Kenwood Transitional
Year
2022
This Kenwood project was such a rewarding transformation to be a part of. What started as a heavy, faux-finished Tuscan space evolved into a fresh, modern transitional home that truly reflects the energy and style of our clients and their young family. It was a joy to help bring their vision to life and create a space that feels lighter, more current, and ready for the next chapter.
-Trent
We used a calming blend of off-whites, warm grays, and soft blues to create an atmosphere that feels bright, modern, and timeless. The palette also offers a subtle nod to Lake Michigan, visible from the front windows, grounding the home in its beautiful setting.
For the furniture, we chose elevated yet practical pieces—many upholstered in beautiful, durable Sunbrella fabrics to stand up to everyday life with a young family. While we kept the home’s overall layout intact, we did remove a half wall between the family room and kitchen to open up the space and create a more natural flow for how the family lives and connects.
Probably my favorite element in this entire project is the wallpaper in this nook. The client’s great-great-grandfather was a poet—the first enslaved person to be published—and we had the incredible opportunity to honor that legacy. We created a custom wallpaper using his actual writings, subtly woven with a motif inspired by the family’s last name, which begins with H. Personal touches like this are what make a house truly feel like a home, and being part of that kind of storytelling means so much to me.
-Trent
Sometimes design means looking at a space from a new perspective. This client came to us frustrated that their back door—without a proper mudroom—often became a drop zone for shoes and coats, always in view from the sofa and making it hard to relax. Our solution was to reorient the family room layout: we placed the TV opposite the fireplace, allowing for a larger screen (another request) and creating the opportunity to build in additional storage along that wall. Now, any stray shoes are out of sight—and out of mind. We kept the fireplace feeling intentional and connected by leaving open part of the sectional’s back and adding a pair of poufs in front of it. It’s a thoughtful balance of beauty and function—and a big improvement in how the space lives.
