Your Home

Achieve the Dream with an Interior Designer

By Lindsey Gapen Lukas

Right now is a good time to start thinking about easy projects like updating furniture and accessories or tackling that messy closet.

It’s an even easier job when you turn to an expert who knows how to make the room reflect who you are and how you want to feel.

By hiring an interior designer, you’re investing in someone with a sharp, creative mind to help make your living space more functional, beautiful and personal.

Colleen Baader has been an interior designer for 27 years. At VID Lifestyle, in Elgin, she collaborates with clients to achieve their dream space, whether that means interior renovations, exterior renovations or new construction.

The goal is to figure out how a client wants to feel in their home, and then execute that feeling.

When Baader meets with clients, she likes to ask about their lifestyle. Do they entertain often? Do they have children or grandchildren? The answers to these and other questions will impact what materials she suggests.

“We’ll have clients who have a very hectic life, and when they come home, they just want it to be Zen,” she says. “So, we’re going to choose a palette and materials that give that feeling.”

At the beginning of each project, it’s imperative for Baader to see her client’s home. This helps tremendously when drafting up a design proposal.

Once a client is comfortable with the proposal, the fun begins. VID Lifestyle designers provide options for flooring, wall treatments, lighting, cabinetry and accessories. They also provide renderings to help the client visualize their design. Once the design palette is decided, they price all elements and assess lead times. Then, they place orders. VID Lifestyle offers complete remodeling services.

“We want your home to reflect who you are and how you want your space to feel,” says Baader. “This is more than just furniture and accessories; it is more about your lifestyle.” ❚

VID Lifestyle is located at 2000 Fox Lane, in Elgin, (847) 760-8206.

Your Outings

Fresh Food and Excitement at Windy Acres

By Pat Szpekowski

Are you yearning to celebrate everything autumn brings, but you can’t spend hours traveling to a fall adventure? Windy Acres Farm is a hidden treasure, a rural retreat that’s located on Fabyan Parkway near the ever-bustling Randall Road in Geneva.

This family farm’s annual Fall Fest runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, and it offers an appealing cornucopia of activities.

“There has been growth all around us,” says Kristin Srail, of Windy Acres Farm. “But we have stayed true to our roots as a produce farm with our 25 acres here and additional 100 acres just outside of town. Our Fall Fest has been an annual Fox Valley-area tradition and staple since 1985, and the fun gets bigger and better each year.”

Windy Acres is open seven days a week, offering fresh produce, bakery treats, tours and more.

But during Fall Fest, the farm comes alive with a variety of unique attractions for all ages to let go, laugh and make lifetime memories.

New this year are the pumpkin hopper shootout, teeter totters, and a giant rockin’ roll chair that’s ready for family selfies and photos. Playtime for kids is endless with the giant jumping pillow, moon bounces, kiddie train and Charlotte’s Tangled web.

Meet the farm animals at Buttermilk Barnyard Petting Zoo. Get lost and found navigating the Corn Maze. Try Mini Golf, the Horsey Swing Corral and Western Town, or glide swiftly through the zip line. These adventures are the tip of the corn stalk for what’s in store. There’s a whole lot more.

Weekends at Fall Fest offer additional outdoor fun, weather permitting. Enjoy the tastes of grilled foods, sweet treats and a corn bar. Sip at the Beer Garden with fall ales, seasonal ciders, pumpkin spiced beverages and the brand-new apple cider slushies. Sit by a picnic table, bring a lawn chair and listen to live music performed by local musicians or favorite tunes played by local DJs.

Find admission information and shop for fresh produce online at windyacresfarmstand.com.

Windy Acres Farm is located at 37W446 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva, (630) 232-6429. ❚