House & Home — Chad Esslinger: Esslinger Design Company

Reality television can make it seem like design and renovation are faster and easier than they genuinely are. Chad Esslinger knows this firsthand as a designer on an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation a few years ago. He also knows otherwise. Working in the industry for the last 27 years, he understands good design…

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House & Home — Natalie Weber: KW Experience Realty

Hiring the right real estate agent makes all the difference when making your life’s most important sale or purchase. That’s where Natalie Weber comes in. She’s been the #1 Individual Agent in Downers Grove for the last three years and ranked #10 in DuPage County for New Construction Sales in 2023. And she has come…

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A business on a mission

A granola brand created by Downers Grove’s Kiley Fields tastes good and does good By Valerie Hardy  According to food historians, granola was initially created in the early 1860s by James Caleb Jackson, a nutritionist from New York. Originally called “Granula,” Jackson’s invention is often considered the first dry, whole grain breakfast cereal. About 15…

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House & Home — Brita Pagels: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago

There are some things we’re born to do. Just ask Brita Pagels of Pagels Group. As a fourth-generation broker, she’s been immersed in real estate since birth. “Real estate has always been a part of me,” says the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago broker. While her path began by sketching buildings and gardens in pre-Kindergarten, crayon…

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Great Escape: Glenhagen Farm Retreat

Glenhagen Farm Retreat offers youth and adults a rich camp experience right here in Illinois This summer, it will be a full family affair for the Kupisches at Glenhagen Farm Retreat. Kup will continue to serve as the primary director, and his son, Andrew Kupisch, will be joining the directorial staff as well. Kup’s daughter,…

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A Local Legend: Catching up with “Kup”

By Valerie Hardy Meeting with Will Kupisch at Panera was like sitting with a celebrity. Every few minutes someone would come up to greet him with a hello, handshake, or hug. One of these people was Carey Greene, a 1993 Downers Grove North High School graduate, who lives in New Hampshire but was in town…

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House & home

Homeownership is a significant undertaking, whether buying or selling a home or renovating or building one. It is a major life purchase that significantly affects personal and financial levels. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, the journey towards achieving home ownership – and making it your own – can be both…

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House & Home — Mary Braatz: RE/MAX Enterprises

There are a multitude of things to know when selling your home. Mary understands this market and her community from 37 years of real estate experience. Mary explained, “When I started in real estate, I wanted to work the area near my home in Downers Grove, and since then, I have come to know it…

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