Interior design is about so much more than pretty rooms. A home should be livable, too, and function perfectly for the family that lives there. So when a client asked to have their Old Irving Park home move-in ready in less than six months, my team and I jumped into action! This blended family with eight kids has a main residence out of town, and this home is where they land when they’re in Greensboro or visiting their kids. It needed a lot of gathering spaces for a large family that loves to entertain.

With such a tight turnaround, I mixed upholstery that we found in showrooms with custom pieces to give them a lovely finished home. In the living room, that included custom upholstery to seat a large group and custom drapery to elevate the look.

Although this brick Colonial home has a lot of traditional touches, I gave the interiors a twist on classic design with more modern art and accessories, and a palette that included citron, turquoise, blues and greens.

In the dining room, I highlighted that citron color with a gorgeous wallpaper by Galbraith and Paul, adding custom fabrics to the chairs to complement the wallpaper pattern. I also updated the light fixture to a more elegant design, and added in a traditional Oushak rug and custom drapery.

I also curated the original art by Selena Beaudry to hang over the server in this space, bringing out the blue that’s found in the rug and the dining chairs.

In the kitchen, I brought in color with a custom window treatment and easy-to-clean bar stools in citron vinyl. The modern pendants and sleek lines of the stools balance the more traditional elements in the kitchen’s design.

With such a large family, and because they love to entertain, there are plenty of places in the home to gather, play games, or to serve cocktails and snacks.

In the primary bedroom, they had nothing but a mattress when they moved in. I brought in a gorgeous custom bed and embroidered bedding for a luxe retreat. And I mixed in ready-to-ship case goods for a quick turnaround, as well as custom drapery to give them privacy from their neighbors.

The guest bedrooms were designed to accommodate their kids or other guests, with a beautiful mix of patterns, colors, and textures. In one room, the client’s floral chair served as the kicking off point, it had been in her own childhood home in her teenage bedroom and now it blends in beautifully with updated patterns and colors.

I elevated the look of the builder-grade bathrooms throughout the home with fun, colorful wallpapers and layered window treatments.

I also gave these clients fabulous exterior entertaining spaces, including an outdoor living room and dining room. There are retractable phantom screens for their summer soirees, and a working fireplace for year-round enjoyment.

Working on a tight deadline was a challenge, but this home now has stunning rooms that are a bright welcome for my clients’ family and friends!

Give my team a call if your home needs a more modern update.

All the best,

Kara