Home Tour : A Collected Chicago Bungalow

Curated, Soft Living RoomFrom time to time, I like to toss a home tour into the blog mix… it’s even more exciting when the home belongs to one of my real life friends! I know you guys are going to love Claire’s collected Chicago bungalow as much as I do. Similar to Emmett and myself, she and her husband are also renovating their home room by room. Click through for a gorgeous, eclectic home tour that’s sure to brighten your Thursday.

I’m starting in the living room because it’s my favorite space in the house. I can’t even begin to tell you how obsessed I am with the blue pair of chairs. They work so well with the traditional millwork and architecture of Claire’s home.

Blue Vintage ChairsSpeaking of architecture, how beautiful are those windows? I’m so glad she decided to leave the windows and frame the pretty stained glass with custom drapery.

Vintage Steamer TrunkThere are so many perfectly styled vignettes throughout her home, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. I think I’m probably partial to the steamer trunk paired with the traditional console table. She’s also speaking my language with the geode and mineral display.

Traditional Dining RoomMoving into the dining room, I’m admiring the symmetry in this space. First of all, that dramatic arched entry is to die for. That’s exactly the type of transition we’ll be creating between our living room and kitchen. I love that it’s flanked by opposing apothecary cabinets. Take note of this styling trick as well: even though the cabinets are identical, that doesn’t mean the objects within or on top have to match. Just make sure the scale and colors work well together and feel balanced / cohesive. I’m glad Claire styled each of them uniquely- it makes that wall more interesting!

Other things to note? The subtle area rug with the greek key border, the marbled custom drapery, and those lacquered dining chairs. So many good textures!

Designer Dining Set

Vintage SideboardNext, let’s admire the kitchen. This space is about as timeless as it gets- but then again you know I’m a fan of all things black, white, brass, and wood.

Black and White BacksplashFrom the hardware to the richly stained butcher block countertops, Claire really paid attention to detail when designing the kitchen. Seeing her Solna faucet in front of those beautiful double windows makes me miss our old kitchen. Lastly, I’ll sing the praises of that backsplash. It is SO refreshing to see something other than subway tile from time to time. This is a great, modern alternative that still feels classic.

Black and White Timeless Kitchen

Claire - Centered by DesignFrom the kitchen, let’s pop into the mudroom. I love this whitewashed space that showcases textural brick and patterned tile floors.

White Mudroom

Tiled MudroomI feel like this space totally transports you from Chicago to a countryside across the pond. It’s easy to imagine, right?

Vintage HutchThe last room on the tour is a bedroom… I’m guessing this unexpected blue hued space is enough to brighten any snowy or windy Chicago day. My favorite thing in the room? That hanging wall mirror!

Halleck_Staszak_09All of the images from this tour are located in the main level of the home, however, Claire and her husband are currently tackling the upstairs portion of their house. For a peek at that, click here.

Halleck_Staszak_10For more about Claire and her home tour, you can click here! Claire and I actually first met on a trip to MN to tour Fairbault Textile Mill, where we stayed at the insanely stylish Hewing Hotel. We became fast friends, and I’m excited to see her next week. We’ll be reunited in Indianapolis for a designer event. We’ll both be posting on Instagram, so follow along (Claire’s & my personal account).

Vintage EntrywayGiant thank you to Claire for letting me feature her bungalow! I’ll also share a shameless plug because I really enjoyed it… if you want more of her content, listens to her talk on “A Well-Designed Business” podcast.

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18 Comments

  1. Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says:

    It’s gorgeous! Can I be friends with your Chicago friend?! Does she feel comfortable sharing what neighborhood she lives in? Her home is an exact mirror image of our friends’ house, so it was especially fun seeing what someone else did to theirs.

    1. Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says:

      I realized that might have come off creepy, asking what neighborhood she lives in. Haha, hopefully as a Chicago girl she knows what I meant by that!

      1. Hi Kim!

        I think Meg Piercy is actually a mutual friend of ours! We live in Portage Park. Hope to connect sometime!

        1. Small world! Meg of MegMade? I knew it was a park… ha! I have no sense of Chicago / direction. Thanks for clarifying.

          1. Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says:

            Wait, you know Meg, too?? That wasn’t the friend I was referring to (with a mirror image of your home), but small world!

          2. Only online :)

    2. That’s awesome!! Not creepy at all- I get it. Ha! I want to say Lincoln Park, but I just texted her for confirmation. lol!

  2. Sarah – Thank you for the gorgeous post!! Can’t wait to see you next week! XO

    1. Loving your gorgeous home!! Next time I’m in Chicago, I’d love to see it in person. Excited about your upstairs and nursery. xox

  3. Brittany Thurman says:

    Can we please have more information about the tv media bookshelves?!?!

    1. Hi Brittany!

      My husband and I designed and built them. They are made of mostly plywood construction, trim from Home Depot, installed and then painted on site. The bottom cabinets are separate from the top portion. The shelves are moveable, and the countertop is reclaimed wood.

  4. Beautiful!! And excellent photography as well.

  5. ❤️ ❤️The eclectic mix of furniture and the paint colors! So refreshing to go heyond white….including the sofa and chairs in the living room. The black and brass in the dining room is sharp! TY for the tour!

    1. I couldn’t agree more!! Hope your weekend is off to a great start, Brandi! xox

  6. Maureen Kennedy says:

    Beautiful home. I love the warm stain on the wood floors and many of the home’s details. The blue bedroom is inviting – love the retro headboard and the clever mix of colours. Claire might like the resin lamps my sister in London designs. http://www.mariannakennedy.com

  7. Love that you have butcher block instead of granite/quartz in your kitchen. I wish my bungalow had the same nice kitchen layout. The stairs to attic are in the corner to the right of the stove so that screws up two walls for cabinets.

    1. I’m also obsessed with Claire’s butcher block counters! So warm and inviting.

  8. I also live in Chicago bungalow and made a mudroom similar to the one in the photo. I’m surprised you didn’t change the tile in the front vestibule. I bet the original tile is under there. Beautiful styling. Great work.