This brick row-home in Lincoln Park was a dream project. Former owners had preserved the original facade and architectural detail from the late 1800’s through significant renovations. The infrastructure and mechanicals were already modernized, and all that remained was bringing the style in line with its new owners’ vision: An airy modern Parisian feel.

On the main level, we replaced dark walnut floors with bleached white oak herringbone hardwoods to visually widen and brighten the space. A lacy white botanical paper in the dining room adds interest and texture while allowing light to flow from front and back exposures with seamless sight-lines. Clean, minimalist lighting contrasts with the century-old plaster moldings and marble wood-burning fireplaces. Brown stained doors and stairways were stripped and ebonized to a black sheen, and a large-print dark chinoiserie paper in the foyer adds drama and echoes the jewel tones in the stained glass transom. Vintage pieces including a sculptural black lacquered midcentury coffee table, monumental 18th century trumeau mirror, antique pine Swedish Mora clock, curvy brass Italian bar cart, and a pair of mid-century Alky chairs reupholstered in blush wool mohair, add patina and soul to the modern furnishings around them.

In the kitchen, we leveled floors to eliminate an awkwardly small sunken adjacent family room. Instead we incorporated that space into the kitchen as a bright breakfast room. We widened and shortened the island and painted it a deep navy black. Then we cut counters from bold-veined Paonazzo marble slabs, and wrapped the stone into a curvy backsplash behind the stove. In the breakfast room, we flanked the gas fireplace with custom glass cabinets, spraying the wooden door frames with glossy black automotive paint for a modern twist on industrial crittal windows. Vintage mid-century brass library sconces add warmth. A pair of rattan club chairs and an expansive quartz tulip table provide space for casual meals, epic art projects and conversation.

The tiny powder room could not be expanded, but it could be beautiful. We applied several layers of inky gray plaster paint, and added a custom floating sink carved from Calacatta Violeta stone. An antique mirror in scraped pine, a vintage Italian alabaster wall sconce, and a marble shelf on chunky brass brackets broke up the dark backdrop.

On the second floor we bleached the existing oak floors to match the new floors downstairs. We stole landing space to add an upstairs laundry, and tucked a small Jack & Jill bathroom between two kids’ rooms, allowing the existing bath next to the guest room to remain open (and clean) for visitors. The girls largely designed their own bedrooms, choosing details like flocked sugar skull wallpaper in bookcases, and a fluffy shearling rug, with resulting spaces that expressed their personalities beautifully. A small room at the end of the hall was papered in a rich tropical print, with an exotic wool rug and curvy black tessellated stone desk, to serve as an office and creative space.

The third floor primary bedroom was well-sized, but low ceilings made it feel smaller. After bleaching the floors, we kept colors in this room light and soothing, lining the walls with silver grasscloth and layering textures for interest. We added full-height linen drapes to frame the generous balcony view, and kept furniture low, to visually raise the ceilings. A custom platform bed upholstered in creamy performance fabric grounds the space, flanked by curved wood stools and vintage travertine cube nightstands.