My Houzz: Global Art Inspires a Windy City Home
Empty nesters leave the suburbs and curate their dream city condo in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood
Finding themselves empty nesters, global art lovers Robyn and Norman Brooks decided to move out of their suburban neighborhood and into the heart of the vibrant Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. After moving into the condominium, the couple worked with architect Tim O'Neil to style their dream home. "Tim understood our vision and was instrumental in bringing our ideas together," Robyn says.
Now the couple finally has a place they can call home, filled with art collected from all over the world. But the Brookses took their time in curating their urban, art-inspired home. Robyn recalls that after moving in, "we took a blanket, sat on the living room floor and enjoyed a bottle of champagne to celebrate our beautiful new home and lifestyle."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Robyn and Norman Brooks, and their dog, Lucy
Location: Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 2,050 square feet; 2 bedrooms; 2.5 bathrooms
That's interesting: The couple lived with just their bed and a loveseat for six months before deciding on how to furnish their new home.
Now the couple finally has a place they can call home, filled with art collected from all over the world. But the Brookses took their time in curating their urban, art-inspired home. Robyn recalls that after moving in, "we took a blanket, sat on the living room floor and enjoyed a bottle of champagne to celebrate our beautiful new home and lifestyle."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Robyn and Norman Brooks, and their dog, Lucy
Location: Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 2,050 square feet; 2 bedrooms; 2.5 bathrooms
That's interesting: The couple lived with just their bed and a loveseat for six months before deciding on how to furnish their new home.
The couple's old furniture from their suburban home pieces didn't work well with their new city aesthetic. After giving most of it away to friends and family, they started from scratch. Robyn took her time deciding on how she wanted to furnish her new home. "I thought about the space constantly and decided that I did not want big furniture that cluttered up the space," she says. "I wanted the furniture to be architectural in nature. I wanted the furniture to be '"see-through" like the artwork, with the mahogany floors and the outside as the focus."
Having collected pieces from all around the world, the couple wanted to accentuate the beauty of their art. On display atop the buffet are a Han Dynasty cocoon jar (left) from Lam & Co. in Hong Kong and "R-accolto" (center), by Rabarama from TeleMarket in Rome.
Mirror: Golden Triangle; buffet: Medina, Roche Bobois; Asian vase: Horchow
Having collected pieces from all around the world, the couple wanted to accentuate the beauty of their art. On display atop the buffet are a Han Dynasty cocoon jar (left) from Lam & Co. in Hong Kong and "R-accolto" (center), by Rabarama from TeleMarket in Rome.
Mirror: Golden Triangle; buffet: Medina, Roche Bobois; Asian vase: Horchow
Being able to "see through" the furniture allows the couple to take in the great city view. "Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities, if not the most beautiful city, I have seen in the world," Robyn says. She also loves its vibrancy and architecture. "Having a love for architecture and design is what keeps my eyes open," she says. While traveling the world, she's always looking for art by local artists and functional art objects.
Sculpture on window seat: "Trans-gene," by Rabarama, TeleMarket
Sculpture on window seat: "Trans-gene," by Rabarama, TeleMarket
The couple decided to redesign their kitchen about two years ago, and did so with the help of good friend Kevin Studzinski. Robyn says, "Kevin was instrumental in helping us envision the kitchen orientation. His vision opened up the space and made it much more functional for our needs." A sleek, modern design took the place of the previously dated space, and the couple now spends a good deal of time there.
Over the sink hangs a painting by Gwyneth Scally. Atop the island is a ceramic bowl by Rina Menardi from Baltus.
Bar stools: Frag, Roche Bobois; sculpture: "Lady with Birds," Joel Urruty, del Mano Gallery; vase on top shelf: Florence, Italy; red bowl: Carlo Moretti, L'Isola
Over the sink hangs a painting by Gwyneth Scally. Atop the island is a ceramic bowl by Rina Menardi from Baltus.
Bar stools: Frag, Roche Bobois; sculpture: "Lady with Birds," Joel Urruty, del Mano Gallery; vase on top shelf: Florence, Italy; red bowl: Carlo Moretti, L'Isola
The couple didn't use the formal dining room in their previous home much, so they wanted the space in their new home to be more casual. Robyn felt like she wasn't able to relax in a dining room chair, so she made banquette seating out of a sofa, along with two additional chairs. The table is architectural in nature and reflects the feel of the entire home.
Neatly displayed vertically on a built-in bookshelf are various collected pieces from around the world. From top to bottom: "Icareas" by Dominique Friedrich of France; a vase from Italy; a jar by Rob Sieminski; a bowl from Canton, China; and China Jar, Horchow.
Neatly displayed vertically on a built-in bookshelf are various collected pieces from around the world. From top to bottom: "Icareas" by Dominique Friedrich of France; a vase from Italy; a jar by Rob Sieminski; a bowl from Canton, China; and China Jar, Horchow.
The dining room is the couple's favorite space in their home. They relax here and take in the gorgeous view of the city.
The painting next to the windows, titled "Windows," was created by artist Young Bae Kim to look like a window at any time of day. Robyn says, "When the lighting changes throughout the day, so does the look of the painting." The couple didn't know the painting would have the effect it did when they bought it, and some visiting guests have been fooled into thinking the piece is an actual window.
Artwork: Andrew Bae Gallery; table: Arc by Molteni & C, Ernestomeda; sofa: Juliet, Luminaire; chairs: Lia Dining Chair, Luminaire
The painting next to the windows, titled "Windows," was created by artist Young Bae Kim to look like a window at any time of day. Robyn says, "When the lighting changes throughout the day, so does the look of the painting." The couple didn't know the painting would have the effect it did when they bought it, and some visiting guests have been fooled into thinking the piece is an actual window.
