New Old House
Though you wouldn’t know it, this Chicago suburbs home was a completely new build. It honors classical design principles and timeless traditional architecture while embracing a colorful, livable spirit. Formal elements—columns, moldings, a sweeping stair, and a grand two-story library—are paired with bold palettes, playful patterns, and antique furnishings to create rooms that feel both historic and fresh.
As part of our Chicago interior design practice, our firm oversaw every detail of this project, from designing the interior architecture—including custom millwork, kitchen design, and hardware—to art collecting and even curating a bespoke library on the homeowner’s favorite subject. The result is a home that balances proportion and permanence with warmth, wit, and modern comfort, standing as a testament to Chicago architecture and design. This home was featured in Veranda Magazine.
“The space’s sweeping staircase, herringbone floors, and dramatic marble door casings satisfy the husband’s wish for grandeur, while the oversize de Gournay botanical-print wallpaper reflects the wife’s more whimsical sensibility.”
veranda
ChicagoA convivial family home is reimagined with intoxicating color, wild florals, and a sweeping two-story library—secret doors included.
“We moved in in winter,” recalls the wife. “That first night, I woke up, came downstairs, and sat in the dark conservatory. Icy rain was beating on the ceiling, yet my feet were on the warm floor. It was magical.”
veranda“We wanted to create this grand shell and then interject color, pattern, and softness.”
Summer Thornton“In the wife’s study, pink plaid walls recall Gloria Vanderbilt’s Southampton bedroom from 1972, while the hand-painted trim replicates a Bloomsbury design from the group’s 1910s English farmhouse.”
veranda“A Warhol print of Sitting Bull is a nod to his American Indian ancestry; his great-great-grandmother was pure Cherokee.”
Veranda“The dining room was free to become an intimate, romantic space, with delicate floral-print wallcovering and upholstery, a grand piano, a Rococo console, and a handsome fireplace.”
VERANDAInterior Design by Summer Thornton Design
Architecture by Heidi Lightner Architects