Pop Art & Bright Colours Add Cheer to This Expansive, Eclectic Home
See how an interior designer helps bring a family’s creative ideas to life
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Ruth Blatt; her husband and three children; and their fox red Labrador retriever, Edgy
Location: Roscoe Village neighbourhood of Chicago
Size: Six bedrooms, 6½bathrooms
Designer: Mika Wegner Avni of Interiors by Mika
Photos by Rachel Loewen
Who lives here: Ruth Blatt; her husband and three children; and their fox red Labrador retriever, Edgy
Location: Roscoe Village neighbourhood of Chicago
Size: Six bedrooms, 6½bathrooms
Designer: Mika Wegner Avni of Interiors by Mika
Photos by Rachel Loewen
Blatt, left, and Avni, right, sit in the redone family room. Avni says her design for the home was inspired by the family’s love of modern art, literature and entertaining. Essential elements slated for redesign were a library room to showcase the family’s book collection, a dining room with a large table that could seat at least 12, and “a family room that would be their happy place — a colourful and joyful space where they can hang out as a family and enjoy their time together,” the designer says.
In the original family room, a television was the wall’s centrepiece. “So instead of arranging the furniture to face the fireplace wall, which would have put a barrier to the kitchen, we arranged the sectional to face the backyard and the kitchen, thereby integrating the space,” Blatt says. The family room exemplifies Avni’s trademark mix of styles, pairing modern art with a Victorian-style chair and contemporary coffee tables.
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In the original family room, a television was the wall’s centrepiece. “So instead of arranging the furniture to face the fireplace wall, which would have put a barrier to the kitchen, we arranged the sectional to face the backyard and the kitchen, thereby integrating the space,” Blatt says. The family room exemplifies Avni’s trademark mix of styles, pairing modern art with a Victorian-style chair and contemporary coffee tables.
Find an interior designer near you
Blatt says each piece of art in the home has a story behind it. Most were acquired on trips abroad, and many of the artists are personal friends, which makes her treasure the works that much more. “Acquiring art is like falling in love. First there is attraction and desire, then commitment, finally cohabitation,” Blatt says. The big blue painting seen here is by Israeli artist Bazooka Joe. Several of the other pieces are from a graffiti artist and from Blatt’s friend Lindsey Liss.
The art inspired the colour choices in the space, including the fuchsia area rug. The original brown brick wall was painted white to act as a canvas for the art. To balance all the colour, Blatt and Avni chose a neutral tone for the sectional. “We then started gradually adding pops of colour, first the rug and art, then accent chairs and pillows, until the balance seemed right. It was an iterative process,” Blatt says.
The essential guide for art lovers
The art inspired the colour choices in the space, including the fuchsia area rug. The original brown brick wall was painted white to act as a canvas for the art. To balance all the colour, Blatt and Avni chose a neutral tone for the sectional. “We then started gradually adding pops of colour, first the rug and art, then accent chairs and pillows, until the balance seemed right. It was an iterative process,” Blatt says.
The essential guide for art lovers
The kitchen received just a few design changes, including new pendant lights over the island and a new bench cushion for the breakfast nook. Blatt says the kitchen table is one of her favourite places to work because of the light and space.
Hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz
Hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz
Sliding glass doors bring in plenty of light and provide a view to the back patio, with its existing fireplace and new patio furniture, landscaping and hot tub. The piano adds a classic element to the space, Avni says.
Blatt, a writer and activist, is seen here relaxing with the family’s fox red Labrador retriever, Edgy. Blatt works almost exclusively at home, so it was important for her to have a space where she could be comfortable, creative and productive, as well as accommodate guests.
“The main purpose of our home is as a setting for our family life,” Blatt says. “I see the home as an experience, and we have designed the home to enable us to enjoy spending time together and also give each other space when we need it.”
“The main purpose of our home is as a setting for our family life,” Blatt says. “I see the home as an experience, and we have designed the home to enable us to enjoy spending time together and also give each other space when we need it.”
In the living room, the original marble fireplace needed updating. “I wanted a more modern and industrial look, so we painted it to look like concrete,” Blatt says, who disliked the home’s dark interior. “The colour scheme was muted and dark. By painting all of the walls white, we made the space feel more expansive, open and bright.”
The room indeed became brighter, which proved a challenge since the space also serves as a library, a room that’s often relatively dim. “I think we were able to create the cosiness of a library while enjoying the benefit of large windows and plenty of light,” Blatt says.
Avni divided the space into several sitting areas: “A velvet teal accent chair for comfortable reading, a cafe table with two side chairs for a private conversation or studying, and an area for socialising, with a large, comfortable sofa,” she says.
The room indeed became brighter, which proved a challenge since the space also serves as a library, a room that’s often relatively dim. “I think we were able to create the cosiness of a library while enjoying the benefit of large windows and plenty of light,” Blatt says.
Avni divided the space into several sitting areas: “A velvet teal accent chair for comfortable reading, a cafe table with two side chairs for a private conversation or studying, and an area for socialising, with a large, comfortable sofa,” she says.
A stairway leads from the main level to bedrooms upstairs. The painting in the stairway is an example of how location affects where Blatt hangs art. “Art in hallways and staircases is art that I see while in movement, whereas art facing seating is art that I view while stationary, so it will be art that keeps drawing me in, or, as in the family room and dining room, a gallery wall of pieces that interact with each other,” she says.
