Creating A Sanctuary In The City Of Chicago Design Project Reveal

The Client

Sarah moved to Chicago from NYC earlier this year. She chose her neighborhood for the foodie scene, walkability, and proximity to her friends. Her apartment complex was perfect – amazing amenities, skyline views, but the interior was a little plain on its own. Sarah envisioned having a sanctuary where she could relax after a long work day but could also host her friends – a calming, beautiful place. Elegant but not stuffy or overly formal. Sarah also had begun to work from home, so having separate spaces for working and relaxing was very important.

The Design

My goal for this design was to create a beautiful escape that was also a cozy, and inviting space where Sarah could host her friends. It needed to have enough seating for groups, storage solutions for a small apartment, and durable materials that would hold up to wine nights. Starting with a blank slate, I worked with Sarah to create a space plan that would be perfect for her needs and the flow of the rooms. We used a variety of seating options: the large sofa, accent chairs, ottoman, and poufs and focused on using warm, neutral tones and soft durable materials.

At the start of the project , we came up with a neutral color palette that reflected Sarah’s style. By using warm wood tones, subtle pops of color, and a little pattern I brought in the cozy factor that kept the space from feeling “too neutral”. We put together a layered lighting plan which gave the space a warm glow and felt inviting. In the bedroom we layered on the soft fabrics to create an oasis and balanced this with the dark wood tones for a more luxurious look.

Working with Sarah was such a pleasure and being able to create a space that reflects her is what I love about my job! Make sure to check out Sarah’s beautiful space below along with my mood boards and renderings from the design process.