Combining two penthouse units into a single stunning property provides Michael Abrams with the perfect canvas to create the most sophisticated of family homes.
The dining room wows with a Welles glass chandelier by Gabriel Scott hanging above a sleek Eurocraft Inc. dining table and voluptuous Olivya Stone dining chairs.
THE CLIENT
It doesn’t get any more luxe than living in a penthouse—unless it’s living in two penthouses. That’s how large one growing young family in Lincoln Park is living after combining two primo top-floor units into one 5,000-squarefoot single-level home.
The light, airy kitchen beckons with a Holly Hunt Peso table and Knoll Bertoia chairs.
Boasting five bedrooms (including one used as a home gym), 4 ½ bathrooms, a home office and children’s playroom, plus a large living and dining room and an expansive family room and kitchen, all connected to a terrace facing the city, the place has become the ultimate urban oasis for the family, in no small part thanks to Michael Abrams’ chicly executed interiors.
A rug by Oscar Isberian and sofa by Eurocraft Inc. soften the family room.
THE PRIORITY
With a starting point of two completely different spaces, the clients’ top priority was to merge the two so that they would feel and function effortlessly as one large home. “They wanted to leave the bedroom area of the west apartment intact,” explains Abrams, “while almost entirely gut renovating the primary suite and all the common spaces.”
Venetian plaster wallcovering in Nobu Charcoal by Studio BK sets a sultry mood in the powder room.
THE CHALLENGE
The building’s staircase and elevator run through the core of the building, dividing the east and west apartments on the other floors and presenting an obstacle in connecting the two apartments. The solution? Utilize a small area in the center of the apartment where the contractors, Bigane Construction, were able to puncture through the demising wall and merge the two. Says Abrams, “We needed to create a layout that made that opening look and feel effortlessly placed.”
The inviting entry features Vertigo pendant lighting by Petite Friture, sisal wallcovering by Schumacher and Northern Wide Plank flooring.
THE DETAIL
“The interior architectural elements are a strong standout in this home, and we really rolled up our sleeves to make the most of each area,” Abrams notes. “The client opted for a clean aesthetic, so we used a lot of millwork in lieu of furnishings to solve functional and storage needs and create dramatic focal points throughout. We went through extensive creative study with the client to source materials, create details and develop design elements that fit all the program requirements. A significant amount of time was spent working on balance, scale and proportion in the interior architecture to give it an effortless finished appearance.”
The primary bedroom is a stunner thanks to a coal-colored wall upholstered in Pollack’s Embellushed Plush.
THE OUTCOME
No small task this one was—but after two and a half years of planning and construction both pre- and midpandemic, the transformed two-in-one apartment became a magnificent home and the latest gem in Abrams’ portfolio. And the clients? Abrams puts it succinctly: “They were an active part of the creative team that brought the project to fruition, and they were very pleased with the finished interiors.”
Stairs leading to the roof-level sunroom were stained a fetching black.
An inviting pergola is just one of the inviting features of this enchanting roofdeck designed and built by Chicago Green Design.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Condo
LOCATION
Lincoln Park
ARCHITECTURE FOR PERMIT
En—Masse Architecture and Design
designenmasse.com
BUILDERS
Bigane Construction
biganeconstruction.com
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Michael Abrams
michaelabrams.com
MILLWORK
Rose Custom Cabinets
rosecustom.com
PAINT, WALLCOVERING & PLASTERWORK
New Order Decorating
847.922.3571
RESOURCES
ARTISTIC TILE
Rear hall/dining room tile
artistictile.com
CIRCA LIGHTING
Various light fixtures
circalighting.com
EUROCRAFT INC.
Sofas, bed and dining room table
eurocraft-inc.com
HOLLY HUNT
Kitchen table
hollyhunt.com
NORTHERN WIDE PLANK
Flooring
northernwideplank.com
OSCAR ISBERIAN RUGS
Various rugs
isberian.com
PLEXI-CRAFT
Living room coffee table
plexi-craft.com
URBAN CRAFT CUSTOM FURNITURE
Living room chairs
@urbancraftllc
VILLA NOVA
Primary bedroom wallpaper
romo.com
WAYWARD MACHINE CO.
Custom steel doors fabrication
waywardmachineco.com
