Design

Urban Expert

Emily Sachs Wong helps North Shore residents who dream of city living find the perfect Chicago home. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR

We hear a lot about the challenges faced by city residents who’ve outgrown their loft or condo and want to find the right suburban community and home, especially when it comes to finding schools for their children.

What about those wishing to go the other way? For couples and parents whose kids may have graduated and gone off to college or started professional lives of their own, the city offers enough living options and amenities to make the head spin.

That’s where Emily Sachs Wong comes in. A luxury broker with @properties in Lincoln Park, Wong is one of the top real estate advisors in the City of Chicago. Just ask her about a neighborhood and she’ll give you a rundown of its pros and cons and distinct features. This knowledge helps her direct property searches for those who may be unfamiliar with the city.

“What I see time and time again is clients whose kids are gone and their reasons for being in the suburbs are gone,” Wong says. “They want to be in a building that has amenities, that’s fun for them and their kids and grandkids. They want comradery and access to shops, restaurants, and classes.”

Chicago’s diverse housing stock—vintage two flats, luxury high rises, classic ‘70s midrises, new townhomes and single family residences—can make the task of finding a home overwhelming. Wong specializes in helping clients refine their choices based on budget, desired amenities, and other priorities. One trend she is seeing of late is buyers scooping up older condos in one of Chicago’s finest neighborhoods.

“I’m seeing a resurgence of buyers taking older condos in the Gold Coast and cleaning them up,” she says. “There are some fantastic older buildings that have pools and balconies.”

Other trending neighborhoods include the West Loop with its green spaces, and the Cathedral District on the Near North Side. The growing Logan Square neighborhood offers options for those with a hipster side.

If they want to avoid being in a situation where they’re paying two mortgages, city dreamers must first sell their suburban properties, and Wong has some sage advice for potential sellers who are downsizing.

“Today’s buyers are looking for more space for the money, good schools, and they’re used to things being perfect,” she says. “This generation does not want to paint or replace light fixtures or faucets.”

Wong recommends a facelift or mini-facelift, which might include painting cabinets or installing new countertops. Staging the home for sale might be the key.

There’s one other thing sellers on the North Shore who are making plans to move into the city should do while prepping their home for sale. Put in a call to Emily Sachs Wong.

“Every neighborhood in Chicago has special things about it, whether it’s an elevator building in Lakeview or Lincoln Park, or a loft building in Wicker Park or Bucktown,” says Wong. “The most important thing to me is to be able to relate to buyers and use my knowledge of the neighborhoods to get clients what they want and need.”

Emily Sachs Wong is with @properties, 1211 West Webster Ave. in Chicago, 312-286-0800, eswchicago.com.

Dynamic Design

Natalie Konstant of Konstant Home designs for modern day. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHLEEN VIRGINIA

As the daughter of architect Paul Konstant, of Konstant Architecture & Planning, Natalie Konstant grew up immersed in the design world and received an education in the subject at a young age. Fast forward to today and that same background is what gives Natalie her edge. As the principal designer of Konstant Home, a full-service interior design firm that originally started within Konstant Architecture, Natalie understands the value in cohesive design and the impact it can have on a space.

“One of the great things about working with Konstant Architecture is that it’s seamless,” she explains. “We can ensure all aspects of the interior design and architecture relate to one another.”

Natalie Konstant. Photography by Katrina Wittkamp, Makeup by Kelly La Banco, Hair by Hanna Oh, Service Bar Salon

The father-daughter duo joined forces on a recent North Shore renovation—“If you can call it that,” says Natalie, who only recognizes the red brick on the family room’s fireplace from the initial structure—to restore an original neo-classical colonial home in Evanston. The goal? To update the house for a modern-day family of five, including three boys and a dog.

“I use the term ‘new traditional’ when describing my style—modern, yet timeless. It is really just an honest response to the times and how people are living today,” she says. “This home’s original floorplan was very chopped up and consisted of a lot of little rooms. It lacked flow. The second floor was dormitory-like, with many small bedrooms. The house was meant for lots of staff, with maids’ quarters and a tiny kitchen. It was built for a different time, designed for a more formal way of living.”

Architect Paul Konstant made the space more efficient with an open floorplan, anchored by a large kitchen open to the family room, breakfast room, and screened porch. The architecture was designed to reflect the house’s vintage … with a few fun upgrades, like a full-size basketball court in the basement. For the interiors, Natalie worked to achieve a balance between formal and family-friendly, making sure that all selections were conducive to an active lifestyle, while still responding to the original aesthetic.

“What we’re doing is so intimate,” says Natalie. “We’re creating spaces for people to live their lives in. So, while it’s our job to make it beautiful, it also has to function and work for their lifestyle.”

