Sometimes all the million-dollar homes that we see in Chicago kind of blur together for us at HomesPlus. Yes, they're fabulous. Yes, they're spacious. And no, none of us can boast a home more glamourous, but when you figure that there are certain things you expect to see at that price range, you start to ignore the twin Sub-Zs and the Viking ranges and the Miele dishwashers and focus on the things that set that particular home apart. In the home we tour on the show this weekend, that thing is an EcoSmart Fireplace.

This super-minimalistic fireplace burns on an ethanol-based fuel that is renewable and burns clean. So, because there's no dirty black smoke, there's no need for a flue. Meaning, you can put this thing practically anywhere (including as an insert into your regular fireplace if you still want to go for the traditional look). Plus, it's totally self-contained so it's not necessary to hook it up to a pipe or utility connection - leaving you free to place it anywhere you want, even if that's in the middle of the room. Check out a few pictures below - and be sure to watch this weekend for the Ukranian Village home where we found this fireplace!

On this weekend's show we're kicking off our series on foreclosure design. We'll be following Courtney Davis, an Evanston designer and co-owner of Kelly+Olive Design through the renovation of her foreclosure home over the next couple of months. You'll get to see what it takes to go room by room and turn a great deal into a great home!

For more info on the other show features this weekend, check out our featured links on the right side of the screen.

Sounds like there are a lot of people out there looking for a place to find great deals on home items - we know because all day we've been fielding calls and emails asking for more information about the home store we featured on the show this past weekend - The Rebuilding Exchange. So, here's the information and remember - bring your measurments and your truck to haul away your new goods!

The Rebuilding Exchange
3335 W 47th Street
Chicago, IL 60632
773.847.3761

So if you watch HomesPlus on any kind of regular basis, you've definitely "met" Michelle Williams, the fabulous Chicago designer who designed a brand-new bedroom for our ugliest bedroom contest winner Dorothy Collins last November. She's also the gal who brings us the pro design tips that we can use at home on a regular basis. Turns out, we're not the only ones who think Michelle is incredibly talented - so does Julib.com and she's been nominated for a 2010 Style Award.

If you have a few minutes free in front of the computer (you know, like right now as you read this...) head to the Style Award website and cast your vote for Michelle in the "design professional 2010" category! You have to be a Julib subscriber to vote, so click here to register if you're not already. It literally takes less than 30-seconds.

And good luck to our girl Michelle!

Chalkboard paint is nothing new. We see it all the time in kids' playrooms as a safe place for the kiddies to mark up the walls, we see it in kitchens as a convenient spot to scrawl out the grocery list and it's not even terribly out of place in a home office as a handy spot to mark important reminders and appointments. But I came across this post on ChicagoNow.com and found that there are actually quite a few other ways that chalkboard paint can make a statement in your home - on furniture.

An old wooden flea market coffee table with potential can be glammed up with a coat of chalkboard paint, some colored chalk and your imagination. Bonus: it can be changed with the season or just on a whim! I'm a huge fan of this concept if you're looking for an easy and inexpensive way to add a little something new to your home...just be careful when you walk by it or you'll probably end up those fabulously original designs...

Check out the Garage Sale Warrior's ideas about where you can use chalkboard paint in your home.

It seems like in real estate these days, there's always a dose of bad news with the good.

For example, the median price of homes sold in Illinois in January saw the first price increase in 2+ years. But in Chicago ... a different story.

Continue reading "Median Home Prices in Illinois Increase, but ..." »