My Houzz: Inviting Whites and Pastels Revive a Small US City Flat
A collection of meaningful art, travel souvenirs and functional furniture add warmth to this bright apartment in Chicago
“When I first walked into my place, it was tiny,” says Lisa Spagnolo, a sales representative for Interior Define and an interior decorator and stylist. “But I loved the layout and the tall ceilings. I knew it was something I could work with to make it a home I loved.”
Lisa Spagnolo and her pug, Eleanor
“The walls were beige, the floors were an orangey-oak colour, there was carpet in the bedroom, and it lacked any sort of personality,” she says. “Before I moved in, I had the walls painted white [Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore paints], pulled up the carpet, had new wood floors installed and had the existing wood floors bleached and stained white.”
Searching for an interior designer or decorator to perfect your renovation project? Find one near you on Houzz
“The walls were beige, the floors were an orangey-oak colour, there was carpet in the bedroom, and it lacked any sort of personality,” she says. “Before I moved in, I had the walls painted white [Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore paints], pulled up the carpet, had new wood floors installed and had the existing wood floors bleached and stained white.”
Searching for an interior designer or decorator to perfect your renovation project? Find one near you on Houzz
“When designing a space, my starting point is always going to be function,” says Spagnolo. To emphasise the high ceiling and add storage, she installed wall-to-wall open shelving in the living area. The shelves hold various travel souvenirs, such as blankets from a trip to South America. “I have a few blankets that I bought in Peru that I love,” she says. “I came home with a new suitcase full of Peruvian textiles, but still felt like it wasn’t enough.
“I love spaces that are functional and classic, with meaningful keepsakes and artwork layered in there,” she says. One of her favourite pieces is this vintage blue chair, one of a pair that she found at the Midland antiques market in Indianapolis, USA.
“I love spaces that are functional and classic, with meaningful keepsakes and artwork layered in there,” she says. One of her favourite pieces is this vintage blue chair, one of a pair that she found at the Midland antiques market in Indianapolis, USA.
When Spagnolo was in her early 20s, she lived in Italy and southern France. “Those cultures influenced me a lot in the way I live and especially in my aesthetic choices,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate enough to do a good amount of travelling in my life, and most places have influenced me in some way.
“I love the femininity and classicism of French style, but I also love the masculinity and ruggedness of an Argentine estancia [farm],” she says. “The key is to figure out how to make those contradictory elements work together.”
“I love the femininity and classicism of French style, but I also love the masculinity and ruggedness of an Argentine estancia [farm],” she says. “The key is to figure out how to make those contradictory elements work together.”
In general, she says, she’s drawn to “clean, classic architecture and decor with some warmth injected in there”.
Above the sofa from CB2 is a replica of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Young Woman With a Water Pitcher’, which Spagnolo painted when she was studying. “I love those slow, quiet mornings,” she says.
She likes to take advantage of the natural light in the living and dining rooms year round. “I love sitting at my dining table flipping through my books for inspiration or curling up on the couch and watching a good movie,” she says.
The coffee table is vintage, and the cushions are from Interior Define and Blue Pear Mercantile.
She likes to take advantage of the natural light in the living and dining rooms year round. “I love sitting at my dining table flipping through my books for inspiration or curling up on the couch and watching a good movie,” she says.
The coffee table is vintage, and the cushions are from Interior Define and Blue Pear Mercantile.
“I wanted to create a designated living and dining area, so I installed pendant lights [from West Elm] above the dining table,” says Spagnolo.
She also transformed a cupboard off the kitchen into a cosy nook using pale pink paint (Rose Petal by Benjamin Moore).
“The blanket is from a market in Mexico City, and the artwork is from an unknown artist,” she says. “He tossed out a huge sketchbook of all these beautiful figure drawings he did and now they’re hanging throughout my home.”
“The blanket is from a market in Mexico City, and the artwork is from an unknown artist,” she says. “He tossed out a huge sketchbook of all these beautiful figure drawings he did and now they’re hanging throughout my home.”
A vintage sideboard doubles as a bar
Spagnolo found the dark bust at Midland. “In the entryway, I have a collection of artwork, sketches – from another artist as well as some of my own pieces – that I’ve been collecting over the years,” she says. “I hope to just keep adding to that throughout my life. It just so happens to be a lot of black-and-white drawings and photos now, but I’m anxious to start injecting some colour in there.”
Black and timber tones contrast in the kitchen
Spagnolo recently updated her compact kitchen with new white quartz benchtops, a splashback in square white tiles and new cabinet pulls.
“It’s important for me to have a place to come home to that’s calm, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, where I can recharge,” says Spagnolo. The photo above the bed was taken by her friend, Amy Jo.
The bedroom rug, chest of drawers and side table are all vintage finds.
Spagnolo did the framed drawing above the drawers. “I made the original after taking a trip to Portugal,” she says.
“Living in a functional, aesthetically pleasing, uncluttered space, surrounded by pieces that bring you joy and comfort is a form of self-care,” she says. “It can bring a sense of peace when everything else feels stressful or chaotic.”
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
If you’d like to peek inside another beautiful home, don’t miss this My Houzz: Interior Designer Denise Davies’ Retro-Glam USA Home
Spagnolo did the framed drawing above the drawers. “I made the original after taking a trip to Portugal,” she says.
“Living in a functional, aesthetically pleasing, uncluttered space, surrounded by pieces that bring you joy and comfort is a form of self-care,” she says. “It can bring a sense of peace when everything else feels stressful or chaotic.”
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
If you’d like to peek inside another beautiful home, don’t miss this My Houzz: Interior Designer Denise Davies’ Retro-Glam USA Home
Who lives here: Interior decorator and stylist Lisa Spagnolo and her pug, Eleanor
Location: Chicago, USA
Property: A 1910 apartment building
Size: A one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment measuring 56 square metres
Spagnolo bought the apartment in the West Town neighbourhood of Chicago, USA, in 2015 and tasked herself with redesigning it.