Custom Designed Storage Shelf

Final Product!

Rough Sketch 

Chicago Tribune Article by Nina Metz, March 15, 2009

A writer from the Chicago Tribune recently contacted my real estate agent to do an article on our house that is currently for sale.  I am excited to announce that my design work is now published! 

Archive for Sunday, March 15, 2009

Square Modern condo in Lakeview is hip without trying

By Nina Metz
March 15, 2009

Something about this group of townhouses in Lakeview had intrigued me for years. I’ve walked by countless times only to stop and nose around the privacy fence hoping for a glance inside. 

Built in 1953, the building is midcentury modern, and, to be honest, it’s a tad boxy and plain from the outside. It’s the kind of architecture that brings to mind a Motel 6 when juxtaposed with older buildings nearby adorned with ornate, eye-pleasing stonework.

But I don’t know, something about this place. It captured my imagination. I recently saw that a unit was for sale, and I knew this was my chance. I had to get in and look around, and Baird & Warner Realtor Steven Heilig was the man to make it happen. 

First, Heilig and I checked out two other properties with a similar Modernist vibe—a unit in one of the Mies van der Rohe towers down the street, and a newer townhouse built in the ’70s a couple of blocks west. Neither had the wow factor of our last stop at the corner of Surf Street and Sheridan Road.

Apparently units in this complex rarely come on the market, and this one has been recently renovated. It’s a real prize too—hip, but not self-consciously so. This isn’t a home that tries hard to impress. It just does. This place has style, my friends, and if I had a half-mil lying around it would be mine.

The floors throughout are a glazed concrete—the look is both rough and smooth, aged and modern—and they have radiant heating so you get the cool look without freezing your toes.

The current owners have placed large rugs in strategic spots, and they have the right kind of furniture—Barcelona chairs and a low-slung couch—to fit the space. It’s what you might call comfy minimalist. You would not plunk an overstuffed sofa in this joint. An iPod docking station feeds music to the entire house and deck, and listing agent Mary O’Connor had tunes playing during our entire visit.

The sunken living room is in the back, and it’s framed by a wall of sliding-glass doors that open onto a deck. 

The kitchen is in the front, and the update is very savvy—instead of going with a granite-and-cherry cabinet rehab, the owners kept a retro look. Smart move. The deep white porcelain double sink is original. 

The white wood cabinets have been repainted, but those are original too—as are the long mustard yellow, steel-banded countertops. Windows run the length of the kitchen, overlooking the small grass garden out front where you can see traffic gliding by silently on Sheridan Road. It’s a terrific little view.

Downstairs is a finished basement that has been decked out as a media room, with built-ins and a corner fireplace. It’s seriously cozy down there, a room that has “movie night” written all over it. 

The second floor includes the master bedroom and a guest bedroom. A huge walk-in closet was carved out of a third bedroom, which is now roomy enough for an office. All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the back bedrooms have access to a balcony. 

The master bath is pure white and modern, with a fancy Geberit toilet and sporty blue glass tiles in the oversize shower. Listing agent O’Connor described it as “a little racy,” thanks to the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows to the outside. The current owners came up with a unique solution: The glass has been frosted except for a horizontal band that hits around head height. At night, I’m guessing you can see the fuzzy outlines of something human moving around. 

There’s no getting around it, all these windows mean you’re more exposed than you would be in a traditional building. It takes a certain kind of person to be comfortable with that. I think I might be one of them. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/chi-0315-sellit-lakeviewmar15,0,490142.story

New House in San Francisco

We are moving out of corporate housing and into a new place in San Francisco.  The new place is a Victorian 3 flat in the Cow Hollow neighborhood.  For the past 3 years, the owners have gutted and remodeled the entire house.  We are renting out the flat on the first floor and are excited to be the first tenants to live here!  It's a strange feeling to be renters again but we are now among the 75% of San Franciscans who do!  Here are some pictures of our new place that we are moving into this weekend.  For once, there will be no remodeling for me to do just space planning and decorating.  It has been a challenge to figure out how to fit all of our furniture from our house in Chicago into this smaller living space.  Some furniture will just have to go into storage, I guess!  

Open Tread Staircase

This open tread staircase single handedly sold the place to me.  I am still completely fascinated that it has held up so well since the 1950's.  The only person who wasn't such a fan was my Boston Terrier puppy who took 6 months to build up the courage to go up and down the stairs by herself.  Now she loves to go half way down and turn and look at you through the slats (see cute photo above!)

