Once a month, the Reader’s Dean Fisher uses her expert eye and a shoestring budget to overhaul a Chicagoan’s space. Want to have a room redone? Send a photo of your pitiful interior to space@chicagoreader.com
For the three years that Veronica Shaeffer and Keith Dumbleton lived in their Ukrainian Village apartment, their back room—an adorable sunporch with loads of potential—had become a catchall that served as a mudroom, potting shed, and storage area. The sad space was in serious need of an overhaul. Armed with $150 and a little DIY know-how, we transformed the porch into the perfect spot for summer cocktails.