Living Rooms to Die for: Interior Design
"Living rooms" that are not lived in are a thing of the past. Less formal "family rooms" where people actually do their living are far more popular. These rooms, multi-tasking spaces, offer cushy seating and options to do what families and close friends actually do together (conversing, TV watching, fireplaces for cozy evenings, great views and places to read, play games, work hobbies, grab a nap or enjoy an occasional nosh) have virtually replaced their more formal, underutilized counterparts. This isn’t to say that the rooms can’t be elegant, tasteful and memorable. These are the public spaces where friends and family gather. They fit the more casual lifestyle most people enjoy today.
Space Planning: Living without walls on the shore of Lake Michigan
Conspiring to give the feeling of enormous expanse are high, arched ceilings, continuous dark floors, walls of window and unobstructed lake views. The spacious living area floats on a carpet between dining room and fireplace (see additional photos). Walls are implied rather than imposed; The rug, lighting and furniture arrangement delineate the individual areas; a custom partition visually separates the living/dining space from the kitchen while 3 oversized pendants define the dining area. An eclectic mix of rustic and primitive antiques and classic furnishings lend interest and focus to a room that seamingly has no enclosure. Practicality and comfort were priorities of this interior designed to be meeting-central for vacationing family and friends. The down-filled sectional is welcoming while hard surfaces are already old, so what harm will another scratch or nick do? Color is subtle, adding interest while not competing with the view. Electronically controlled, semi-translucent window treatments concealed in boxes above the windows provide shade as needed, while not completely blocking the view or entirely eliminating the light. Wall washing light fixtures above the window boxes graze the partial barrel ceiling enhancing it's sculptural curve.
Double Talk: Uniting two conversation areas in Winnetka, IL
In extensive renovations to an older home in Winnetka, IL, we maintained the original long, narrow living room. This room houses two distinct conversation areas divided by a central entry. Furniture arrangements, lighting and rugs define the two areas. Several diverse patterns have been successfully integrated by changes in scale, common colors and floral themes, and common elements including color, sconces and window treatments tie the two spaces together. The fearless, bold hues especially appeal to the clients and their 3 young sons.
"Hand-Me-Down" Interior Design in New Buffalo, Michigan
This inviting screened porch provides escape from the elements and a magical place for reading, conversation or a long afternoon nap. Directly off the kitchen, it is a fresh place to dine when weather is uncooperative. Natural materials repeated throughout the residence create warmth and visual continuity. All furnishings were collected by designer and client from flea markets, antique shows and garage sales while the house was being designed and built. Though the structure is contemporary, the vision was to create an interior environment that felt as if the home had been handed down for generations. Part of the appeal of this approach was that it allowed us to recycle and re-purpose existing furnishings, a very "green" objective.
A Victorian makeover with contemporary attitude in Chicago's Lincoln Park
Melding antiques like the clients' treasured table in the window with the two boldly contemporary tambour tables in the foreground, this project transformed a classic Victorian into a family home with a distinctive, eclectic aesthetic. The pair of Victorian-style chairs in the bay window actually began as a single run down chair found in a junk shop. The silhouette of the original chair was so appealing that I bought it and had it copied. The antique rug and custom window treatments contribute to the mellow color scheme. Contemporary coffee tables, sofa and bench play nicely off of the antiques.
A PATCHWORK QUILT, Winnetka, IL
Three young boys, a large dog and their parents are the inhabitants of this colorful house. Furnishings and materials were selected/designed with playfulness, practicality and comfort as priorities. The custom game table (see additional photos) was inspired by children's toys. Chairs around the game table are clad in washable suede, easy to clean up after spills and accidents. A leather sectional comfortably seats the whole family for television, video games, reading and snuggling. Because the room is flooded with natural light during the day, concealed shades allow for glare-free TV watching. At night, when the windows become black mirrors, the roman shades drop down to enclose the cozy space in softness and warmth. The colorful quilts of Gee's Bend inspired my design of the custom carpet.
A child's ring-toss game was the inspiration for the custom game table.
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Gathering Dust in Northbrook, IL
This comfy sectional virtually demands that you nestle into it's plush cushions to read, watch TV, converse or take a luxurious nap. One of the three seating areas in the room, this linear arrangement is anchored by a long, narrow, custom dhurry rug. Two Laotian rain drums serve as coffee tables. The gold leaf Buddha that keeps sentinel over the room was aquired by the clients on their travels. Custom cabinetry conceals a TV that pops up by remote control.
Above the cabinetry, the collection of tiny sculptures and their numerous shadows (see other photos) is the creation of world-renown found-object sculptor Donald Lipski. His title for this collection is Gathering Dust as one might imagine it does. Prior to taking up residence here, it was part of an exhibition at the MCA in New York City.
A Playroom to beat the band!
