A Historic Chicago Home Is Given A French Aesthetic

Details

transitional family room hardwood flooring...

A historic home in Old Town is given a French twist with key design elements. In the family room, a wood-and-black-leather chair from Jayson Home provides an ideal place to read or enjoy a cocktail. The reclaimed-hardwood flooring laid in a herringbone pattern is from Wellborn + Wright in Richmond, Virginia, and the black weathered-marble flooring in the adjacent mudroom is from Ann Sacks.

transitional living room velvet chairs...

A tufted linen sofa from The Painted Lady, a pair of velvet chairs by Stefano and a vintage glass-and-brass cocktail table from Jayson Home create a comfortable seating area around the fireplace in the family room. Exposed-brick walls and full-height steel-grid windows by Crittall Windows lend a more masculine ambience. The silk-and-wool rug is from Organic Looms.

transitional kitchen white cabinetry brass...

White kitchen cabinetry from Abruzzo Kitchen and Bath complement honed marble countertops from Hardroc Stone and a hexagon backsplash from Waterworks. The palette is accented with a brass pot rack from Ann Morris and a brass faucet, also from Waterworks. The stools are by Aiden Gray Home.

transitional wall moldings in dining...

Wall moldings by Artisan Millwork in the dining room enhance the home's vintage feeling.

transitional dining room chandelier carved...

A vintage French bronze-and-crystal chandelier from Eloquence softly illuminates the custom wood-and-granite table in the dining room. The silk Roman shades by del Greco Designs are made of fabric from Schumacher. Carved-wood side chairs with French linen upholstery by Noir Furniture add a rustic touch.

transitional sitting area vintage chairs...

A pair of vintage bergere chairs from Eloquence and an antique settee from Jayson Home covered in velvet from Scalamandre make a handsome first impression in the front parlor. The vintage bronze-and-glass pendant light is from Redefined Decor; the custom Roman shades are made of Schumacher fabric; and the Erden rug is from Jean de Merry.

transitional bathroom stone flooring dark...

The master bathroom flooring, made of stone from Materials Marketing, complements the dark wood cabinetry from RH; the sinks and mirrors are also from RH, and the faucet is from Lefroy Brooks.

transitional bedroom vintage chair antique...

The wife often works in the master suite at this antique English secretary from Bromley, Jones & Velez Antique Restoration in Pasadena, Caifornia. The chair is vintage.

transitional bedroom gray neutral palette...

A handsome JF Fabrics wallcovering from Area International makes a dramatic backdrop for the master suite's weathered-wood-and-tufted-linen bed from Eloquence. The bed is dressed in contrasting duvets and shams by Sferra from Chicago Luxury Beds.

transitional outdoor deck cocktail table...

Designed by Urban Rooftops and lushly planted by O'Brien Landscape, the rooftop deck above the garage is outfitted with a steel-and-wood pergola, a cocktail table that converts into a fire pit and comfortable outdoor furnishings from World Market. The pillows are from The Painted Lady.

When Francophiles Adam and Nicky Friedman stumbled upon a historic cottage in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago that had been gutted in a devastating fire, they saw a blank slate and bought it with the goal of creating a Parisian-style abode.

To bring their vision to life, the young couple hired designer Ilene Chase and architect John Anstadt. “We gathered pieces and materials from all over the world,” says Chase of the three-year renovation. “Adam and Nicky took everything a step deeper, more European, more vintage.”

A flickering gas lantern hanging alongside the front door of the restored-brick-and-wood-frame abode is one of the first signs that this is no ordinary renovation. Inside, Greek key wall moldings and reclaimed-wood flooring laid in a herringbone pattern evoke the feeling of a bygone era, while steel-framed windows and an exposed brick wall add an industrial sensibility that feels a bit more masculine. A mix of antiques and newer pieces covered in sumptuous fabrics complement the architecture and create the look that the owners dreamt about.

“The fabrics in the house read like a beautiful storybook,” Chase explains. “It feels like a charming European B&B.”