any point throughout the year.

And who says you need to blow the budget in the name of a decor facelift? With these affordable interior decorating ideas, you can impress your guests while still keeping your bank account intact.

1. Gallery Wall

How can ‘gallery’ and ‘affordable’ be in the same sentence, you ask? Think second-hand stores or DIY projects instead of fine art to frame your wall. Even oddball paintings can look amazing when you cluster them altogether. You can even try your hand at art by painting something yourself with some canvas and paint from the dollar store, or wrap a canvas in some of your favorite leftover fabric.

A collage of art has a more impressive effect when you let it span from floor to ceiling, or wall to wall. Throw in a mirror or two as well if you’ve got a tight space – it’ll help visually ‘expand’ it.

2. Area Rugs

Who ever thought that layering a rug on top of another carpet was a good idea? Well, it is, and it can be a real problem-solver when your flooring needs some serious TLC. Layering can have a great effect on the floor, and can be done a few ways.

If you’ve already got wall-to-wall carpeting, you can easily define a space and highlight a seating area by strategically placing an area rug where your sofa furniture or dining set is placed. You can also layer a small statement rug over a bigger, more neutral one. This will act to both cover a bigger floor area and frame a specialty rug to make it stand out, allowing you to spend a lot less on a smaller statement rug while still reaping the benefits of the rug coverage your space needs!

3. Architectural Details

Fancy some depth and dimension to your space, but can’t afford the hefty price tag attached with professional architectural work? No problem. A little paint or molding can go a long way in creating the illusion of architectural detail without having to empty your wallet.

You can fake these details a few ways. For starters, use some painter’s tape to help you paint vertical or horizontal lines on your walls or the ceiling, which will make the space appear larger than it really is. You can even create geometrical shapes on the walls to frame your light sconces, artwork, or furniture. And with crown molding, you can add even more depth while adding a sense of style and class at the same time.

4. Bright Colors

This trick works especially well if your space is predominantly neutral. Pick one piece of furniture to act as a standout accent, such as a coffee table, hutch, or a chair. And just about any color can work, whether you’re a fan of fuchsia, blood orange, or peacock blue. That one bold-colored piece can add just enough vibrance to a space without the need for you and your guests to have to wear sunglasses indoors – and it’s a cheap DIY project, too!

5. Long Curtains

Nothing says opulence more than window curtains that drag slightly on the ground. To maximize the effect, install the curtain rod right to the ceiling. Measure the distance from this rod to about 12 inches past the point of where the wall joins the floor.

You can then hit up your local fabric store or thrift shop to snag some spiffy fabric to use as the curtains. Or check out budget-friendly furniture stores like IKEA for cheap curtains that are specifically designed with this effect in mind. Voilà – a rich effect in your space without the rich price!

There’s no law that says impressive home decor has to come with a steep price tag. With these 5 ideas, you can impress your guests and create that highly coveted ‘wow’ factor without blowing your paycheck.

The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel 17 E. Monroe, is the nation’s longest continually operating hotel.

BUT…did you know that the hotel began its life as a gift of love? 💕 

When Potter met Bertha…

When Chicago businessman Potter Palmer met wealthy socialite Bertha Honoré, he wanted his wedding gift to express the enormity of his feelings for her. As the hotel’s website narrates, that led to one of the most extravagant wedding gifts of all time: Mr. Palmer built The Palmer House, first on the corner of State and Quincy, the second on the corner of State and Monroe. Both opened in 1870.

A Gift of Love…Four Times Over…

While accounts vary by historians, this much we can deduce: there have been four incarnations of this historic hotel. Just a year later, the Great Chicago Fire burned both original locations to the ground on October 9, 1871, just 13 days after the second hotel’s grand opening. 

Before Mrs. Palmer could weep over her loss, Mr. Palmer had secured a $1.7 million loan for a new hotel. 

