In need of a home upgrade, a repeat client turns to Corey Lohmann Design to transform a dark, dated residence into the chicest of abodes.
Highlights of the inviting living room include Claudio coffee tables by Nuevo and a pair of Jayson Home Gustav chairs covered in Bart Halpern’s Valmont upholstery in Meadow Grass.
THE CLIENT
How can you tell when a client is truly happy? When they come back with another project. That’s the case with a recent project by Corey Lohmann, who had worked closely with the couple on their previous home in Bucktown and was their first call when they decided it was time for a new chapter.
The soaring, light-filled dining area catches the eye with Four Hands’ Bronx dining table and Kink dining chairs by District Eight.
“They wanted to stay in their beloved neighborhood,” notes Lohmann, the firm’s owner and principal designer, “but they had outgrown their current house, and it wasn’t meeting their needs after living there for almost a decade. Our clients are busy professionals and both needed a dedicated home office space with room for entertaining.” The solution? A larger house in the same ’hood. “It’s on a lovely tree-lined block, with more room for their family and entertaining, not to mention some spectacular features. It had so much potential to be their forever home and an amazing project.”
A nook in the wife’s office beckons with Nuevo’s Clementine chair and a Briget pedestal table by Lulu and Georgia.
THE PRIORITY
Explains Lohmann, “When we first toured the house with our clients, it felt very dark and the existing finishes and details were dated. Some of the home’s more beautiful existing features also seemed a little underwhelming and hidden. My client’s first priority was to dramatically lighten up the house. We chose to work with a clean, bright color palette throughout to bounce light. We added a large skylight above the central stair, which flooded the main living areas with natural light, and we worked closely with the lighting designer, Hoiland Studios, for innovative lighting in all areas of the home. My clients are also avid art collectors, so we wanted the house to be an elegant backdrop for their ongoing art collection.”
The Rouen sofa from Lemieux Et Cie adds a touch of comfort to the living room.
THE CHALLENGE
“We started the project right before the pandemic,” notes Lohmann, “so we immediately faced challenges with product delays and shortages at the beginning of construction. We had to reselect various items to avoid delays and keep the project on track. We worked diligently to meet the project schedule since our clients both work from home and needed their spaces up and running.”
Idris by Ait Manos wall tile in Black Kohl by Ann Sacks imparts a moody effect in the powder room.
THE DETAIL
“We have several favorites, but the living room is at the top of the list,” says Lohmann. “The wall of arched windows is such a stunning feature of the house and it made a dramatic difference to lighten up the surrounding finishes and upgrade the window treatments. We also completely transformed the fireplace wall by designing custom curio cabinets and sourcing vintage-inspired hardware. My clients fell in love with the marble for the fireplace, which we had custom made. The furniture is a mix of vintage and new incorporated throughout the room and it feels collected, timeless and modern all at once. We also love the rooms where we took the design in a moodier direction. My client wanted his office to feel more like a library, so we used a deep, saturated paint color as the backdrop that looks lovely with the diffused natural lighting in the room. The powder room also has a gorgeous, dark tiled wall as the feature, which adds texture and feels unexpected adjacent to the brighter spaces in the house.”
Hunter Douglas window coverings and a Gubi floor lamp soften the living room.
THE OUTCOME
Sums up the designer, “We worked on this project together for over a year and have developed a close relationship with our wonderful clients. They were so trusting of our vision and seeing everything come together felt amazing. They are in love with their home and it felt great to be a part of the journey.”
The husband’s office is transfixing thanks to walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings No. 31.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Bucktown
BUILDERS
MLS Construction
buildwithmls.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Corey Lohmann Design
coreylohmanndesign.com
LIGHTING DESIGN
Hoiland Studios
hoilandstudios.com
RESOURCES
ALLIED MAKER
Dining room and stairwell sconces
alliedmaker.com
ANN SACKS
Powder room wall tile
annsacks.com
ARTISTIC TILE
Entry stone flooring
artistictile.com
ATELIER JOUVENCE CUSTOM STONEWORKS
Living room fireplace surround
ajstoneworks.com
BRAKUR CUSTOM CABINETRY
Office cabinets
brakur.com
DESIGN WITHIN REACH
Living room floor lamp and stool
dwr.com
1STDIBS
Living room vintage side tables
1stdibs.com
HUNTER DOUGLAS
Window coverings throughout
hunterdouglas.com
JAYSON HOME
Living room vintage cabinet
jaysonhome.com
MATTHEW JAMES & COMPANY
Living room cabinets
matthewjamesco.com
