New Beginnings
In this North Side Chicago apartment, a mélange of materials and keen attention to detail offer a layered, nuanced take on contemporary design.
First impressions matter. In this compact apartment, the team at Searl Lamaster Howe created a warm welcome with slatted-wood details. “I think entering the apartment and immediately having this beautifully detailed piece sets the tone for the rest of the elements,” says designer Bethany Grachan.
The team at Searl Lamaster Howe Architecture + Interiors wasn’t just asked to revamp an apartment on the North Side of Chicago: They were tasked with creating a fresh start for their clients. “They had just moved back to Chicago after spending about a decade in London,” explains Gregory Howe, a principal at the firm. “While they were there, they had an older home with very small, tight rooms and not a lot of natural light. They wanted this to be the antithesis of everything they had in London.”
The ask? Make a 1,552-square-foot space into a light, airy oasis that feels special, not snoozy. According to Bethany Grachan, an interior designer at SLH, the clients didn’t have many requests and were “starting from scratch.” However, an acute attention to detail was non-negotiable. “The clients shared how they don’t like to see the screws on air supply grills,” Howe says. “It’s a very specific thing that normally would not be something that hit the radar at first, but that set the tone for project.”
and chairs upholstered in Kvadrat by Maharam is commanding, but the absence of a light pendant above creates a casual ease.
Right: An upholstered bed frame, symmetrical layout, and two-toned rug underfoot bring a sense of coziness to this primary bedroom.
With a clever mix of materials and a seamless application, the Chicago-based design team managed to craft a home that has a contemporary-yet-collected feel. Step inside the apartment and you’ll be immediately welcomed by walls flanked in wooden slats—a move Pam Lamaster-Millett says creates a grand entrance on a smaller scale.
“This is one of those apartments that you walk into, and there isn’t a sense of arrival,” explains Lamaster-Millett, who is another principal at Searl Lamaster Howe. “We wanted to create a bit of a buffer so you would come in and pause. The slats give it a bit more of a landing zone.” The repetition of the slats, Lamaster-Millett says, “lead you through the sequence of spaces.” Meanwhile, clerestory windows hang on the wall dividing the living area and a flexible guest room ushers in additional light.
Grachan shares the clients felt “pretty strongly” about having a sectional, and this one bridges the gap between form and function. Throw pillows covered in fabrics from Holly Hunt and Romo offer a pretty spot to perch.
That intersection between sleek and sleek continues well past the entryway. Though the apartment walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Super White, moody pops of color punctuate the space with personality. “They’re big wine collectors,” Grachan explains. “We used that as inspiration.” In the living room, the buttery chardonnay sectional—a must for the clients, Grachan says—is accessorized with accent pillows upholstered in cabernet-tinged fabrics from Holly Hunt and the Romo Group. Meanwhile, the adjacent dining area boasts chairs swathed in pinot noir upholstery from Kvadrat Maharam.
Though the design team designated distinct areas within a great room—not a small feat considering the apartment’s limited square footage—they kept a sense of consistency with black-stained millwork that extends from the living room to the kitchen.
No detail was too small in the kitchen. Here, appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are paneled or strategically placed to hide in plain sight.
Speaking of the kitchen, this is where Searl Lamaster Howe’s scrupulous attention to detail really shines. “They use the kitchen frequently,” says Grachan. “They’re into wine and definitely foodies, but they were adamant that their kitchen is basically on display to the living area.”
The kitchen is fully equipped with a cooktop and steam oven from Wolf, Cove dishwasher, as well as a refrigerator and freezer from Sub-Zero, but you probably wouldn’t know it at first: Howe shares that they are either paneled or integrated into the back of the island, deftly obscuring obvious signs of appliances. “It harkens back to that first conversation we had about the screws on air grills,” he says.
The apartment’s ventless fireplace receives an artistic edge with a honed black soapstone hearth and rich, blue surround.
It’s that mix of precise details and warm tactile moments that makes this North Side space not just a fresh start, but a relaxing respite, too. “I really think this was about creating a sanctuary for them,” Grachan explains. “They both travel a lot, and this is their grounding space. In that sanctuary, there’s a balance of openness and the intimacy in all these little nooks.”
In fact, the design firm shares they’re currently working with the same clients on a second project out of town, adding yet another fresh start to their story.