Underneath View of Staircase

Staircase to Upstairs Bedrooms

Half Bath

This is the half bath on the main level.  This was newly renovated before we moved in and was done by another interior designer.  I love the 12x24 rectangular tiles she used throughout.  Not to mention the great Lacava sink, Grohe faucet + Toto toilet. I added the red accents.  The red cross is actually a small first aid kit that my husband bought years ago.

Master Bath Addition

Master Bath - After

Master Bath - After

Master Bath - After

This cool vanity that I found even has a small medicine cabinet!

*Sneak Peak* of Renovation in Progress

Inspiration Photo (Chambers Hotel, Mpls)

I found this great all-in-one vanity set that I am completely in love with.  It is so perfect for the new bath that I had to have it.  The glass subway tile is reminiscent of the shower + sink backsplash tile at the Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis (see image above).  If you have never been, here is the link which is definately worth checking out. http://www.chambersminneapolis.com   I had all my wedding photos taken there in the lobby and courtyard.  Nonetheless, this was another "must have!" New Vanity for the Master Bath

Glass Tile for the Master Shower

Kitchen - Before + After

Kitchen - After 

New base cabinets, stainless steel countertop, upper cabinet shelving unit, Italian hand-blown glass pendants, + a fresh coat of paint...

Original Metal Detailing in Cupboards

I especially love my 1950's stove/oven.  It still works wonderfully and we can't think of a reason to replace it.  

Kitchen - Before

The wall to the left of the cabinets was where the refrigerator was housed.  We moved the refrigerator further over and knocked this wall out to open it up to the dining room. 

Original Kitchen

I love so many things about this kitchen.  First off, all the natural light that flows in, not to mention all the fun people watching that it provides as this looks out onto a busy intersection of Surf Street + Sheridan.  I do admit that I have to close the blinds when I cook as I get a lot of onlookers peeking in on me!  I just love the original tangerine orange laminate countertop with stainless steel edging.  

Master Closet About to Become a Master Bath!

Rough Sketch of Proposed New Master Bath + Renovated Guest bath

This is the former master closet which is currently being converted (and slightly enlarged) master bath.  The master bath was just completed.  See completed photos above!

South Facing Windows - Before & After

Sketch of New Front Windows

When my husband and I first saw this house for sale, we were intrigued by the large windows, but this place had zero curb appeal for me.  Look at the ratty green canopy that came with the house. Yuck!  Since then, we redid the windows in keeping with the previous style, however, incorporated some fun frosted glass designs.  The frosted window on the right side of the second story is where the new Master Bath will be.  The lower frosted window conceals the armoire that we use as a coat closet!

In late 2007, my hubby + I bought a Mid-Century townhouse designed by architect Homer Rissman in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.  For the past year and a half we have been doing various remodeling projects to give this place a more modern feel but also protecting the architectural integrity of it.  We have put a lot of work into this place.  I decided to start this blog to document the "Before" + "After" shots of what we have done to this special house.

North Facing Windows & Patio - Before & After

The windows in this house were original single-paned.  They offered no solace from the cold, snowy Chicago winters.  Not to mention, none of the windows were operable since they leaked and had been sealed shut!  So last Spring we decided to replace all the windows - two floors front and back with much more energy efficient custom sized ones.  We loved the idea of opening up large sliding glass doors to the patio space.  The patio had a much needed renovation as well.  We re-fenced and stained the wood and added trees to create a warmer, more private oasis.  The stone retaining wall now houses the two trees as well as flowers in the summertime.  Chicago summers are the best and this is where we spent most of our time in the warm summer evenings with a cool glass of Sancerre.  Ahhh....

Guest Bathroom - Before+After

Guest Bath - After

Guest Bath - After 

I forgot to take the pictures with the mirror up...opps!

Guest Bathroom - Before

Guest Bath - Before

This was our master bathroom which will soon become the guest bath.  Check out the ugly yellow tile that not only covers the floor but continues all the way up the walls to the ceiling!  I wasn't too sad to see that go!  At least I was able to complement the "yellowness" with a nice grey + white botanical shower curtain and matching grey towels.  The medicine cabinet is original too which surprisingly was not recessed into the wall.  One of the mirrored medicine cabinet doors must've broken over the years and can only "hide" our toiletries on one side!  I did salvage the custom sized soaking tub and brand new Toto toilet from the demolition.  

The original footprint of the former master bath was 8' x 5.5' which became a guest bath with a smaller footprint of 5.5' x 5.5'.  This was done to give the new master bath more space since it was formerly a master closet.