The homeowners took Natalie to the Ralph Lauren showroom in Chicago, where they found inspiration in the store’s grasscloth wall coverings, sisal stair runner, signature plaids, roll arm sofas, oversized tufted wing chairs, and brass nailhead trim. While many of these aspects were incorporated
in the design, “It was really the warmth and coziness in such a traditional setting that they were responding to,” says Natalie. In achieving this, she upholstered traditional silhouettes in textured indoor-outdoor fabrics that mirrored the look and feel of real wools and linens.

In the kitchen, the warm tones of the red brick fireplace are what led to the selection of the ebony island and mahogany countertop. “It’s that play of texture, material, and color that really bring the space to life,” she adds.

In the master, a custom-designed four poster bed sits in front of bookshelves that allow the owners, who she describes as “avid readers,” easy access for a nighttime read. The array of books also enhances the room’s otherwise calming palette, which has Benjamin Moore’s Blue Lace paint on its walls and Konstant White molding (the same throughout the entire home). Natalie designed the master bedside tables, set in front of windows, to have two lower drawers and a shelf to ensure they wouldn’t block the room’s light, or what she calls “the best accessory.”

“My dad has always designed every aspect of a house himself,” she notes. “So when a room calls for a particular design, like the master nightstands, I love to create a one-of-a-kind piece.”

While custom design is beneficial when it comes to the function and personalization of a space, Natalie notes the importance of incorporating the old with the new. “There is such a thing as ‘too perfect.’ It can make a space feel sterile,” she explains. For this project, she sourced a vintage fire truck wheel from an Evanston antique store, which hangs above the family room sofa, and a game table from Maze Home in Winnetka. “It’s the character of those pieces that really bring the room to life,” she adds.

Another essential to finishing a space, “the owner’s personal items,” says Natalie. Never over accessorizing, she leaves space for the client to add their own personal touches and room for them to grow into. “That’s what really turns a house into a home,” she notes. In this case, that meant hanging a large Richard Misrach photograph, which the client purchased at a gallery during a trip to New York, above the living room sofa. Natalie then complemented the piece with a George Constant—yes, her great uncle—which hangs above the fireplace.

Ultimately, Natalie helped the family build a home that will stand the test of time, one that will never go out of style.

For more information about Natalie Konstant, visit konstanthome.com.

Fabric That Fits

Loomcraft Fabric Outlet in Vernon Hills provides custom upholstery solutions for pieces in all rooms in the home. Additionally, Loomcraft is the best place in the Midwest for window treatments and drapery installation.

Visitors to Loomcraft Fabric Outlet in Vernon Hills will find more than 300,000 yards of fabric in stock, all priced under $29.99 a yard. Loomcraft is one of six family owned fabric stores across the country that are together one of the largest retailers of decorative fabrics and supplies in the U.S.

While shopping at Loomcraft might seem daunting at first, given the huge selection of fabric, the staff at Loomcraft make it easy by offering customized creation of drapery/window treatments, bedding, headboards, and other upholstery and slipcover services for the home.

“We are a one-stop-shop. You can come in anytime and we will work with you to find the perfect fabric for your home,” says Andrew Frankel, Loomcraft’s head of retail operations. “Then, we handle everything with our fantastic workrooms and you are all set.”

It may sometimes be a challenge for homeowners to envision the right fabric for drapery or bedding for the guestroom, but the staff at Loomcraft bring their expertise to you. They’ll come to your home with swatches and work with you to find just the right color and pattern. Measurements will be precise for customized drapery or other window treatments to be installed with care by Loomcraft professionals.

As spring approaches, the snow melts, and green grass starts to emerge, homeowners might be motivated to bring a fresh look to the living room, the bedroom or to the entire home. Perhaps some sunnier colors will brighten up the house and make visitors feel welcome. With Loomcraft’s unparalleled selection, there is sure to be something to liven up the house.

With over 30 years of serving Vernon Hills and Chicago’s north suburbs, Loomcraft is a key partner in the region’s business community.

“Whether you are an experienced interior designer or looking to redecorate your home for the first time, Loomcraft is the North Shore’s must-stop-shop for every home decor project,” Frankel notes. “Loomcraft staff are trained and eager to help you design the home of your dreams.”

Loomcraft Fabric Outlet is located at 645 Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills, right near the Vernon Hills Police Department, Open 7 days, 847-680-1119, thefabricoutlet.com.

Plum Picked

This shade of purple has our heart racing.

