One of our most beloved homes. Painted the yellow brick SW Oyster White .. door is BM Wythe Blue .. shutters & garage doors BM Kendall Charcoal … Added bluestone to the stairs & stepping stone path from driveway … the incredible screen door is the icing on the cake (which also has glass inserts for chilly Chicago temps)

Coming soon - before & after pics

This area of Kenilworth was originally a golf course. We were told when they converted this area to build, this lot was the first to sell because the gentleman wanted to see smoke rising from his chimney when he got off the train and was walking home. We could walk to the train, school, beach, playground .. Kenilworth is so charming.

Ceiling is SW Cloudburst … Thibaut “chiang mai” dragon wallpaper is still one of my favorites! And a mirror is always a must at the entrance to reflect light and do last minute lipstick check.

***you will see LOTS of mirrors .. they provide style, sparkle and lots of “bang for your buck” when decorating.

Walking into this traditional center entry beauty, the dining room is on the right .. the formal living room & study to the left .. stairs straight ahead with a tiny powder room tucked under.

Dining room painted BM Wickham Gray ... ceiling is SW metallic faux gold glaze … Legacy Linens window panels with Helser Brothers rods.

Gorgeous table settings provided by Peachtree Place. Lucy dressed my tables & breakfast bar to “the nines” for the North Shore Kitchen tour.

My favorite thing is finding beautiful items for less :) When I found the "armillary sphere" chandelier, I asked the seller “I do not care about the pedigree but do you know the history of this piece?” She said “it was in my dining room for over 20yrs .. when I originally purchased it I was told it was from the 1960s.”

The price tag was $180 … she accepted my offer of $150!

Lighting is one of the most important elements in the home. You will see the mix of style & metals throughout any space I design. I lean to traditional with a touch of modern to keep things fresh .. modern Visual Comfort sconces with a touch of acrylic mix well with early 1900’s crystal chandelier in foyer and the whimsical orb in dinging room.

The sphere will move with us wherever we live!

We were so fortunate to have an east facing home in Chicago .. the morning light would flood the front … and the western exposure in the back made the family room glow in the afternoon & melted the ice on our patio and backyard :)

Window mullions & interior doors painted SW Irone Ore .. you will also notice that some windows are not painted dark .. it is ok to mix it up .. no one will ever notice or think it odd - IF done appropriately :)

Originally creamy satin, this reupholstered chair is now Steve’s favorite. The style & scale are timeless .. she was less than $100!

I inherited 2 chests from my father’s family .. they were originally in his childhood bedroom stained an awful orange .. I am so thankful I could see past the color and notice the incredible lines and original hardware .. blessed to have found an Italian magician who brought them to life with paint, glaze and a touch of gold. Estate sale mirrors live above each one.

These “custom” window treatments were ready made blue panels found at Tuesday Morning .. I added a complementary fabric to make them longer as well as dress them up … a beautiful Restoration Hardware rod with acrylic finials leveled them up making them suitable for any home … and budget.

One of my favorite Chicago memories will always be a girls shopping trip to my hometown of Atlanta .. I grew up in the suburbs and moved right after college … so it was like discovering the ATL all over again. Spotlight on Art @ the Trinity School fundraiser did not disappoint! I fell fast & hard for this original Stephanie Wheeler. The colors make any room sing.

Visual Comfort sconces … 50% BM Revere Pewter on walls .. BM White Dove trim & ceiling.

So thankful for this family “heirloom” piano .. the memories are more valuable than the piano .. and the cost of shipping it is as well - haha!

Notice the dark paint on the glass doors create an additional layer of interest in an otherwise simple room.

Comfy sofa paired with grandmothers reupholstered channel back chairs for the win. Classic lines and perfect scale fit the space as well as comfortable to sit in .. I do not recommend buying new when upcycling can work well & look great .. Give me charm & quality any day.

Lamps are from a local consignment shop .. they are super heavy and gorgeous. Perched on a little acrylic base .. Gallery walls bring personality to any space. As you peruse my website, you will see I am obsessed with them.

My favorite Mongolian sheepskin poofs add a touch of whimsy & texture.

