This project was completed as part of a professional internship with Von Dreele-Freerksen Construction Company/Prairie Plus Design in Oak Park, Illinois.
A young family of four freshly moved into the historic Village of Oak Park was eager to update their historic 1914 S.T. Gunderson home. The American Foursquare house deserved a face-lift after previous owners left the marks of several decades of incongruous renovations. The owners understood the potential to revitalize the house and make it their very own "forever home," as they said.
Respecting the artistic aesthetic of the 1914 build date was a paramount concern for the owners and for my firm which specializes in historic preservation and vintage renovations. The firm worked closely with the owners to design a more functional first floor to fit their modern family by adding a much-needed second wash room. We removed a redundant butler's staircase and I designed a purposeful wash room in its tiny footprint. The goal was to make the finished space feel as though it had always been there, and to turn it into a "jewel box" space worthy of appreciation in its own right.
Wall Covering: Romo
Floor Tile: Lagos Blue Limestone
Trim: Matched owner's oak
Light Fixture: Hudson Valley
Sink: Duravit
Faucet: Toto
Toilet: Toto Eco
Mirror: Pottery Barn
Towel Ring and Paper Holder: Rejuvenation