Architectural Dreams Come True In A Chicago Abode

A former 19th-century apartment building in Old Town was converted into a single-family home thanks to an ambitious homeowner and design team. Beneath the living room's RH chandelier, a plush sofa and a pair of wing chairs, all from Up Country Home in Atlanta, surround an antique wooden coffee table from Golden Triangle. The built-in travertine-topped cabinets are by Rinehart Design Group, and the black-and-white images above them are by Jorge de la Torriente from De La Gallery in Key West, Florida.

Schalekamp created the cast-vertebrate wall sculpture on the wall of the office as well as the metal legs for the reclaimed-wood desk by Rinehart Design Group. A Herman Miller chair from Design Within Reach pulls up to the desk, which sits next to custom rift-cut-oak open shelving. The beams in the ceiling coffer, supporting an RH chandelier, were recycled from other parts of the house.

In the bright and open kitchen, 3-inch-thick brilliant white Calacatta marble perimeter countertops from Sprovieri's Custom Counters complement the cabinets' Shaker-style doors by Rinehart Design Group. The stainless-steel farmhouse sink is from Kohler, and the polished-chrome hardware is from Crawford Supply.

A concealed desk area in the kitchen offers an ideal place for preparing recipes or getting work done while dinner is on the stove. The chair is from Hickory.

Made of quarter-sawn oak by Rinehart Design Group with a 4-inch-thick white Calacatta marble top, the kitchen's custom center island is surrounded by chairs covered in a heavy weave fabric from Hickory Chair. The hand-blown light fixtures by Alison Berger Glassworks from Holly Hunt softly reflect the bespoke tin ceiling installed by local artist and metalworker Phillip Schalekamp. "We've known each other for years," designer Brandy Rinehart says, "so I bring him in on projects when something special is needed and detailed craftsmanship is required."

In the beamed formal dining room, an RH prism chandelier illuminates a handsome table crafted by Rinehart Design Group and Verde using original wood joists salvaged from the house. Camel-tone leather chairs from Up Country Home surround the piece. The artwork above the custom buffets is by Jason Brammer.

A chandelier from RH and a tall metal canopy bed call attention to the lofted ceilings in the masculine master suite, which has been outfitted with built-in shelving niches by Rinehart Design Group that hold suspended bedside tables. The bench at the foot of the bed is from Kravet.

The spacious master bathroom is furnished with custom "floating" wood cabinetry by Rinehart Design Group, stone countertops from Sprovieri Custom Counters and Brizo faucets. Pendants from Lightology complement the dark wood.

A two-sided fireplace niche in the wall creates a warm glow next to the master bathroom's soaker tub. A border of Crema Marfil marble surrounds hardwood flooring from Home Carpet One, which also created the shower's glass-and-stone mosaic wall.

Located just down the stairs from the living room, the outdoor patio's brick-and-bluestone hardscape from Krugel Cobbles, Inc. creates a beautiful backdrop for a teak-and-concrete dining table from RH and chairs by Kingsley Bate. The garage niche, which is lined with ipe wood from Post & Picket, offers additional seating.

Built-in ipe benches and stylish furnishings by Janus et Cie offer plenty of seating on the garage rooftop deck, which also features a pizza oven by Sloan Outdoor Kitchens and a stone fireplace by Firegear Outdoors. The landscaping was designed by Parterre Urban Landscape Design and installed by Bregman Landscape Group; the metal railing is by Weldpol Company.