BALANCED & BEAUTIFUL

Meghan Jay Design reimagines a Georgian for modern family life.

It’s not every day a designer gets to shape a home for close friends. But that’s exactly what happened when Winnetka-based designer Meghan Jay of Meghan Jay Design completed this beautifully reimagined Georgian in Glencoe. The homeowners and Jay were neighbors in Chicago’s Wicker Park before moving to the North Shore on the very same day. That familiarity streamlined the process from the start. Jay already understood their aesthetic preferences and priorities, and mutual trust made communication seamless. The goal? Soften the formality of the Georgian architecture, blend traditional and modern elements, and layer in functionality for a family with two very active young boys.

“Our friends moved in in June 2022,” Jay recalls. “They loved the classic Georgian symmetry, lofty ceilings, and architectural details, but wanted to add more charm and personality, while keeping everything practical and functional.”

To strike that balance, Jay bridged two distinct sensibilities: the wife’s more traditional and feminine leanings, and the husband’s modern, geometric preferences. Because the husband is colorblind, Jay shifted some of the design emphasis away from color and toward texture, form, and experience. In the living room, ethereal ivory drapery brings softness and movement, while panoramic wallpaper in the dining room delivers immersive impact—details that resonate beyond color perception. In the family room, a Chaddock sofa and swivel chairs feature piping and channeling for textural interest from every angle. Grasscloth walls, a woven leather ottoman, and a bone inlay sideboard add depth without relying heavily on bold pattern or saturated hues. “All elements that add depth and interest without relying heavily on color or obvious patterns,” says Jay.

The design of the home unfolded in thoughtful phases. To heighten the drama of the two-story foyer, Jay collaborated with art consultant Courtney Kass of L.E. Bennett to commission a modern piece that draws the eye upward, playing beautifully against the checkerboard floor and traditional millwork. A burled wood dresser replaces the expected console table, offering concealed storage and natural texture. In the living room, commissioned contemporary art offsets the room’s symmetry and contrasts with traditional furnishings. An Armadillo rug introduces saturated color that transitions gracefully from the entry without feeling overly coordinated. Two armchairs were reupholstered in a tone-on-tone pattern, and ivory draperies lend a soft finish. Between the foyer and living room, the powder room delivers a playful surprise. A lacquered ceiling and door pair with Farrow & Ball wallpaper and paint for a look that is sophisticated yet spirited.

In the formal dining room, panoramic wallpaper from Bordeaux-based Isidore Leroy enhances the room’s height and creates a transportive backdrop. “I skipped window treatments entirely so nothing would detract from the wallpaper,” says Jay. To counterbalance the traditional envelope, Jay introduced a custom modern walnut dining table and chairs, contemporary art by Rachel Mica Weiss, and an antique sideboard refinished in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue. A vintage-inspired mirror and Jaipur Living rug complete the layered mix. The kitchen received a strategic refresh: new hardware, a blue-painted island, updated counter stools, and tailored window treatments. The adjacent breakfast area was fully redesigned with a modern, easy-to-clean table and chairs, updated lighting, a vintage rug, and Roman shades. In the butler’s pantry, forest green Roman Clay walls, whimsical sconces from Urban Electric, and a ceiling papered in an abstract raindrop pattern create a compact jewel box of personality.

Upstairs, the boys’ bedrooms were designed for longevity. Retail furnishings mix with custom window treatments, allowing flexibility as tastes evolve. Playful touches—including a canvas pull-down vintage tree map from Germany and an oversized beanbag—keep the rooms kid-friendly without sacrificing style. In the basement playroom, custom walnut storage anchors quality furnishings, while geometric ceiling wallpaper and a neon sign inject energy and color. The primary bedroom leans warm, embracing the wife’s love of yellow. “We created a room that glows and feels sunshiney,” notes Jay. Mauve mohair cushions on the window seat add softness, while modern light fixtures and a crisp black four-poster bed ground the palette, highlight the room’s height, and showcase its architectural trim.

“Understanding a client’s aesthetic and building trust is essential in every project,” Jay says. “But here, that trust was already in place. It made designing this home such a pleasure.”

For more information, visit meghanjaydesign.com.