My Houzz: Inviting Whites and Pastels Revive a Small City Flat
A collection of meaningful art, travel souvenirs and functional furniture add warmth to this bright, airy home
“When I first walked into my place, it was tiny,” says Lisa Spagnolo, a sales representative for Interior Define and an interior decorator and stylist. “But I loved the layout and the tall ceilings. I knew it was something I could work with to make into a home I loved.”
Lisa bought the 600 sq ft condo in the West Town neighbourhood of Chicago in 2015. “The walls were beige, the floors were an orangey-oak colour, there was carpet in the bedroom, and it lacked any sort of personality,” she says. “Before I moved in, I had the walls painted white, pulled up the carpet, had new wood floors installed and had the existing wood floors bleached and stained white.”
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Lisa bought the 600 sq ft condo in the West Town neighbourhood of Chicago in 2015. “The walls were beige, the floors were an orangey-oak colour, there was carpet in the bedroom, and it lacked any sort of personality,” she says. “Before I moved in, I had the walls painted white, pulled up the carpet, had new wood floors installed and had the existing wood floors bleached and stained white.”
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
“When designing a space, my starting point is always going to be function,” Lisa says. To emphasise the high ceiling and add storage, she installed wall-to-wall open shelving in the living area. The shelves hold various travel souvenirs, such as blankets from a trip to South America. “I have a few blankets that I bought in Peru that I love,” she says. “I came home with a new suitcase full of Peruvian textiles, but still felt like it wasn’t enough.
“I love spaces that are functional and classic, with meaningful keepsakes and artwork layered in there,” she adds. One of her favourite pieces is this vintage blue chair, one of a pair that she found at the Midland antiques market in Indianapolis.
Cowhide rug, The Cowhide Store.
“I love spaces that are functional and classic, with meaningful keepsakes and artwork layered in there,” she adds. One of her favourite pieces is this vintage blue chair, one of a pair that she found at the Midland antiques market in Indianapolis.
Cowhide rug, The Cowhide Store.
When Lisa was in her early 20s, she lived in Italy and southern France. “Those cultures influenced me a lot in the way I live and especially in my aesthetic choices,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate enough to do a good amount of travelling in my life, and most places have influenced me in some way.
“I love the femininity and classicism of French style, but I also love the masculinity and ruggedness of an Argentine estancia [ranch],” she says. “The key is to figure out how to make those contradictory elements work together.”
In general, she says, she’s drawn to “clean, classic architecture and décor with some warmth injected in there”.
“I love the femininity and classicism of French style, but I also love the masculinity and ruggedness of an Argentine estancia [ranch],” she says. “The key is to figure out how to make those contradictory elements work together.”
In general, she says, she’s drawn to “clean, classic architecture and décor with some warmth injected in there”.
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Above the sofa is a replica of Vermeer’s Young Woman With a Water Pitcher, painted by Lisa when she was in college. “I love those slow, quiet mornings,” she says.
She likes to take advantage of the natural light in the living and dining rooms year round. “I love sitting at my dining table flipping through my books for inspiration or curling up on the couch and watching a good movie,” she says.
The coffee table is vintage, and the cushions are from Interior Define and Blue Pear Mercantile.
Club sofa, CB2.
She likes to take advantage of the natural light in the living and dining rooms year round. “I love sitting at my dining table flipping through my books for inspiration or curling up on the couch and watching a good movie,” she says.
The coffee table is vintage, and the cushions are from Interior Define and Blue Pear Mercantile.
Club sofa, CB2.
“I wanted to create a designated living and dining area, so I installed pendant lights above the dining table,” Lisa says.
Sculptural glass globe pendants, West Elm.
Sculptural glass globe pendants, West Elm.
Lisa transformed a cupboard off the kitchen into a cosy nook using pale pink paint (Rose Petal by Benjamin Moore).
“The blanket is from a market in Mexico City, and the artwork is from an unknown artist,” she says. “He tossed out a huge sketchbook of all these beautiful figure drawings he did and now they’re hanging throughout my home.”
“The blanket is from a market in Mexico City, and the artwork is from an unknown artist,” she says. “He tossed out a huge sketchbook of all these beautiful figure drawings he did and now they’re hanging throughout my home.”
A vintage sideboard doubles as a bar.
Lisa found the dark bust at Midland. “In the entryway, I have a collection of artwork, sketches – from another artist as well as some of my own pieces – that I’ve been collecting over the years,” she says. “I hope to just keep adding to that throughout my life. It just so happens to be a lot of black-and-white drawings and photos now, but I’m anxious to start injecting some colour in there.”
Lisa found the dark bust at Midland. “In the entryway, I have a collection of artwork, sketches – from another artist as well as some of my own pieces – that I’ve been collecting over the years,” she says. “I hope to just keep adding to that throughout my life. It just so happens to be a lot of black-and-white drawings and photos now, but I’m anxious to start injecting some colour in there.”
Lisa recently updated her compact kitchen with new pure white quartz worktops, a splashback in square white tiles and new cabinet pulls.
Skylight 3in bar pull, Wayfair. Bright White Ice 4in x 4in ceramic wall tiles, Floor & Decor.
Skylight 3in bar pull, Wayfair. Bright White Ice 4in x 4in ceramic wall tiles, Floor & Decor.
“It’s important for me to have a place to come home to that’s calm, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, where I can recharge,” Lisa says. The photo above the bed was taken by her friend, Amy Jo.
Swing-arm brass wall sconces; navy velvet bedding, all CB2. Novak bed, One King’s Lane. Jacquard-weave cushion covers, H&M.
Swing-arm brass wall sconces; navy velvet bedding, all CB2. Novak bed, One King’s Lane. Jacquard-weave cushion covers, H&M.
The bedroom rug, chest of drawers and side table are all vintage finds.
Lisa did the framed drawing above the drawers. “I made the original after taking a trip to Portugal,” she says.
“Living in a functional, aesthetically pleasing, uncluttered space, surrounded by pieces that bring you joy and comfort, is a form of self-care,” she says. “It can bring a sense of peace when everything else feels stressful or chaotic.”
Tell us…
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Lisa did the framed drawing above the drawers. “I made the original after taking a trip to Portugal,” she says.
“Living in a functional, aesthetically pleasing, uncluttered space, surrounded by pieces that bring you joy and comfort, is a form of self-care,” she says. “It can bring a sense of peace when everything else feels stressful or chaotic.”
Tell us…
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Interior decorator and stylist Lisa Spagnolo and her pug, Eleanor
Location West Town neighbourhood of Chicago, USA
Property A 1910 apartment building
Size One bedroom and one bathroom; 600 sq ft (56 sq m)