Interior Design Case Study: Making Room for a Busy Hinsdale Family of 6

Some homes have plenty of space, and yet nowhere to go.

One of our latest projects in Hinsdale, IL was a classic case of underutilized square footage. This family of six needed room to grow, but wasn’t able to take full advantage of their home. Entire rooms were sitting empty with no defined purpose.

The kitchen was due for a functional revamp, and upstairs, the primary bedroom was falling short of the relaxing retreat mom and dad needed.

They came to us to remodel the kitchen and primary bath and fully furnish the main living areas so the house could finally feel complete.

Creating Visual Harmony

One of our clients’ top priorities was to bring cohesion to the entire house. The kitchen, the straggler rooms with no clear function, the primary suite—they all needed to feel like they belonged to the same story.

That’s one of the advantages of a full-service, whole-home project. We sourced the furniture, decor, lighting, wallpaper, and paint all at once. Nothing was pieced together over time or left to chance. Every layer was considered at the same time, which is why everything works together.

You really get a sense of this cohesiveness when you walk into the foyer, where you can see into multiple rooms at once. Each space is finished, but more importantly, they relate to each other. The materials, colors, and details carry through without feeling repetitive.

In the living room, the fireplace was updated with viola marble on the surround and hearth, working with the darker mantle and existing woodwork. A pair of kidney-shaped coffee tables adds a touch of whimsy, echoed by fringed drapery in the dining room. The look is classic, but not stiff. Refined, but ready to live and play alongside a busy family.

Kitchen Updates That Earn Their Keep

A family of six calls for a hard-working kitchen.

On any given day, lunch boxes need packing, dishes need washing, and surprise! One of the kids announces they’ve volunteered to bring cupcakes for the class tomorrow. The layout has to keep up, or you’ll feel it right away.

For this kitchen remodel, we added a prep sink to the island so someone can be washing up while someone else is cooking without crossing paths. We removed seating from the island to open up storage and give the family more usable counter space. A new dining table anchors the area, comfortably seating the family day to day, and expanding when guests are over.

These changes transformed the kitchen’s atmosphere from “get in and get out” to “sit down and stay awhile.” No longer inconvenient and disorganized, the new kitchen is a core gathering place in the home.

Giving the Primary Suite Some TLC

One of our clients’ biggest goals was creating a primary bedroom with a distinctly peaceful, oasis-like feel.

The bedroom uses soft neutrals and layered textures to keep things comfortable without feeling flat. Each side of the bed has its own lighting setup, so the homeowners can wind down with a good read.

We also updated the window seat with cushions and sconces, turning a once-forgotten corner into a favorite reading nook.

Finally, we remodeled the primary bathroom with a symmetrical layout that perfectly complements his and her sinks and storage. Now, the couple can go about their morning routines without stepping on each other’s toes.

Standout Finishing Touches

The finishes were selected to hold up to a lot of use, while still bringing in the transitional, neutral feel the clients were drawn to.

There’s a mix of brass and black metals that carries from room to room. It leans traditional, but deftly sidesteps the “matchy-matchy” look.

We individually selected wood tones for each space, but kept them in the same color family, so everything relates without feeling repetitive.

The mixed textiles pull a lot of weight, too, and include velvet, leather, and twill. Together, they create a distinguished, layered look that out-of-the-box, mass-produced designs just can’t compete with.

Let’s Do Your Home Next

Does your home feel unfinished? Not sure how the rooms should come together? That’s our kind of project.

Schedule a consultation, and we’ll explore totally customized ways to make the most of your space.