Plum throw, available at Material Possessions, 847-446-8840

Gemma Throw in Fig, available at Brooke & Lou, brookeandlou.com

Matrix Italian Plum Chair, available at Article, article.com

Demi Lamp, available at Hudson Valley Lighting, mitzi.hvlgroup.com

Bel Air Mini Scoop Vase, available at Jonathan Adler Chicago, 312-274-9920

Violet vases, available at Material Possessions, 847-446-8840

Maureen Chair in Mulberry, available at Lulu & Georgia, luluandgeorgia.com

Giant Acrylic Tusk, available at Jonathan Adler Chicago, 312-274-9920

Palazzo Plum Quilt King, available at Crate and Barrel Old Orchard, 847-674-6850

Mellanni 1800 Collection Sheet Set, available at amazon, amazon.com

India Bedding by Matouk, available at Bedside Manor Ltd Lake Forest, 847-295-8370

Gretel by Missoni Home, available at Bedside Manor Ltd, 837-295-8370

Fitzrovia Decorative Pillow Lifestyle by Designers Guild, available at Bedside Manor Ltd Lake Forest, 847-295-8370

Brynn Lamp, available at Hudson Valley Lighting, mitzi.hvlgroup.com

Overlook Orchid Throw, available at CB2 Chicago, 312-787-8329

Amoeba Medallion Pillow, available at Jonathan Adler Chicago, 312-274-9920

Jericho Dining Chair, available at High Fashion Home, highfashionhome.com

X-Bench, available at Jonathan Adler Chicago, 312-274-9920

Zen Oasis

Interior designer Kim Flashner infuses various elements and colors of Mount Kilimanjaro, the American West, and Asia for a one-of-a-kind home. PHOTOGRAPHY BY APRIL GRAVES, LIGHT DRAWN STUDIOS

Interior designer Kim Flashner, who recently expanded her eponymous firm from Winnetka to downtown Chicago, has executed both residential and commercial interior design projects across the country for more than two decades. But because she keeps her personal style out of her work, believing instead to find inspiration in the aesthetic direction of the client, Kim Flashner looks for ventures where she can provide a unique point of view.

Such was the case in a recent gut renovation of a 5,000-plus square-foot Chicago home on West Eddy Street in the Southport Corridor. The homeowners, a young couple with two children, had lived in the house previously before ultimately deciding to tear it down and rebuild something new in the same footprint and location.

Kim Flashner, who has been consulting on the home with the family and Casagrande Architects, stepped in to help with everything from the original plans and hardware selections to built-in cabinetry ideas and, of course, the interior design scheme.

“The homeowners honeymooned in Mount Kilimanjaro and are into nature and hiking,” says Kim Flashner. “Although they have differing styles—the husband is more traditional and the wife skews contemporary—they both wanted to bring the feel of Colorado into an urban setting, so we generally used all-natural materials and lots of Earth tones. Just because you live here doesn’t mean you have to have a Chicago space.”

In the open concept kitchen, dining and family rooms—walls were knocked down to eliminate separation—Kim Flashner used natural stone and wood in components like the neutral-stained cut oak built-ins that extend throughout the entire space and in the live-edge oval-shaped Rustic Trip dining table centered under a recycled glass chandelier. On the couch and an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table, she incorporated blue and gray tones that feel warm and inviting.

In the “formal” living room at the home’s entrance (Kim Flashner describes the couple as inherently informal), light and bright thanks to two-story windows, she created a hub for entertaining versus the traditional living room concept of years past that she believes is “falling by the wayside.” With a dramatic fireplace and four cozy recliners, perfect for a day spent chatting or reading, the tone is set for the rest of the home.

The couple expanded the house’s footprint from three stories to four to add a full basement, complete with a wine cellar, bedroom and bathroom, entertainment area and a playroom for the kids. On the top floor is a bar and a home office with walnut built-ins and on the second floor is the laundry room, kid’s bedrooms and bathrooms and, Flashner’s favorite space, the master bed/bath. Plus, there’s a Zen garden in the backyard.

“The master bath is the focal point of the house,” says Kim Flashner. “For a city home with limited space, sometimes the master bath gets pushed to the side. But, in recent years, people have started taking space from the bedroom and closet to make it more of a standout. Here we used a marble tub enclosure and kept the tub within the shower in one big piece. The bedroom itself is Asian-inspired with pink cherry blossom wallpaper.”

Kim Flashner says they could have accomplished a similar look with porcelain but really wanted the “Zen vibe” of marble. “There’s a big difference aesthetically between using natural carved marble versus man-made,” she says. While upgraded elements like marble and wall-to-wall built-ins are expensive—the homeowners ended up spending triple their original budget on cabinetry—Kim Flashner believes they’re worthwhile and “make or break” the space.

That said, decorating takes time. In fact, Kim Flashner has been working on this home for nearly 24 months and is only just now approaching the finish line.

“Everything in the house makes a statement, which elevated the design and made it fun,” she says. “It wasn’t another project with a stark white European kitchen. I’ve been doing this for 25 years and don’t want to work in just one style. I always like a new element. That’s why I’m still doing this.”

Kim Flashner Interior Design Group is located at 1851 W. Grand in Chicago. For more information, call 847-208-5411 or visit kimflashnerinteriorsgroup.com.