It’s official… I’m embarking on a designer’s dream of a personal full home renovation! Last September, my husband, Luke, and I moved our family from the city to Chicago’s north shore. As a young family, we were ready for more space and closer proximity to family. If you know anything about me, you know I love historic homes. I was so excited to find a beautiful 1920’s Mediterranean-style home in need of a renovation.

Read more about my last personal renovation in the archives: The Warwick Reno

A Historic 1920s Mediterranean

I was lucky enough to track down a photo from the original house listing from 1959. Over the years, different renovations have strayed from the original Mediterranean architecture such as removing the barrel tile roof and adding shutters. As part of this project, I am working with Brent Hull, a builder with expertise in historic restoration (don’t miss his sketches on Instagram). One of the best things about old homes is how the architectural style is authentic and consistent throughout. I’m excited to share more on how we plan to bring the house back to its roots, both the interior and exterior!

The Before Photos

With high aspirations and a clear vision in my head of the “after,” it was important to me to capture the true before- outside of just real estate photos! The reality is that renovations take time. We’ve been in the house for a year now and have made it comfortable and functional. Right now, the house is filled with furniture from our past homes. Nothing fits quite right and it’s all driving me a bit crazy, but the truth is good design takes time and an ample investment. I am grateful to be working towards creating our dream home, and probably need to accept it’s going to take several years! Come on in…

The First Floor

The Second Floor

The Design Vision

I’ve always loved the romance of a Mediterranean-style house. I appreciate the indoor / outdoor lifestyle of the Mediterranean aesthetic, the clean architectural lines and beautiful natural materials. While I want to honor the original architecture, I’ll also be incorporating a mix of elements that showcase my love of color and pattern, antiques and traditionalism. I’ll admit, the design process has been more challenging than I expected! It’s SO much harder to make decisions for myself than for clients. I’m so grateful to my design team for their valuable input in these moments! The images below have been a cornerstone of my inspiration throughout the process.

We are going to work with some very special partners and take you through the whole process, both here and on Instagram! I would love to know what you think. Can you see the potential too?