Salvaged Yellow Pine with Ebony Stain. Any reclaimed barn siding would work though.

Susan Teare

Photography by Erhard Pfeiffer © Rizzoli

“Homework Studio" This room, right off the main living area, works as a combined homework and crafts space for tweens and teens. Lots of storage and a cozy spot to sit and read. Photo by Olson Photographic Design assistant: Jennifer Lattanzi

Photography by Simon Larkin.

James Ray Spahn

Juxtaposition: defined as two things placed close together with contrasting effect, the word epitomizes this downtown Chicago residence. A family home, it evinces comfort, calm, and connection. Here, chaise lounges nestle side-by-side, welcoming wine-sippers, book-readers, and fireplace-gazers. There, an upholstered kitchen banquette recalls the coziness of a favorite restaurant’s corner table. And yet – while an elegant refuge for a busy family, this home is also a place of work. Indeed, it is the worldwide headquarters of a lauded anti-aging skincare company, complete with full-time employees and their offices. To meld the dual functions the house serves so seamlessly, workspaces are lavished with the same hallmarks that distinguish family-oriented rooms: a focus on ease, an open-minded use of space, thoughtfully considered décor, and an imaginative use of color that awakens a mostly neutral palette with joyful visual interest. Lavender and chartreuse sing against black walls; tangerine and steel blue dot creamy hues with vivid punctuation. Still, quiet prevails, creating a timelessly tranquil backdrop for work, play, and everything in between. Photo: Dustin Halleck

PC : Cristopher Nolasco

Custom cabinets and timeless furnishings create this striking mountain modern kitchen. Stainless appliances with black accent details and modern lighting fixtures contrast with the distressed cabinet finish and wood flooring. Creating a space that is at once comfortable and modern.