4 minute read
Your Remodel
Why Everyone’s Bringing the Indoors Out
By Chris Linden, executive editor
Everything inside is coming outside this summer, as designers transform ho-hum patios into elegant living environments.
Imagine lounge areas accented by pillows, rugs, sofas and a weather-resistant TV; dining areas connected to an outdoor kitchen; a built-in fire feature that warms up those chilly nights. Stone pavers, pergolas and attractive light fixtures can also help set the mood.
“We’re trying to pull in materials to soften up the hardscape, and normally you would do that with planters,” says Colleen Baader, senior vice president at VID Lifestyle in Elgin. “Then, you add outdoor rugs, which are beautiful, and you have a whole new look for an outdoor space.”
Baader’s team of interior designers is accustomed to leading full-scale remodels of homes and businesses, but their talents are also shaping amazing outdoor living environments. Using the same approach they take inside, these designers review the client’s wish list before sketching out ideas and hiring a landscaper.
Before approaching a designer, think about what you want. Are there activities you want to accommodate? Can you find pictures of something you like?
With ideas in hand, it’s time to start talking materials, and the choices abound. Baader finds that simple, clean, modern designs are a top preference.
“So, that means not as many curves, not as much greenery, just keeping things sleek and simple,” Baader says.
In one recent project, Baader used sleek lines and gray pavers to transform the space outside a navy-colored ranch home. Simplicity was the goal. Closer to the home, there’s a large space for seating, with planting areas under the windows. At the farthest corner from the house, there’s a squarish space with a knee-high wall surrounding a fire pit. Shorter shrubs create interest and color.
The design process started last fall, and the landscaper was booked by December – well ahead of schedule so that work could begin this March.
“That’s the great thing about having someone like us help with the design, is that we can get the process going and then the landscaper just has to put it in his calendar,” says Baader.
VID Lifestyle is located at 2000 Fox Lane, in Elgin, (847) 760-8206. ❚
SCAVENGER HUNT 2021
Tour some of LaSalle County and the City of Pontiac’s most notable Lincoln historical sites and attractions. On this family-friendly scavenger hunt, you’ll answer trivia questions and snap photos to earn your very own Lincoln-themed challenge coin! For complete rules, challenge locations and entry, visit StarvedRockSummer.com or scan the QR code on this page.
LASALLE COUNTY CHALLENGES 1. Looking For Lincoln At The Ottawa Visitors Center Photo: Pick up a cut-out Lincoln and snap a selfie. 2. Ottawa’s Looking For Lincoln Wayfinding Signs Question: Where was Lincoln carried off to following the debate? 3. Ottawa’s ‘The Day Of The Great Debate’ Mural Photo: Take a seflie with this larger than life Lincoln Mural. 4. Starved Rock State Park’s Lincoln Plaque Photo: Join the time-tested tradition of rubbing Lincoln’s nose for good luck. 5. Starved Rock Lodge’s Lincoln Woodcarving and Souvenir Penny Smasher Photo: Snap a selfie with a freshly smashed souvenir penny or Lincoln carving. 6. The LaSalle County Historical Society Museum’s Lincoln Carriage Question: Who owned the carriage that transported Lincoln to the debate site? 7. Lock 14’s Canal Silhouettes Photo: Capture a selfie with the iconic I&M Canal cut-out silhouettes. 8. I&M Canal Boat Tour Photo: Take a selfie on, or near, the replica canal boat. 9. Lock 16 Cafe and Visitors Center Question: What is the 4th word in the Lincoln quote in the exhibit panel? 10. Pop-up Lincoln Display at the Peru Mall Photo: Take a photo at this pop-up display, located inside the Peru Mall. CITY OF PONTIAC CHALLENGES 11. Pontiac’s Strevell House Photo: Take a selfie at this historic home, where Lincoln spent the night. 12. Pontiac’s Lincoln Statue Photo: Take a picture with this statue of Lincoln as a young lawyer. 13. Pontiac’s Prebyterian Church Question: What group did Lincoln give his speech to about “The Wheel and Axle”? 14. Looking For Lincoln Storyboard Funeral Train Question: What time did Lincoln’s funeral train pass through Pontiac? 15. Looking For Lincoln Storyboard Riverbank Debate Question: Who did Lincoln debate on the bank of the Vermilion River?
SCAN AND SUBMIT
Scan the QR code to submit your answers and photos. Submit your completed challenges to The Ottawa Visitors Center (1028 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 61350) to redeem your Challenge Coin or request to have it mailed directly to your door.
