A Soothing Retreat in the Heart of Chicago

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This relaxing urban haven was designed for a suburban family whose primary home is just north of Chicago. The husband had a really demanding job at town, so the family decided to get an apartment there so they could enjoy and find out more about Chicago.

Located just off Michigan Avenue at the heart of the Magnificent Mile, this apartment is at a multi-use building where office spaces were converted to residences. Interior designer Jessica Lagrange worked together with the family to make this 3-bedroom, 3,300-square-foot space feel like home with calming neutrals, luxurious fabrics, and a minimum and clean decor.

The entire home has a very modern and very minimal fashion, like the clients’ most important residence. Decor was kept to a minimum — that the chandelier in the dining room is one of those few parts of decorative lighting at the house.

Table: UFO Oval Table by Emmemobili
Dining Chairs: Saarinen Executive Arm Chair by Knoll
Chandelier: Bocci 14 Pendant Chandelier

The living room is Lagrange’s favorite space in this house. “There is hardly any colour utilized, but the mixing and matching of finishes and textures really came together,” she says. Stainless steel, glass, lacquer, and a comparison of sharp borders and curvy shapes create a visually interesting space, even without a great deal of colour.

Chairs: Standard Latin Chair by Christian Liaigre
Sofa: Custom Beluga Sofa by Christian Liaigre
Coffee table: The Metreon Table by Zographos Designs Restricted

An easy wall shelf functions as a functional and decorative accent — like a mantle. Although her clients desired a decidedly contemporary look, Lagrange wished to make sure the home was classic and would stand the test of time without having to make things look too mid-century contemporary.

The area rug in the living room was custom designed and hand dyed. It required some time to get the color exactly right with this perfectly coordinated space.

Shelf: Bee Shelf by Niedermaier
Area Shade: Custom rug by Tai Ping Carpets

The building had wonderful recommendations to the flat’s interior, and Lagrange employed a lot of the choices, such as the honed granite countertops and countertops in the kitchen. Clients loved the look of stainless steel and chrome, therefore Lagrange installed a stainless steel backsplash.

Barstools: Bertoia counter stool
Pendants: Dance Circle pendant by Plug Lighting

The island size was particularly important, since the family loves to entertain. Lagrange integrated a breakfast corner to expand the kitchen’s entertaining space. It’s the perfect spot to have a casual meal or relax with friends.

The breakfast nook is a perfect case of the clients’ clean, modern style. Luxurious neutral fabrics cover the custom made banquette and dining chairs, and nominal recessed lighting has been used above the table in lieu of a pendant or chandelier. “The clients saw a lot of decorative light as clutter, so we just used a few pieces across the house,” says Lagrange.

Fabric on banquette: Dedar, Great Plains
Dining table: Custom Fulton table by Niedermaier

A casual family room with an incredible view of Chicago’s high-rise buildings sits alongside the skillet. The slightly darker fabric options and comfy sectional make it more functional for impromptu get-togethers compared to formal living room.

Carpet: Atelier Lapchi
Coffee table: Custom foundation by Evan Lewis, custom stone shirt by Poma
Knitted Pouf: CB2

As this is another home, almost every piece of furniture and décor is new. The customer’s love for neutral colors and clean lines led Lagrange to look at stores like Holly Hunt, B&B Italia, Luminere, Christian Liagre, and a lot of other Italian designers.

Chair: High Back Metropolitan Chair by B&B Italia
Couch: Mister sectional by Cassina

Although the principal spaces in the home stick to a consistently neutral and elegant style, the clients wanted to add some childhood and pleasure for their daughters’ rooms. Color, cheerful fabrics, and funky patterns were chosen with this boho-chic styled bedroom.

Fabric on Chair: Donghia
Rug: Tiki Pop Rug by NiBa
Window treatments: Missoni
Stool: Bishop stool by Ralph Pucci

Jessica Lagrange Interiors

The girls’ rooms have been styled to accommodate to the daughter’s needs and preferences as they grow. The colour choices are bold but still used fairly minimally so the design of those rooms flows with the rest of the house.

Duvet: Macy’s
Fabric on bedframe: Jim Thompson
Headboard leather: Edelman Leather
Area Shade: Custom from Tai Ping

If the colors in the woman’s desk area were switched out for neutrals, it may easily belong in any other room in the house.

Desk accessories: See Jane Work
Drapery fabric: Mokum
Wallcovering: Elitis

Jessica Lagrange Interiors

In the master bedroom, a gentle gray headboard blends almost seamlessly with an organically inspired wallcovering, whereas luxury Italian lace bedding is the best place to relax after a very long moment.

Carpet: Atelier Lapchi
Bed: Custom by Studio Wai
Headboard cloth: Jim Thompson
Wallcovering: Nancy Corzine

Photography by Werner Straube

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