Palmer House #3 “The World’s Only Fire Proof Hotel”

On November 8, 1873, the third  new Palmer House welcomed its first guests, and constructed mainly of iron and brick, according to Wikipedia sources, its amenities included oversized rooms, luxurious decor, and sumptuous meals. The floor of its barber shop was tiled and silver dollars were embedded in a diamond pattern. Soon after, the practice of burying coins was oulawed, and the floors were replaced with tile. 

Fun fact: According to Wikipedia sources, an 1895 meeting at the hotel of faculty representatives from various Midwestern universities resulted in the founding of the Big Ten Conference. It was also THE location for traveling celebrities of the day, from U.S. presidents to Charles Dickens to Oscar Wilde. One of those reasons likely was that the third Palmer House was the first hotel with elevators, electric light bulbs, and telephones in the guest rooms.

Mrs. Palmer was an art collector, who amassed a number of paintings by impressionist Claude Monet. They once hung in the Palmer House, but now are part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Did you know…the Brownie was invented here?

Mrs. Bertha Palmer was having as much fun as Mr. Palmer with the hotel. According to their website, in 1893, Mrs. Palmer tasked the Palmer House pastry chef Joseph Sehl with a dessert suitable for ladies attending the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. Her request was for a cake-like confection that could easily be transported to the fair within a boxed lunch. The result was the Palmer House Brownie, made of chocolate to comprise a fudge-like density and topped with a decadent walnut and apricot glaze. The original recipe is on the Palmer House website.

May the Fourth be with you…

According to the City of Chicago’s website, the fourth and current Palmer House Hotel was built by Potter and Bertha’s sons, Honore and Potter Jr., as a “grandly-scaled continuation of the Palmer House tradition.”

While the third structure was still popular and profitable, the brothers elected to construct a new, grander, more opulent 25-story building.  The hotel retained its second-floor reception lobby and the entertainment venue Empire Room and two fourth-floor ballrooms, the Red Lacquer Room and Grand Ballroom.”

Between 1924 and 1927, the Palmer House was rebuilt on the same site but in stages, so not to lose a single day of operations.

According to HistoricHotels.org, the  adorned with garnet-draped chandeliers, Louis Comfort Tiffany masterpieces, and a breathtaking ceiling fresco by French painter Louis Pierre Rigal. (NOTE: if you haven’t seen it, you need to!) Other elegant touches included a two-story, gilded lobby with a formal staircase, marble-topped tables, velvet seating, and a ceiling mural depicting Greek mythology.

The ceiling fresco was described by columnist George Will as “a wonderful protest of romance against the everydayness of life.” 

The hotel was purchased in 1945 by legendary hotelier Conrad Hilton and it remains one of the company’s flagship properties, though In 2005, Hilton sold the property to Thor Equities, but retained management through the Hilton chain. 

For the first time ever, the iconic hotel closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, but reopened to the public on June 17, 2021, following a series of upgrades to its interior, including a renovation to its indoor pool.

Today, the Palmer House remains an iconic fixture of Chicago. For more information about events and bookings, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

It has been estimated that Americans throw out 60 million tons of food every year. This is estimated to be about 40% of the nation’s food supply. This equates to 325 pounds per person! Discarded food is the single largest component in landfills at 22%. More than 80% of Americans discard perfectly good and usable food because they don’t understand the different language used to date food. We can reduce this number by becoming knowledgeable about different dates. Best by dates mean food is still safe to eat, but may not be as flavorful. But we can also start reducing waste at home by taking proper care of the food we have! 

Fruit needs to be refrigerated for optimum shelf life. We all grew up with the bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter, but we now know that hastens spoilage. Keep fruit in the refrigerator till ready to eat. Some fruits also produce ethylene gas like peaches, plums and pears. Other high producers of the gas, such which should be kept separate from other foods include apples, apricots, avocados, ripe bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cranberries, figs, spring onions, grapes, honeydew melon, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papaya, passion fruit, peaches, potatoes, prunes and tomatoes. Other vegetables and fruits can spoil quicker when stored near these items. These include asparagus, unripe bananas blackberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, garlic, green beans, kale and leafy greens, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, raspberries, spinach, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, watercress and watermelon. Keeping these fruits and vegetables separate will increase their shelf life. Shop often so you buy only what you need for 2-3 days. 

