Want your Mercedes to gleam again? Owners of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches will tell you to take it to Osama Syed’s two-year-old company, one of only two in Illinois listed as an elite detailer by DuPont Registry, a marketplace for luxury cars. Aesthetic Detail will baby your wheels, offering everything from leather treatments to full … Read more
When top real estate agents want to move a listing fast, they call Cheri Kasella’s company because she’s quick and flexible (a warehouseful of furniture, art, and accessories is ready to set sail), and unlike many stagers, she doesn’t require a three-month minimum for renting the stuff. Kasella will also recommend paint colors and rearrange … Read more
A behavioral specialist helping troubled pooches, including the pampered fur babies of celebrities and wealthy Gold Coasters, Schuchat uses positive reinforcement (treats, toys) to ease everything from separation anxiety to aggression. Her secret sauce includes extensive discussions with and involvement of the whole family. Cost: $125 for the first visit; discounts available for additional sessions, … Read more
The Professional Sports Wives Association says that this nine-year-old company is the best place to turn for highly vetted nannies. Only 3 percent of recruits make it through the interview process, an acceptance rate that’s more competitive than Harvard’s. They’ll do it all: grocery shopping, your kids’ laundry, and, of course, the basics of feeding … Read more
You can get your rugs cleaned more inexpensively elsewhere, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another spot that puts the lowly floor dweller on as high a pedestal as this family-owned operation does. The Klujians have garnered a faithful following for their ability to revive fragile heirlooms (thanks to adjustable wash pressure and machinery that … Read more
Mark Cappelli is something of a rarity in the world of piano technicians: He has a master’s degree in piano performance and has been tickling the ivories since he was a toddler. Pickle Piano Company, a retailer in Bloomingdale, praises Cappelli for his pitch-perfect ear, a talent that the Grant Park Music Festival, Chicago Symphony … Read more
The go-to mover for governors, billionaires, and auctioneers, Bradtke is expensive, sure. (Getting an antique armoire from downtown to Winnetka, for example, costs about $360.) But for valuables that must arrive without a scratch, no company offers more peace of mind, says real estate agent Millie Rosenbloom: Its trained workers precisely and securely wrap each … Read more
If this place can handle Lost Lake owner Paul McGee’s legendarily wild facial hair, imagine what it can do with yours. The vibe at the 10-year-old Roscoe Village storefront harks back to neighborhood barbershops of old, but the expert stylists know all the current trends and how to best groom and shape your beard ($40)—a … Read more
This 54-year-old family business specializes in bespoke suits and other garments in the world’s most luxurious fabrics (Dormeuil mohair, Loro Piana cashmere). Balani’s obsessive attention to fit has attracted such clients as celeb chef Graham Elliot and former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije. Prices range from $125 for a custom dress shirt to $30,000 for a … Read more
This firm is the local landscape authority for corporate, civic, and residential clients alike, say experienced Chicago brokers Jennifer Ames and Mario Greco. Its range could hardly be broader: It creates both traditional and modern designs for cramped city yards, sprawling suburban gardens, and luxurious hotel properties (Trump and Ritz-Carlton are clients).
