Vamped Up Victorian

Anna fell for her 1899 Oak Park Victorian instantly. Though previous additions had fractured the plan, the home’s defining features endured: cut art glass encircling a curved stair, a grand arched parlor mantel, and lofty ceilings. The main level was thoughtfully reworked into generous, fluid rooms that respect the home’s heritage while supporting modern living.

TIMELESS STYLE WITH PRECISION EXECUTION

A contemporary interior unfolds within the classic Victorian shell. A large-scale lotus wallpaper translates a period motif into a modern scale, adding edge while honoring the architecture.

PERIOD INSPIRED—
REIMAGINED FOR MODERN LIVING

Anchoring the dining room, a 1970s Murano glass chandelier sets the tone. Lucite dining chairs by Charles Hollis Jones, reupholstered in a playful print, lighten the Victorian bones. A custom table provides a modern counterpoint to the vintage elements.

Anna used a color palette of carefully calibrated moody hues, such as the scullery’s earthy lichen green and the lilac-tined greige that envelopes the dining room. Overhead, a local artist created a cloudy ceiling mural, while a textural plaster finish gives walls throughout the rest of the addition a dusky patina.

RELAXED TRANSITIONS WITH ELEGANT PACING

At the heart of the home, a gracious passage now incorporates a built-in bar. The result is improved connectivity between spaces, allowing rooms to unfold with effortless flow and quiet elegance.

BOLD KITCHEN DETAILS—BRIDGING THEN AND NOW

The kitchen’s white oak cabinetry, inset with antiqued mirrors and topped with Italian marble, references the past while remaining distinctly current. Ceiling beams subtly bridge the home’s original architecture with its contemporary interventions.

CREATING CONTINUITY BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT

A revised floor plan relocated the secondary stairway to the rear of the home, making way for a new back entry and mudroom. The expanded kitchen now accommodates a walk-in pantry, island, breakfast table, and an adjacent family snug designed for relaxed evenings.