Key measurements for a heavenly stairway
Key measurements for a heavenly stairway
A bookcase in the library area of the living room measures 12 feet wide by 8 feet tall and holds the family’s large collection of books. The custom bookcase was made by Chicago furniture designer Jacob Wener of Modern Industry, in collaboration with The Golden Triangle, a store in Chicago that sells antique Asian and European pieces.
Tips for using art: Always display pieces you love, and pay attention to scale and proportion, Avni says. “Go with pieces that speak to you, create an emotional reaction and, just like your home interior, are an expression of you,” she adds. Keep the art at eye level, and its size should equal one-half to two-thirds the width of the furniture it sits above. “The art should be connected to the rest of the space, as it is part of the overall decor,” Avni says.
Tips for using art: Always display pieces you love, and pay attention to scale and proportion, Avni says. “Go with pieces that speak to you, create an emotional reaction and, just like your home interior, are an expression of you,” she adds. Keep the art at eye level, and its size should equal one-half to two-thirds the width of the furniture it sits above. “The art should be connected to the rest of the space, as it is part of the overall decor,” Avni says.
A unique art piece is featured in the home’s entryway: a lenticular print that changes as the viewer moves. It toggles between a portrait of John F. Kennedy and the words “Happy Birthday” and an image of Marilyn Monroe. Blatt likes the humour and irreverence it evokes. “We love that piece and we think it is great for the entry because it sets the tone for the house,” she says.
A large round painting of a rhinoceros is a focal point in the dining room, which “breaks the squareness of the room and adds some humor to the space,” Avni says. The custom table was made to fit the room and includes leaves that extend to accommodate large parties. The chairs were imported from Italy.
The mobile chandelier is from the owners’ previous home. Blatt says they wanted there to be plenty to look at without being overwhelming, while connecting the space to adjacent rooms and the outdoors. “We wanted a room that was more earthy to echo the trees, flowers and bushes in the courtyard that it looks upon and that connected the muted colors of the library to the bright and playful family room,” she says.
Blatt was seeking a quiet and calm atmosphere in the bedroom, which is now bathed in white, from the painted walls to the cloud sofa and textured mural wallpaper.
“We knew we wanted a haven without the intense colors of the main floors,” Blatt says. She saw the combination of wallpaper, rug and pendant light in a Mineheart catalog, with its creative and whimsical furnishings. “The wallpaper felt like a risk – what if I get sick of it? – but I had fallen in love so that was that,” she says.
“We knew we wanted a haven without the intense colors of the main floors,” Blatt says. She saw the combination of wallpaper, rug and pendant light in a Mineheart catalog, with its creative and whimsical furnishings. “The wallpaper felt like a risk – what if I get sick of it? – but I had fallen in love so that was that,” she says.
A miniature gold chandelier inside the Mineheart King Edison pendant light adds another touch of whimsy to the master bedroom.
With its white palette and touches of grey and chrome, the master bath is now a “relaxing oasis,” Avni says. Like the master bedroom, the space is toned down compared with the rest of the house. “We wanted a place for sensory deprivation, in case we needed it,” Blatt says. “The master bath is a space for transitions, from sleeping to waking and back.”
Blatt says her son designed his own bedroom, choosing blue ombre as the dominant color. Benjamin Moore’s Aquarius and Bayberry Blue were used. The room includes a white desk with plenty of storage and a comfy faux fur chair. The rope hammock swing adds another fun seating option.
This is the younger daughter’s room, which she liked as is when the family moved in. It received new window treatments and a custom purple cushion on the window seat, which has drawers for storage.
This bright room is a multi-use studio space for the kids to do crafts and homework. “We wanted our home to be the gathering place for our children’s friends, and this room is a big attraction,” Blatt says. “It’s also nice that there is a space in the home where they can safely make a mess.” She notes that slime making is popular these days.
The older daughter’s room reflects her personality and is a place for her collection of miniatures from various trips abroad. “It has a timeless bohemian vibe, as well as showcasing her interest in Japanese animation, superhero movies, musicals and art,” Blatt says.
The daughter’s collection extends to the fabric headboard. “She has very eclectic interests and her room reflects that,” Blatt says.
The older daughter’s bathroom has original red-orange tile and a mango wood whitewashed dresser-turned-vanity.
The homeowners had their entire multi-use basement repainted. Chicago artist Lisa Gray painted the purple flower mural outside the window. “I liked it so much I asked her to paint the jungle mural on the room divider in the style of Henri Rousseau,” Blatt says. That mural is shown in the next photo.
Here’s a closer look at the jungle mural painted by Lisa Gray.
Blatt does most of her exercising at home, so she wanted space for yoga, as well as a fully equipped gym for boxing, cardio and weight training. Artist Brian Keller, the fiance of artist Gray, painted the gym mural. “We came up with a gym design that was edgy but whimsical and reflected our love for boxing. It came out perfect. There is no other gym like it,” Blatt says.
How to create a home gym you’ll actually use
How to create a home gym you’ll actually use
Blatt uses the home’s original office on the main floor as her workspace. “I like that it is by the front door and on the main floor, so that I can be working without completely disconnecting from the rest of the family,” she says. “The desk was custom made and is very spacious.”
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Read more:
Houzz TV: This Tiny Loft Can Do Unbelievable ThingsThis Rustic Surat Home Is Drawn From Childhood Memories
Tell us:
What did you think of this expansive home? Write in Comments below.
The project involved new paint, an eclectic art collection and custom furniture pieces for the main living areas.