Rustic Elegance
Luxury treehouses for those in search of an outdoorsy, upscale getaway BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN Downers Grove resident Mike Ambrose is a lifelong tree house expert. “My dad was a carpenter, so my buddies and I were always building forts in our yards using the odds and ends of wood he didn’t need. One actually had…
Read MoreMusic and Mentorship
Elmhurst resident leads Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras BY ANNA HUGHES When Jennie Oh Brown first picked up a flute in eighth grade, something clicked. “I never really thought about talent,” Brown said. “I just thought about the fact that I really loved it, and it was really fun.” Brown had tried other instruments before…
Read MoreIn Harmony
Teen musician brings message of healing to international stage BY ANNA HUGHES It started with a love of music. At six years old, Oak Brook resident Sophia Ibrahim first learned to play the piano. She found the process joyful and therapeutic. “Growing up, [music] had a big healing power in my life,” Ibrahim said. She…
Read MoreRenovations Worth Every Dollar
The home upgrades that bring the biggest return COURTESY OF MAINSTREET REALTORS® We’ve always known that first impressions matter, but did you know the same is true of your home? Replace an outdated front door with a new steel door, and you’re likely to recoup 100% of the value when it comes time to sell.…
Read MoreHome Organizing Trends
Smarter Systems for Modern Living BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF Home organizing has shifted from a focus on perfection to a focus on function. As homes take on more roles than ever before, homeowners are investing in systems that support real life and spaces that are easy to maintain, flexible, and thoughtfully designed. Function Over…
Read MoreBuilt for the Times
A look at how homes evolve with us BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF Home styles reflect how people live at different moments in history. From early formal houses to today’s flexible layouts, architecture has changed alongside family life, technology, and cultural priorities. These familiar home types trace the evolution of suburban living. Colonial &…
Read MoreLaying the Foundation
Local nonprofit turns plastic into purpose BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOTTLES2BRICKS At the intersection of creativity and change, Bottles2Bricks is redefining what it means to make a difference. The Bottles2Bricks mission is straightforward but bold: empower people and safeguard the planet by transforming plastic waste into innovative structures that uplift communities across…
Read MoreBehind the Lens
Atticus Fair on storytelling, technology, and building a business BY LARRY ATSEFF Based in Westmont, Atticus Fair is the founder of two emerging companies—SkyPath Productions and SkyPath Aerial Data—focused on video production and aerial data services. Over the past four years, Fair has also contributed video work to Hinsdale Magazine Group, supporting its digital storytelling…
Read MoreA Gala for Giving
Upcoming fundraising benefit supports healthcare access BY ANNA HUGHES For over 75 years, the Clarendon Hills Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society (CHIW) has been supporting families across the Chicagoland area. Founded in 1948 by nine women with a shared mission to support mothers and children, CHIW has grown into a powerful force of 50…
Read MoreJust Having Fun
Sunday Funday Sports offers low-key games for youths BY JEFF VORVA James Epsom’s goal is to play in the National Football League. He is 7 years old. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds. Oh, and he just beat leukemia. Time will tell if the Burr Ridge cancer survivor ever obtains that dream…
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