SLH designed the architecture and interiors of the gut renovation of a bland apartment in a building dating from the early 2000s. Designed for a couple to be the opposite of their former London home - which was in a historic neighborhood and consisted of many tiny rooms trimmed in ornate moldings - this apartment on Chicago’s north side is a modern interplay of refined materials, textures and colors which articulate the newly opened layout. The project became a dialogue between minimalist architecture and furnishings infused with character.
The interior details of this remodeled home reflect the intimate scale of the low-rise building located in Chicago’s dynamic River North neighborhood. Taken by the lovely southern exposure, the clients were open to a deep breadth of textures and color, as represented by the narrow plank wood floors and slatted screens. Bright plastered walls are tempered by oiled soapstone and Richlite panels in a rich black-blue. The modern furnishings complement the architectural palette by introducing rounded lines and soft textures. Substantial upholstered pieces anchor the larger rooms, with slim accents to add lightness.
The bones of the completed space instill a sense of expansiveness and serenity. Standard elements such as applied door casing and base trim are absent. Doors are set flush with the walls. The absence of door headers in the principal spaces maximizes the flow from one room to another. In addition, the wall separating the living room from the study was pulled down from the ceiling and away from the perimeter wall to blur the division between the rooms. Glass set in black metal framing provides for privacy when needed. Elsewhere, unstained white oak screens provide filtered views from one space to another. An etched glass door and transom brings natural daylight into the windowless main bathroom. Narrow plank oak floors run throughout the apartment, infusing a sense of continuity. The bedroom hall is terminated with a pair of mirror fronted doors that further instill spaciousness and brightness. Light fixtures throughout were flush set to avoid distracting shadow lines.
The main living, dining, and kitchen areas open onto one another and share a palette of materials chosen for their quiet elegance. Oiled soapstone forms both the fireplace hearth and counters and backwall of the kitchen. Light pouring in through the south facing windows and doors is subtly reflected off of waxed plaster surfaces. Composite resin panels in the deepest shade of blue flank the fireplace and extend into the dining area where they conceal a bar. Ebonized oak cabinetry houses much of the kitchen’s storage; its detailing echoes the screens seen elsewhere but here the wood was wire-brushed to highlight its graining. The kitchen island is composed of cabinets clad in an Italian laminate that closely matches the slab atop.
Opening off of the entry is a black walled closet outfitted with a custom oak bench and shelf. A floor to ceiling sliding door with completely concealed hardware can close off the space. The measured restraint of the crisp white tub and vanity in a secondary bath are contrasted with a boldly veined black and white marble. Similarly, the main bathroom features vivid cross-cut silver travertine slabs paired with minimalist white porcelain and sober deep blue cabinetry. Another oak screen demarcates the boundary between the main bedroom and its closet.
Textiles and furniture pieces throughout were selected to bring a richness to the spaces. A saturated camel fabric clads the living room’s sectional sofa which wraps around a patinated bronze coffee table. A sumptuous woven wool rug anchors the space which is finished off with a longue chair composed of woven leather and raw linen. The same resin material that appears at the fireplace is repeated in the study’s custom side by side partners’ desk which is supported by burnished brass legs. The elliptical shape of the ash dining table is paired with armed chairs upholstered in a deep jewel tone for intimate dinners. An arched smoked glass mirror anchors the living area where the dining room and entry meet. Down the hall, a softly elegant velvet covers the main bedroom’s curved headboard. Oval bedside table with lacquered tops in random stripes flank the bed, adding a bit of texture along with the braided tassel-edged rug.
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