Directly off the kitchen of this condo is a TV/video games/music space where a busy mom can keep an eye on her 7 little music makers. Since the family fosters an interest in music, we chose that as a theme for this space. The custom carpet was designed to suggest an abstract guitar. The strings, frets and sound hole are alluded to in the Picasso-esque design. The stripes, representative of the neck and strings lead down the hall where the tuning keys are implied in the carpet as embellishment at the front door. The circle of the sound hole becomes a stage for impromptu performances. An antique snare drum,(flea market find) was dismantled and refinished, the damaged skin replaced by a glass top rendering the drum re-usable as a table. The black and white pattern on the swivel chairs is reminiscent of piano keys. TV, instruments and sheet music are stored in the cabinetry.
Urban Oasis High Above Chicago's Lincoln Park
A combination of vivid colors, bold geometrics and softly undulating curves distinguish this penthouse residence 31 stories above Lincoln Park, which plays the rectangular urban forms of the city against the softer curves of nature. The concrete kitchen surround is actually plaster that was textured and painted using multiple faux finish techniques. A row of tiles that define the color scheme for the entire apartment are inset into the plaster and adorn the kitchen backsplash. The corrugated aluminum corner is a private joke: think of a flex-straw bending to turn the corner. A ten foot sofa-sectional, manufactured to my design, is covered in a tapestry of swirling acanthus leaves-whose pattern is repeated in the quilting on the throw pillow. A custom rug reiterates the room's angles.
A Living HIstory
A compilation of old and new, this residence was put together with the adaptation of furnishings from three generations; grandparents, parents and the owners' new additions. Swivel chairs in the foreground were re-invented from a childhood home. While reupholstering, we made the tailoring more sleek and added the fringe at the floor. The French side chair and half table on the far wall came from beloved grandparents. The sofa is an original design of mine, adapted from an antique we admired.
The dining room cabinet (steel and maple) is another original designed for the space. It's a modern backdrop for the 50's porch table and chairs which were inherited, and re-covered. The dining room fixture conceals a light source that reflects the glass colors on the ceiling with kaleidoscopic effect.
A Paul Schweikher designed home in Highland Park, IL
A rustic 1952 cottage in the woods with Arts & Crafts detailing, Asian influences and "good bones" required some attention. Playing off the 50's, woodsey and asian aspects of the architecture was the concept for the furnishings. The moderne 50's sofa was a wonderful find. Pillows were detailed with fabric from an antique Japanese Obie. The primitive wooden disc in the foreground is an old wheel converted to table. Smaller tables were once a wallpaper printing roller and a sugar grinder. The existing, wall-to-wall shag carpet was removed to reveal a rich Douglas Fir underlayment that we refinished and left exposed. This enhanced the inside/outside experience of the entire house by visually extending the wood floors on the deck. The Stickley Mission Style rocker, another great find, was culled from a flea market. Down the hall the Master bedroom was carefully designed to coordinate with the Living room because the rooms are visible from one another.
This den and guest room combination benefit from the natural light and leafy view of the surrounding woods. Rustic willow and pine tables bring the outside in, and are offset against the strict geometry of the sleeper, rug and bookcase. The sofa converts to a queen bed. The modular, steel bookcase is an original design fabricated to my specifications. The lamp in the corner is supported by an antique tripod.The desk is an antique drafting table. Waste paper is thrown into an old fireman's water bucket. Antique maps, a collection of the clients refering to their travels adorn the walls.
Symmetry in Hyde Park
Two custom sofas stand like bookends flanking the original fireplace in this Hyde Park residence. The sofas are an original design inspired by an antique sofa we admired. Their low slung shape exaggerates the high ceilings. Color in the room was defined by the clients' existing Persian rug. A window seat with storage below was built up to the window sill. General illumination is provided by recessed lighting and sconces on either side of the fireplace that repeat the room's symmetry. Pharmacy lamps provide task light for reading.
An Eclectic Mix
An old Art Deco fence discovered on an antiquing jaunt in New Orleans became the base for a coffee table and the focus of this room. The Turkish-style sofa was adapted from one I saw in a fancy shop in Istanbul.The stunning painting, found in the Clients' basement, is a portrait of his mother. A recessed framing projector is focused to light only the artwork, highlights the painting while not interrupting the... scallops of light around the perimeter of the room
A window seat built into the bay takes advantage of the view and maximizes seating. Across the room is an antique chair re-upholstered in the floral fabric on the pillows.
A Really Lucky Find!
Wilson, the name of this sewing machine stand's manufacturer just happens to be the client's name as well. The stand is flanked by two Deco chairs and two floor lamps providing light for reading in this library/home office. The Kelim rug, laid over carpet knits the two sides of the room together. Unfortunately no photo was taken of the custom desk and built-in cabinetry across the room.
Home office for a busy philanthropist in Highland Park
Taking advantage of the natural light and fresh air, this one-of-a-kind desk was designed to sit at an angle to the wall. This arrangement also allows more "wiggle room" between the desk and files. The tubular lamp above thefile cabinets rotates 360 degrees allowing for direct or indirect light on the counter below. The 42" high work surface is at a comfortable standing height for a client who often finds herself standing when she works. Red baskets line the shelves as the client preferred not to bury current projects in the drawers.