Cheese is one of the things I think most of us are storing improperly. Cheese should be wrapped in wax paper, not plastic wrap or bags. Cheese needs some air to stay fresh. Wax paper strikes the right balance between the cheese drying out and getting too moist. Tomatoes are one vegetable that should never be refrigerated. Cold takes away all the flavor and texture. It changes the genetic makeup permanently. I like to buy small cocktail tomatoes, especially in the winter. They are small so you just cut as much as you need. Bread, I bring home and freeze in 2-4 slice bags. Bread thaws in minutes on the counter and it’s always fresh.

Do not store bread in the refrigerator as it will dry out. Unused fresh herbs can be chopped and frozen in ice cube trays with water or olive oil. Keep in a freezer zip bag and use when you need a pop of flavor in your cooking. Eggs should be stored in their original container, not the spot in your refrigerator with the little cup holes. They are porous and can take on strong flavors if stored too closely. Onions, potatoes and squash do well in a cool dark environment. Those of us with pantries are lucky as these are ideal. Keep the onions and potatoes a way away from each other as the potatoes will sprout quicker near onions. Nuts and other oil containing foods are best refrigerated. They contain saturated fat that can oxidize when temps are too high. Nut flour as well is best kept frozen, not in the pantry like wheat flour. Purchase olive oil in dark bottles, it is sensitive to light. Again, store in a dark place. 

You can still buy in bulk but proper preparation and storing will ensure less waste. Freeze meat in portions and properly wrap and date. Keep the freezer rotated so first in, first out. Ground meat on sale? Make chili, spaghetti sauce and sloppy joes. Freeze in meal size portions. Cooked chicken and turkey can be frozen for up to 3 months. Pork roast on sale? Slow cook, shred and add your favorite barbeque sauce. Freeze leftovers. My family is not particularly fond of eating the same meal twice in the same week, so freezing is the best way to avoid waste. If you think about it, most food you make can be frozen. I always make extra when cooking spaghetti sauce. It is so convenient to grab a bag of sauce out of the freezer. Cook some pasta, match with frozen garlic bread and dinner is ready. 

Does anyone else have any tips for saving food?

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Here’s what’s happening this weekend in Chicago and beyond as we inch closer to the arrival of Christmas!

Come experience a larger than life, outdoor, multi-sensory adventure for people of all ages at the Jack Frost Christmas Pop-Up being held at Fulton Market (170 N. Green St.) in the West Loop now through December 31^st.  This sprawling two-acre attraction is illuminated by dazzling lights and Christmas decorations featuring a holiday market, photo opportunities, ice skating, winter bumper cars, axe throwing, ice curling, fortune tellers, and more!  Plus, guests can enjoy a variety of seasonal snacks as well as some boozy hot cocoa and other holiday cocktails, if you’re 21 and over.  Not only is this a festive extravaganza making your holiday season unforgettable, but it also just might become your new favorite winter-long destination!

Just steps off the Magnificent Mile, the Driehaus Museum (40 E. Erie St.) is hosting the holiday season with “Drie-cember,” a new month-long celebration of weekend programs and holiday concerts for families to enjoy.  However, this Saturday it’s Santa Saturday (8:45 a.m.-2 p.m.) when Santa comes for his annual visit.  He will be in the museum’s Front Parlor on the first floor so don’t forget your Christmas wish list and be ready to take some selfies with the jolly ‘ole fellow!

A family-friendly, festive celebration awaits you at Jingle Jam at NEWCITY-VILLE this Saturday (4 p.m.-7 p.m.) at NEWCITY (1457 N. Halsted St.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  This festive event celebrates the holiday season with an indoor event featuring festive tunes, courtesy of a live DJ; balloon twisters and face painters; an arts & crafts station to unleash your creativity; visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus special surprise guests; and more.  There’s even a Grand Prize Giveaway but you need to pre-register, check in at the event for your chance to win, and the winner MUST be present (drawing takes place at 6:45 p.m.)!

