Long Residence in Chicago by Pernille Lind Studio

Living room view with curved sofa from Eichholtz, vintage Italian stone table, Carl Hansen CH25 armchairs by Hans Wegner, antique North African wooden side table, vintage Italian brass mirror and vintage fibreglass and metal floor light.

Living room view with curved sofa from Eichholtz, vintage Italian stone table, Carl Hansen CH25 armchairs by Hans Wegner, antique African wooden side table, artwork from Redefine Décor and Tomas O’Brien wall sconces.

Family dining room with Serge Mouille 3-armed pendant, Gubi ‘Moon’ dining table, 209 Thonet black bentwood and wicker dining chairs. Vintage Danish sideboard and vintage art from various antique shops and markets.

View to sunroom through the arched doorway.

After over a decade of apartment living, the owners of this 360-square-metre, four-floor Chicago area house renovated by Pernille Lind Studio knew it was time for something new. Having just returned from London where they resided for four years, the American couple—and their two, 10-year-old Yorkshire terriers—wanted to move back to the Midwest to build a home and a family.

The couple became friends with London-based interior designer Pernille Lind in the British capital, and it was she who helped them to transform their dream into reality. Their new home, located in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District of Oak Park, is located 15 minutes west of the centre of Chicago — an area where the famous architect lived, worked and designed 25 buildings.

Looking into the sunroom (come study) Vintage ‘Scene Two’ olive burl-wood Parsons-style desk from Henredon. Antique North African jars, Carl Hansen CH25 armchair (in foreground).

Sunroom with built-in joinery in the archway – vintage art, woven blinds and original black/white terrazzo floor.

Bespoke kitchen design with Italian marble feature island, Gubi wall lights, Poul Henningsen pendants from Louis Poulsen and Mater kitchen counter stools.

Originally built in 1918, the house needed a makeover, but several elements convinced them to take the plunge, including the abundant natural light from the palladium windows; the Parisian vibe of the picture-frame mouldings on the walls; the generous ceiling height; the Italian-style terrazzo marble floor in the sunroom; the wood-burning fireplace; the rounded, bevelled radiators; and the colonial revival Georgian architectural style.

“We had a strong vision for the look and feel, using natural materials, neutral tones, light floors, uncluttered and light-filled spaces”, the owners say. “We wanted to see those elements melded with vintage details that showed reverence for the craftsmanship of olden days.”

Main entrance hall with vintage French wood bench, vintage dyed Turkish rug and Vilhelm Lauritzen ‘Radiohus’ pendant.

Master bedroom with a view into the dressing room with bespoke wardrobes and freestanding walnut dresser (peeking through in the background). George Nelson ‘Thin Edge Bed” in cane and walnut from Herman Miller. Workstead wall scones. Commissioned artwork by Josh Yöung. Vintage dyed Turkish rug and bespoke marble ‘half-moon’ bedside tables.

Master bedroom looking into the adjacent dressing room. George Nelson ‘Thin Edge Bed’ in cane and walnut from Herman Miller. Workstead wall scones. Commissioned artwork by Josh Yöung. Vintage dyed Turkish rug. Bespoke marble ‘half-moon’ bedside tables.

In the renovation, one of the bedrooms was connected to the master in order to create a spacious dressing room with bespoke joinery. The kitchen-dining spaces were transformed into an open, contemporary family living area.

“We aimed to retain as much of the original house as possible”, says Lind, who tackled the double challenge of experiencing a new location (across the Atlantic) and a new style of architecture. “The client’s wish to create a calm, sanctuary-like home guided our decision to choose a predominantly light colour palette of cream and taupe. We kept the original, elegantly proportioned red oak floors, but created a more Scandinavian feel by sanding back and applying a white pigment oil.”

Master en-suite with specially made marble mosaic floor and Waterworks sanitaryware in polished nickel.

Japanese and European influences combine in this elegant and crafted home, which gives tributes to the owners’ personal experiences and travels while respecting the history of the place. “We carefully studied the interior architecture of the house … and we created subtle contrasts with vintage furniture and curated antiques featuring exotic woods and interesting textures”, Lind says.

Peaceful and minimalist, yet warm with a vintage character, this house has become the perfect refuge for its dwellers, who confess: “We spend a lot of time reading, cooking, taking photos and writing. We find solace in environments that are thoughtful and alive with stories. We both love a pace of life that is a bit more analogue, romantic and old world, mixed with the practicality, organization and efficient function you find in modern innovation.” Providing all of that and even more, this home is one for a lifetime.