House Tours: A Warm Twist on Modern Style

Warm harvest colors enliven a space designed to welcome you in and invite you to stay awhile.

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Welcoming Entrance

Soft Scheme

Art Smart

Fall Scene Year-Round

Browns: In the Mix

Peaceful Luxury

Hallway Gallery

Three In One

Show Your Stripes

Defining Moment

Cooking with Style

In the Details

Take a Seat

Space for All

Out with the Old

Not to Be Forgotten

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Welcoming Entrance

Comfort and style reign in this home where people -- not the furnishings -- are the focus. The home's Georgian and Greek exterior makes for a grand welcome. The white trim and shutters add an elegant touch against the rusty red brick facade. Both the interior and exterior share the "make yourself at home" mentality.

Soft Scheme

The living room's neutral walls are painted just a shade darker than the shutters and trim. The slight contrast adds a subtle dimension to the room's architectural elements. Dark furniture brings visual weight to the space. Warm harvest tones, such as the rust red pillows and honey-colored side chairs, add a touch of color.

Art Smart

Behind cube-like chairs, a black ledge anchors a vignette of original oil paintings and a piece of sculpture. This home's owners are avid art collectors and their passion shows throughout the house. In their purchasing decisions, they only buy what they love, and they aren't afraid to mix media. They also are on the lookout for rising artists and seek art from all over the world for diversity.

Fall Scene Year-Round

This large black-and-white photograph serves as a focal point in the living room. The foliage-free tree suggests a fall setting. To bring the autumn look to your home, look for images of bare trees and hang them for the season in simple black frames. The look is a sophisticated take on fall décor.

Browns: In the Mix

Soft gray-blue walls instill a soothing air in the master bedroom. Chocolate-brown accents add richness. The pillows, linens, and curtains all draw from the brown family-- ranging from wheat to chocolate shades. Variances in hues, patterns, and textures keep the space from being anything but boring.

Peaceful Luxury

In one corner of the bedroom, a low-slung armchair is dressed in deep blue mohair. The club-style chair is framed in a rich, warm wood. The soft curves of the chair play against the angular metal side table for an artful sitting area. Adding a wool throw warms up a space against the crisp autumn breezes.

Hallway Gallery

Hallways are often overlooked when it comes to decorating. Dressing up the spaces with artwork can help link rooms visually like hallways link them physically. Plus, artwork is simple to change. Have an extra piece or two on hand to rotate for a quick makeover.

Three In One

In a major renovation, the dining room, kitchen, and living room were combined into one space, perfect for entertaining. The people-friendly layout was paired with several great custom built pieces. The dining table was designed by the homeowner and built to fit the space perfectly.

Show Your Stripes

The zebrawood dining table speaks to the homeowner's love of visually dynamic furnishings. Dining room seating upholstered in easy-to-clean faux suede ensures stain-free dinner parties. A luxurious rug helps designate the dining space. In an open floor plan, use area rugs and furniture arrangements to define spaces for an orderly look.

Defining Moment

The mahogany peninsula defines the dining and living spaces within the great room. A countertop provides space for a buffet or bar. Cabinets on the dining room side of the unit can store serving dishes, table linens, and more. The homeowner designed the built-in sofa's chaise to echo the length of the cabinet.

Cooking with Style

Deep crown moldings visually link the kitchen to the adjoining great room. The linen-white trim and muted beige walls ensure that the kitchen's dark cabinetry stands out. The island helps define the kitchen space from the other areas of the room.

In the Details

Glazed green tiles add a touch of color to the stainless steel and cherry wood kitchen. The kitchen's design takes advantage of every storage opportunity. Niches near the range house favorite cookbooks for easy access. The raised bar on the island adds an additional eating space.

Take a Seat

The built-in sofa is paired with two orange club chairs and a handsome leather-top coffee table designed by the homeowner. The striking piece houses a collection of books, and wood boxes store other items out of sight in a visually appealing way. An area rug boasts all of the room's colors and adds a soft contrast to the room's espresso-stained wood floors.

Space for All

Architectural drawings of historic Chicago buildings make an artistic statement above the couch, proving wall art doesn't always have to be a painting or sketch. In his built-in couch design, the homeowner left just enough room for the antique grandfather clock to fit right in.

Out with the Old

Standard patio glass doors were traded for 8-foot-high glass ones to connect the great-room to the deck. The draperies boast a fall foliage motif and can be drawn to block the intense western sunlight.

Not to Be Forgotten

The upper-level den continues the brown and neutral palette. Matte chocolate-brown walls make the room cozy. The deep color allows the artwork and a shapely chair to pop. A cherry sideboard adds a dose of autumn color.

House Tours: A Warm Twist on Modern Style

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