Stunning graphite gray brick, transformed from its traditional red, sets the stage for this modern Chicago home.
Ask any designer, architect or contractor for their idea of a remodel nightmare and chances are, they’ll respond with “scope creep.” And this total gut renovation—which started as a simple basement makeover—is as creepy as they come.
“This was the biggest scope creep project,” laughs interior designer Amy Kartheiser of the massive four bedroom, five and a half bath remodel. “That basement started leading into the wife maybe not being happy with the way the kitchen looked anymore, then we started moving walls and talking about moldings and painting and new flooring stains.” Before Kartheiser knew it, the entire home was under construction during the peak of the pandemic.
“When we started talking about inspiration, they wanted their artwork to be front and center,” explains Kartheiser of the home’s overall aesthetic. “They liked a little bit more of the negative space, like the walls, so our direction was to have the furniture and walls be secondary to the artwork.”
Center stage, indeed. Walking into the grand living room, one is immediately struck by the range of bright, colorful artwork dotting the walls, especially the show-stopping piece above the fireplace that “We completely reimagined where all the art would be and played around with it,” says Kartheiser. Holly Hunt fabric envelops the large windows, and the rug is by Ashley Stark.
“It’s recycled magazine and the edging is about two or three inches around the whole perimeter, and it has so much texture and color, the homeowners just fell in love with it,” explains Kartheiser. “It’s beautiful from every direction.”
Black and white artworks hang by the large windows with thick black metal casing, nearly a work of art on its own, while another colorful piece lords over the secondary seating area, replacing a grand piano.
“We wanted to add just a little oomph to the space, instead of making it bare,” says Kartheiser. “So that’s where we came up with the table and the plush, pinky coral ottomans, which just adds a great pop.”
These fun ‘pops’ stand in contrast to the muted, galley-esque kitchen and adjoining wet bar swathed in a calming shade of gray blue. “The island is super, super long to fit the kitchen, which you could almost consider a galley kitchen, but they have everything they need between those two areas,” says Kartheiser, adding that they brought up all the ceilings to make the kitchen cabinets look inset into the wall.
Off the kitchen’s seating area, two wide, glass French doors open to a beautiful outdoor courtyard, outfitted with plenty of thoughtful touches perfect for entertaining guests.
“The glass doors really open up the space, so you have this whole entertaining area on the inside as well as on the outside,” she says. “The house used to be red brick and we painted the entire house a graphite gray and had all the flower boxes and outdoor landscaping put in.” A built-in grill area and gas firepit, which can be enclosed for additional table space, along with outdoor heaters, ensure that the courtyard can be used for three seasons (except for Chicago’s bitter cold winters).
“The homeowners love to entertain, and they wanted different options in different areas of the home so that they could move around the house,” says Kartheiser, alluding to the gorgeous rooftop patio overlooking the 606 walkway.
“They decided that they wanted to take advantage of their beautiful views and being up high, so the entire space was built out on top of their house to give them a completely new outdoor living experience,” she says, adding that from one side of the roof deck, you can see the dome of one of the local churches, and with a slight turn, you can view the entire city and skyline. “They have a whole bar and grill area set up there, so they can entertain just the way they love to, and the landscapers designed such a special area with tall wildflowers and shrubbery to add privacy where they felt like they needed it. They wanted it to feel a little wild, not like a perfect landscaped garden.”
A miniature water fountain trickles beside the sectional sofa and seating area, adding a moment of Zen tranquility. “Hearing that water moving brings such a special calmness to the space, especially when you feel like you’re high above the city.”
Photography by Werner Straub.
For more like this modern Chicago home from Amy Kartheiser, be sure to check out the artful update she gave this Tribeca loft.
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