Begin your holidays at the annual Christmas Bazaar and Breakfast this Sunday (9 a.m.-7 p.m.) at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Ave.) in the Irving Park neighborhood.  This year’s festivities include breakfast (requires a ticket), an artisan craft and bake sale with over 60 vendors, children’s activities, a visit from Santa (1 p.m.-3 p.m.), and more!  New this year, enjoy a Holiday horse-and-carriage ride around the Center.  Plus, the fun continues into the evening with music by the fireplace and food and drink for purchase!

The White Sox’s Guaranteed Rate Field located in the Bridgeport neighborhood has once again been transformed into a winter wonderland of glimmering lights for this year’s Light of Christmas Drive Thru now through January 3^rd from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  No matter how cold it is outside, guests can safely stay in their warm cars as they are immersed into a wonderland of over one million LED light displays, all synchronized to fun holiday classics!

The home of the Chicago Dogs is once again hosting its Sparkle Light Festival at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont now through December 31^st.  This year’s festival will feature a new, completely redesigned layout with the addition of an ice-skating rink.  Visitors can enjoy breathtaking displays of millions of holiday lights among winter attractions such as the two-story Alpine ice slide and the Holly Trolly train as well as wander through five illuminated villages that include the Frozen Forest, Snowflake Circle, Winter Wonderland, the North Pole, and Deck the Walls.  Plus, festive food and beverage options will also be available!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Michelin, the arbiter of fine dining worldwide, bestows the Bib Gourmand designation on restaurants where, according to Open Table, the cooking “punches above its weight class, guiding diners to places that serve phenomenal meals that don’t break the bank.”

One of those restaurants is the whimsically named, Austrian comfort food of Logan Square’s Table, Donkey and Stick. In a cold winter season, I can’t think of a more apropos place to come in from the cold and warm up in a cozy, rustic alpine-style inn.

 About their name…

According to their website, Table, Donkey and Stick refers to a Brothers Grimm tale, ‘Tischlein deck dich, Goldesel und Knüppel aus dem Sack.’ 

Apparently, the moral of the Grimm tale essentally deals with the consequences of bad behavior and the riches associated with being a good person. 

The Experience 

Their menu honors the eating and drinking traditions of the Alps, including serving brandies and liqueurs eaux-de-vie and schnapps. Seasonal specialty cocktails are crafted from house-made tonics, syrups, and shrubs and the complex aromatic liqueurs made with mountain herbs and flowers from the Alps.

Their menu features creative, seasonally driven dishes inspired by the mountain cuisines of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovenia. The menu includes a rotating selection of chartuterie and artisan cheeses, as their website notes. The kitchen works with local farmers and whole animals whenever possible, and all breads and charcuterie items are made in-house.

A word of caution: the menu really does rotate daily, so check with the restaurant if you read a review describing a specific dish. 

That’s why I’ll highlight just a few of their courses here, with the recommendation that you take a moment to visit this Austrian chalet yourself and be surprised by the sheer variety of options.

In their menu section marked Wanderteller (hiker’s plate)—start with their Charcuterie Plate, aselection of three award-winning charcuterie items, all made in-house, and accompanied by fresh homemade bread. Potato Latkes have a special kick of horseradishaioli. Their Cheese And Charcuterie Plate pairs a chef’s choice of two house meats and two artisan cheeses with fresh homemade sunflower oat toast. Meats could include a duck pate or mortadella. You can also order perfectly cooked smoked salmon or bacon. There’s a unique selection of warm, cozy-sounding soups on the menu, as well as larger plates with choices such as Risotto and Schnitzel. 

Table, Donkey and Stick is located at 2728 W. Armitage Avenue. They are open Sunday through Thursday for dinner, 5pm-9pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5pm-10pm. They are closed Mondays. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are highly recommended. Click here for reservations. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago