A. Teco is art pottery that was made in Terra Cotta (now Crystal Lake), Illinois, from the late 1800s to the early 1920s. The name comes from the first syllables of "terra" and "cotta." The company that produced Teco pottery, Gates Potteries, was an offshoot of the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company, owned by … Read more
A. You’re already acquainted with the best stool. Depending on how old you are, it was your mother’s, grandmother’s, or your own vinyl kitchen chair, most likely red, with a chrome frame. Underneath the seat were two steps that flipped out to function as a footrest or ladder. Pull it up to the kitchen counter, … Read more
A. Owners of antique daybeds or Euro-sized twin beds can rest easy, and so can nonstandard-size people: mattress solutions abound in and around Chicago. The Verlo Mattress Factory Store, which has several area locations, custom makes mattresses for round beds, cribs, and platform beds, as well as for people tall, wide, or both. Tom Wisniewski, … Read more
A. "Built-in" is the term you’re looking for. Built-in, shallow-depth refrigerators are 24 inches deep, including the door, and so, in all likelihood, are your counters. The term to beware of is "freestanding." A freestanding, shallow-depth refrigerator has a 24-inch-deep cabinet and two-inch-deep doors, meaning it will stick out two inches past your counter. Built-ins … Read more
A. If you have something specific in mind, consider having a mantel created just for you. Many custom woodworkers take on such projects, and can also create surrounding alcoves, bookshelves, and paneling. A local business that specializes in fireplace woodwork is Emerald Mantels (1901 W. Belmont Ave., 773-244-0041; emeraldmantels.com). Everything Emerald sells is handcrafted and … Read more
Q. How do I go about getting a wall bed for my guest room? Do they still make those-and are they still called Murphy beds? A. Yes, the Murphy bed lives. Named for William L. Murphy, who invented it in 1918 as a space-saving device, it remains a great alternative to the sofabed. The bed … Read more
In an industrial park in Elk Grove Village, two history buffs build a store around their shared love of architectural salvage.
Q. Are there any good alternatives to window-unit air conditioners? Central air doesn’t seem to be an option in our vintage building. A. One choice to consider is the Mitsubishi Mr. Slim (uniqueindoorcomfort.com), describes how it works: “There are three pieces to the air conditioner: an air handler (or blower), a condenser, and a remote … Read more
A former contractor rolls out a high-end paint store that tips the scales of color brilliance. Colori is the place to go to paint your walls red—really red.
Need a little kick in your kitchen? These goodies will up your cool factor.
