My Houzz: Monochromatic Style in a Chicago High-Rise Condo

House at a Glance
Who lives here: Engaged couple Devon Fromm and Mike Wegman
Location: South Loop neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 1,438 square feet (134 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 2003

Devon Fromm and Mike Wegman moved to their high-rise condo in the South Loop area of Chicago in May 2016 and updated their interior in two phases. “The unit was in just good enough shape for us to love it and still had room for improvement so we could put our own personal touch on it,” says Fromm, an interior designer for Devon Grace Interiors. “The light we get from the southwest-facing corner is incredible as well,” she says.

The day after they closed on their unit, they decided to rip out the floors and put in new hardwood. “The previous owners had big dogs that really scratched them up, so that needed to happen,” she says. They installed a lighter wood inspired by a neutral Scandinavian palette.

Fromm and Wegman, who are engaged, say their unit is perfect for their needs. It has a guest room and office that is separated from the master suite, so they can have family and friends visit and still have privacy.

Sofa: Tillary eight-piece sectional, West Elm; living room sconce: Mantis wall sconce, CB2

There wasn’t a junction box or light above the dining table when the couple moved in, and they wanted to make a space where they could entertain. The couple installed a feature chandelier and bought a custom dining set from Urban Wood Goods in Evanston, Illinois, to fit behind their sofa.

Dining room light fixture: Firefly pendant light, CB2; accent wall paint: Dior Gray, Benjamin Moore; dining rug: discontinued; standing lamp: Signal floor lamp, CB2; dining room chairs: Eames molded plastic dowel-leg side chair, Design Within Reach; Urban Loft reclaimed wood dining table, Urban Wood Goods; see similar industrial-style dining tables

Once the couple installed new floors, they decided to change the existing oak kitchen cabinets.

Fromm took on the task of painting the cabinetry white, which she describes as “a labor of love.” “That caused us to pause on any other renovations for a while,” she says.

“We always have candles burning and food and wine out, when people are over and when people aren’t. The living area and kitchen act as the central hub, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Fromm adds.

Cabinetry pulls: Hopewell bar pull, Top Knobs

Fromm adheres to leaving negative space in a room. “If you live in the city, chances are you are slightly cramped,” she says. “So be sure to give yourself space to move around. Don’t fill the apartment too much. Blank space gives you a chance to appreciate what is there.”

The couple’s old sofa set from their Massachusetts home was a tight fit for their living room. “We had to get creative,” Fromm says. To make their layout work, they found a modular sectional from West Elm that can be reconfigured depending on the need. “Sometimes we make it a giant bed for movie nights,” she says.

Bar cart: Terrace bar cart, West Elm

“We want people to feel welcomed and comfortable when they walk in,” Fromm says. “Our favorite kind of night would be when friends come over for a casual dinner, but we also really love our low-key nights when we order take-out and curl up on the sofa with a good movie.”

“The new sectional is perfect for that because we can move the end piece over to create a huge bed and we don’t have to fight over the ‘good seat,’” Fromm says.

“I think it’s important to decide what your style is and how you want to represent yourself to others,” Fromm says. “Also, identify your weaknesses and bring in other people to help. It’s okay to hire a designer if you aren’t great at doing things yourself or don’t have the time.”

“A good designer will take the time to really get to know your style and your own personal wishes so that the final design still reflects you. If you aren’t great at getting organized, hire a professional organizer! I like to pretend I’m good, but someday I think I’ll bring in someone to help deal with my own ‘Monica’s closet’,” she says, in reference to a closet used to tuck away extra junk as depicted in an episode on the television show Friends.

Bed: Dondra teak bed, CB2; side table lamps: Paramount table lamp, CB2

When asked what’s most important when arranging their home, Fromm prioritizes practicality and livability. “You need to be able to live day to day in your home, no matter how good you want it to look. You can do it if you get creative, like my custom table behind the sofa,” she says.

Wegman and Fromm use these white nesting tables as their coffee table, work desk and occasional dining table.

In the living room, a potted fiddleleaf fig in a white ceramic elevated planter adds a touch of green to contrast a gray knitted pouf and neutral area rug.

Rug: The Artistic Weavers Hilda collection, Rugs Direct; pouf: Knitted Silver gray pouf, CB2; find similar rugs

In the master bedroom, Fromm decorated with clean lines and bright neutral linens. A modern pendant and velvet throw pillows add a touch of sculptural flair and texture.

Bed linens: Organic Fading Diamond Jacquard Duvet Cover and Shams, West Elm; light fixture: Mobile chandelier in Antique Bronze, West Elm; desk: Sawyer White leaning desk with two 18-inch bookcases, Crate & Barrel; desk chair: Eames molded fiberglass dowel-leg armchair, Design Within Reach

Monochromatic details are featured in the bathroom remodel with black marble hexagon accent tiles and matte black fixtures.

11 Smashing Black Bathrooms