For this downtown Chicago apartment with limited natural light, the mandate from our client was to create a “riot of color.”

We treated the walls of the entrance hall and living room with a bold strié finish in vibrant coral tones. The trim was painted with a faux bois design in the same rich orange-red hues.

The clients’ love of collecting is evident in the living room, where an antique Oushak carpet, a 1940s Venetian mirror, a Biedermeier secretary, a pair of eighteenth-century Swedish chairs and a rare pair of Maison Baguès side tables decorated with delicate paintings of feathers coalesce to dramatic effect. Additionally, we designed the hand-embroidered borders on the vibrant silk drapery and created a hand-carved settee that incorporates our client’s monogram in the fretwork.

Chartreuse dominates the elliptical dining room, which has silk-covered walls, silk taffeta drapery, chairs with tiger-striped silk velvet upholstery whose form subtly references the room’s shape, and a signature chandelier and sconces that we crafted especially for the space.

Steve Rugo of Rugo/Raff Ltd. Architects created an inviting family room and kitchen from several awkward rooms, and gave it an updated but traditional look. The breakfast room was added by enclosing part of the patio and is a sunny spot ideal for family meals.  A built-in bookcase at one end displays a bit of the client’s extensive antique porcelain collection.