european redux a transitional house in naperville combines the best of old-world charm with present-day amenities and a lighter color palette.

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Crystal Reeves
6 years ago
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2 architecture Bruce George, AIA, NCARB, and Patrick Fortelka, Charles Vincent George Architects landscape architecture Eric A. Tharp, RLA, Premier bedrooms 5 bathrooms 8 square feet 7,000 european redux a transitional house in naperville combines the best of old-world charm with present-day amenities and a lighter color palette. w r i t t e n b y c h a r lo tte sa f a vi p h o t o g r a p h y b y t ony soluri luxe interiors + design 225

The homeowners wanted their house designed in more of a European manner, so we went for an English Arts and Crafts look, says residential designer Patrick Fortelka, who, along with firm principal

The palette, however, is fresher, cooler and lighter. Case in point: The window frames are painted a vibrant teal blue, and the stuccowork is pale beige.

3 The homeowners wanted their house designed in more of a European manner, so we went for an English Arts and Crafts look, says residential designer Patrick Fortelka, who, along with firm principal Bruce George, designed the architecture of a Naperville home for a family of five. From the outside, the house has classic elements, such as arched windows, pitched rooflines and broad gables. The palette, however, is fresher, cooler and lighter. Case in point: The window frames are painted a vibrant teal blue, and the stuccowork is pale beige. For the entrance, I went with the Wrightian principle, whereby the home is experienced by moving within it as opposed to being presented, explains Fortelka. Instead of a grand central foyer, I created an entry path to the left of the house. Two steps go up to an open terrace that leads to a small covered porch via an arched opening. From there, a contiguous vestibule with double arched windows culminates at the front door. The family room s Ebanista sofa, covered in chenille, served as inspiration for the wife s desire to create a neutral and comfortable scheme throughout. Left: Airy light pendants from Currey & Company s Lillian August collection, purchased at Hinsdale Lighting, hang in a neat row in the home s main gallery l u x e i n t e r i o r s + d e s i g n

c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 2 3 0 Still, the layout had to work for a contemporary family.

4 The daughter s bathroom is distinctly feminine in feel with soft blush walls in Farrow & Ball s Calamine paint. A two-drawer commode from Restoration Hardware and an antique stool offer another layer of elegance. Carrara marble flooring, purchased through Granite & Marble Resources, adds visual interest. c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e Still, the layout had to work for a contemporary family. Most of the active living space is in the back of the house, with its family room, mudroom, kitchen and adjoining hearth room. The rooms that don t get used as much, like the office, formal dining room and wine cellar are pushed to the outer edges, says Fortelka. They didn t need to be in the main path of the home. Once the house was completed, the homeowner furnished it herself in A pretty pair of sconces from Aidan Gray Home frame yet another custom cut-limestone fireplace by Materials Marketing in the soothing master bedroom. The Adesso chair from Ebanista rests on Fabrica s Mallorca Valldemosa wall-to-wall carpeting, featuring subtly patterned New Zealand wool. a transitional style tied together by a neutral palette. She veered away from formality and, above all, wanted nothing to compete with the architecture. It s a home people are curious about, she says. From when they see the inner courtyard as they pull up the drive, they keep wanting to go around the corner to see what s next. L l u x e i n t e r i o r s + d e s i g n 2 3 3

w r i t t e n b y kimberly olson p h o t o g r a p h y b y nathan kirkman interior design Tom

5 comfort zone desiring a cozy space to call their own, a pair of design-savvy inhabitants revitalize a chicago apartment using classic antiques and modern artwork. w r i t t e n b y kimberly olson p h o t o g r a p h y b y nathan kirkman interior design Tom Konopiots and Michael Stornello, Vincere Ltd. bedrooms 2 bathrooms 3 square feet 2,700 l u x e i n t e r i o r s + d e s i g n 2 3 5

c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 2 3 6 and the layout were great, so we started with that as a springboard.

We love to entertain, Stornello says, and do so informally most of the time, but we have formal sit-down dinners as well.

6 c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e and the layout were great, so we started with that as a springboard. The couple and their 6-year-old Labrador retriever also needed the home to work with their lifestyle: It had to be stylish without sacrificing comfort. We love to entertain, Stornello says, and do so informally most of the time, but we have formal sit-down dinners as well. The master bedroom was designed to be tranquil with compelling art and accents to lend a graphic jolt. A table lamp with a base purchased at 507 Antiques rests atop a custom mirrored bedside table by John Himmel Decorative Arts. The chair from Ebanista lends a textural element. A custom sofa, fabricated by Eurocraft and covered in Great Plains cotton linen by Holly Hunt, fulfills the homeowners dual requirements of style and comfort. The abstract oil painting by Chris DiVincente and the 1970s églomisé-and-bronze coffee table from Habité ground the vignette. To start, the pair made some minor modifications to the layout so that it would better meet their needs. They expanded both the master bathroom and the master closet, for example, by borrowing space from adjoining areas of the apartment. They then set about designing each room; the living room proving to be the trickiest. It s a long room and has two means of ingress and egress, as well as a fireplace and we wanted to incorporate the piano, Konopiots says. Making that work seamlessly was a challenge, but it was a lot of fun to figure out. We had to commit to not making the fireplace the only focal point, and once we did that, the room just fell into place. l u x e i n t e r i o r s + d e s i g n 2 3 9

Elegance, History and 21st Century Convenience in the Heart of Harlem. 133 West 1 22 nd Street

Elegance, History and 21st Century Convenience in the Heart of Harlem. 133 West 1 22 nd Street DESCRIPTION Steps from main thoroughfares, transportation, and Harlem hotspots, sits this landmark single-family townhouse. Built in the late 1880s by distinguished architect Francis Kimball, and then