Artwork: Andrew Bae Gallery; table: Arc by Molteni & C, Ernestomeda; sofa: Juliet, Luminaire; chairs: Lia Dining Chair, Luminaire
The hallway leading to the bedrooms showcases an art piece by Richard MacDonald. "I love to walk in my home and see art around every corner. It truly makes me happy," Robyn says. The couple has taken the time to thoughtfully find each and every piece in their home and properly display it. The lighting on the sculpture enhances every detail.
Artwork: "Icarus Moon, Modern Dance IV," Richard MacDonald, Dawson Cole Fine Art
Artwork: "Icarus Moon, Modern Dance IV," Richard MacDonald, Dawson Cole Fine Art
The couple converted the second bedroom into a media and family room. (They didn't want to have a television in the main living area.) Their dog, Lucy, spends most of her days soaking in the sun from the west-facing windows.
Artwork: "Thing," Jungjn Lee, Andrew Bae Gallery; sofa: Guarana, Roche Bobois; lighting: Parentesi, Achille Castiglioni, Luminaire; rug: Hokanson
Artwork: "Thing," Jungjn Lee, Andrew Bae Gallery; sofa: Guarana, Roche Bobois; lighting: Parentesi, Achille Castiglioni, Luminaire; rug: Hokanson
A wide entryway leads into the master bedroom, and the master bath sits at the end of the hallway. Mahogany flooring is used throughout the entire home except for the bathrooms. The floors were a big factor when it came time to pick the color palette. Robyn says, "We lived in our home with white walls for three years before taking the plunge and adding color." She adds, "I was afraid of color and didn’t want the color to interfere with the art."
Chairs: K Chair by Wolfgang Tolk, Luminaire; egg stool: Denis Santachiara, Luminaire; bed: Vanity Bed, Luige Gorgoni, Roche Bobois
Chairs: K Chair by Wolfgang Tolk, Luminaire; egg stool: Denis Santachiara, Luminaire; bed: Vanity Bed, Luige Gorgoni, Roche Bobois
The painting above the bed was the main influence for the colors of the master bedroom. The room palette "works so well — it's soothing, quiet and picks up the colors in the painting without blending in," says Robyn.
Artwork: "Self & No Self," Sandra Sunnyo Lee, Andrew Bae Gallery; sculpture next to bed: Costa Rica
Artwork: "Self & No Self," Sandra Sunnyo Lee, Andrew Bae Gallery; sculpture next to bed: Costa Rica
Robyn and Norman carefully blended technical with artistic when it came time to place the television. Focusing on clean lines, Robyn enclosed the TV in its own space and blended in art around it.
Wall System: Roche Bobois; artwork (top to bottom and left to right): antique puppet: Bali; vessel: Golden Triangle; cowbell: family heirloom; mortar and pestle: Israel; Buddhas: Gump's; warrior: Han Dynasty, Lam & Co.; vessel: Greg Riley
Wall System: Roche Bobois; artwork (top to bottom and left to right): antique puppet: Bali; vessel: Golden Triangle; cowbell: family heirloom; mortar and pestle: Israel; Buddhas: Gump's; warrior: Han Dynasty, Lam & Co.; vessel: Greg Riley
The Brookses redesigned the kitchen and updated the master bathroom at the same time. Designer friend Kevin Studzinski also helped with the redesign. His idea was to pull out their dated jet tub and replace it with the modern stand-alone on teak decking. An additional window was added above the tub to allow more natural light to flow through. A soft backlit mirror hangs above the sink.
Artwork behind tub: "Nude," Alejandro Chaviano
Artwork behind tub: "Nude," Alejandro Chaviano
Artwork welcomes visitors into the couple's foyer. Above an Eden console table from Roche Bobois is a contemporary mirror from Luminaire and two art pieces. On the left, a vase by Bruno Kark and a statue, both from Gump's.
A beautiful arched entryway opens to the main living room of the house, where sunlight billows though. On a clear night, the city lights replace the sunlight.
Robyn offers this advice to homeowners, "Take your time designing and decorating your home. Take time to understand the space and how you want to use the space. Don’t be in a hurry to buy art. Keep your eyes and mind open."
Artwork: So Hyun Bae, Andrew Bae Gallery
Robyn offers this advice to homeowners, "Take your time designing and decorating your home. Take time to understand the space and how you want to use the space. Don’t be in a hurry to buy art. Keep your eyes and mind open."
Artwork: So Hyun Bae, Andrew Bae Gallery
One of Robyn's happiest homeowner moments was when a good friend requested her services as an art consultant. A high-end real estate consultant by trade, she was blown away by the request. "He had the means to hire anyone he wanted, and he was very serious about his request," she says.
Admiration from friends, family and acquaintances reminds the couple that their home is a peaceful retreat with positive energy flowing throughout.
Painting: "Trees," Andrea Harris, Gallery H; sculpture: "Israel," Sharon Bladholm, Opal Glass Studios
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
Admiration from friends, family and acquaintances reminds the couple that their home is a peaceful retreat with positive energy flowing throughout.
Painting: "Trees," Andrea Harris, Gallery H; sculpture: "Israel," Sharon Bladholm, Opal Glass Studios
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
Chairs: black leather, Cadrage, Roche Bobois; coffee table: Francis Saliel, Roche Bobois