Thank you for visiting my useful links page. I have covered some of my favorite spots to shop for the items that will turn a house into a home. I will be adding material over time to make this a one stop resource for interior and exterior needs. If you have a great spot that you think should be added, please drop me a line and I will check it out. I can be reached at bart@bartbotkin.com. I hope you enjoy my suggested favorites! Appliances Abt – carries a range of products from the ordinary to the extraordinary. It’s a bit of a hike but the showroom is one of a kind. Well worth the trip for someone wishing to explore the full range of high end appliance options. They offer online shopping as well and deliver to the area. 1200 N. Milwaukee Avenue Glenview, IL 60025 847.967.8830 www.abtelectronics.com Grants Appliances – carries a nicer range of products than your traditional appliance retailer. 1107 W 81st Ave Merrillville, IN 46410 219.650.3680 Design Centers Stone City – Located in Chicago, the showroom for kitchens and baths is spectacular and they carry a broad range of granites at great prices. Cabinets and appliances are also available and they install in this area. The warehouse is filled with slabs of granite which you can hand select. Great tile and stone flooring is also available. 3053 W Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 773.533.9806 http://www.stone-city.com Capital Interiors and Lighting – lighting, flooring, cabinets and more. 2504 Roosevelt Road Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 462-4100 http://www.capitalinteriors.com Expo Design Center – The superstore of interiors. Located off of North Avenue near a spectrum of furniture shopping. 1500 N Dayton St, Chicago, IL 60622 312.694.2400 www.expo.com Furniture Stores Here are some local favorites and a store or two in Chicago. Speaking of the city, a trip to the Merchandise Mart is always a great option to explore a range of the best designs from around the world. North Avenue in Chicago also has a cluster of nice stores including Home Expo, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie and Restoration Hardware all within walking distance of one another. If you’re in the North Avenue area, stop by Uncle Julio’s for a bite. Their margarita and sangria frozen swirls are terrific. Kreiss Furniture – Offers wonderful collections and design services. Just blocks from the merchandise mart. 415 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60610 219.794.9252 http://www.kreiss.com Walter E Smithe – The new store recently opened at the intersection of US 30 and Broadway. They carry a wide line of fine furnishings and offer design services. 4 West 81st Street Merrillville, IN 46410 800.948.4263 http://www.smithe.com Tilles Interiors – Carries a nice line of fine furnishings including Henredon, Baker, Thomasville and more. 901 Ridge Road Munster, IN 46321 219.836.1530 Interior Accents Louise’s Hallmark – creates wonderful floral arrangements and retails unique home accent pieces. 9533 Wicker Ave Saint John, IN 46373-9488 219.365.3837 Simply Elegant – offers an array of unique home accent pieces and custom designed floral pieces. The new store is located right on the square in Crown Point. 111 West Joliet Crown Point, IN 46307 219.663.3700 Landscaping Services and Outdoor Lighting Hechts Landscaping – provide a range of landscaping services including Unilock installations. Their work can be seen around the photographs of the pool on my main page. Tell them that Bart sent you! Telephone 219.322.5296 www.hechtslandscaping.com Landscape Illuminations – provides extraordinary outdoor lighting for your home and landscaping. Also Telephone 219.395.8080 http://www.landscape-illumination.com Lighting Stores Dekker Lighting – carries an array of fine lighting. The showroom is packed with different styles of fixtures. 5198 US Route 30 Merrillville, IN 46410 219.947.9777 http://www.dekkerlighting.com Capital Interiors and Lighting – lighting, flooring, cabinets and more. 2504 Roosevelt Road Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 462-4100 http://www.capitalinteriors.com Egolf Lighting – carries a broad range of lighting and manufacturers. 1115 Calumet Ave Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 462-5138 Utilities and Service Providers Crown Point Cable: Your Choice. Comcast 866.594.1234 Electric/Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Garbage: Clerk Treasurer 219.662.3235 Telephone: SBC/Ameritech 800.742.8771 Water: Clerk Treasurer 219.662.3235 Porter Township Falling Waters Contacts Cable: Comcast 866.594.1234 Electric: REMC 800.552.2622 Garbage: Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Telephone: Vonage Broadband 866.243.4357 Comcast Broadband Phone Expected Soon Water: Indiana American Water Co. 219.866.3770 Schererville Cable: Comcast 866.594.1234 Electric/Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Garbage: Water: Schererville Water and Sewer 219.322.4581 Telephone Service: SBC 800.742.8771 St. John Cable: Comcast 866.594.1234 Electric/Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Garbage: Water: Telephone Service: SBC 800.742.8771 Valparaiso Cable: Comcast 866.372.4215 Electric/Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Garbage: Valparaiso Public Works 219.462.4612 Telephone Service: Verizon 800.483.4000 Water: Valparaiso Water Department 219.462.6174 Winfield Cable: Comcast 866.594.1234 Electric: 800.552.2622 Garbage: Illiana 219.662.8600 Gas: NIPSCO 800.464.7726 Water/Sewer: Indiana American 800.492.8373 Telephone: Verizon 800.483.2000