SW Smokehouse in high gloss is on the windows, trim & ceiling … the fabric on the walls soften things up making the space so cozy. Originally this was a sunroom with windows where the bookcases now live. Usually I would never suggest covering up a window, however with 2 other window walls, I think this was a great idea. I love books and displaying personal & meaningful items.

Pair of Century chairs found at an antique mall .. originally dark wood with red satin fabric .. I painted the wood with chalk paint and reupholstered them in a gorgeous linen. Timeless!

Aidan Gray mini chandy is perfect for this sweet little office.

Foyers set the tone for the rest of your home .. warm & inviting makes a good first impression.

Just past the chest is the main entrance to the kitchen.

This kitchen has allllllll the bells & whistles any chef would want. Top of the line appliances definitely puts a dent in any budget. However, if your area demands it, you will be so happy you enjoyed using them until the day comes when you need to sell. And yes, two dishwashers of course!

Kitchen walls BM White Dove .. SW Pavestone perimeter cabinets … BM Cloud White kitchen island .. gorgeous quartz countertops stand up to everyday wear & tear.

Miele built-in coffee maker with TV above (I had to have a spot to watch my GA Bulldogs play) … Polished nickel Waterstone faucet and insta-hot are the jewelry of the room. Instant hot water is something I can never live without now.

Sneak peak of the cutest mudroom ever just past the coffee maker :)

I majored in interior design but I lived my dream and was a flight attendant with Delta right out of college .. I was living my best life traveling the world slinging cokes & peanuts for 10yrs.

I knew I could always pursue design when the time was right .. However, designing kitchens & baths require a special skillset. I knew I needed help to make the most out of this renovation. Chester & Chester was incredible to work with and I learned so much. It was the perfect collaboration of my style & ideas with their knowhow & practicality. They helped me fit everything an updated kitchen needs and took a funky old kitchen and implemented functional layouts .. stealing space from a broom closet & laundry shoot (well worth the sacrifice) and worked around an awkward bulkhead .. camouflaging it with faux cabinet doors .. BRILLIANT!

Notice the mix of metals in lighting & hardware. Visual Comfort gold pendants .. iron sconces .. polished nickel breakfast nook chandelier … polished nickel faucet … gold hardware on cabinets from Top Knob. Vanguard barstools are timeless in easy to clean pleather and last for years.

Function and style .. it is possible to have your cake & eat it too .. (sometimes)

Gorgeous table settings at Peachtree Place. Lucy dressed my tables & breakfast bar to “the nines” for the North Shore Kitchen tour.

The hood & lighting -along with countertop to ceiling backsplash tile- are what take this space to the next level.

Subzero and Wolf appliances … absolutely spoiled rotten.

Chester & Chester thought of everything. They took photos of all of my kitchen tools / small appliances and created spaces to for everything to live. Even a “snack zone” for the boys (the two large drawers between the fridge & steamer / ovens .. microwave hidden above!)

Fridge, microwave / snack zone, ovens, doors to family room, bar at the breakfast nook!

This Osborne & Little wallpaper is absolutely adorable .. paired with a -YES- over-the-top chandelier & plaid ceiling help to always make you smile .. even when you were about to hit 10* below zero temps.

Trim SW Iron Ore.

This roman shade was the perfect spot for a monogram :)

***when using both husband & wife initials, the wife is always “first” .. thank you gentlemen.

Rescues will steal your heart … she is a bullmastiff and a lapdog.

This stepdown family room was perfectly situated on the western side of the home .. in Chicago you want the western “hot” sun :)

BM Quiet Moments on the walls . BM White Dove trim & ceiling.

Notice the windows are NOT dark like other areas of home … I intentionally left these lighter due to the dark brown wood on built-in bookcases. (would you have noticed if I had not pointed it out? Be honest ;)

Depending on the home & style, this opinion varies greatly. In traditional homes, I usually love them because this is where personality shines through in decor .. books, personal photos, children’s art projects & collections warm up the space .. I lined the back of the bookcase with “grass cloth” wallpaper .. (shhhhhhh .. don’t tell anyone it is vinyl)