A couple with three young children turn to Kadlec Architecture & Design to reimagine their new Lincoln Park home as a stylish abode ideal for the whole family.

In the living room, sofas by Anees Furniture & Design, Karoo armchairs by Carlyle Collective, Fitzgerald lamps by Porta Romana and artwork by Mary Abbott add up to a sophisticated and stylish oasis. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

Gabriel Scott’s Myriad chandelier sourced at CKS Collective, a dining table and chairs from Anees Furniture & Design, and a framed artist proof of Matthew Pillsbury’s 2008 work “Winged Victory, The Louvre” stand out in the dining room. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

THE CLIENT

Having recently purchased a home in Lincoln Park and well aware that it needed work to fit their young family’s evolving needs, the clients connected with River North-based studio Kadlec Architecture & Design. After walking the residence together and discussing their needs as well as the current home layout’s challenges and limitations, studio founder Steve Kadlec and team were on the case.

Alfonso Marina’s Bahl settee and artist Esteban Vicente’s 1995 work “Composition” encourage contemplation in the stair hallway. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

THE PRIORITY

Renovating the home’s kitchen and opening up the family room at the rear of the home were the top order of business in the project, notes Kadlec. “The clients discussed an addition to extend the family room space, but we were able to reconfigure the kitchen and remove a redundant powder room and mud room area to create the livable space they needed.” Adds project designer Donna Corbat, “Their second priority was to create a connection between the house and gracious side yard (which was a lot purchased by a previous owner.) We added large windows in the family room and front entry to create views of the side yard from the house. The big move was to add a three-story window at the stairway to open the middle of the house to views and allowing an abundance of natural light.”

Powell & Bonnell’s Washu chair and ottoman from deAurora paired with Holly Hunt’s Madoc drink table makes for an inviting reading nook in the family room. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

Roll & Hill’s Endless Straight light fixture by Jason Miller makes a dramatic statement in the kitchen. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

THE CHALLENGE

“Scope and schedule were key challenges,” explains Kadlec, “as our client needed to complete work and move into the home prior to the start of their children’s school year. Ordering long lead items such as windows and millwork even before all decisions were finalized was a strategy to condense the schedule. A unique challenge was a technical one: maintaining the structural integrity of the existing stair as a 3-story opening was cut into the stair’s exterior wall.”

The family room charms with Jonathan Browning Studios’ Montalembert chandelier, Gregorius Pineo’s Santorini table and chairs by Anees Furniture & Design Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

THE DETAIL

“The home was transformed into an open and light-filled space through a few simple moves that connected the home’s interior spaces to each other and to the exterior,” notes Corbat. “The architectural finishes and furnishings further reinforced the new light and airy interior spaces.”

The home’s handsome exterior. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

THE OUTCOME

Sums up Kadlec, “Our client was thrilled with the result and surprised how the same square footage of space could feel so much larger through the reconfiguration of space and connection to the outdoors through strategically placed windows. The renovation was a seamless transformation of the existing house. Happily, our same team (interior designer, architect and general contractor) are working with the client on another home.”

The inviting outdoor space features RH’s Balmain teak lounge chairs and ottoman. Photographed by NATHAN KIRKMAN

DESIGN DETAILS

TYPE
Single-family home

LOCATION
Lincoln Park

ARCHITECTURE
Heidi Lightner Architects
heidilightnerarchitects.com

BUILDERS
Gray Salt Construction
graysalt.net

INTERIOR DESIGN
Kadlec Architecture & Design
kadlecdesign.com

MILLWORK
Exclusive Woodworking
exwood.com

PLASTERWORK/PAINTERS
The Imperial Painting
theimperialpaintings.com

RESOURCES

ANEES FURNITURE & DESIGN
Various furnishings
aneesupholstery.com

APEX WOOD FLOORS
Flooring throughout
apexwoodfloors.com

ARTISTIC TILE
Wet bar tile
artistictile.com

DEAURORA
Family room chair and ottoman
deaurora.com

GREGORIUS PINEO
Family room game table
gregoriuspineo.com

HOLLAND & SHERRY
Fromental wallpaper in powder room
hollandandsherry.com

HOLLY HUNT
Various furnishings and accessories
hollyhunt.com

LANE ART MANAGEMENT
Art throughout
laneartmanagement.com

OSCAR ISBERIAN RUGS
Rugs in dining room and entry
isberian.com

ROLL & HILL
Lighting in kitchen
rollandhill.com