BUCKING THE TRENDS

Getting a home to look “just so” is no easy achievement. Going big and bold is a snap in comparison. Or being on trend? No problem. But hitting that sweet spot, where comfort and authenticity converge, where interiors make sense but are not a spectacle, takes a special eye, one that sees the forest and the trees.

Designer Jill Goetz strives to create a feeling of continuity throughout a home. “I like to make sure that one room proceeds naturally to the next,” she says. “It’s not a matter of matching, but of flow.” When detailing a space, the former North Shore resident who is now based in Delray Beach, Florida, aims for a balanced, layered aspect; a look that speaks to beauty while generating an unmistakable sense of warmth and welcome. “I believe in keeping things timeless,” Goetz explains, “not of the moment.”

When a young couple approached Goetz to help them with their new Winnetka home, they weren’t sure what they wanted. But they knew what they didn’t want—anything they’d seen anywhere else. “The minute I proposed something,” says Goetz “they’d Google it. So, it took us a year and a half to complete the project. But in the end, we found her style. Which is what you always want for a client.”

From the start, Goetz sensed the project would take on a more traditional look. Which isn’t to suggest that Goetz did a deep dive into chintz. “Traditional will get dated if you don’t bring something new into it,” she observes. “To keep it fresh you must add a contemporary element. To make it relevant.” One way she did this was in her choice of lighting, such as the bubble-like Julie Neill “Talia” chandelier, in the dining room, which offers a distinctive contrast to not only the Restoration Hardware table and antique chairs but also the classic millwork that envelopes the room.

Wallpaper played a key role in giving these interiors an added depth. “My client’s initial preference was for over-scaled floral patterns, but I told her she would get tired of that,” shares Goetz. “And no one wants to change their wallpaper every few years. It’s just too expensive.” Goetz specified a white grasscloth for the dining room walls with a Lee Jofa damask print on the ceiling. In the kitchen, she applied a blue paper to brighten the space. “It’s vinyl,” she notes. “They have a 2-year-old and a dog. So, function has to come first, everything has to be kid and pet-friendly.” While the space can take a beating, it doesn’t skimp on style. Set with a pedestal table, spindle-back chairs in a black finish, and a custom bench in channel-tufted faux wool, the breakfast area is relaxed yet elegant. The windows are dressed in Namay Samay drapery fabric from John Rosselli & Associates, with a complementary trim from Samuel & Sons.

When making remodeling choices, Goetz strove to balance style with budget. “We began with the family room, which presented a real challenge,” says Goetz. “There was a fireplace set on an angle with a brick hearth and brick running up the wall to the ceiling. Not very good looking.” Rather than remove it entirely, which would have been costly, Goetz painted the hearth, paneled over the wall, and designed a handsome surround with a French accent.

The home now exudes a reassuring, eminently comfortable solidity, a completeness spun from a determination that its rooms will enjoy a long shelf life. It is, truly, a home for today and many tomorrows.

For more information, visit jillgoetzinteriors.com.