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My Houzz: Parisian Flair in Chicago
A traditional Chicago high-rise unit gets a sleek facelift, with top notes of vintage French chic
Houzz home tour contributor; Cynthia Lynn has been photographing places, spaces and all that's in them for as long as she can remember. Shooting hotels and travel for stock and personal clients for over the past four years. Cynthia has a keen eye for composition and a great feel for design. Bringing to life the lines that make up interiors and exteriors.
Houzz home tour contributor; Cynthia Lynn has been photographing places,... More »
Stunning water views drew Steve Joung and Dana Guo to their high-rise apartment in Chicago. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the entire unit, and every room has a view of either Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. The couple renovated the traditional interior, enhancing the home's existing elements with their fresh, personal style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Steve Joung and Dana Guo
Location: Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 2,170 square feet; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: Guo set up a mock photo booth and took pictures of herself and Joung to create oversize photo-strip artwork.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Steve Joung and Dana Guo
Location: Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 2,170 square feet; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: Guo set up a mock photo booth and took pictures of herself and Joung to create oversize photo-strip artwork.
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| The hardwood floors throughout the apartment were refinished with a dark ebony stain. A tufted green chaise adds a jolt of color to the soft white walls. While the living room contains a Lucite coffee table from CB2, Guo dreams of replacing it one day with a vintage Lucite model from Roche Bobois. Sofa: Arhaus; chaise: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; chair: Walter E. Smithe; lamp: Z Gallerie |
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The couple worked with a general contractor from ConstructionRex to add a peek-through space from the living room into the dining room. The window sits just above the bar in the dining room, so those seated at the breakfast table still can feel like they're part of the action.
Breakfast table: Crate & Barrel; chairs: Arhaus
Breakfast table: Crate & Barrel; chairs: Arhaus
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| "Given our panoramic view of the lake, we didn't want the inside of the house to compete with the view outside," Guo says. "All of the colors we picked are gentle and subdued; they blend well with the scenery outside." The mantel and built-in bookshelves are original to the home. The double French doors to the right of the fireplace, part of the renovation, improve the flow from room to room. The third bedroom became a study. |
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| The couple recently splurged on this custom built-in bookshelf in the study. Lighter hues cloak this room; Languid Blue by Sherwin-Williams accents the colors of the lake just outside the windows. Desk: Horchow; sofa: Walter E. Smithe; coffee table: West Elm |
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The hallway from the living room connects the home office, guest room and master bedroom.
When choosing additional elements to furnish the home, Guo went for a French hotel feel. Multiple frames filled with vintage Parisian images adorn the hallway. A large-scale version of a photo booth film strip hangs at the end of the hall. Guo created this by setting up her own mock photo booth. She composed tight photos of herself and Joung and printed all of them on one large canvas to create a larger-than-life replica of an old-time favorite.
When choosing additional elements to furnish the home, Guo went for a French hotel feel. Multiple frames filled with vintage Parisian images adorn the hallway. A large-scale version of a photo booth film strip hangs at the end of the hall. Guo created this by setting up her own mock photo booth. She composed tight photos of herself and Joung and printed all of them on one large canvas to create a larger-than-life replica of an old-time favorite.
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The foyer serves as the main artery of the house, connecting the bedrooms, office, living room, kitchen and dining area. The entryway is one of the few rooms in the unit painted in a darker hue: Turkish Coffee by Sherwin-Williams. A framed mirror and console table, which Dana painted glossy white, contrast with the espresso-colored walls. A chandelier overhead provides additional lighting.
The embellished mosaic tile in the foyer is the only original flooring that Joung and Guo kept. They left it because of the renovation challenges that removal would have posed.
Bench: Ethan Allen
The embellished mosaic tile in the foyer is the only original flooring that Joung and Guo kept. They left it because of the renovation challenges that removal would have posed.
Bench: Ethan Allen
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Guo added a full-size mirror to the dining room wall to open up the space. For the same reason, the couple chose a simple, sleek dining table with a glass top. Four creamy tufted chairs and a bench on the window side provide ample seating. "My proudest homeowner moment was when we invited all of the family over for dinner the first time in our new place," Guo says.
Paint: Marooned, Sherwin-Williams; dining set: Z Gallerie
Paint: Marooned, Sherwin-Williams; dining set: Z Gallerie
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| Green accents, such as vases and an espresso machine, dot the dining room and kitchen. Guo feels most at home in the dining room. "I do a lot of work from the dining table as opposed to the office. The dining room gets tons of light during the day and has a view of both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan," she says. The granite countertops and stainless steel appliances came from the previous homeowners, but Guo and Joung completely refinished the cabinets and added new lighting. Kitchen backsplash: Porcelanosa porcelain tiles |
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| A simple espresso-colored wood furniture set works perfectly in the guest bedroom. This room has a straight, unobstructed view of Navy Pier outside. The couple wanted to make this simple guest space feel like a beautiful hotel room. |
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| The master bedroom features stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the room, and sun pours in all day long. The couple enjoys the luxury of watching the sun rise from their bedroom. A linen-covered armchair and patterned chest enhance the vintage Parisian feel, and a vignette of glossy white frames hangs from a corner column. A framed photo from the couple's wedding day sits on a side table. |
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| Guo's favorite designer is Kelly Wearstler, and she tried to apply Wearstler's aesthetic throughout the space. "I like her fresh, glamorous and bold style," she says. In the master bedroom, mirrored nightstands flank a tufted headboard from Ethan Allen. The couple chose fabric wallpaper to accentuate the French hotel vibe. |
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| The traditional master bathroom was the only space the couple did not remodel, but it's next on the list. "We want to completely redo the master bath to change it from the current traditional style into a more contemporary, Japanese-inspired style," Guo says. "I would like the master bath to have a more serene, tranquil and spalike feel." The couple made just a few simple changes in the meantime: a new paint color, light fixtures and a Parisian print above the bathtub. Houzz call: Is your home featureworthy? Share an ideabook with photos of your house, and it could be featured on Houzz. Show us your home. |
Ideabook published on May 25, 2012.
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I'm still thinking about the ingenious use of the faux photo booth filmstrip hung at the end of the hall.