Out with the Old World: Our Winnetka Residence
Some homes need a full gut. This one just needed to catch up to the people living in it!
Our clients had a Winnetka home with beautiful proportions, great light, and the kind of architecture most people would love to inherit. But everything about it skewed heavy — reddish-brown tones, ornate details, tile where there should have been wood. A lovely house that didn't feel like theirs yet.
Their brief was five words: make it feel like ours.
So that's what we did.
New marble tile was one of the first selections we made for this home, and it sets the tone for everything that follows– a great first impression! Between that, the new balusters, and updated lighting, the entry became a completely different space.
The living room was a scale challenge — getting the arrangement to fill the room without it feeling forced. We stretched the seating area with double coffee tables, added a smaller arrangement in the bay window, and layered soft color throughout. The custom art by Jane Lorenston — one of three local Chicago artists we commissioned for this home — is worth pausing for. And the rug was worth the wait (it always is).
The dining room is whimsical and tailored at the same time. The wallpaper is fluid, the drapery has a subtle embroidered pattern, and the chandelier plays into that same organic quality. Here's what you can't see in photos — everything has a sheen to it in person. That glamorous detail the client loves, but never overdone. A custom piece by Dana DeAno ties it all together.
This is where the family watches TV, where the kids hang out — it had to be elevated and cozy at the same time. It also had the most to undo.
Painting the beams changed the room overnight. We replaced the fireplace surround with limestone and updated the built-ins with a mix of wood, metal, mirror, and a marble slab.
Then came the layers — a chunky bouclé rug, custom pillows with the right amount of texture, and sconces that give the most incredible glow in the evenings.
The whole family plays backgammon here at night (cute!) and the client likes to work here during the day. This hearth room truly is their everyday room — and it might be the biggest transformation in the house!
We color-drenched it with paint, wallpaper, and tonal drapery to create a jewel box that wraps around you. The client picked an incredible stone for the fireplace surround that anchors the whole mood. It may be our favorite room!
The kitchen kept its bones but shifted completely in feeling. We painted the hood, pulled the tile floor and replaced it with wood, and took the cabinets from bright white to a warmer tone. New pendants and counter stools round it out, with a marble island that pulls the whole space together.
New table, new chairs reupholstered in vinyl so they survive kids at breakfast every morning, and a sculptural light fixture overhead. The lighting and drapery make this one of the coziest spots in the house.
The primary bedroom was the last phase — because that's what parents do. They updated the whole house first and came back to their own room when everything else was finished.
Soft blues and warm neutrals keep it serene. The wallpaper has incredible texture. A Juin Ho fabric brings in just a touch of color — feminine but not precious. The rug is plush and exactly right. And the bed itself: a mattress the client selected from Chicago Luxury Beds with custom bedding from Designer's Linen Source, every single layer considered.
They finally invested in her own space, and went all in.
This room was planned as a guest bedroom, but it made more sense as the client's office since it gets used every day. Such a great pivot during this project. The guest room moved to a smaller room, and suddenly there was space for a desk, shelving, and a place to display their meaningful accessories and antiques.
Two powder rooms, two completely different moods. One warm and architectural, the other soft and glamorous.
No corners were cut. The clients told us it feels like a "pinch me" moment living here now. The bones were already here. The light was already here. What wasn't here was a home that felt like theirs.
It does now!